If you look in your local Lifeway Christian store for the latest issue of Gospel Today, you won't see it on the shelves.
The Southern Baptist Convention, an ultra-conservative organization that oversees the operation of Southern Baptist Churches, found the cover of this magazine offensive, and while it did not remove the magazine from Lifeway, a store owned and content-controlled by the organization, you will have to ask the person behind the counter for the issue, just like you have to apparently for pornography magazines.
The issue in question? The cover of this issue features five female pastors, and the magazine contains an article about women in ministry. Not an article campaigning for the cause of women in ministry, just an article telling the story of these women.
The SBC, after the fundamentalist takeover in the late 70s to late 80s, put together a new statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message. This document promotes, among other things, the role of the man as the head of not only the household but of the church. It does not believe women can teach men at all, much less preach to a congregation. In many cases this carries over to Sunday school classes, having a woman teach the girls (regardless of subject matter) and a man teach the boys. Southwestern Theological Seminary does not allow women to study certain subjects, and the current president of the seminary is quoted as saying that the new home-ec degree at STS is a truly biblical degree for women to pursue.
I could go on, and perhaps someday I will, but the point is this: Jesus liberated women. As Pastor Tamara Benett said, "Sometimes we forget that ministry is God's business. It's not a man's business. God gives gifts to whomever he sees fit."
So, if there is a Lifeway Christian Store in your area, go in and ask for the magazine. Then tell everyone you see about what the SBC doesn't want published: women obeying their call to ministry.
To read the original article, go to http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,425565,00.html
*Edit* I took off the part about Paige Patterson's wife because I could not locate the article that details all of the things Dorothy Patterson must do, such as sit behind him, sit lower than him, and walk behind him. It is somewhere in the possession of my former Baptist History professor. It has, however, been told to me on separate occasions by three people who either study baptist history, teach baptist history, or were at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during that time. It was meant as a truthful statement and not a "hyperbolic expression." Dorothy Patterson's website and all the bios I have found of her describe her as first and foremost a wife and mother. This does not seem bad until you realize that her husband, Paige Patterson, does not describe himself as first and foremost a husband and father. Dorothy Patterson is the only listed female faculty member currently on staff at SWBTS and teaches the "home ec" curriculum, which includes classes like "clothing construction" but does not include classes on Marriage and Family or on finances. Dorothy Patterson's web site is replete with book recommendations about a woman's place in the family, the reclamation of the biblical family, and how to please your husband. I still wonder how the Pattersons and others like them overlook Deborah of the old testament, Lydia, who ran a church in the new testament, and that some of Paul's letters are addressed to a woman.
Here is Dorothy Patterson's website: http://www.dorothypatterson.info/
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
To Do List
Someone posted their list on Facebook and got me thinking. I made one of these in my junior year in high school and I don't know where it is. Besides that, a lot has changed since I wrote that one. So here is my list of things I want to do in life (saying "before I die" sounds a bit too ominous, don't you think?), subject to change, be added to or subtracted from.
1. Live abroad
2. Finish my education: Get my Master's Degree in Art Therapy, various other graduate certificates, and perhaps a BFA in Studio Art along with my current degree.
3. Finish my book.
4. Have a wonderful wedding and even more awesome marriage.
5. Raise my children to be responsible, considerate, independent thinkers who think about wrong vs right as opposed to obey vs disobey.
6. Get back into dancing
7. Have an art studio
8. Learn to ride horseback (more than just the basics)
9. Own an Irish Wolfhound
10. Go to storytelling conferences and festivals
11. Gain fluency in Spanish and profficiency in French
12. Visit the Black Forests
13. Visit the former Kingdom of Bohemia
14. Be an example
15. Meet Carol Burnett
16. Become more involved in legitimate community theatre
17. Develop a healthy sleeping pattern
18. Join a rock climbing gym
19. Develop my eye
20. Live up to my full potential in at least one thing
21. Do one trip first class and five star all the way
22. Cause change
23. Have a completely open, honest, fearless, selfless, communicative relationship with my husband
24. Try Turkish Delight
25. Become truly proficcient at sewing
1. Live abroad
2. Finish my education: Get my Master's Degree in Art Therapy, various other graduate certificates, and perhaps a BFA in Studio Art along with my current degree.
3. Finish my book.
4. Have a wonderful wedding and even more awesome marriage.
5. Raise my children to be responsible, considerate, independent thinkers who think about wrong vs right as opposed to obey vs disobey.
