His Healing Heart

A dear friend went to be with Jesus yesterday after a nearly year-long battle with cancer. In thinking about the question many of us have after a loved one dies—“Why didn’t God choose to heal them?”—I wanted to read through this short piece I wrote for Today’s Christian Woman magazine a few years ago. I was surprised that I never posted the full piece on my blog, so here it is. It just touches on my thoughts today, so I hope to soon write more about death and loss. 
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His Healing Heart
God’s provision of health reveals much about his nurturing character.

TCW (May/June 2012) 

“God doesn’t always heal.”

I think these words are meant to convey that Christians should seek the will of God, as we don’t know if he’s allowing illness for some purpose that’s ultimately for the believer’s good. Or perhaps these words are meant to remind us that we aren’t entitled to blessings or in any position to demand them from God.

A similar, well-intentioned statement is: “Our greatest spiritual growth comes through trials.” This is probably meant to remind us that trials cause us to run to God and may reveal a complacent heart.

Indeed, these are important lessons for the believer to reflect on when life is going well. But such statements may be deeply harmful when made to those who are struggling through an illness or difficult life circumstances.

That’s because even strong Christians may be tempted to doubt God’s love at times when they’re overwhelmed by physical or emotional pain. Hearing “God doesn’t always heal” might cause a person to focus on the idea that she’s the exception—and then question, Why doesn’t God want to heal me? Am I less important to God, or less worthy than others? 

In this way, these statements may paint an ugly picture of God as preferential, or indifferent, or harsh—like a drill sergeant who uses only extreme methods to whip us into shape, and who favors the strong.

There’s a truer statement to be made that reflects God’s love for us: God always heals. Whether it’s through temporary healing provided in this present life, or in the complete physical and emotional healing that he will provide in eternity (Revelation 21:4), God heals all wounds. 

God’s Daily Care 

Consider how God heals us physically, in this present life, the vast majority of the time. Think about all the times you’ve had colds, headaches, back pain, an upset stomach, and cuts and bruises. These didn’t just go away—each time the illness or pain passed because God provided healing, both through his design of the body and by his hand (James 1:17). God’s design of our physical body tells us something profound about God: He cares so deeply about our pain that he built in a system of healing.

Further, most of us are relatively healthy, most of the time. Although it may be easy to recall lengthy or painful illnesses, it’s impossible for most folks to count the number of days they’ve been well—there are just too many. This should remind us that God is caring for us on a daily basis. 

I’ve observed a surprising trait among Christians who suffer from chronic illness or disability: They overflow with joy and demonstrate faith in a measure that isn’t typically found among the healthy. How is this possible? Pain certainly isn’t the impetus for rejoicing. This is surely a result of a felt abundant provision from God. 

With this in mind, it seems our greatest spiritual growth isn’t from a trial itself—it’s not pain that makes us spiritually stronger. Rather, our growth comes through God’s provision when we’re experiencing trials. When we witness his love, comfort, and healing, we learn experientially and relationally about who God is.

Health and healing show us that God is relational, aware of our needs, and that he’s the provider of every good thing. These blessings testify to us about God’s character—and remind us that we are known and loved.

The (Rest of the) Christmas Story

Christmas is more than a story of a birth. It is first and foremost the story of God's gift:

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Here is the beginning of the story, the reason for Jesus' birth (Romans 3:9b-26):

 ... all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
    not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
    no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
    all have become useless.
No one does good,
    not a single one.” [Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3]
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
    Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”[Psalms 5:9; 140:3.]
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[Psalms 10:7]
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16     Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”[Isaiah 59:7-8]
18     “They have no fear of God at all.”[Psalms 36:1]
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Jesus explained his God-given purpose in John 3. These are the words of Jesus:

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:16-21)

This is my favorite part of the Christmas story: No one earns God's gift. It is free, a gift in the truest sense:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

May God bless you by giving you a better understanding of his gift this Christmas.

Does God Heal All Wounds?

Now on TCWoman.com (Today's Christian Woman):

“God doesn’t always heal.” It’s true, and it’s also the opposite of the truth. http://bit.ly/17ifvUm

Separation of what and what?

