Good Times: There is nothing wrong with being in a good season of life. They are wonderful! Yet, Bavinck provides a helpful caution: “As long as everything goes smoothly, we forget the Lord, we think he is favorable towards us, and we cast off convictions of conscience” (Reformed Ethics 258). What are you doing in your good season to pursue the Lord? To deepen your relationship with Him? To help others? To make your local church stronger?
Book About Transgenderism: One book that I am reading right now is Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle. I am learning so much and being challenged. While I am not sure what conclusions he is going to draw, the Bible and science are front and center in his writings. He also spends an entire chapter defining terms for the reader although he admits that some terms are difficult to define since there is no consensus. It is a book ultimately meant to help Christians think through the transgender phenomenon/experience in a way that values the individual. It is not just an issue. I am enjoying this read, learning, and hopefully growing so that I can be better positioned to love people that are not like me.
Pink is for Boys, Blue is for Girls: I have resisted the urge to have a pink theme for my Gmail lately. I don’t know why. It is still a southern remnant hanging around in my psyche. Today I gave in. Ahhhh, the color is so peaceful and when you work online as much as I do, colors and blue light and other factors matter. I read something the other day on this topic that is so interesting! The Ladies Home Journal published an article in 1918 that states: “Pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” Okay, SO THERE IS SO MUCH WRONG WITH THIS. First of all, boys are presented as “strong” while girls are “dainty.” This is not good nor do I endorse such a view. No doubt that this assumes various cultural stereotypes and perpetuates mysogenistic myths. But put this to the side for a minute. Blue being more masculine and pink more feminine is nothing more than a social custom. It is not rooted in biology, nature, or anything. I just found this piece of information really fun!
BJ Condrey, Ph.D. 