I knew that once I wrote those posts about bringing children to church, I would experience some difficulties as a result of spiritual warfare. I was right. The very next Sunday was the one that hubby was away. I took the easy road and left my 3yo in Sunday school for the church hour. I used the excuse that I was tired. It backfired. One, I felt guily the entire service, and two...

Once I brought him back into service the following Sunday, he had an incredibly hard time. It was like he was on a sugar high and couldn't contain himself. I haven't had to deal with behavior like that from in him in church for months. I had to take him out several times for a talking-to and some discipline.

Anytime we stand up for something that we believe in, we need to expect to be attacked. Some of the time it will be by people, but many times it will be by Satan. The things that we seem to have under control will start unraveling. All it means, is that we must continue to rely on Christ at all times and for all direction. I felt directed to write those posts, so I know that the He can accomplish something good from last SUnday's complete meltdown.

Be sure to check out my first post in this series here.

Recently,  I discussed the argument that children in church are a distraction. Today, I'd like to talk about whether or not children being in church is beneficial for them. Many churches offer children's church in an attempt to teach them about God in a child-friendly manner. They want the church experience to be 'fun' so that the child will associate pleasure with going to church.

There is nothing wrong with having fun, and there is definately nothing wrong with having fun at church.  I do believe that children's church can be beneficial to certain people at certain times. However, I believe that the most beneficial way for a child to learn about Christ and His church is beside his parents, and that the children's church is often a product of the modern entertainment mindset of most churches.

My parents tooks us to church from the very beginning. I loved going to church. I love the people, the smell, the singing, all of it. It felt like home. Church never was an obligation, until I got older. As a child, I recall both attending children's church and staying in big church with my parents. Even though I would sometimes fall asleep, I have fond memories of watching my mom and dad sing together in front of the church, and of watching my mom lift her arms as she sang next to me. I even remember telling God that I would try really hard to keep my eyes closed the entire prayer. It rarely happened, but I was sure proud when it did!

When we refuse to allow children to worship besides their parents, we are robbing them of these early experiences of learning how to worship through watching the adults around them. Children learn mostly by watching and observing. What do they learn, through observation, when we send them away to their own "specialized" worship service.

We teach them that big church is boring, that they need to be entertained and have fun in order to enjoy the word of God.

I believe this can lead to some of the emergent church ideas that are going around right now. Young adults are tired of "their parent's church". They don't know why they are rebelling, but they know they don't want what their parents had. And who should blame them, their parents taught them from an early age that they didn't want them either...by shuffling them off to another room to be taught by another adult.

This has led to a huge growth of young churches filled with nothing but 20 somethings and 30 somethings. The generational gap is getting larger, and our young people are simply not comfortable interacting with people of different ages.  TItus 2 is very clear that the older members of the church are to disciple the younger. A man isn't considered an elder until he has successfully raised a family. Yet many churches have unmarried men, men with no children, and men with young children as elders. I don't believe these men truly fit the description of "elder".

I think this is a big reason that the modern church is failing. When we seperate everyone, there is no teaching and no learning. Older christians refuse to mentor and disciple younger Christians, because they expect the church to offer some program to do it in their place. The younger generation wants to be entertained, they reject the "old paths", and they don't serve and respect their elders.

Is taking children to church benefical to them? No. Its beneficial to the entire church. Doing this one thing can lead to a major change in our modern churches. If you are interested in getting your little ones out of children's church, then stay tuned for another post that has some practical ideas on how to do it...without too much stress.

Most Christians have pondered the hypothetical scenario that has come to be the benchmark of a person's faith. The scenario is as follows: If someone were holding a gun to your head and told you to deny Christ and live...what would you do?

I believe that, while the above scenario would be a serious test of a person's faith, it is not the test that most of us need to be worrying about. Why? Because most of us will never face a madman with a gun to our head. But many of us daily face the enemy and his minions and the lies that they whisper in our ears.

"God doesn't love you or you wouldn't be going through this."

"God isn't here with you."

"Can't you feel my presence more than His? Where is He, if he loves you so much?"

The true benchmark of our faith is how we responds to the lies that are being fed to us by Satan. When desperation kicks in, and everything around us is falling apart, do we entertain these thoughts? Do we question God over and over again, accusing Him of not loving us or not helping us? Do you we tell Him how angry we are with Him and the circumstances that He has divinely allowed?

