spring header new copy

 
August  2017
In This Issue
BOOK REVIEW-Sacred Privilege of Being a Pastor's Wife-by Kay Warren
5 Ways to Pray When You're Too Stressed to Know How
Women's Retreat at Center Lake, MI
DIY project to Safely See a Solar Eclipse
The New Face of Infidelity

By Amy Nemecek
 
My college English professor felt amused whenever she bumped into students at the grocery store or shopping mall. Their surprised expressions were comical, as they realized this person they only knew in the classroom had a life outside campus. She wasn't always perfectly poised and put together-and she did, in fact, wear blue jeans!
 
As pastor's wives, it's not always so amusing when we encounter parishioners outside our church settings. We go into stealth mode in case anyone should spot us in our pajama pants and messy hair at the Walmart pharmacy. We stress out if the kids have a meltdown in the checkout lane as a board member smiles and waves from two lanes over.
 
Even in our church settings, we feel the burden of being placed on a pedestal. We force ourselves to smile as we greet folks on Sunday morning, even though we're still hurting from angry words exchanged with our husbands on the drive to church.
 
The internal pressure to have it all together can be overwhelming at times, causing us to hide our true selves.
 
No one understands this better than Kay Warren, who grew up as a pastor's daughter and whose husband Rick is continually in the spotlight as a bestselling author and pastor of Saddleback Church. Her new book, Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife(Revell, 2017), is an encouragement to ministry wives as we strive to be authentic and allow others to know us as we are, cranky kids and all. Kay reminds us that "knowing and being known is the only way to last over the long haul in ministry."
 

by Bonnie Gray

I didn't know that I was hiding. I've always been good at praying.

Or so I thought.

My daddy left when I was seven. I've always looked to God as my Father, my provider. I didn't realize God wanted to be more than just my provider.

God longed to be my soul's confidante. Deep where I felt lonely - where I struggled to receive and make space for me - God wanted me to rest as His beloved.

Because at the end of the day, even though I had accomplished a lot, I didn't feel like I had fully lived. Because what I really wanted, I didn't make space for: peace and joy. I did not nurture my soul with God.

I found it easier to take care of others and get things done for God, rather than be vulnerable with my needs.

But God showed me prayer is an intimate soul conversation to be loved and known, rather than a spiritual transaction to be made better.

Praying touches the part of me that is in process, uncertain, full of questions and doubts.

That is why praying is hard to do. And when I didn't know how to pray, it made me feel ashamed...
Women's Retreat at Center Lake, MI
Our speaker, Bonnie Caldwell is from Howell MI.  She is a speaker and teacher with Bible study Fellowship. Jodi Vitarelli, from CMA  & the host church, The Road, will be leading worship. There will be fun break outs for painting, nails, Zumba, prayer boards....zip line, kayaking, horseback riding. 
 
For pricing & more information, contact Aimee @ 248-207-1482 or
email:   [email protected]


DIY Project to See the Solar Eclipse (Monday, August 21st)
One of the easiest ways to safely watch a  solar eclipse  is to use 2 sheets of cardboard (paper plates) and make your own simple pinhole projector.
 
or
Use a CEREAL BOX
Keep Safe!
  • Never look at the Sun directly without protective eye gear. Even sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from the damage the Sun's rays can do to them.
  • Always keep your back towards the Sun while looking at a pinhole projection.
  • Do not look at the Sun through the pinhole
 
What lures Christians to cheat?

If you're among the many couples who feel like you're barely hanging on in marriage, the sobering truth is that you're not alone. Particularly if cheating is involved.

At least 60 percent of married couples will experience infidelity at some point in their marriage, says 
, a licensed psychologist in Minnesota and author of the best-selling book  His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage.

All kinds of reasons exist for this, many of which sound textbook in their familiarity-couples experience periods of sustained stress, exhaustion, or separation due to family needs or career obligations. Husbands and wives don't feel satisfied with each other or deeply connected. People endure longstanding dullness or even deadness in their relationships. Men and women wrestle with boredom, loneliness or unmet needs. Life feels tedious and hard, and a titillating experience beckons.

A Kinder Way of Cheating?

Unfortunately, knowing in theory all the right answers when it comes to why people cheat hasn't 
stopped unfaithfulness from occurring. As the wake from the Ashley Madison scandal has shown us, the culture at large is confused when it comes to how we approach infidelity. 

Quick Links


Join Our Mailing List