Joy LaPrade

It’s easier to blame a victim than confront a perpetrator

It’s easier to dismiss those without power than question the guy with the platform

It’s easier to say “this was blown out of proportion” than find out what’s at stake

It’s easier to assume you’re right than examine whether you’re complicit

I know 😔

When you are determined to deny women any and all forms of agency, you will even deny that women could be responsible for feminism.

(From Doug Wilson’s book “Reforming Marriage”)

Same. The OT, especially, seems to make more sense as a reflection of the ways God’s people conceived of God rather than a consistent or accurate representation of God’s character.

(Makes me nervous to say that though, considering it could label me a heretic in my former circles😅)

I’m reading “becoming the pastor’s wife” (so good!) by @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social
and also Frederick Buechner’s “the longing for home”

The Library Book looks great! Just added it to my list

I’m so thankful it could encourage you. And yes, trusting a new community is incredibly hard… I can understand why many people decide not to try again. Hoping you can find a safe place to land 🙏

Is this really your body, Lord? How I'm joining Thomas in doubt as I look for Jesus again

“This is my body, broken for you.” This is what Jesus communicates to the friend whose heart and hope are broken.

He doesn’t condemn Thomas in his doubt, but gently draws him near.

A post for those seeking Jesus's body after they were harmed by his church:
open.substack.com/pub/joylapra...

Isn’t it a great word?! 😂
and thank you for reading! It’s amazing to look more closely at these stories and realize how much we’ve overlooked.

Please read this, and then subscribe to your local newspaper (if your town even has one anymore.)

It’s not a coincidence that Trump has risen as community news was dying.

Actually, there IS such a thing as toxic empathy... ... it's just not what you've heard. Here's what I learned from the story of Potiphar's wife and Joseph:

"Maybe it's not the women or the 'woke' who are too empathetic. Maybe it's the men."

open.substack.com/pub/joylapra...

Church, Cruise Ship, or Country Club? A quiz to spark discussion, inspired by what I saw while 'church shopping'

I made a game called “Church, Cruise Ship, or Country Club?”

Inspired by what I saw while ‘church shopping’ online, I hope it sparks discussion:

open.substack.com/pub/joylapra...

Trump Sick And Tired Of Mainstream Media Always Trying To Put His Words Into Some Sort Of Context NEW YORK—Emphasizing that the practice was just more evidence of journalists’ bias against him, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stated Thursday that he was sick and tired of the mainstream media always attempting to place his words into some kind of context. “The corrupt news media is constantly taking the things I say and putting them within the larger context of politics and global events—it’s absolutely sickening what they do,” said Trump, adding that many of the comments he has made—including his call yesterday for Russia to hack into the emails of his presidential opponent Hillary Clinton and publish the contents—had been repeatedly and unfairly contextualized with relevant facts about the world and pertinent information about the situation in which they were stated. “It’s completely shameful to take words I’ve spoken or written and try to connect them to some kind of objective reality. I say something, and the next thing I know, a crooked reporter is telling everyone what I said along with a fact-based explanation of what its implications are and why it matters. It’s ridiculous, and it has to stop.” Trump added that he would not hesitate to ban any news organization from his campaign that continued to twist his statements by implying they held any specific meaning about or relation to the world we inhabit.

Trump Sick And Tired Of Mainstream Media Always Trying To Put His Words Into Some Sort Of Context
theonion.com/trump-s...

"Everybody calm down and send us twenty dollars"

😂😂

amazing! But why stop with just a trilogy? 😉

That would be a pretty serious threat

😉

Yikes, so sorry you’ve gone through something like that. And thanks for the background — I suppose we’ll see if any more info comes out…

Wow! Well, I’m impressed with your effort to find common ground. Do you think she really is who she says she is…? The info about her “real identity” looks pretty bad

'Church family' means doing the dishes together How a church dinner made me re-think my expectations of a healthy community

a safe church is one where members feel a sense of ownership and responsibility, where they truly function as a family rather than as consumers who passively receive a service designed and produced by professionals.

My post this week explores this:

joylaprade.substack.com/p/church-fam...

to and for one another. A healthy family pitches in to make a meal together, and to tidy up afterwards.
A healthy family comes to the table expecting to give, not just to take.
I've been asking the question "how can you know a church is safe?" & this experience gave me one answer:
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not they were asked.
That night made me start re-thinking my expectations for what "church family" is supposed to be. I'd previously been part of a close-knit church, a seemingly loving community — where I was abused & abandoned.
This dinner reminded me how “family” means having responsibility
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stacking chairs and taking out trash. Others were wiping down tables, and a group of women had started washing dishes in the church kitchen.
Far more people were at work than had officially volunteered.
Over time, I found this was simply how that church ran: nearly everyone pitched in, whether or
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When I volunteered to run a special dinner at our new church, I expected a long night. I'd recruited a few cleanup volunteers, but with over 100 at the meal, we had a mess to take care of.
I couldn't believe what happened instead. Before I told anyone what to do, I noticed a couple guys already
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Instead of a wimp, I would say you're probably wise. There are enough people saying harsh things already! 😅

I'm so curious as to what you talked to her about! Can't imagine you having much in common. I think I muted her a while back.

‘You Can’t Let This Happen,’ Says Fundraising Email From Sitting U.S. Congressperson

‘You Can’t Let This Happen,’ Says Fundraising Email From Sitting U.S. Congressperson

Pictured: Gladys West-the mathematical and computer programming expert who created an accurate model of the Earth, which was the foundation for GPS. She was inducted into the US Air Force Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors offered by the Air Force.

Most of us have used Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation & we can thank Gladys West for creating the foundation for GPS.

She used her mathematical & programming expertise to invent an accurate model of the Earth.

She was inducted into the US Air Force Hall of Fame.

How can you know if a church is safe? There's no guarantee, unfortunately. But watch how power and diversity are handled

Having experienced the exact opposite — a church where people were discarded for believing the “wrong” thing — I was so relieved.

I don’t know if this is the church we’ll commit to, but at least they’re saying some good things!

In the meantime, I’m looking for other green flags. More here:

How can you know if a church is safe?

I’ve been asking this for the last few years, ever since I was “run out of town” by the pastor & church family I trusted.

We recently moved & started looking for a new church to attend.

So you can imagine how I felt when I saw THIS on Sunday 👇
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