Dimensions
Join J. Anthony and Tiffany Gilbert as they discuss current events and give biblical commentary to help educate, encourage, and elevate your faith.
Dimensions
Women In Ministry; Sex and Dating; Appropriate Dress For Christians; w/ Guest Marcia Jones-Washington
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Marcia Jones-Washington shares her journey of founding the PA Women of Chaplaincy and pursuing higher education in her 50s, proving age is no barrier to following God's calling in ministry.
• Marcia earned her bachelor's degree at 50 and master's degree at 55, demonstrating it's never too late to pursue education
• The PA Women of Chaplaincy provides a safe space for female chaplains to discuss unique challenges in their field
• Dating and marriage require establishing boundaries that honor God's design and keep judgment unclouded
• Modesty in dress reflects our identity as ambassadors of Christ across all settings, not just in church
• Healthy marriages require intentional date nights and viewing challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth
• The PA Women of Chaplaincy will host its third annual conference on September 13th at Geneva College
Join us for the upcoming Voices for the Unborn fifth annual gala on August 16th at Duquesne Power Center. Email admin@elwcc.org for more information on sponsoring a table or volunteering.
Well, welcome everybody back to another edition of Dimensions. I'm Jay Anthony Gilbert, alongside my beautiful wife, pastor Tiffany, and we are so excited that you have tuned in for us. We've got a great show. But before we do, as always, take a minute right now to like, subscribe, follow and share. Let everybody know that you are a Dimensions follower and listen. Don't forget also to go to whatever podcast platform you use and download and become the latest addition to the Dimensions family, and you can get us on any podcast platform. It doesn't matter if it's iHeartRadio, it doesn't matter whether it's on your Apple or Android store, wherever it is. We are everywhere. So go and take a minute, download that, but don't forget also to like, subscribe, follow and share. Let everybody know that you're enjoying what it is that we're doing here on dimensions yeah, we are back we're back, we're back, we're back, and it's summer, we gotta stay back too.
Speaker 2:We, we gotta stay, we have to stay back, but it's summertime, we're enjoying the weather. I hope you are too, but it's supposed to rain for a little bit, like for a long time I'm gonna be good for listen y'all.
Speaker 1:I had to do some rototilling, and we have. I didn't realize how much clay there was in pennsylvania, man. See, I'm from new york man, where we have real soil out here it's like concrete and I had to break all that stuff up. So a little rain is gonna help our our new grass pad. But I get it though. I mean it's been a while.
Speaker 2:And we actually had a little, some little friends at our front door.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Yeah, you can tell that story, I will.
Speaker 2:I don't know if anybody has had. It was the most interesting thing. I wanted to exchange my wreath out, and so I said, oh, I have a brand new wreath that I want to put in. And so I got my wreath and I took my. I went to take my old wreath off of the door and I, you know, I was walking and I went into the garage, all of a sudden I heard these little like bird noises, these little chirps, and I'm like, where in the world is this coming from? Well, right when I set down the wreath, I looked down and there's literally a nest full of little baby. I mean, these babies were just born. I mean they just they had just baby chicks.
Speaker 2:they had skin and I was just I didn't know what to do. So what did they? Just, they had just baby chicks, baby chicks. They had skin and I was just, I didn't know what to do. So what, what did we do, babe? We put them on that wall, Can I tell?
Speaker 1:the one I did.
Speaker 2:So, listen, everybody, this is what I did, this is what my, my hubby made me do. Okay, so we moved. We moved the, the bird, the, the wreath with the nest in it. We moved it like to the porch area so I could put my new wreath up. And I said, well, you know what? They're still intact, they're going to live, they're going to be alive. Well, it was interesting. I didn't know this. The mom kept flying to the new wreath, flying back to the new wreath and then flying away, and I didn't realize. She didn't even see where they were. So I said, babe, I said go put the wreath up. Go put the wreath back up, the old one with the birds in it. What did you tell me?
Speaker 1:I told you yes, ma'am, I'll go do that right now.
Speaker 2:Go ahead and do it. He did not.
Speaker 1:See trying to throw me under the bus. He said you do it, go do it, and so well this is the reason why there's a long story behind, but I'm not going to get into it now because time would fail us to be able to do that, but uh I'm not going to know all of it about when she set the house on fire, so I'm not going to go into all of that.
Speaker 1:I'm not going to go into all that there, but that's a whole another story. So I was. I'm the better person to do the lookout, I got her back. She will leave me hanging y'all. I'd be out there fighting birds and bats and everything else. No, I don't think so. She'd be in the house ducking.
Speaker 2:So I didn't want to do that. Nevertheless, here's the.
Speaker 1:That's why it's good to have both sides of the pancake.
Speaker 2:Well, here's the end. You want to know the end? Here's the end. The end is that all the birds they lived. We put. I put the wreath back up the old wreath. So I didn't leave the old wreath up for a little bit, I put the old wreath back up on the nest. I wish I had pictures that we could show them. But um, put the old wreath up and then one day they, everybody, flew, the, they flew the coop, so flew the coop they lived, they survived, mom fed them, and they're all flying somewhere else, so we managed to to nurse them.
Speaker 1:We did so before we get into everything. Why don't you tell everybody, give them an update on what's going on with VFTU?
Speaker 2:Yeah well, we're really excited. You know, God's been so good with Voices for the Unborn. We are knocking literally on the door of saving 60 babies, 60 lives that may not have been here, full of purpose and giftings and talents and destiny. So we're really excited about that and proud of that and honored I should say really honored is the key word here that God used us and using us, along with the others that have partnered with us in this ministry. But we have some exciting news to share with you, some updates. Many of you may or may not know that we have been praying for a nurse, and the right nurse, because our desire is to go fully medical, and so we have found the nurse. Where's the applause? Do I get an applause?
Speaker 1:No, I don't have one of those yet, not today, okay.
Speaker 2:All right, no applause, so he'll be my applause for the evening. But it's really such a blessing that we have found the right nurse and so we are transitioning into becoming a full blown medical center. Our store, which is right across the street, our material assistance store, is doing extremely well. We just had an event for the moms and all we did everybody we just blessed them. It was amazing.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 2:We just blessed them. We blessed them with food and it was great because they were able to fellowship and conversate with other moms that were in that particular position at one point, and now we've been in it for a few years. So it's really cool, babe, because some of the what were babies are now toddlers and now they're in there playing with each other.
Speaker 2:That's awesome, you know what I mean Playing around and they're talking and all that stuff. So, coming up though and this is where I need your help Coming up, we have our. It's our fifth annual gala, correct? Fifth annual gala, and it's going to be August 16th at the Duquesne Power Center on Duquesne University's campus, of course, and, if you are interested, we want every year it gets better and better, and we don't have any. We believe it's going to be better this year than it was last year, and so you might say, okay, well, how can I help? You know, how can I link arms? How can I partner?
Speaker 2:Well, a couple of ways that you can partner. You can sponsor a table. That table would be a thousand dollars to sponsor. You could come and volunteer. You could pray. We need prayer. Prayer is so important as we move forward and do kingdom here on this earth and really focus in on what's on God's heart, one of the things that's really close to God's heart. So, if you could come, if you are interested, all you have to do is email, email admin at elwccorg. Again, that's admin at elwccorg. Come on, join in. We'll have a phenomenal speaker. It's really everybody that's come there. Babe has really said not only has it been a good event, but you can feel the presence of God there.
