Jesus and Women

In the first-century world, the way Jesus treated

women was considered revolutionary.

When she became a teenager, her father made the arrangements. This was the custom of the times. Mary would be married to a carpenter, Joseph, the son of Heli. From birth, Mary’s role in life was set, for she was born female to a Jewish family. Yet her role in history was to be extraordinary. God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.

Woman of courage

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, she was initially troubled by what the angel’s appearance might mean. The angel reassured her, explaining that she was the one chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:34-38)

Three Safe Sex Tips for Morons

  Rick Young, Yahoo! Contributor Network

I am constantly shocked by the number of myths "debunked" by advocacy groups. Are teenagers absolute morons? The things that horny guys apparently try to convince their girlfriends of in the name of sex just blows my mind. Check out any sexual education class, web site, or pamphlet to see gems like, "It really is possible to get pregnant if you have sex standing up!" Or in the shower, or when you have your period. Here's some breaking news, courtesy of sex-ed groups: pulling out before the guy ejaculates is NOT effective birth control. 

Busted : 8 most common sex myths

Despite the abundance of information we have in the niche of sex and everything related to it, many of us are still misguided by popular misconceptions. While it might sound a bit hilarious at first, busting such myths is critical since these can ruin your sex life. Often, people develop a skewed perception of their sexual ability based upon such irrational myths that have been peddled on for many years. Here, we try to reveal the truth behind some of the most common myths about sex.

1. Unprotected sex is fine because my penis is the personification of precision.

Am I Ready For Sex?: 7 Things To Think About

By Katie Naymon in SEXUAL HEALTH

Whether you’re a virgin or are contemplating having sex with a new partner, first times can be nerve-wracking. There are many factors to consider, both emotional and physical. We talked to Heather Corinna, founder and executive director of Scarleteen, an independent, grassroots sexuality education and support organization and website. Corinna is a sexuality, contraception and abortion educator and counselor as well as a writer and activist. Read on for her and collegiettes’ advice on how to know when you’re ready for sex.

When is the right time to have sex in a relationship?

Some girls wait until marriage, some wait a few months and some just a few dates. There’s no recommended timeline—the right time to have sex is when you and your partner feel ready. Eva, a collegiette at Colby College, decided to lose her virginity a month into hooking up with the girl she liked. She says you know it’s a good time to have sex “once you stop thinking about it and don't doubt the person and trust they're on the same page,” she says. “I had a first time that was genuinely lovely. We fell hard and fast.” For others, it takes a bit longer to get comfortable. Veronica, a collegiette at Johns Hopkins, has dated her boyfriend for four months but has decided to wait to have sex. “I want to make sure I’m in love. I don’t want to have any doubts about it. You hear about a lot of people who do it and then regret it,” she says.

Disgraced Mary

By Kelly McFadden

In a loud voice she exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Luke 1:42-45

Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult things a young girl can go through. Some choose abortions so they don’t have to face their parents or friends with news that they are pregnant. Others who carry the child drop out of school and face the challenge of being shunned by family and friends. Let’s face it. Pregnant unwed teens are not looked upon with a great deal of respect, even in this more “tolerant” day and age, let alone throughout history.

Sex drive fades as family grows

By Miriam Stoppard

Dear Miriam,

My fourth child is due in five months. I enjoy being a mum but as the eldest is only six it can be hard work.

My sex life with my husband isn’t at all like it was at the start of our marriage.

I loved having sex with him and all our babies were planned, except this one.

Who Thinks Pregnant Women Are Sexy?

It's possible to predict which men are especially turned on by pregnancy

by Jena Pincott in Love, Sex, and Babies

One evening at the end of my second trimester, I was standing in the dairy aisle of the grocery store, with one hand on my back and the other over the kicking baby in my distended belly. A young man approached me, initiated a conversation about the World Cup, and, casually, asked me if I'd like watch the game with him that weekend. "You're pretty!" he whispered. I was shocked.

Hormones and lovemaking during pregnancy

It's perfectly safe to enjoy lovemaking during your pregnancy, unless there are medical reasons why you should abstain for a while. Every pregnant woman has the potential to enjoy sex - and some enjoy it more than they've ever done before.

© Jupiter

How much you want and enjoy sex can vary during pregnancy, not only from one woman to another, but also in the same woman at different times throughout the 40 weeks. Most women feel less interested in lovemaking during the first trimester (especially if suffering from tiredness and nausea). Desire generally increases in the second trimester and declines again in the third.

Ask a Scientist: Should I Sleep in a Bra?

If you don't want to throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier...

Shutterstock

The Scientist: Arthur Perry, M.D., YouBeauty Cosmetic Surgery Expert

The Answer: If you don’t want the girls to sag, then you’ll have to tuck them up before you tuck yourself in. It’s sad but true: Sleeping sans bra is the major cause of breast droop.