6. Get back into dancing
7. Have an art studio
8. Learn to ride horseback (more than just the basics)
9. Own an Irish Wolfhound
10. Go to storytelling conferences and festivals
11. Gain fluency in Spanish and profficiency in French
12. Visit the Black Forests
13. Visit the former Kingdom of Bohemia
14. Be an example
15. Meet Carol Burnett
16. Become more involved in legitimate community theatre
17. Develop a healthy sleeping pattern
18. Join a rock climbing gym
19. Develop my eye
20. Live up to my full potential in at least one thing
21. Do one trip first class and five star all the way
22. Cause change
23. Have a completely open, honest, fearless, selfless, communicative relationship with my husband
24. Try Turkish Delight
25. Become truly proficcient at sewing
Monday, September 15, 2008
The beginnings of light at the end of the tunnel
My university FINALLY got my transcript in today. Which means hopefully my diploma will be with me within a week. Which also means I can apply for that job, and that I can stop feeling useless and be proactive about getting out there. I'm so ready for this!
Friday, September 12, 2008
On Nothing Forthcoming and Feeling Useless
I am at a very strange place in my life. I don't have a job, I don't have classes to go to, and I don't have anything to do during the day. Besides that, I don't have any energy to do anything during the day.
I've never, ever been in a spot like this. The closest has been during the summers. But I'm not even waiting for school to start. I am waiting for my diploma to come in the mail so I can apply to the current dream job which will have the dual role of filling up space in my days and helping me earn money for grad school. That's right, folks, I still have not recieved my diploma. The community college where I took my last two classes apparently mailed the final transcript on August 19, and my university, or at least the registrar in charge of graduation, never recieved it.
On Monday I went in to the community college on my way to my post op appointment to see about getting the transcript overnighted. I had called the week before and was told to fax one set of information to business services and one set to the registrar's office, but I lost the fax numbers and the web site doesn't have detailed contact information, just a general number and then we get routed all over the place. So when I landed at the business services office, still not feeling well and a bit out of breath, the woman didn't have a clue what I was talking about. She talked to the head registrar and told me a whole other set of directions that I had no time for because I was already late. I told her what I was told to do and she remained firm in telling me that I needed to go to another area in the building. Because I wasn't feeling well, I got frustrated and started crying. I told her, red faced, that I didn't have time because I had an appointment, she said go upstairs to such-and-such department, and I ended up saying nevermind, just forget it and walking off before the tears started spilling.
So there I was, walking through the rest of the school during peak class hours, my face all red and scrunched up, and I was so embarrassed that I got angry and started crying for real. I realize the reaction is too much, but I was again not my normal self. Not my proudest moment. Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that, rather than deal with that woman again, I decided to just normally request the transcript and accept the fact that it will take even longer to get my diploma. I'm just grateful that the registrar in charge of graduation is an understanding woman.
I feel kind of aimless right now...I sleep, I eat, I'm on the computer all day, and I don't have energy to do really anything else. No worldchanging going on here. I guess I'm just frustrated at my apparent lack of goals right now, because there isn't anything to reach for at this immediate place and time. Limbo is the worst of feelings.
In a way I'm glad I don't have any energy because if I did I'd feel even worse about the fact that there's nothing to do but wait. I don't have anyone to take care of, I don't have groceries to buy, I don't really have to do anything but those things essential to living, and I am bored out of my mind.
I've never, ever been in a spot like this. The closest has been during the summers. But I'm not even waiting for school to start. I am waiting for my diploma to come in the mail so I can apply to the current dream job which will have the dual role of filling up space in my days and helping me earn money for grad school. That's right, folks, I still have not recieved my diploma. The community college where I took my last two classes apparently mailed the final transcript on August 19, and my university, or at least the registrar in charge of graduation, never recieved it.
On Monday I went in to the community college on my way to my post op appointment to see about getting the transcript overnighted. I had called the week before and was told to fax one set of information to business services and one set to the registrar's office, but I lost the fax numbers and the web site doesn't have detailed contact information, just a general number and then we get routed all over the place. So when I landed at the business services office, still not feeling well and a bit out of breath, the woman didn't have a clue what I was talking about. She talked to the head registrar and told me a whole other set of directions that I had no time for because I was already late. I told her what I was told to do and she remained firm in telling me that I needed to go to another area in the building. Because I wasn't feeling well, I got frustrated and started crying. I told her, red faced, that I didn't have time because I had an appointment, she said go upstairs to such-and-such department, and I ended up saying nevermind, just forget it and walking off before the tears started spilling.
