MICKEY FOR ALL AGAIN

Amen, Amen, Amen! But of course the main question is did it ever matter anyways? There was no way in heck I participated in the boycott. I love being in FL working as a baptist and going to DisneyWorld. I like that have have Mickey ears. I kinda think it is funny that this official statement has been made cause who really remembered about it anyway? Oh well Christians haven't been stupidly in the news for awhile so I guess this is how they wanted to be talked about again. At least people can't feel shame for experiencing some good entertainment again!

The Gift --- a "used" duck

First of all I'm shocked with all these duck posts and seriously I know that soon these will not be the way I base everything. Even though my home seems to be overly ducky. At least yellow is a bright color that makes us smile and think of the sun.
This afternoon one of the girls that I've made friends with in the complex knocked on my door. I almost didn't answer since I was in cleaning mode with the cleaning look on. Thankfully, I was smart and looked out the key hole and decided to go ahead and open the door. This little girl held up a plastic bag with a rubber ducky in it and said this is for you cause I know you like ducks. (ok...crapola my eyes are getting watery) She came inside and showed her friend around my place. Then she asked if I was gonna open my present. (she asked with such excitement.) I had neglected to do so since I could see it through the bag. (lesson learned there!) Took it out of the bag and we placed it in a well viewable place on the shelf. Then she said she didn't want to disturb me or bother me just to bring me the gift. She has such wonderful manners! I told her I was proud of her and gave her a little hug. Even though they are disappointed and surprised that I don't have children, some how they still want to be around me. I love this!
Now I've been given many ducks and some of them by some of y'all. This is one of those that goes into the treasured gift category. It may be scuffed up, but the heart in which it was given touches my soul.
The point to ponder: How shall I help to touch a smile on her soul in return?

The Duck Influence

"The world would undoubtedly be a better place if each and every one of us had a rubber duck somewhere in our life." ~Jon Wright

or at least the world could be a better place if each and every one of us could have the experience of learning like a duck and being able to truly love those different from us.
One odd thing about living here that should probably freak me out is that I have only met one other white person in my apartment complex. She was an old woman that asked me for a cigarette on my first Sunday morning here. The rest of my neighbors have been kind and friendly. The children have asked me to play with them but were polite when they saw me reading on the porch and asked first if they were disturbing me. I know they are ducks yet but I have learned they some of them have moms that love ducks. How funny...doesn't it make one wonder? If you looked at my place you'd think I have too many ducks. And I might agree at times since no room is free of them. But perhaps they can serve as a reminder that it takes work but people can and do love each other just because they are people. At least, that it what I want them to remind me.

Risk take Or Give Up?

By Sandra Magee Womack, December 11, 2000, in the Baptist Standard (that is the paper weekly put out by Texas southern baptists)
"For over 100 years, Baptist women have been "risk-takers." We have been stepping forward and risking the condemnation of not only an unchurched and lost people, but also of our Baptist brothers in our own denomination. The Lord did not stop with gender when it comes to confessing your faith. Women in ministry don't take no for an answer. We are a group that must say, "Look at our history, the foundation we have laid, and look to our future women in educating them."___Still not convinced it's not only your right, but your place? Let the following be your basis for taking your place in ministry:___ First, the first money given to the first nationwide Baptist convention was given by women; women who knew that their money would help foreign missionaries. Second, although tithing is taught in God's word, it was not a concept that was widely known or accepted until Woman's Missionary Unioin educated Baptists about the idea. Third, until an organized group of women began "weeks of prayer" and special mission offerings, churches had no organized method of praying and giving to missions. Fourth, WMU has been the lifeline for Baptist missionaries for over 100 years.___Still need a "scriptural" reference for your place in women's ministry? What better example of this than the woman who wept at Jesus' feet when they nailed him to the cross, Mary Magdalene. Mary possibly spent more time with Jesus than any other woman during his ministry. Jesus used Mary as a willing disciple and role model for all women. At a time when the followers of Jesus were scorned, ridiculed and even threatened by death, Mary remained faithful. She was with him through the hours of crucifixion and death, and she boldly returned to be near him in the garden. Even in the midst of fear and grief, she risked her life and remained committed to Jesus. It's no wonder that Mary was first to witness the resurrection and that Jesus issued his first commission to a woman, "Go and tell."___If we are to grow as Christian women in our understanding of God, we have to expect tough circumstances and be willing to "risk" the disappointment that is bound to confront us. Baptist women have met with confrontation since Baptists' inception, and that confrontation has made us strong and even more useful to Christ. We live in turbulent and fractured times. To stand in opposition to the majority always involves risk. Baptist women must not sit idle, but we must continue to be risk-takers. Women in ministry have discipled, educated and trained both men and women to "go and tell."___Women in ministry, from teaching to preaching, is a campaign. It is a campaign of eternal significance, not a campaign for women's rights. Women in Baptist work today are leaders and already know their rights. They are knowledgeable, understanding, educated, well-groomed and fun to be with. They also are accountable to Jesus Christ and his guidance, not one of any "man-made creed."___Let no man tell a woman what to believe or not believe, when to speak or not speak. That is a right that remains only with Jesus Christ. It is to him we pledge our allegiance. It is to him we shall be accountable. It is with him that we shall serve, and it is him that we shall reign with in eternity."

