Can We Talk?

I post every other Tuesday over at bible.org's women's blog. Today's entry is about the "woman wars" within evangelicalism. Can a woman preach? How we talk about this question reveals a lot about us.

Click here to watch a short video that highlights the work of our team leaders in Kenya. (My hubby shot some of the footage.)

For Writers

Every writer needs a critique group for encouragement, feedback, motivation, and inspiration. When we write, we know what we mean. And without a diverse critique group, we have no way of knowing possible reader misunderstandings that would leave us saying "That is not what I meant at all. That is not it, at all" (with apologies to J. Alfred Prufrock).

I think a writer's group is to a writer what the organized church is to a Christ-follower. It's imperfect, but it's community. And we need community to be the best we can be. (I prefer organized religion, for all its weaknesses, to disorganized religion, but I digress...)

My belief in the value of writing in community is why I contributed to Word Weavers, a new book from Eva Marie Everson and Janice Elsheimer. It's the story of a successful writers' critique group that tells readers how to form and maintain one of their own. I didn't get a dime for my contribution, nor did I expect one. Nor will I make one from mentioning it here. I tell you that not so you can punch my martyr card, but so you know I have no conflict of interest when I say "I seriously think every writer needs a critique group, and this book will help you get there."

A Touch of Humor

I'm declaring today Whimsy Day.

During our youth my sis, Mary, and I used to have an unstated motto: "Funny is better than kind." Fortunately, we have matured just a tad since then. Still, in her honor (since, as I mentioned, yesterday was her birthday), I'm including this collection of insults. You can also sound really high-brow using the Shakesperean insult generator here (thou creeping motley-minded bladder).

"He had delusions of adequacy." -Walter Kerr

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -Winston Churchill

"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." -Winston Churchill

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." -Moses Hadas

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." -Abraham Lincoln

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -Mark Twain

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend...if you have one." -George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." -Winston Churchill, in response

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -Irvin S. Cobb

"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." -Jack E. Leonard

"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt." -Robert Redford

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." -Forrest Tucker

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease." "That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." -Billy Wilder

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." -Groucho Marx

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." -Mae West

Happy Birthday, sis!

Telling My Age

Lately I've been thinking more about aging. That's probably due to the fact that my younger sis's birthday is today, which means my big five-o is only three months away. I've noticed that the fashion mags talk about looking good after forty, but rarely do I see anything for the after-fifty group.

Still, there's a reason I'm not hiding my age: I'm no longer a little embarrased about it.

A big part of that is because I went to Africa two months ago. My husband and I, being the oldest ones in the crowd most of the time, were given the nicest seats, the coolest gifts, the best food. In short we got treated with honor. Why? I suspect it's because where we were, very few live to see fifty. Too much tribal warfare, disease, dyssentary, and lack of access to good medicine.

When I fell and snapped my clavicle a few years back, I ended up with a hospital bed in my room, but I lived to see pain-free days again. If I had fallen in one of the villages I visited, it would have meant sure death. There's no way I could have hauled water for miles every day in the shape I was in. Who can live without water?

Instead of feeling embarrassed I should have been feeling gratitude. What provision and protection I have experienced to endure for half a century!

My hubby and I appreciated the special treatment we received in July, not because we craved the spotlight, but because we loved the idea of honoring the aged. What a great contrast with obsessing on the spending habits of X's and Y's. So often in our culture we make the aging feel ugly and used up instead of drawing on their experience, and learning from their mistakes.

The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair (Prov 20:29).

(I dare you to leave a comment revealing your age.)

Wordless Wednesday

Summons

I think it's a little ironic that in my September 16 post I said I'd think twice before complaining about jury duty, and my summons arrived today. Is someone at the City of Dallas reading my blog?

Just so you know, I kept my commitment and didn't groan. I'm seriously glad I live at a time in which a woman's testimony and judgment are considered worthy of the court.

Hope for the Future

So my daughter wrote me this note last night. And I'm thinking of framing it:

While cleaning my room, RANDOMLY, out of nowhwere did a light bulb pop in my head. I thought, "Why keep the clothes that I don't need and don't fit anymore? The poor could have them when they're just stuff I can't part with, just being American. I decided to go through and get whatever doesn't fit."

