Sex. Sermon.

From Anonymous--sent as a comment...

A link to the feed for Mark Driscoll's speech.

The intro's only a few seconds long.

After Preface comes...

As it says on the poster, all proceeds go to Freedomize India.

Pause

If I'm away from this blog long...Don't worry. I'm growing. (Thank God.)

This life is richer and deeper than I realize.

I've come to the city with a lot of ideas...that are being enhanced, or disproven...Or...

*sigh*

Idols are falling. That's for sure.

Re: Writing

I've been thinking a lot about this post. After receiving encouraging advice from a friend, I intend to expand my thoughts in the days to come.

Praying...

For guidance, clarity and courage for the days to come.

I hung out with other Christian creative types today. I truly felt as though I was in my element.

I'm in a really good place right now. All I need is the ability to focus...I intend to pursue my passions.

Ya know...

It doesn't help any that every time I hear this song or see the video, I cry.

This Too Shall Pass

(Youtube addict coming through...)

God has placed me on higher ground. I wanted celebrate and post the video for "Victory", but I think right now it's more important to reach others who may still be struggling.

I know that a people-pleasing solution to life's problems isn't always guaranteed.

Nevertheless...

TRUST IN THE LORD.

So I've been looking for a good sermon on sex.

Well.

I have.

I recommend Mark Driscoll's "Good Sex, Bad Sex". It's available somewhere online, I'm sure. I downloaded my copy via iTunes.

Great stuff.

Superthursday

I have a new job. (It's been days. You have no idea of the faith journey I've been on.)

Tonight, after much agony, my internet connection is up and running. (It's been days. You have no idea...)

;)

Thank you, JESUS.

Last night...

At church, one of our pastors preached a sermon that really humbled me.

We're continuing our series on the prophets. Yesterday, we heard about Jonah.

A few of my favorite quotes...

"Even though we have been saved from the grave by the wish of a fish, we really don't want it to happen to anyone else." - David

This was the heart of the message that touched me: Sometimes we can be selfish in our desire for God to show His mercy. Save us. Be good to us...Never mind our neighbours.

We humans are a selfish bunch.

Here's another statement, based on Rich Mullins words:

"There's a wideness in God's mercy that I cannot find in my own."

"There is a wideness in God's mercy that I must find in my own."

Those last words were said by Pastor David McGhee.

The Lord wants us to look at our ugliness...and allow Him to change it for His glory.

Kenneth Eng

How is it that this man got a job at a national newspaper?

TELL ME.

Better yet, how did his so-called work get published?

To a degree, I feel sorry for Mr. Eng. It's evident that whatever abuse he suffered at the hand of bigots has compromised his ability to think sensibly.

I also feel sorry for his parents. Unless they agree with him, I'm sure they're embarrassed.

I mean, honestly. "I Hate Blacks", "I Hate Whites", "I Hate Asians". Who writes such articles?!? How did they get past his editor's desk?

*shakes head*

Jesus Saves.

Indeed He does. Lately I've been finding reminders of my faith in the most peculiar places. This video is one of the latest...It's weird. Almost as though God is saying to me, "No matter how secular you think you're being, I WILL find you."

Brilliance from my other blog. - DRAFT

Elsewhere I was complaining about the state of relations re young Christian men and women. The Lovely Lisa wrote this bit of fantabulousness:

“…It's not everyone, but I think the majority of Christian men I know were raised to think that their ultimate purpose is to be king of some girl's household(1) and the steward of the feminine mystery(2) or whatever-- with the result that all these guys are scared as hell of women. And the women were raised to think that their ultimate purpose is to become a WIFE(3), and they're scared as hell of being left behind unwanted(4). The result? Everyone is afraid of one another(5), we can't work together(6), and Sex is the Big Bad that we're all obsessed with and afraid of(7). So instead of getting anything done for the Kingdom like brothers and sisters(8), we waste our time fretting about dating, sex, and being alone(9).”

These words got my mind racing. The above paragraph is rife with excellent material. I’ve numbered my ramblings, as though they were footnotes. Enjoy!

1) What are Christian men taught these days about women, save for the fact that they’re supposed to marry us? (Better yet, what are we taught about men?) Please, please, for the love of Pete, don’t go solely by what you read in Every Man’s Battle. (Or Wild at Heart—a book that I actually like.) If EMB is anything like Every Women’s Battle, then we’re in trouble, because the feminine struggles depicted in EWB aren’t representative of any of the women I that I know.

Among the most annoying Christian myths about women? Supposedly, we don’t have libidos. Or we do, but the only way a man can turn us on is if he takes out the trash. It only gets stupider from there...

Do Christian men get told anything about us other than they have to be prepared because we women are some sort of...Obligation? They've got to support us financially, give us sex...Er...I mean "affection"...But only when and in the manner in which we expect it...Blah blah blahcakes.
Look, boys and girls....

