Andy Naselli » complementarianism

Jenni and I finally got around to watching Mark Driscoll interview John Piper on his parents, wife, and children. This 50-minute interview is unusually personal and transparent. Piper displays humility and wisdom, and we found it convicting and edifying.

The fall 2008 issue of the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is now available, and five of the articles or reviews are available online now. One of the reviews available now is written by my wife:

Jennifer J. Naselli, “Is This Good News for Women? A Review of Carolyn Custis James, The Gospel of Ruth. (PDF | HTML)

She wrote this review in June during a small window of time right after she completed four years of full-time teaching and then gave birth to our first child. No doubt I am biased, but I must say that the (controversial) review is well done!

[This is a guest post by my wife, Jenni. She has benefited immensely from Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters on biblical womanhood, and at my request she graciously agreed to summarize her experience for the benefit of others. --ADN]

Last year a close friend began telling me about Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood by Carolyn Mahaney (wife of C. J. Mahaney) and Nicole (Mahaney) Whitacre.

My friend had recently given birth to her first child, a baby girl, and was thoroughly enjoying the book’s emphasis on teaching daughters about biblical womanhood. I soon began devouring it! Then I discovered the Girl Talk Blog, MP3’s by Carolyn Mahaney, and two other books written by Carolyn Mahaney:

Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother (an ideal place to begin reading Carolyn Mahaney)
Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed (coauthored with her three daughters)

I began spending hours each day listening to Carolyn on my MP3 player while working in the home. I even bought the three books above and gave them as Christmas presents to my Mom, sister, mother-in-law, and three sisters-in-law!

Throughout these past few months, Carolyn has mentored me in the disciplines of biblical womanhood.

Her Titus 2 series (free as MP3 downloads) has challenged me to think seriously about my role as a believing wife and mother.
Her emphasis on “discovering the idols of your heart” in your motivations has convicted me to examine my own life and discern what motivates my decisions.
Her practice of encouraging others for God’s grace at work in their lives has challenged me to be more intentional about edifying others this way.
Her seriousness about confessing and dealing with sin has sobered me to examine and deal with the sin in my own heart.
Her teaching on motherhood has meant the most to me since our own baby girl, Kara Marie, is on the way! May God give me the grace to be half as intentional in teaching baby Kara about the disciplines of biblical womanhood as Carolyn was with her daughters.

I am so grateful for Carolyn’s mentoring over the last several months. I am thankful that rather than giving fluffy women’s talks, she applies the gospel to all of life—especially to our roles as wives and mothers for the glory of God.

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