faithful always

So my friend Jennie lives in Sudan. She writes:

So you now know what happened this month, but how has the month been? Honestly, quite difficult. Who wants to admit that? Blech. It reeks of weakness. :) Ah, but weak I am. Very weak... Aren't you glad that even though our emotions can - and do - cycle, our Father is forever faithful to us?

Oh my, I am sooo glad! I know most girls are emotional creations. And I tend to be a really emotional even for a girl. But our Father is not dependent on how we feel. Praise Jesus. Praise Jesus!

I’ve been thinking about marriage a lot lately. And when you consider marriage. A promise of lifelong faithfulness. Faithful to love and serve your partner each day, in and out, even when you don’t feel like it. Wow, we sure have a good example in our Father. But wow, what a tall order. Thank You, Father, for being faithful.

Dietrich on Community

Also love this message that Jonathan quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

"Whoever loves their dream of Christian community more than Christian community itself will become the destroyer of every Christian community, no matter how honest, earnest, and sacrifical their intentions may be."

Gettin Dirty

Just read some published thoughts from my friend Jonathan. Reflecting on how we as people created for community are much more like a garden needing work than a broken car. I love it. Check it out. Thanks, Jonathan.

http://www.esa-online.org/images/mmDocument/PRISM%20Archive/Features%202009/MayJun09LearningLifeLasts.pdf

Beautiful

Hanging with Barbara and Tatiana yesterday was so beautiful. Getting together with old friends. Beautiful Saturday sunshine and one of the first warmths of a new spring. Outside. Sunshine. Water and walking and friends and warmth. And dogs. Gotta love walking the dogs. Meandering through a new neighborhood. And everyone says hi when you have a dog. Love it. Feeling fresh and new beginnings. Love it.

90 Days with the Beloved Disciple

I just about chickened out. 90 Days seems like such a long time. It all started when my lovely roommate mentioned this Beth Moore devotional on the disciple John. It seemed really intriguing, and I suggested we read it together at some point. So here I am today. Day 1. Of 90. Here we go!

Published

Hey, the Chronicle-Tribune published my letter to the editor in Tuesday's paper. It's basically the same content as the below PPIN response. I added an intro paragraph to give readers an idea of the recent gift card launch and the controversy surrounded it. I wanted to make sure we were all coming in on the same page. I know this isn't the very first time I've been published, but it's just such an exciting feeling.

In Response

Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates
IndyStar coverage - http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081205/LOCAL18/812050447

I commend Planned Parenthood on their creativity and their capitalization on the holiday gift giving season. As a business, it's natural for them to offer gift cards for their services. And giving a woman you care deeply for the gift of health care is a beautiful thing.

I don't agree with all of Planned Parenthood's philosophies and practices. They remain America's top abortion provider. And as one who's been in pro-life pregnancy ministry for five years, I highly value life. Women. Children. Families. Life. All of it.

So then the question for hardcore Christ followers becomes - so what can I do? If you don't like the way Planned Parenthood works, then it's time for you to explore and support the alternatives you can get behind: clinics for low-income patients that desperately need health care, pregnancy care centers that provide support and real answers, community programs that truly work to break the cycle of poverty, foster parenting, and mentoring. Explore.