Stop reading books about how we are, or who we’re supposed to be. Get out there, and LIVE! Get to know each other. Like it or not, honest or otherwise, what we ingest shapes our thinking. If you’re gonna read anything, consider the scriptures. Everything else pales in comparison.

2) Re "steward of the feminine mystery". Something about that phrase cracks me up. I have an image in my head of a man. His voice is stern, saying, "I am Edward, keeper of Angela's panties". Yet I know what Lisa means, in that the image I mentioned might as well be a real one, for all of the ridiculousness that's out there.

What do women expect from men? I can’t speak for my sisters. As for me, I want a guy who isn’t afraid to be…A guy.

Meanwhile, I wonder what gentlemen want in return.

3) <*whispering*>I don’t actually have a problem with being a wife. I’d love (LOVE!) to be a SAHM. But. [And why the hell am I whispering?] I’m an intelligent being with outside interests and an intellect besides. And if Mister Man thinks I’m gonna bake bonbons 24/7 and do nothing other than shine Big Daddy’s shoes and say “Yes, Dear” to his every whim and fancy, well…He’s got another thing coming.

Maybe.

I have questions about what it is exactly that men want their wives to do. I mean, if I was to stay home...

You know what? I think I need to worry about answering those questions when and if I meet my husband. (But it would be good to get a dialogue going. Maybe I should develop a survey.)

Most importantly, though…As old fashioned as some of my domestic aspirations may be, I am no man’s Stepford Wife.

Or am I...?

No matter.

Either way, I do not intend to align myself with a fool: I recall reading an online post by a woman who was upset with her FH. The reason? He wanted her to be a stay at home wife and mother. He was adamant. Yet fiscally, there was no way that they could afford it.

God may have created men and women. He also created common sense.

Conversely, I don’t have any trouble with working outside of the home. It all depends on who God brings into my life.

4) I’m beyond being worried about being unwanted. I believe deeply that God has someone out there for me. If not, then…I’ll cross that bridge.

5) I agree. I DO think that young Christian men and women are afraid of each other. I don’t think that many of us (them) have realistic expectations. There are, however, plenty of fanciful, unrealistic ideas.

I'd wager that people are torn regarding where our priorities lie. We are in the world, yet not to be of it. Therein lies the challenge.

6) I’m concerned about our inability to work together and see each other as human beings. (I say “our” having been just as guilty as anyone else.) I know there’s talk of the world’s objectification of the sexes, particularly women. Well…I think that Christian culture objectifies men and women as well.

This goes back to my remark elsewhere about those who don’t want to relate unless they’re going to have relations...

*sigh*

7) Sex as “the big bad”. Obsessed with? Yes. Afraid of? Bah! As Todd would say, “Bring it!!” :p

On a more serious note I think that young people these days don’t give sex the respect it deserves. A friend of mine recently scared and disappointed me with a reality check concerning sex. Namely, that Christian men pressure their girlfriends. (Or maybe they pressure each other?? I don't have a clue.) Quite frankly, I find this quite off-putting. I don't believe in pre-marital sex. Previously, I'd taken it for granted that all evangelicals felt the same way.

In this season of new-found community, I have come to feel safe. I remember when I fist joined my church, only one of my pastors was married. I found comfort in that idea....I had faith in the notion that finding a godly man was possible. “There is someone out there for me who respects my morals…”

This is not to say that I am a hormone-less waif, bereft of any and all urges. Quite the contrary.

Yet I’ll tell you one thing. I don’t want a man who loves himself more than he loves God.

8) We need to view each other as whole human beings.

9) There are three points I’d like to address here: a) I shudder at the idea of dating. (And no, not because of I Kissed Dating Goodbye.) b)Lord willing, I’m not going to have sex ‘til I’m married. And c) I’m used to being alone.

Beyond the points which I responded directly to above, I was led to a deeper question:

Why do I want a husband?

I challenge anyone reading this—ask yourself: WHY do you want a husband or wife? Is it because like an education, steady income, and internet access, we think companionship is something we’re entitled to? Is a spouse a right, rather than a God-given privilege? Is it ‘cause, hey, “It’s about time?”

(You can’t get away with running your life on your schedule. When it comes to matters such as love and marriage, God’s controlling the Palm Pilot.)

Or is it because there’s a love in your heart that you long to give, to share with someone else? To grow in grace and in God, together.

(That may sound corny. But I mean it sincerely.)

*sigh*

When it comes to relationships, I believe that a new model needs to be established. Taking a page from Kerri Pomarolli and Lauren Winner…Not every Christian couple hooks up fresh out of high school. I’m just becoming aware of the nuances of relationships. (If I continue to write on this topic, please bear with me. I'm a bit naive. But at least I'm honest.)