I believe that when we do these things, we are essentially denying Christ.

I'm not saying that moments of helplessness and hopelessness won't come, believe me, I've had more than my share. BUT...when the circumstances are beyond our control and not to our liking, we must remember the TRUTH and stop denying it by believing lies.

God is always with us. We must stop asking Him where He is. He is everywhere. He has given us the Holy Spirit. So, at all times, even frightening, painful times, He is with us in two forms, God the father and God, the Holy Spirit. We must believe that. God loves us. His love is so great that He sacrificed His son for our benefit. We may not always feel loved, but the heart is deceptive. We must not be deceived.

We must stop denying Christ. No, there's no gun at our heads. But our lives are at stake. If we can't fight the spiritual forces around us, what makes us believe that we could remain strong under the threat of death?

Remember a few weeks ago, I posted about Oprah and her new age beliefs? Well, here are some clips that use HER WORDS to prove that she is by NO means a follower of a Christ. She is leading people astray and CHristians everywhere are falling hook, line, and sinker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA

Choose for yourselves this day who you will follow. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Read this charter that is trying to get passed in the UN. Then, forgive me while I go throw up.

http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/2000/10/the_earth_charter.html

I truly believe that environmentalism is being used as a way to gain control over individual's freedoms. If we can be scared with science (however false it may be) to believe that our world is dying and that we can control the rate of its death, then we'll do anything to secure our future. However, the Bible has already told us that the earth is dying and that its death is inevitable. No matter how GREEN we go, we are not going to save the planet. But, hey, maybe I'm just a pessimist.

One way environmentalists plan on securing the future of the planet is by using population control. We've seen in coutries like China, where population control in enforced, that it leads to more abortions, more infant murders, and less sanctity of life. I just can' align myself with a group of people who care more for trees than they do humans. Population control goes directly against God's command to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth.

So, everytime you hear the word GREEN on tv and see the ridulous propaganda that is being sold, think of me and how I'll never be green. I plan on populating our world with little carbon-emitters and enjoying the life that they will live, even if that life somehow harms our fragile Earth. I plan on believing God rather than science, and I plan on living my life to help save souls, not planets.

A friend of ours was on Dr.Phil this week.  Ed Ainsworth is an abstinence speaker. He speaks around the country at youth events and at high schools. Dr.Phil and almost the entire audience were unhappy with Ed's opinion (hm...should I say the Bible's?) that the safest sex is NO sex. At one point in the show Ed asked Dr.Phil if two kids came to him and said they were going to have sex, would he tell them not to do it or would he hand them a condom. Dr.Phil said he would hand them a BOX of condoms.

This is what I don't understand. Why are people so intent upon protecting their children from the consequences of sin? If two kids came to me and told me that they were going to have sex, I'd tell them not to, and give them all the reasons why. Then I'd pray like crazy that if they did it anyway, God would use WHATEVER means necessary to get them to stop, be it pregnancy or STD.

Sounds harsh, but we can't be so worried about the consequences of sin, that we forget the sin itself.

As for Oprah, she's on my hit list today because she is spreading lies about Jesus via a radio-show called "New Age Christ" on XM radio. What's so scary about this is that many CHristians think Oprah is a Christian, so they won't question what she's saying. Just because she mentions Jesus doesn't mean she's a Christian. She also mentions the universe, and many other new age ideas.

Christians need to get informed about how far the New Age philosophies have infiltrated our world and our church. Check out the site http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/. It has great info about all sort of anti-Biblical practices.

My hubby came home from church with the catering rider from the band that our church will host in a few months. The band is a somewhat famous Christian band, but will remain annoymous for the sake of their dignity.

A catering rider is a four thousand page document that spells out the details of the food to be made available to the band and crew when putting on a show. It covers everything from meals to snacks, and how hot each one should be. They are really ridiculous pieces of legal mambo-jumbo.

While I understand the need for these documents, I still got a good laugh at some of the request made by this particular band. The funniest part of the rider was the following:

POST SHOW CATERING

After the show please provide: 1/2 (one half) gallon of organic 2% milk, 1 (one) box of cereal, an assortment of fresh fruit (bananas, apples, oranges) a 10 (ten) pound bag of ice, and 1 (one) case of bottled, non-carbonated spring water.