Does this mean I need to give up some of the stacks of books I have crowding my shelves, floor, walkway?

Rough Duty

I just rolled in from spending four days at Wind River Ranch just south of Estes Park, Colorado. The forecast said we'd have stormy weather the entire time. Fortunately, sometimes weather predictions go the way of unfulfilled prophecy.

I went at the invitation of the speaker, Melissa Shaver, who was awesome. We were also blessed with the musical talents of the incredible Donna Stuart (think: Breakaway at College Station; follow the link and listen to her song, "Daughter of the King").

I went horseback riding twice. More pictures and details to come, but I will share this one image: The second ride was for those of us who wanted to go faster than the usual easy walk. But we weren't supposed to gallop. My horse, TD, however, had a mind of his own. Afterward the wrangler who went with us told me, "You're a true cowgirl! You were as concerned about not losing your hat as you were with holding on."

This was intended as a compliment. But I'm thinking that may be one of the dumbest things I've ever done. Let's see...my cowgirl hat or my life? Yeah, the hat. Definitely.

The Almighty Dollar?

This morning I did a little word search in my Bible. I looked up all the references to "greed." And it didn't surprise me to find that God has a heart to restore the greedy, but that restoration often starts with judgment.

Don't you find it strangely ironic that so many TV preachers would point to events like 9/11 and Katrina as "God's judgment" but not point to the huge financial crisis facing our nation and make the same connection?

Election-Year Flick

Yesterday my class on women watched Iron Jawed Angels. It's the story of a group of young suffragettes led by Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O'Connor), who banded together from 1912 to 1920. Their cause? The right to vote (suffrage). Some states at the time already granted that right from the start, but most required an act of Congress. Along the way, these women incurred the wrath of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson and angered other suffragette leaders. (Back then the Republicans were far more sympathetic to their cause than were Democrats.)

This flick came out during the last election. And it's time to watch it again. (Patrick Dempsey stars, too, just in case the story itself isn't enough.)

My niece in Oregon is thinking about holding a viewing party. Great idea. This one's a winner. I will think twice before I ever again complain about having to serve on jury duty or vote in some minor local run-off.

The Pit Bull with Lipstick

A few days ago I asked you to leave a comment responding to a question. I wanted to know what you thought of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin. Some folks shot me private emails with their answers instead of posting, and one of those folks was Benji, who works with college students in California. He has now posted the contents of his message to me on his blog. Interesting stuff. Check it out.

Nine Eleven

Last night my hubby had a church meeting scheduled, so that meant a night out with mom for our girl, who is now in her third year playing violin. (We're definitely reaping the fruit of enduring the first squeaky days. She plays in harmony on two strings at once, and hearing daily afternoon practice sessions...heavenly.)

Anyway, I said "yes" to an offer of free tickets to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform Mozart's Concerto No. 25 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 503. The night had special relevance for Dallasites as it represented the inaugural performance of conductor Jaap van Zweden (pronounced: YAP van ZVAY-den) in his new role as the symphony's music director. (I should also mention that Emanuel Ax's piano performance was genius.)

When the maestro approached the pedestal and raised his arms, the audience expected the orchestra to launch into the Allegro maestoso, the first movement in Mozart's piece. But in about three seconds it dawned on all of us that the full orchestra was playing The Star Spangled Banner.

Imagine the scene. You're in a full music hall with all the strings and brass and woodwinds. And the audience jumps to their feet, places hands over hearts, and sings the national anthem. With gusto.

We will not forget...

Devo Book

I received an email this morning from Moody Publishers informing me that Daily Seeds, a book to which I contributed, is set for release on October 1. The book is a collection of 300-word (or so) reflections from scripture. My entry considers Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, and how her shame was not from God but came instead from those in her community.

When I saw a shot of the cover, I wondered, "Why would they choose to use a photo of a cherry cheesecake on the cover of a book for women (aren't we all on diets?) with a title about seeds. But upon closer observation, I realized "Oh. That's a pomegranate." D'uh.

