A few thoughts:
- Paul’s advice to Timothy regarding how to act toward (and think about) younger women is to treat them “as sisters, with all purity.” I think an interesting discussion might come from asking what that means for men – and for women. How can women encourage their brothers to obey this exhortation – among other similar ones? Modest dress and behaviour spring to mind – any other ideas, or expansions on those?
- My father is preparing to lose his father, whose multiple recent strokes have rendered him both bedridden and speechless. I had a long talk with my dad about the whole situation – in general and in particular – and asked him how he was doing. What he said is rather insightful: “Well…I’m actually thankful for the grief; many people don’t know their fathers, or do but wish they didn’t, or have horrible relationships with them. My grief exists because I have a father whom I love, and who loves me in return. I’m sad to lose him, of course, but this is a wonderful grief.” C. S. Lewis wrote of a similar reaction when he lost his beloved wife, Joy: “Love dies for many reasons: infidelity, lost interest, etc., or death. Losing love by death is the severest of mercies.” I hope to be, by grace, as good a son to my father as he is and has been to his.
- I may have to disable comments for awhile – I’m getting bombarded with comment spam (and therefore email), and I don’t have time to set up better comment filters.
- The winds of change seem to be blowing hard against my will.
- I paid off three credit cards recently, and 90 % of a fourth. PRAISE GOD!
That’s all for now. I wish I had more time to think/read/write.
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Is that Osborne behind you in the profile picture?
Aside from modest dress and behavior, the various states of this to require the study of Proverbs 31 [show] The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
. Anyone who doesn’t follow guidelines set forth there, will be sent ‘renditioned’to France.
[2]What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
[3]Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
[4]It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
[5]lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
[6]Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
[7]let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
[8]Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
[9]Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
[10] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
[11]The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
[12]She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
[13]She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
[14]She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
[15]She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
[16]She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
[17]She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
[18]She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
[19]She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
[20]She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
[21]She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
[22]She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
[23]Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
[24]She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
[25]Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
[26]She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
[27]She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
[28]Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
[29]"Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
[30]Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
[31]Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
Oh wait, that goes against separation of church and state. Sorry.
Oh yeah, and re: “I paid off three credit cards recently, and 90 % of a fourth. PRAISE GOD!”
Good job! Got a job in Chicago for me yet? I’ve got boo-koe skills man. Seriously.