Scott and I are both reading voraciously. I squeeze it out of my time in very small bites.  Our children now being ages nine and five make a world of difference in what I can manage compared to recent years when they needed constant supervision.

Not long ago I picked up Building Strong Families which was edited by Dennis Rainey for Crossway. I am finding I don’t necessarily prefer books with chapters written by multiple people. In this case, overlap of thought did not disturb the flow.

Since Scott and I were married 14 years ago, I have read numerous books on marriage and family, an effort which has certainly helped develop my own strong and healthy marriage. I always enjoy reading more, because growth is always possible. In this particular book, I believe I found and read what I consider to be the best possible presentation of the Biblically-ordained role differences between a man and a woman. Wayne Grudem’s chapter [2] entitled “Key Issues in the Manhood-Womanhood Controversy” addresses the paradox of equality and headship with a very helpful evaluation of common arguments, such as “mutual submission.” Grudem also includes a fascinating chart which compares how various modern philosophical thought structures on these issues compare to each other. The chart demonstrates how easily and totally the underlying philosophy, whether Biblical or flawed, permeates all aspects of life.

That chapter alone merits purchasing the book. Several of the chapters contain mentoring strategies which some people would label as "seeker sensitive."  My point in sharing my excitement over Chapter 2 does not, of course, indicate that Scott or I would endorse every thought in the book.  As always, read with discretion.  Another reader (A. Sutono) concurs, which I have discovered in the Amazon reader reviews of this book.  If you are struggling with questions on your role as a male or female, I can't currently recommend a better evaluation of the Biblical principles or synopsis of the thoughts you'll get from other books.

Both of us (Scott and Lori) are currently reading David Clotfelter's Sinners in the Hands of a Good God.  There are two bookmarkers in the book, and when one of us is ready to read some more, we have to go track down where the other last left the book!  He closes each chapter with a personal prayer written from "the cries and yearnings of [his] own heart as [he] meditated on the topics discussed." 

We have long desired to improve our own prayers, and plan an extensive study on that topic in the near future.  But, we digress.  That is a topic for another entry sometime.

The prayers are poignant.  This one we have read, re-read, and read together.  We have copied it.  We are praying it ourselves.

"My gracious, loving Father, the doctrine of eternal punishment shatters me and reduces me to confusion and embarrassment.  I have often spoken with disdain of those who at various times of history have been complacent in the face of terrible suffering on the part of their fellow human beings, but what is to be said of someone who can be so little troubled by the thought that millions of his fellow creatures are destined to an eternity of torment?  Should this thought not drive me to far greater efforts in prayer, evangelism, and service?  Surely the truth, Father, is that this doctrine has penetrated only superficially into my heart and life, such that I have hardly begun to know what it is to take Your wrath with perfect seriousness and to struggle in prayer for and in witness to those who are lost.

That I may draw close to the spirit of Christ, I ask again that You strengthen my mind to understand sound doctrine, humble my proud heart to receive it, and embolden my spirit to proclaim and live it.  I would gladly reject the doctrine of hell; but if I may not, then let me so receive it as to be haunted by it, and so believe it as to be incapable of cravenly withholding Your truth from those in danger of everlasting loss.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen."