Keurig, good friends, Graduation, oh my!

It's one of life's guilty little (expensive) pleasures. I was first introduced to it in Alabama, where my boyfriend's uncle had just purchased one. At first we didn't understand the hype about it. My boyfriend still doesn't understand the hype about it, but then again he just isn't one to drink hot beverages (well, so far. Lets see how long he makes it in South Dakota later on this month without changing his ways!). However, my friend bought one last week, and... well... let me put it this way: she bought about four different drink singles packages, and... we need to replenish our stores.
In our defense, we are still reconciling ourselves to the fact that we are now adults, and there just aren't that many toys out there that are inexpensive and edifying. A keurig is... well, neither cheap nor healthy, but its cheapER and healthyER. And its just fun. You get the thrill of a little child playing with the simple toys at the science museum, but if anyone asks what you are doing, you have a mature, reasonable answer: I'm simply making myself a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate/chai.
Not just because of the Keurig (although it definitely helped) but for other amazing, valid reasons as well, this friend gets the award for the best friend of the month. She's been helpful, cheerful, welcoming, entertaining, and just plain awesome. She's been one of the few peers who hasn't either grilled my boyfriend on his stance on Calvinism or some other bastion of our school OR plotted a way to get him to start attending Seminary. She has made absolutely NO disparaging comments or minded us being a couple with normal ups and downs; in fact, she's welcomed him with open arms, plopped him down on her couch and introduced him to the world of "Independence Day' and "The Big Bang Theory' TV series.

(side note:I don't need all my friends to like my boyfriend, and if they have valid reasons for not liking him then I'll listen with open ears, heart and mind. But if the main reason he's off the list is simply because he doesn't go to my school or church and may not conform to all of the nuances the collective student body has determined 'correct' or 'correct-er' then please save it for someone who cares. Plus, all of my older friends, such as professors or mentor-figures in my life love him. Its just the younger people who are acting quirky)

Anyway back to my friend. The dear girl has been going through a rather hard time, so its been a great balance of us being there for each other the last few months. The awesome thing is she doesn't gripe for the sake of griping; she takes in feedback and implements it! She's trying to get more disciplined and organized in life. While I think I'm the last - or next to last - person one could ask to help out in THOSE areas, she's taken what I've had to offer and its been so encouraging. She got back from Thanksgiving break and I personally thought she looked more fit and slimmer so I said so. People, you have NO idea the power of an encouraging word. She keeps mentioning it, blogged about it, and used it to help her stay on track on her new weight loss routine. Gee whiz, a simple compliment and she's been floating for days! That was so encouraging to ME, because I've felt really discouraged with one or two really important people in my life recently; just not knowing how on earth to encourage. The one because encouragement seems to slide of their back like water on a ducks back. The other because it seems as though they want validation through me doing what they want the way they want when they want and if I don't then I'm not taken seriously. I've wanted to just throw in the towel but have been convicted recently of ways that I can do better on things personally, and... I don't know. We'll see how things turn out.
Alright well I need to go make myself presentable. The Seminary has its graduation today and a few good friends are graduating and then off to start amazing ministries and make names for themselves that will go down in the annals of Christian Great Minds ;-) I'm bad; I'm waiting until the actual ceremony is over, then I'm going to arrive when everyone is taking pictures outside and laughing and glad its over. Sorry, but there's just not enough room in the chapel, and I just don't want to sit through all the pomp and ceremony. ;-) Cheerio.

Final exam - case study

Well, not to get all controversial at the end of the semester. But being controversial is sort of my mode of operation anyway. The following is the case study that served as our final exam for my Ethics class. It was a BEAR to answer, let me tell you! I had to think about it for a few days, talk with a few people, and do lots of research online regarding the subject - as well as pray of course!! Here is what the case study said:

Joane, a woman in the local community near your church, has been visiting the church and has requested to join the church. She presents a letter of recommendation from her previous church stating she is a member in good standing. Through some discussions with her, you determine her to be an orthodox, believing Christian and present her to the church for membership. After being voted in and attending faithfully for some time, she approaches the Minister to Children about working in the children's ministry. As is normal practice at your church, the staff performs a background check on Joane. Upon receiving the results of the background check, your staff immediately informs you that Joane was born Joe. You call Joane in for discussion and she informs you that the results are true and that she was born male. Joane said she felt like she was born in the wrong body and desperately wanted to become female. She traveled to Europe, had gender reassignment surgery, and is currently taking hormone therapy drugs to complete the physical transformation from male to female.

How would you counsel Joane? What would you suggest Joane do in light of Scripture? Make sure to include any relevant biblical passages in your answer.

My response when reading this for the first time:

augh!

However, this is what my response was after the prayer, research, and asking others opinions on the topic:

I would tell ‘Joan’ that our discussion must take a rather intense turn, but that we would conduct it as respectfully and gently as possible. I would continue to call the individual Joan as that is the current legal name.

First I would inform “Joan” that the church cannot in any way accept ‘her’ application for any leadership roles while ‘she’ is a transgender. The church has a strong commitment to the belief that God is sovereign and knows each person He creates and has a purpose for them in the way He has created them – specifically male or female. Those who reject this belief and take matters into their own hands are in essence telling God that He does not know what He is doing, He is not in control, and the individual knows better. One’s gender is a fundamental part of one’s birthright. It is one of the few things we enter and leave the world with. The Bible clearly condemns those who reject God’s birthright to them (Hebrews 12:14-17).

Secondly, I would ask Joan to read with me 1 Corinthians 6:17-20. Even though intense surgery has been done upon Joan, in God’s eyes she is not a she but rather a he who has committed very intense atrocities against his body. Presenting oneself as a women when one is a man goes against God’s law (Deuteronomy 22:5). God loves ‘Joan’ but still sees Joe.