So, everytime this "band" puts on a show, the dudes munch out on cereal and milk. But, not just any milk...organic milk! WOW. Of course, they don't put what TYPE of cereal to buy, so wouldn't it be hilarious if the church purchases Peanut Butter Captain Crunch, full of sugar, additives, and otherwise yummy-but-bad-for-you stuff to go with the band's organic milk. Hm.

I'm really lacking in Christian fellowship. My husband says its because I expect too much of people. I am not a high-maintenance friend. I don't have to talk to a friend on the phone everyday or go out often. However, he says that I expect to find someone who believes like I do. 

For one reason, as a homeschooler mother, only another homeschooler mother is ever going to understand my life. Not that I can't be friends with non-homeschoolers. My closest friends are not homeschoolers. But, in those friendships we don't discuss homeschooling. We discuss their educational methods, but I tiptoe around the subject of homeschooling. Quite simply, they won't understand. What's the point of bringing up the struggles, the joys, the problems that need solutions when they don't have the foggiest idea of what it means to homeschool?

I know I sound like a complainy-whiny woman. I just really want a local, real-life, homeschooling mom that I can talk to. I need to share battle stories, get new ideas. I need to find a kindred spirit. Oh yes, I'm refering to Anne of Green Gables!

Of course, there is the homeschool group that I joined this year. We went to one park day, and it was so stressful. All of the moms gathered in one area of the park and let their kids go play in another.  I couldn't take care of the little ones, watch my oldest, and have conversation with the other moms.

Okay, enough whining....God has my back. He knows what I need and He'll be faithful to provide for me.

Apparently the "religious ferver" of us concerned parents has worked. The Not-So-Golden Compass didn't fare too well at the box office last weekend. Which makes me wonder why Christians don't realize that God blesses when His people strive to be Holy and set apart.  Instead of engaging the culture, we need to unplug from the culture and "engage" the people. You don't have to read their books, listen to their music, think their thoughts, or vote their politics to witness to them.

     Recently, I listened as my friend spoke of the difficulties she was having in a certain area.  I realized that any advice I offered her would fall on deaf ears, because she is completely blind to what is occuring. Life is like that.  The areas in which we need help the most  are the areas that Satan has completely decieved us.  We can't even see that there is a problem in order to fix it.

     I thanked God that I wasn't blind in the same area as this friend, and was immediately rebuked.  He reminded me of the verses in Luke that speak of a Pharisee thanking God that he wasn't a sinner. We all have our blind spots. Obviously, I don't know what mine is, but I'm hoping that the Lord will reveal it to me. Perhaps today, we can seek God's face and ask Him to start revealing where our blind spots are.

Watch this video about The Golden Compass and its sinister message.  The link is http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=6af64eef3b0795b775ec.

The following is a letter written by my friend, Camille. 

------------------------------------------------

Hello Friends,

If you have not already read some of the exerts from the Catholic League's "The Golden Compass Agenda: Unmasked", I encourage you to do so.  Especially the storyline and "quotes pulled from the second book "The Subtle Knife" and the third book "The Amber Spyglass" as well as quotes toward the end of the pamphlet of what the author says about himself.

For in reading these, you will find things like God being an old man who cannot die..."And if that is his condition, wouldn't it be the most merciful thing, the truest proof of our love for God, to seek him out and give him the gift of death?[1].

Listen oh Church, our God is El Chay (The Living God). 

Or how "The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty -- those were all names he gave himself.  He was never the creator.  He was an angel like ourselves the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are, and Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself."[2]. 

How twisted.  Or how about when he crosses the line, talking about sexually mutilating children as done through the church!!!  Yes, it does explicitly say that...this comes from one of the main characters in the series "Lord Asriel", discussing the General Oblation Board severing children's daemons (demons):  "There was a precedent, Something like it had happened before.  Do you know what the word castration means?  It means removing the sexual organs of a boy so that he never develops the characteristics of a man.  A castrato keeps his high treble voice all his life, which is why the Church allowed it: so useful in Church music."[3] (emphasis mine)

 Can you imagine a ten, twelve or even 14 year old reading this???  I had to throw this one in, speaking of Lord Asriel again:  "There was a time when he thought of making it an issue of force [rebellion and overtaking the Church], but he turned away from that...it's my belief that he turned away from a rebellion against the Church not because the Church was too strong, but because it was too weak to be worth fighting...I think he's waging a higher war than that.  I think he's aiming a rebellion against the highest power of all.  He's gone a-searching for the dwelling place of the Authority Himself, and he's a-going to destroy Him."[4] (emphasis mine)