What do folks mean by "separation of church and state"?

Thomas Jefferson first wrote these words to the Danbury Baptists as assurance that a state religion would not be created, and each American would be able to worship in the manner of their choosing:

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." (Read it in its entirety on the Library of Congress website.)

Sadly, Jefferson's statement of religious freedom has become a statement of religious oppression, in essence: "Americans, check your religion at the door. Religious Americans must stop being religious when they express their opinions about American law!"

This is the opposite of what Jefferson presented.

It is unconstitutional to prohibit the free exercise of religion at any time, including when people vote. We all take our identity and experiences--and our resultant worldview--to the polls. There is nothing more American than the right of each individual to vote or opine their conscience.

Wasting My (God-Given) Time?

I often wonder if I'm using my time well. Do I regularly do things that bring glory to God? Are my activities helping me to know God better? Am I making good choices that have eternal significance? 

Or am I just wasting the days that God has given to me?

Sometimes, I'm certain that I'm wasting time. Like when I plop down in front of the TV and mindlessly watch a program—specifically because I feel I don't have enough physical or mental energy to do anything else. Or when I use Facebook to compare old photos of myself. (It's amazing how much time I can waste contemplating my hairstyles through the years.)

At other times, when I'm doing something mundane, like housework, I know intellectually and spiritually that it isn't a waste of time. I recognize that God uses work to build obedience. And it's both satisfying and motivating to complete a task; the satisfaction of a job well done is a blessing from God. BUT ... like the writer of Ecclesiastes so well articulates, work is wearisome. I sweep, frustrated that the dust is already beginning to gather the second I've removed it. I cook, frustrated that hunger will set in again, just a few hours later.  

The writer of Ecclesiastes then suggests that we try to enjoy our blessings as best as we can:

^"Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past" (5:18-20).
 
Oddly enough, this instruction to "enjoy life" presents perhaps the greatest mental struggle for me. I often feel guilty when God blesses me, perhaps because many of my favorite blessings seem silly and trivial, in my own estimation. For example, I love to dance. I love to play with other people's children. (I don't have children of my own.) I love to run around with my parents' dog. I love to watch small animals—in particular, birds and bunnies. And I wonder: Aren't these activities—which make me smile—just an utter waste of time? Shouldn't I be doing something more useful: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned? Or, at least, more spiritual: praying, fasting, studying God's Word? And my desire to do things that make me happy ... isn't that just selfishness?

Yesterday, while I was in my car, I was half-listening to "Pastors Perspective," a radio show where listeners can call Pastor Chuck Smith and ask him a question. A caller asked whether it was acceptable for him to use spoken word and hip hop to worship God. (Apparently, someone from his church had told him that these genres were too worldly and must not be used for any type of ministry.) My ears perked up at the words "hip hop." This is the type of dance that I most enjoy. And it's the thing I most often feel guilty about, thinking that it's a silly waste of time.

Pastor Chuck admitted that he wasn't very familiar with hip hop. He explained that there were lots of methods and means of worship. And (to paraphrase Pastor Chuck): "If anything brings glory to God, I should not fight against it."

This got me thinking about how I fight against the things that God surely intends as blessings to me:

• Dance is a tremendous blessing. Every time I dance, I feel such deep gratitude that God has given me a strong, healthy body and the ability to express thoughts and emotions through movement.

• When I play with children, I learn so much about my own spiritual condition. Young children are transparent sinners: They lie, cheat, steal, and express all kinds of selfishness, never trying to hide a bit of it. (Adults later teach kids how to hide their sin by putting on external good etiquette.) Still, no matter how bad kids act, we recognize that children are deserving of love. Even our sinful society recognizes the value of children.

• And when I run around with Bernie the Beagle, or gaze at a small woodland creature, my awe and praise ultimately goes to the Creator of all things. I recognize that only a good Creator would create in such a delightful manner.

Through the enjoyment of God's blessings, I am moved to worship God.

