SISTERHOOD OF SINGLES

A Just for Fun Fiction by Celia Jolley

"I call this meeting to order.  The first matter of business is to pray.  Judith will you lead us in prayer?"   All these girls had met at a Christian club on their university campus and were of one mind and heart.  So they bowed their heads together.

After the 'Amen,' Becca stated, "Remember, trust in God is essential to our organization as well as to us individually.  Therefore, we chose as our theme verse, Proverbs 31:10, 'An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.' Does everyone approve?" Becca saw all heads nodding.  "Good, I think we can all agree that an excellent wife is indeed hard for a man to find.  Right?  Thus we have joined up together to show any trustworthy men out there that we are indeed jewels."  

Their cheers were earnest, but quiet so that they could not be overheard out in the hall.

"Okay, since this is the first meeting, there are no previous  minutes to be read.   All those who agree to our motto, signify by saying 'Aye.'"  The cheers were rambunctious.  "Those opposed?"  Becca smiled smugly.  She was tired of the status quo and desired to be pro-active, they all were.

"Do we really need to be so formal?" Katie squeaked.

Judith looked kindly at Katie and said, "We just thought that it is important, at least for now, to mark down our objectives for future reference."

"I understand," Katie smiled weakly.  "I'm all for what we are doing, don't misunderstand.  I just have a hang-up with Robert's Rules of Order.  They're rather man-ish, don't you think?"

A few nodded or giggled, but Becca went on, "First I believe it is important to put our goals on record as well as suggestions for reaching them.  So, are we the Sisterhood of Singles in solidarity?

The college coeds cheered, some bouncing on the dorm beds, while other's clapped, and one even gave an ear-piercing whistle like it was a rock concert.

"Shh, we don't want any liberal spies to report on our meeting," Judith warned.

"I asked you to come ready to share a verse or a saying to inspire us.  Is someone ready to go first?" Becca asked.

Violet raised her hand.  "I will.  Then she quoted...

"Here, here!" Someone enthusiastically responded.

"I'll go next Katie said.  It's from Scripture...

"Amen!" someone remarked.

"I'll go next," Jade said...

The room erupted in laughter.  "True, how true," someone said.

Gertie said, "Here's mine..."

"That's a good reminder," Becca said.  "Thank you Gertie.  Go ahead, Judith."

"Mine is also from Scripture..."

"Anyone else?  No?  Well, mine is not Scripture, but I still like it..."

There was laughter all around.  Then Becca went on, "As you well know, we have only one semester left before we graduate and disperse.  Not one of us is engaged or in a serious relationship, is that right?"  All answered in the affirmative.   

"Even casual dating has dried up like a cracked mud puddle in a drought," Jade moaned.

"Right.  When Judith and I first thought of this, we decided to call ourselves the Sisterhood of Singles.  If you remember it was last September, the beginning of our senior year when we first met.  But now with graduation pressing on us, we must truly organize and become pro-active.  As you know, every year when classes start, the so-called freshmen rush begins.  Pretty little freshmen coeds infiltrate our campus, the ones all the available guys rush to date.  That leaves us older, more mature maidens twiddling our thumbs," Becca reminded them.

"But by now those same fresh-out-of-high-school girls have begun to put on the usual 20  pounds that freshmen almost always gain," Violet remarked.

Becca nodded but went on, "I know, Violet, but it is not enough.  Since not much has changed and since we all read the book by Danielle Crittenden, "What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us," can we all agree that we face an uphill battle?  By the time we graduate the author reminds us, and especially if we go on to get graduate degrees, the dating pool of decent men will have shriveled into a puddle to fish from.  Most men we will come across in the work place or meet elsewhere, the author states will have been married at least once or twice already, or more likely can have almost any woman they want without putting a ring on her finger.  Even though we will have graduated and will have begun our careers, our purpose cannot be put off if any of us hope to marry and have a family one day.  Am I correct?"

Once again, a resounding response began before Judith quieted them back down.

