Matt took me to the Kentucky State Fair for my birthday last Saturday. We had a wonderful time together, as we got to learn about and see more of Kentucky while we were at the fair. Here is a little video highlighting our day at the fair. I hope that you all enjoy.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Seminary Wives Institute
All right, this is not going to be a long post, because I'm pretty tired after some very long days these last 3 weeks. Let's just say that working all day at a preschool, and then coming home after 6:00 p.m. and staying up until 11:30 when Matt gets home from work, is finally really getting me pretty tired. But, I'm not complaining, I love the feeling of being tired from working in the ministry, It is probably one of my most favorite feelings in all of the world. I know, I'm strange, but you all probably already knew that.
Tonight I attended my first class at the Seminary Wive's Institute. What an amazing program! This program has been designed specifically for the wives of seminary students. While taking this program, I will be equipped with all of the practical training that I will need to have in order to take on the role of a ministry wife. After sitting through tonight's class, which is called Essentials I, with the Seminary president's wife, Mary Mohler, I am just blown away at how privileged I am to be able to sit under these ladies and men who have been in the ministry. They are dedicating their time to equip us to be prepared to face the challenges of life as a ministry wife. God is so good to provide me with training like this before Matt and I go to serve Him in whatever church he calls us to. The classes meet every Thursday night from 7:00 - 8:30. We have required reading, papers, and quizzes just like normal college. At the end of the program, we even get to graduate with a certificate. Praise God for laying it on Mrs. Mohler's heart to start this program 16 years ago. This is a much needed service for ministry wives today.
As I said, I'm going to keep this post short, so I wanted to thank you all for your support, and prayers. Matt and I often think and pray for all of you back home. This week has been a little hard on me, because normally I would have started teaching at Anza Valley Christian School during this week, but God has different plans for us right now. I miss my students so much, but I know that they are in very capable hands now. I pray that God will continue to bless AVCS as He has done in the past. Well, until next time, you will all be in our prayers.
Tonight I attended my first class at the Seminary Wive's Institute. What an amazing program! This program has been designed specifically for the wives of seminary students. While taking this program, I will be equipped with all of the practical training that I will need to have in order to take on the role of a ministry wife. After sitting through tonight's class, which is called Essentials I, with the Seminary president's wife, Mary Mohler, I am just blown away at how privileged I am to be able to sit under these ladies and men who have been in the ministry. They are dedicating their time to equip us to be prepared to face the challenges of life as a ministry wife. God is so good to provide me with training like this before Matt and I go to serve Him in whatever church he calls us to. The classes meet every Thursday night from 7:00 - 8:30. We have required reading, papers, and quizzes just like normal college. At the end of the program, we even get to graduate with a certificate. Praise God for laying it on Mrs. Mohler's heart to start this program 16 years ago. This is a much needed service for ministry wives today.
As I said, I'm going to keep this post short, so I wanted to thank you all for your support, and prayers. Matt and I often think and pray for all of you back home. This week has been a little hard on me, because normally I would have started teaching at Anza Valley Christian School during this week, but God has different plans for us right now. I miss my students so much, but I know that they are in very capable hands now. I pray that God will continue to bless AVCS as He has done in the past. Well, until next time, you will all be in our prayers.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
So The Climb Begins...
Those of you who have climbed a mountain before will understand the analogy that I am about to use to describe our first official day of Seminary life. I can remember when Matt and I lived back in Anza, there would be many weeks where we would decide that we wanted to climb up Cahuilla Mountain. Of course we knew we couldn't just head up the mountain unprepared, we had to get ready, pack what we would need, and drive to the foot of Cahuilla Mountain. Well, the same is true when you are undertaking what God is calling you to do. First, you look at what He is calling you to do, and like looking at a mountain, you say, "wow, that's beautiful, but it looks big and scary, and I don't know if I can make it to the top." So too, Matt and I were in awe with the thought that God was calling Matt to Seminary in Kentucky. It seemed so big, and so far away, and so hard to get there. But, we remembered that we have a big God, that will accomplish in our lives what He wants us to do in order to further His kingdom. So, just as we prepared to hike to the top of Cahuilla Mountain, so we prepared to go to Kentucky and Southern Seminary.
