woman at the well

If you just LOVE the bible story about the Woman at Well... you WILL LOVE this little video. 

and if you DON'T LOVE that bible story, I think you will still appreciate this video. 

Just click here. :)

Top 10 things on my mind Friday

 

I kept wanting to update my status on facebook because I had so many things I wanted to broadcast to the world...but i felt like it was getting a bit obnoxious-- SO- these are my random plugs and thoughts for this rainy Friday. 

1. I'm church hunting in Minneapolis for the spring semester- if anyone has any suggestions, throw them at me. I might be getting a little ahead of myself, but this tends to relieve some anxiety that comes along with starting a new chapter of my life. 

2. I'm getting a new phone- if anyone has any suggestions as I embark on the great adventure into the verizon cellular world... please give them to me. 

3. Apples and peanut butter have become my new favorite desert... and snack.

4. I JUST LOVE FLANNEL on rainy/ cold days. 

5. I get to go home today for fall break! 

6. Brandon Heath's version of Heavenly Day is something to talk about. Please look it up. You won't regret it.

7. Please pray for the Jensen family as they are in the waiting game- Amy's pain meds increased last night. Pray for comfort for both Amy and her family. 

8. Even though I'm not going to school to be a teacher-- I felt like this was COMPLETELY empowering and worthy enough to share with anyone who reads this- and share with all the teachers you know. It will remind them why they do what they do. :) so, GO here  . Taylor Mali is just absolutely WONDERFUL


9. For all of my fell social work friends-- Please then take the time to go to Taylor Mali's website, click on the "What Teacher's Make" Tab-- and... View the version of... "WHAT SOCIAL WORKERS MAKE"-- it's a great little piece as well.

10. HAVE a wonderful WEEKEND! :)

please watch this.

please watch this movie. it would make me very happy if you did. please invest yourself emotionally into these women while watching this movie. please come back and and have a discussion with me after you've watched it-- oh please oh please just do it. you won't regret it. i never did.

A little taste of my Women's Studies Presentation

I did a presentation on Women in Christianity and where we stand-- I put this little video together to play while I was giving my presentation of past examples of the emphasis philosophers and theologians had on the church and women in the church and what we as women can do today. I thought some of you might be interested.

Just in case any of you were wondering... the first song is This Woman's Work by Kate Bush and then the second song was Grace Flows Down by The Passion Worship Band

Not impressed with this bible study.

i'm doing a beth moore bible study through the church here in town. my roommate and i did beth's esther study last spring and decided to indulge in her fruit of the spirit study this fall. i love beth. (as most do) so our campus ministry team does a bible study as well. i wanted to see if I could get my hands on the women's bible study. the leader of course handed me the materials and so last night i very excitedly opened the small book to see what it said.


i looked at the all the chapters first, and decided to skip straight to the chapter on femininity. Hoping that i would find this extremely empowering message-- i, in fact, found the exact opposite.

It started reading about the role of a woman. it emphasized roles of a MOTHER and WIFE... and despite what my dreams and aspirations are... I just feel like women have roles outside of MOTHER and WIFE. If a woman doesn't want to be married... and if she doesn't want to have kids. GREAT! that's her choice. i won't think any less of her.

so it starts to talk about femininity as basically compassion and understanding and nurturing... etc. GREAT! i'm all about compassion-- and all of those things-- do i think a women is less of a women if she's a little bit more forward, bold, and to the point. NOT A CHANCE. and do i think that many of societies issues can be helped if men were taught that it's ok to be compassionate, nurturing, and understanding... I sure DO!

LASTLY, it goes on to blame past radical feminists for obscuring men's and women's identities. It states that because of past things radical feminists have done, women started to get confused about their identity and their role-- as well as men. I absolutely FLEW through the roof. I REFUSE to dismiss what my sister feminists have done for me. If women wouldn't have taken drastic measures such as a hunger strike in prison (alice paul) where would we be. And how about second wave feminists-- i sit in class everyday claiming my education... I could go on... AND ON about things that radical feminists have done for women today-- and I think this anonymous poem sums it up quite nicely...