I firmly believe that many single Christian men and women—from their mid twenties into their thirties and beyond—do not have enough of the support that they require.

Damned 'fro Part Dos

Well, I went to Interview #1. I looked good, not at all like a hot mess.

I don't know what's gotten into me since I was emancipated.*

(Actually I do. It's Jesus.<*grin*>)

Some strange, comfortable confidence has taken over.

Back in the day, I used to approach interviews in a rather genuflect manner. I might as well have been saying...

"Lawd a-mercy. Massa, I's wundrin' if yuh could fin' it in yo' big ol' heart to lemme work fo' yuh."

But since last week, it's been...

"Hello. Your advertisement piqued my interest. I think I could make a great contribution to your organization. Let's chat."

And for the first time in my life, this quiet sense of calm goes beyond my resume and cover letter. I feel it inside. Deeply.

Mi madre likes to remind me that interviewing is a two-way transaction. An employer may ask the bulk of the questions. Yet you, as the interviewee, are assessing your employer.

(Thoughts after Interview #2)

"...assessing your employer."

Ain't that the truth. I just came from my second interview--Interview #4, if you consider that it's the fourth one I've had since last week--and I don't think I belong there at all.

One thing I've come to despise in interviews is when the interviewers take it upon themselves to play "bad cop" and get on with an air of arrogance, as if to say, "I'm not sure you're good enough...I'm not sure you're right for us."

Last week, Interviewer #1 had the temerity to tell me that she was concerned about whether or not I had sufficient experience. The job I'd applied for was not beyond my range of skill.

Regarding today and Interview #4...My interviewers kept harping on the fact that I haven't taught younger kids. Truth be told, save for one day's work, I don't have experience with children under the age of 12. Mind you, I could have been a dishonest reprobate and said, "Well...There was this one time..." But what would've been the point?

What has me incensed right now is that with his colleauge standing by, Gentleman Interviewer said to me,"You could have started working with young kids from the age of 15 or 16 at summer camp."

Now...He did his best to sound polite. But plus or minus 1 or 2 words, that's what Mr. Interviewer told me. And he said it as though he honestly thought there was something wrong with me for not having had a summer camp job.

No offense to any of you who spent your adolescent summers stoking fires at Camp Kokatemagamite. But...

When I was a teenager, I was even more of a loner than I am now. I barely knew or cared that summer camps existed. Never mind thinking about working at one.

Which is neither here nor there right now.

I'll close with this statement:

Dear Future Employer,

Let me explain myself. I am not arrogant. I am confident. I am educated. I am passionate and ambitious. I am well aware that teaching is a stressful, challenging profession.

Yet with all due respect, it is NOT rocket science.

If you're going to treat me as a competent professional, rest assured, your courtesy is appreciated.

If, however, during an interview, you feel compelled to act as though I need a PhD in Klingon phonology in order to get by, then really. Let's not waste each other's time.

Sincerely,

Me

*Last Tuesday, my employer and I parted ways. Don't feel bad. It was a terrible fit. I wanted to quit, but couldn't find the words. Thankfully, God took one look at me and said, "Let's stop this foolishness RIGHT NOW." And by foolishness, I mean BS.

Congratulations!!

One of my darling online friends, Sha, is getting married!!

Damn Afro.

I have two interviews this afternoon.

I've just spent this morning...THE ENTIRE BLOODY MORNING...detangling my hair.

I don't know what the hell happened. Recently, I'd gotten my routine down to about an hour.

A change is due. I'm thinking by this weekend.

Something that's still natural but just...Different.

Somewhere in New York...

An East Indian family is getting a good laugh. As am I.

"Wake up, Mr. West...."

I marvel at these people who feel compelled to spend a bajillion dollars for things that local folks can whip up for a fraction of the price.

Not that I'd charge Kanye mere pennies. But still...

That restaurant must serve one hell of a feast.

Found on Dawn Eden's blog.

Feeling too posh to post*, I offer the following.

The next thing you know, conservatives will be responsible for global warming.

Or perhaps we are? Someone enlighten me.

*A play on words, alluding to "Too posh to push". Anyone remember that trend?

So what?

What are all of these pithy pious platitudes worth without a solid foundation? After much contemplation of what's missing in my life, I've decided to go back to basics. May I never turn away...

I have two Bible translations and a shiny new copy of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Looking forward to expanding my horizons. Although long familiar with Christianity, I fear that my scriptural knowledge is cursory.

Besos.

The Boondocks - "Return of The King"

"...Martin Luther King comes out of a coma after 32 years and finds himself thrust into the 21st century and life in the post-September 11 era..." Need I say more? My favorite part? MLK's speech, around the 20-minute mark. But don't skip over to it--you'll miss other magic moments....