Ladies, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about whether or not to have children.  I read someone's post about their choosing intentionally not to have children.

Dh and I have been married a long time, and we've been content childless.  Lately, we've wondered about adoption.  It's actually fairly inexpensive and easy if we stay overseas.  We actually have friends who only "paid" $200 for their adorable little one.  They went through all the paperwork and courtdates here in Asia.  Is ministry hampered or enhanced with children?  My only desire is to reach people for Jesus. (and having a child to love would be a bonus)

Wondering...                         

What we do here in the "mission field" (you are also in one, of course.) is we read through the book of Mark.  Then the faciliator asks questions like:   What do you like about this passage?  What do you not like?  (the suffering of Christ, for example)  What does this passage teach us about God?  What are we to obey from this passage?  How will we apply this?      These questions lead to good discussions on topic.

I usually find that going straight through a Bible book is preferable.  This gives God's word the authority, esp. for new or non-Christians.

As a teacher for many years, I certainly agree.  Students have to want to learn.  I am learning Chinese now and I have a motivation since I can't communicate in my community.  I wish my Chinese teachers could just pour their knowledge into me but I have to put forth a lot of effort myself. 

The laughing cat is actually one of the options.

Admin, thanks for putting so many avatars from which to choose!   Maybe I'll change mine periodically.  This flying dove is cool.

Maybe others wil add avatars soon too.

hey, I am usually all for keeping things the same, but let's give it a try.  I like the new look.  If we don't change, we don't grow.

Hi Pastor Roger:  I finally figured out photobucket without even asking my dh for help.     I use this one on another board which is on their gallery.  Maybe I'll change it from time to time like  you guys, but at least I have an avatar finally.   Thanks.

 Do we have a file where we can download avatars to our profiles easily?  Or could you post in super simple instructions how to insert one from  another site?  I think we'd enjoy having avatars with our posts. 

        New format is great, btw.!!

I thought a thread on this topic might be encouraging to single Christian women and interesting to us married ladies.  

One of my friends said she told God at age 16 that she wasn't going to date, she wanted God to just show her a husband....and He did soon after.  She married at 18, to a wonderful Christian man with a heart for the Lord.  She had been praying, "Lord, send me someone who loves you like <Tim> does, who praises you in song like <Tim>, etc....and she ended up marrying <Tim>!!   Meanwhile <Tim> had told God he wasn't going to date and didn't even want to ever marry, but God told him that girl over there will be your wife.

For me, I prayed for specific qualities in my future husband and I was active at church hoping to meet a Christian man there.  That was not the case though, as I met my husband through a mutual friend, whom I had told how difficult it was to find a good Christian man to date.  Dh and I were married one year after meeting.  He is everything on my "specific qualities list" except "skinny"...oh, well, God knew what was really important!  (like stronger spiritually than me, good sense of humor, sensitive, etc.)

Share your story?  

Yes, this was a beautiful film with awesome music.  I watched it on a long airline flight and was able to fast forward to the next song, ha.  --I had already seen it in the theatre.

(Each airplane seat had its own remote.)

Congratulations!   I'm sorry I didn't see this post until after the birth, but I will pray now for continued health and strength for  mom and son!  You could always post a pic "Grandma".  

Well, I probably will sell it, but since I live overseas, you wouldn't want to hassle with it. sorry     I want to offer it to some missionary friends here to see if I get any takers.

We are in Taiwan.  There is a lot of idol worship here and burning incense to honor dead ancestors.  They are very afraid of ghosts and demons here.  Jesus is more powerful than all of that.

airIam, I just read your post from Dec.20 on how your husband came to know the Lord.  What an awesome inspiration for anyone in the same boat.  I have heard of women praying for years for their unsaved husbands and finally them coming to the Lord.

I was a Christmas when I was dating, and I prayed for someone stronger in the faith that I so that he could be the spiritual leader of my home.  I married a pastor and now we are serving together as overseas missionaries.  The Lord is good!

Take care --                

It was wonderful.  Now I'm reading the book.  It's a tear-jerker.

I actually got a Mini-Mac for Christmas.  so far I like it a lot.  I am not a big graphic user or anything.  I just surf the web, download pics from digital camera, email, etc. so I don't need anything fancy.

Appreciate your thoughts.   I still have my Dell laptop and am not sure what to do with it, sell it or use at backup.