According to our source book, most men who ultimately choose to marry will still look for younger women to begin their family, 2 adults, 2.5 children and a dog..."

"Or a cat," Katie whispered.  She drew scowls from those around her.

Becca ignored her and finished her sentence, "a dog and a house with a picket fence."

"So, unless we wish to remain single or be caught up being pursued by a man who might have messed up his first or second marriage or be hit on without a thought towards marriage, I want to set parameters upon which we will vote.  #1.  We as Christian women vow to only date Christian men.  #2.  We as Christian women vow to avoid any man who drinks."

"Wait," Jade interrupted.  "What about social drinkers?"

Judith broke in, "Who has caused the most domestic violence against women and children?  Drinkers.  This is a moral issue backed up by statistics.  Besides, no one can say that drinking has enhanced their walk with God, can they?  We commit to finding that rare gem called a Christian man with these same godly principles."

"Well, that narrows the field down," Violet said sarcastically though it was very true.

"Do we agree to keep our high standards or do we just settle for someone, anyone who will take us?"  Becca challenged them.

"No settling!" Judith declared followed by everyone in their group with all the others raising their fists in agreement.

"Okay then, we move on to #3.  We vow to avoid any man whom we discover actively using pornography.  We promise never to settle for the comparison of our beautiful body to that of a perverted image.  Finally, #4 We vow to stay in contact by phone, messaging, or online after we graduate and go our many different directions until all of us have found the man of our dreams."

The girls began slapping each other's hands, even Judith.

Becca charged on, bringing the giggling group to order.  "By show of hands, all those in favor  raise your hand."  She looked at them all catching each girl's gaze affirming they were on board before she asked, "Any opposed?"  It was so quiet that you could have heard a donut drop on the floor. In fact there were sprinkles on the carpet to prove that one had indeed landed there at one time or other.  "So it is confirmed and agreed upon.  Now I turn the floor over to Judith."

Judith nervously smiled and began.  "I have prepared a power point presentation in order to show you our logo and Internet group page.   We thought it best to show it to you in the privacy of our dorm room, so sorry it's so crowded."  She took a deep breath and beamed the presentation on the wall where she had removed her posters.  Those who were sitting on the bed scurried to the floor so everyone could better see.  She continued, "Becca and I have  an idea that we have thrown around.  It started out, honestly, as a joke.  But then it got us thinking of how we could make this work even now in our day."  Becca squirmed  and kept her eyes down while Judith blazed boldly on.  "What would you think of becoming a modern day mail- order bride?"

The room was deadly silent, before Jade finally asked, "Isn't that what dating platforms are for?"

"Have any of you who have dabbled in such sites found the kind of man you want to commit to for the rest of your life?"  Becca asked.

Most kept their heads down embarassed, but a few nodded to confirm Becca's observation.  She went on, "This sisterhood would only be a sounding board to make suggestions on any men who might respond to our post.  Judith and I are willing to be the middle man in order to try to help make the best matches for our select society of members.  But, of course, the final choice would have to be made by you and only you."

Still the girls were silent, some chewing their fingernails while pondering and a couple scoffing trying to hold back their laughter. 

Becca jumped in to say, "If anyone is not comfortable with proceeding, you may go.  It does not mean you will be totally excluded from the Sisterhood of Singles, but we will understand that this is not the right path forward for you.  If you choose not to participate, you may leave now."

Only Gertie and Alice left nervously snickering.  They all knew that Gertie still held onto a slender thread of hope that her former fiancé would come back to the party, say he was sorry, and ask her to marry him again.  They all were sympathetic with her situation.  But Alice?  They all knew she was a man-hater and were somewhat relieved that she opted out.