Speaker 2:You can just really feel the presence of God there, so come on.
Speaker 1:August 16th. If you want more information, go to admin at elwccorg and come and join with us. You'll hear more about that as we get closer to it, but tonight we're real excited because we've got a couple of things that we're going to get into. We're going to be talking about women in ministry.
Speaker 3:Hallelujah.
Speaker 1:We're going to be talking about women in ministry. Hallelujah, we're going to be talking about you can be in your 50s, 60s and 70s and start a brand new ministry. Go back to school. We have somebody real special that's coming on in just a moment. It's going to be talking about that. I mean, there's so many things that are happening in the world today. Like I said, we want to talk about the riots that are going on right now and what's been happening, so that's going to be coming up as well. So you want to stick around, but, once again, take a minute. Don't forget like, subscribe, follow, share. Take a minute right now. Share this to your page. The other people know that dementia is in town. Women in ministry is a big, big topic. So we've got a great woman that's coming on that we are getting to know and just so appreciate all that she's doing, and so I'm going to let Pastor Tiff go ahead and bring her on and give her an official introduction to Dimensions.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know what. I just want to give some background information, because she's a phenomenal woman of God. She's accomplished a lot throughout her year, so just some highlights. She founded the PA Women of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care and serves as the facilitator for its monthly online meetings. She has her BS degree in community ministry from Geneva College.
Speaker 2:I don't know if any of you are Geneva College alums, which is located in Beaver Falls, pennsylvania, and then she received her master's degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University of Chicago, and this is what I love here too. I mean, all these are great. But she has been married okay, everybody to her best friend, anthony for 31 years, and I want to know when I bring her on, I want to know how did she maintain that type of best friend relationship for 31 years? So, miss Marsha Washington, come on in join us. It's so good to have you with us.
Speaker 3:It's such a blessing to be here. Thank you, thank you to be here.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you. So tell us, I really want to know. You know I'm kind of you know, kind of undercover, getting some pointers from you for 31 years. We're about halfway there, okay. So we're not there all the way yet. So tell me just a little bit before we kind of dive into everything else. I'm just curious how did you maintain Because you know you just didn't say okay, I've been married to him for 31 years. It's like that's my best friend, bestie. My bestie.
Speaker 1:My BFF.
Speaker 2:That's right. So tell me, I mean, what's the key? What's the key to having a best friend of 31 years?
Speaker 3:Wow, I hope this answer won't let you down, but I'm not sure I felt like he was my best friend the whole 31 years. There's been those moments where it was like, oh boy, you know, can we, can we make it here? But yeah, before a good part of the marriage, and we did start out as friends too. I think that's important. We started out as friends and, yeah, and I just think you know, a lot of prayer has been necessary, a lot of understanding and just realizing that you know we're all flawed human beings, you know, and so I think you know. Really, one of my thoughts is too I think everybody comes into a marriage with their own brand of crazy.
Speaker 3:And so it's a matter of connecting with that person where you know you can work them out together.
Speaker 2:I think Pastor Jay has a little bit more crazy than I do. I'm just saying, I'm just putting it out there. I think he has a lot more crazy than I do.
Speaker 1:Ms Marsha, you know what I'm going to do. I'm going to show the character of Christ and I'm going to be meek in this moment.
Speaker 3:There you go.
Speaker 1:A soft answer turneth away crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, what about the wrath? You put wrath. I'm crazy for wrath, so, but go on, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Go on, that's good though. No, that's good though.
Speaker 3:No, that's all I was saying. I think it just takes understanding and, like I said, realizing that you're both flawed individuals and just working things out together.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know it's funny, Marsha. I was talking to a person today and they haven't been married very long and they're already talking about the possibility Like I don't know if I want to do this anymore. And I said, listen, we've all been there. Anybody that says they've never felt like throwing in the towel is probably I'm not going to say definitely, probably got a lying spirit, because everybody's dealt with something, and I like what you said too.
Speaker 1:Everybody brings some form of dysfunction into the relationship. Everybody has baggage in their life, things that they've been through, whether it's been in relationship, whether it's in their personal life, whether it's their own personal proclivities and struggles, whatever it is that it might be. We all have something that we need to work on and I love what you said about that. We all have something, and it's being patient, showing the love of God. And I am firmly convinced that God did not make marriage to make you happy. He did it to make you holy, and many things that you can't change in your spouse, God uses as a buffer to try to change you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's so true, that is so true. Well, go ahead.
Speaker 3:I'm just going to add and I think the thing is too people forget, or maybe they don't hear that much about anymore Marriage is meant to be a covenant relationship. And I even the thing is too people forget, or maybe they don't hear that much about it anymore Marriage is meant to be a covenant relationship, and I even had posted that on LinkedIn. Someone had posted something about marriage and I said it's meant to be a covenant relationship, not a temporary one. And now you know people, it seems they almost see it more as temporary or just disposable. Oh, we can always get a divorce. Why are you even considering that as an option?
Speaker 1:You know so anyway, let me give you said temporary, which I agree, or contractual, I'll do my part. If I get what I want back, it's transactional. And if you have a transactional relationship, it will be temporary, because you're going to let each other down, you're going to fall short. But that's where that agape has got to kick in. There's got to be that agape love that works back and forth. There are times that I don't deserve my wife's love but she is required to give it to me. There's times she doesn't deserve my love but I'm required to give it to her.
Speaker 1:And I love what you said about that covenant that has been so lost because nowadays, if you think about it, everybody's got a way to get out. Nowadays I mean, think about it you go anywhere. They're like no contracts, no commitment, no this, it doesn't matter whether you're getting a phone line, it doesn't matter anything. People don't want to be committed to anything dealing with church. I don't want anything that's locking me down, because if I want to get out, if I want to get free, I can go about my business and I don't have to be held down by anyone or anything.
Speaker 1:And I'm a firm believer and you know. I'd love to hear your take on this. I believe that many times, in being rooted in something that is uncomfortable, god will use that many a times to develop the fruit in our lives, because I believe that your fruit is determined by your root, and many people don't stay rooted long enough when things get difficult to see the production of what God is trying to work out in their lives, because they uproot and move to the next thing. What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I would have to say you know that that's likely true and I can even recall a situation. True, and I can even recall a situation. I forget how long Tony and I have been married at this point, maybe no more than three or four years. But he had lost his job and meanwhile I had started working a couple jobs. But I remember at some point I was thinking, maybe I'll just tell him he had been before we were married. He had been living with his sister and I was like, maybe I'll just tell him he should go back and live with his sister for a while. I'll go live with my mom for a while and we'll just try to come back together later. But as I was even just having that thought, it was like the Lord asked me where was that in your marriage vows?
Speaker 3:And I was like oh man, you know it's for better or for worse, you know richer for poor. And I was like oh, I guess I can't make that suggestion, you know, and yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:What's next?
Speaker 2:Well, I wish we could stay. This is like good.
Speaker 1:We can all come back to it.
