Radical Womanhood

Abuse and Hope

Over the weekend, I had a lovely lunch with Nancy Winston of Shared Hope International. As we enjoyed the pleasant summer weather and the beautiful views of historic Annapolis, MD, she told me a bit about her recent trip to India, Nepal and Fiji on behalf of Shared Hope. It was billed as a "journey home" to the place in India where former Congresswoman and Shared Hope founder Linda Smith personally witnessed the tragedy of sex trafficking, an event which galvanized her to start this ministry. Ten years later, members of Shared Hope were back to celebrate what God has done in the intervening decade in India and numerous other nations through the efforts of Shared Hope and its partners.

While Shared Hope battles sex trafficking on the legal and legislative fronts, it also provides homes for the women who have been rescued from sexual slavery and their children--many of whom become orphans when their HIV-infected mothers pass away. In addition, Shared Hope provides employment opportunities for these women through the Women's Investment Network (WIN) program. In fact, when the Shared Hope team was in India, they learned that the WIN program at the Village of Hope in Ashagram, India, had just received a huge order from Target Stores for their handcrafted leather frames. Shared Hope does not want to create a culture of dependency, but rather a system of restoration that provides women and children with the good news of the gospel, a refuge from abuse, education and job-training, and a place to worship Jesus Christ. In fact, the first woman who was rescued and came to live at the Village of Hope in Ashagram is now married and the mother of a baby daughter. Her transformation is inspiring.

If you have a few moments, I would recommend reading Shared Hope's travel blog. The entries are brief, so you will not have to invest a lot of time to get an overview of their work in these three nations. But I think you will be encouraged to see what the Lord is doing through Shared Hope. (Though this is one of the ministries I support through a portion of the sales of my first book, your direct donations would be gratefully received, as well.)

Photos: Nancy Winston with a child at the Village of Hope; Linda Smith (left) views the clothing made at the WIN program.

When Dinner Has Social Consequences

When you watch TV, dinner is portrayed as a grab-and-go event -- the chief objective being food delivered fast to the stomach. In commercials, busy moms are offered "nutritious" options for feeding their distracted family members. But the message is still about the food, not the time together.

However, in a report on teens and drug abuse, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University noted one interesting fact: 23 percent of teens who ate fewer than three dinners a week with their family had used marijuana, compared with 10 percent when the family ate together five or more times a week.

Once again, the importance of the private sphere shows up in studies about public policy. And this is not just the domain of women. Yes, women are called by Scripture to carry a special concern for the home, but fathers are also a key component of the private sphere. Both parents need to make this investment in the family. In fact, the report highlights that parents just plain need to be home more.

Elizabeth Planet, the center's director of special projects, who coordinated the study of 1,002 12-to-17-year-olds from April to June, highlighted the difference in behavior reported by parents and their children. "Half of the teenagers were saying they were out on school nights, but only 14 percent of the parents knew that they were out," she said. "There are lots of factors at play here. Parents are not paying attention. There are parents who are out in the evening themselves. There are parents out at work."

The correlation between allowing teens out late on school nights and the likelihood that people in their presence would be smoking and drinking was dramatic. Half of all teenagers allowed out after 10 p.m. said that they spent time with people smoking and using drugs, while 29 percent of those who returned home between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. reported the same behavior.

Home. It's really worth the investment.

The Olympics and the Church

Mark Altrogge at The Blazing Center blog wrote an eloquent perspective on the Olympics and the suffering of God's people under religious persecution:

The Lord who spoke the worlds into existence is not impressed by our pomp and technology and fireworks. But he is impressed by his people glorifying him despite persecution by a wicked government. His eyes are on his precious sheep singing his praises behind closed doors of their homes or praying under their prison covers.

When you watch the Olympics this week, lift up a prayer for the persecuted saints in China. Ask Jesus to have mercy on them, fill them with his joy and give them the grace to persevere. Ask Jesus to bring his kingdom, the most impressive kingdom of all, to earth.

He also wrote a post on how to pray for the persecuted church.

The Bible says we’re to remember those in prison as though we were in prison with them (HE 13.3), so I want to grow in faithfulness to pray for persecuted saints, both those imprisoned and those who are "free," but live under oppressive governments.

In the House of God, Forever

As I leaf through newspapers, absorbing the fear contained therein--faltering economies, wars preying upon civilians, the latest food contaminant--I hear a song bubble up in my heart.

