Vineyard Women

Thinking Out Loud: The Cost of Staying Current

by Trish Wright I have to say that one of the best things that has happened to me at the Vine is flat-front pants. It’s true. For years I had been in bondage to high-waisted, pleated-front, tapered leg pants. The reason for this is that high-waisted, pleated-front, tapered leg pants were all the fashion rage when my first child was born. At that point in my life, I entered into a sort of style hibernation that lasted for years, lasted in fact unti... (read post)

Book Review: Georgia On Her Mind

by Margaret Pappoe Yes, there is good Christian chick lit out there. Fiction readers, do check out Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck. Life has pulled a cruel prank on 33 years old Macy Moore! In a matter of hours the fast rising corporate executive tumbles down the ranks of the corporate ladder, AND her presumed altar-bound relationship ends as she is dumped by her wealthy, accomplished boyfriend. Pulled over in her high-speed pursuit of s... (read post)

God Wants You To Be Thin (And Other Lies…)

by Constance Rhodes The other night I was flipping channels and was surprised to come across a broadcast featuring Robert Tilton – the so-called “profit prophet” who was the subject of an ABC Primetime investigation in 1991. Turns out little has changed since then. Wearing the requisite high-dollar pinstriped suit, there was Mr. Tilton, grinning like a Cheshire cat and enthusiastically promoting his new book “Hot to Be rich and Have Every... (read post)

Thinking Out Loud: Canning Christmas

by Trish Wright Did I tell you yet about last year, when I quit Christmas? I did. I just totally threw in the towel on Christmas. For those parties I couldn’t get out of, I went kicking and screaming. I didn’t bake any cut-out cookies. I sacked stocking stuffers. I deliberately showed up to our DC party without a white elephant gift, just to be ornery. In my very postmodern and retrospective analysis of my psyche with regard to Christmas, I liken it to t... (read post)

Life Lessons: Real Relationships

by Kim Baskin All my life I’ve looked for women to bond with, learn from, and love. You know, real relationships, not just superficial ones. Usually I find someone who I work with, or someone I am related to, or even someone at church. It’s wonderful when God shows you just who should be in your life. My mother was killed when I was only 9 years old and I really felt like I was cheated. I felt I hadn’t had the chance to have her be my te... (read post)

Book Review: The Journey of Desire

by Nikki Riffey If you are looking for a fantastic read, get ready to delve into “The Journey of Desire: Searching for the Life We’ve Only Dreamed Of,” by John Eldridge. This book is the sequel to “The Sacred Romance,” by Brent Curtis and John Eldridge. I read the book out of sequence, but I wasn’t confused nor did it hinder my reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I’ve read several of his works and it is very apparent that... (read post)

The Retreat was AMAZING!

On the back side of the retreat, which has since come and gone, I see already the effects of our 2006 Women’s Retreat. As it says here on the Women’s Site, we were “Connecting Generations ~ Connecting Lives”, and even more so, Jesus was connecting with each of us. As I’ve pondered the retreat: the excellent teachings by the invited speakers, the Spirit-filled worship and the prayer ministry where women were transpare... (read post)

The Weight of My Worth

One woman’s journey with anorexia. by Renee Ratcliffe Oftentimes I’m still embarrassed to have struggled with an eating disorder. I thought anorexia only happened to teens—I was in my mid-twenties with a great husband, steady career, and strong Christian faith. Looking back, I recognize I had many traits of a typical anorexic. I was compulsive, a perfectionist, and a people-pleaser. As a special education teacher for severely disabled c... (read post)