Speaker 2:This is great. I think there's a lot of. You know what, ms Marsha? I think there's a lot of couples that need it. You know, I think to your point. You know, back in the day it was like no, we stay together, no matter what happens, we stay together. And then you know, now, present day it is, it's like well, I'm out, you don't do, or you don't make me feel the way that I want to feel. You don't do what I want you to do. Then see you later, I'm done, but this is good.
Speaker 2:I'd love to kind of go back, maybe at some point to that, whether it's now or another day. But I want to move on to something that we always like to do. That's customary for us on Dimensions is would you rather, are you willing to kind of have some fun with us? Yes, yes, okay, All right, all right, would you rather? Let's start here. So the first question is would you rather have seven years of famine with no plagues or 10 years of plagues? But listen, you have plenty of food, you have all the food that you want.
Speaker 3:Which one would you pick? Which one would you pick? I have to go with the famine. I don't like any type of plague. I don't like the sound of the plagues. I remember the biblical plagues, right, no?
Speaker 2:All those plagues. There's a lot that comes with those plagues. But, Ms Russell, what are you going to eat?
Speaker 3:I know, I know, I'll just you know, hold up or laugh as long as you can.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you can have locusts, a locust and wild honey, like John the Baptist, you can do that, all right. Hey, what would you do?
Speaker 1:I'm taking the food I'm always curious.
Speaker 2:You're taking the food. Well, let me say this.
Speaker 1:I'm going to add my own little thing. She said would you rather have seven years of famine with no plagues, or 10 years of pl? If there's lights in Egypt, there ain't none in my house. If there's darkness in Egypt, it's bright in my house. That's right. That's right. I'm a Goshenite y'all. But no, honestly, to stay true to the game, I want food. I want food Because you know, I mean the plagues and all that. It's almost like David. When God gave him those three different things, he said well, do you want yourilence or do you want? There's one other thing I can't remember what it was, or run from your enemies, or something like that. I can't remember what it was, but he gave him three things. He said you know what? I'm going to turn my hands over to the Lord. So I would rather take the food and trust God to deliver me from the plagues. But I guess you'd go the other way around too. I have the living Gosha.
Speaker 2:There we go. All right, all right, so that was good. So next question is would you rather see a 12 year old Jesus preaching at the temple or an adult Jesus flipping all those tables at the temple?
Speaker 3:Oh, Wow, I think I would like to see that 12-year-old Jesus.
Speaker 2:I thought that too. So why? What made you think you know the younger Jesus?
Speaker 3:Well, you don't hear a lot about him at that age. I mean that's, you know one story and you know, of course, when his parents you know Mary and Joseph go off and they come back and find him. You know that's where they find him. But yeah, I would just like to hear, you know, see and hear him at that age. I think that would be very interesting and you know, the elder is even marveling at him and wondering wow, where did he get this knowledge from At 12. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, at 12. That's good. What about you?
Speaker 1:At 12. Yeah, yeah at 12. That's good. What about? You See, I'm going to go with the other one. Really, there's a reason why.
Speaker 1:Because we see a lot of things with Jesus, you know, being nice and all that. I want to see Jesus flipping the script, I ain't going to lie. I want to see him saying you know, I'm tired of you. Jesus took his belt off, right there. He took his belt, whipping the place. I'm like I'd like to see, like what happened that he got so upset in the temple, yeah, and like nobody messed with him either. So there was something about him at that point where the hood came out. You know what I mean. The hood came out, he was ready to flex. I mean. So I, you know, you see Jesus being nice, compassionate. You see him forgiving everybody, working miracles. But that's the only place in Scripture you see him saying, hey, I had enough.
Speaker 1:And so I would like to witness that, because I would just like to see what his, and then I want to know what it was like afterwards when you went and had dinner. You know what happened after all of that. He sat down with the disciples. I'm sure the disciples were like yo.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean you alright, I was like yo you all right, because they're probably wondering. They've never seen him like that. It's the only place in scripture that you see Jesus, divinity and humanity both acting at the same time. But, you know, in a place of anger righteous anger, so I would like to see that.
Speaker 2:That's good.
Speaker 3:That's good Last question Would you rather sit at the feet of Jesus while he teaches or prepare the last supper for?
Speaker 2:Jesus and the disciples. Oh, that's a tough one, isn't it I?
Speaker 3:know I'd probably go with the sit at the feet of Jesus, though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you've that Mary going on there. Yes, okay, okay, good, good. Is there a particular reason? I always like to hear the reasons why. Is there a particular reason why you know you're choosing the feet opposed to preparing and serving at the Last Supper at the Last Supper.
Speaker 3:Just to me there is that, you know, kind of that intimacy and also just that wanting to be in his presence in that way to just hear whatever he has to say and gain that knowledge and, you know, hear the wisdom that he has to share. But I just just that connection of being at his feet. I would have to go with that one.
Speaker 2:I love that. That's probably, if you ask me, that's what I would do. I'm a. I'm a merry person anyway by each I'm like. Just let me sit at the Lord's feet. Everybody, leave me alone, Don't ask me anything, Just let me sit at his feet.
Speaker 1:That's all I want to do. What would you do? You know I'm going to go out of the way as well. The reason why I would go there is because I would love to have been a part of what happened when Jesus changed the old covenant, because at that point he was saying you're not going to fulfill the last.
Speaker 1:That's why it was called the last supper. Because now he said I'm showing you a new way, this is my body, and people don't realize I've shared this so many times, no matter where I've gone that people think it's all nice and cute right now. But you got to remember he was changing up a paradigm that had been in action for thousands of years and all of a sudden now he's saying listen, you're not going to do the Passover like you used to. Now you're going to do the Lord's table, you're going to have the Lord's supper. So he went from the last supper to the Lord's supper and being in the middle of that transition Because I'm sure a lot of those disciples were probably like this guy I mean, what is he doing now?
Speaker 2:I mean they don't understand.
Speaker 1:That meant they were going to have to leave their families. There's a lot of things that went along with that, so I'd have loved to been the lamb and breaking the bread and the juice and all that, and serving up like oh man, I'm taking notes.
Speaker 2:And then you're listening. I've been listening to everything. That's right, that's good. Well, thank you so much for playing with us here. We so enjoyed this time, and it gives us an opportunity to know you as well. Well, let's move on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's jump in this Listen. We always like to know from different people.
Speaker 3:I would love to go back into marriage and all that, but I also know there's some things that you want to talk about in ministry and time will fail us, but let's jump into. How did you come to Jesus Christ? What was your conversion like? Wow? Well, that's a whole story right there. How I came to Christ. Well, first of all, I'm one of those I did grow up in the church, meaning you know my mom growing up. I was in church with her every Sunday, our local, you know, baptist church. But I was one of those that at around 18, well, even before 18, started thinking, oh, I can't wait until I graduate high school so I can see how the other half lives. You know, I wanted to know how the partying crowd and the other half lived. And so, yeah, I did all that and paid some consequences for finding out how the?
Speaker 3:other half lived. And then at around 30, it was a week before my 30th birthday there was a friend of mine who we had met when I was around 15, 16, but he had went off to California and everything. And he came back and he was one of those that when he connected with me and I'm like, oh, wow, it's great to see you're back. And I'm like, let's go out for a drink. And he was like, oh, wow, it's great to see you're back. And I'm like, let's go out for a drink. And he was like, oh, no, I don't do that anymore, I've gotten saved. And I was like, oh, and I'm like, well, I can go out and I'll have a drink and you can just have whatever you want. And so we did that.
