May 2007

In this issue:

Flo's Thoughts
Looking for a Blessing?
Summer Class for Women
This Month in History
Thots and Things

Flo's Thoughts - Single and Married Women

Helping an AACS twelfth grader with her Senior Project led me to my bookshelf to investigate the topic of singleness. Graciously, Susan Jaenke had given me a book, Revelations of a Single Woman: Loving the Life I Never Expected, written by a UVA friend of hers, Connally Gilliam. I can heartily recommend the book to all women, regardless of marital status. With candor, wit and experience, Connally carries readers into the world of the single woman in the 21st Century. So, why read the book, whether you are single or married? To better hear the heartbeat of your sisters in Christ.
As married women, we can be terribly insensitive, holding forth with myriad conversations about delivery room trauma and toddler toilet training, without ever talking about new recipes, fun outings, or meaningful hobbies that don’t include husbands or children. Closing the gap between single and married women is long overdue, particularly in the church. Think this isn’t an issue? I grew up just after the generation that referred to single Christian women as “unclaimed blessings.” In the words of my good friend Vanessa Carter, “Pleeeeeeze!”

In the area of relationships, all women have to gain wisdom in developing healthy friendships. With candor and insight from author John Piper, Gilliam uses an illustration to explain breaking out of a “relational fog and co-dependency”:

It was as if I’d been searching for a piece of precious black ivory. Walking into a
darkened room, I stumbled upon something that glinted, a shiny bit of black. Picking it up, I stroked it, held it to my cheek, and thought I’d found my prize. Then a friend came into the room and threw on the light switch. Suddenly, I realized I was holding a large and shiny roach.

After the roach example stopped grossing me out, I looked at the importance of a friend who comes in and throws on the light switch. When Vanessa and I studied Scripture together for about a year, she enriched my life with tales of the government world. She also showed me her artistic side, especially with calligraphy, and she brought Jennifer and Andy into my life. We laughed and prayed together, and I certainly benefited from Vanessa’s viewpoints, and from her setting me straight sometimes!

Gilliam does make direct application to singles, but married women can also stand her dose of reality. She assesses the “roach” story by saying that our culture has given single women the opportunity to live economically self-sufficient lives in a socially and sexually liberated fashion. However, we still need help with recognizing, naming, and squelching that inner voice proclaiming, “I just gotta be queen.” We need to know each other well enough to throw the light on! If you’re married, how many single women do you talk to? If you’re a single woman, do you shy away from married women because you feel uncomfortable with their conversations? Reaching out to each other could start a wonderful thing. Perhaps Gilliam’s book will encourage you to do just that!

Looking for a Blessing?

Wrestling isn’t a girl thing. When I first read of the all-night wrestling match between Jacob and “a man” I made a note of its drama, but filed it away as not quite applicable to me. (Genesis 32:24-32) It’s been years since I stayed up all night doing anything, including prayer – and that was a point that pricked my conscience! However, the more I have studied, discussed, even debated the excellency of God’s grace, the wonder of faith, the majesty of Christ the Lord, the sufficiency of holy Scripture, and all for God’s deserved glory, alone, the more I recognize a wrestling match in my heart and mind.
My opponent seems to be growing in determination and moves that throw me off balance – with a word casting doubt on God’s character, or His promises. Suddenly my mind rebels at what I see, my heart wants something different than Scripture says – and I feel like I have been thrown down – I feel defeated, and exhausted.
If you, like me, fear some opponent is getting the upper hand – if doubt, unbelief, or besetting sin, have weakened your position, hang on to God, and don’t let Him go! Jacob wrestled a whole night, and his example challenges me to ignore my feelings, and keep striving with my opponent, crying out: "I will not let you go unless you bless me." (Genesis 32:26)

Summer Class for Women

Sunday mornings June 10- Sept 9 at 9:30 AM

Book: Under His Smile: Breaking Free From the Need to Perform by Sue Cortese

Registration dates: May 13, 20, 27 after the 9:30 and 11:00 services in the Narthex
Book cost: $10.00

“The answer to our deep insecurity is notself-improvement. Christian growth is not measured by our increasing ability to handle life’s problems with competence and power. Instead it is measured by our increasing realization of our need for Jesus.”

This Month in History

May is Teacher Appreciation Month, Military Appreciation Month, and Historic Preservation Month.

May 9, 1886 - The syrup for Coca Cola is invented by Atlanta Pharmacist John Styth Permerton.

May 12, 1820 - English nurse and public health activist Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy.

May 14, 1607 - The first permanent English settlement in America was established at Jamestown, Virginia.

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Thots and Things

Tossed Green Salad with Creamy Salad Dressing
Serves 6-8

Salad

8 cups of torn, mixed salad greens
4 Roma tomatoes quartered and sliced
1/2 English cucumber peeled and sliced
4 green onions sliced thinly
4 hard boiled eggs sliced
Croutons of your choice (add just before serving)

Dressing

2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2/3 cup milk
2 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp lemon-pepper

Combine ingredients and chill for at least one hour. Toss the salad with enough dressing to coat everything and chill for one hour.

Hummingbird Cake

Sift together in a large bowl:

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Add to the above:

1 1/2 cups oil
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
3 eggs
2 cups chopped bananas
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups chopped nuts (walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts or macadamia)

Mix all together till well moistened--do not beat. Pour into a greased tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 70 minutes or until tester is clean. Cool ONLY 3-5 minutes in pan; then remove. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream if desired.