Making love during pregnancy

You can make love whenever you want to, provided that you don't try to get too athletic and that there are no medical reasons for you to avoid sex. Good sex in pregnancy is not only very enjoyable, but also helps to prepare you for childbirth by keeping your pelvic muscles strong and supple. It helps strengthen your bonds with your partner, too, which will help you cope much better with the stresses of parenthood.

Chemicals to Avoid During Pregnancy Post 3: Retinol

by Jessica Kellner, Editor

As we pregnant women keep in mind what is entering our babies' bodies through our mouths and avoiding alcohol, processed foods, mercury in fish and food additives, we should also keep in mind what could be entering our babies' bodies through our skin. When we slather creams, lotions, moisturizers and sunscreens onto our bodies, they are absorbed into our bodies via our largest organ, where they are able to impact developing babies. 

Infertility - Understanding Male Infertility : Sex Ed 101

Infertility has traditionally been thought of as a woman's problem. But as it turns out, we men don't get off that easily. About one out of every three cases of infertility is due to the man alone, and we're somehow involved in infertility about half the time.

A diagnosis of male infertility can be one of the hardest challenges a man can face. For some, it can be devastating. After all, the necessity of reproduction is one of the few things on which both Darwin and the Bible agree. Not being able to father a child can make a guy feel like he’s failing at one of his most primal responsibilities.

Can birth control pills make orgasms more difficult to achieve?

Q: Can birth control pills make orgasms more difficult to achieve?I'm 16 and I’ve been on birth control for a long time. I recently started taking a certain brand, and all of a sudden my ability to orgasm went away...but I had been able to masturbate to orgasm before with no problems. So I decided to switch pills again to see if that would fix the problem...but nothing’s changed, even though I’ve been on it for almost a whole pack. Are birth control pills ruining my orgasms? Will I ever get my orgasms back?

Can pregnant women become infected with STDs?

STDs & Pregnancy - CDC Fact Sheet

Can pregnant women become infected with STDs?
Yes, women who are pregnant can become infected with the same sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as women who are not pregnant. Pregnancy does not provide women or their babies any protection against STDs. The consequences of an STD can be significantly more serious, even life threatening, for a woman and her baby if the woman becomes infected with an STD while pregnant. It is important that women be aware of the harmful effects of STDs and know how to protect themselves and their children against infection.

The Problem With Virginity Pledges

By Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Virginity. It seems like such a straightforward concept, but ask any ten people what it means and you'll get ten different answers. Despite this, the importance of virginity is stressed by many groups, and by abstinence only sex education programs. These programs frequently encourage teenagers to maintain their virginity rather than giving them comprehensive information about safer sex.

Can I get an STD from having sex with a virgin?

By Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Question: Can I get an STD from having sex with a virgin?

Answer: Yes, you can get an STD from having sex with a virgin. Even if it is a virgin's first time having vaginal intercourse, it doesn't mean that they have never been exposed to an STD. Many individuals consider themselves to be virgins even if they've had oral sex and anal sex — both of which are risk factors for acquiring an STD. This is, in fact, one of the main problems with virginity pledges, and it's why they are not a particularly useful tool in a sex educator's arsenal.

Sex and Pregnancy

By Connie Matthiessen and Melanie Haiken

Don't let pregnancy put a damper on an intimate life with your partner. Many parents-to-be fear that intercourse could trigger a miscarriage or somehow harm the baby. But unless you have a high-risk pregnancy, you don't have to worry: Sex poses no danger to either the mother or the child.

I Wasn’t Ready to be a Grandma!

Written by Joan Giesbrecht

“Mom, embrace it!”

My initial response to Amber’s words were, “Yeah, right, that’s easy for you to say.” But within seconds I thought, “She’s right. I really don’t have any other choice.” But with that “embrace” has come anguish as we’ve grieved but also much joy as we’ve seen God’s blessing in both the journey and the arrival of this precious little boy. While this event may have surprised all of us, it didn’t surprise God. Before the foundation of the earth He knew all about this journey. I want to share some of it with you.

Six Pregnancy Myths Revealed

Author: Stef Daniel

You are pregnant. Normally, this means that you are undeniably privy to hearing all the old wives tales, myths, and secrets to pregnancy that range from revealing the sex of your baby to how much hair your baby will have upon delivery. So really, what is true and what is not?

1. Does Carrying Low Mean I am Carrying a Boy?

Is it true that having sex can make a full-term pregnant mom go into labor?

The BabyCenter Editorial Team

No – but this is a powerful myth.

Over the years, some pregnant women, midwives, and doctors have suggested that having sex near the end of pregnancy might help bring about the onset of labor. One theory was that the hormones present in semen (prostaglandins) and the contractions of orgasm would stimulate the cervix. But studies have shown no such link.