Speaker 3:And then he kept asking me about going to church. He was like, oh, I think there's this church in Wilkinsburg. I think you would really like it. And I'm like, yeah, I don't think so. But he was persistent and so finally, it was like the week before my 30th birthday, but I thought, okay, I'm going to just go this one time so I can get him off my back about this. And the church was Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and I have now been there for like 35 years after that one visit where.
Speaker 2:I said I was just going to get this friend off my back. Wow, Isn't that something how you think it's going to go one way and you think it's. You think it's going to go one way, you have an idea of what you want, but God has a whole nother way and a whole nother thought of what he wants to do with that. So you know, I just want to say this so with Covenant. So that's where I was for a while, but I don't remember. Do you remember me there, remember?
Speaker 3:me there, because I don't remember I remember more, your dad and I knew there was, you know, like he, you know, had a few children that I would see with him Because, you know, at that time the pastor would call him up for, you know, maybe to you know, share something with us. And so I just remembered hearing his name, but, and, like I said, I knew that he had, you know, share something with us. And so I just remembered hearing his name, but and, like I said, I knew that he had, uh, you know, a few children, but I don't remember, like specifically, you know, and that would have been much, you know, much older than you.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, well, you know it was. It wasn't uncommon for you to go to church and not see everybody. You know, you know what I mean. Somebody would be over there, Somebody would be over there. Well, that's good, you know. Thank you for sharing that. You know you mentioned or we kind of alluded to it earlier about how you and I think this is phenomenal you got your bachelor's degree at 50 and then you got your. If I have it correct, you graduated at 55. Is that correct?
Speaker 3:Well, I went back to school, you know, to Geneva, at 50. I had a couple of courses to finish up to get my bachelor's. So I was probably a little over 50 by the time I did that. But then I felt like the Lord was telling me to go on, like continue on, and I'm like, oh you know, what else am I going to do? Because I knew my bachelor's was in a community ministry and it's like I don't feel I'm called to be a pastor. So I don't know. But yeah, then I went on to Loyola University, Chicago, and pursued getting my master's degree in pastoral studies. I was around 55 when I graduated with that.
Speaker 2:You know what I love about that, though. There's people that are watching right now, and if you're watching right now, you're thinking you know what? I've always wanted to go back to school. I've always wanted to. Maybe whether it's your bachelor's degree, whether it's your master's degree, whatever it may be. You know, I love what you know. You shared this, marsha, because what that shows, is it so easy? It kind of fits I think it's asynchronous learning, I think that's what it's called where it kind of fits around in your schedule. So I think that's amazing. Did you have any setbacks, whether it be, you know, physical setbacks, emotional setbacks, things that would have, you know, prompted you to think? You know, I don't know if I'm going to continue, and how did you deal with them if you did, or did you just have? You know what? I have it in my mind I'm going to go, and I'm going to go until I finish.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there were probably, you know, a couple different challenges. I know again, I was 50 when I went back to Geneva or started going back there to get my finish up a couple of classes. But I'm just saying I was adopted, and so my parents that adopted me were like already 50 when they adopted me. So my mom, at this point she was in her 80s. Well, no, I must be getting something incorrect here, but I was going to say, around her 80s she started having different physical challenges, like she would have falls or nosebleeds, and so I just, I do know that while I was in school, you know, there were still, you know, being somewhat of a caregiver for her. She didn't live in our home but still going to check on her more often, making sure she was okay, and so there were things like that.
Speaker 3:And also, when I went on to Loyola University, I think the big soon realized they, they're thinking or some of their doctrine or beliefs were different than what I, you know, was accustomed to, and so that was an adjustment. And sometimes I was saying to my husband, you know, I don't know, I think I picked the wrong school or I'm not sure. You know, this is where I'm supposed to be and he's like no God has you there for a reason. So you know.
Speaker 2:Amen. Well, you know what? The reason why I asked that too is because you know, a lot of times people and I have been there too where you hit setbacks, you're on. You know you're doing what you have been called to do, but you hit these setbacks in life and a lot of times these setbacks are really meant to stop you. They're really demonic in nature. They're really meant to stop you from moving forward, and sometimes people succumb to that. Sometimes people say you know what I wasn't, you know I wasn't banking on all of this. You know I'm done, but when you are sharing that, you're sharing about the setbacks, you're sharing about the challenges. But I love the fact that you're sharing the setbacks, you're sharing the challenges, but you're also sharing that, hey, even with that, you can complete, you can be successful, you can do whatever it is that God has called you to do, even with the setbacks. And I think even with the setbacks, you become. If you allow it and you allow God to do it in your life, you become stronger, and I think that's amazing.
Speaker 2:One of the things I do want to ask you is and I think this is I really want to know, this is why did you want to go in ministry Because ministry is not for the faint of heart. Did you want to go in ministry? Because ministry is not for the faint of heart? You know what was in your heart? Because I think you in your bio you shared that you always. You know, when you thought about when you grew up, you wanted to go in ministry. Why was that for you?
Speaker 1:Well, not even just that. You started, you went back to school at 50 and then you started going in ministry and you're close to 60, start a ministry and things. So I mean, you know a lot of people are shutting it down. You're just revving up. What's going on with that?
Speaker 3:Well, for one, I'm one of those people that I don't think a lot about in terms of age I'm too old to do this or too old to do that, I don't know. I just feel like, as long as the Lord has us here, you know, as long as we're on the planet, there has a purpose for us and there are things that he has assigned for us to do, and so for me, it's more a matter of you know, just prayerfully seeking the Lord, and if I feel like he's calling me to go in a certain direction or assigning me to do a certain thing, it's like okay, lord, as long as you make a way, as long as you make a way, then I'm going to go forward with it.
Speaker 3:But, yeah, so that's pretty much my way of thinking, instead of the age thing. And again, my parents when they adopted me yeah, so that's pretty much my way of thinking, instead of the age thing. And again, my parents when they adopted me, they were already 50. And so, yeah, I just don't consider age too much of a factor when I feel the Lord is calling me to do something.
Speaker 2:And we shouldn't. I think that's a great point. And we shouldn't Whenever God calls you to do something, just go for it. You know we have found that, even when you know, even with the pregnancy center. You know, when God called us we didn't. We know ministry, but that's a whole different type of ministry. But when he spoke to both of us we said you know what we're just going to go, and it was amazing. As we launched out Marsha, god met every single need. Every single need was met. I mean he went above and beyond. I mean people came that we didn't even know. Can I help you? Can we link arms with you? We want to do this, we want to volunteer. How can we help push this kingdom agenda on earth? So I just think to your point. No, it's not about an age, it's not about a number, it's about being obedient and moving forward.
