Do Not Depart

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Imperfect Mothers

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I am not a perfect mother. I love my children and I even dare say I am a good mother, but I have made mistakes. Thankfully, God – in His mercy and power – continues to use my meager sacrifice of parenting to work His purposes in my children.

Photo from Visual Bible Alive

Rebekah, the wife of the patriarch Isaac, is one such mother in the Bible. Imperfect? Oh yes. Used by God to work His perfect purposes? Most definitely. Yet so often we dwell on her mistakes as a mother and fail to note the good and positive aspects of her life. I don’t like it when that happens to me, so today I thought we’d give Rebekah another look!

We first meet Rebekah in Genesis 24 when Abraham sends his servant back to his homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. Rebekah’s appearance at the town well and her kind service to the servant were direct answers to the servant’s prayer for divine intervention. (See Genesis 24:1-27.) Abraham’s servant had no doubt that Rebekah was the young woman God had picked out for Isaac.

Here, in our first meeting with Rebekah, her actions reveal her character and her faith. First, she showed kindness and hospitality to a stranger. Then she expressed a deep faith in Abraham’s God through her willingness to leave everything she knew to become the wife of a man she had never met (Gen 24:58). God blessed Rebekah’s trust and obedience with the deep love of her husband. (See Gen 24:67.)

Later, pregnant with Jacob and Esau, Rebekah worried when the two babies started a civil war in utero. Her first reaction was to pray. And God answered! His response to Rebekah included some information that was outside the cultural norm – the older brother would serve the younger one. (See Gen 25: 22-23.)

Unfortunately, both Isaac and Rebekah played favorites with their twin sons (Gen 25:28). One boy for Isaac. The other boy for Rebekah. That old sin nature reared its ugly head. And parenting is one of its favorite spots to show up. Unfortunately, favoritism continued to plague Rebekah and she pushed Jacob into tricking Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing. Perhaps she rationalized her actions by recalling God’s words to her when she was pregnant. “The older will serve the younger.”

The rest of the Jacob and Esau story clearly shows that God’s purposes were fulfilled in these two brothers. Jacob fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. Esau’s descendants became a great nation that God used in Israel’s history. All this part of God’s wonderful, incomprehensible plan.

All of us, even mothers, are susceptible to sin. Rebekah was no exception. You and I are no exceptions. Even mothers much more godly than Rebekah will show favoritism, give bad advice, make wrong decisions, act out of selfishness, or lose our temper. But God in His sovereignty will not be surprised when we fall. Our sin cannot derail His purposes for our children. He will continue to work through us – even as He continues to work on us!

Have you made parenting mistakes? Do you wonder how God will ever work things out for your children? Will you express your trust in His mercy and power today?

Mother of all the Living

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There’s a reason why little girls hoard stuffed animals, women want to hold babies, and stray puppies see a bulls-eye on a female of any age. In Genesis 3 God broke the news that life would be hard, even ugly, since God’s plan was rejected.  Adam had named Eve “woman,” because she was taken out of man (Genesis 2:23). After their sin, he gave his wife a new name:  “Eve,” meaning “Mother of all the living” (Genesis 3:20). This name means “life giver” and is a clue that all women would follow Eve as caretakers for life.  Our times pose challenges to this calling, but it’s more important than ever that, as women who follow Jesus, we love and look after “life.” 


In recent weeks we’ve watched people around the world and in our own nation experience profound suffering due to natural disasters. As the world groans, people need women to offer the kind of tender care woven into the fabric of who we’re created to be.


Recently, abortion rights language changed to “a woman’s right to reproductive health and a woman’s right to privacy.”  Some states have legalized assisted suicide. Legislation is underway to withdraw protection for end of life and beginning of life care. Privately, economic pressures have prompted increases in domestic violence. The greater the pain, the greater the need for the Eves of today to love and nurture life.

Google Imagesrture life.


