"Eat Mor Chikin"

Everyone that knows me knows how much I love Chick-fil-A.  If you noticed above, I included “chikin-eater” in my profile description.  After working for and with some of the best people I know at a successful Chick-fil-A restaurant in KY, I became a raving fan. 

  

I love the values that the company represents.  I love that they are closed on Sunday and many operators are active in their local church.  I love the cleanliness and family-friendly atmosphere.  I love that they know us in our local restaurant and are always glad to see us.  I love that we have a consistent experience across the country when we travel, and if we don’t, it is rare and rectified quickly.  I love that my friends have achieved success within the company and/or been launched into success in other business endeavors.  I tell people on a regular basis, that it is a great first job for any young person.  It is also a great job no matter your age, even as a long-term career.  Many operators and managers began as teenage team members and worked their way to leadership roles.

 

Of course, I love the food.  I remember eating the original CFA sandwich at football games in high school.  It is our first choice on road trips and we often take out of town visitors to our local restaurant.  I love that you can select healthy options like their delicious grilled chicken, salads, fruit cups, and yogurt parfaits.  They care about the well-being of children from the healthy kid’s meal options to the educational toys they provide, and the many family events they host.

So of course, I was thrilled when I found out that a new restaurant would be opening 1 mile from my house, on the same road as my church.  THRILLED! And I get the privilege of being back in the uniform as a hostess.

We were invited to the Grand Opening Premiere Night with other friends from our church and community!  We received free food: samples of chick-n-minis, iced coffee, the fruit cup, Asian salad, nuggets, original chicken sandwich, spicy sandwich, grilled sandwich, grilled nuggets, and peach milkshake.  We received a backstage tour and complimentary travel mugs and mini cows.  And to top it off, they gave us a half dozen chocolate chunk cookies on our way out!

The following night we enjoyed the fellowship of the Dedication Dinner with all the new employees of our location.  We were reminded of our corporate purpose: To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.  We were encouraged through a dedication prayer over the new restaurant by a local pastor.  We watched a video of other team members whose lives have been changed through employment at Chick-fil-A.  We received the Chick-fil-A baton to remind and inspire us to be remarkable, both in our work ethic, and in our interactions with customers. 

  

I’m proud to be a Chick-fil-A team member and a raving fan.

Wherever you live, I hope that you will allow us to welcome you into our family very soon.  For those of us who love “chikin”, customer service, and hospitality, it truly is “our pleasure.”

The Book I Wish I Had Written: A Review of The Accidental Feminist

            I am a proud product of the Reading Rainbow and Wishbone generation.  Who doesn’t love an alumnus of the Starship Enterprise and a cute Jack Russell Terrier telling you what books to pick out at your local library and what classic literature is a must-read?  I come from a family of dedicated students and avid readers, so in addition to novels, I’m always excited to see what non-fiction works are being promoted by pastors, bloggers, and authors.  I seek reviews online and trust the opinion of those from The Gospel Coalition, among others. 

            Since I graduated from college, I’ve chosen to “review” books with a photo on social media.  If only we could get a superior grade in English class with a picture that says, “I loved this book and you should read it!”  I have shared blog posts on Facebook and Twitter with the caption, “The Article I Wish I Had Written!”  And now, I’m happy to write my first book review in almost a decade with the title, “The Book I Wish I Had Written.”

            I trust Crossway Books.  Most of my favorite books bear their label.  I expected no less from The Accidental Feminist.  I’ve read Courtney Reissig’s articles at CBMW and other sites.  She is a kindred spirit and her writings have blessed me.  I am always excited to see Christian women writing about Christian womanhood.  Though we have never met, we share mutual friends and the kinship of sweet memories from the campus of Southern Seminary.  