So there I was, walking through the rest of the school during peak class hours, my face all red and scrunched up, and I was so embarrassed that I got angry and started crying for real. I realize the reaction is too much, but I was again not my normal self. Not my proudest moment. Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that, rather than deal with that woman again, I decided to just normally request the transcript and accept the fact that it will take even longer to get my diploma. I'm just grateful that the registrar in charge of graduation is an understanding woman.
I feel kind of aimless right now...I sleep, I eat, I'm on the computer all day, and I don't have energy to do really anything else. No worldchanging going on here. I guess I'm just frustrated at my apparent lack of goals right now, because there isn't anything to reach for at this immediate place and time. Limbo is the worst of feelings.
In a way I'm glad I don't have any energy because if I did I'd feel even worse about the fact that there's nothing to do but wait. I don't have anyone to take care of, I don't have groceries to buy, I don't really have to do anything but those things essential to living, and I am bored out of my mind.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Apparently it wasn't finished with me yet
Well, I went to my post-op appointment on Monday. The doctor used a scope and a vacuum to take out most of the packing tissue in my nose. Now I can breathe but I can only smell the scent of dust. I KNOW there are other things to smell. The doctor has me flushing out my sinuses with a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, sea salt, and water. I did the first one a few hours ago and I'm hoping I did it incorrectly...otherwise I'm in for ridiculous pain twice a day for two weeks. Loverly.
I could describe in gory detail how fascinating this packing tissue is and what it looks like (I'm supposed to sneeze the rest of it out during the rest of these two weeks) but I don't think anyone would read my blog after that. Using the phrase "sneeze it out" probably verges on too far for some of my readers. I apologize.
I would like to share with you, my dear readers, an image that was my normality for the better part of a week. 
Yes, that's me, gauze tucked under my nose and held there with a rubber band and gauze tied around my head (at first it was taped to my cheeks but that caused too many problems), a gel-filled sinus ice pack, and a headband to keep my hair out of the way. I'm not wearing the gauze anymore but I thought it was too hilarious not to post.
Note about the background: please excuse the pastel early nineties wallpaper and the paintings on the wall. I chose the wallpaper (or rather my mom chose it) when I was probably six years old, and the painting was a joke two of my friends made for me when I turned sixteen. You can also see Sylvia, my new camera!
Monday, September 8, 2008
And now to expound upon the glories of someone I've spent a lot of time with this week:
Target ClearRx
I hope all of you have the opportunity to receive your prescription drugs from Target pharmacies. They have put a lot of thought into how they deal with pills (and liquid medicine), as they have put a lot of thought in everything, in my opinion.
I have been taking prescription medication for one thing or another all my life. I used to take ritalin for my ADHD (and then switched to a less dangerous drug, and then stopped taking it altogether when that med ended up having negative side effects). So I know how confusing having multiple medications can be.
Target has completely re-thought prescription medications for the better. They use close to the same size bottle for every medication (I think I had one pill that was extra large and so the bottle followed suit) and each bottle has the flat face design. This not only helps with keeping all the information in one place, but it helps with storage too (no chasing after bottles rolling all over the floor). I also think, though I don't know if this is true, that this design uses less plastic than the traditional round bottle design. The top is flat and displays the name of the medication in bold print, so I can read at a glance in the dark what medication I need.
Then, the lid of the bottle has a rubber ring whose color is customized for every person in the family. This helps a lot since members of my family and I sometimes take the same medication.
And finally, my favorite feature: there is an indented slot on the side of the bottle that holds a little card labeled, "patient information." This has a description of the pill (color, shape, size, and labeling), an outline of possible side effects, what to do if a dose is missed, the prescription number, common uses for the medication, and the pharmacy's phone and address.
I know it sounds silly to sing praises of the thought put into a prescription bottle, but it has helped me so much this week, and I really appreciate the designers.
I hope all of you have the opportunity to receive your prescription drugs from Target pharmacies. They have put a lot of thought into how they deal with pills (and liquid medicine), as they have put a lot of thought in everything, in my opinion.