Eve fell into the trap of questioning God’s goodness. The sin she shared with Adam trickled down quickly, as their own son Cain took the life of their Abel. Her mother’s heart, the heart of a life giver,  must’ve grieved for the lost life of her boy, but it must’ve also grieved for their sin that brought suffering into the world.  A close look into the eyes of those near us and into the images of destruction proves that natural disasters and personal needs stir the need for women to minister to the living.


Life in our world is under attack.  God loves life.  As Creator, life glorifies Him. Jesus conquered death to make way for life.  Our world must see that we not only love and value life, but we’re willing to step up and protect it. More than ever women of God, “Mothers of all the living,” need to be champions of life! 


How do Christian women deal with the causes of the ill, aged, unborn, suffering, and vulnerable?

  • Teach our daughters to love life; practice with her stuffed animal or that stray puppy.
  • Be an example of a woman who reaches out to the frail and physically weak.
  • Respond with love to needy children, hurting adults, and unwed or overwhelmed mothers.
  • Reach out to those affected by disaster.
  • Pray for our lawmakers, and voice your love of life when given opportunity.

Let’s ask God to use us to love life on His behalf, and be ready to act on that love.

How are you being a “life giver” to people near you?

Has God used a woman in your life to be a nurturer in your life?

Jochebed: Mom of Protection

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“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Hebrews 11:23

Jochebed’s story is a short one, but her legacy lasts through the generations. She inspires us all to be moms who protect our children. Just watching the nightly news reminds us that our world is a dangerous place. Protecting our children from every threat of danger may seem impossible. While we can’t protect them from everything, we can give them a firm foundation. We can be mothers of protection. Elizabeth George writes, “Jochebed shows you how to hold up your frightening, seemingly impossible situations to your Father in heaven.”

Jochebed’s story is set in Egypt where the descendants of Abraham, the Hebrews, suffered as slaves. Although Joseph had wielded power and influence in Egypt, time had passed and the new pharaoh “did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). In other words, he had no reason to protect or even respect the Hebrews. He did take notice of them because their numbers were growing–growing so fast that he decided to make their lives miserable. Hard manual labor, harsh conditions, and demanding taskmasters were part of everyday life for the Hebrews. But they continued to have children so Pharaoh took drastic measures.

The pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew babies be put to death. They were to be thrown in the river. One Hebrew couple, identified as descendants of Levi, disobeyed the pharaoh’s orders. When this wife, Jochebed, had a son they hid him from the pharaoh for three months. It took great courage and faith in God for Jochebed to protect the life of her baby. But as he grew I’m sure he became louder and more active and was harder to hide. So Jochebed built a small boat and sent her sweet baby floating down the river, with big sister Miriam following the currents.

(image via Microsoft clip art)

Jochebed would agree with pastor and author David Platt who writes, “God creates, blesses, and saves each us of for a radically global purpose.” If she didn’t believe that God had a plan for her children, she would not have risked her life to protect Moses.

Even if you didn’t know Jochebed by name, the next part of the story is probably familiar to you. This baby was taken from the river by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was named “Moses” because he was drawn out of the water. Little Miriam offered to call a Hebrew nurse for the baby. She went, of course, to the baby’s own mother. Women at this time often nursed their children for three years. Though Jochebed didn’t have much time with her young son, she must have taken each precious minute and used it to its full advantage.

Jochebed not only protected baby Moses from death, she also protected her other children Miriam and Aaron. They were growing up as slaves in Egypt, and in order for them to stand firm as adults, they needed a solid foundation of faith that included protecting them from the pagan culture around them.

Scripture tells us that Jochebed protected her children because she was not afraid, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict,” (Hebrews 11:23). Their protection empowered Moses to be unafraid. “By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger for the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible,” (Hebrews 11:27).  

Protecting our children does not mean we make them fearful toward the world. Protecting our children ensures that no matter what our children encounter, they will have the foundation they need to overcome obstacles and follow God’s plan for their lives.

