I have started, deleted, and restarted this post no less than 25 times. There is a war waging inside; it’s a war between being misunderstood versus the deep felt emotion that runs through my veins. It gives my stomach a bit of a sick feeling and a slight lump in my throat. It is a physical reminder of the investment, deep care, and tension that I feel. Have you ever felt like the elephant in the room? I remember being a young 20-something in the middle of my Bible college coffee shop, and like many days, a group of guys was debating whether or not babies went to heaven or hell. I remember … [Read more...] about Friendly Fire and Elephants
Women and Seminary: Should You Go?
When I graduated high school I had one primary goal and that was to play softball. The education part would follow, but my dream was to play college ball. At the end of my senior year I signed to play college at a small Division III school, but by the end of my first semester I knew that God was calling me into "ministry." As a young woman who grew up in an SBC church I thought that meant I either went to Africa for missions or I would teach children. Since I wasn't too fond of children I figured Africa was my next step. I enrolled at Criswell College not knowing anything other than I … [Read more...] about Women and Seminary: Should You Go?
Hope For the Post-Abortive Woman
Have you ever had to keep a secret? I'm not talking about the surprise trip to Disney Land for your family, but instead the secret that feels like a long slow death. How about keeping that secret for decade upon decades? Wondering over and over again what it will be like if and when it gets out. What more you will lose at the cost of the secret. The thing about secrets is that they are so incredibly powerful even in their silence. It can be so loud it's deafening, but it makes no audible noise as it slowly chokes the life and beauty out of a person's soul. Secrets birth shame, … [Read more...] about Hope For the Post-Abortive Woman
To The Weary Pastor’s Wife
There is no seminary course or Scripture reading plan that prepared me for being a pastor's wife. Sure there were tools that I was given and questions to think through. My favorite were the statistics that talked about how hard this journey would be on my marriage, on my kids, on my own pursuit of Jesus. There were communication pointers and some wise words from those that went before me and somehow survived, but they didn't really expound on how deep the hurt and how hard the tension would be to do this thing well. How ugly the wrestle would be, and how many times the temptation to shrink … [Read more...] about To The Weary Pastor’s Wife
Past the Pulpit Wars
I've had the privilege of getting to share a bit of my hopes and dreams on this blog for a short time now. I have loved the connection, camaraderie, and joint hearts for Jesus and how He fleshes out His church through the SBC. As I have watched many of the women express gratitude for the new wind of conversation and even gotten to speak with several new friends who are faithfully serving within the SBC, there has been a repeated emphasis on how women are not to hold the position of senior pastor. Respectfully, the women that I have recently collaborated with, along with the heart and … [Read more...] about Past the Pulpit Wars
Refugees & Gospel Heritage
My mom was born in Havana, Cuba. My uncle who turned 12 right at the beginning of the Castro regime was one of the 'Pedro Pan kids' whose story was full of heartache and loss as he was sent alone to foster care in Florida to help flee the communist regime. My grandparents and mom waited a long 8 months for their time to leave which culminated in a moment of stepping on a plane with the clothes on their backs and two diapers. The government took everything. Their house, their money, and savings, cars, even their wedding bands. They left everything they knew to start a new life void of … [Read more...] about Refugees & Gospel Heritage
Hope For Women Of The SBC – Quotes after #SBC18
SBC18 is over and there has been a lot of talk about women and the future of our convention. My fear is that it would remain just talking points, but my hope is that all that we have discussed, read, and heard will be put into action. That pastors, staff, and members of local churches all across our nation would begin to ask the question of who and how they will utilize the God-given gifts of women within their ministry contexts whether it be from the platform of next years SBC or the halls of local churches. After SBC18 I am left hopeful. Women in the SBC are connecting and spurring … [Read more...] about Hope For Women Of The SBC – Quotes after #SBC18
Dead Olive Trees & Imperishable Seeds
Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. - 1 Peter 1:22-23 I'm a killer of plants. Joanna Gaines seems like a superhuman to me with her ability to keep plants green, living, and better yet flourishing. I thought it would be great idea to get an olive tree for inside my home a couple of weeks ago. One because I am Cuban and we love our olive … [Read more...] about Dead Olive Trees & Imperishable Seeds
Women, You Are Not The Backup Plan
Who doesn’t like a solid backup plan? I’m a self-proclaimed A-type and have great appreciation for a well thought out plan of a plan; I usually have, not one but three or four backup plans to the backup plan. The whole thought of a backup plan though is that you will only see its carefully crafted abilities and process if and when the first plan fails. I don’t remember the context of where I was or even who said it to me, but when speaking about women in leadership and ministry and trying to figure out my place, I somehow grabbed hold of the idea that I was only supposed to be the backup … [Read more...] about Women, You Are Not The Backup Plan
Brothers, We Need You (Jacki C. King)
Misogyny. Power Hungry. Abuse. Women's roles. Over the last month as I have watched a scrolling screen filled with twitter comments, news articles, and the tennis match of words, opinions, charges, and accusations all around the place of women in the church, I have had to remind myself that I'm not the ball. No matter what is said 'out there' that it's not the final definition of who I am or the work I get to take part in. In spite of all the jargon, there is a real and needed discussion happening within the church, both brothers and sisters, and it would do us all well to make sure we … [Read more...] about Brothers, We Need You (Jacki C. King)