Most were staring or squinting up at the wall as Judith scrolled down to a facsimile of what their invitation to interested men would look like.  "As a secret society that has voted to confirm our joint standards, we ask that when a response comes in we, Becca and I, reserve the right to be the first to read it.  If there are any hesitations, we will throw that name out, or rather, block it out.  I know there are a lot of bots with strange men's requests to join your Facebook that are bogus, so be careful.  Judith and I have worked to try and block any from this website.  But the #1 rule for a modern day mail order bride is that you must promise to never meet any of these men alone until they have proven themselves to be trustworthy godly men and have our whole-hearted approval."

"It'll be like finding a needle in a haystack," Jade murmured. 

"That's why we are expanding our search beyond this campus and beyond our city even, in order to go nationwide.  Once requests come pouring in, we can meet weekly, or if they just trickle in, we'll still meet monthly," Judith explained.  "Becca and I will have had an opportunity to review our idea of an ideal match for each of you, but we will not have the final say.  Everyone may see the introductory emails we approve of, and then you will let us know of your interest.  But no matter what, we will stand together as the Sisterhood of Singles!" 

They all started to cheer before seeing Judith's face and quieted down clapping their hands over their mouths grinning knowing radical feminists would eat them for lunch if the word got out.

"Who will see this?  Will it go out randomly on the Internet?"  Katie asked.

"No, we are seeking out conservative churches on various websites and will be sending it to them to be pastor-approved.  We may not hear back, but this will be our first avenue to try," Judith explained.

Becca laughed and admitted, "We know this is kind of crazy, but we thought it was worth a try.  Being here in a swamp of feminists, we would be chewed up and spit out by them if we were to be discovered.  So mum is the word, alright?  Show by nodding your heads.  Better yet, take this form back to your dorm rooms and fill out the questionaire that you wish to share with a potential mate if you are still interested."  

Grins and giggles followed.  A few suggestions were made for their platform, some good, some not so good, but Becca and Judith kept open minds to what anyone said.  

Violet spoke up, "What happens if we find a match?  Will we go blind to meet him, or will he need to come here to meet all of us?  Not everybody can buy a plane ticket at the drop of a hat."

Judith looked at Becca, and said, "We're still working the bugs out of our plan.  We're not sure whether to demand a man come here, or if we will allow you to use a plane, train or automobile to meet up, always with a pre-approved pastor-picked chaperone, of course.  Right now it is in flux except that your well-being, now and in future, will remain our utmost concern in the Sisterhood of Singles."

"That was a good question, Violet.  I hope we answered it to your satisfaction.  Okay, girls, we want to get a good photo of each of you with my camera phone so we can post it for serious inquiries.  So hurry to your rooms to primp and then be back here in half an hour," Judith ordered.  But those of you who are willing to have your picture taken now just as you are, just stay here."

"This is as good as I get.  He will have to take me or leave me, so be it," Jade muttered.  But she was so naturally pretty that she couldn't ruin her looks with a mud bath.

Of course, some wanted silly pictures taken of themselves with their roommates or closest friends just for fun, until Becca exclaimed, "No more!"  But overall, Becca was relieved at how well everything was received and only hoped they truly had God's blessing.

At first the responses came in very slowly.  In fact at the next monthly meeting they only had two to offer the girls.  Their Sisterhood number had been reduced first down to eight, then two more chickened out.  That left Becca, Judith, Jade, Katie, Violet and Gertie who had finally given up hope on her ex-fiancé and returned to their group.

"So, here is one from Georgia."  Judith showed his image blown up on the wall along with his answers to their questionnaire.  "This is Jim, twenty-six years old.  He is looking for a Christian woman willing to relocate to his small town, after graduation, of course.  According to this, he is a young widower having lost his wife in a car wreck after only being married less than a year.  He is the assistant pastor of a Pentecostal church..."

"Oh!  I'm Pentecostal," Gertie exclaimed.  "I've always dreamed of being a pastor's wife."

All heads swiveled to stare at her.  "I never knew that, Gertie," her roommate Violet said beyond surprised.