 Is this sounding at all familiar to anyone else???  And for the last quote about sexual mutilation of children (yes, in a "children's" book): "Let me tell you what is happening and who it is that we must fight.  For there is a war coming.  I don't know who will join Whit us, but I know whom we must fight.  It is the Magisterium, the Church.  For all its history...it's tried to suppress and control every natural impulse.  And when it can't control them, it cuts them out...I have traveled in the south lands.  There are churches there, believe me, that cut their children too...not in the same way, but just as horribly.  They cut their sexual organs, yes, both boys and girls; they cut them with knives so that they shan't feel.  That is what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling.  So if a war comes, and the Church is on one side of it, we must be on the other."[5]
Oh, there is a war coming Church, whose side will you be on???

We [the Church] relinquished with Harry Potter, although I don't have the faintest idea why, as magic (power that comes from satan) is expressly forbidden for God's people.  "Well, we only watched it. We don't believe in or practice magic or witchcraft or sorcery."   

Psalm 101:3 "I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me." 

Yet, how has Harry Potter "clung" to your mind?   I could go on ALL day with scripture after scripture.  Yet, many Christians gave in and watched and read and devoured.  Look what God's Word says about this, Revelation 18:4 "I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (emphasis mine)

We are reaping the consequences of our "playing the harlot" with the world.   Oh, I pray the Lord open your eyes if you are desensitized to any of the above.  They are talking in this series about a war coming.  A WAR coming!  Yes, beloved in Christ, it IS coming.  Will Christ find you as the radiant Bride at His coming?  Or playing around with the harlot of this world?

Now, if you have made it this far through all my words, I'm sure you are one seeking to be like the Bride.  God revealed something to me today.  We are not wrestling with flesh and blood (Phillip Pullman) as Paul says in Ephesians, but the demonic influence behind Pullman.  What if, now hang with me here, what if, yes, we boycott those who sell tickets to this or sell childen's toys for this, but what if we with EVEN MORE fervor, PRAY for Pullman's salvation????  What a testimony to the WORLD if he was saved.  What if the 1,000's of people who are forwarding this on, hearing it spoken of in the Church, taking a verbal stand against it, what if all those people united in prayer for salvation of one man????  I believe he would be saved.  Because the Lord does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).  And if just one person prayed for his salvation, the chances are it would not happen, because this man is strong in his anti-christian beliefs. 

But if 1000's prayed???  We know that the more people are praying the more powerfully the prayer is answered.  Matt. 1819 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."   How much more if 10, 100 or 1000 pray agreeing about what we are asking for?  Who will pray with me, every day for Pullman's salvation until Dec. 7th?   Will you commit with me?  For I believe not only that it will change the course of things with this movie, but with the author himself.

Remember beloved, the war is coming, even the unsaved know it.  Will we be ready?

In Christ's Love,

Camille

Footnotes:  1.  Philip Pullman, "The Amber Spyglass", p. 293-294.

                  2.  Ibid., p. 28.

                  3.  Philip Pullman, "The Golden Compass", p. 328.

                  4.  Philip Pullman, "The Subtle Knife", pp. 40-41.

                  5.  Ibid., pp. 44-45.

Take a look at this GodTube video. I've watched it half a dozen times, and I've cried each time. It is such a clear picture of what Jesus does for us.  It makes me want to jump back into youth work.  Especially when you realize what today's teenagers are struggling with everyday.  I know I have felt exactly like the girl in the video, even as a adult. 

I wanted to address the issue of eternal security that came up in the theological discussion from a few days ago. 

I was raised to believe that salvation could be lost.  Let me tell you, this is not a great way to learn about God.  I'm not trying to blame my parents or bad-mouth them in any way.  But as a believer in Christ, I have to present the truth.  To this day, I'm overly concerned with being "good" enough.  I believe much of that stems from the fact that my view of God was that He was just waiting for me to sin, so He could rip His salvation away from me.  Honestly, what's the point of Him offering people salvation, if it is only temporary?  It isn't really salvation, then, is it?

The following is a quote from the SBC Faith and Message:

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

 

Notice the qualifier in the beginning, "all true believers".  Many people who claim to be saved, are not "true believers".  This happens because salvation isn't taken seriously in some ways.  I've even talked to a mom, who believed that if she could just get her child to 'repeat after her' in a prayer of salvation, then he would be saved and secure forever.  This is a misrepresentation of the idea of "eternal security". 