(If you’re interested, you can click over to my personal blog for more I wrote on Jochebed, one of my favorite biblical mothers!)

Biblical Mothers

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May brings longer sunny days, fragrant flowers, last days of school, and one of my favorite days of the year–Mother’s Day! For the next weeks here at Scripture Dig we will be profiling biblical mothers. We will look at the good and the bad in the lives of these moms, learning from their examples. No mom has ever been perfect, but God uses each one of us in His perfect plan.

We look forward to having you study with us, and hope you join in the conversation in the comments, on Twitter, and on our Facebook page!

(picture of Sandra with her boys, taken by Lucky Horseshoe Photography).

The Beauty of “So What”

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“You have been saved!” (Eph 2:8) So what?

I asked that question a month ago when we started our series on Ephesians. The answer is not insignificant. Of course, there are the eternal benefits: If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, He has saved you from an eternity of torment separated from God and saved you to an eternity of joy in God’s presence. During the first half of the month we delved into the nature of our salvation. Here’s a few of the highlights in case you missed them:

But the “so what” of our salvation is not limited to God’s one-time saving act on our behalf and the inheritance we will receive when we get to heaven. Our salvation also matters right now in this earthly life. The wonderful truths that God saved us and that the Holy Spirit lives within us impacts every relationship, every decision, and every circumstance of our lives. That is a great big “SO WHAT!”

Here are some of those “so whats” we discussed this month:

Believer, you have been saved! You have been saved to experience an abundant life in Christ for all eternity and for right now!

How does your salvation affect your life today? I would love to hear your “so what” story!

The Word is Our Weapon

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“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Ephesians 6:17
Photo from Photobucket

Yesterday, Kristi explained the armor of God and challenged us to be Battle Ready because the stakes are so high and our families are at risk.

Today, we’re going to examine the Sword of the Spirit.

An unseen battle rages on around us. It’s a battle for the souls of those who do not know Christ. It’s a war against the faith of those who do. But the battle is not only going on around us – Romans 7:21-24 tells us that it wars within us, as well.

In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul compares the Christian life to that of a soldier in a war as he calls us to endure hardships as a good soldier. And the best way to become skilled in our line of duty is to learn from the Master.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus shows us how to wield the Word of God as weapon when the enemy comes against us. When you read through these verses you find that the enemy waited until Jesus was at His weakest point physically before he tried to tempt Him.

He didn’t try to tempt Jesus with food when He had only been without food for a day or two. He lurked behind the scenes until he thought He could catch Jesus in a moment of weakness and then he pounced. That’s how he operates…attacking us when we’re weak.

Jesus met each fiery dart with the Word of God.

He was tested in the same three areas we are: (1 John 2:16)

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

For Christians, the invisible battle that rages on around and in us is designed for our destruction. The destruction of our faith, our testimonies, our influence and ultimately our effectiveness. Winning each battle requires diligence. It’s not an easy win when the enemy, the world and our own flesh fight so hard to raise their banner of victory over different areas of our lives.

Let’s take a look at some of the packages our attacks come wrapped in:

  • Wrapped in what we think are our biggest needs (After 40 days without food, Jesus’ need for food was real – but He knew that real sustenance comes from the Word of God)
  • Wrapped in religion (When the enemy tempted Jesus, he misrepresented the Word of God. He tried to attack Him at the core of His belief system. But Jesus rebuked him with what the Word of God really said)
  • Wrapped in a shiny “You Deserve This” package (The enemy tried to tempt Jesus with power and possessions, yet he was foolishly offering Jesus something He already owned)
Sisters, we are in a war, but the battle is the Lord’s. Our role is to stand as we wield the Word of God in order to slice and dice every wayward thought – every circumstantial attack – every deceptive lie – every hurtful word or deed – every fleshly desire and every doubt and fear.

The battle is hard. We get weary in the fight. But God’s Word not only protects us, it refreshes and strengthens us as well.