"Well, I dated Robert for so long, that I gave up that hope since he wanted to be an accountant.  In fact, he never wanted to come with me to my church, so I had almost forgotten it.  I've had a little heartache, he's had a huge heartache, so it's a match made in heaven."

"Are any others of you Pentecostal?" Becca asked.

"What's a Pentecostal?" Katie asked.  "I mean, he's kind of cute."

"If you have to ask, you're not one," Jade said with a smirk.  "Let's just hope he's not one of the snake-handling types."

"What?' Katie squawked.

"Never mind," Jade shushed her.

"So are we all agreed to let Gertie begin corresponding with this man?" Becca asked.  "His references came back all positive."

Judith went on to say, "All in favor raise your hand."  It was unanimous.

"Remember, Gertie, we all will need to meet him to give our approval before you become engaged.  Be careful though.  I'd hate to see you hurt again.  Guard your heart, okay?" Becca warned.

Sadly, no one seemed interested in the second applicant.  Maybe it was because he was a gator wrestler from Louisiana.

The next month, they had received five candidates for the Sisterhood of Singles.  Judith put their faces up one at a time on the wall along with their questionnaire responses.

It was so quiet that you could have heard crickets, if there were any in their dorm room that is.  Becca finally broke in to say, "Let's take them one by one.  Timothy is a firefighter in North Dakota.  His pastor wrote a glowing report on his Christian walk.  He is younger than most of us at twenty-two, but likes our modern mail-order bride idea.  His great grandmother had been one who started out with her farmer husband in a sod dug-out.  They remained happily married fifty-four years."

"He doesn't expect us to live in a soddie, does he?" Katie giggled knowing it was a joke with just a niggle of fear.

"I'm sure he can do better than that, Katie," Judith smiled down on her.  "He says that with the military presence in his area, there are more men than available women.  The main issue I can see is if any of you would consider moving to North Dakota.  Minot has the highest AWOL rate of any base in the nation.  That could mean that it has a long, cold winter without a whole lot to do in the area."

Katie half raised her hand.  "I might be interested," she said after taking a fortifying slurp on her iced coffee.  "As long as they have a Starbucks, that is," she hesitantly responded.

"I'm sure they do.  But do you realize the life of a firefighter, one who puts his life in danger on a regular basis, one who is gone sometimes for days at a time?"

"I have an uncle who is a firefighter, my favorite uncle in fact, so yes, I understand."

"Okay, all in favor of Katie corresponding with Timothy, raise your hand."  Looking around Becca said, "Go for it, Katie."

"The next man," Judith went on, "is twenty-nine.  James is from Montana, another state with more men than women.  He has a cattle ranch there.  His pastor says that he is a faithful church-goer unless the snow is too deep or the cattle get sick.  He asks that we not reply if no one is willing to live far out of town or can't image life on a ranch with the smell of manure."

Becca chewed her lip.  He sounded absolutely wonderful, manure aside, and he looked pretty good too.  But she would let the others have first pick.  No one did.

"Okay, let's go on to the next man.  John is from Philadelphia and has a hole in the wall Philly steak sandwich joint that tourists and locals line up for a block in order to get in.  He works seven days a week, but is willing to reduce it to six, if he has a wife to come home to.  He's a Presbyterian, but doesn't get to church that often due to his schedule."

"I like Philly steak sandwiches," Jade said.  "He looks pretty hot too."

"Aren't you concerned that if he doesn't take a day off work for God, that he might not take a day off work for a wife either?"  Violet asked.

Jade shrugged.  "If I correspond with him, maybe I'll be able to know better.  I like Philadelphia.  It has a lot of history, you know."  Jade was a history major.  "Maybe I could help run tours as a docent."

"So, all in favor of Jade corresponding with John, raise your hand.  There you go, Jade.  Let us know how it is going next meeting.  That goes for all of you, actually."