When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in You, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in You
(Brooke Fraser: "Shadowfeet" from Albertine)

When pride seeps out of my heart, manifesting in my words and deeds; when my anger betrays my secret belief that I should be the one running the world; when worldliness draws me away from worship, I am grateful for the truthful rebuke of another song:

I'm a saint and a sinner
I'm a lover and a fighter
I'm a true believer
With great desire
I'm a preacher of grace,
Prophet of a love, teacher of truth
I've fallen down so many times
And here I stand in front of you
This is who I am
This is who I am
So take me and make me something so much more
This is who I am, this is who I am
So change me and make me someone
Better than before
(Third Day: "This Is Who I Am" from Revelations)

And when I ponder the winter of life and how all creaturely life must disintegrate, another song celebrates a beautiful truth:

And out of the darkness, You pulled me into Your glorious light
Saved from the death I was facing, rejoicing in the future hope that is mine
(Tim Hughes: "Out of the Darkness" from Holding Nothing Back)

Finally, the simple melody of this Psalm 23-infused song is an evening lullaby:

God is my shepherd,
I won't be wanting, I won't be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green, with quiet streams.
Even though I walk through the valley of death and dying
I will not fear because You are with me, You are with me
Your shepherd's staff comforts me
You are my feast in the presence of enemies
Surely goodness will follow me, follow me
In the house of God, forever
(Jon Foreman: "House of God, Forever" from Summer)

These are just a few of the songs in heavy rotation on my iPod, both for their lyrics and their memorable melodies. You can preview them in the new music widget in the right sidebar of this blog, too.

New Seasons and Changes

We're enjoying an early preview of autumn here in the Washington, D.C., area. The weather over the last few days has been crisp and cool at night and warm but not overbearing during the day. It makes me think about the changes to come as a new season looms.

One change that is coming is the transition of one of my friends from our home church to a new church that will be started, Lord willing, next year. Gene Mercado has been a pillar here at Covenant Life Church and a model for the way single men can lead and serve others. At various points during his time here, he has led our International Ministry, a caregroup (small group), and served in numerous other ministries. He has also taken the initiative to organize dinners and social outings to promote friendship and fellowship. He has hosted many guests, church interns, and visiting pastors in his home who have come to serve or visit Covenant Life Church. He leaves a huge hole in our church, but that simply verifies what a tremendous asset he will be to the new church Sovereign Grace Ministries will plant in San Francisco early next year. He is not going as a pastor, but as part of the team that will be supporting Toby Kurth, a graduate from this recent Pastors College class. A number of us gathered on Saturday night to honor him and pray for him as he prepares to move. Gene's example is a positive model for the single men in our church--and elsewhere!

Speaking of things to come, my book went to the printer this week, carrying a foreword from Wayne Grudem and endorsements from C.J. & Carolyn Mahaney, Bruce & Jodi Ware, Ligon Duncan, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, Dave Harvey, and Iain Duguid. I am tremendously grateful for the support of these authors, for my writing has been informed by their teaching and research. I expect the first time I will see the actual book will be at the Desiring God National Conference at the end of September, where my friend Scott Anderson has arranged for me to do a book-signing. (If you will be there, please come by and say hi!)

Finally, I enjoyed a fun hour with Janet Parshall and Nancy DeMoss this weekend during Janet's live call-in program on the Moody radio network, "Talking It Over with Janet Parshall." I sound like I am calling in from Mars, thanks to the fantastic quality of my phone. But Nancy and Janet sound great, and they are really the ones you should listen to, anyway. It was an honor to be asked to join this conversation about true womanhood and feminism. If you want to hear the program, you can download it from the show's website.

(Photos: Gene Mercado, front and center, surrounded by well-wishers on Saturday night; praying for Gene; Janet Parshall.)

William Tyndale: A Life Transformed by God's Word

Have you ever heard a message so compelling that you listen over and over again? (It's a sad reflection on my own distracted heart that not every sermon hits me this way.) Most recently, it was a message about William Tyndale by John Piper from the New Attitude conference that stirred such affections. I retrieved it out of the iPod of Good Intentions, that vessel of compulsively collected sermons that often attract electronic dust before I remember to listen to them. But am I ever glad I hit play on this one!

First, I am a dedicated fan of Piper's biographical messages, for they blend church history with a sermon. I am both instructed and edified at their conclusion. (This is why I also collect his "The Swans Are Not Silent" series of biographies.)

Second, I relish Piper's tangents. As he traced the life of the man who most profoundly affected both the English language and the English Bible, Piper took the young audience to task for their flabbiness in communication. He rested his verdict on one word: "like." Preach it, pastor! Despite my active dislike of this verbal hiccup, if you hear it often enough, it imprints itself on your brain, making it nearly impossible to avoid, like, regurgitating it later on. I mentally reprove myself every time I catch it coming out of my mouth. Which it does, unfortunately.