When a person is truly born again or "regenerated", how is it possible for them to be un-born-again or un-regenerated?  It isn't.  A mother cannot stick a baby back into her womb and claim that it was never born.  John 5:24 says " I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."  How can we cross over from death to life and then cross back again?

Then comes the matter of sin.  People who belive that salvation can be lost, will often say "Well, what if a Christian murders?"  Well, what if a Christian worries?  Both are sins.  (Matthew 6:25)  Both are falling short of the glory of God.  Yet, we worry each day and are not afraid of losing our salvation over it.  We worry when we don't believe that God is powerful enough to fix our problems.  That seems to be just as "big" of a sin as murder.

Notice in the SBC quote, that we do believe there are consequences to sin.  We don't go around preaching that we can sin so that grace can abound.  We just don't believe that God will remove his grace from us because of sin.  Once He has given it to us, we belive He will remain faithful and "will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6).  Like any good father, He will use discipline to bring us back to obedience.

The bottom line is that if we are not capable of earning our salvation in the first place, then how will we ever be capable of maintaining our salvation?

First, if you are having trouble viewing my blog, let me know.  If it is loading slowly, please let me know.  I tried viewing it at my in-laws, and it was very difficult.  I might to change some things.

Second, thanks everyone for your comments.  I truly appreciate them all.  I'm definately going through a period of questioning, as one commentor wrote.  As I study theology, I'm surprised that so many young men come out of seminary and are still believers.  Theology, in itself, is so hard to understand and so devisive.  So, thank you for everyone who is helping me on this road to understanding.

Third, my MOM commented.  Check it out, if you already haven't.  I thought is was quite awesome, I might add.  My mom has a great testimony.  Hmmm...she should write a book?!

I'll have more to write about tomorrow.   Right now, we're folding laundry!  Woohoo!

    I've had some serious questions bouncing around in my brain for awhile.  It seems that everywhere I turn in the homeschool-quiverfull-conservative arena, I am met with reformed theology.  Let me say first, that I have no problem with reformed theology.  It is not what I believe.  I align the most with what is stated in "Southern Baptist Faith and Message", just so everyone knows where I'm coming from.  I don't want to stir up discord, but I do have some questions that I want to hash out.  Also, I may misuse the term "reformed theology".  I don't know if there is a difference between "reformed theology" and "Calvinism".  I don't use the latter term, because when it is used in Southern Baptist circles, it has such a negative conotation.  I don't want to bring any negativity into this post, just general curiosity.

        Why is family more important to those in the reformed church than it is to those in the Southern Baptist denomination?  Specifically, in the Southern Baptist denomination you find most families carting their kids to children church and childcare.  You find less cohesive famillies, weak fathers, overbearing mothers, rebellious kids.  Perhaps, I see all of this because I attend a Southern Baptist church.  If I attended a reformed church I might see this as well.  All I have to go on are the reformed ministries that are very family-oriented (aka Vision Forum), and many of the writers that I enjoy (Mary Pride.) 

         So, what is it in the reformed theology that promotes family-orientation?  Is it that the covenant of grace is passed down through families?  I've read this in some reformed denomination that practiced baby baptism.  I don't agree with this at all, but it would make sense that this belief would result in a family-oriented life.   If reformed theology doesn't promote evangelism, which I assume that it does not, then all the time that other denominations spend in evangelism would be used by the reformed to teach and train their children?  I'm just throwing thoughts out there.  I really would love some reader feedback.

        More importantly, why are Southern Baptist NOT concerned for their families.  My sister and I have discussed this a bit, and we belive it could be that the Southern Baptist denomination is so large, and probably filled with people who believe they are saved, but are not.  I mean, when you bring eternal security into your belief system (which I believe), and then prompt three and four year olds to "ask Jesus into their hearts" it is possible to end up with scores of people who think they are saved because they "said a prayer" when they were little.

     I'm probably not making much sense.  But all this theology can make your head spin.  I'm really just very disappointed with the Southern Baptist church (as a whole).  Most of us look no different than the world.  The families are falling apart.  One of my biggest problems, as I've worked in youth, and seen many teenagers of "upstanding"  church families rebel, is that it is normal for this kids to rebel.  Why am I working so hard on teaching and training my kids if they are just going to rebel anyway? 