I am having to search to support myself in the gender God made me right now. I don't get that from my church and I'm am struggling with some things valuable women are facing right now. My mentor is dealing with her 4th round of breast cancer! I can accept that God lets bad things happend to good people...but making her endure this yet again. I'm just overly frustrated that these things are occuring. I don't want to fight to be the person God made me to be...I want to be love and used as the person God made me to be. Why is this soooo difficult for some to accept and do?

No Penis = No Value

If you are in the Southern Baptist Convention or have known me awhile, then you are aware of the problems women face with being Godly leaders. The past three weeks at the place of worship I've been with for most of my time down here, I realized how much I will never be able to do there. During my time there, I have only been ask to do anything on the platform when all other possibilities were gone. I have never been on a committee. Plenty of males have been doing these things. Heck...the last preacher even put a male med student in the role of leading music. This med student had no desire for ministry but politics rang true. In the last business meeting that I attended (after not having been able to afford to go most Sunday nights for a long time), I learned that once again preference would be given to males in our congregation. These males haven't even been attending with this church for 6mths. Yet, they are offered to be licensed because they have a penis. This isn't the way of God. God wants us to support those with evidence and trueness of heart. We can't see that in these men yet. If they are truly called to be apart of this church, then they should have some time in being apart of the church. And who is making this decision of sexism. No, God didn't give me a penis but that doesn't mean the church shouldn't prayerfully support me in ministry. This is what we claim licensing to be. The people making this hateful decision are saying that God has made a mistake in making me female when they choose not to give value to God's calling on my life.
There is more to this lack of value. Because women in the church who are married are attached to one with a penis, therefore they have some value. However this value is HIGHLY limited. They can only serve in areas of hospitality or with babies. Actually it is clear the men think they are better that the people who serve in these areas for if they actually thought this was important then they would serve there. I do not like the hospitality stuff. God wired me so complain to Him if that is a problem. I do like toddlers and preschoolers and children, but babies are very annoying. Again, God wired me so it is ok that I feel this way. God did make me great at being a greeter and I enjoy that. God did make me great with administration. I love to pray and read scripture. Heck, I can even tell you a little bit about what that scripture means. I'm not called to be a preacher, but I should be supported in the area that God has called me for. When I drive away from my church, I am frustrated in the lack of value I have. I'm not used and I'm not gonig to be used to serve since I don't meet the standard of having a penis.
I hate that the church is like this is sooo many area. I don't want to have to look for a new church. I don't want people thinking I've left because of music or singleness. Purpose Driven Life was a joke with this church and it became a joke to me because I knew it wasn't being applied. My purpose can't be obtained if I'm not valued and therefore loved. My goal is that God will quickly help me to discover where I shod be so that this can be found.