Today, I want to encourage you to arm yourself well. Yes…God has given us His Word, but it is our responsibility to read it, to study it, to memorize it, to meditate on it and to really know it.

Good soldiers keep their blades sharp and are always ready for battle. Are you? Do you have some sharpening to do? Which tool do you need to use to sharpen your blade…studying, memorizing, meditating or all three?

Battle ready

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Photo credit: Simon Howden

I’m not a fighter by nature. I don’t like conflict, confrontation makes me slightly queasy (literally), and I would rather ignore issues than address them head on. But friends, whether we want to recognize it or not, we are standing at the front lines of a battle that has been raging for thousands of years. The question is not if there is a battle, but if we are prepared for the deadly battle that already rages around us.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12, ESV)

On Monday I rocked my sweet four month old baby in the quiet of his nursery. I kissed his fuzzy head and smelled his milk breath and prayed over him, pondering what our crazy world might be like when he reaches adulthood, if the Lord should tarry that long (and I pray He doesn’t!) I long to wrap him in protection from head to toe, guarding him not just physically but more importantly, spiritually.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13)

The image of the armor of God came to my mind as I prayed, and it struck me anew how Paul’s description of this spiritual armor speaks so vividly of the readiness we must have for the very real spiritual war that rages around us each day. Our Heavenly Father’s love for us goes even deeper than my love for my little ones – and He wants us to be wrapped in battle-protection, as well.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth… (Ephesians 6:14a)

Paul is relying on imagery of a Roman soldier’s battle gear in this passage, a familiar sight to his original readers. The soldier’s belt was far more than a fashion accessory – the soldier would tuck the flowing edges of his tunic into the belt to keep from becoming entangled and tripped up in hand-to-hand combat. Truth – both knowing and clinging to the truth of God’s Word and living authentic lives without hypocrisy – girds about us and keeps us from becoming tripped up and entangled in this raging war.

…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness… (Ephesians 6:14b)

The breastplate was like a bullet-proof vest, Roman soldier style! It covered the vital organs of the torso, providing necessary protection in battle. As we hold tight to what is right and flee from what is evil, it becomes a safeguard around us.

…and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15)

The footwear of Roman soldiers was designed to give them traction and keep them from slipping as they fought. When we are confident that we are at peace with God and maintaining our focus on the eternal mission God has given us, it gives us spiritual stability and protects us from being pushed off course.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one… (Ephesians 6:16)

This word for “shield” refers to a very large shield that would protect the soldier’s entire body, enabling them to crouch behind it and be completely protected from the arrows flying from the enemy lines. Living a life of deep faith and belief in God’s character, Word, and ways is a shield about us, protecting us from the arrows of temptation and doubt and twisted truth that the enemy constantly sends our way.

…and take the helmet of salvation… (Ephesians 6:17a)

Tying in with the Gospel of Peace and the Shield of Faith, having the issue of our salvation settled is the primary protection for us – Satan loves to attack us in this area, and we must firmly put on our hope of salvation!

Tomorrow, Stephanie will explore the Word of God as our offensive weapon. For today, I want us to ponder if we are battle ready. We must each day fasten on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation. We must know the truth of God’s Word, cling to His grace, love, obey, believe Him.

As I hold my little ones and pray over them, I pray that God would capture their hearts young – that they would place their trust in Him and cling to Him with all their might. That they would love what is good and hate what is evil, that they would have a thirst for the Word of God and discernment to recognize what does not line up with the God’s revealed Truth. I pray that they would live each day with a deep and settled faith in God’s character, Word, and ways.

We are in a battle, and it rages deadly around us. I do not doubt that my life will not be easy – and my children’s lives might be even more difficult than my own. I must be dressed for the battle, I pray that God will wrap my little ones in the safety of His armor… and I must fight.

“I’m on the winning side of a war that has already been won.”

Coming to the Knock

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This year, as I prepare for Mother’s Day, my parent:child relationships look different. My youngest is taller than I am. My oldest drives herself to school. My mom just brought her mother home from a nursing home. I bought my mom a cute lanyard to hang her bifocals on. We will always be related as parents and children, yet our relationships go through God ordained seasons.

