My Wife. A Proverbs 31 Paraphrase

I had the privilege today of reading Proverbs 31 in my Bible reading plan from youversion.com.  In this chapter it describes an excellent wife...and it describes my wife Jenn.  Here is my paraphrase of Proverbs 31:10-31

My wife is excellent.
She is far more precious than jewels.
As her husband my heart trusts in her,
and I will have no lack of gain.
She does me good and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She is productive and creative,
and she makes great sandwiches :)
She goes out of her way to provide
nurture and care for the household
Her strength comes from the Lord
and she seeks Him daily.
She is compassionate and longs
to do all she can for the helpless.
She is not afraid of the "what might be"
because she has seen the miracles of yesterday.
Strength and dignity are he clothing
She laughs at the time to come
She opens her mouth with wisdom
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks wel to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

Jenn,
Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

My wife, is an excellent woman.

Confessions of a Portland Church Planter

Church planting is considered by many to be an insane calling.  In fact 8 out of 10 church plants fail within two years.  Lesson?  Be called, be humble, and repent - a lot.  We'll save the "calling" and "humble" posts for another time - this is all about repentance.

So - I've decided to start a blog series called "Confessions of a Portland Church Planter" to prepare me to be a useful instrument for God to use in the city of Portland as we prepare to launch hopecity church in 2011.

Confession #1.  I've lived in the city of Portland for almost 11 years, and I have yet to have a Voodoo Doughnut.  It's simply unacceptable and borderline sinful to call yourself a local and yet not know the world famous creative flavors of what some people liken to heaven on earth.

Not only is this a confessional...but it's a promise as well.  By next Friday, I will have done due diligence and allowed my tastebuds to partake in what is long overdue.  The only question is...which Voodoo shall I choose?

Here are a few options...

• Grape Ape: (raised doughnut with vanilla frosting and grape powder)
• Dirt: (raised doughnut covered with vanilla glaze and oreo cookies)
• Arnold Palmer: (cake doughnut covered with lemon and tea powder)
• Butter Fingering: (Devils food, vanilla, and crushed Butterfinger)
• Neapolitan: (chocolate doughnut with vanilla frosting and strawberry quick powder)
• Triple Chocolate Penetration: (chocolate doughnut, chocolate glaze, and cocoa-puffs)
• Voodoo Doughnut: (voodoo doll doughnut)
• Dirty Snowball: (chocolate cake doughnut covered with pink marshmallow glaze and surprise filling)
• The Memphis Mafia: (chocolate chips/banana/ peanutbutter/glaze big!)
• Portland Creme: (raised doughnut filled with creme and covered in chocolate with two eyes)
• Nyquil Glazed and pepto-bismol (currently on hold)
• VEGAN: (thats right, vegan doughnuts! assorted flavors, come in and eat many)

Ok, Portland purists!!! Help me out.  Text me, facebook me, give me a tweet, or simply reply here.  What is your favorite VOODOO?  May I bear the fruit of repentance this next week.