In light of this, any relationship ‘she’ pursues at this point would in essence be a homosexual relationship, which goes against 1 Corinthians 6:9. However, there is always hope in Christ, which is clearly pointed out in 1 Timothy 1:9-11.

Joan may not be willing to even consider stopping hormone treatments and seeking reversal surgery. However, I would still offer the services of the church and also inform Joan of www.pfox.org. Specifically the article found under http://pfox.org/Former_Transgender_Tells_His_Story.html.

If Joan wants to remain in the church, there must be some strict guidelines. First, as pointed out, it is the view of this church that by pursuing life as a female when God created ‘her’ as a male, ‘she’ is living in rebellion against God and His plan. Now, she will not be shunned from the community. However, ‘she’ will not be able to step into positions of leadership or teaching while remaining as ‘she’ is. Not unless Joan repents of these decisions, asks for God’s forgiveness, takes clear, obvious steps of reversing the process, and undergoes biblical counseling within the church will leadership be on the table.

Second, while the church at large will not be informed of Joan’s past, the church leadership will be. Joan’s private affairs will remain as such but the staff needs to know for future reference.

If any man in the church wishes to pursue a relationship, Joan is not to entertain the pursuit but to clearly forbid the man to continue. If he is persistent, she must tell him why. Failure to do this will result in the church stepping in and informing the man of her past and discipline on Joan. This is because the relationship would in effect be homosexual which the church can not in any way endorse.

The church will not offer Joan any recommendations to other churches without informing them of her past in case she is ever considered for positions of leadership.

The church will not take a position of ostracizing Joan. However by presenting the identity as female when Gods intent was male, this is a kind of deception to the church. It is difficult for trust to continue when this fundamental misrepresentation of identity occurs.

Having said all of this, I would ask Joan what ‘her’ response is. I would not wish to say any of this with an air of judgment, condemnation, or bigotry. Joan has professed faith in Jesus Christ and seems to be an orthodox Christian. Therefore, past actions do not make sense given a professed belief in the validity, accuracy and authority of Scripture. It is my hope that by explaining these things gently, if Joan is not repentant at the time of the meeting, future discussion will lead Joe to realize what he has done and repent, and allow the church to come alongside him in reconciling his physical and spiritual self with God’s plan and purpose for his life.

Thoughts? Comments? How would you have responded differently or the same?

~Princess Ouch~

Fall

Growing up mainly West of the Mississippi, tree's were a rare commodity. There might be one solitary tree changing colors with a pathetic pile of leaves surrounding it, not worth raking up. So the vibrant myriad of golds, reds, and browns splashed across the city and countryside has been a glorious feast for my eyes. Its hard to believe that I only have one more week of classes and then finals, and then I'll be halfway done with my Senior year of college!!! Next semester I'll only be taking three classes and Choral, or at least that's the plan. But I'll also be focusing a little more hard-core on my internship with the Kentucky WMU ministries to international students. I have had lots of opportunities to hang out with International students through the Seminary, and a few off-campus with some sweet Turkish ladies who feed me and my fellow classmates very well. ;-)

I've also had time to hang out with my significant other about once a week. He's been very good about gently reminding me to stay on top of schoolwork, but also making fun times during breaks. He bought tickets to see my family over Christmas break. We're both excited, although I suspect he's a little apprehensive about the cold. Since he's never lived above the Mason-Dixon line nor West of the Mississippi, so the extremity of the High Plains will be a new experience. However I am confident that he will rise up to the challenge with excellence as always ;-)


I have FINALLY got my internship sorted out, and this weekend has been a very fun experience of jumping in without much training and getting to interact with 450 odd students from over a dozen countries, most of which being the Middle East and Asia. I must say I was a little intimidated when I had to be a co-leader for a small group. But once again the glorious dynamic kicked in that I have encountered before: international students are far more open and curious about religion and faith conversations when they are over here than when they are in their home country. Its been fun watching them grow from shy introverted quiet creatures looking around with thinly veiled curiosity, to exuberant chatty teenagers making friends and memories.



Another funny thing this weekend is that Cambellsville University brought three vans of students and leaders, and a couple of them have been folks I've already met through my boyfriend. I only met them once before, so we've spent a few minutes doing double-takes across the conference room before walking over to one another laughing. My internship supervisor, MaryAnne, and I went exploring during the break and discovered a few little shops that are a flea-marketer's dream come true. The majority of the stuff wasn't really worth stopping for, but then there were a few reeeeeeally cool finds tucked away here and there (like the amaaaazing home made fudge from scratch. We stopped inside a western/gun/knife store for kicks and the proprietor told us if we walked across the street and told the lady he sent us, she'd give us a 10% discount on her fudge, which she did! And I am savoring the chocolate-mint fudge as I type) which made it all worth it.



So that's whats up with me. I'm hoping next semester I will be more diligent about blogging, but I think I always say that. Oh well. If you want more regular posts go to my Mom's blog (http://goldengrasses.blogspot.com)


One of the fun things about blogging, though, is it gives me a chance to see why I'm always so tired. I do a lot! And its fun. Someone asked if I was looking forward to graduation, as I'd get a chance to slow down and not do as much. Ha. A dear friend of mine graduated last May and she's been going non-stop with the ministry she is now working full-time for. Its looking like I may be in the same boat; there is a job-opening in a ministry that I'm applying for, and I'm hoping to start pursuing more education in ASL (American Sign Language) to be a certified translator. But we'll see; that's a way away. Right now my goal is to survive the two huge papers I have to write in the next week. :-)