Third, I am galvanized by Piper's passion for the big picture of the Kingdom. As he spoke of William Tyndale, who was burned at the stake for his translation of the English Bible, Piper said: "Forty two years old. Never married. Never buried." Then he went on to implore those who listened to appreciate the spiritual heritage they have and to continue the work of translating the Bible into other languages. His concluding charge was simple but heartfelt: "I plead with you, don't waste your life. Male or female, be like William Tyndale."

Amen. Get it now. Get it for free. Be informed and be edified. No excuses.

Eat Bitter

Even at highway speeds, I could see the drivers in the opposite lanes smiling, singing, chatting on their phones. Sealed in their air-conditioned vehicles, they could not hear any warnings even if I had screamed at them.

"Turn around! Don't go on! Horrible traffic jam ahead!"

In only a matter of moments, they would discover what I had already seen: miles and miles of vehicles at a dead stop, about a dozen fire trucks blocking the highway, one charred van, and no escape. They had no idea of what lay ahead, but they were about to encounter a miserable morning.

I wonder how many sat in their cars and steamed, cursing the traffic jam and complaining into their mobile phones. This is Washington, D.C., land of the hyper-ambitious and the overscheduled — I would venture 90 percent.

We Americans have been blessed in numerous material ways. Though there is plenty of room for improvement, our government, economy, and communities run fairly smoothly — especially in comparison to many developing nations. I wonder if those blessings can be taken for granted, creating an expectation of a hassle-free life. I know this attitude is revealed in my heart when I'm the one stuck in the unexpected traffic jam. Faced with any small trial, I am tempted to meet it with a stream of complaints.

Contrast this with what people learn in other cultures. The Chinese, for example, have a phrase: "eating bitter." They are taught that enduring hardship — "eating bitter" — is as valuable as overcoming it. Too often I don't think "eat bitter" — I think, how can I change this circumstance to my liking?

In my job, I often have to document hardship and difficulty. I've filmed post-Katrina loss in New Orleans; squalid, isolated poverty in rural Bolivia; teeming roadside beggars in Ethiopia; and drug cartel gang tags in the urban war zone of Juarez, Mexico. What stands out to me in these memories is how quiet and uncomplaining the children are in developing nations. Oh, I'm sure they can throw a temper tantrum as well as any American child, but the frequency must be far less. I have hours and hours of footage with children from other nations quietly watching our interviews. They are the silent spectators on the sidelines, observing the conversation but never busting the take.

To be honest, that would be nearly impossible back home. The sound of little voices crying and whining is the soundtrack of our lives. I wonder if that's because we do not learn to "eat bitter." We are taught to fight back, to stand up for our rights, to make a difference.

On the surface, those are true and noble ideas — when the cause is justified. Unfortunately, as I examine this tendency in my own life, I tend to exercise those values in defense of myself, my convenience, and my perceived rights. I'm prone to make waves, to defend myself, to change what I don't like. I especially don't like repetitive, intrusive noises — a rattling blind, a squeaky shopping cart, a loud walkie-talkie issuing a stream of inane conversation, the chest-thumping bass of the passing car's music. I'm quick to require change, to fix the rattle, to roll up my car windows, to switch carts.

(This is my current article on Boundless. To read the rest of it, visit their webzine.)

Unintentionally Funny

A few weeks ago, I recorded an interview with the Pilgrim Radio network. It was at the end of a Friday, after a long week at work. My brain cells were AWOL. Though I mangled John Ensor's book title when I referenced it (my apologies!), I thought I was holding it together fairly well. Until the end, that is. After a lengthy conversation about singleness, the host, Bill Feltner, asked me if I had anything else to add. So I began an earnest tangent about how I've been struck by the brevity of life, the reality of eternal rewards, and how few days we have to earn these rewards. Blah, blah, blah, etc. I wrapped up this little sermonette with the pithy observation that "after all, you never know when you might wake up and find yourself dead."

It took a split second it took for the sound of my voice to reach my ears and register in my brain. As soon as the loop was completed, I burst into high-pitched laughter, squealing, "That doesn't make ANY sense! Can I do that again? Wake up and find yourself DEAD??? HA HA HA HA HA...!"

Then Bill said, "Nope. I just ended the recording. We're going to keep that in there. The humor is a nice touch."

I have no idea if he was teasing me or not. But for those of you who live in the Nevada region, you may be able to listen and let me know. (I hope he edited out the part when my cell phone suddenly rang in the middle of our conversation!) The interview will air in two parts on "His People", Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5 at 5:04 a.m.; 3:04 p.m.; and 12:04 a.m., after the news (Eastern time zone). You can also listen live online during those times.

