After reading some interesting entries on the girl talk blog – I have a few food-for-thought questions for the handful of girls that actually read my blog.

Many Christian girls have a view of life where marriage is equated with the beginning of motherhood – you marry, and… the babies. Your life afte marriage is spent rearing and caring for children, at least until they move out. (And yes, I am generalizing here.)

In the Bible, Proverbs 31 describes what a “worthy woman” is to look like – a much different description than being a “baby factory.”

In the description, the woman is a craft maker, property manager, clothier, she cares for the needy… the list goes on.

My first question is: What does a modern ‘Proverbs 31’ woman look like? Do you all think that the purpose of life after marriage is by-and-large to have children, raise and care for them?

What about situations where the woman might have a better job, more income, etc – should there always be “stay at home moms,” or can “stay at home dads” substitute? (This could be challenging, depending on the man, I’m sure)

What about career – does your career end when you have kids? Does your career end when you get married? (I would think no to the latter)

I strongly believe that it’s the parents job to raise children, not nannies/daycare/school/teachers – how do you balance raising kids with work… or is a balance even possible? Afterall, raising kids and running a household is a full time job (or more than a full time job.)

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions? Comment below.

Come to the waters
You who thirst and you’ll thirst no
more
Come to the Father
You who work and you’ll work no more

All you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

Love is here
Love is now
Love is pouring from His hands from His brow
Love is near it satisfies
Streams of mercy flowing from His side
Cause Love is here

Come to the treasure
You who search and you’ll search no more
Come to the lover
You who want and you’ll want no more

All you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

And to the bruised and fallen
Captives bound and brokenhearted
He is the Lord, He is the Lord
By His stripes He’s paid our ransom
From His wounds we drink salvation
He is the Lord, He is the Lord

—Tenth Avenue North

A friend of mine pointed me to the NEXT website a few months ago, and I’ve become a fan of reading their monthly webzine since then.

Over the last two months, Carolyn McCulley, the author of “Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist” talks about some of the history of feminism and how it relates to Christian sexuality.

Part one can be found in the February 2009 issue: Raunch Culture, Pt 1.

The second installment continues to discuss sexuality, particularly after marriage and how we should take a stand against the current culture’s drive to “cheapen” what should be precious.

Part two can be found in the March 2009 issue: Raunch Culture, Pt 2.

What are your thoughts about this?

The greater friend group that I am with, has biweekly get-togethers at a local watering hole which are used to discuss various topics.

I understand the desire to have the forum be gender-based. Guys can talk in guy terms. But often, it seems to me, we end up lacking a critical point of view – the opposite.

So I pose this question to you readers:

What is the proper forum, or how does one arrange a proper forum, for a mixed-gender group to discuss various topics, be it worship, dating, quiet time or what have you?

Beer welcome.