The caller on "Pastors Perspective" mentioned that he meditated on Psalm 45 in thinking about his own passion for rhyme. So I had to look it up when I got home. It begins:    
 
 Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet." —Psalm 45:1

I have a feeling the radio caller knows he was created to be a spoken word artist. It wasn't just that he learned a skill; it was something that began as a desire because God intended for it to be developed. God designated for him to live during a time in history when he could express that God-given skill through hip hop. God provided the means for him to hone that skill. Out of that enjoyment and blessing come praise.

Every Christian is called to do good, to love others, and to worship God. I think I've been very narrowly defining what it means to "do good," to "love others," and to "worship." This (wrongly) causes me to believe I'm wasting my time.

I was created to dance, to play, to fully enjoy the sights and sounds that make me smile. I was created to worship the Creator through the enjoyment of his blessings. And that certainly is no waste of time.
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THINK IT THROUGH
1) Do you ever feel like you're wasting time? Do you think your concern has any merit? Or is it unjustifiable guilt?  

2) Identify some unique activities that cause you to worship God (e.g. watching a sunset, a hobby, spending time with specific people). How does engaging in this activity bring about worship? What specific ways do you worship God after engaging in this activity (e.g. gratitude, awe)?

3) Why is good work so frustrating sometimes? Read Genesis 3, focusing on verses 17-19. Someday that curse will be lifted. Try to imagine what "perfect work" will be like. To help you imagine, think of a time when you were doing something that was so satisfying, you lost track of time.

Everyday Matters Bible for Women

Some of my pieces were published in the Everyday Matters Bible for Women, which was released in Sept. 2012. Today I discovered that you can read a few of them for FREE in Google books--just search for my name and it will pull up the pages.

You can view more information on this Bible at Amazon or Christianbook.com. 

"October Baby," Inspired by Abortion Survivor, Opens March 23

"October Baby" opens in theaters this Friday, March 23. The movie was inspired by the life story of Gianna Jessen, the survivor of a failed abortion. http://www.octoberbabymovie.net/

A "Perfect" Diet?

I was having a conversation with a some Christian friends about the "perfect" diet. We quickly came to the conclusion that while some foods are nutritionally superior (and others hardly qualify as "food"), there's no such thing as the perfect diet. 

That's because there are no perfect foods—all of our food is grown in a post-Fall, imperfect world. After Adam and Eve sinned, God declared that the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17). So all of the edible plants in the world have been growing from cursed ground since that time. All animals have eaten those plants, and carnivores have eaten other animals that ate the plants. In essence, all vegetables, fruits, grains, meat, and animal products (e.g. milk, butter, lard) are contaminated.

When Health is an Idol

I used to watch The Dr. Oz Show religiously. Actually, I’d record it so I could rewind and jot down information on supplements to take, medical tests to demand, and the right type of lip balm to keep my pout healthy year-round. While no human physician has a fail-proof prescription for perpetual good heath, I thought Dr. Mehmet Oz’s seemed pretty close.

Then the unthinkable happened: Dr. Oz was diagnosed with a precancerous polyp in his intestine. He told People magazine, “This was a shakeup for me. I have done everything right.”

I, too, thought I was doing everything right. Along with watching Dr. Oz, I worked out more than 10 hours every week, which included teaching two hip-hop classes at my gym. I meticulously planned my meals to have a nutritionally exact balance. I weighed, measured, and recorded every bit of food I consumed. I had a schedule for drinking specific quantities of water, a schedule for taking supplements throughout the day, and a schedule for eating high-potassium foods at regular intervals.

Then I, too, got sick. 

"Come, Lord Jesus!" or "Wait, Lord Jesus!" ... or Both?

READING: 2 Peter 3

I often hear Christians excitedly say and pray, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" 

Meanwhile, my own prayer has often been, "Wait, Lord Jesus, wait!" because I want family and friends who aren't submitting to God's authority to have a chance to recognize it. I've been greatly comforted by 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

I think both of these prayers—"Please come!" and "Please wait!"—represent the same desire: We want what God wants. We want everyone who will eventually recognize God's authority to do so, and we want God to do away will evil and suffering, and to rule. We want his perfect justice.

