Life as a Christian Woman

On that glorious day of Christ’s rise to the right hand of our Lord,
The Angels in Heaven raised voices of triumph and sang in holy accord
With the prophet’s dreams and stories told of the power of our Lord.

A promise made by the Holiest of those to walk among us
Still, to this day, brings longing to those who strain to hear a chorus
Of angels shouting, heralding the return of God’s Son to us.

Text (c)1999, April Gilford. Image (c)Gospelgif.com

Easter, Easter poem, Christian poetry

The Sabbath Day. God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh. “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Gen. 2:2-3).

The debate rages over whether this Sabbath day, or day of rest, falls on Saturday or Sunday. Most Christians observe it on Sunday. Some say it is on Saturday. The Jewish Sabbath is observed on Saturday, as well. Honoring the day of rest is one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus himself had to answer to authorities for gleaning wheat from a field on the Sabbath. And the argument wages on as it has for nearly two thousand years: when exactly is the Sabbath day?

In a very well researched article, Joe Kovacs of WorldNetDaily lays out the issue in ‘Deception’: Christians war over worship day. Another WorldNetDaily article begs the question Anti-Judaism at Root of ‘Sunday Sabbath’? To put things in perspective, as mentioned, Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath. When confronted, His answer was this: “And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they [Pharisees] asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Mt. 12:10-12).

Though observing the Sabbath is a commandment, Jesus himself did not deem it more important than love: “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31).

So I ask you, perspectively, what is the point of this debate that has been going on for centuries? Certainly it is not love. The WorldNetDaily articles prove that.

“Centuries-old clash continues over disputed commandment.”

“Do you realize that this deception is blinding millions of people from knowing God?” asks Meredith.

Let’s assume for a moment that in the centuries of this debate, all the scholars who have entered the fray have spent a mere total of 24 hours on this one issue. (Though I admit an actual total would be much greater.) What, in those 24 hours, would matter more to our Lord? On which day falls the Sabbath? Or:

An estimated 2 million babies die worldwide within their first 24 hours.

There are 720 sexual assaults in 24 hours in the US alone.

30,100 children die from preventable causes and diseases in 24 hours. Malnutrition accounts for over half of those deaths.

Between 700,000 to 2 million Americans are homeless in any given 24-hour period. [Naturally, exact numbers are extremely difficult to pinpoint.]

At least 10 children are killed by guns in the US every 24 hours.

The economic impact of US gun violence costs an estimated $273,972,603.00 every 24 hours.

In other words, what other endeavors could these Biblical followers have accomplished in the time they have spent arguing over the day on which to observe the Sabbath? The word “asinine” is an adjective meaning “utterly stupid or silly.” As in, this battle between Christians is one of the most asinine debates to take place since Jesus walked the earth.

Ironically, Greg Laurie of WorldNetDaily points out that keeping the Sabbath is “the only one of the Ten Commandments not specifically repeated in the New Testament.”

christian, theology, Sabbath day, christian debate

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. Bars and pubs around the world have been busy turning beer green and handing out leprechaun hats. Parades celebrating Irish heritage were held this weekend, while the clover has become the flower of the month. But along with all the revelry and bad imitations of Gaelic accents, the real Saint Patrick is also worth celebrating.

St. Patrick was a 5th century priest who travelled the length and breadth of Ireland preaching against the Pagan religion. At age 16, Patrick was captured in Britain and sold into slavery in Ireland. His master was a Druid High Priest, and in his six years of captivity Patrick learned the Celtic language as well as the Druid religion. He escaped and returned to Britain where he entered the monastery and dedicated himself to ministry.

Patrick’s heart turned back toward Ireland, and he had visions in which children cried to him, saying, “Oh holy youth, come back to Erin, and walk once more amongst us.” He did eventually return to Ireland, determined to stamp out the Druidic practices.