Speaker 1:And not just about age. I think there are two major hurdles that maybe you've known this, maybe you haven't. You cleared the age hurdle, which a lot of people would say, okay, you can't do that, but you also cleared the gender hurdle as well. You were willing to. A lot of people don't think women should be in ministry. They don't believe women can be pastors, they don't believe women can be chaplains. A lot of people are like women need to just kind of sit back. I'm not one of those people. We're not one of those people. We believe God anoints men and women to be in the pulpit, to preach, to start ministries, to lead. We believe in that gender equality when it comes to salary and all of those types of things. And so what are your thoughts on? I mean, you know, because you've also you've been in ministry and in church for quite a few years, so you know all the different things going on what made you feel that not only could you jump the hurdle with age, but also with gender and women being in ministry?
Speaker 3:Well, I think it helped that I was in a church where I mean Pastor Barbara having a church, she would get up and speak and you know, I just saw growing up that women were involved with church ministry and even though sometimes, you know, growing up, like I said, I'm a Baptist church, so the women had, you know, there were more the deaconesses, the nurses in the church. But yeah, I just, and with chaplaincy, that's the thing I didn't really think in terms of the gender issue and you know I'm thinking that maybe I'll just be one of the few women out there.
Speaker 3:I just felt in my heart that was something for me to pursue and it wasn't until I was in chaplaincy that I began to look around and think, wow, I'm not running into too many other female chaplains or encountering too many other women chaplains, and so you know that that led me to later, you know, have this ministry for women in chaplaincy and pastoral care, and so now a group of us monthly we, you know meet online. But yeah, and that's just to give us a space to share different views on various subjects that surround women in chaplaincy and just, you know, issues at large that we want to communicate about.
Speaker 2:You know that's so good. And speaking of women and chaplaincy, can you tell us a little bit about the PA Women of Chaplaincy Ministry that you founded and what's going on? What's new? What's happening?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, like I said, it was created to give women a safe space to share, those that are in chaplaincy and pastoral care and this entering. Well, this will be the third year in July. It'll be the third year that that was since it's been started, and so, again, a number of us meet monthly online, but also hey Marcia, can I stop you real quick?
Speaker 1:You said a safe place. Why is that needed? I don't want to just gloss over that, that's good.
Speaker 3:I just feel like sometimes with women when we get together, and I just feel like sometimes with women when we get together, we can open up about different things that we might not open up about or share when there's, let's say, mixed company. I mean, since this group has started, you know some of us have shared about, you know, miscarriages, or we've shared about one of the, and every month there's like a different topic.
Speaker 3:So one of the topics was you know what to wear and we talked about what is acceptable for us to wear as women in chaplains, either it should always be like more of a suit type thing or you know what's acceptable, and so we cover different topics and different things come out.
Speaker 2:So with that, because we talk about that a lot and I'm so glad that you mentioned that, because you can't assume that everybody knows, because everybody doesn't know.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean and I think you know we are in a day and age, I think, where you know again, back in the day, you know it was modesty, you know people really honored one another, honored the church in their dress. Now, it's not uncommon, not for everybody, but it's not uncommon, I think, for women, since we're talking about women in, you know, in pastors and you know, in that area, I'm sure there's been times where there's women that have worn maybe the skirt was a little too high, the top was a little too tight, and maybe this is the thing, though Maybe they weren't even aware, it wasn't on purpose, it wasn't meant to do anything other than be clothing, but they just were not aware. How do you approach, I mean, have you seen that? And how do you approach women that are? You know, they're in their pastors, they have that role and responsibility, but yet their dress may be provocative even.
Speaker 1:Well, any type of like appropriate dress for the platform. You know, what are your views on that and what do you feel like to Pastor Tiff's point?
Speaker 3:What do you think should be done? What should we be wearing or not wearing? How do you address that? That you're comfortable in for one and you want to? You know it's always a thing of what kind of message maybe am I sending out. But I've never personally approached anyone about how they were dressed, because, especially I feel like in certain instances you need to have a relationship with that person or, you know, feel like you have that freedom to voice your thoughts about what they're wearing and you know some maybe will pray about, maybe someone else that knows them will say something. But yeah, we just like with chappas, you know it feels important to be comfortable.
Speaker 3:And again, just what kind of message are you sending out with what you're wearing? Or, you know, those are my thoughts about it. But I have to say too, as a chaplain, when I was a hospice chaplain, I was out there going into different, you know, in the homes of different people, and sometimes, regardless of what you're wearing, you're going to get that person that will overstep, so to speak, and I had that happen with, you know, an older gentleman that I was sitting with and I had on, you know, slacks, you know suit jacket type thing or blazer jacket, and as we're talking, he was sharing about different things, but he came over like he was going to try to hug me or kiss me and I was like no, no and uh so he wasn't looking for the ministry that you were coming for.
Speaker 1:So you were actually wait a minute. Let me just make sure for all of our listeners out there and viewers right now. You went there to go minister to a guy and went there to show him the love of the Lord, dress completely appropriately and then he tried to put a hit out on you.
Speaker 2:He tried to show his love.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness Wow.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Wow, so it happens. So how did you deal with that? I mean, you can't leave us out there with that. How did you deal with that? What?
Speaker 2:did you do?
Speaker 3:In result. You know, like I said, I just told them no. No, you know, like we're not doing that today and I just pretty much cut the visit somewhat short. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I want to go back to a minute because I talk to me. All right, let's move chaplaincy out of the way. What about dress in the 21st century? It's 2025. People dressing in church, people dressing on the platform Tell me your views on that and whether or not you're on the platform or not or not. How should women be dressed? Yeah?
Speaker 3:Well, again, I think it just goes back to and I'm not sure people in general do ask this question of themselves that much in terms of what is the message that I want to send out? Because now you really have women, you know, sometimes saying nobody should be telling me how to dress, or you know they feel they can wear whatever and you know it's the man's problem if he's going to think a certain way or what have you. But again, maybe I'm old school, but I do go back to looking at yourself or looking at myself and you just you know what's the message I want to send out and I feel like this is not my personal thinking. You can't dress like you want attention and then get upset if you get. You get it. Yeah, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:Go on a preacher, you know, cause that's the thing too. I mean people they always talk about. Well, you know, it's the man's problem and this, that and the third, but I always say it like this uh, marsha, is that, uh, that people receive you, how they perceive you? And you know it's funny, you always mention the word old school. I always like to come back and people to say, well, I don't know if it's old school. If that's the case, the Bible's old school, because it was all written way before all of our times, and so I believe it's not old school, it's just God's word.
Speaker 1:And the reality is, is that a lot of people don't realize if you're putting off sexual, if you're too tight, if you're too, if it's too up guys falling out, or guys that are wearing too tight a pants and your people will they're no longer looking at the Lord and wanting to receive from the anointing. Now they're more looking at either one If they're dealing with a lust issue, they're looking at you and trying to fight that battle. Or number two, they may have to deal with a lust issue, they're looking at you and trying to fight that battle. Or number two, they may have to deal with a lust issue, but they're like I can't even look over there because everything's staring at me in the face and so now they can't even focus on the Lord. And so lots of people go into this thing about liberty and all that. But I look at it like this Jesus could not work many miracles because they saw him as a carpenter. So him as a carpenter. So if his anointing was hindered simply because of a prior profession that he had, how much more will our anointing be hindered If we're projecting things that are sexual in nature, provocative, creating lust?