The process of packing and preparing was an exciting one. Just like it is exciting as we pack to hike up Cahuilla Mountain. Than came the day when we would actually have to get in to our cars and leave everything familiar behind and head off to the base of our "mountain" into the unknown territory of The Southern Seminary in Kentucky. I hope you're all still following my analogy. If not, I'll let you know where we're at. We're at the base of the mountain now. Those of you who have hiked to the top of a mountain before know the feeling. As you tilt your head back, sometimes way back, you take in the beauty and height of the mountain you are about to climb. You're awestruck with the sheer elevation that you will soon be climbing. Thoughts of "can I make it," run through your mind. Then, you get ready to take that first step that will eventually lead you to the top of the mountain where you know that you will be rewarded with unparalleled views and the realization that you did it, you climbed the mountain.
So, too Matt and I took our first step up our "mountain" today. But before taking this first step, we had spent quite a bit of time at the base of the mountain still preparing, and sometimes worrying, and sometimes being downright scared at the towering mountain that looms before us. Yet, God has been with us during this 2 month period of waiting at the bottom of our "mountain" before we took our first step on the trail to the top. He has been there to calm our fears, provide us with jobs, and lead us to an amazing little rural church to be a part of. Now, here I am writing to you all about that first step up the "mountain" that we took today. Matt's first step was that today was his first day of actual classes. He was up and out the door by 6:35 this morning so that he could be at his Greek class at 7:00, then it was on to Chapel at 10:00 and then to his Personal Spiritual Disciplines Class at 11:30 and finally to work at 2:00 and he'll be back home by 11:30 tonight. Honestly, I haven't seen Matt since this morning at 6:35 because I have been pretty busy taking my first step up our "mountain" as well. But, I know that classes went well for Matt today because he left me a note explaining how everything went. He sounded so excited in his note, just as excited as he sounds when he's climbing a literal mountain. For me, I attended parent orientation today at Christian Academy of Louisville where I will be working with the 4-year-old preschool class. It was such an amazing experience. Lately I have really been feeling God call me to be prepared to start a preschool wherever God calls Matt to be a pastor. (We're hoping that it's back in California.) I just feel so blessed to be able to receive such excellent training from the Christian preschool here in Louisville. Now that I've taken this first step up the "mountain." I feel like I'm chomping at the bit to take the next step. But, even as I write this, I know that there will be difficult spots along the way as there is with any hike to the top of a mountain.
When hiking to the top of a mountain it is even easy to lose your way if you don't follow the trial and your guide. I must remember to always follow my Guide, the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so excited to be on this amazing journey, and I can't wait to see the view from the top of this "mountain" when Matt graduates from Seminary in 4 years. I have a feeling I know what I'll see though, another mountain. But, God while be there to guide us up that mountain, as I know he will guide us up this mountain in our lives right now.
Right now I'm just so full of joy and amazement of where God has brought us to this point in our lives. I can truly say that He has truly blessed us, and I feel so honored that He would allow me to be in the service of His Kingdom.
Okay, no more analogies, now just a few updates on what's been going on in our lives, besides taking our first real step up our mountain that will ultimately lead to Matt's Seminary graduation. Well, as most of you know, Matt has been working at Chick-fil-A, but he just wasn't making enough money there to completely cover all of the monthly bills, so he has been praying that God will provide him with another job. Well, last Friday, he had an interview with a temp agency for a job in a manufacturing plant. The interview went well, and he went on Monday (yesterday) to interview with the plant manager. This morning he found out that he got the job. This is a big big big answer to prayer because he will be making $12.00 per hour for the first 3 months, and then he will make $15.00 per hour after that, with the option for overtime, and he can get end of the year bonuses. He will be operating the computers that make industrial strength wall covering like you might see on the walls of chain stores such as Target, or Starbucks. Matt also just got a call this last Sunday from a preacher of a rural church just a few miles down from the church where we attend. The pastor told Matt that he was going out of town, and that he needed someone to preach for him the first Sunday in September. Matt said that would be fine. So, Matt will be preaching his first sermon in Kentucky pretty soon. Pray for him as he prepares for this Sermon, that God will give him just the right words to speak to this small rural congregation of 20 people. Some good news for me is that I just found out that my preschool position is a year round position, so I don't have to worry about not getting paid during the Summer. Isn't God amazing. Also, I am going to be helping out with the midweek children's program at our church in Campbellsburg. I think the program is kind of like AWANAs, but it is called Team Kids, I'm excited to be working with the kids as well as learning a new children's program. Well, I'm pretty worn out from such an amazing day, I think that I'm going to go and read one of my textbooks for my Seminary Wives' Institute Class which I will start next Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
The process of packing and preparing was an exciting one. Just like it is exciting as we pack to hike up Cahuilla Mountain. Than came the day when we would actually have to get in to our cars and leave everything familiar behind and head off to the base of our "mountain" into the unknown territory of The Southern Seminary in Kentucky. I hope you're all still following my analogy. If not, I'll let you know where we're at. We're at the base of the mountain now. Those of you who have hiked to the top of a mountain before know the feeling. As you tilt your head back, sometimes way back, you take in the beauty and height of the mountain you are about to climb. You're awestruck with the sheer elevation that you will soon be climbing. Thoughts of "can I make it," run through your mind. Then, you get ready to take that first step that will eventually lead you to the top of the mountain where you know that you will be rewarded with unparalleled views and the realization that you did it, you climbed the mountain.