Legends abound concerning the miracles wrought by Patrick in Ireland, including that he banished serpents from the island country. There are a few surviving writings acknowledged by scholars to be genuinely from St. Patrick. One of those is “St. Patrick’s Breast Plate” (Faeth Fiada). It is a prayer believed to by composed by Patrick in preparation for his victory over Paganism.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

When you go through your closet on March 17th looking for something green to wear so you won’t be pinched, don’t forget to give thought to the real St. Patrick. More about his remarkable life and ministry is available at NewAdvent.org, the Catholic Encyclopedia.

St. Patrick, St. Patrick’s Day, St. Patrick’s Prayer, writings of St. Patrick

Prophetess Juanita Bynum and her husband/attacker appeared in court on Tuesday for his sentencing. Taking into consideration a personal plea from Dr. Bynum not to give jail time, Bishop Weeks received three years probation and 200 hours of non-church related community service. He also must complete anger management counseling.

According to the AP, Dr. Bynum and her husband are “working on their marriage and the status of their relationship.” They left the courthouse together after the sentencing.

The attack on Dr. Bynum by Bishop Weeks occured in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel last August. LCW reported on the incident in two previous articles, Televangelist Juanita Bynum Assaulted by Husband and Dr. Bynum’s Attack Brings to Light Abuse in Christian Marriage.

The story was hotly debated between supporters of both parties, with some even blaming Prophetess Bynum for her husband’s behavior. No indications have been made that Bishop Weeks had ever physically harmed his wife prior to the August attack. Dr. Bynum has shown courage and strength of faith in her recovery and dealing with the aftermath of intense public interest in a very private matter.

Would you have done the same in a similar situation? LCW has explored domestic violence in Christian marriage in the past. Arguments and Biblical justification have been given for both getting out of the situation and pursuing divorce, and remaining married and trying to work through it. In light of Juanita Bynum’s apparent decision to at least attempt to save her marriage, what are your thoughts?

Feel free to leave comments and debate the outcome of Bishop Weeks’ sentencing.

Juanita Bynum, Bishop Weeks, Bishop Weeks sentence, christians and domestic violence

Over the last several months, more and more studies have been released on the disparity between the percentages of women and men who regularly attend church. While women are far more likely to be consistent congregation members, research shows that children whose fathers attend church are more likely to stay in the church than children who only attend church with their mothers. So why this gender difference, and how do we bring our men back into the church services?

One theory being put forth is that our church services have become feminized. After talking to both men and women from my church, that statement appears to be true. Boys reaching the age of 10, 11 and 12 are dropping out of extra church activities. My own son, who is 11, has stopped attending the Wonderful Wednesdays program in which church buses pick up the kids after school on Wednesdays and take them to the church for activities. One of the required activities is that they participate in the children’s choir. At least three boys around my son’s age have stopped attending because of the required choir participation. During the last service when the kids sang on Sunday morning, the girls outnumbered the boys by at least three to one, possibly more. Very few boys in that age group enjoy singing, and fewer still will sing in front of audience. And because of this activity which clearly only the girls enjoy, our boys are being lost.

I attend a contemporary service with a live band, refreshments, and relaxed atmosphere where more people are in denim and khaki than dresses or ties. The difference in attendance between men and women is not noticeable in this service. This was not the case at a previous church I attended with only traditional services. The inherent differences in men and women are very real. Women are more likely to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of a traditional service with a formal schedule and routines followed every Sunday, right down to the hymns. Men, especially younger men, are more action oriented. They like a change of pace and livelier songs.

Today’s popular hymns include sentiments of falling on our knees before God’s power, raising our hands in worship and crying out to God. All are necessary parts of true worship, giving ourselves totally to God and His will. But can we expect our men to do these things in a public arena? Being married to a very “masculine” male myself, I have to say no. It is unreasonable to expect our men to do this in church week after week in front of the same people they have to work with and interact with out in the community.

