A Second Generation of Homeschooling

Jul. 24, 2008

Why Does America Have Orphans If It Has Christian Churches?

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

Wow! This was a great read! I am not sure I agree with this 100%, but this article is both passionate and thought provoking.

Why Does America Have Orphans If It Has Christian Churches?

America has nearly 115,000 orphaned kids in foster care waiting to be adopted. Some wonder how this is possible in a country with Christian families. Surely, there are 115,000 missional families in America, right? Missional families, for example, embrace the redemptive mission of God and practice "true religion" in their local communities (James 1:27). Missional Christians in America could eliminate the foster care system tomorrow if we would stop "shootin' up" with the American Dream (heroine) in order to get high on a lame life lived for the sake of comfort and ease.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," writes James (1:27). As a matter of fact, the Bible has over 40 verses mandating God's people to look after orphans and the fatherless for various reasons.

According to the American Religious Identity Survey, conducted by the City University of New York, there are over 224 million Christians in the United States. So, why are there 115,000 orphans in a country that has over 224 million Christians?

Since God's people have always been called to live missionally we are not surprised to see that James is not saying anything new. "When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow" (Deuteronomy 24:21).

Let's break this down further. The Washington Times reports that there are about 65 million evangelicals in America. So, again, why are there 115,000 orphans in America's foster care system? Does this mean that there are 65 million people missing huge sections of their Bibles? Would someone please alert Crossway and Zondervan!

Historically, the early church was known for taking in their culture's orphans and the needy. This is such an ancient tradition of the church (except for post-1960s American evangelicals) that Pope Benedict XVI even talked about it in his first encyclical "God is Love." He writes, "the Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word. . . Justin Martyr in speaking of the Christians' celebration of Sunday also mentions their charitable activity, linked with the Eucharist as such. Those who are able make offerings in accordance with their means, each as he or she wishes; the Bishop in turn makes use of these to support orphans, widows, the sick and those who for other reasons find themselves in need, such as prisoners and foreigners. The great Christian writer Tertullian relates how the pagans were struck by the Christians' concern for the needy of every sort."

Sadly, some of you are now more concerned about the fact that I quoted a Pope than you are about his actual point. Here's the deal: pagans were introduced to Jesus because Christians were taking care of the needy in obedience to Scripture. Taking care of the needy is not done only for the sake of evangelism. Practicing "true religion" is an extension of the kinds of Kingdom-oriented, salt and light, truth-bearing, grace-filled, Jesus-loving people who live to treat other people the same way God treats them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We were all orphans and God adopted us in his family, remember? "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Rom 8:14-16). As such, the best possible home for an orphan is in a home where a family is following Jesus together as former orphans themselves.

If your church is not cultivating an ethos that practices "true religion" it may not be missional at all. It may be dying or sinking into a consumeristic, entertainment quicksand where people come to have their "felt needs" stroked. Your pastor might wear "cool" clothes, have a "cool" blog, or be in the process of trying to make God and Jesus androgynous but God seems to care that his people are being led by capable men who lead the rest of God's people in bringing the Kingdom to their local neighborhood in all its forms.

While not all Christians are gifted or equipped for taking in orphans it's pretty convicting that 65 million American evangelicals can't rescue 115,000 kids from an unstable hell. If the pagans in our neighborhoods aren't struck by how our churches are applying the Word of God to the needy it's possible that we aren't the real deal yet. May we all pray that our churches are soon as mature as James commends. The revolution continues. . .

Anthony recommends: Bethany Christian Services (a Christian adoption agency operating in the US and abroad; www.bethany.org ) and Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children by Dr. Robert A. Peterson.

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Mar. 31, 2008

Response to "Anonymous" on the Oprah Denies Christ Post....

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I recently received an anonymous comment from someone on my post about Oprah and her denial of Christ being the ONLY way to Heaven. I would like to respond to this person, hoping and praying that he/she will read this and then see the TRUTH that Jesus gave us in His Word.

Anonymous said, "It's really quite amazing how your blindness keeps you from seeing the wonderful things that people who don't believe in your god do. I'm ashamed to know that ignorant people like yourself are so self-righteous, so blind, and unfair towards those. Your god of love asked you to love "thy neighbor" as yourself... to love your enemies... to be kind and caring toward any human being. But you tweak your bible the way you need to it, just so you can discriminate against anyone who doesn't fit into your little shoebox christian views. "

John 14:6 says, "Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

Matthew 7:13-23 "Enter through the narrow gate ["shoebox"]. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them......"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

That is or should be a scary thought for those who do not believe in Jesus being the ONLY way! Many will believe that they are on the road to Heaven, but many will not make it.

Like Oprah, many APPEAR to be godly, but sadly they will not be with us in Heaven someday unless they decide to believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 says, "In the end times....People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. "

Oprah is one who has that form of godliness, but she vehemently denies the power of God and eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Many will appear to be godly, but many do not know the one TRUE God.

Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or Lord! Which one is He if He told us that HE is the only way to God? I pray that everyone who reads this will make the right decision and believe! Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

PLEASE take the time to watch this. It is long, but it is SOOOO good! You can listen to it in the background while doing something else!

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Mar. 29, 2008

Beware of Oprah's Lies! Christians, Wake Up!

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I know there are a quite a few Christians who watch Oprah regularly or semi-regularly. The problem with this is HUGE, because when you surround yourself with this kind of "teacher" you will become like them, even if the intention is not to do so. Remember what Jesus said and PLEASE be forewarned by what Jesus says in Luke 6:40, "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher." Oprah is not a Christian and she is leading MANY down a road of spiritual darkness. If you watch Oprah at all, please do not continue! Immerse yourself in GOD'S HOLY WORD and flee this type of darkness! ~ Lisa

Oprah's new online class covering Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth...

Oprah Denies Christ

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Jan. 28, 2008

Embracing Your Sacred Calling

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

Below are excerpts from Passionate Housewives Desperate for God. Click here for your own copy! It will challenge and bless you! ~ Lisa

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustomed ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." ~ Martin Luther

"Of course, much of the work would agree that being a housekeeper is acceptable as long as you are not caring for your own home; treating men with attentive devotion would also be right as long as the man is the boss in the office and not your husband; caring for children would even be deemed heroic service for which presidential awards could be given as long as the children are someone else's and not your own." ~ Mrs. Dorothy Patterson

"Even those of us moms who have chosen to go against the grain can still be filled by feminism's lies. We can be lured by the insidious notion that being separated from our home and little ones is a good thing.....[they go on to mention that this can even mean a "mothers morning out"]" ~ Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"When we recognize and fully embrace our calling, we are finally free to truly enjoy it; we're able to experience contentment in the uniqueness of our role and achieve overwhelming victory in our homes and lives!" Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"He [God] had a heavenly plan for the expansion of His Kingdom that would include generations and generations of fruitful families continuing from the godly one-flesh union of one man and one woman [Genesis 1:28]" Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"The text of Scripture is straightforward and unequivocal:a woman's duties are to be home-centered....As families shrink...we also see the breakdown of the family and the disintegration of the God-ordered home - yet too often we don't see the connection...her ministry is her family...being a keeper at home is a holy mission....women are to passionately undertake it." Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"The household is the God-ordained seat of education...The home has always been the God-ordained primary focus for daily worship." ~ Doug Phillips

"Using our gifts and talents to glorify God in our role as helpers to our husbands...imparts a quiet lesson to a watching world and communicates true contentment in the loveliness of womanhood." Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"We must daily sculpt our children into Kingdom treasures (Psalm 144:12)" Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

"[children] are probably the only gift (Deuteronomy 7:13-14) that we no longer desire in abundance....Imagine the blow to the enemy if all Christian families were to embrace the sanctified reward that is theirs and welcome more children into their families - faithfully training them up for His glory - multiplying godly families who 'Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations' (1 Chronicles 16:24)" Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

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Jan. 28, 2008

You Mean Its Not All About Me?

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I just finished reading Passionate Housewives Desperate for God and I just LOVE what it has to say! I highly recommend it. Vision Forum has it on clearance now, so if you don't have it, click HERE to get your copy!

"The enemy of our souls knows that if he can't convince us that God's ways are wrong, he can at least try to convince us that we've misunderstood what God has said....Biblical motherhood means sacrifice, selfless love, and faithful dedication....To recognize our purpose in motherhood, we must see the godly generations beyond our own children....we must die to ourselves on a minute-by-minute basis...Do you feel like you've been losing your life lately? Perhaps you've made the mistake of trying to save it." ~ Passionate housewives Desperate for God

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers." 2 Timothy 4:3

".....they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." John 12:43

"BEWARE lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. " Colossians 2:8

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Jan. 24, 2008

Thoughtful Thursday - Comments Welcome!

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

Think on this......

"If we find ourselves in a position where we feel that serving our families gets in the way of serving Christ's Kingdom, then we should fall on our faces and repent, because, chances are, if we're not serving the Kingdom, we're serving ourselves instead.....living for self will only keep us further from that true joy we're after as women" ~ Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

What does Matthew 24:45 have to say about this? "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?"

What about Matthew 25:45? "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the word and faith from which the obedience of the work flow." ~ Martin Luther

Please share your comments!

~ Lisa

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Jan. 24, 2008

Following God's Commands Brings PEACE! Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God!

Posted in Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I was reading "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" last night and this verse popped out on the page.

Isaiah 55:3 "Listen that you may live." The word, live, is translated literally, meaning "enjoy life; rebuild; be preserved and live anew."

If we simply LISTEN and PUT INTO ACTION what the Word says, we will find the peace that passes all understanding. We will enjoy life. We will rebuild ourselves and our family. We will be preserved. And we will live anew! Wow!

Now, will that spur you into ACTION! READ the Word, LISTEN and DO what He commands! Is that so hard? Yes, but the reward will be GREAT!

~ Lisa