    Ugh... so many thoughts.  We'd have to hit too many theological points for me to make any sense.  So, if you have any insight on why the reformed church is family focused and the Southern Baptist denomination is not, please let me know.

Gods had been tearing down some of my preconceived notions.  Would you like to watch as the walls crumble around me?

1. Homeschooling is the only way to get good kids - our friends' daughter goes to public school and is a stronger follower of Christ than my son.  Why?  Because she is faced each day with real problems that require her to take a stand.  Y'all probably didn't expect to hear that from me.  Here's the deal, these friends of ours are not your typical church-going Americans.  They are on-fire, Bible-believing, spiritual warriors.  Because of that, they don't shirk their responsibility to train up their kids in the ways of the Lord.  This momma has battled the PS about spiritual issues, and is not allowing her daughter to sit under wrong teachings.  So, the dreaded public school can actually graduate a few Bible-believing' folks, it’s just even more important for parents to be onto of their game when they send their kids to ps.

2. Homeschooling insures that my family will be Godly.- NO!  It’s just a method.  Listen, when you're with your kids ALL the time, they are going to see more of your good, bad, and ugly then their schooled-friends see of their parents.  Homeschooling only accentuates everyone's uglies.  So, you'd better be dropping before the throne in humility each day, because that's the only way that your family will turn out okay.  Homeschooling isn't an item on a Christian to-do list that will produce a godly family.   Loving God is all that needs to be done to have a Godly family, everything else flows from there.

3. Non-Believers are the enemy- There is only one enemy - Satan.  Unfortunately, he uses non-believers and believers alike to further his cause.  However, Jesus already has the victory, so why are we so afraid of Satan and non-believers in the first place?  Non-believers are the battleground, not the enemy.  Satan wants their souls and the only thing standing between them and eternal ****ation is us.  So, instead of trying to change their actions, we need to work on changing their hearts.

4. Wishy-washy Christians are the enemy - Okay, this one is a biggie for me.  I've said, many times on my blog, that I'm sick of lukewarm Christians.  And I am.  But they are not the enemy.  They, just like the lost, are being influenced and deceived by Satan (just as we all are to some degree) All the more reason for a stronger brother or sister in Christ to come alongside them, and LOVINGLY speak the truth.  The Bible

5. The Truth is The Truth no matter how its spoken - The truth is the truth, but it needs to spoken in love.   I have seriously failed in this area.  My personal frustrations with other Christians bled over into judgment and at some times, legalism.  We are absolutely required to call out our immoral brothers and even to preach "fire and brimstone", but we can do it in love.  Jesus did. 

        How we believe affects how we live.  My beliefs have been weighted down with the idea that I could "do" certain things to create a perfect home, a perfect family, and a perfect Christian legacy.  I don't want to live under that burden anymore.  A comment that I read from an atheist recently, really summed up why Christians are failing.  You can check out the comment and original post here.  For those that don't feel like clicking on that link, read the comment below.  This atheist spoke the TRUTH.

Coming from an atheistic standpoint, Christianity seems…so…fake.  Do people really believe in a god, or do they just kind of go along with all of it?  Why don’t people who say they believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing god act upon it?  Why don’t they witness without fear, knowing that god controls the thoughts and intentions of every person’s heart, bow down before him when they worship him, since an all-powerful god is so awe-inspiring (or should be), why do they worry and have stress in life if their god is all-powerful and their future is secure and infinitely better than here and now, and why do they mourn when a fellow believer dies?  None of it makes sense.  You shouldn’t even need the "Holy Spirit" living inside of you in order to witness without fear, because if you truly believe that a god exists, then you should be able to tell others about him without any fear because he is in control of everything, including the mind of the person you’re talking to.  To sum it up, all we atheists see is a bunch of people with a half-hearted belief in god.

My hubby has a heart for teenagers.  He has worked in youth for over ten years, and appreciates the transparency of teens.  One great resource that we were looking through last night, is Greg Stier's website.  Greg Stier is on a mission to preach the gospel to people everywhere.  He also wants to equip young people to preach the gospel to their peers.  His website and blog are great reads.  Check them out.

http://www.gregstier.org/

http://www.dare2share.org/ - Has tips on preaching the gospel to various groups (Wiccans, Buddhists, agnostics, etc.)