In an article adapted from David Murrow’s book Why Men Hate Going to Church, five major reasons are given for how the feminized church turns masculine men away:

• Music fits women’s tastes.
• Feminine metaphors.
• Corny, sentimental elements.
• Emotive displays.
• Hand holding and hugging.

The article goes on to point out that unchurched men “vote with their feet.”

You may be thinking: A tilt toward the feminine heart? What are you talking about? Those of us who’ve grown up in church don’t notice anything out of balance. We can’t imagine church any other way. But unchurched men notice – and vote with their feet. This is a major reason 61 percent of the adult worshippers in our churches are female. Why some 70 percent of the volunteers and midweek participants are women. Why up to 90 percent of the boys who are raised in church will abandon it by their 20th birthday, many never to return.

If the men are to be our spiritual leaders, as set forth in the Bible, we must draw them back into the church. Replace words with action. Un-sap the sappy sentiments and music. Give masculine men a place they can be proud of rather than embarrassed in. Without doubt, God is a God of love, the ultimate love we can never imagine here on earth. He is also a God of action, all powerful, creator of everything, a God of awe and fear. Perhaps if we bring back our recognition of God in all his forms, our people in all forms (men and women) will return as well. As Ken Gurley points out in his article Church: Men Not Allowed!, maybe we could sing “Onward Christian Soldier” once in a while.

In the words of the Gaithers, we just need a few good men.

christian, christian men, men in church, feminine church

Jesus liked to teach his disciples by using parables as illustrations of his lessons. Sometimes, for both the disciples and today’s Bible readers, it can be frustrating trying to determine exactly what lesson we are supposed to be learning. Prayers can be answered by not answering them; we may fail to recognize a person or situation God has placed in our path for a purpose; we may get ourselves so deeply embroiled in a complex mess that we can’t see the small steps God is using to lead us out of it.

Then there are times when the Lord’s voice is as loud and clear as the person sitting next to us. Fellow writer Sally Andersen experienced just such a time. Her story shows that God doesn’t always speak in parables, and prayers can be answered exactly as we asked for them.

As my year term as president of the Panhellenic Council – the Greek Life governing board, and the largest women’s organization on campus – came to a close, I was trying to decide if I should run for reelection. It would mean serving during my senior of college: I feared this would be too stressful.

I battled constantly with weighing the options. The night before elections this was my prayer: “Lord, please give me a clear direction.”

The next night, at elections, I lost. I did not receive one single vote. Not even my own sorority chapter had voted for me. My answer, my direction was clear.

I cried and cried.

“Not one vote, Lord? Really?” I questioned.

I imagined him shaking his head, as father would do, perplexed over what his daughter wants. “Sally,” I felt him saying to me. “You asked for a clear answer. I gave you one that left no doubt in your mind which direction I see as best.”

It is not always this literal; sometimes we don’t realize that the answer we have received is exactly what we wanted. Other times, of course, we don’t recognize the answer at all, if it even comes in a form that we can comprehend.

The fact of it all is, without prayer, we would be more lost, more confused, and more upset than we are with it. If I hadn’t prayed before that election, who knows what would have happened. I might have won – and been so stressed out that year that my studies suffered. Or, I might have still lost miserably – and had no comfort whatsoever that this was master plan of someone who was guiding my life.

Sally Andersen

answered prayers, prayers and praise, God’s voice

Christian missionary agencies are being credited with an increased Christian population in Yemen. A report from the Yemen Post cites research by Dr. Abdul Qawi Al-Tab’ee showing a growing organized Christian movement in the country. The Islamic World League is also said to have issued a report “warning” of the trend in Yemen and the influence of missions.

The American Presbyterians were the first into the country in 1941, followed by the Baptists after the change of government in 1964. Though strictly forbidden to share the Gospel during their relief work, it appears these missions are doing just that and even managing to hand out literature about the faith.

According to the article Researcher Warns Christianity Growth in Yemen, there are over 4,800 associations that work within Yemen. Many of these organizations are assisting the refugee camps located in the southern part of the nation.