And just remember, you never know when you might wake up and find yourself dead. Consider yourself warned. :)

Speaking His Language

Yesterday on Revive Our Hearts, Nancy Leigh DeMoss interviewed two women, the authors of How to Get Your Husband to Talk to You. I haven't read the book, but the show was intriguing. It addressed some of the common problems men and women experience while trying to communicate. Even though I'm single, I have experienced some of these issues in my friendships with men. There were a few "a-ha" moments as I listened to the program. Though these women were speaking in broad generalities (and we all know men who are the exceptions), I think their three main points were spot on:

• The number one reason men don’t want to talk to their wives is women have a tendency to over-react, and not only do they over-react, but what they over-react to is the truth.

• Women like to give the novel. Men want to hear the Cliff Notes.

• Our tendency to express love by worrying, fretting, and fussing isn’t necessarily the best way to respond to life. One of the things that we can learn as we watch the way that men interact is that, when we do worry, fret, and fuss, it doesn’t necessarily change anything or make it better. The Bible says don’t worry—don’t fret or fuss, that’s another edition—it doesn’t add a single hour to your life. So actually, a male’s perspective, a husband’s perspective is the more spiritual, yet we hold it against them so often that they don’t do it.

Check out "Speaking His Language"--it might offer a few useful tips for talking to the men you know.

And speaking of Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Revive Our Hearts, the True Woman '08 conference is just about sold out. The early bird discount ends tonight at midnight, so if you're thinking about going, now is the time to sign up. Hope to see you there!

Just Two Days Left for a Great Deal

(See the update below for the latest discount!)

It's one thing when you find a great bargain. It's even better when it's for something incredibly valuable. So I'm here to tell you that you only have two days left to save 35% off something that would be a bargain at any price: the soon-to-be-released ESV Study Bible. I placed my order last night. I wasn't about to miss this outstanding opportunity--I've been eagerly waiting for this Bible for years.

The study notes that accompany this Bible are extensive but not difficult to read. The ESV Study Bible's publisher, Crossway, has posted the introduction to Psalms as an example of what to expect. (You can download it here, excerpt-psalms-intro.pdf). Crossway has also given extensive consideration to the full-color illustrations that are included. Managing Editor Justin Taylor recently posted on his blog what they did for an entry on Jesus' tomb:

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday after Passover (probably in April of 33 A.D.) at “Golgotha” (Aramaic for “Place of a Skull”; the Latin Vulgate translated it as “Calvary”). After he died, his body was wrapped in linen clothes and placed in Joseph of Arimathea’s newly hewn tomb, located in a garden.

For the ESV Study Bible we brought together the best people we could find to help us reconstruct what Golgotha and the tomb would have looked like. So we employed the skills of archaeological architect Leen Ritmeyer, widely considered the world’s leading authority on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Dr. Ritmeyer was the chief architect of the Temple Mount Excavations which took place in Jerusalem after the Six-Day War. He served in a similar capacity in the Jewish Quarter Excavations and also in the City of David Excavations, producing important reconstruction drawings for all of them and for many other sites in Israel and Bible Lands.

Using Dr. Ritmeyer’s extensive research and new drawings, we then turned to the illustration firm, Maltings Partnership (in Derby, England) to produce the final, full-color paintings. We knew of Maltings’ superb work from their reconstruction drawings in the DK Travel Guides and the National Geographic Traveler guides. We could not be happier with the final results.

I recently was able to ask Dr. Ritmeyer some questions about Golgotha and the Temple Mount, along with the tomb of Jesus.

This is a fascinating interview with Dr. Ritmeyer and I highly recommend reading it.

As if getting your hands on an ESV Study Bible wasn't enough, and if getting a 35% discount wasn't enough, you also receive a free online version. The ESV Study Bible is the first study Bible ever to be published simultaneously in print form and online—and the online edition will be available free to all who purchase a copy of the print edition.

"Okay, okay! How do I get this great discount?" you may ask.

Here's the answer: from now until July 31, friends of Sovereign Grace Ministries are invited to pre-order the Study Bible at a 35 percent discount. Simultaneously, Crossway will donate five percent of these purchases to Sovereign Grace Ministries. These donations will be used to support families who are training at the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. To receive the discount, visit www.crossway.org/8sbsg.

The ESV Study Bible will come out this October.

UPDATE: Though this special pre-order offer has expired, another one has developed. Sovereign Grace Music has released a new CD entitled Psalms. If you are among the first 5,000 people to purchase the CD, you get a coupon for $17.50 off the ESV Study Bible (hardcover edition), to be released in October. Visit the Sovereign Grace Store to download a free song, "Praise the Lord," from this project or to order it online.