       Interesting culture debate going on over @ beliefnet.com.  Jerry Jenkins is one of the debators.  Check it out. http://blog.beliefnet.com/blogalogue/2007/10/questions-for-hanna-jeff-jerry.html#more 

     The more I learn about theology, and the beliefs of various Christian writers (term used loosely to define those published in the "Christian" market, not necessarily the reality of their faith in Christ), the less I want to venture into the Christian writing market.  Theology, in general, has a way of testing one's faith.  It has been nearly impossible for me to learn about the detailed views of various denominations and doctrines without wondering who has it right.  That leads me to question if I'm even worthy, in my limited understanding, of putting my beliefs on paper for others to read and, perhaps, to pattern their lives after.  Then I wonder about the beliefs of the writers that I enjoy so much. 

     As I began to be more familiar with the Christian writing market, and those who publish under the banner of Christianity, I've been even more pessimisstic about my future in this area.  It seems that many of the writers don't truly understand the responsibility to their readers.  I've read Christian romance novels that sprinkled Jesus among the flowers and still led the reader to have romantic, er, lustful thoughts.  Then there are the spectulative fiction novels that are trying to formulate an effective metaphor for Christ's redemption, yet are using occult, witcraft, and sorcery to convey the message.

     Don't writers have a responsibility to avoid stirring the sinful imaginations of their readers?  Shouldn't anything that a Christian writer writes, be done to edify, equip, and encourage the reader?  Are Christian writers not held accountable to the Matthew 18:6 principle of not causing another to stumble?  Yet, I see many writers seemingly unconcerned that their description of a woman's legs might harm a brother in Christ or that their flippant use of spells might lead a youngster to a lifelong fascination with the occult. 

       No matter who we are, writer or not, I think we have to remember that everything we do or say has an effect on those around us.  We must take seriously the way we influence others, especially if we are unwittingly causing others to stumble.

           This is long, so please be patient and read on.  There are many links at the bottom that will be helpful to you.

            Being a mother is an incredibly thought-provoking experience, full of many decisions each day.  These decisions need to be made thoughtfully and prayerfully.  I believe apathy and ignorance are rampant in the church. Because of this, most Christian mothers make decisions based on what their church-friends are doing, rather than based on the Word of God. No two Christian families are going to be just alike and make exactly the same decisions.  So please don't read what I have written as a judgement on those that make different INFORMED decisions than we do.  I do believe it is possible for two families to pray and research an issue and come to two different conclusions and both be in obedience to God.  However, those of you who are making decisions without becoming informed and seeking God's will need to realize that your lack of action in this area can destroy your families. (Hosea 4:6).   

          Having said that, I'd like to take the time to give other mothers some information about Halloween.  It comes every year, and is a struggle for many Christians.   Our Halloween journey has been a long one.  For the first few years of our son's life we enjoyed the typical Halloween experience of trick or treating.  We then became convicted that we shouldn't participate in Halloween because of its occultic and pagan origins.  However, we did what most Christians do and attended Christianized-Halloween celebrations that were nicknamed "fall festivals".  Some years we let our son dress up, other years we didn't.  Every year it brought about a time of trying to seek God's will and His truth.  Last year we finally allowed God to bring about his will for our family.  We have decided to not celebrate Halloween, in any way. 

                   I tell you our story because I know that this is a hard and stressful issue for parents, one that may take years to fully develop.  I don't know where you are in your journey. I don't know what the Lord or your husband is leading you to do.  All I want to do is to give you some information that will help you in making an informed decision.  Please beware that some of these sites are NOT Christian.  I wanted you to get a real picture of what people who follow Satan believe about this "holiday'.  Please take a moment to pray for protection and guidance as you look at these sites.

HALLOWEEN LINKS

What Wiccans believe about Halloween - a quote from the website...

" Halloween, plain and simple is our favorite time of year. A true time for witches, Witchcraft itself, and Wiccans alike who feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it's least guarded and it's veil the thinnest. "

What Witches, Satanists, and other Occultist Say About Halloween 

How To Pray on Halloween

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween - written by a former witch high priest

Annie's Halloween Links Page

Halloween Symbols

OCCULT LINKS

Here are some links to info about the occult and New Age stuff.  I don't have time to write a huge article about all of the subtle things that are being brought into many Christians homes.  Perhaps I'll try to later.

Christian Answers for the New Age - This site is run by a former astrologist who was involved in several occult practices.  She has a  HUGE collection of aritcles on everything from astrology, & yoga to popular cartoons and books.

Occult Symbols