More than a sleeve
I’m currently reading Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot (again!). I’ve read this book several times. I love how it is saturated in Scripture and provoking thoughts and has plenty of examples of how to live set apart for Christ.
Here is one nugget of wisdom she shares in her book:
My little niece Gallaudet Howard taught me something important when she was about three years old. Seeing that she was having difficulty with the sleeves, I asked her if I could help her put her dress on. “Oh, never mind,” she said. “Papa usually lets me struggle.” What kind of father is that? A wise one. Her father, my brother Tom, is also a very sensitive one, aware of the importance of struggle in the process of growth.
I found in my Greek New Testament that 1 Peter 5:10 could be translated, “After you have suffered for a while, he himself will mend that which was broken.” If all struggles and sufferings were eliminated, the spirit would no more reach maturity than would the child. The Heavenly Father wants to see us grow up.
That passage really made me think: Am I maturing through my struggles? Am I allowing God to work in me and mold me more into His image?
“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Considering Careers Before Spending 100K
A week after graduation, Laura was hauling her luggage back up to her bedroom at her parent’s house. Everything was just as she had left it before leaving for college. She surveyed the room with a sigh. She was happy to be home, but not too pleased about her professional direction. She wished that, before she had headed off to school for five years, someone had sat her down and told her that graduation is not synonymous with career direction.
Now Laura had her degree, but she still didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up. Everyone had encouraged her to “find herself” and “discover her passion” in college, but that led her in circles—trying class after class, searching for her niche.
She had started out in pre-med, wanting to be a sports medicine doctor. But once she reached organic chemistry, she decided that wasn’t for her. Then she switched to exercise physiology, figuring she could still work with athletes that way. But that too, didn’t seem quite right … a bit too demanding on her social life. So, she changed to pre-law—thinking she could be an attorney for athletes. However, she had trouble keeping up with all the writing. She finally settled on a sociology degree, hoping the right career path would fall into her lap before she graduated.
Well, here she was, five years and one diploma later and she still had no idea what career to pursue. What could she do with a degree in sociology, anyway?
Needing money to pay off her student loans, Laura applied for a department store job. After a few months of working there, she decided she wanted to go into business management like her dad. So, she deferred her loans (by taking out more) and went to graduate school to get a masters degree in something she could actually use.
Does this sound familiar?
Too many of us are jobless, directionless, with the wrong degree, and in thousands of dollars of debt.
The Scriptures encourage us, as Christians, to be good stewards. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:10-12, NIV)
Jesus calls us to be good stewards of our (and our parents’) money. College prices have skyrocketed! In just the last year, public in-state tuition increased 8.3 percent and private tuition increased 4.5 percent.[i] While housing prices have gone down, the cost of education has continued to rise. Although college dropouts like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs illustrate that college degrees are not necessary for success, the truth is, unless you’re going to start your own business, you probably need a degree. Most prospective employers today won’t even look at your resume if you don’t have a degree listed.
College is one of the largest investments we will ever make. So how can we make wise decisions about our education while being good stewards of our finances and time?
To read the rest of this article on Crosswalk click here
Lessons from Memories
Last week I said goodbye to my dog of thirteen years, Oreo. Some of you may be familiar with him from my writings. He was a wonderful dog—sweet, funny, and playful. I miss his big brown eyes and giant-always-wagging tail that so often knocked things (or small children) over.
I miss him.
I look out the windows into the backyard in search of his shiny black coat.
I listen for his bark.
I wish I could pat his head once more.
I still even look out for doggie bombs as I walk across the backyard.
I think of our walks.
I chuckle as I remember how much he hated his baths.
Losing Oreo made me realize that it’s the little things that build relationships. All of those unimportant moments add up to something significant. If this is true of a friendship with a pet, how much more applicable is this truth to family relationships?
It’s easy to take time spent with your family for granted
Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything.
This holiday season remember to treasure each moment. Whether it’s something routine or spontaneous, treasure it.
Capture it.
Cherish it.