 |
| One of the views from the top of Cahuilla Mountain. |
 |
| Matt trying to find his way around the top of Cahuilla Mountain |
 |
| Matt on the top of Cahuilla Mountain. In just four years he will be on top of "Seminary" mountain. |
Okay, no more analogies, now just a few updates on what's been going on in our lives, besides taking our first real step up our mountain that will ultimately lead to Matt's Seminary graduation. Well, as most of you know, Matt has been working at Chick-fil-A, but he just wasn't making enough money there to completely cover all of the monthly bills, so he has been praying that God will provide him with another job. Well, last Friday, he had an interview with a temp agency for a job in a manufacturing plant. The interview went well, and he went on Monday (yesterday) to interview with the plant manager. This morning he found out that he got the job. This is a big big big answer to prayer because he will be making $12.00 per hour for the first 3 months, and then he will make $15.00 per hour after that, with the option for overtime, and he can get end of the year bonuses. He will be operating the computers that make industrial strength wall covering like you might see on the walls of chain stores such as Target, or Starbucks. Matt also just got a call this last Sunday from a preacher of a rural church just a few miles down from the church where we attend. The pastor told Matt that he was going out of town, and that he needed someone to preach for him the first Sunday in September. Matt said that would be fine. So, Matt will be preaching his first sermon in Kentucky pretty soon. Pray for him as he prepares for this Sermon, that God will give him just the right words to speak to this small rural congregation of 20 people. Some good news for me is that I just found out that my preschool position is a year round position, so I don't have to worry about not getting paid during the Summer. Isn't God amazing. Also, I am going to be helping out with the midweek children's program at our church in Campbellsburg. I think the program is kind of like AWANAs, but it is called Team Kids, I'm excited to be working with the kids as well as learning a new children's program. Well, I'm pretty worn out from such an amazing day, I think that I'm going to go and read one of my textbooks for my Seminary Wives' Institute Class which I will start next Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Teacher Orientation Day
 |
| Front view of the school where I will be working (English Station) |
Today was my first official day of work at Christian Academy of Louisville, English Station. The campus is really big and beautiful, they have just about 1,000 K3 - 12th grade students on this campus alone. Between all of their campuses, Christian Academy of Louisville has 3,000 students. As I drove to my orientation this morning, I was quite nervous, mainly because I'm a country girl at heart, and I love teaching in small rural schools. Now, here I was on my way to the largest Christian School System in all of Kentucky, and many other states as well. Not only is it a large Christian School, but it's located in America's 16th largest city, Louisville. To say that I was feeling a little bit nervous and overwhelmed would definitely be an understatement.
As I arrived on campus I once again marveled at how large and beautiful their campus is. God truly has blessed this Christian School with amazing state-of-the art facilities. Yet, it hasn't always been this way. This school had very humble beginnings as it met in Sunday school classrooms at two local churches during the 1970s. As more and more students began to come to the schools, facilities had to be expanded. Through the school board's amazing faith in God's provision, there are now 5 beautiful campuses located in Kentucky and Indiana. As I listened to the history of this Christian School, I couldn't help but think of Anza Valley Christian School. With it's humble beginnings I pray that God too will use AVCS to reach hundreds of children and their families in the future.
