God is a DJ?

by guest writer Elizabeth Parrilli

In May of 2010 I started working at Anthropologie. Ever since I started working there I have tried my hardest to look at my job as ministry; to serve the customers, to love the women I work with, to pray for them, to be a light that shines in that place. Since my hire, I have moved around to three stores, working with new women doing new things, but I’ve tried to keep my prayers for them consistent.

At least four times a week I am one of the store closers. We stay about two-three hours after the store closes and clean up all of the messy folds, put back all the merchandise left in the fitting room, straighten the hangers, and perfect our artistic space.

Snake in the Vines: Molested on Furlough

by David T. Ulrich

Published in The Moody Standard 76:9. This story is adapted from interviews with a female college student. All names changed to honor confidentiality:

“‘Have you ever played Truth or Dare?’ Rachel asked. ‘Let’s play. I’ll go first—have you ever been in love? What does sex feel like? Tell me more about your boyfriend; your love story is my favorite.’”

“We did this for about an hour every day that summer, but we never did ‘dares,’ unless walking barefoot with her through the jungle to find our big tree covered in vines and green moss was a ‘dare.’ One time, one of the spiky black vines on the ground started to move. A python had snuck into our fort and was waiting for us. So that probably counts as a dare.”

Responsible Media

By Alexis Marie Berry

This article previously appeared as a guest column titled “Pop Culture or Subculture?” in The Moody Standard.

Popular culture reveals the conversation of humans affected by the alienating results of the Fall and their indescribable longing for reconciliation. In the media-driven language of today’s culture we see both the glorious echoes of creation and the tragic cries of Sin. Through internet venues, music, documentaries, modern art and other social commentaries humans are creatively conversing with one another. And as ambassadors to heaven, we must be a part of this conversation—not separated from it.

“I Do” Always Implies “I Don’t”

by Matt Tully

Recently, my wife and I had the privilege of attending a conference with the Navigators.  In a discussion on what it really means to “say yes” to Jesus, the plenary speaker likened our commitment to Jesus with the commitment made in marriage.  He spoke of his own wedding day, and how he was overjoyed and stunned by the simple realization that in saying “I do” to his wife, he was saying “I don’t” to every other woman on the planet – all 3 billion of them.  His commitment to his wife inevitably implied and entailed a rejection of all others.