The league attributed the success of Christianity campaign in Yemen to the absence of attention by Muslims together with the spread of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, wars, racial and tribal discrimination.

According to media sources, missionary work in Yemen is made through international associations and organizations with interest in motherhood, childhood, handicaps, environment and tourism affairs together as well as private schools, language institutes and those organizations sending Yemeni students abroad.

Though some Christian missionaries have been killed over the years in Yemen, they are clearly providing much-needed services. Still, the article states, “This news comes in shock to a country known to be free from Christians as only very few Christian Yemenis exist in Aden, which officials say that they are not of Yemeni root.” A brief look at the headlines of the Yemen Post website will tell you why the faith is growing.

“Bread Prices Increase 100 Percent”
“Saudi Border Guards Arrest Yemeni Weapon Smugglers”
“Kidnappings Continue to Grow: Families Call for Action”
“Food Contamination Key in Cancer Increase.”

Those headlines are just from the front page. (March 3, 2008 Issue:19). A warning of the increase in Christianity from researchers and officials makes one wonder what the situation will be for missionaries in the near future. As war, refugee camps, economic woes and environmental crises continue, will Christians once again find themselves being exiled from the country, as occurred across the whole Arabian peninsula in the 7th century? Or, will they become bolder in sharing the Gospel along with the resources so desparately needed?

Image Source: Yemen - Sanaa, www.yemenshipping.com

christian, christian missions, Yemen, Yemeni christians, missionaries

Shelby Kandle is a beautiful 16-year-old young woman. She has the same dreams a lot of teenage girls have of wanting to be fashion model or maybe becoming a teacher. She enjoys sports, photography, and playing the guitar. What makes Shelby special is that she also has a desire to help raise money to aid medical research. Shelby Kandle has Cystic Fibrosis, a disease for which there is no cure and the average lifespan is mid- to late-30’s.

Through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Shelby has become a team leader in raising money for awareness and research, hoping a more effective treatment or even a cure can be discovered. Great Strides is an annual national fund-raising walk, and Shelby has organized her own team of walkers to help her meet a goal of raising $6,000.00.

This remarkable high school sophomore sometimes struggles with going to school, having to miss days or leave early because of severe stomach aches or pain in her lungs, in addition to her numerous surgeries and hospitalizations. Frequent trips to the restroom frustrate both Shelby and her teachers. She has also faced the emotional struggles of dealing with CF. Shelby said, “There have been many times when I have gotten really depressed because of my CF. I felt different from others and I was scared of dying at a young age. It was hard for me to help myself from feeing that way.”

Shelby’s faith and support from family and friends give her the strength to cope with the chronic problems of having CF and to try to make a difference for herself and others. “I used to not believe there was a God because I wondered why God would make some people go through the things they did,” said Shelby. But now, faith “gives me the strength to not give up. And it has made me think more positively about things. I find myself always trying to make myself a better person in some way.”

Shelby does have some advice for parents of chronically ill children. “It’s always nice to have a supportive parent. I think all parents should be understanding with what the child is going through. They should try to help the child feel better. And some parents might need to realize that when a child seems depressed, they usually really are depressed. I hate to think that some parents would just think the child is acting just to get attention.”

In a letter to the public featured on her Cystic Fibrosis Foundation webpage, Shelby explains about CF, its effects on young people, and how you can help.

Hey there! My name is Shelby Kandle. I am 16 years old and I am the daughter of Luanne Stone and Paul Kandle. I have struggled with a lung condition called Cystic Fibrosis (CF) ever since I was born! And now I feel like I need to really start fighting back before CF takes my life away from me.

Cystic Fibrosis is a devastating genetic disease that affects about 30,000 children and young adults in the United States and about 70,000 worldwide. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, it obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food, and the sticky mucus also clogs up the sinuses, making horrible sinus infections.