 |
| Arial view of the entire campus, including athletic fields, where I will be teaching. |
 |
| Arial view of the building where I will be teaching. |
When I arrived in the preschool side of the school at 8:30 a.m. I was immediately introduced to the lead teacher in the classroom where I would be teaching. She is really nice, her name is Mei, and she is from Korea, there is also another assistant teacher in the classroom and her name is Shelly, and she's from America. :) They were both getting their brand new classroom ready for the start of school next Wednesday. So I jumped right in and started disinfecting cubbies. There will be 22 students in the class, the maximum number that can be in the class, so I cleaned out 22 cubbies. Then we had to disinfect and clean all of the toys. Yikes, that took a long time, but we were all able to talk together and get to know each other more. Both of them have been working at the school for about 2.5 years. At lunch time, all of the preschool teachers went out to lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. We all had a good time laughing and telling stories with each other. It felt so good to be able to be with people after having been pretty much "stuck" in our apartment on campus for the last month and a half. After lunch, it was time to go to our actual orientation meeting in the High School library.
Orientation, was just what it was supposed to be, it was very informative. We got to meet all of the new hires, as well as all the school administration. We also got to attend an entire session on the health, and life insurance that the school offers to its employees. I felt really bad for some of the younger teachers fresh out of college, because they looked really confused as to all the health insurance terms that were being thrown around. I'm glad that through my mom, and the first college I attended and purchasing health insurance multiple times in my life, I was already very familiar with all of the terms. The school offers pretty good insurance that Matt and I are definitely going to take advantage of. After the session on life insurance, we were dismissed to go home. Tomorrow I will be attending a preschool teacher training session on a different campus called Rock Creek. I'm looking forward to this, as well as getting my CPR and first aid certification.
I wanted to thank all of you who have prayed for me in that I would find a position in a preschool. God truly is good in providing me with this position where I can learn how to properly run a preschool. My long term goal is to be able to open up a preschool wherever Matt becomes a pastor (I'm hoping for California.) In order to be the director of a preschool in California, I will need to have four years of actual experience in a preschool. Because Matt's degree will take him four years to receive, I will be able to get that four years of classroom experience while I'm here. Isn't God good? Well, my stomach just started growling, so it must be dinner time. Until next time, you are all in my prayers.
 |
| See, it does snow in Louisville. |
Friday, August 3, 2012
Amazing Chewy Coconut Lime Sugar Cookies!!
I like to go on Pintrest and look for new and unique recipes. I've been craving a cookie that didn't have chocolate in it, and I came across this recipe for Chewy Coconut Lime Sugar Cookies. I'm not much of a coconut fan, but I don't hate it, so I thought that I would give it a try. I just finished pulling the last batch of these cookies out of the oven, and they're simply amazing. This is the best Summer cookie. It reminds me of the beach with the hint of lime in it. The cookies even come out just like the picture. While they are definitely not "good" for you, they sure do taste yummy. Here's the recipe and the website that I got it from: (The only thing that I changed in the recipe was to add 1/2 tsp cream of tartar to help the cookies not go too flat.)
Chewy Coconut Lime Sugar Cookies
Source: My Baking Addiction The website I actually got the recipe from is here.
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon baking powder (Here's where I added the 1/2 tsp of cream of tartar.)
½ teaspoon salt (I didn't put any salt in mine because I used salted butter.)
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
zest of one large lime, finely minced
3 tbsp lime juice (I used the bottled lime juice from the grocery store.)
½ cup unsweetened toasted coconut (I used sweetened coconut and it was just fine.)
½ cup sugar for rolling cookies
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. If you haven't already toasted your coconut just put a layer of coconut on a cookie sheet and bake it at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Watch out. It goes from white to burnt really quick if you aren't watching closely (This is very true, I almost set off the fire alarm in the dorms after having the coconut in for only 3.5 minutes.).
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and very fluffy.
4. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, lime juice and lime zest.
5. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients and toasted coconut.
6. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and roll in sugar. Place on lined cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. I made mine too big and they ran together. These do spread quite a bit.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes (depending on your oven) in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned.
8. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
Yields 3 dozen 2 - 3" cookies.
I hope you all enjoy these cookies as much as I have. Happy baking.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
How Should Christians Respond???
With the Chick-fil-A controversy looming over our nation. I have been forced to think on difficult topics that I normally try to "keep so busy" that I don't have to think about them. Truth is, I'm not at all busy right now, and I have come face to face with the question of how am I to respond to a situation such as happened to Chik-fil-A?
