Still Love Jennifer Knapp

This week Jennifer made the decision to open up her personal life and reveal that she is a lesbian. Not only that, but she is in a relationship (with a woman, duh!) and has been for several years. My first reaction? My heart broke. I wanted to cry. I have enjoyed her music since her first album and this felt like a betrayal, like I had never even known her (crazy, because I didn't - I just thought I did because of her beautiful and powerful lyrics and melodies). I felt like I had lost a friend.

So I talked to my husband. He was shocked as well, but being a man and my rock on earth, he was less emotional. We talked a lot, especially about whether or not GOD would still be able to use her - she is sooo gifted!!! We talked about how far GOD's grace would reach before HIS holiness prevented contact. We didn't come up with many answers.

So reading in Romans last night, I think I got a greater inkling into GOD's great grace. Romans 14 says this (NCV) "Accept into your group one who is weak in faith, and do not argue about opinions. One person believes it is right to eat all kinds of food. But another, who is weak, believes it is right to eat only vegetables. The one who knows that it is right to eat any kind of food must not reject the one who eats only vegetables. And the person who eats only vegetables must not think that the one who eats all foods is wrong, because GOD has accepted that person."

GOD's acceptance reaches beyond the rules. So should mine. So when my friend says she is gay and lives that lifestyle without repentance, I will choose to accept her and love her. It is for her and her Lord to figure it out, without judgment from me. (HE accepts me despite my gossiping tongue and my nearly gluttonous love of chocolate.)

I believe Jennifer still loves GOD and respects her fans. I know this because she has an album out next month and news like this could kill her sales from her Christian fans. But she didn't want them to find out later and have it affect how loudly they sing along with her music. She didn't want them to feel deceived or to question her motives.

So I still love Jennifer. I can only imagine the struggle she grapples with, even now, after the news has come out. I see her courage on a whole new level. I may not agree with the spiritual rules she lives by, but I will choose not to judge. I choose instead to love and accept her the way that GOD has asked.

My Bangs Look Good - Soooo GOOD!

First off, let me say I read this book with really high expectations. I follow Susanna's blog faithfully (it's on my home page) and her insight and humor have always brightened my heart. So when I received a copy of her book "My Bangs Look Good & Other Lies I Tell Myself," I couldn't wait to open it up and devour every word! I sat right down (okay, I made a cup of coffee and grabbed a cookie too - alright, two cookies!)

But then I couldn't get past the first chapter!

The truth that was in the very first pages hit my heart is such a deep and meaningful way that I had to set it down and digest what I had just read. Then I read that first chapter again (before I even peeked at the second chapter). Again, I laughed and cried (within minutes of each other) - confusing my kids, scaring the cats, and making my husband mutter something I didn't quite catch as he left the room.

The rest of the book was much the same. I couldn't get very far before I had to take a pause and reflect. Each chapter addresses a lie that we as Christian women (and tired supergirls!) sometimes fall for, even live by. Now I have been a Christian for (dare I saw it?) decades now and a youth pastor with my husband for nearly 15 years. I figured if I didn't have it ALL together, at least I had enough going right for me that I wasn't a total mess up and wasn't leading anyone in the wrong direction. And yet this book revealed some lies that I was totally snared by!

I am glad to say that I wasn't falling for every lie this book exposes (YAY!). But even those chapters that didn't address something I struggled with were still full of truth and wisdom (and funny, relatable stories!). Susanna's writing style is easy to follow and this book is witty, amusing, insightful, heartfelt, and feels like you're having coffee with your best girlfriend. (I guess it helps if you have coffee and cookies while you're reading it). You will laugh out loud (so I don't recommend reading it on a bus or subway) and you will probably shed a few tears as well (so keep that in mind when reading near your husband).

This is a wonderful book and you will want to have a copy for yourself so you can read it over and over again, and then you'll also want a copy to share with friends so you can all discuss it over coffee and cookies (I see a theme already!)


"My Bangs Look Good & Other Lies I Tell Myself" by Susanna Foth Aughtmon

"Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."


Or to find the book on Amazon click here: http://www.tinyurl.com/goodbangs

And click here to find Susanna's amazing blog "Confessions of a Tired Supergirl": http://tiredsupergirl.blogspot.com/