paravanes:meditations

Does God love women and girls less than God loves men and boys? It's a reasonable question. In many parts of the world, the lives and fortunes of women and girls are severely diminished because of gender. Options for education, literacy, physical health and wellness, freedom of speech and expression are often limited out of existence for women. In many cultures, girls are sold into marriage as soon as (or before) they enter puberty. The worldwide human trafficking plague takes away or forever wounds the life possibilities for women in all countries. The United States and Canada are not exempt. How many of us would recognize someone who is a victim of trafficking? Critics of Christianity have said God hates women, or that God has placed (through religion) women in a inferior status to men. Is this true? In the Gospels, Jesus shows us how much God honors, values, and respects women and the well being of women. When in Matthew 19 , Jesus' disciples asked Him if it was OK

Not very long ago, I sat in on a Bible study during which the leader told the group the so-called "sign gifts" of Pentecost are no longer in operation today. I grew up in a tradition where people believed this, and I worship now in a tradition where some believe this and the thought continues to disturb me because no one has ever given  what I consider a satisfactory explanation for denying the operation of these gifts. Are we presumptuous to assume we can know or understand why these gifts were given? Are we presumptuous to assume we can say when God will or will not present these gifts to us? Are we disobedient when we reject them because someone told us we could? Do we not understand that many Christians in 2012 live in situations quite similar to first century believers? Many live in areas where there are no established churches or religous broadcasts. Many today live without scriptures in their languages (or unable to read those that are published), many live in ho