Judith went on.  "Howie is a mechanic in Detroit.  He closes his shop on Sundays to attend church, his pastor says.   Howie adds that he will never run out of work as long as there are automobiles to work on.  He hopes that the grease embedded under his nails or in the wrinkles in his hands won't put off a university coed.  He has a large, extended family there that gets together for Sunday dinners once a month..."

"I would like to a part of a big family," Violet said wistfully, not realizing she had interrupted Judith.  "My father is a hard-working owner of an auto-parts shop, but I'm an only child.  My mother died before I was out of high school, and we did not have close family around."

"So are you saying, Violet, that you are interested?" Becca asked though still surprised because Violet was always the best dressed without a hair out of place most of the time.

"I think I am.  I mean, it's not as if I'm agreeing to marry him yet, so yes, I'm interested."

"All in favor of Violet corresponding with Howie raise your hand.  It's unanimous."

"Okay, the last respondent to our questionnaire is from New Mexico."  Several girls whistled when they saw his picture. She went on, "Blake is twenty-five, part Hopi Indian but has never lived on the reservation.  He's twenty-six years old.  His pastor says that he got in some trouble as a teen, but has seven years of being clean and sober.  Blake is his right hand man as well as his youth pastor.  He said he encouraged Blake to respond since so many teen girls are smitten with him, though the young man is oblivious.  His pastor merely stated that he has prayed for a godly wife to be by his side."

"Do you think he would care if I am part Arapaho and not of the same tribe?" Judith murmered quietly. " I'm only one-eighth, but it was enough to get me a scholarship.  I was one of the lucky ones whose great grandparents registered on the tribal lists.  Most were afraid of repercussions from the government.   I do know that drugs and alcohol are a real tribal problem.  I had always hoped to do my social work to help the People."

Becca looked at her roommate with surprise.  "I didn't know that, Judith.  So you are willing to correspond with Blake?"

"Yes, I think I am."  Judith already had a dreamy look in her eyes as she imagined a future with this man.

"All in favor of Judith and Blake show your hands.  Okay, there you go, roomie.  Well, to be honest, I think I favor the rancher from Montana.  I've always wanted to be a cowgirl," she laughed self-consciously.

Jade gave her usual smirk.  "Well, if you are going to be willing to move so far out of town, maybe you'd better take the beast to get the library.  We all know how much you love to read."

Everyone laughed before Judith said, "All in favor, say "Aye!"  All the girls responded before they got up and all hugged each other.

Violet said, "I bet some of our other Sisterhood of Singles will be back once they hear of our success."

"Maybe we won't turn down other offers yet until we are sure that all these arrangements are suitable.  Don't be afraid, girls if you get cold feet about your guy because you can always start over with someone else.  He's no longer the only fish in the pond, so no need to get desperate," Becca smiled, but already felt the butterflies stirring in her stomach.

Word did get out, and their room was packed at the next meeting of the Sisterhood of Singles. But not one man-hater applied.  Their inbox was flooded now with responses from men all over the United States.  Only one of the original takers had to go back and start over: just Jade.  It turned out that her Philly man was two-timing her with the e-harmony dating site and dropped her for a Boston Barbie doll.  Jade busted him when she looked him up online. Instead she found a Virginia man, a reenactor.  When she applied for a docent job at one of the battlefields sites there, she was accepted.  Jade traded her smirk for a smile.

The Sisterhood of Singles decided to invite their potential mates to their graduation.  It was the final test after a meet and greet dinner.  There were enough stars in all their eyes to form their own galaxy.   At their final meeting, Becca and Judith handed over the management of their site to two capable and willing juniors who would carry on their Modern Mail-Order Bride business.  There were four weddings that summer and one in the fall.  After all, Becca could not get married until after the cattle round-up.

The Sisterhood of Singles formed an off-shoot branch, the Sisterhood of Spouses.  Though the university tried to stop their unofficial organization, they continued on with the work of matching single men and women whose first love was with God.  After all, He's the One who gave them a future and a hope.