I am Second
Wow! You have to watch this interview with this little actress. She is truly a light in a dark world.
Visit www.iamsecond.com
You will be inspired
Quote of the Week
“I believe people are as they think. The choices we make in the next decade will mold irrevocably the direction of our culture…and the lives of our children!”
-Francis Schaeffer
College Prep
So many kids lose their faith in college. I’ve seen statistics as high as eighty percent. Honestly, though, it doesn’t surprise me. I have personally watched friends and acquaintances slip, and some fall very far—abandoning God completely during (and after) college.
The worldly intellectual and societal pressures at secular universities are strong. However, now Christians also have to be wary of some Christian colleges as well. For example, some professors at Christian colleges declare that those who believe in the inerrancy of Scriptures are stupid.
It’s shocking.
It’s tragic.
But it’s the truth.
Reality is often a thing to face, but if we don’t face it, we will never be able to change it. I don’t know about you, but this is not a statistic I want to see continue to rise. I definitely don’t want my teens/college friends to become a part of this sad statistic. So, let’s reverse the trend. Let’s do something about it!
If we want to keep our faith, and make a difference for the Kingdom of God on campus and in the workplace, then we need to be equipped.
Here are some tools to help you with that process:
Books:
University of Destruction by David Wheaton
How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski ( I hope I spelled his name right!)
I read both of these during college and they’re great—offering very practical advice and knowledge.
Thriving at College by Alex Chediak – I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve heard good things about it. It’s on my “to read” list
DVD Series:
The Truth Project – great worldview curriculum!
True U – developed especially to prepare Christians for college. Watch their promo video below:
Interview with the founder of im2moro
It is so inspiring to know and talk with teens who are putting their talents and passion to work. Audrea Taylor is one of these teens. Although she’s only a junior in high school, she’s doing big things for God to preserve the principles our nations was founded on. Here’s a short interview with Audrea, founder of im2moro.
What is im2moro?
im2moro is a youth inspired organization, whose mission is to educate, inspire and train Americans through a creative youthful voice, in the preservation and promotion of the principles that made our nation great.
How old were you when you founded im2moro?
We launched im2moro at the Sean Hannity freedom concert in the fall of 2010. I was 15 at the time.
Why did you start it?
One evening while visiting a friend’s liberty discussion group, we noticed that even though we all called ourselves conservative Christians, our opinions varied greatly. While we disagreed on some issues, we could all agree on the fundamental principles of the constitution, that is if we knew them. That’s when several of us began to realize most people do not have a good understanding of these ideals.
What response did you receive from your peers?
Overall the response from my peers was very positive. They were excited that there was now a way for their voices to be heard. We have politicians in Washingtonwho are spending our future away, and it is energizing that we can be a voice to help get our country back to these principles.
Why do you think it’s so important for young people to be educated about these principles?
I believe it’s important because the only way to preserve The American Dream is to make sure the next generation knows the fundamental principles that make the dream possible. In order to do that, we have to translate these concepts into real life examples for today.
What response did you receive from adults?
The unique thing about im2moro is that it touches every generation. We had a great response from adults, because they care about the future of our nation for their kids and grand kids! They were so thankful and excited that youth are beginning to not only come to know and understand these principles but also communicate these ideas.
What is your vision for im2moro?
My hope is that one day im2moro will be synonymous with the ideals that make the American dream possible, influencing the way people think and influencing the way people vote.
What’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned since founding im2moro?
It’s taught me to be patient and know that God has perfect timing for everything even if I don’t completely understand it at the time. It has taught me to be bold, and not back down from the truth and it has also taught me that I cannot fight this battle alone. It will take many people, passionate and purposeful, along with God’s divine help, to realize our dreams for im2moro!
If someone is interested, how can they get involved?
Follow us on facebook, learn the principles, join us for events, lend your creative talents, and help us speak up and stand out!
For more information about im2moro visit the website by clicking here.
The “Just Friends” Dilemma
Life can be perplexing at any age. I am a twenty-something writing a book about the complexity of my generation’s relationships, so I’m always on the lookout for creative illustrations of confusion.
