Month: April 2012

Top 10 Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Ordained

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment
Sharing this somewhat as a joke, but I’m lovin’ the hyperbole here! 
{ Credit: http://christianfeminism.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/top-10-reasons-why-men-shouldn%E2%80%99t-be-ordained/ }

10. A man’s place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.

5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, change the oil in the church vans, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

"Bittersweet", Rose Ceremony, and Simmon’s Hall…

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment
This is my staff…. (minus Lisette)
 (Enter Lisette now….)
If you guys don’t know my staff, you are seriously missing out! I cannot even begin to tell you how instrumental these women have been in my growth this year and developing who I am today. Each and every woman in that picture has changed me in their own unique way. 
This year has been so difficult. As a whole, our staff has gone through a lot. From issues in our own lives to issues that residents are dealing with, and even conflict with our residents. It has been tough and has stretched me in more ways than I can count. But, all-in-all, this year has been beautiful. 
One of my favorite verses for so many different reasons is Ecclesiastes 3:11. It reads, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” God is a God of redemption and God is a God of grace. That is the theme of my senior year of college. 
Coming into this year, I was healing from a recent break up, broken in the hands of God, and uncertain at how this year would turn out and how I would pull it together for the 24 girls that were going to move into my hall in a month. 
The Lord knew what he was doing the whole time. Though this year was not perfect (the Lord knows I have made countless mistakes and hurt a lot of people in the process), the Lord still moved and the Lord still changed lives. I know that he will continue to redeem the hearts of all the girls on my hall, including my own. I love the part that says “yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end…” That is so true. Around this time a year ago, I couldn’t have even fathom where I would be right now. 
My mind is blown thinking that God has been as faithful as he has been and how undeserving I am of His faithfulness. I praise Him for that.
Tonight was beautiful. It was the 12th(ish) annual Simmon’s Hall Rose Ceremony. Each current RA of Simmon’s passed down their hall to the future RA’s of Simmon’s. I literally admire every girl who was standing in that gazebo tonight. Each one has such a beautiful and humble heart that is being refined by the Lord daily. Not because of anything these girls had done, but solely because of the Lord, these girls are radiant. They, like the moon reflects the sun, are reflecting Christ!
As each of the vows were being said, it was such a bittersweet feeling. I am leaving a place -Simmon’s Hall, but ultimately Cal Baptist – that has had SO much impact on who I am today. This is the place where I truly experienced grace for the first time. This is the place where I spent 2 years of a relationship in growing and learning. In contrast, this is the place where I have begun to learn how to be single and rely on the Lord. This is the place where I have begun to form friendships that will last me a lifetime – true, honest, and real friendships centered around Christ, the one-anothers, and his will! This is the place where my life was impacted by two very wise and dear professors (Dr. Stokes and Dr. Lewis). This is the place where I became an adult. This is the place where I learned to be disciplined in my relationship with the Lord. This honestly was such a pivotal place regarding the growth of my life spiritually and emotionally. Although I would never venture to say my life is near perfect or anywhere close to it, I know the Lord is using his redeeming love and grace to begin the process of making me beautiful – which is ultimately making me more like Him. 
So, to end this post, I am thankful. I am thankful for a godly, wise, and beautiful RD who has taught me so much. I am thankful for a staff who are so patient with me in the process of my growth. I am thankful for a building (Simmon’s Hall) that has challenged me in more ways than I have ever been challenged in my whole life. I am thankful for the CBU community that has been so crucial in making me who I am today. And above all else, I am thankful for the Lord. I am thankful for His direction, His grace, His patience and faithfulness, His Word, His will, His love, His compassion and mercy, and so much more. 
I am thankful. 
Until next time, Simmon’s Hall…
To Be Continued… 🙂

4 Years in Pictures…

Published on by Sarah E. CooleyLeave a comment

23 days until graduation…. WOW!

In just 23 days, I will be graduating from college. Crazy! Where did the time go?

The saying “time flies when you are having fun” definitely applies to the last 4 years of my life.

Here are some (well, a lot of) examples:

To Be Continued… 🙂