Paul is Hard to Understand & His Words Will Get Twisted: 2 Peter 3

"Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. ... And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of [Paul's] comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction." —2 Peter 3:11-12a, 15-16 (NLT)

In this passage, I've always focused on the concept of God's patience. Today, when I read this passage, something popped out at me for the first time: Peter tells us that the Bible will be twisted, wrongly interpreted, and thus made to mean something that it doesn't. Peter specifies that this will occur in particular with Paul's letters.

In recent years, I've heard more strong criticism of Paul's letters than of any other part of the Bible, from both folks who are not Christians and from devout believers.

It doesn't surprise me to hear folks who aren't Christians rail again Paul's statements on topics such as the sin of homosexuality and how women should not teach men. It's understandable that these positions would seem unfair, even unjust, to someone who is not submitted to God's authority. (One friend told me he'd be amenable to exploring Christianity if he could throw out Paul's letters from Scripture.)

But I'm perplexed by comments I've heard from Christians such as, "Paul got it wrong. Paul got a lot of things wrong," and "Scripture can be interpreted in many different ways."

Helpful Bible Reading Resource

I've been using the Horner Bible reading plan for a couple months now and am very much enjoying this method of reading the Bible. A PDF of the plan is available free online: http://www.wbfva.org/files/professor_grant_horners_
bible_reading_system.pdf.

The method was devised by Grant Horner, who serves as a professor at The Master's College. It involves reading 10 chapters from throughout the Bible every day. The beauty of the system is that you read just ONE chapter from a book of the Bible, so you get a chance to read different styles of writing (e.g. historical record, personal letters, poetry, and more). Most beneficial, you can see the connectedness of the books of the Bible, as one big story that has a overseeing Author.

With this plan, every day you will read from:

• the Gospels
• the Pentateuch (Torah)
• the Epistles (you'll usually read two chapters, one from two different Epistles)

"I Believe: What Every Kid Needs to Know About the Christian Faith"

The curriculum I wrote, "I Believe: What Every Kid Needs to Know About the Christian Faith," is now available on BuildingChurchLeaders.com. It answers the question, "What do Christians believe?" using concepts from the Apostles' Creed. It includes 10 lessons along with a Leader's Guide with teaching ideas and activities. Some of the specific topics addressed include:

• What does it mean to believe in God?
• Why do Christians call God their “Father”?
• Is there anything God can't do? 
• Why did Jesus have to die?
• Did Jesus really come back to life?
• Does Jesus have authority over me?
• Why will I be judged? What have I done?
• Why didn’t Jesus stay on earth?
• Who is the Holy Spirit?
• Why do Christians call each other “brother” and “sister”?
• What do I need to do to be forgiven?
• Could I really live forever?
• How do I know if I’ll go to heaven?  

If you have kids, work with youth, or would just like a quick refresher in how to explain Christian beliefs, check out this PDF download. It's selling for $19.95 and you can make up to 1,000 copies for your church or organization.

Encouraging Words from God's Word: 1 Cor. 15:58

"Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." --1 Corinthians 15:58, NLT

I'd imagine that most Christians go through a season of discouragement, wondering, Why am I doing this? Does my work for God even matter? Does it make any difference?  

I've asked these questions a lot. My blog is the perfect example of the downward spiral that can occur when I question the value of my work. I began blogging in 2006 and was consistent at posting weekly for three years. Then grad school kept me from writing regularly for a couple years. After graduation, my time seemed to fill up with a variety of other projects. Really, it was other excuses, driven by the question, Why should I keep writing about God and faith on a blog that nobody reads?

REVIEW: Take a Pass on "The Daniel Fast"

Review of The Daniel Fast, Susan Gregory (Tyndale, 2010)

I requested The Daniel Fast because I’d been interested in the topic of fasting. The concept of a partial fast was intriguing, particularly since author Susan Gregory offered a “how to” that seemed more in-depth and extensive than anything I’d previously come across. (In hindsight, I realize this is probably because very little instruction is required for a “no food” plan, which is typically how fasting is discussed, while Susan’s book is largely about food preparation.)

But The Daniel Fast plan is not a Scripturally-based model for fasting. Rather, it’s a nutritional plan with the potential to have a spiritual component—I will further explain why that potential isn’t reached—catering to those who would like to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet.