I must say that I am a strong supporter of Christian companies, because I am a Christian, I have been raised a Christian, I firmly hold to Christian beliefs, so it does seem logical that I would support Christian companies--does it not? Yet, I have been faced with this question, "How would God want a Christian to respond to the circumstances surrounding the Chick-fil-A matter?" One thing keeps coming to my mind. Jesus told His disciples that "they (the world) will know we are Christians by our love." It is so easy for me to want to fight back against people who are so openly against my Christian beliefs and values, but is this what God would have me do? Would this be showing the love of Christ to those who have never experienced His love? Oh, so many questions!!
As A Christian I'm commissioned by Christ to bring the Gospel to those who have never heard it. That is the command that Christ gave to His followers before He returned to Heaven. How will Christians ever be able to give the Gospel to a culture that thinks that we "hate" them? As I read through many comments against Christians regarding their support of Chick-fil-A's stance on Facebook, I am greatly saddened at how much Christians are hated because non-Christians think that we hate them. I'm definitely curious as to how we show love to this generation that we live in. I don't have the answers, but I'll be praying that God will help me with all of these difficult questions.
I am including a few different articles on this Chick-fil-A matter for you all to read. I found them very interesting and helpful for me. The first article is written by Dr. Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky where Matt attends.
The second article, which I find very interesting is written by Denny Burk who is an associate professor of Boyce College which is here on the campus of Southern Seminary. I hope these articles will help some of you to better understand the issue here at hand.
Editor's Note: R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Click Here to View The Site from where this article was taken.
Today countless Americans will heed Mike Huckabee’s call to rally in support of Chick-fil-a. Over 500,000 people have signed up to take part and to show support for a company that has been under fire over the last couple of weeks for its advocacy of traditional marriage.
I must say that I am a strong supporter of Christian companies, because I am a Christian, I have been raised a Christian, I firmly hold to Christian beliefs, so it does seem logical that I would support Christian companies--does it not? Yet, I have been faced with this question, "How would God want a Christian to respond to the circumstances surrounding the Chick-fil-A matter?" One thing keeps coming to my mind. Jesus told His disciples that "they (the world) will know we are Christians by our love." It is so easy for me to want to fight back against people who are so openly against my Christian beliefs and values, but is this what God would have me do? Would this be showing the love of Christ to those who have never experienced His love? Oh, so many questions!!
As A Christian I'm commissioned by Christ to bring the Gospel to those who have never heard it. That is the command that Christ gave to His followers before He returned to Heaven. How will Christians ever be able to give the Gospel to a culture that thinks that we "hate" them? As I read through many comments against Christians regarding their support of Chick-fil-A's stance on Facebook, I am greatly saddened at how much Christians are hated because non-Christians think that we hate them. I'm definitely curious as to how we show love to this generation that we live in. I don't have the answers, but I'll be praying that God will help me with all of these difficult questions.
I am including a few different articles on this Chick-fil-A matter for you all to read. I found them very interesting and helpful for me. The first article is written by Dr. Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky where Matt attends.
The second article, which I find very interesting is written by Denny Burk who is an associate professor of Boyce College which is here on the campus of Southern Seminary. I hope these articles will help some of you to better understand the issue here at hand.
My Take: Chick-fil-A controversy reveals religious liberty under threat
Editor's Note: R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.
By R. Albert Mohler Jr., Special to CNN
(CNN)–Cultural upheavals often occur in the most surprising contexts. Who expected that a clash between sexuality and religious liberty would be focused on a restaurant company mainly known for its chicken sandwiches?
And yet the controversy over Chick-fil-A is a clear sign that religious liberty is at risk and that this nation has reached the brink of tyrannical intolerance from at least some of our elected leaders.
The controversy ignited when Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, son of the company’s legendary founder, Truett Cathy, told a Baptist newspaper that he and his company “operate on biblical principles” and “are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”
Defining Chick-fil-A as “a family business,” Cathy went on to say that “We intend to stay the course. … We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”
Media attention to Cathy’s comments revealed a radio interview he had given a few weeks earlier in which he commented that “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at (God) and say, ‘We know better than You what constitutes a marriage.'
“I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think we would have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about,” he said.
Within days, elected officials in Chicago, Boston and New York were pledging to deny the company access to their cities.
“Because of (Dan Cathy’s) ignorance, I will deny Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant in my ward,” Chicago Alderman Proco Moreno said, in a threat echoed by
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was just as blunt: “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston,” he said. “We’re an open city. We’re a city at the forefront of inclusion.”