Speaker 1:Even if a guy has an issue, what makes you have that right to say, okay, I'm going to bleed my brother into sin or sister sometimes it just depends on who it is and say, well, I'm just going to go and do that. We are now violating the law of love, so I'm just going to put it out there. Marsha, I'm one of them. Guys, I don't scratch where I'm not itching, I don't pull back any punches. I believe we are in a day and hour where people need to hear the truth, and it's not just the fact that, yeah, women can wear what they want. They have a right to wear what they want, but the last I found out is that those that live the life of the cross, anybody that has truly picked up their cross, has given up their rights.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, you know, like you're saying, the Bible does speak about dressing modestly and, as you were saying too, why would you want to dress in a provocative type of manner where you're, you know, almost leading someone into sin? So, yeah, those are the things that I think it is important to think about.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, I just want to mention somebody who commented here and she said this is so good. She said, and I think this is so true, oh, come on. Even at the gym.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's too revealing come on savannah even at the beach, I think you have to wherever you go. Great point you have to kind of go deep and say am I honoring god in what I'm wearing? Am I honor, am I representing? We're supposed to be ambassadors of christ wherever we go, so it's am honoring him wherever we go. Am I honoring him in the gym?
Speaker 1:Am.
Speaker 2:I honoring him at the beach? Or do I have this little tiny thaw lawn and nothing is left to your imagination?
Speaker 1:Can you say that on air? Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:You know I can, you know I can, come on, you know I can, but it's the truth though. Yeah, it is, it's the truth. You know what I can't.
Speaker 1:But it's the truth though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is. It's the truth. You know what I mean. So it's not just in the pulpit. You know, like I had a conversation with somebody and I said well, you know, there's certain times where I like to wear leggings, but I'm not going to wear those leggings in the pulpit. There is something where you know there's certain.
Speaker 1:But you can wear them at home.
Speaker 2:But I, but I can wear them at home. You know what I mean and I think so there. I think there's certain places, babe, that give way to certain types of dress. But even in those certain types of places and even in those types of dress, there is still something called honoring God, and we have to really yield to that in everything that we do, whether it's like our watchers said, whether it's at the gym. I mean, sometimes you go to the gym and you're like, oh my goodness, it looks like some people painted stuff on. You know and listen, I am a big advocate for dressing trendy. You can dress fashionable. You don't have to be covered up everybody. That's not what I'm saying. You know the turtleneck and you know nobody can see you. You don't have any makeup on and earrings and things like that. You can dress where you are attractive. There is. That that's okay. You can dress like, but not what would be the word Really, not seductive, I think is really you don't want unworthiness.
Speaker 1:Revealing.
Speaker 2:Attention.
Speaker 1:Revealing.
Speaker 2:Things like that.
Speaker 1:Some people wear stuff that leaves nothing to the imagination.
Speaker 2:Nothing to the imagination, and so can I touch this too, and this might be a little bit crazy, but I'm just going to go here, miss Marsha. But I'm just going to go here, Miss Marsha. I got to go here when I feel like even nowadays with these, you know, junior proms and dances.
Speaker 1:Wow, these girls are going out.
Speaker 2:And I'm like oh my goodness, Is it just me, Is it?
Speaker 1:just me.
Speaker 2:Everybody that's watching, you know, is it just me. Okay, that is looking at these young, young, young girls 16, 17 years old. They have skirts okay on. I mean, and if they bend the wrong way or move the wrong way, I mean honestly, if they sit down, I'm like oh my goodness, they can't sit down.
Speaker 1:Not without revealing everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know what I mean, and these are, this is what these young girls are thinking. That that is, you know, that's how we should be, that's how we should look, and I think a lot of that comes from the media what we see, what we see is beautiful, what we see as attractive, what we see is trendy. You know, and listen, I again, I am all for, I believe that you can be. Um, how would you put it as a man? As a man, what would you say would be? Cause you know you.
Speaker 1:I'll call it. You have to be, you have to have a sanctified sexy.
Speaker 2:There we go. That's what I was going to say.
Speaker 1:I'm going to say it like that you got to have a sanctified sexy. I mean, it's gotta be something where, all right, you're dressed nice, you look good, but it doesn't leave nothing to the imagination. You know, I love what Marsha said. You said something really good about how we dress this way and then when we get, we dress in a way that says we want attention, but then when we get the attention, we act like we don't want to. I think that is so good, because people are. I mean, if you are a young girl 16 or 17, and you wear something that's mid thigh, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, and your, your, your, your cleavage is out and all of these things, I mean you are going. I would say like this if you don't want dogs, then don't give off a scent that says you're in heat. That's right, I'm not trying to preach Ms Marsha, but it's the truth. Am I telling the truth or what Am I telling the truth?
Speaker 2:Ms Marscia. She wasn't ready for all this Welcome to.
Speaker 2:Dimensions. We threw her some firm balls, you know. But I mean, this is real talk, this is real talk to everybody, you know. And then what happens is those young girls, I believe, you know, as they grow up, they realize, okay, if you start out like that at 15, 16 years old, they're going to continue and then it's going to be a bigger ballgame. Then you know what I mean. There's other things that they can get into, not just going to their junior prom or whatever. I mean even then, you know, even at that age, they can get into it, but they're going to outside of an intervention of some sort or them having their own relationship with God and getting revelation. They're just going to keep going.
Speaker 1:Ms Marsha, I heard something I want you to comment and go ahead and take it for a minute. I heard it said like this what you're willing to show, you're saying you're willing to share.
Speaker 3:I haven't heard that, but okay, okay. But I did want to say too, as you're talking about these teen girls and their attire, but I feel like at 15 and 16, they have parents, right, they have a mom and so I feel like it's not so much, don't put the blame on them. I know with me at 15 and 16, my mom still felt she had a say I would leave the house dressed with that's good. When you look at them, you have to still go back and say wow. So her mom thought that was okay or whatever. That's the way I think about it.
Speaker 1:And where are the dads? That's another thing too. You see mom posting these pictures. I'm sorry, I didn't have any daughters, but I've always said this If I was going to have a daughter, her first date was going to be with me. And I was going to say however, dad deals with you, so should that man.
Speaker 2:Right, right.
Speaker 1:You know, if I'm opening the door, he should be opening the door. If I'm telling you how good you look, he should tell you how good he looks. But that's the thing. If dad's not looking for nothing from you, that guy shouldn't be looking anything from you. I believe that men need to model to their daughters, and let me go here, too, as well. You've been married 31 years. Do you guys have children?
Speaker 1:We don't you didn't have any kids. Okay, how important is it, though, just from your perspective, though, that we have young boys we have an 11 and a nine-year-old that they see how I treat her, they see how I love on her, they see how I court her, they see me. They'll come into our bedroom and we're being appropriate, but we're wrapped up and laughing, and they come in the middle and they're sitting there watching us enjoy one another. They see me flirting with her throughout the day. I'm talking to her and making them blush. I'm talking to them, and they need to see that, because then they understand how a relationship is to be developed. So how important, in your estimation, marcia, is for parents, men and women, to model to their children, whether it's dress, how related she should be, whatever it might be? How important is it for them to see a model, or whatever it might be? How?
