Girls, girls and more girls

Pestišanas Armija doesn’t attract a lot of men, especially young and sober ones. We have so many beautiful, smart and mature young women. Sometimes I wonder if they are too smart and confident. Not that that is a bad thing, but it might scare away the guys. Anyway, it is definitely a prayer concern for the future of the Church in Latvia. I don’t know if it is quite the same in the other churches, but from the lifestyle of most of the young men I see on the street, I would say Christianity is not having much of an impact on their way of life. On the positive side, we have loads of beautiful, smart and mature (or maturing) young girls and women. They are eager to learn and get involved. They also like to have fun. Friday evening Liz put together a regional girls’ night, with all those girlie kinds of activities like manicures, facials, hair styling and food and movies. Nearly 50 girls came and they did have fun! I have to admit I only stayed for about an hour, enough time to do a short Bible study and take some pictures.

I've been reading through some blogs linked to other Salvation Army blogs and my first reaction was "Hmm, maybe I don't have so much to say." Most of them seem to raise controversial issues, challenge some tradition or at least be much edgier than I am. I'm just trying to record a little of my daily life for my friends and whoever else lands here. And while I do 'have issues', maybe I'm at a stage in my life where they don't seem quite so vital. I wonder if I've gotten too content in a lazy way or if it's a good content, as Paul describes? Maybe it's a combination. Latvia has certainly caused me to take a look at traditions and the Army way. But, instead of me challenging the Army to change, I think the Lord has been challenging me to change. I still believe as I said earlier in my short blogging life, we need people to speak up and be controversial to keep the rest of us thinking and evaluating what is good about us and needs to be maintained and what is only kept for the sake of tradition and should be put aside for the sake of the Kingdom. My prayer is that I will listen to those who are calling us to take a look at who we are and that I will be discerning and obedient to the Spirit. Wow, from manicures to discernment in one posting...