            The Accidental Feminist is the personal journey that Reissig goes on from college to seminary, marriage to children, and bartender to complementarian blogger and author.  It is her story, but it is also our story.  She begins with a definition and history of feminism.  She acknowledges the helpful progress that feminism originally made and laments the current third-wave feminism that has infiltrated our culture and worldviews.  Her goal is clear in the subtitle, “Restoring Our Delight in God’s Good Design.”  She thoughtfully addresses our identity in Christ, our relationship to men and children, submission, modesty and purity, marriage and homemaking, hospitality, and local church ministry.  At the end of each chapter, there is a section called, “Restoration in My Life” that provides helpful reflection and study questions on the topic discussed.  

            Reissig’s book is fresh, vibrant, and much-needed.  She balances humor, relatable anecdotes, Scripture, and valuable quotes from other champions of Biblical womanhood.  Reissig has done her homework and it shows.  It is not redundant to have another book on Christian womanhood.  It is necessary because we still flounder.  While Reissig’s style is neither combatant nor demeaning to those who differ, she is serious about the implications of us getting this right.  She exhorts, “When we get womanhood wrong, we tell a wrong story about Christ’s relationship with His bride. We tell a wrong story about God.” (155)  We need Reissig's experience and voice, as well as her theological foundation.  As she encourages, we need to use our own voices and stand on the solid ground of Biblical doctrine, not private interpretation.  While those of us who claim the title complementarian do not believe that women should preach in a pulpit, I do believe that we preach the Gospel with our lives and in our spheres of influence.  Reissig gives examples of how we can practically live out the Gospel through our giftedness and gender.  She cares about the needs of women, all women.  She has given us an inclusive resource for all Christian women, that can be read individually or in a small group setting.  Whether single or married, a mother or desiring to be a mother, young or young at heart, she has a message for you.  Reissig says, “God’s design is for all women because it is about the God who made us, not about our position in life.” (58)  She also encourages that, “Your womanhood is not reduced to biological function or a marriage license.” (57)

            I married young, have been happy to identify with my husband, and have attempted to follow the Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 example that has been set before me.  I have spoken against feminism within my circle of friends.  I was reminded through this book how much feminism has permeated my own life, even as I argued against it.  I appreciate the gentle way that Reissig handles the topic of submission.  She reminds us, “True Biblical submission actually leads to human flourishing, not withering.” (77)  I have found this to be true in my own life.  There is great joy in my life and marriage when I work with my husband as “friends and equals.” (80)  Reissig also sensitively urges women in abusive relationships to seek help. 

            My favorite part of Reissig’s book is when she placed parsing Greek words in the same paragraph as “the fun stuff.”  It reminded me of Kathy Keller’s famous exhortation at The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference in June 2014.  Kathy Keller said, “I am not saying that you have to sign up for a seminary education, although I recommend that women be as theologically educated as possible; this can only be good for the church.”  

            The true gem of Reissig’s book is that she clearly presents the Gospel throughout and reinforces it at the end.  She says, “The only way we will understand what it means to live fully as His image-bearer is if we know the One whose image we bear.” (160)  As she encourages participation in the local church, building community with believers, and studying God’s word for ourselves, her final plea to all of us is, “hope in God.” (161)

            I highly recommend Courtney Reissig’s book, The Accidental Feminist.  I have included links below to other reviews of this book and interviews with the author.  So, in the words of LeVar Burton, “You don’t have to take my word for it.”

Resources

BUY The Accidental Feminist here:  http://amzn.to/1I5li4M
Crossway: https://www.crossway.org/books/the-accidental-feminist-tpb/

Author Interviewed by Lindsay Swartz of ERLC: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rtw00b_bB0

The Author in her own words: http://www.truewoman.com/?id=3181

Review by Tim Challies: http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-accidental-feminist
Review by Samantha Citty: https://samcitty.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/the-accidental-feminist-book-review/

Review by Megan Hill: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-accidental-feminist 

Works Cited 

Keller, Kathy. "21:23." Taking Action in Light of God's Word. Proc. of The Gospel Coalition Women's Conference 2014, Orlando, FL. The Gospel Coalition, n.d. Web. 03 June 2015. <http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/taking-action-in-light-of-god-s-word>.

copyright June 3, 2015 by *thewifeoflee*