Taste and See

Practical Theology for Women is only 154 pages from title page to the last footnote, but Wendy Horger Alsup packs every one of them with stick-to-your-ribs theological goodness. Unlike most books for women, there's no silly advice on how to have a happier life and very few cute little stories; nope, this book is hard core.

Alsup sticks to the basics of the study of God, dividing the book into three sections: "What is Theology?," "Who Is Our God?," and "Communicating with Our God. " But don't be fooled into thinking that having these things figured out is enough; the proof is in the pudding. The biggest and best thing about this little book is the poignant (and rather painful) way Alsup reveals that most of us live as practical atheists. If our lives were thoroughly examined they would show little evidence of the faith to which we claim to adhere. We are selfish, faithless, fearful Christ-followers. Yikes.

So what's a girl to do? It's not nearly as depressing as it sounds. Using her commanding knowledge of the Scripture and the heart of man (or woman, as the case may be), Alsup revives the soul by helping her reader understand the gracious God on whom she calls and His desire to empower us to live by faith. When we are imbibed with the Word and the Spirit of God, we are different people: we are Christ-like people.

Don't miss this one, friends. Theology is for us, not because we need to know the big words and be full of information, but because the knowledge of God truly changes our lives. Want to be a better wife, mother, employee? Leave the self-help books on the shelf, grab yourself a copy of Practical Theology for Women, and let Wendy Alsup guide you past your own understanding and into the depths of our marvelous God.

It's Over

I didn't vote for Obama, but in January he will become the leader of my country. This is not the first time I've been disappointed with election results, but this time I am choosing a different reaction. As my friend Sandy brought up in our community group on Sunday evening, we must realize that God uses all sorts of men, even those who do not follow hard after Him, to both discipline and protect His people (some biblical examples are King Ahasuerus, King Darius, and King Cyrus), and a "king's heart is but a stream of water in the hand of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:1).

So as for me, I will praise the Lord for the great thing He has done, saying:

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise." Daniel 2:20-23a

May we take very seriously the admonition of 1 Peter 2:13-17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to give honor and respect to our authorities and diligently pray for them, whether or not we happened to vote for them. And may America bless God.

Warning

This is what will happen to your children if you let them eat too much Halloween candy...

...or play in the leaves with a missionary kid. Thanks, Kate for the fun pictures!

Move over, Lydia

With all due respect to Lydia E. Pinkam's Vegetable Compound, I have found the answer to all of your "female complaints." I have discovered the perfect woman's tonic:

Yes, candy corn. It's delicious, it's nutritious, (it's made with honey, right?), and it's one-hundred percent fat-free. Wards off the afternoon energy slump and the PMS grouchies. When the kids are crabby, grab a handful. When the husband wonders why dinner's not on the table, grab one for him, too. But act now: don't wait, for after the bewitching hour it will all be gone!

Use only as directed. Side affects include but are not limited to headache, tooth decay, and stomach pudge. Please consult your doctor before taking this or any other snake oil potion to see if candy corn is right for you. Substance has been found to be highly addictive in laboratory rats, er, homeschool students. Do not administer to children.

Radical Womanhood

Carolyn McCulley's new book Radical Womanhood has officially hit the bookstores, and if you don't have it, go buy it.

Now.

Because you need it.


I mean it!


I "met" Carolyn via the internet back in February. She had posted about her book which was in the works, and I emailed her a curiosity question about her cover: I used to work for her publisher and thought I recognized the company that did the artwork. One thing led to another and I had the tremendous privilege of being on her editing team.

Carolyn's thoroughness and scholarship are top-notch. She articulates the errors found within the extreme thinking of the feminist movement without discounting the wrongs righted and honor due some brave women who refused to be quieted in the face of injustice, always reminding the reader that truth resides within the Word of God alone. Reading her findings challenged my thinking and encouraged me to examine my identity in Christ and my place in the created order. In taking me back to the early days of political feminism, and even further back to the dawn of history, Carolyn helped me to see not just why we do what we do, but whose idea it was in the first place, and how it all stacks up next to God's plan for His people. In my slightly biased opinion, this is the best book on the subject available today.

For a wonderful four-minute video overview, go to the Radical Womanhood website.

Thanks, Carolyn, for putting in all those long hours and giving us this great resource. You have blessed me immensely, and I'm sure many others will say the same.

Keep'n it real

Ok, I admit it. I'm trying to lose those ten pesky pounds I've acquired over the past few years (can't figure out where on earth I got them--wish I'd kept my receipt). I'm working out with Leslie and counting my calories with the Sparkies: six more to go!

The trouble I'm having is with fat, and not just the fat on my hips. Through tracking with Sparkpeople I've realized that while my daily caloric intake is within the acceptable range, most of them come from fat, and I'm low on carbs, fiber and protein. (Guess I need to lay off the Cheetos. Darn.)

So I've been looking for recipes and I picked up the Hungry Girl book at the library yesterday.

She's got some pretty good ideas like making brownies with cake mix and pumpkin puree, and eating turkey pepperoni, but to tell the fat-laden ugly truth, I like real food. Life is just way too short to eat fat free cheese and beef flavored soy bits. As a last resort I could stomach some of the deserts with low fat cool whip and sugar free chocolate pudding, but I just don't think you could fool my mouth with bran cereal coated onion rings or chicken style soy patties.

This foodie's going to have to pass on "Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World" and go for "Real-Food Eating with a Heaping Side of Self-Control." Anybody know where I can find it, cheap?

We now return to our regularly scheduled programing...

Whew! The last month's been a blur. With schooling, piano lessons, swimming lessons, a new children's church curriculum, and the crisis needs of some of our friends, I've barely had the chance to read other people's blogs (love that "blogs I'm following thing," by the way) and have had absolutely nothing to say on my own. Thanks to those of you who've shot me an email to say you missed me, or at least wondered if I was dead. I feel the love!

Anyway, I'm trying to get back in the blogging saddle again and in searching for something relevant to talk about, thought I'd start with my current musings on things in print.

First back to this one:

If you can discern your way through his liberal theology and socialist political sympathies, Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution is worth your time, not because you should be persuaded that God is a pacifist (a suggestion I find difficult to swallow when served with any portion of Scripture) but because we all need to be challenged to see Jesus as a helper of the disenfranchised rather than simply a vending machine for the shiny, happy, middle class American Christian. Check you local library for this one.

Next up on my reading list is Practical Theology for Women, by Wendy Horger Alsup. My husband was manning his ministry's booth at the Straight Up Conference where the rep from Crossway generously gave him a copy for me.

I've only read the preface so far, which is Wendy's story, but I can tell you that she certainly has the experience to back up her claims that God is great in rotten circumstances. It's a thin book, so I hope to finish it this weekend and be able to talk about it next week.