"How to Read the Bible" on BuildingChurchLeaders.com

The curriculum I wrote, "How to Read the Bible" is now available on BuildingChurchLeaders.com.

If you have kids, work with youth, have friends who've asked, "What's the Bible about?" or would just like to read a quick overview of the Bible, check out this PDF download. It's selling for $14.95 (worth every penny!) and you can make up to 1,000 copies for your church or organization.

DESCRIPTION (from BuildingChurchLeaders.com)
As a curriculum for middle school students, "How to Read the Bible" clearly explains the different genres of God's Word so kids can better understand what they're reading and how to apply it to their daily lives. With examples and anecdotes all middle school students can relate to, this kid-friendly hermeneutics will help the ancient Scriptures come alive in new and exciting ways. And hands-on Bible studies flesh out and reinforce the principles being explored and taught. While this flexible curriculum can be given to highly motivated students for personal study, it's perfect for use in a small or large group setting. "How to Read the Bible" can also be a helpful supplement for your current catechism or Sunday school materials.

Are We Gossip Girls?

Note: ABC network recently announced that it will change the title of its TV pilot Good Christian Bitches to Good Christian Belles. But this doesn’t change the content of the show or its characterization of Christian women. It’s like giving a garbage dump a dressed-up name, like “repository” or “treasure-trove,” and thinking folks won’t see what it is … anyhow, below are some thoughts I wrote about gossip in the church before the name change was announced.

Are We Gossip Girls?

Good Christian Bitches characterizes believers in an unfavorable (and partially true) light.
By Holly Vicente Robaina

When a friend told me about ABC’s plans for the pilot Good Christian Bitches, I was shocked. Based on Kim Gatlin’s book by the same title, the proposed show is about a divorcee who’s life becomes the hot topic for the local churchgoing gossipmongers. Several Christian organizations, including the Parents Television Council and the American Family Association, are pushing ABC to cancel the show.

I should say that I was doubly shocked: First, that any station would attempt use the b-word as part of a show’s title. And second, I felt ABC was taking a slap at me.

Why am I taking this personally? I wondered. The b-word had set me off, but it was the ordering of the words in the title that more deeply troubled me. I couldn’t pass it off as referring to nominal “Christians”—those who would self-label as believers, yet they haven’t made a commitment to obedience, submission, and the pursuit of holiness as Christ-followers. Rather, the title indicates that the show is about good Christian characters—presumably, true believers.

ABC’s writers could have chosen an ironic title, like “Good Christian Girls,” then filled the show with backbiting, judgmental characters. That would have annoyed me, but not stung in the way the actual title does. It’s the juxtaposition of “good Christian” with the b-word. The implication is that “bitch” is an accurate description of a good Christian woman.

In other words, it felt like ABC was telling me, “Admit it, Holly—you, like all Christian women, are a mean, gossipy girl. We’re just telling the truth and exposing Christians for what they really are—malicious, self-righteous [b-words].”

Thing is, I can’t blanketly declare that this is untrue. Christians have a reputation for discussing moral failings for the sole purpose of gossipy entertainment. And that isn’t just a false stereotype. For example, we Christian women sometimes put forth a holy purpose for sharing—such as prayer or organizing aid to meet someone’s need—and then spend more time talking about the needy person than addressing their need.

I’m certain that every true Christ-follower wants to avoid even the appearance of gossiping. So how do we become alert about the words slipping from our lips? And how do we keep gossip out of our churches?

A Natural Breeding Ground
We first have to acknowledge that the church is susceptible to gossip because of its structure. As one of my friends pointed out, gossip is promotional—it requires an audience and a meeting place where it may be promoted. So places where people gather regularly—schools, the workplace, gyms, and unfortunately, the church—are a natural breeding ground for it.

Second, every Christian woman needs to admit that she is capable of gossiping. We have the potential for committing any type of sin, including gossip. Rather than passing it off as, “I’m a Christian—I would never do that,” we need to recognize that our strength comes from God alone. We should regularly be praying that the Holy Spirit will allow us to speak only good words and will shut our mouths when needed. We should consistently be meditating on Scripture passages like Ephesians 4:29 and Philippians 4:8, and asking God to guard our mouths and minds.

