Romans 13 and Politics

The sermon series we've been working through at Sojourn for the past couple weeks has been on politics. At first, I was a little wary of this series, entitled "Christ for President", knowing the divisive nature of politics, but I have been really impressed with how Daniel Montgomery (the preaching elder at Sojourn) has handled this subject.

It was also very fitting that we've worked through Romans chapters 1-12 over the past several months and landed on chapter 13 in the heat of the political season. Romans 13 speaks to the fact that God establishes governing authorities and that we are to submit to them. For this reason, we are to pay taxes and acknowledge the governing authorities as servants of God. This is a good reminder.

In yesterday's sermon, while exhorting the church to remember their untiy in Christ and seek to avoid dividing the family of God into political tribes, Daniel encouraged us to ask ourselves the following questions:

1) Do I criticize and condemn others in my political talk without looking at my own heart?

2) Do I demonize politicians, political parties and policies I oppose?

3) Am I quick to confront others in my political talk?

4) Is there rudeness, harshness, bitterness or a rush of hateful words in my political talk?

Even though I've never really been one to thrive on arguing politics with others, these questions are a helpful tool for me, as a Christian, to think about my own heart as it relates to politics. I look forward to seeing the fruit that will result from other believers at Sojourn taking the time to think through these questions and to desire unity in the church body above their desire to win an argument or cram a political agenda down another's throat.

If you would like to listen to these two sermons in the "Christ for President" series, follow this link to the Sojourn webpage.

Christian Contentment, Part 1

In preparation for the many changes (having a baby and moving to a new state - to name a few) that are facing us in the coming year, Dave suggested that we read up on the topic of contentment in order to prepare our hearts for all this change.

And so, we are together working our way through The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by the Puritan author Jeremiah Burroughs.

Although it was written close to 350 years ago, the truth contained in this book is still so relevant to life in the 21st century. Discontentment is a problem of the human heart, whether the heart is grumbling about a neighbor having more cattle or a nicer car.

Looking to the Apostle Paul's teaching on contentment (Phil. 4:11 -13 and 1 Tim. 6:6-10) Burroughs offers this helpful description of contentment in the first chapter:

"Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."

He then goes on to discuss each aspect of this definition, beginning with "sweet, inward," saying,

"Not only must the tongue hold its peace; the soul must be silent. Many may sit silently, refraining from discontented expressions, yet inwardly they are bursting with discontented expressions, yet inwardly they are bursting with discontent.

This shows a complicated disorder and great perversity in their hearts. And notwithstanding their outward silence, God hears the peevish, fretful language of their souls. A shoe may be smooth and neat outside, while inside it pinches the flesh. Outwardly there may be great calmness and stillness, yet within amazing confusion, bitterness, disturbance and vexation."

This passage really resonated with me and made me to see just how often my expression of discontentment is an inward and silent one. Often, I may know better than to grumble to Dave (mostly because I know he will correct me, as he should), but this does not stop me from complaining and fretting in my heart.

And, what a perfect example of a beautiful, yet pinching shoe! I experienced this just last week with a new pair of shoes, and although my shoes were totally cute (if I do say so myself), inside my shoe, my foot was in a state of "confusion, bitterness, disturbance, and vexation" as my heel transformed into a mess of pinched red skin. My angry feet inside cute shoes are a picture of what is going on inside my heart when I am "inwardly bursting with discontent."


Hopefully, there will be more to come as we read on in this book. Stay tuned...

Names that Make You Feel Weird

Dave and I came across this list while flipping through a baby name book we were given. After reading it, Dave remarked that it would make good blogging content. And he was right.

Read on and feel weird.

(*this post is in no way meant to offend those who like, and are therefore not made to feel weird, by the following names)

Names that Make You Feel Weird

Girls
Breezy
Charm
Chastity
Cherish
Delite
Fashion
Glory
Harmony
Lake
Leaf
Liberty
Michelin
Oceana
Panther
Peace
Pity
Precious
Promise
Purity
Rain
Sweetpea
Tree
True
Vixen

Boys
Arno
Bloo
Butler
Car
Delete
Elmo
Elmore
Ervin
Excell
Fabio
Fable
Fergus
Fife
Forester
Geronimo
Gomer
Maverick
Oswald
Paris
Prince
Rebel
Stone
Stormy
Welcome
Ziggy

(taken from 50,001 Best Baby Names by Diane Stafford)

Baby Ainsworth's First Picture

We had our first ultrasound yesterday. We got to hear the heartbeat and even saw the little guy (or gal) move a little! It was such a special experience, and we are so thankful to the Lord for how He is knitting this little one together to be a healthy baby.