  

  

The goal of raising a teenager is to make the nest a little more uncomfortable little by little until they are ready to fly.  That discomfort is sometimes rather unpleasant, downright disagreeable, especially when they begin to protest loudly.   An empty nest is the goal of parenting.  Not that they can't come back to visit,  but that they can't get too comfy.  There comes a time that progresses past making their own snack, their own lunch, their own bed, taking out the garbage, washing their own clothes, running the vacuum, loading the dishwasher, scrambling their own eggs, getting up every day to report to school or to a job.   It's that day when they are sent packing with a pat on their back and shutting the door leaving them on the other side to seek their own fortunes.  Will they build their house upon the sand or upon the rock? Will they build with hay, sticks or bricks?  You hope they know how to make wolf stew.

Until then, the house rules say that we are to treat each other with respect and kindness, but it's still our house.  Our rules.  "But as or me and my house, we will serve the Lord." They can go out and do bigger and better, and we hope they do.  In the meanwhile, lying or stealing, disrespect or dropping out of school is not allowed.  Computer games, all their episodes of favorite T.V. series, or online movies are not real life; even reality shows are not their life.  They are entertainment.  Privileges.  They are not the stuff that life is made of.  Vicarious living through these things cannot build character. 

Sam Houston left home at thirteen.  He went and lived with the Cherokee taking the writings of Homer with him.  His mother gave him a ring with the word, "honor," inscribed in it.  He spent many years of dishonor as "The Big Drunk."  Eventually, he caught  Andrew Jackson's notice in fighting Indians.  Ironic, isn't it?  In a lifetime away, with two failed marriages, walking away from  his unfinished term as a governor, going back to the Cherokee, then going off to the wilds of Texas territory, he began to find his direction, then his God.

He crossed the river to live with the Cherokees, once again, like he did when he was

thirteen.  Back then, he left home.  He did not want to work at home.  Did not want to work in the family business in town.  He did not want to teach school that, smart as he was; it bored him.  Wanting to live wild and free while living off the Indians, Houston actually lived with a trader named John Jolley who had quite a spread with the Cherokees.  Houston fell in love and married one of his daughters, a half Cherokee.

I wish we had a double track of education with more emphasis on opportunities for vocational training, teaching boys to become men with hands on training in life skills.  Our culture will always offer opportunities for further education. But some, especially boys, don't have ears to hear sitting in a desk pushing a pencil, especially those with learning difficulties.  They have that urge within them to go off and make a life.  That's a good thing that should be encouraged.  There is good in encouraging the ones with the abilities to excel; but as for the others, they don't do as well squeezed into other's molds.

Back to a dissembled nest, we must remove one straw at a time until it's the last straw.  Uncomfortable.  It makes me think of another boy, a baby, who left every comfort, every glory to be birthed on the straw, laid in a manger.  He wandered, did not have a place to lay his head even when grown, no longer a baby in a manger.  But He did a world of good.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Philippians 2:5-8

God's empty nest.

The night sky tucked in, a heavy blanket;  

Ripe, round moon, a fat bedside candle;

Stars, the sparks of embers

Burned bright into dreams.

CJ

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning..."
Psalm 130:5-6

Welcome Dear Fall

 Wind chimes sound the change of weather,

 The passing train, like a moaning wind.

Trees bow slightly at the knees to the august Autumn.

Windows and doors are open for our guest's arrival,

Curtains wave as banners in its honor.

Welcome dear Fall to our humble abode.

Dr. Fall Go Away

Coughs and sneezils,

Flu and measles,

Flutterings and woozies,

Temps are doozies.

Kleenex, germs aplenty,

Stay out of the windy.

Open and say, "Ahh,"

Need a blood draw.

Tis the season for the sick bed

Chicken soup and crackers are fed.

Dr. Fall please leave us be

We can't afford your fee.

Your leaves are dead and dying

and on the ground are lying.

They are flush with feverish cheeks,

And are gone in a matter of weeks.

Why should I trust you to treat me, dear Sir,

You offer no cure, nor hardly stir.

