"The Shack"

Would you believe that we have only just read this life-changing book? Mind you....we have read excerpts, reviews, the story of the writer and his own blog so felt we understood what it was all about. But there's nothing like reading it in its entirity which I (Liz) haven't taken the time to do just yet. Trevor read it over one day and was very impressed - not only for the obvious help which this book would be to people who have unanswered questions about God and his interest in our lives, but for the clear statements about women and men.

Without one bible quotation, there is so much 'doctrine' spread through the chapters and the issue of equality is well demonstrated and explained. Maybe this wasn't the author's intention (maybe it was one of the reasons for writing the story) but it comes across loud and clear that God and his ways are not always as we have been taught or even as we perceive with our limited vision. The whole character of God shows up beautifully, and without a shred of piousness or 'churchiness' we are embraced by God's love and concern for each individual.

If there are still people like us who haven't got around to checking out the story (fiction) in 'The Shack', maybe this is a timely reminder that it is worth the effort.

The Story of our Lives

This appears to be the story of our lives. Always apologising for the fact that we are not writing any new posts on our own blog site. It could be that we are so preoccupied with the CBE blog site, the Scroll, that we haven't given any quality time to this one. Liz keeps on reminding me that we don't have to be writing about equality on here either, even though that is our passion. We could be writing about all manner of things, like what we do in our leisure time. Just last week we did a whole lot of canoeing up a lazy river, but we don't have the pictures to prove it! Why, because we were not game to carry a camera in that watery world. Or, we could write about how we love to spend time down at our pristine beach, 800 metres from our front door! And yes, we do have a picture of that. The reason being that I'm experimenting with uploading photos from the 6,000 or so that we have on our computer. What I haven't figured out yet is how to place them on the page so that the layout looks a little better than is shown on this preview. Now that we've got a bit of a handle on how to publish photos to our blog we can talk about other things that we do in retirement, like snorkelling, bushwalking and looking after our grandchildren so that their parents can have some personal time. That means more photos of those very significant things. We may even experiment with a video clip! All that is to come.

Billabong

What a great name for an Aussie Church. Liz and I went there last Sunday to meet up with some old friends. One couple that we've known for quite some time and another friend who has made this her church home. It's quite a unique church plant, sponsored by the Uniting Church of Australia. We absolutely loved being there. Moreso because the service emphasis was on women serving Christ. For that reason almost all of the service participants for the day were women, including the speaker. A humorous video clip was shown at the beginning of a woman singing, very rapidly, the 250 words that a Mum is likely to say in a day. Words that may be repeated everyday!!! The title of the Encounter message was, 'Mere Women'. A seasoned female Pastor and missionary gave the talk and questions were invited from the congregation. People participated in a quite lively way. Also a chinese person from mainland China shared how she found Christ while a student here in Australia and how she is received in the workplace as both a 'boss' over men and a Christian. That was very refreshing and inspiring. God is so good, reaching into the life of this person so schooled in communism. The children, once they returned from their specialised class time joined in the worship and seemed to be right up with what was going on, even in the sharing of communion. Perhaps the whole atmosphere was enhanced by the fact that the service took place in a big white marquee (ten) on land that includes a genuine billabong, and a sheep to boot! All in all it was a great experience and Christ honouring conversation continued at the 'cuppa' time afterwards. Will certainly be returning there as time permits.

"Women's Meetings"

One of my pet annoyances in church life is the syndrome of having special meetings just for women.

Is it because women are seen as having special needs and so need unique programs ?
Or is it to give women a place to share openly about their lives and spiritual growth ?

Of course there is the real need for women who have young children at home and can't go out at night to regular home groups to have opportunity for fellowship and learning more from the bible in study groups. I'm thinking even more about the sort of meetings which make women out to be a 'special case' - a class of people who have to be encouraged all the time as what their particular role is in life and how God has created them for a particular role in life.

Even the groups which major on health, beauty, personal development etc. all leave me with the feeling that somehow women need special 'handling' over and above other Christians (namely men) I know there are some women out there who feel affirmed with all this attention, but I have always felt demeaned by such separatist gatherings and just want to be know as a 'Christian'.

I'm interested to read if others feel this way, because I suspect there are heaps of women

No end of trouble

You may have wondered why we hadn't posted on here for a while. Well, there's a very good reason, which may seem, to the rest of you out in the blogosphere a bit dumb. We couldn't remember our password so couldn't get in!!! I know, I know, all we needed to do was to scrap the old password and begin a new account with a revised password. So, we've done that and are back on air. In the meantime we have had a lot of activity over on the CBE blogsite, The Scroll (see link) and since we have been made administrators we have even more reason to be spending a lot more time there. But even so, we do want to regularly check in here, not just with equality stuff, even though that is our passion, but ordinary stuff as well. Like, what we've been up to of late and stuff that we are getting out of the Word that might bless others as well. We really miss, since no longer being in paid ministry (due to retirement), the almost daily involvement of sharing with others from God's Word and being a part of their growth in Christ. Admitted we can still do that through this medium and with our immediate family, including 8 grandchildren, but it's not the same as the church community and the interaction and ministry opportunities that go along with church life. We are really enjoying retirement, don't get me (Trevor) wrong but now that we've had it a bit easier we are both chafing at the bit to share current insights into God's word. For Liz there's also the music component. She's really missing worship leading and playing for a congregation. We have a piano and music at home but it's not the same as inspiring others to sing and worship God in the Sunday celebrations or Home Group times. Attending is not the same as leading. We don't want to be pew warmers!

Where have we been?

We just need to get something back on here because it has been sooooo long. I guess that one of the reasons is that we've been posting and commenting so much on the Scroll for the last few months that we've not given ourselves time to post on our very own blogsite. Besides, I guess we are thinking, "Well, who's going to notice anyway?" But, that's not the point is it! We are as committed to biblical equality as ever and circumstances only dictate that it is even more of a necessity. Our difficulty at the moment is finding a church that is as fully committed to equality as we are. Some appear to be but on closer examination may have given some freedoms for women to be involved in certain aspects of ministry but, are still a closed book when it comes to who is the boss in the home. The whole headship thing. That's the sticking point. Many churches are keen to tell us how far they have come and what concessions they are prepared to make, but balk at the headship in the home question. Anyway, it's not as if we are not finding enough to do and churches to visit in the meantime. Thankfully God knows.

Would the men please speak up!

In conversation with someone today, I heard of two Christian husbands who were intimidated by the expectancies put on them by the proponents of the belief that men should lead in all things, be the 'head of the home' etc. I'm sure that not all men have the huge egos which they are said to have and not all men enjoy having power over other people. If there are men reading this who would be relieved if they were told that God didn't expect these things of them, please speak up and let us encourage you to be who God has made you to be and enjoy being truly yourself in Christ.