Not everyone has it as badly as someone else. Even though I have had 8 sinus surgeries, and I have been hospitalized many times for lung infections and coughing up pure blood, I am one of the lucky ones! There are kids as young as 10 that are waiting for lung transplants right now! The median age for CFers to live to is only 37 years old. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundations needs all the help they can get to help come up with advances in treatments and medicines. That’s why I am asking for your help and donations. Every dollar counts and too many young lives depend on this vital research to let it go unfunded!

This is my second year participating in a fund-raising event called Great Strides. It is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, I am walking in the Great Strides event in Dothan [Alabama] at the West Gate Park site on 05/17/2008. Please help me meet my fund-raising goal of $6,000 by sponsoring me.

Making a donation is easy and secure! Just click on the link below to make a donation to my fund-raising page where your donation will be credited to my team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated! You’ll feel confident in knowing that your generous gift is used efficiently and effectively: nearly 90 cents out of every dollar you contribute goes directly toward supporting research and specialized care that improves the quality of life for those with CF. And, it’s tax-deductible.

Shelby’s Great Strides Donation Site

Donating to GREAT STRIDES is such a simple and effective way for you to show your support for this important cause. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with CF! Once again, thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation!

Thank you,

Shelby Kandle

View My Personal Invitation!

Visit the CF Foundation Web Site

If you encounter a problem with a link, please visit my GREAT STRIDES Home Page at http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/ShelbyKandle!

NOTE: If the link looks broken, cut and paste ENTIRE link into address bar. If you are presented with a “Find A Walker” page, enter my first and last name and click on “Find Walker.” Then click “View Walker” by my name in the results list to go to “My GREAT STRIDES Home Page.”

Thank you,
Shelby Kandle

cystic fibrosis, CFF, Shelby Kandle, Great Strides, christian women

The third woman we will look at from the New Testament is not even named. We know her as simply “Peter’s [Simon's] wife’s mother.” In other words, Peter’s mother-in-law. Although she is not named, her brief story must be considered important because it appears in three of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. If one considers the story, it becomes significant not only because of the miracle of healing by Jesus, but because of her actions immediately following.

First, I should point out that Matthew uses the name Peter, while Mark and Luke refer to her as Simon’s wife’s mother. Remember that this is the same person and does not indicate a contradication in stories: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.” (Matt. 4:18).

The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law occurs early in Jesus’ ministry. He has entered Capernaum after coming down from the mountain where he taught His disciples. He has healed a leper and the centurion’s servant. He then enters Peter’s house.

“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.”

(Matt. 8:14, 15)

What is striking about this story is the reaction of Peter’s mother-in-law to her healing. She did not run out into the street shouting that she was healed. She did not scurry to the temple to show the priests that she was alive and walking. She did not join the ancient equivalent of Toastmasters and begin the rounds of speaking engagements.

Her immediate response was to serve Jesus. She went straight back to the source of her healing and dedicated her time directly to Him. I think sometimes we forget to do that. We throw ourselves at God’s feet in prayer when we need something. Then, when that prayer is answered, we tell everyone about it except the One who brought it about. We end up thanking God only in a round-about way when we tell others what He did for us.

Peter’s wife’s mother returned in quiet service to the Jesus that healed her. She must have eventually shared her experience, because it appears that by the time the Gospels are written, her salvation is a well-known story. But before all else, she went to the Lord in the greatest way we can honor Him — by serving Him. She gave Him the first fruits of her praise and thanksgiving.

Do you always remember to go to God first with your praise as well as your prayers? I can think of times when maybe I didn’t. We can learn the lesson from Peter’s mother-in-law that glorifying God is not always about shouting His name from the rooftops for all to hear. Sometimes, it is accomplished by simply giving Him the recognition first in service to Him.

Image source: ChristiansUnite.com

christian women, Biblical women, New Testament women, Peter, Simon, Peter Simon’s mother in law, unnamed women of the Bible