Pure Church

Watch John Piper reflect on John 4:27 ("They marveled that he was talking with a woman") here.

A new look at GirlTalk, but the same solid fellowship and reflections.

I'm looking forward to ordering copies of Wendy Horger Alsup's new book, Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in our Daily Lives. Some of you will know that Wendy is deacon of women's theology at Mars Hill Church. I first "bumped into her" through an interview series she did with Adrian across the pond.

I suspect that the book will be helpful to men as well (I'm looking forward to reading it), but I'll be eager to give copies to the women in the church. I'm for anything that communicates a big view of God and Christ with a resulting impact on our daily living.

Publisher's Description:

I never get tired of reading that moniker!! There is something about powerful, Spurgeonesque, sound preaching in Africa that is just plain exciting! Nice 3-piece suit, too! The Unashamed Workman reviews a sermon from Conrad Mbwewe on 1 John 5:13-15.

And Lance is stealing Tony's titles and asking some really good questions like:

As we enter the 21st century I’d like to pose some questions for those of us who came from, love and long to see reform in the black church. The first and perhaps most surprising is this: Should we begin to think in terms of a post-black church era? Is this the time to start thinking of re-defining the church apart from dominant ethnic labels? Granted, some of our other brothers and sisters may not be thinking this way, but why not take the lead? While thinking through your answers (and I’d welcome your responses and input) consider this: if we’re to continue having a black church who gets to define ‘blackness’?

Carolyn McCulley shares this quote from G.K. Chesterton passed on to her by a reader named Lindsay : "People talk of the pathos and failure of plain women; but it is a more terrible thing that a beautiful woman may succeed in everything but womanhood." Wow! Now I'm asking myself... with all the beautiful women around me (my wife, daughters, sisters at the church), am I doing everything I can to help them succeed in womanhood? Have I thought carefully, creatively and long enough about that part of my responsibility as a brother in Christ and a pastor to many women? I'm not beating myself up; just noting that this deserves more thought and action.

GospelDrivenLife is taking a blogging sabbatical... I think. He's on post #2 of reflections before going on his 1-week sabbatical. In the first post, he discusses how men around him hold him accountable for his blogging. I found this particularly humble, humbling, exposing and helpful:

What they have most helped with is to point out where my 25 years in ministry have tempted me to have “pet peeves” – or, to use biblical language, self-righteous anger. What do I mean by that? I mean that ministry involves conflicting with sin and error in my own heart and the hearts of people I serve. If a particular issue recurs, I am tempted to 1. self-righteousness (to think I am not guilty of such a thing), 2 impatience (as though I change quickly and they do not), 3. anger (I am tired of this issue and want to press for anger or shame motivated change). All of that is about pride and ambition and being angry that people did cooperate with my plans.

Lord willing, I'll post a more substantive post later today. But I just had a Mars/Venus kind of experience with my wife and thought I'd share the laugh.

Here's a simple illustration in how men and women (pardon the stereotypes) view money differently.

My wife just walked into the office and asked, "Do you have any change?"

I began to open the desk drawer for the cup of coins I keep there. Looking into the drawer, I ask, "How much?"

"Fifteen dollars," was her reply.

Fellas, when did fifteen whole dollars become "change"? It's expensive living in Cayman... but my word!

This helps to explain why when we're in the mall and I ask "do you have any money?" she always says "no." But then three stores later, she "finds" $20-40 (in her change purse) to purchase the blouse on sale.

When I say, "I thought you didn't have any money?" She says, "You asked if I had money. Oh, that wasn't money." Apparently, being from Mars, I'm not dealing in big enough denominations! That was just "change"!

I will have been married to my wife for 16 years on August 31st, Lord willing. And not until this moment did I realize how different our perspectives on money can be.

We had a good laugh (and she gave me permission to post this). But from now on, I'm recalibrating my understanding of what "change" and "money" are. Anybody with me?