Tis the season for the dying flower bed

Cold and rain fill them with dread.

Dr. Fall, please leave us be, I say!

I implore you, beseech you, I beg of you, I pray, 

Go away!

C.J.

"And Jesus was going about in all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues,
and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every kind of disease
and every kind of sickness among the people."
Matthew 4:23

Jesus may not have had every kind of disease and sickness,
but this shows he was acquainted with every kind as he healed,
emphasis on "every kind."

Homebody.  Body at home. At home being home.  The past two weeks I have left the house three times (once to the eye dr./once to Walmart/once to church).  First I was sick, then my car was sick and is being fixed.  It is a wonderful weirdness to be so happy at home.  I've only grabbed the keys once or twice to head out the door before saying, "Oh, okay then." 

Jesus wants to be at home, at home in your body, you being at home with Him being at home, longer than company and fish which stink after three days.  He wants to abide.  Be at rest.  You at rest.  You might forget and grab the keys to do something that might displease Him for your fellowship together, but you put them down and say, "Oh, okay then."

 Someone might come in and notice saying, "How long has Jesus been living here?"  "Oh, He's been here a long time."  Someday, we will live with Him a long time, as in forever.    It will be like when friends start to say the same thing at the same time or, reach for the same book, like the Bible, at the same time.  You might enjoy hearing His voice reading it.   That's how close you can become when Jesus is your bestie.  Know what I mean? 

"...if we love one another, God abides in us,

and His love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in Him and He is us,

because He has given us of His Spirit."

I John 4:12-13 

II JOHN 1:1

"The elder unto the elect lady and her children,

whom I love in the truth; and not I only,

but also all they that have known the truth."

"The elder unto the elect Kuria and her children,

whom I love in the truth, and not only I,

but likewise all who know the truth..."

(John Wesley's)

"The elder to the chosen lady and her children,

whom I love in truth; and not only I, 

but also all who know the truth."

(NASV)

It is thought that John at this time in his life is  quite elderly, perhaps 90.  In fact, he is the only disciple that died of natural causes.  As to the letter written to this cherished woman, some believe perhaps the letter was kept in the family for years before given to the councils which canonized them.  This, thus, explains its later acceptance. 

As to this woman, John Wesley used the name Kuria which others explain away.  His idea is that the term "lady" was only used referring to the Roman empress.  The oldest versions also used Kuria as a proper name.  "The elect" just means "Christian."  According to Adam Clarke most believe that she, an "eminent Christian matron" was a deaconess of the Early Church near Ephesus.  As such she might have hosted the Church in her house and/or at her house the apostles and traveling evangelists frequently preached, and were entertained.  

"whom I love in the truth"

John Wesley said, it was referring to both her and her children, with "unfeigned and holy love."  "And not I only"  Adam Clarke says, "She was well known in the Churches; many had witnessed or heard of her fidelity, and partook of her hospitality; so that she had a good report of all Christians in that quarter."  

When I was in high school, we were involved in a baby church in Morro Bay.  We met in homes.  It was precious fellowship, some of the best in my life.  Likewise, when we began New Beginnings Wesleyan Church, we met in our home for a short time.  Yet, we met freely without threat.  However, in the time of this woman Kuria, it most likely was done so under the threat of persecution.  

There is a young mother in Pakistan who has been in prison for 8 years and is facing death for telling her neighbor about Christ.  Persecution of Christians is happening around the world.  What we feel is small potatoes compared to the reality of those in other countries.  

Sometimes I feel like I suffer from PTSD from a life serving the church.  It is not comparable to those who have undergone serious trauma, especially our veterans.  However, when you open your heart and home as we did for about thirty-seven years, it can be bruised and pierced.  I am not talking about by those who walk in truth, but by those in sheep's clothing, by those who persecuted us.   My health gave way, so no more.

