Husbands do not have more of a desire to be respected than their wives nor do they have less of a desire to be loved than their wives.

Both men and women like to be respected, loved and feel as if they were “number 1″ to at least one person on this planet. This is not a need just for men.

The Bible doesn’t teach that men have a need/innate desire to be “admired” or respected.

If we are loving one another and esteeming one another better than our own selves, we will naturally respect them. You cannot love someone without respecting them…the two are intrinsically linked.

Also, husbands are commanded to honor (respect) their wives. So, that would mean wives also have this intrinsic need to be respected/honored/admired, too (if we are going to use the same eisegesis).

As a woman, I want to be respected. That, really, is more important to me than being loved and there has been way too much disrespectful treatment of women throughout the thousands and thousands of years of history to not think that respecting a woman is just as important as respecting a man.

If Christ did it…its not sin…period. Therefore, for what Kelly does to be sin REQUIRES finding a legitimate difference between John 2 and running a modern wedding business….

Christ certainly seemed to think that offering service to two unbelievers at their wedding was a totally acceptable form of witness…what makes Kelly’s family different???

It seems to me that this is a case of trying to be holier that God Himself!

I will not come to Kelly’s defense (although I SO want to) because I do not feel led. However, as you profess to be a sister in Christ, I will tell you a story about me. I was once a very self-righteous person, rooted in anger and insecurity. Although I believed my judgments to be on the Word of God (and some of them were), my heart was a septic tank. Anger self-righteousness and judgment poured out of me. Anyone could have heard it, even non-believers. What opportunities I had to be a witness for Christ were destroyed by my heart. Well, I was a witness, but a besmirching one. The Bible says that out of a man’s heart, his mouth speaks (paraphrase). My daughter, now nine, grew up seeing that self-righteousness. Over the last two years it is almost 100 percent gone. Although occasionally I give in to this Satan honoring line of thinking, I repent. I now have to correct her for repeating the trash she heard when younger. It makes me sick and grieves my heart. I am grateful to God that He, through some very LOVING admonishment of friends, made me aware so I could be set free. I hate to see these things come out of my daughter’s mouth for many reasons. One, I taught her this. Two, it is against her very loving, God fearing nature. Three, I have to work extra hard to get the junk out, and this humiliates me, the source.
I would encourage you to look at your speech. If Jesus were sitting next to you and Kelly (WW), would you say these things to her? To anyone? There were times when Christ used harsh language…to those who refused to listen and repent. But He intimately knew their hearts and knew when this was necessary. I dare say, your comments prove you know neither of these things about Kelly.
I am not angry with you, nor am I trying to humiliate you. I am trying to spare you the heartache of looking back and knowing what you have taught your children. And the heartache of knowing that you, like I, have judged another man’s servant.
Truly in Love,
Kelly L

If a woman is being abused, since that situation has come up in this thread, and goes to a shelter run by Christians in a family based setting, should the woman be interviewed about her faith before being sheltered? Should she be charged a fee for being a non-believer while Christian ladies are sheltered free of charge? What would the lady’s heart do if she were turned away – open for Christ, or more likely be closed because the “Christians” she turned to couldn’t be bothered with her? weren’t a living example?

“Pagans” as it was put, aren’t any different than any other suffering wanderer. Besides claiming Christ, Biblical teaching, righteous example, and hospitality are in fact what define us Christians. The believing part is between the lost and God. It’s not for us to obstruct the path by way of snarky, high and mighty self-congratulatory snobbery and tsking the weak. I’ll leave the sifting and purification to Him who is qualified.

The Holy Spirit is the only arrow that can pierce the heart, we’re to stand ready with the Word. Christ tells us in John 13:15 “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Service is part of witness, the Saviour here and many other places commands it ( James is a terrific place to find that in concentration). Actions DO speak louder than words when dealing with the unbeliever.

Maybe I’m selfish – wait, no – I AM selfish. But I’d rather be faulted for a little selfishness than miss my opportunity to embrace Christ on the road because I refused to seek Him among the undelivered.

There aren’t any inconsistencies in any of the defenses of WW – what I do sense is a need for justifications on the part of some who, to quote my Grandfather “would rather criticize the window than work to improve the view”.

Really all one could say after all these posts is “get behind me satan”. So sorry to see Kelly that your blog has been molested so, by twisted views on marriage, homeschooling, your families business, and hurtful words.

I think that it is not only wrong, it is evil influence that causes people to talk about a person or a family blindly. Who of us really know the Crawford’s or why they run this business, myself included.

Those that know what a crumbling marriage looks like should appreciate the good advise you have offered.

The ones who posted negative comments that were biting, you should seriously repent and examine why you are so bitter to a woman who has an opinion about a conviction that is real in her life.

Still pondering, honestly, whether there is consideration that a Christian should not operate a wedding business.

Have to ask this though…what about a Christian wedding dress shop owner? A rental company? A tablecloth company? A cake decorator?

How are these different? Should they only do business with professing Christians? And how then do you know that the professing couple isn’t involved in fornication? Should we allow those couples to get married here?

But it’s not really any of my business which is why I’ve never said anything. I do however think it’s weird all the people coming to Kelly’s defense with inconsistent excuses.

I will just say this. If a couple is going to start married life together as unbelievers they will have major problems. It’s a good thing they saw the answer to those problems (God’s Word) lived out by Kelly’s family during their wedding. Now they may know where they need to turn to find solutions.

Frankly, I’m angered that you’ve launched a character attack against me on my own blog. But I’m not one to disallow opinions, so I answer you. I think you need to consider your approach here, despite your apparent anger, and ask yourself if your heart attitude is to humbly confront a sister you believe is in sin (which Scripture says should be done privately, by the way.)

You said:

“No, I don’t how many times you speak the gospel to your clients, but your silence on the matter and talk of your “righteous” family’s appearance before these sinners tells quite a bit.”

Again, you admit to “not knowing” and then blame me for “silence on the matter”. Frankly, I’m not sure how many times I share the gospel with a potential client is even the real issue here. But presuming is wrong.

Also, by saying that being with our family is “door-opening”, I am not claiming self-righteousness (another example, to me, of how you inflate everything I’ve said on the blog to fit you preconception of who you think I am.) It’s wrong to try and shame me into making a factual observation.

Large families are rare, and that is the first door-opener–just a fact. Apparently polite children are rare or else people wouldn’t constantly remark about them, and even–in the last wedding we had–point blank corner me and quiz me about “how do you get your children to do that”.

Yes, the Lord has opened up so many opportunities for me to share my hope with others through what they think is some novelty in our family. I don’t feel inflated about that and don’t appreciate being accused of it. It is just a fact that I constantly bear witness to.

I submit to you there is a big difference in a minister who performs a ceremony becoming the instrument of covenant-making and a couple who provides their yard for the said ceremony. I understand your thoughts on “aiding” a pagan marriage; I don’t believe what we do is an aid.

If you have further discussions about my character or where you believe I am in sin, please email me.