Secret Women's Business

Just phoned the NHS swine flu helpline and all I got was crackling. How did the pig go on holiday? The swine flu Swine flu isn’t a problem for pigs, because they're all going to be cured anyway. The first sign of pig flu is that you come out in nasty rashers. Swine flu is getting serious, it has been reported to be a hamdemic, which may lead to an aporkolypse... But we’ll get through. Where there's a swill there's a way. This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed at home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy had influenza A virus subtype hemagglutinin protein 1 neuraminidase protein 1. The only known cure for Swine Flu has been found to be the liberal application of oinkment. My friend says he’s got swine flu, but I think he's telling porkies I have to say, I'm finding all these jokes about swine flu pretty boaring. If you receive an email from the Department of Health telling you not to eat...

One of the many wonderful things about children is that they pop out fresh. They therefore see the world with new eyes, and ask unexpected questions. My ten-year-old son was bemoaning the state of the world this morning (OK, he has a melancholy streak, and they've been looking at ecological sustainability, recycling, ethical shopping, child labour, carbon footprint etc. at school. I'm now living with a fully paid up member of the "eco-police"). I assured my son that when Jesus returns he'll make everything right. "I hope he wears decent clothes this time" was his reply. Yet again I'm theologically stumped. What would Jesus wear for his return? It seem perfectly reasonable to think that he wouldn't need to wear his 1st century styled robes. Any thoughts on contemporary gear for the second coming?

I have spent a bit of time in the blogosphere of late reading (and commenting upon) articles about women's ministry. (Not like me I know... ha ha!) Those of you who can't bear to wait for the CBE conference next year, and who would like to engage in some biblical discussions around this issue, might want to look at: Peggy Brown's article at "The Next Wave" and Peggy's reflections on the "women must keep silent" passage in Corinthians and How Junia became a male, then became a woman again and my earlier post about headship, etc. (Thanks to Matt Stone who has inspired me to use "blogger help" to learn about some of the zillion things I don't know about blogging. Let's just see if the links actually work...)

One of my life passions is seeing women step into their God-given vocation; to exercise the gifts and step into the calling that will be fruitful for them and a blessing to others. For some women, this calling is to parent well, or to teach, or to nurse, or to work in a variety of industries, or to engage in the creative arts, or to volunteer their services for the good of others, or a myriad of other possibilities… while for some, this involves a call to formal Christian ministry. I’ve recently discovered that the international “Christians for Biblical Equality” conference will be held in Melbourne next year. You can find out more information about this here I’m delighted to support this group, who provide solid evangelical explanations of the “tricky passages” that are used to block the leadership of women in conservative churches. This “blocking” is understandable in groups that sincerely want to come under the authority of scripture, and live faithfully to God. It is strange howeve...