Yet, an elderly John remained while the other disciples were killed for their faith.  He became the disciple of love into his old age to the people of faith.  He did not become bitter.  It was written to Kuria and her children, "whom I love in the truth, and not only I, but likewise all who know the truth."  It was written in fondness and esteem.  

It was also written, as follows, concerning her children as we will see.  This to say, not only was John concerned for the Church, but also specifically for her and her children.  It is not enough for us to be saved, but our greatest desire is that our children be saved and walk in truth.  But more of this as we progress through this second letter by John.

  

I JOHN 5:21

"Little children, guard yourselves from idols."

"Little children...'

This is written by the one who was the youngest disciple, "the disciple Jesus loved," the one who slept on His chest at night, the one who Jesus charged the care of His mother Mary.  All this to say that John was especially loving, and all through his writings he calls to his readers in a tender way: "Little children, My little children, Beloved, Children," are used at least thirteen times in these five chapters, all for the purpose of reminding us that we are the children of God.

How quickly the newly freed generation of slaves

reverted back to Idols led by Aaron.

But his parting word, his concern for his children is perhaps a little unexpected.  As children, he is warning them to guard themselves.   Danger! Danger! Danger!  What he thinks is the greatest danger to his little children, is the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments.  It is not lying, stealing, adultery, but it is. "You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol (graven image), or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God."

Thus, perhaps the boiled down idea here is, don't let anything cause God to be jealous.  We are warned continually not to make or worship idols in the Old and New Testament.  "'I have burned half of it in the fire (wood) and also have baked bread over its coals.  I roast meat and eat it.  Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!' He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside." (Isaiah 44:19-20)  Yes, we are told, commanded, ordered not to have anything to do with idols.  

Actually, my conscience does not allow me to participate in two of the largest parades and celebrations in our twin cities, the Buddhist parade and the East Indian Sikh parade.  Idol worship is a part of their worship, and it saddens me to see so many Christians flock to these and mingle.  It does not mean we can not act with love and kindness towards these individuals, but we are firmly warned against having anything to do with their worship.  

Once we lived a half of a block from a historic Buddhist temple in Weaverville, one which we toured.  I saw the fresh sacrifices of fruit and gold on the altar, probably put there by one of the esteemed community leaders, Mr. Moon.   Often on our drive home from church, we see Buddhist families who have driven from afar to a historic Buddhist park in our town where they eat from whole roasted pigs.  Part of their worship is appeasing the anger of their dead ancestors.  

We once invited an East Indian doctor to come to a Christmas dinner in our home.  It was all foreign to him.  We also had a foster-granddaughter who was plucked from their worship and placed in our daughter's home.  She told us who she found more loving, and it wasn't the religion of her father.  We can show the love of Christ, but it is ashes if they try and show the love of their religion.

Adam Clarke wrote, "Beloved children; he concludes with the same affectionate feeling with which he commenced.  Avoid the idolatry of the heathens; not only have no false gods, but have the true God.  Have no idols in your houses, none in your churches, none in your hearts.  Have no object of idolatrous worship; no pictures, relics, consecrated tapers, wafers, crosses, &cs, by attending to which your minds may be divided and prevented from worshipping the infinite Spirit in spirit and in truth.  The apostle, Dr. Macknight, cautioned his disciples against going with the heathens into the temple of their idol gods, to eat of their feasts upon the sacrifices they  had offered to these gods; and against being present at any act of worship which they paid them; because, by being present, they participated of that worship, as is plain from what 

St.Paul has written on the subject, I Corinthians 8:10...That is a man's idol or god from which he seek his happiness; no matter whether it be Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, Minerva, Venus, or Diana; or pleasure, wealth, fame, a fine house, superb furniture splendid equipage, medals, curiosities, books, titles, human friendships, or any earthly or heavenly thing God, the supreme good, only excepted.  That is a man's idol which prevent him from seeking and finding his ALL in God."

Don't be like those who worship idols.  Be warned.

Follow God.

My blog, a message in a bottle cast out into the unknown.