Family Outing Day

We ended up staying in Dallas for Labor Day weekend this year. But we did manage to take a little outing this afternoon. We met my friend Kelley and her almost-three-year-old, Maggie, at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas.

In addition to watching ringtailed lemurs play, we saw the coolest butterflies.

From now until September 28, the Heard has a Native Texas Butterflies exhibit in a greenhouse-like environment where patrons can get up-close and personal. The exhibit includes species such as tiger, giant, and zebra swallowtails, giant whites, monarchs and zebra longwings, to name a few.

Don't you think the Creator must've had a blast thinking of so many ways to express beauty?

DTS in China

Click here for a link to view local Dallas coverage (video news story) about the seminary president who accompanied the "other" president ("43") to attend church in Bejing (Bay-JING).

Jargon Watch

There's nothing quite like pseudonym to keep people from picketing, huh? Here's a new one for you reported by Wired magazine in their "Jargon Watch" column: Admixed Embryo. The definition? "Legalese for any early-stage embryo combining human and nonhuman genes or tissue. Encompassing both cybrids and chimeras yet sounding less apocalyptic than either, these hybrids are now approved in England for stem cell research."

Pokot-ized, Texan-ized

Meet Musa (i.e., "Moses"). He was our wonderful guide through Pokot territory last month in Kenya. Though as a military chaplain he's authorized to carry a semi-automatic weapon, he told me he won't do it because he's a Christ-follower, and carrying a gun is not the best way to make peace.

A few weeks ago, I included a link to some video footage of a church service we attended in Churo. That was at the church Musa attends. And during that service, the Pokot Christians showered us with gifts that included beaded necklaces and gourds for storing milk. As they described it, they Pokotized us. Or we underwent "Pokotinization." (I was impressed with that six-syllable English creation!)

Well, this month Musa came to America for some training (the story of how he obtained a visa is nothing short of miraculous!), and two nights ago he was in Dallas, so our Kenya team had a big reunion. And after sharing a meal we returned the favor and "Texanized" Musa. This morning he caught a flight back to Kenya, but before he left he posed in his new cowboy hat and boots for this shot taken by Heather J. (He also received a belt with a Texas-sized buckle, completing the ensemble.)

Now, can you see that he is wearing a pink watch? One of the things Musa discovered during his time in America was that for most Americans, a man wearing a pink watch...well, you know...the culture shock goes both ways!

Wordless Wednesday

Today in History

Eighty-eight years ago today the 19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was declared into effect, giving American women the legal right to vote.

Role of Women

Elders from a Dallas church recently wrestled with the biblical text and how it relates to the role of women in ministry. On their web site you can find their conclusions, along with some recommended books.

If I were to add a couple more resources, it would be these:

Recovering Biblical Ministry by Women by George and Dora Winston

Are Women Human? by the oh-so-witty Dorothy L. Sayers

When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James

Ethical Stem Cells

This morning I received this link from Rhonda to yet another story about yet another source of adult stem cells, this time from the oh-so-disposable wisdom tooth. I don't think I need to spell out the ramifications for anybody here...

Meaningful Work

I spent two days this week at Dallas Theological Seminary's annual faculty retreat. And here's a sampling of cool stuff that happened:

Our president, Dr. Bailey, gave an informative (yea, even humorous) report of his time in Beijing with President and Laura Bush. You can read an interview Dr. Bailey did on the subject by going here. (The funny part was his story of how he turned on his camera during a church service in China and the red light showed up on the back of "43." In case you wondered, the Secret Service does notice when ya do something like that. LOL!)

Our campus facilities manager is a visionary when it comes to building green. You can read something he published on the subject here.

When asked how many of us had some sort of recent international experience, every person I saw had his or her hand raised. A high percentage, if not all of us, get out of the ivory tower and walk in the dirt. Conversations were filled with happenings and trends in Jordan, Brazil, India, China (where we now have 50-60 online students taking classes in Mandarin Chinese), Israel, Ethiopia...