Speaker 3:important is it for them to see a model? Yeah, I, you know, like I said, tony and I don't have children, but you know, when I pray about families, you know I do pray, that you know with the husband and wife that they show that mutual respect for each other. And you know pray, you know that for children, that they would listen to their parents, you know be respectful and obedient to their parents. I know obey is kind of a not so good word anymore, but that's how it's how I grew up, and that you honor your father and mother, that you honor your father and mother. And so, yeah, with you two, I can see that you have that kind of relationship where there's fun, that you actually like each other.
Speaker 3:I once received that compliment from a co-worker, because my husband had come down to my job at that time and she was like just the little bit of interaction we had and she said, oh, I can tell you, two really like each other. So you know, I think that's important, that you know children in the home do see that there's not only love and respect, but that you like each other. That's right.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 3:That's true.
Speaker 1:So this is so good, you know, I don't know. Is there anything else? I know we kind of got sidetracked, which is what Dimensions is all about. Before we let you go, is there anything else about the chaplaincy, the PA, pa, women of chaplaincy and pastoral care, anything you want to mention concerning that, things that are coming up or anything that you want our viewers to know about how maybe they can get involved with you? Is there anything else?
Speaker 3:you'd like to mention. Yes, I'd like to mention that we are about to have our third conference, the third annual Women of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Conference, coming up on September 13th Saturday, september 13th Pastor Tiffany is going to be our keynote speaker, and so really excited about that because, again, pastor Tiffany, as you and Pastor Jay were saying, when the Lord spoke to you about opening up that pregnancy care center, that it wasn't like you had any big, major funds to launch that or that type of thing, and same with me with the conference, I felt like once I got the group off the ground with this online ministry that the Lord said have a conference, and I'm like okay. And then I started thinking, of course, money, but this is our third year and so, in terms of how the conference is paid for, it's basically people buying tickets to attend or registering to attend. As I said, pastor Tiffany will be the keynote speaker, but a couple other speakers are in chaplaincy.
Speaker 3:The one is Felicia Como and she is the chaplain for the Houston Dash soccer team. She's also the coordinator of chaplains for the WNBA Wow. And we have a local person here that she was with the Foundation of Hope, which coordinated chaplains for the Allegheny County Jail. Coordinated chaplains for the Allegheny County Jail. But this person oh, my, her name just left me, but she has moved on now and she's become the pastor of a church. But I'm just saying it's going to be a really great time. So if you're a woman in chaplaincy and for pastoral care, or if you want to learn more about chaplaincy, you know this is the time to come out and register to attend this event and how do they register and where's it held at?
Speaker 3:Oh, the conference this year is going to be at Geneva College out in Beaver Falls, out at Alexander Hall there. But, yeah, I would love for people to get in touch with me and, oh, they can also visit our website, which is pawomenchaplainsnet. Again, that's pawomenchaplainsnet. You can find out information there. Or, like I said, I would be glad to have people reach out to me.
Speaker 2:Well, that is awesome. You know I am so honored. I want to tell you I'm so honored, you know, by just being there in September with all of you. And I believe this, ms Marshall, without a shadow of a doubt. I believe that God is going to honor you for all that you've done, and the best is yet to come for this ministry. I think you know one of my favorite scriptures is call on me and I'll answer, and I'll show you great and mighty things that you know not of, and I believe that that is what God is going to do. As you continue to do what he's called you to do in this area of ministry, I think you're going to see amazing things happen.
Speaker 1:Amen I receive that.
Speaker 3:Amen, I receive that.
Speaker 1:Well, we thank you so much for your time, for your ministry, for your wisdom that you shared, thank you for having some fun with us on our Would you Rather? And getting into some of the nitty gritty of all the stuff that's going on in the world today. So thank you so much for just all that you're doing. And I don't know if I'm allowed to come, but if I can come and be a fly on the wall, I'll come support you on the 13th and be there to cheer everybody on. So that's awesome.
Speaker 3:Thank you both so much. It was just a pleasure and a joy to be here tonight with you.
Speaker 2:God bless you. Well, that was so good.
Speaker 1:That was good.
Speaker 2:We kind of went in different areas here.
Speaker 2:We talked about the chaplaincy, but then we got into modesty and dress or lack of modesty as well and one of the things that I we didn't get a chance to really go deep in this with her but having a safe place for women. I know you asked that, but I believe that women in ministry we need that safe place. We need that place where we can kind of open up, we can even maybe let our hair down as well, you know, where there's not a lot of judgment or expectation per se, but we can just be us in that safe place.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's important and I we didn't plan on going there with the dress piece, but I feel that's something that we've been dealing with more and more. We see a lot of young people, male and female. I mean, we look at some of these Christian artists on TV and you know we're seeing Christian artists more and more doing things sexual and things like that. You know, and I just believe it's so important that we're not called to present that. You know, real quickly too. We didn't get in on this, but you know, I believe, even for ladies. You know, when I hopped on Christian Mingle, I could have gotten on there and did the oiled up body and all those types of stuff and whatnot. And you know I'm going to come out there flexing and all that. But that's not what I wanted my wife to be attracted to. Now, if she's attracted to what's in me, she can get the outer part. Then you can go ahead and show her all those things. And, ladies, if you want a man that's attracted to you you, the person the reward is what's underneath your clothes. That's the reward of him identifying what is on the inside of you. If he doesn't see who you are, if he doesn't like who you are if he's not attracted to pursue you. Now watch this, ladies. Very important that you understand this Whatever causes a man to be attracted to you is what is going to keep him coming. And if he does not recognize the virtue in you, if he does not recognize the gift in you and that's not what's drawing him, watch this God has not sent him to you, because this is the reality.
Speaker 1:The Bible says who can find a virtuous woman? Now watch this. Who can find? So that's one passage from Proverbs 31. But then the Bible also says that he that finds a wife finds a good thing and obtaineth favor. Now watch this. Favor is when God reveals what's valuable and precious to you. So you're called Now.
Speaker 1:Y'all ready for this, ladies? Now watch this. You're called to keep it covered until God uncovers your spirit. And when the man sees your spirit and sees your virtue and is willing to put a ring on it, then he gets the rest of the package deal. We do it in reverse order. You can't even tell if he's attracted to your spirit or to your body, because he's blinded by everything you're showing him. So, ladies, it's important to keep yourself covered up, so then God will reveal the right. Listen, this is the reality.
Speaker 1:You can tell how a woman looks by just dressing modestly. You can tell whether she's got what you like. You can dress enough to where all right. You can show a little bit of what you have without being sexual, revealing or provocative, and so it's very, very important. And men, the same thing.
Speaker 1:When I got on Christian People, I got on there, I put a picture of a three-piece suit on. I had a vest, a tie, in the fellowship hall of my church and on the bottom of that I said for God I live and for God I die. Now I could easily taken my shirt off and done all those things and try to been all cute and whatnot, but I didn't. I didn't want to attract a bunch of women and say, oh man, he looks good, oh man, he's built like that. That's not what I wanted. I wanted a woman like you that said man, I want to be in ministry, I'm attracted to the anointing, I'm attracted to all these types of things. And then, as a result, man, that is exactly what I got. But when you give off all of that physical stuff and how do you?