Love and Hex

One of my former writing students has coauthored a new book, Generation Hex, about Wicca. Here's some of what readers will discover:

• . Wicca is not Satanism. Many people have misconceptions about Wicca and other pagan faiths.
• . Wicca’s influence is growing.
• . Some of Wicca’s teachings are positive (protecting the earth, treating others with respect, saving the environment, caring for animals), but others clearly contradict biblical teachings (the Wiccan teaching that Deity is a goddess and a god, equal in power).
  . Christ-followers shouldn’t fear Wiccans but rather create open dialogue with them, and find out what they believe.
  

Marla’s Website and blog
Dillon’s Website
Order Generation Hex on Amazon
For more about this book: Check out the blog tour

Another author, Michelle Sutton, has recently released a romance novel, It's Not about Me, which received four stars from Romantic Times. Here's a brief interview I did with her about it:

What's the plot?
A young woman with a great future is attacked and her life is forever changed. She learns to heal and in the process becomes torn between two brothers who both love her. She doesn't know whom to choose and learns to lean on God rather than going on emotion. Most importantly, she learns how to love herself again.

What inspired you to write it?
It's based on an event that happened to a friend when she was alone in a church office.

What do you hope readers take away?
I want my readers to have a better understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Also, to have a better understanding of faith, true love, and spiritual joy.

Who's your favorite character in it and why?
Dan--a great guy who talks to God daily as if they were best friends.

What was the hardest part to write?
The attack scene because it was so action oriented and bloody.

Here's a link to Michelle's book on Amazon.
Michelle's blog
Christian Fiction Online Magazine, which Michelle edits

He Has Grown a Bit

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 23 of 32 passes today for 343 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception for a 124.9 passer rating. The contest, complete with fourth-quarter comeback, was his biggest statistical performance in a season opener as he set highs in most categories.

Why do I care?

I used to be his babysitter.

He was much smaller then. :)

Attention Coupon Kings and Queens

The PTA at our daughter's school is holding its annual fund raiser selling Entertainment Passbooks for twenty buckaroos. Deadline is September 16.

The thing is loaded with coupons, but they won't help you much if you live in Akron or Portland. Still, if you're one of my local readers and you want one, shoot an email to me at sglahn at gmail dot com.

In other news I'm wondering what you plan to do with your evenings now that the Olympics and the political conventions are behind us. Of course, the hurricanes might occupy us for a while. Or all the Netflix movies that have stacked up since we sat glued to CNN or Fox or ABC. What's on your calendar now? High school football? Do tell.

Field Trip

Today I went to The Women's Museum in Dallas with my friend Heather Goodman. I require the grad students in one of my classes to go, and I hadn't been in a couple of years, so it was time for a refresher.

With 15,000 square feet of exhibits, the museum is a Smithsonian affiliate with a gorgeous facility that focuses on the unique and diverse stories of American women.

Among other things we watched old clips of females in comedy (like Lucille Ball, Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett). We saw a corridor featuring American women in religion. And we watched some short film narratives featuring a Japanese American confined during WWII, a Native American woman who talked about midwifery, and a Latina whose daughter asked for a Quinceañera. We also read about how people in the past have assessed the female body and standards of beauty. (Heather raised a good question: did people who opposed foot binding overseas oppose the corset in their own country?)

If you live near Dallas, check it out. It's on the grounds of the State Fair of Texas, so consider dropping in if you attend the SFoT this year, which runs September 26-October 19. (Also, BTW, this year's SFoT Dallas Summer Musical is "The Color Purple"!)

Go, Green!

It's my turn today to blog over at the bible.org women's site. So I ranted about environmentalism. Feel free to mosey on over and leave a comment. I know I have some pretty green readers, so this is your chance to influence folks by your good example!

Half-Baked Alaska? Girlfriend in Chief? Or Strong Anchorage?

What's your opinion about McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin? Check out this blogger's perspective and tell me what you think.

Helping Silent Victims

Cecil Murphey, coauthor of 90 Minutes in Heaven, now has a blog ministry that offers hope and healing for male victims of sexual abuse. If you have a person in your life who has been a victim, or if you know clergy or counselors who work with victims, here's a link to the blog: http://www.blogger.com/.