I enjoyed a wonderful discussion at lunch on one of those days about "women." And when I returned home, I found that the head of our spiritual formation department, who had been part of that conversation, had sent me an excerpt from a message he sent to friends on another occasion:

The early church gets a pretty bad rap when it comes to how they viewed women (much of it deservedly), but these two quotes I came across today provide a bit of balance to that picture. These are from two very significant 4th century theologians. I found them in a book called Inheriting Wisdom: Readings for Today from Ancient Christian Writers, edited by Everett Ferguson. Enjoy.

"We have been born of man and woman; children owe one debt to both of their parents.... If you ask about the worst, the woman sinned - and so did Adam. The serpent deceived them both; it was not the case that one was weaker and the other stronger. But consider something better: Christ saves both by his passion. Was he made flesh for the man? He was made flesh also for the woman. Did he die for the man? The woman also is saved by his death. He is called the seed of David, and so perhaps you think the man is honored? But he is born of a virgin, and this is on behalf of women. Therefore he says that the two shall be one flesh [Gen 2:24], so the one flesh is to have equal honor." (Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 37.6-7)

"Since, as the apostle says, 'The woman, being deceived, was in transgression' [1 Tim 2:14] and her disobedience led the revolt against God, for this cause she became the first witness of the resurrection [John 20:1-18] that she might correct the outcome of her disobedience by her faith in the resurrection. And just as at the beginning she became a minister and adviser to her husband on behalf of the words of the serpent and brought into human life the beginning of evil and its consequences, so in ministering the words of Christ - who put to death the rebellious dragon - to his disciples she became humanity's guide to faith. It was fitting that the first sentence of death be annulled through her." (Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomius, 3.10.16)

Other conversations related to how our theology affects our view of creation care. And again, upon my return home, I received further thoughts, this time from Dr. Mike Svigel. They included this:

As the human body has been redeemed and will be resurrected, so the physical world has been redeemed and will be restored (Rom 8:18–25). Just as Christians must treat their present physical bodies with the care and honor due an image-bearing creation of God with a future redemption (even when that body is dead!), so also Christians must treat the present physical creation with the care and honor due a glory-reflecting creation of God with a future redemption (even when that creation is fallen and corrupt!).

In other news, I can't remember if I mentioned it here, but I've been invited to Jordan in November, and the trip fits perfectly with some book research I want to do.

AND...my husband has decided to go with East-West doing more of what we did in Kenya this summer, working with the team on the ground to help with literacy, Bible training, micro-businesses, AIDS orphans, widows, and the at-risk poor. Feel free to pray for us!

Tut Tut, It Looks Like Gain

If you live near Dallas, Texas, or plan to visit anytime between October and May, order tickets now to see Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs, which is coming to the Dallas Museum of Art. The exhibition, which drew about four million visitors in its previous U.S. run, includes more than 130 artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. This particular exhibition will include items never before seen outside of Egypt.

Set to open October 3, 2008, this exhibition provides insight into the life of the boy king, Tutankhamun, and other royals of the 18th Dynasty (1555–1305 B.C.). All of the treasures in the exhibition are between 3,300 and 3,500 years old.

Also, if you want a good laugh here's a link to Steve Martin's King Tut routine (You remember it, don't you? Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia...Buried with his donkey, he's my favorite honky, King Tut...) as well as the witty editorial, "The King and I," which Martin wrote about it all in 2004 for The New York Times.

More on Beach Volleyball

Did you see our U.S. beach volleyball teams last night bringing home Olympic gold? Oh-h-h-h, yeah! That rocked!

But our daugher, 13, having seen us roll our eyes at the women's so-called uniforms had a complaint of her own about the men's: "Why would any guy want to wear a shirt that says 'bra' on it?"

Inclined to Write?

Recently I joined a group of women in leadership who have started a blog at bible.org. I post every other Tuesday. Check it out.

Wordless Wednesday

Photo by B. Jamison, Amaya Valley, Kenya

Bay-JING or Beige-ING?

