SORRY I HAVEN'T WRITTEN LATELY

I seem to be way more busy than expected with the end of the seminary year and all the graduation parties of my friends. I'll write soon!

A WAY GOD WORKS/ CONCLUSIONS TO THE BOOK OF JOB STUDY

I am realizing that God does something when he doesn't do something. Like the other day, I was somewhere, and I was praying "God can I run into that guy here, please? Can I get to see him and talk to him, please?" but I didn't see him. So God did something. He answered my prayer. I used to think and act like He was ignoring me if He didn't work the magic I was demanding. But thankfully I'm learning to see life on his terms and to remember that he is always there and he always knows best. That is one of the conclusions that we came to in our Job Bible study that we just finished.

Here are some of our Job conclusions:
1. Job and his 3 friends are talking all about did Job do the right thing or not. At the end, we see that God doesn't care about whether or not we do the right thing, as much as he cares about whether or not we cry out to him through the time of suffering.
2. Job kept faith in God, shown by the fact that he cried out to God through the whole suffering, instead of crying out to the friends or to something else. Calling on God shows faith in God.
3. Job's 3 friends were rebuked and shamed by the Lord because they said that people reap what they sow and that is wrong theology. Right theology is that God does whatever he sees best, because he is the only one who knows everything, therefore he is the only one who can make the always best and right choice.
4. God answers Job by saying that Job can't possibly understand because he wasn't there at creation,etc, as God was. God doesn't tell him this in a demeaning tone, but simply as I told my 8 year old Sunday school kids when they asked me what adultery was, that they just aren't going to be able to understand, but one day they will. They just need to trust me on that one, and know they'll understand later.
5. God doesn't tell Job or his friends what happened with Satan asking at the beginning of the book if he could come test Job. We don't need to know why, The fact that God is, and God loves, and God is good, and God is powerful is all enough for us to know. And all of his words and actions show us that these things are true.

WHITE PEOPLE RAISING BLACK KIDS

As I was just hanging out at the Douglass Manor apartment complex for an hour or so with some of my black (I put that in for a reason that they are black) friends there, we were chatting about how I'd like to foster and adopt one day. They asked me what race would I want to adopt and I said probably black because everyone seems to want a white baby more. They agreed. And I also told them that my pastor and another family in my church have shown me how good it can be to foster and adopt poor kids who otherwise would have a potentially hard life. And the thing is that the poor kids that need fostering or adopting are almost always not white. Then we got to talking about how a black kid in a white family can still learn about their culture and heritage as African Americans. This advice applies to several families in my church who are white and have adopted kids of other races. Their advice was this: most of all, take the kids to as many cultural events celebrating black history month and other things like that. For instance, St Louis has the Black Rep Theater that puts on culturally relevant shows. And there are lots of events if you look for them. Then second they recommended sending your kids to a magnet school, having books about urban life in the house (especially kids' books), having them take some hip hop dance classes, and eating soul food regularly and making it a big deal when you do eat it that it is often considered cultural food. They saw it as important so that when the kid gets in their teens then they understand the culture and can fit in somewhat when they meet other kids at school or church or wherever. But they also affirmed that a loving family is what is most important and that it won't hurt a kid at all to grow up black in a white family. :)

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Ah, to have free time to work on my blog!

There's so much that has happened and conferences I've been to that I've wanted to write about.

I'll start with 1 big thing - finishing reading a book on Borderline Personality Disorder. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the "borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women.1 There is a high rate of self-injury without suicide intent, as well as a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe cases.2,3 Patients often need extensive mental health services, and account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations.4 Yet, with help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives. (directly copied from )

The book I read is called "Get Me Out of Here" by Rachel Reiland. Its an autobiography of her recovery. Very fascinating. Its a long hard road, as is any recovery from any trauma, and all the harder when the trauma is in childhood. Here's a quote that would apply to a lot of different healing situations: from her counselor, "You can't skip a phase, Rachel. A child needs to be self-centered long enough to feel secure before she can move on. Whether you go through it at 3 or 33, it doesn't matter." p 340.

I recommend reading this book or reading about borderline personality disorder, because it gives a good view of the horrible struggle that many in this world go through as a result of sin.