Training up & inspiring to obey & honor

In our relationships, there’s no doubt:  Knowing God and submitting to others gives us peace. Ignoring God and resisting others robs us of peace.  Ephesians 6:1-4 challenges us with more ways to take our love for Christ and express it through yielding to others. The applications hit close to home, so close that those outside our front door might not know.  After addressing husbands and wives last week, today children receive two specific directions.


Obey ~ The word conveys the idea of hearing a knock at the door and coming. This submissive action results from an attitude wanting to respond “in the Lord.” Children come “when they hear their parents’ knock,” because it’s a right response to the Almighty, not based on the conduct of the parent.  God declares this “right,” meaning a righteous act acceptable to Him.  The old Sunday School song is simple, but true: “Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily…”

Honor ~ In contrast to the submissive obedience of verse 1, children are told to “honor,” giving reverence reflecting value placed on another person. God assigns parents value in their position, and they are deserving of honor.  God announces a blessing of long life for those who yield to this charge for all children. As we age, our relationship changes from obedience to honor. This attitude doesn’t hinge on the conduct of a human parent, but on the command of our holy God.  


It’s not always easy to offer obedience while in childhood or honor while in adulthood. God isn’t opening the door for oppression or lack of understanding. Instead, He applies the attitude of submission to each family member. Remember that, in the context of this passage, the charge to children follows the foundation set for a husband and wife. As the core of the home, an obedient man and wife create a loving climate.


Since obedience is learned and sometimes hard won, God speaks to fathers about their role in bringing up children.  Even when shaping a rebellious child, fathers are commanded not to provoke their children, frustrating or exasperating them. This may be obvious and aggressive, or it may be the result of nurturing withheld. Either way it’s born out of sin, rather than a reflection of a man’s yielded heart to His own Heavenly Father. God warns against stirring up young hearts to anger and wrath.


Instead, He wants fathers to train, instruct, and lovingly discipline their children, so their minds and morals are nurtured.  When Fathers embrace their role as the loving leader in their child’s life, and when children obey and honor their parents in each season of life, God blesses families with peace.

  • Children:  obey & honor
  • Fathers:  don’t provoke, but bring up

Knowing God and submitting to others gives us peace. Ignoring God and resisting others robs us of peace.  God is knocking and asking us all to obey His call to submit to others out of love and reverence for Him. Let’s answer His call.


In your season, how are you honoring your own parents?

If you have children, how are you helping them know God’s charge to them?


Royal Wedding?

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At the end of this week, much of the world will watch as Prince William of England marries Catherine Middleton at West Minster Abbey.  An app was developed to allow curious people of the world (ahem) to take a virtual tour of the Abbey before the wedding. Barbara Walters released a special about the events, saying “No one does it quite like the British.”  After Princess Diana’s 25 foot long train in 1981, we might be tempted to believe Barbara, but she’s not quite right.  In reality, the world has yet to see a truly royal wedding.


On Friday we looked at the heavenly hope for wives to respect their husbands and husbands to love their wives. The comparison to how Christ loves his church was a key part of understanding how and why, but today let’s take a closer look at what it means to be the Heavenly Bride.

Unlike an earthly husband, Christ is actually able to sanctify his bride (set her apart) and cleanse her by paying for her impurities with his own righteous sacrifice. In comparison, even the earthly wealth of England doesn’t look quite so grand.   The gift of the Bridegroom Christ on the cross makes it possible for the Bride Church to be totally clean and holy, so nothing separates her from his love. He longs to “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be hold and without blemish,” (Eph. 5:27) and husbands are to love their wives “in the same way” (v.28).

Photo by Shine4Him8Himself.

We glimpse the gift in our “engagement,” but we’ll fully realize the joy when we are united at the royal Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It will rival the celebration just held at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty the Queen. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and his love will be hosted by the Heavenly Father

Revelation 19 offers us a glimpse of what awaits the Bride of Christ, the Church, in heaven.