Have you noticed how TV commentators pronounce Beijing differently? In case you have doubts, here's the right way.

The Multi-Layered Path of Literacy

Steinbeck. Melville. Dickens... To find out my thoughts on improving one's own literacy, check out this article I wrote recently for Cook International Partners.

You decide.

Compare the Olympic women's and men's beach volleyball uniforms... Is it just me, or do the women's glued-on uniforms have about 1/10 the amount of fabric as the men's comfort-fit attire?

The Impressionists

Today one of my artsy friends, Eva, accompanied me for a quick outing over at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. We wanted to see The Impressionists: Master Paintings from the Art Institute of Chicago. And I'll tell you this: I feel sorry for anybody who goes to the Art Institute of Chicago between now and November 2 when this show ends! Because at the moment the Kimbell has a lot of their really fine stuff.

The exhibit includes works from twenty great artists including Van Gogh, Morisot, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, Gaugin, and Renoir. My favorite was Renoir's "Two Sisters (On the Terrace)." Seeing it from about two feet away--wow. Such brilliant colors.

I also loved seeing Van Gogh's self-portrait. More interesting than whether he had an ear (he did) was the number of red and green strokes he used to create a realistic-looking facsimile of his face.

And Monet's "Stacks of Wheat"--seeing six such works next to each other so you can compare what he did with different seasons and light--brilliant! "Water Lilies" is pretty amazing, too.

If you don't live close enough to check out "The Impressionists" in person, at least scope out the exhibit's web site, which is loaded with great photos and info.

The museum is half price on Tuesdays, but considering how crowded the place was on a Thursday afternoon, I'd recommend paying the extra and going during a lower-traffic time like we did. Also, if you're a student, remember to take your ID card.

The Best of the Worst Writing

Did you hear? San Jose State University’s English department announced the 2008 “winners” of its Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, honoring the worst possible opening lines for fiction.

The winner this year: Garrison Spik's intro... “Theirs was a New York love, a checkered taxi ride burning rubber, and like the city their passion was open 24/7, steam rising from their bodies like slick streets exhaling warm, moist, white breath through manhole covers stamped ‘Forged by DeLaney Bros., Piscataway, N.J.’”

Yeah, that deserved to win, huh?

Beijing: Human Rights

Did you catch this in the Dallas Morning News?

"Although the communist government still tries to choose church leaders and keep believers in line, Christianity is growing in China because freedom is growing in China. The Chinese Communist Party remains an atheist ideology that views faith with suspicion. But the Chinese government's success in delivering a better material life has left a growing number of Chinese wanting to fill a spiritual vacuum where Chinese communism has little left to offer.

President Bush and Dallas Theological Seminary President Mark Bailey worshiped at Beijing Protestant church Sunday to encourage religious freedom. Bailey and Dallas Theological are making a contribution with Web-based instruction for Chinese seminarians."

I'm told one of our online students is directing the counseling effort to help people devastated by the earthquake. Pray for the church in China...

Thanks to the French

On behalf of parents everywhere, I would like thank the star of the French Olympic swimming relay team for providing a wonderful teachable moment in homes across the world last night. The star, puffed up with hubris over his team's chances leading into the showdown against the U.S. team, had said, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for."

The teachable moment came when we viewed a potent illustration of this ancient Jewish proverb: "Pride goes before a fall, a haughty spirit before destruction" (Prov 16:18).

Interested in an International Partnership?

For a number of years I have corresponded with a pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recently he wrote to ask if I knew of a church or group that would partner with his ministry. I told him I’d post his info on my blog…

In 1994 I created a ministry called: LOVE TO CHILDREN MINISTRIES, with the purpose of serving children spiritually and physically. In 1995, I was appointed to be assistant pastor … And in 1996, I started teaching at Bukavu Bible Institute. In December 1997, I was ordained… I went to further my studies at Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College (NPBC), in Kenya, where I graduated November 2001. After my graduation at NPBC, I opened an orphanage. Then in January 2005, the Lord spoke with me that I should go back to my home country for starting a new ministry. In July 2005, I moved from Nairobi to my Country, DR Congo, South Kivu province, Bukavu Town, for the new ministry. And I started preaching house-to-house evangelism, follow-up, discipleship and on 7 August 2005, I opened the first church in Bukavu with only seven believers by the name of Hefsiba Christian Church. Today we have more than thirty-five believers and have planted nine more churches in rural areas.