If you're female and...
...you can vote, thank a feminist.
...you get paid as much as men doing the same job, thank a feminist.
...you went to college instead of being expected to quit after high school so your brothers could go because "You'll just get married anyway", thank a feminist.
...you can apply for any job, not just "women's work", thank a feminist.

...you can get or give birth control information without going to jail, thank a feminist.

...your doctor, lawyer, pastor judge or legislator is a woman, thank a feminist.

...you play an organized sport, thank a feminist.

...you can wear slacks without being excommunicated from your church or run out of town, thank a feminist.

...your boss isn't allowed to pressure you to sleep with him, thank a feminist.

...you get raped and the trial isn't about your hemline or your previous boyfriends, thank a feminist.

...you start a small business and can get a loan using only your name and credit history, thank a feminist

...you are on trial and are allowed to testify in your own defense, thank a feminist.

...you own property that is solely yours, thank a feminist.

...you have the right to your own salary even if you are married or have a male relative, thank a feminist.

...you get custody of your children following divorce or separation, thank a feminist.

...you get a voice in the raising and care of your children instead of them being completely controlled by the husband/father, thank a feminist.

...your husband beats you and it is illegal and the police stop him instead of lecturing you on better wifely behavior, thank a feminist.

...you are granted a degree after attending college instead of a certificate of completion, thank a feminist.

...you can breastfeed your baby discreetly in a public place and not be arrested, thank a feminist.

...you marry and your civil human rights do not disappear into your husband's rights, thank a feminist.

...you have the right to refuse sex with a diseased husband [or just "husband"], thank a feminist.

...you have the right to keep your medical records confidential from the men in your family, thank a feminist.

...you have the right to read the books you want, thank a feminist.

...you can testify in court about crimes or wrongs your husband has committed, thank a feminist.

...you can choose to be a mother or not a mother in you own time not at the dictates of a husband or rapist, thank a feminist.

...you can look forward to a lifespan of 80 years instead of dying in your 20s from unlimited childbirth, thank a feminist.

...you can see yourself as a full, adult human being instead of a minor who needs to be controlled by a man, thank a feminist.

--Author unknown

I'm not about ready to dismiss what our radical feminists have done-- or blame them for the role confusion we find in today's patriarchial society. Any women who dares to believe that radical feminists are to blame, i find as a disappointment to women everywhere.

Bottome line. I've been empowered by bible studies and this isn't one of them. I love Jesus. I'm celebrating diversity in women's personalities and I for one am thankful that i don't have to stay at home and i have the option to do what my heart desires. a woman should not be looked down upon for what she does decide to do with her life. women have been honored in several different roles throughout the bible and so perhaps the role confusion we're seeing is due to the past philosophers and theologins shaping the church with it's gender roles. Just something to think about.

Conversations

I don't know how to say this, I don't know how to stand, I don't know where to put my feet, or where to put my hands.I've got them in my pockets, my fingers are freezing cold, they're wrapped around a ticket stub that's four weeks old, and I don't know how to say this. . I think we've figured out this world is bigger than you and I. We've exhausted our wealth of knowledge and have no more answers for mankind. We've had every conversation in the world about what is right and what has all gone bad, but have I mentioned to you that this is all I am, this is all that I have. . I'm not trying to judge you. That's not my job. I am just a seeker too, in search of God. . Somewhere somehow this subject became taboo. I have no other way to communicate to you. This is all that I am. This is all that I have. . Chorus . I would like to share with you what makes me complete. I don't claim to have found the Truth, but I know it has found me. . the only thing that isn't meaningless to me is Jesus Christ and and way he set me free. This is all that I have. This is all that I am

Thank you Sara Groves for saying what is on my heart. <3