Faith Dance

Something to Think About

This important distinction has huge implications for male-female friendships in community:

"It is important at this time to make the distinction between the negative impact of individualism of excessive individualism found in Western culture versus the healthy role of individuation. Individuation is a valuable Western philosophical, psychological contribution which allows for the healthy and necessary differentiation of the individual from family/society/culture/people groups/nations. Individuation allows individuals to grow up and make their own decisions--not based soley upon the pressures of society."

Next Evangelicalism 

This is a vital distinction for the flourishing of healthy relationships between communities, leadership, and male-female friendships in churches. Ideally, there is a mature, healthy tension in between the individual, community, and leadership or else the community suffers from shallow conformity instead of a robust, deep consensus in leadership honoring individuals while seeking oneness in community.  There is no deep oneness in community if there is no deep honoring of individuation.

The Cost of Leadership

From Dan Allender's book, Leading with a Limp. He suggests the cost includes six realities. All of them, I have experienced (and am experiencing) as I have sought to publish this book. Here are brief clips from each point:

Cross-sex Friendship Quote of the Week

"As we move forward toward a future that promises greater freedom for men and women to be more fully who they are in the church, we presently find ourselves in a period that offers us a unique opportunity to unhook ourselves from rigid stereotypes of what men and women should be and do." Celia Allison Hahn

Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions: Engaging the Mystery of Friendship Between Men and Women

Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions Update

Taking a momentary pause for an update. I got to see the front cover images Friday night. Wow. What an experience--seeing what an artist who herself is not afraid of the subject--come up with images on  manuscript I have been living with for several years.

I have rewritten several chapters and believe the book is even more substantive than it was a year ago. I am basically done revising. I do have to make the editing changes but I feel good about these fresh chapters and have received good feedback from them. I have sent the manuscript to several proofreaders.

Appreciate prayer as I decide which image and then start to settle in on a publication date.

Cross-sex Friendship Quote of the Week

"Marriage partners either call order and beauty out of chaos or intensify chaos.” Dan Allender