But the kind of inclusion he had in mind would evidently exclude Chick-fil-A.
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who just recently married her lesbian partner, called upon New York University to kick Chick-fil-A off its campus.
Echoing the Boston mayor’s lack of irony, she also called for exclusion in the name of inclusion: “We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength, and we will fight anything and anyone that runs counter to that.”
Within days, Moreno, Emanuel and Menino had qualified their statements somewhat, promising to operate within the law and constitutional limits. Those clarifications became necessary when legal authorities quickly recognized threatened violations of First Amendment rights.
To his credit, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an ardent supporter of same-sex marriage, warned, “You can’t have a test for what the owner’s personal views are before you decide to give a permit to do something in the city.”
Note carefully that Chick-fil-A was not charged with discrimination in hiring or service but simply with the fact that its president and chief operating officer supports traditional marriage.
Note something else: Dan Cathy’s statements were explicitly religious. He made his comments to the religious press, including a Baptist newspaper. His comments were infused with his Christian convictions, the same convictions that have led the company to close for business every Sunday.
The threats made against Chick-fil-A betray the principle of religious liberty that is enshrined within the U.S. Constitution. Civic officials in some of the nation’s largest and most powerful cities have openly threatened to oppose Chick-fil-A for the singular reason that its president openly spoke of his Christian convictions concerning marriage.
When Quinn, one of the most powerful officials in New York, announces, “I do not want establishments in my city that hold such discriminatory views,” is she also threatening the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Jewish synagogues and Islamic mosques?
They, along with evangelical Christian denominations, openly oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. Cathy’s statements are completely consistent with his own denomination’s statement of faith and official declarations. He was speaking as a Christian and as a Southern Baptist, and he was speaking as a man who does his best to live and speak as he believes.
When Emanuel and Moreno tell Chick-fil-A to stay out of Chicago, are they audacious enough to deliver that same message to the churches, mosques and synagogues of their city that also oppose same-sex marriage? What do they do with the fact that their own state does not allow same-sex marriages?
This country is deeply divided over the issue of same-sex marriage, and the controversy over Chick-fil-A is an ominous sign that many of the proponents of same-sex marriage are quite willing to violate religious liberty and to use any and all means to silence and punish any individual or organization that holds the contrary view – a view sustained by the voters in 29 states by constitutional amendments.
Addressing the intersection of same-sex marriage and religious liberty, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has warned that the government must not be “viewed as unfairly trying to pre-determine the debate or harass one side.”
That is exactly what some elected officials have just shown themselves ready to do. It will not stop with Chick-fil-A. Who will be next to be told to get out of town?
Disclosures:
I know Dan and Truett Cathy and other members of the Cathy family. Truett has spoken on our campus. I have prayed at the opening of multiple Chick-fil-A locations. I serve on the board of directors of Focus on the Family, which has been supported by Chick-fil-A. My son, Christopher, is a part-time service employee of a local Chick-fil-A restaurant in Louisville. I have not communicated with Chick-fil-A about this column.
Click Here to View The Site from where this article was taken.
Is Chick-fil-a Day a “bold mistake”?
Today countless Americans will heed Mike Huckabee’s call to rally in support of Chick-fil-a. Over 500,000 people have signed up to take part and to show support for a company that has been under fire over the last couple of weeks for its advocacy of traditional marriage.
For the most part, conservatives have answered the call. But Barnabas Piper is a notable exception and is calling the show of solidarity with Chick-fil-a a “bold mistake.” In his column for World magazine, he argues that the rally presents an “us vs. them” division between Christians and those on the other side of the debate. It unnecessarily alienates people whom we would otherwise like to reach with the gospel.
I think Piper makes an important point that we would do well to hear. The cause of the gospel is not served by Christians swaggering in triumph over threatened boycotts against Chick-fil-a. The apostle Paul writes, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom 12:18). This means we should not relish division between Christians and their opponents. We should avoid putting any obstacle in the way of their hearing the gospel. We desire to become all things to all men so that we may by all means win some (1 Cor. 9:22). At the end of the day, we wish to see people converted to Christ, not to Chick-fil-a.
Having said that, I don’t think that means that everyone needs to stay home from Chick-fil-a today. But it does mean that we should behave like Christians wherever we go. No swagger, no one-upmanship. Just humility, gratefulness, and love. If the watching world sees that from us today, I think we’ll be alright.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)