And lastly, we must preserve the ability to speak frankly at church. The church is a place for confession and supplication. But too often, Christians keep mum about their struggles and needs because we’re afraid of being judged and becoming the focus of gossip. The sad result: Prayers are never spoken, healing never takes place, and needs go unmet.

My greatest moments of spiritual growth have occurred when I’ve shared my pain and shortcomings with other Christian women. My friend Trisha alerted me that the sleeplessness I’d been experiencing might be related to spiritual warfare. (I’d never considered this—and it was.) Yvonne prayed a bold prayer of healing after I lost part of my eyesight. (I wouldn’t have prayed this myself. My sight was restored.) And Kathryn is the trustworthy person I can run to whenever I need accountability. (She keeps my secret while praying for me and urging me to repent.)

So silence isn’t the answer. While we need to do away with gossip, we must maintain safe community and communication within the church.

To Share or Not to Share
Practically, what can we do to curtail gossip?

Gossip often hides behind the guise of prayer. In group settings, leaders should direct the group to spend more time praying, and less time discussing prayer requests. It’s a lot harder to gossip when we’re consciously including God in our conversation!

Individually, we need to consider: Are we really praying for others when they ask? When we get a prayer chain email or phone call, do we actually pray for the requests, or just digest them for personal enjoyment (Proverbs 18:8)?

And we Christian women should ask ourselves a few questions before sharing anything:

1) Should I be the one to share this? Perhaps it would be better if the information came from another source, such as the person who has the need, one of their family members or close friends, or a church leader.

2) Do I have permission to share this? Always ask the person who is sharing a need with you whether this may be shared with others, rather than assuming it’s OK to pass along the prayer request (Proverbs 11:13).

3) To what extent should I share? Stick to details that help others to pray. Omit any information that you wouldn’t include in a public prayer (Proverbs 20:19).

4) What do I hope to accomplish by sharing this information? There’s always a reason why we’re sharing something. Consider all of your intentions. Ask yourself if you’re in any way motivated by any of the following:

• Comparing yourself with others
• Convincing others to take sides
• Expressing an opinion
• Putting someone “in their place”
• Shirking your responsibility for needed confrontation or restoration (e.g. triangulating)
• To have something to say and be included in the group discussion
• Getting the attention and admiration of others, as one who’s “in the know”
• Proving that you’re a good listener
• Trying to win friends
• Demonstrating a connection to your church
• Feeling like you have a purpose at your church

When we examine our words in this way, it may reveal areas of woundedness or lack in our own lives—we may be the one who truly needs prayer! We may discover unrecognized sin, such as a bias against someone that we hadn’t been aware of. We may find there’s a longing for connection or purpose that we need God to fill.

5) Do I need to share this for the safety of a friend or the church? If a friend expresses thoughts of suicide or appears to be a danger to others, obviously, we need to share their secret—with or without their permission (Leviticus 19:16b). Similarly, if you know a church member who is unwilling to ask for help in a financial crisis, or who is unrepentant for sin (Matthew 18:15-20), it isn’t gossip if you ask a pastor to intervene.

Good words build up the body of Christ. Let’s strive to be known for the wholesome talk that really does fill the church—our words of exhortation and compassion, motivated by love. Who knows—we might even inspire a television show about Christian women who love God and one another

Evidence for the Resurrection (in brief)

Resurrection Info

Response to "A Defense of Abortion"

A short response to Judith Jarvis Thomson’s “A Defense of Abortion” (http://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm):

JJT lays a weak foundation by beginning with anomalies as a defense of choice for all. Her first example, cases of rape, is often the first argument pro-choice advocates use because they know people are moved by cases of rape. Rape is alarmingly common. This was my greatest concern when I was contemplating the arguments surrounding abortion: I know dozens of women, including many close friends, who have been raped or sexually assaulted. I was sexually assaulted in high school. The thought of a victim being faced with a pregnancy that has been forced on her is horrifying.