Speaker 1:know what he's attracted to?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1:How do you know? And, ladies, let me say this as well this is the reality. If you want to know, if a man will keep chasing you forever, watch this, don't sleep with him, don't have sex with him, that's right. Don't lay down with him. People say, well, why not? Because it clouds your judgment. For number one, number two how do you tell if a man has a God-given love for you? Watch this because he's willing to chase you you ready for this when he doesn't get anything back in return? I hope y'all hear what I'm saying right now. She's going to help somebody. If you're giving him sex, he will come back just for the sex and when the sex gets old he'll be looking for something else.
Speaker 1:How do you know if a man has a God given love for you, the fact that he's willing to pursue you, even though he's not getting anything in return? You say, well, why is that important? Because when you get married, it will be his job to initiate that continuous love, to keep the cycle going in the relationship. And if God hasn't put that in his heart and he is attracted only to you physically and that's the only reason why he's coming around and you decide to put a ring on it and then you go after him. You may get a year or two down the line, maybe even sooner, and that man will be gone, because the reality is he never loved you in the first place because he was in love with the sex, and if the sex is good enough, the reality is he will keep coming back for more.
Speaker 2:That's the truth.
Speaker 1:I'm preaching right now.
Speaker 2:You are. All right, closing thoughts. For me, one of the things that I want you to be careful of, you know, as you're dating people you know, be careful of missionary dating. Would that be the term really?
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know missionary dating and um, you know, really, in essence, it's dating unequally. You're unequally yoked in your dating. Um, it's just, it's not good in your dating.
Speaker 1:You don't pay for that.
Speaker 2:It's just, it's not good you don't pay for that later on.
Speaker 2:And just wait. I'm encouraging everybody. Wait on God. Oftentimes the enemy will send a counterfeit before he sends the real deal. Wait on God. He has that man or that woman for you. If you are believing for a spouse, even right now, if that's you and you're believing for a spouse, wait on that man or woman of God. I'm telling you it is worth it. We always say marriage is hard enough. We have different challenges. We have fun, we like each other, we love each other, but there are challenges in there and you want a spouse that you know that God can get their attention without a shadow of a doubt. And I think the multiplication is. It's really exponential. When you have both a man that loves God and a woman that loves God. It's exponential.
Speaker 2:So I just want to encourage you to wait on God. Wait for a good, godly man or woman and watch this.
Speaker 1:If you found a good godly man or woman, and watch this. If you found a good godly man or woman, wait before you have sex. It will cloud your judgment. It will cloud your judgment. How do you make a spiritual decision about a lifelong covenant when you're in sin?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1:I mean think about that for a moment. You're clouded. I mean you're in sin. Yeah, that's right. I mean think about that for a moment. You're clouded. I mean you're in sin, you're in sexual sin and you're going to make a lifelong decision in the spirit, supposedly, when you're living a relationship out in sin, in the flesh, you're going to pick the wrong person every single time. It'll never. And then you'll get clouded, you'll get all messed up and if you find, you know we always talk about this all the time, about how, when you're dating, you know I remember we'd get into a disagreement and then we'd be talking like, oh man, we was married. Right now, you know you break up to makeup and it ain't nothing like that makeup loving y'all. I mean, come on, if I got any married people, come on tell me amen right now my parents are watching, that's all right, they know about makeup, love too.
Speaker 1:I mean, hey, when you make up man, there's something about it. Marvin Gaye had it right Sexual healing. There's something that really happens. Now the reason why I'm saying this I know I'm laughing, but check this out when you're dating, the devil wants you to come together because he can pervert it, what we have found out. Once you get married, the devil wants to keep you apart. Isn't it funny? When you're married, when you're dating, it's like, oh man, we need to be together, we need to be together. And then, as soon as you get married, the devil gives you every excuse in the book not to come together and become one again. He will do that. Why? Because something happens in the confines of marriage when you come together in unity, physically. But something also happens in carnality and in sin when you come together outside of the season. So wait for a good godly man or woman and then, once you found that godly man or woman, wait before you consummate that relationship. Man, I wish I had time to go into ABCs, but I don't. But, man, this is so good. Yeah, maybe we need to talk about that.
Speaker 1:Listen, if y'all want to hear more about this type of stuff let us know. Put it in the chat there. Let us know what you want to hear about. Do you want to hear about how you should date? Do you want to hear about what happens if you had sex and you're dating and you're in the church? What do you do then? How do you do it? Can you go forward? Can you still get married? Do you just jump the broom? What?
Speaker 2:is it that?
Speaker 1:you need to do or time? Yeah, we can do that as well. So so it's been so good and, uh, I hope you all been blessed. If you'll take a minute to like, subscribe, follow and share, we definitely would appreciate that. And if, uh, you haven't downloaded our podcast and become one of the latest members of the Dimension family, we've got a lot coming up. We'll be back next Thursday, if not before then, at 8 pm every single week on Facebook and YouTube, and then, if you miss us here, it's okay. Download the platform right after it's over. You can go over to the platform and if you just download and subscribe, guess what? As soon as we send a new one up there, it'll be automatically down there on your phone. So it's good stuff. Any closing, other thoughts? No, I always got about four or five closings.
Speaker 2:I'm a preacher, he does.
Speaker 1:I wish I had more time. He's not done. I'm just curious. Is there anybody out there right now that would like me to go for another 10 minutes? I'm just curious. Come on somebody. You want me to have another closing up in here, or you want to get out of here? I?
Speaker 2:do want to mention this because this is really important. I do want to mention this because somebody said it's very important to keep dating while you're married.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that is so important because what happens is you know you get married, you're, you know you're going on with life. Life happens, you end up having kids and then a lot of your time and energy is being pulled and directed in other areas. And so I think you know, when it comes to dating, you have to be really intentional about dating, Like with us. You know, usually we pick a day of the week, that is the day of the week. We try not to let anything. You know, there's certain things that happen sometimes, but we try not to let anything come.
Speaker 1:But you know what, real quickly though. But now we even have a thing if something happens and maybe our babysitter gets sick or something happens, now what we do is we make sure we have time at home to even just say, okay, we're going to put the kids to bed early or let them do their thing because they're a little bit older now, and then we shut ourselves away and still have a time to still try to connect. So we don't go week after week if something happens and not have that time together.
Speaker 2:And I think that's what really helps maintain, sustain that friendship in marriage. You need that. You need that. I honestly I know that you know as busy as we are. We need that time to connect.
Speaker 1:We do.
Speaker 2:And we enjoy it. We love you know we that time to connect. We do and we enjoy it. We love you know we love spending time with each other. We do, we have fun. Maybe we'll tell you some fun stories.
Speaker 1:Oh listen, I got plenty of that to share. See, if y'all don't talk to us, how am I supposed to know what y'all want to hear? How? Are we supposed to talk?
Speaker 2:about it. I mean, what do y'all want?
Speaker 1:third closing and listen, she kept it going. You were the one that kept going. You're like, listen, I got one more closing.
Speaker 2:Our audience did. Our audience did.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you could have just said we'll get to that next week. But see, that's what happens when you get to Dimensions. Oh boy.
Speaker 2:Well, we have fun. We did, we had fun with you whenever you get a chance to watch. But we believe, even for dimensions, the best shit.
Speaker 1:Amen. So go ahead, like, subscribe, follow, share and we will see you next week 8 pm Thursday, right here on Demand. Thank you, Thank you.
