Woman is Expanding! It has always been my dream to see this beautiful, empowering Rite of Passage offered to more than simply Nyack College students. On October 6th, my dream came true! Three members of my leadership team and I headed down to Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford, NJ, where we trained an amazing group of women in the philosophy behind Woman…
Every marriage is the union of two very different people. My husband and I are more different than many. He grew up in Damascus, Syria, where St. Paul was converted. It’s the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. I grew up in the woods of upstate New York, in a town inhabited for about 200 years. He grew up…
When I read “Men Prefer Debt-Free Virgins Without Tattoos”, I immediately knew why I didn’t marry until I was 39, even though I wanted to get an MRS with my BA. My problem: I went to college, where I was taught to be “independent, loud, and immodest,” according to author Lori Alexander. My alma mater, Grove City College, though Christian,…
My black-belted karate instructor waxed eloquent about how aware of his surroundings he was. He attributed his way of seeing everything to his martial arts training. I was impressed—I loved karate (and he was kinda cute). Years later, I walk alone to a deserted beach in a foreign country. 90% of the people I pass on the way are men.…
Does the Bible allow Christian women to have authority? Our patriarchal culture, our fathers and mothers, and our churches have often told us no. But what, in fact does the Bible say? Should we shrink back and silence ourselves, or does God allow us to break the silence? I tell a story in my Redbud post, and then I ask…
Piper’s comments that women shouldn’t teach at seminary have been everywhere, it seems. As a seminary adjunct and co-coordinator of seminary chapels, I’ve felt no real urge to respond, surprisingly. I’m used to ideas like his and perhaps I’ve become numb. I find my time is often better spent just doing my job and being faithful. A simple, yet powerful response…
I keep bracing myself for the next story of sexual misconduct. I don’t know why I’m surprised. As a college-professor-hearer-of-student-stories, I’m no stranger to the fact that statistically a large number of my female and male students have been sexually violated. Why am I surprised that I keep hearing that people whom I formerly respected are perpetrators? I want the…
I fasted once this week. I don’t say that for a pat on the back. In fact, I’m not a good faster for several reasons. First, I wasn’t fasting primarily for spiritual reasons. Last week was Thanksgiving and, well, I ate. Also, I’m about to quit breastfeeding, and, well, that burns calories. I still have about 10 more pounds of…
I miss you. I really do. And I’m not ignoring you. I’m really not. We used to hang out. . . A LOT. We used to get coffee and dinner and hike and go to concerts and. . . I miss that! I realize that you wanted to give me privacy those first couple of months of marriage, but it’s…
Though some might look at my life’s journey and consider it great, I am unfortunately more attuned to what I do not have than to what I have. Many times I would have traded my years of single adventures for a family, and my drivenness for a more relaxed life. Certain events I wish had never occurred, and other hoped-for…