However, pregnancy resulting from rape is extremely rare because:
(1) Many American women use ongoing birth control methods (the pill, IUD).
(2) For most women, there is a very narrow window in which they can become pregnant each month. For the most fertile women on the planet, it’s five to six days; average is perhaps two to four. (This is why couples are said to be “trying” to get pregnant; the average period for “trying” is having sex daily for five to nine months, based on the woman’s age, before a pregnancy is achieved.) Add in the many probability-lowering factors: sperm quantity/speed, health of the egg that month, the fact that eggs don’t always get fertilized even on a “fertile” day and that fertilized eggs often don’t implant, and that trauma increases the likelihood of miscarriage.
(3) rape victims who report the crime usually receive medical treatments to lessen the possibility of implantation of a potentially fertilized egg.

JJT’s second example, of pregnancy presenting a threat to the mother’s life, is also extremely rare. Such cases most often end in miscarriage long before any serious threat presents. More importantly, few pro-life advocates take the position that the at-risk mother must carry the pregnancy to term. Rather, a more consistent pro-life position is to assert that since all life is valuable, the mother’s life is no less valuable than the child’s. Since JJT is prone to using absurd, unrelated illustrations, I’ll use one of my own: Two construction workers are impaled through the chest by a steel rod. While surgeons could save the worker in the front by getting him immediately into surgery, the pressure of his body is sustaining the one in the back. The front worker’s choice will decide who lives.

Compare this with another silly illustration: A man is walking down the street and someone is blocking his path. He yells out, “I have an appointment and I must get there, so you need to move now!” But the pedestrian blocking the path doesn’t move. So the walking man pulls out a revolver and shoots the other pedestrian dead.

What’s my point? Anyone can create a ridiculous illustration (or even a plausible-yet-unrelated one) as a defense. It’s very dangerous to base one’s stance on unrelated scenarios such as the sudden appearance of a violinist that’s surgically attached to your body, or expanding babies that live in teeny, tiny homes and grow so quickly that they crush the homeowner inside. Or people who shoot pedestrians who don’t move quickly enough down the street. I would submit that the topic is far too serious—both pro-choice and pro-life advocates recognize that it’s a moral issue—to build one’s argument largely based on a string of analogies. Do coats and boxes of chocolate really have a direct correlation with mothers and fetuses?

I’d submit that analogies are helpful for explanation, but hardly the building blocks of good argumentation.

Moving on … a precedent shouldn’t be established merely based on anomalies. (Note that the Mosaic law takes anomalies into account, e.g. the norm is to rest on the Sabbath, but if your ox falls into a pit during the Sabbath, it’s good and right to do whatever work is needed to aid the animal.) We base our laws on the norm; we alter our laws to account for extenuating circumstances.

In any case, the above examples, of rape cases and of the at-risk mother, cannot in any sense be considered the norm in regard to abortion. As JJT has constructed her argument, using anomalies as the foundation and building upon that with piecemeal analogy, I find it unsubstantial and unpersuasive.

Aside from what JJT has presented, more important questions have been raised: What is the moral position for a Christian in regard to these rare cases? Is it morally permissible for a woman to terminate a pregnancy that results from rape? Or if her life is in danger? Realizing the limits of my own knowledge on these topics, I would refer those interested in more insight to Scott Rae, a philosophy professor and an ethicist who consults for hospitals on topics such as abortion, euthanasia, fertility treatments, and stem-cell research. He discusses some specific scenarios in his book “Moral Choices,” and I’m sure I could get a list of resource readings from him if anyone is interested.

Downtime

Feeling blue this season? Me, too. But for once, my primary goal isn't to get happy again. Instead, I'm most interested in finding out what God is teaching me through my sadness. Read more about my thoughts on this topic on Kyria.com:

Downtime

Could God have a sanctifying purpose for the sadness I feel?

Earlier this week, I realized I've been really depressed. I had no appetite. I couldn't sleep at night—though I did manage to sleep all day a few times. It felt like my greatest accomplishment was to get out of bed, take a shower, and dress in something other than my bathrobe. ...

FULL ARTICLE:
http://kyria.com/topics/hottopics/selfcare/downtime.html