I have been taking prescription medication for one thing or another all my life. I used to take ritalin for my ADHD (and then switched to a less dangerous drug, and then stopped taking it altogether when that med ended up having negative side effects). So I know how confusing having multiple medications can be.
Target has completely re-thought prescription medications for the better. They use close to the same size bottle for every medication (I think I had one pill that was extra large and so the bottle followed suit) and each bottle has the flat face design. This not only helps with keeping all the information in one place, but it helps with storage too (no chasing after bottles rolling all over the floor). I also think, though I don't know if this is true, that this design uses less plastic than the traditional round bottle design. The top is flat and displays the name of the medication in bold print, so I can read at a glance in the dark what medication I need.
Then, the lid of the bottle has a rubber ring whose color is customized for every person in the family. This helps a lot since members of my family and I sometimes take the same medication.
And finally, my favorite feature: there is an indented slot on the side of the bottle that holds a little card labeled, "patient information." This has a description of the pill (color, shape, size, and labeling), an outline of possible side effects, what to do if a dose is missed, the prescription number, common uses for the medication, and the pharmacy's phone and address.
I know it sounds silly to sing praises of the thought put into a prescription bottle, but it has helped me so much this week, and I really appreciate the designers.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I made it back alive!
Hey everyone, I'm back from surgery.
The actual surgery was scheduled for 8:40, which made the 5:30 check-in time rather ridiculous, but we got to check into a private day surgery room and I watched some of Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood and then like two and a half episodes of Monk.
I barely remember entering the operating room and I don't even remember them having me count down backwards from 100 as they always do. I woke up in the recovery room in a ton of pain, partially because of the ventilator tube (I'd never had one of those and thought they took it out before i woke up the memory of it on the muscles hurt), but a good portion because of the surgery itself. They asked me to rate my pain on a 1-10 scale and I said an 8, and they gave me some morphine. Then it got worse and I just kept saying "ten, ten, ten!" and spelling out "mom" in finger spelling, which of course they didn't understand. I finally said "mom" and said it repeatedly but they told me each time that my mother was not allowed back there. I was in the recovery room for more than an hour, and then they brought me back to my room. Note to self: Morphine does nothing for my pain, so a morphine addiction is pointless. Huzzah!
They made me eat something and drink some water to make sure i could hold it down before giving me my pain meds (vicodin...now THAT works). Apparently the surgery itself took longer than expected because he had trouble reaching one of my sinus cavities. That's how small the openings were!
So now I'm at home, waiting for Dad to come back with my meds and a milkshake. I have a post-op appointment next week to see how it went. The doctor said it would be up to a month before all the swelling completely goes down.
I'm just so grateful that I don't have a job or live on my own right now. This way I get to take as much time as I need to rest, which I intend to do.
Hey if you know me and want to call me that's fine, I might sound a bit out of it and I might not talk for long. I would love to hear from you though!
Kate
The actual surgery was scheduled for 8:40, which made the 5:30 check-in time rather ridiculous, but we got to check into a private day surgery room and I watched some of Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood and then like two and a half episodes of Monk.
I barely remember entering the operating room and I don't even remember them having me count down backwards from 100 as they always do. I woke up in the recovery room in a ton of pain, partially because of the ventilator tube (I'd never had one of those and thought they took it out before i woke up the memory of it on the muscles hurt), but a good portion because of the surgery itself. They asked me to rate my pain on a 1-10 scale and I said an 8, and they gave me some morphine. Then it got worse and I just kept saying "ten, ten, ten!" and spelling out "mom" in finger spelling, which of course they didn't understand. I finally said "mom" and said it repeatedly but they told me each time that my mother was not allowed back there. I was in the recovery room for more than an hour, and then they brought me back to my room. Note to self: Morphine does nothing for my pain, so a morphine addiction is pointless. Huzzah!
They made me eat something and drink some water to make sure i could hold it down before giving me my pain meds (vicodin...now THAT works). Apparently the surgery itself took longer than expected because he had trouble reaching one of my sinus cavities. That's how small the openings were!
So now I'm at home, waiting for Dad to come back with my meds and a milkshake. I have a post-op appointment next week to see how it went. The doctor said it would be up to a month before all the swelling completely goes down.
I'm just so grateful that I don't have a job or live on my own right now. This way I get to take as much time as I need to rest, which I intend to do.
Hey if you know me and want to call me that's fine, I might sound a bit out of it and I might not talk for long. I would love to hear from you though!
Kate
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