Q & A – What top 3 books do you recommend that everyone read to improve their relationships?

In light of last week’s PWM event, we posed that question to Tiffany McNair, an avid reader and excellent wife, and this is what she had to say.

1. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

2. Intended for Pleasure by Ed and Gaye Wheat

3. His Needs Her Needs by Willard F. Harley, Jr.

While all of these aren’t specifically relationship books, they cover the areas that are the leading causes of divorce.

 Tiffany McNair is the wife of Dr. Tavis McNair, graduate and teacher at SBTS. Tiffany received her bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Boyce College and serves alongside her husband in the student ministry at Highview Baptist Church, Fegenbush Campus. They have 2 sons, Ian and Nathaniel, and 1 daughter, Clara.

RSVP – Let us know if you’re coming!

This year’s holiday gift exchange party is on Tuesday, November 17. Because of the nature of this event, you must RSVP for the gift exchange. If you have already signed up please bring 4 unwrapped gifts. They need to be similar, but not necessarily the same (4 boxes of cookies but can be different kinds of cookies, or 4 candle sets of different colors and sizes). The gifts can be anything you make, bake, or buy! We’ll enjoy Christmas music, festive food, and hear some memories of the past 25 years of the Pendergraph Women’s Ministry.

Congratulations

Heather Young!

You’ve won a free lunch with Mrs. Mary Mohler!

Thanks to all those who registered to win. Don’t forget to stop by in November for more posts including a chance to win lunch with a different staff member or faculty wife.

RSVP – please let us know if you’ll able to attend the gift exchange in November! Send us an email – pendergraph@sbts.edu.

Win lunch with Mrs. Mary Mohler!

See the blog entry below on books and leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win lunch with Mrs. Mohler.

October is National Book Month

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” attributed to Mark Twain 

If you’re interested in providing a book review for the PWM website, contact Leslie Sleigh at Pendergraph@sbts.edu. Click here for our latest book review.

Tell us: what book are you currently reading? Leave a comment below to let us know and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win lunch with Mary Mohler!

Book Review

The Invisible War by Chip Ingram

This book boldly addresses a topic that most people take to one of two extremes: either total absorption with the topic or complete disregard for it. Ingram helps readers grasp this concept in the middle by acknowledging that powerful beings do exist but that having a proper view of them is important.

 Having lived in a city where demonic influence is clearly visible, Ingram approaches this subject very seriously. He draws from personal experience to teach readers about what Satan’s attacks on Christians looks like today in America and uses the Ephesians 6 comparison to a Roman soldier as his basis for doing battle in these attacks. He also addresses different levels of influence ranging from opposition to possession, the causes and symptoms of it, and the path out of it.

I originally picked up this book because I had several students interested in topic of ghosts and demons. The church I grew up in did not discuss the topic of spiritual warfare very often or very clearly. I was ill-equipped to address the subject with them, and in reading this book I found more answers than I knew I needed. With the culture having changed so much even within the past ten years, this subject of demons and spirits has become increasingly popular among people of all ages. I believe it is vitally important that as Christians, we know how to properly address this subject. This book has help me become more aware of Satan’s subtle attacks in my own life and given me practical advice on how to handle myself in those situations.

The Invisible War is a very practical and necessary read for Christians and is appropriate even for new believers. Students who are interested in this subject should read through the book under the counsel of an firmly-rooted Christian adult. The book is divided into 4 sections, and each section is divided into chapters. There is an overview and detailed summary in the beginning of each section. There are also review questions and a personal application segment at the end of each chapter. Ingram has an accompanying study guide that may be bought separately.

Leslie Sleigh is a SWI student and wife of Doug Sleigh, seminary student. The couple moved to Louisville in 2005 and attend Highview Baptist Church, Spencer County Campus. Leslie works in marketing for Farm Credit Services and is a member of the IAAP and the PWM Board.

October is Lupus Awareness Month

What is lupus? Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). With lupus, your immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders like the flu virus and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. Lupus is a disease of flares and remissions.

What is lupus not? Lupus is not contagious. Lupus is not like or related to cancer or HIV.

Who does it affect? Research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.

What are the causes? genes, environment, hormones

For more information, visit the Lupus Foundation of America’s website: http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html

Phase of Life

Singleness

by Kristy White

Throughout my childhood I had two obsessions. More than anything else, I loved to play school and house. I remember several Saturdays actually waking up in time to play school for the actual length of a school day, with teacher’s books, chalkboards, lunch time and all. I look back and realize the root of my imagination, like many young girls, was the desire to grow up. Minus the chalkboards and baby dolls, at the age of 21, I still find myself pondering the future on a regular basis. Honestly, not a day goes by that I don’t wonder who I will marry. I laugh thinking about all the situations I would or definitely would not want to be in when the time comes to meet him.

Being single is a struggle for many women including myself at moments. There is the sense, even in my own young heart, of unsettledness, and an unfulfilled desire to be married. That’s OKAY. Wanting to be married is a good thing and we can not allow Satan to twist that desire into accusation. I am excited about doing ministry in the future with my husband and raising my kids. However, we must not allow the great expectancy of the future, to distract us from today.

It seems the catch all phrase to say to any single woman is to ‘just be content.’ It is very true, but I have learned that contentment has very little to do with your marriage status. At every stage and corner of life, there will be some form of unfulfilled desire. The authors of Leading from the Second Chair say, “Contentment is a choice to rely on God, and to excel no matter what the circumstances.” The season of singleness should be a time of actively waiting. Contentment does not equal complacency. It is the balance of always being open and ready to begin a relationship when the Lord’s time allows, but also pursuing obedience here and now. During the season of singleness, we have more expendable time than we will ever have again. Our obedience during this time is valuable to the kingdom now and is also preparing us for the future. If there is one sure thing I could encourage you to do, it is to serve in your church. According to our gifting, each one of us should be serving Christ by serving His church. During this time of our lives, we can also be proactive in developing character, spiritual gifts, talents and a heart of hospitality, as well as growing in knowledge and learning to live with roommates. A couple of books I encourage you to read are The New Eve by Robert Lewis and the previously mentioned Leading from the Second Chair by Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson. This book is written concerning church ministry, but I have found it very practical for everyday life.

God has uniquely created you and me to be women who model His truth to the rest of the world. I am so excited about being a wife and a mom one day, but I would never want to look back and think I failed to take advantage of this season of my life. I hope you will joyfully use your time wisely during this season.

Kristy White is a senior studying Youth Ministry at Boyce College. She moved to Louisville from Jacksonville, Florida, and is a middle school intern at Highview Baptist Church, Fegenbush. She is also a part-time nanny.

October is Family History Month

If you’re interested in researching and documenting your family’s history, consider using a website like www.ancestry.com or www.familysearch.org.

If you like to create scrapbooks to preserve your family’s legacy, visit Archiver’s in the Oxmoor Mall. They have everything you need to create albums for your family as well as photo gifts and cards to send every member of your family.

Save the Date

In the days of no-fault divorce and socially acceptable bad dating relationships, how do we strive to honor God in our relationships? Join us for our October event to learn how. Special guests Dr. and Mrs. Lambert and Mrs. Garnetta Smith will be speaking during the evening, and light refreshments will be served.

Date: Tuesday, October 27th

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Location: Heritage Hall

We hope to see you there!