Even though the baby is still very alien-like you can see the little arms and legs beginning to form in the picture above. Dave thinks it looks like the baby is doing a little jig...maybe we'll have a dancer on our hands :)

Due Time

I can assure you, readers, that the lack of activity on this blog is not indicative of a lack of activity in the Ainsworth family. Far from it, to be sure.

In fact, Dave and I have been so "active" that we are now expecting our first child!

That's right folks, we're pregnant!!

I am about 8 weeks pregnant now and due April 19th (or somewhere around there). We are very thankful to the Lord for this wonderful blessing, and are excited to share it with all of you.

We covet your prayers for the health of this baby and pregnancy. I hope to keep you all updated and post more regularly on what is going on with our growing family.


"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" ~ Psalm 127:3-5

The TRUE Dollar Theater

A few months back, Dave and I discovered (with the help of some friends) a real-live dollar theater just across the river in Clarksville, Indiana.

We're not talking about one of those discount theaters that masquerades as a "dollar theater" while charging $3-4 per ticket.

No, my friends, this is a TRUE dollar theater. As in, tickets cost $1.00.

It is an indescribably satisfying feeling to go to see a movie that you've been eagerly anticipating seeing and only pay one dollar. AND, as if that wasn't enough...on Mondays, if you go with 3 or more people, you only pay $.50 per ticket! Just last night, Dave and I, along with our friends Josh and Erin, took advantage of this and saw Ironman. It was an fun, entertaining movie, but I would've settled for just-enough-to-keep-me-awake for $.50!

People, if you live in the Louisville area, you seriously need to get on the Green Tree Mall Cinemark bandwagon.

You won't regret it.

New Job

I have a new job. Well, sort of.

As of last Tuesday, I accepted a new job on Southern Seminary's campus. I will no longer be working as Student Life Secretary for Boyce College, but will instead be the Secretary to the Senior Associate Dean of the School of Theology. It's quite a long title, although I assure you that length does not translate into importance.

I will officially make the switch to the new job early next week as I wrap up things at Boyce and finish training my replacement. The Lord was so gracious to provide a replacement for me within a matter of days, and she is going to do a wonderful job. God knew what both of these offices needed and He provided for them both perfectly.

The decision for me to accept this new position was not an easy one. I have loved my time at Boyce, getting to know my co-workers and the students, and enjoying the variety the job offered. I learned new skills, made new friends, and never once dreaded going to work. This job was a gift from the Lord.

With that said, I trust that this new job is also a gift from the Lord. To remind myself of this gift and thank God specifically, I have listed (below) just a few of the good things about this job...

1. Financial Provision

Just a few days before I was offered this new position, Dave prayed that the Lord would continue to provide for us financially and meet all of our upcoming financial needs. And this is just what He did!
Sometimes it's easier to attribute God's financial provision to those one-time, surprise gifts in the form of a check from Grandma or the IRS, but God also provides (and probably more often) through employment. That is what He did this time, and we can thank Him for it. He knows our needs and is faithful to provide for them.

2. Location

Even though I am only "up the hill" from my old job, this means that Dave can easily visit me while he is on campus for class. This might seem minor, but in the heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter Dave won't have to trek outside to visit me, as he did while I was in my previous job. So, really, Dave will be the primary beneficiary of this perk of the job!

3. New Relationships

A new job provides opportunities to make new relationships. I am thankful for this, and pray that I will be faithful to pursue these relationships as well as maintain existing ones formed while in my old job.



I am so thankful for this new job and the Lord's provision of it. Praise Him, who is the giver of good gifts! Now...may I be equally thankful on Monday when I am humbled by all that I have to learn to do my new job well!