“Hallelujah!For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

(vv. 6b-9a)

For West Minister’s “royal wedding,” Catherine prepared for months; the world watched with curious anticipation.  When the Bridegroom Christ receives his Bride the Church, will he see that, “his Bride has made herself ready?”  Will we be covered in the fine linen of righteousness?

I’m sad to say I didn’t receive an invitation to royal wedding of William and Kate, and I venture to guess you didn’t either, but we ALL got an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  And even more thrilling, the Father has chosen us to be the Bride!  We don’t know when we’ll be wed to our Love, but we know the wedding is coming, and it’s going to be more than royal; it’s going to be divine.


Are you ready to meet the Bridegroom? 

Love & Respect … Really?

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We were on our honeymoon when we fell into what Dr. Emerson Eggerichs calls the “Crazy Cycle” between a husband and wife. Jeff had worked hard to save, so we could indulge in special treats, but I was worried about spending what I thought might be our last two nickels. Before we knew it, he felt disrespected by his young bride, and I felt unloved by my tarnished Prince Charming. In Love and Respect Dr. Eggerichs says, “Without love, she reacts without respect. Without respect, he reacts without love.”

Perhaps our very nature prompts God to narrow down the key to sweet marriage with a single focus for each in 3 verses to wives and 9 verses to husbands. Husbands are to love their wives. Wives are to respect their husbands.

Image from Google Images/Corbis

The “marriage chunk” (5:22-33) follows the segment Teri Lynne walked us through about how to put on love and the challenge in verse 21 to submit to each other “out of reverence for Christ.”  Without the modern triple space before verse 22, it’s natural to apply submission to the way couples care for each other.

Instead of a power issue, submission is an expression of love for Christ, a willing yielding of ourselves into the “oneness” of marriage. Wives willingly place themselves under their husband’s headship, and husbands respond with loving care.  Is it humanly possible?

The divine relationship of Christ and His bride is the pattern and standard for the give and take:

“the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body … as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (vv. 23-24)

The submission a wife offers her husband flows from her heart as a result of following Jesus. She accepts God’s ordained order, since the word for “head” indicates an authority structure.  Some have misunderstood this as a reflection on a woman’s value or voice, but it is, instead, a beautiful offering of her willingness to step under her husband’s umbrella of leadership. This yielding is not to every man or any man, but to HER man. Yielding is part of a loving cycle.

In the love cycle, God calls a husband to love sacrificially, desiring his wife’s best, guarding her purity, and putting her needs above his own. God calls men to love with “agape” love that doesn’t hinge on the behavior or response of the one loved.  Unconditional loving leadership is part of a loving cycle.

As God paints a picture of oneness, He includes a vital detail. Because of the goal of loving and respecting, it requires that a husband leave the headship of his parents’ home and, instead, stick to his wife like glue (v.31). Nothing comes between them, even their families of origin. You can’t “cleave” unless you “leave.”  This gives a husband freedom to lead as the authority of his home, while it gives the wife the space to be loved foremost by her husband and to respect her man as her head. A husband and wife have to step away from their homes to make one of their own together.

If the image of each putting the other above themselves seems like a lofty goal, it is.  In fact this is loving “just as Christ does the church” (v. 29). Knowing about God’s power

“at work within us” (v.20) to help us walk worthy or our calling, even when it comes to wives loving and husbands respecting, we have confidence that we have what we need to walk in love.

Wives are longing to be loved.  Husbands are yearning to be respected. We have the potential to give our beloved what they need most and what our marriage waits for in order to burst into fullness of life. Just as the mystery of how Christ loves the church “is profound,” so is the mystery of yielding married selves to honor our Jesus with love and respect for each other.

Have there been times when you allowed your circumstances to stunt the respect you show?

How do you see your spouse respond with love when you give

unconditional respect?

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