My own church already partners with a “sister church,” which is in Mexico. In our case it means prayer, encouragement, idea exchanges, and even visits. If your group does not currently partner with an international ministry I highly recommend doing so. If you are interested in forging such a partnership with Fred and his wife (they also have an orphanage ministry), contact me through my profile.

Olympics Day 1

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday. We celebrated with a vanilla chocolate chip cake topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Then his mom and her hubby had us over for a birthday dinner last night, and we watched the Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing. Good show, huh?

Still, did you notice the absence of female athletes from some otherwise well-represented countries? Especially the one with zero women--except for the two daughters of the top dog? Hopefully this and a number of other human rights violations will not go unchallenged with all eyes on Beijing.

In other news I'm enjoying a good read given to me by my friend Carol. The Miracle at Speedy Motors, set in Botswana, reveals author Alexander McCall Smith's gift for characterization that includes natural dialogue with humor sprinkled in. Highly recommended.

Cool Quest

Good Stuff

TV. Thanks to Netflix, we just finished watching the BBC series, "Planet Earth." What a fab program. My favorite part of the many hours was seeing the male bird of paradise show off his stuff for the female. The photographer had to log more than 100 hours in a blind to get the shots, and they were clearly worth the wait. Just magnificent. (That's the bird's back side with feathers fanned in the photo.) The DVDs left us marveling at the handiwork displayed on our little blue dot slung in outer space and handled with Care.

Also, our daughter has discovered the first black-and-white show she will actually watch--My Favorite Martian. When I was her age, I loved watching Bill Bixby, the earthling who constantly tried to cover over the powers (and antics) of his "Uncle Martin." It's fun to see our girl enjoying the series. I love that nobody has an "attitude" in this oldie but goodie.

Movie. Today my sis treated my girl and me to a matinee showing of "Mamma Mia." Ohmygoodness. I loved it! It's the sort of flick you want to see with a group of your girlfriends. The older the better. The critics gave lousy reviews. What do they know?

Now, it's rated PG-13 for good reason. So don't go looking for a Focus on the Family approval rating. Still, I loved it. And we howled. Especially during the credits, so don't leave too early. And can Meryl Streep ever sing. The woman has serious talent. But the best part is when the entire village of real-looking people (as opposed to size-four beauty-queen models) breaks into singing and dancing. The choreography of "Dancing Queen" rocks. Hard. Run don't walk to see this one. And take a pack of tissues with you. Especially if you have a daughter.

Book. Back in May shortly after we decided to go to Africa, I flew to Portland for a week of meetings and workshops. And on the flight home I met a woman who spent some of her college years in Kenya. She had just minutes earlier finished reading a book on the NY Times list, Three Cups of Tea. So she asked if I'd like to have it. It's a true story about an American raised in Africa who has to abort his K2 climb, but ends up going back to build a school for the village that nursed him back to health after his mishap. I can hardly put it down.

What are you reading? Watching? Renting?

The Sin of Sodom

My friend Heather sent me this terrific observation this morning...

"I looked up the Sodom passage in Ezekiel 16:49... 'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy...' In light of how many times I've heard a sermon on Sodom and G and how few times I've heard this aspect incorporated into it, I'd say that our culture may have missed a little somethin'-somethin' in the Book."

Ya think?

Child of a Radical Feminist

My friend Rhonda sent me a link to this heartbreaking, fascinating article this morning. It's by Rebecca Walker, daughter of the brilliant Alice Walker. Rebecca describes the ramifications of being the child of a radical feminist who considered motherhood a form of prison and men pretty much the enemy.