My spirited ninety-year-old great-aunt, Tia Carmela, speaks only Spanish. Although she did attend English classes for many years, for some reason, she never got past “How are you?” This language barrier often leads to confusion when we take her places where people only speak English — like my church.
One Christmas Eve, we invited Tia Carmela, who’s never been a regular church attendee, to a beautiful, serene candlelight service. I passed the communion plate down the row towards my great-aunt, and I proceeded to reflect on the seriousness of the moment. When the communion plate reached her, Tia Carmela, seeing the ample supply of crackers, grabbed a handful. Cupping them in one hand, she used the time generally spent in silence to chow down on them. I guess she was in need of a snack. And I was in desperate need of a pillow to suppress my laughter as her crunching echoed through the church.
To Tia Carmela communion was confusing, and she managed it the best she could. Modern relationships sometimes present us with a similar dilemma. The communion plate of opposite gender friendship is passed to us, and we don’t know how to handle it.
A Perplexed Generation
At one time, an exclusive friendship with a member of the opposite sex was significant; it indicated a relationship most likely heading towards marriage. But today, we’re confused. We make a jumble of it and often, in retrospect, look rather foolish. Let’s look at an example.
In addition to seeing Peter each Tuesday at the 20’s Bible study, Leila played tennis with Peter on Wednesdays and grabbed dinner with him after a jog around the lake on Fridays. She assumed, with all the time they spent together and the seemingly mutual attraction, that they were moving towards a serious relationship.
Peter, on the other hand, viewed Leila simply as a friend and he had no intentions of pursuing a romantic relationship. They both said they were “just friends,” but they each had a different definition of what that term meant…
To read the rest of my article on Crosswalk . com click here
Movie Money Matters
I’ve been blogging quite a bit about documentaries. But, let’s be honest here, we also love being entertained. So, I’m going to shift gears into a different genre. I am so impressed by how Christian films are beginning to flood the market and that their quality is steadily improving.
Yesterday, I went to see, Seven Days in Utopia. It was a good Christian film with a solid message—and for those of you who are not exactly golf fanatics (like me) don’t worry they don’t go overboard on the golfing scenes.
We need more movies like this one! But the Christian market is never going to gain Hollywood’s attention and turn the tide unless we hit their pocketbook. Here’s what Sydney Forest Taylor, from the Homeschool Movie Club, has to say about it:
Hollywood and Homeschoolers:
…I can see the same opportunity for homeschoolers to make a similar impact in Hollywood. It is an equally corrupt system that can be taken back…probably even easier than politics. The system of voting (ticket buying) is quite similar, and in some ways the Hollywood crowd is more honest about its corruption (unlike all the double lives politicians seem to live). The Hollywood formula is simple: they want to make money. The way it works is that opening weekend is EVERYTHING. It determines how much money they will get for TV buys, it dictates how many DVDs will be pressed and delivered to Wal-Mart, etc. So, your movie ticket on opening weekend is equivalent to a ‘vote’. And we all vote for what movies we want more of. If ‘Smurfs’ is the top-grossing movie of the weekend…we are sure to see more Smurf-like movies.
Strategy to Change:
The only way to make a strategic change is to be unified and represent ourselves as a group or a force that either goes or does not go to certain types of movies. When a movie comes along that has all the qualities we want more of…we need to go as ‘homeschoolers’ and identify ourselves as a valued audience of ticket buyers. If this occurs, the homeschooling community may even be consulted on early versions of scripts to see if it will appeal or offend, changes will be made if they realize they may exclude a buying force by leaving in a certain scene or using bad language…My hope is that we can follow the political model of homeschoolers and help take back the arts in a similar way!
I echo Sydney’s hope. I pray that Christians, of all educational backgrounds, will stand together in the world of entertainment and make a difference. That Hollywood will turn towards Christian principles and that more Christians will enter the movie industry and stay faithful to upholding biblical morals. And to those who are involved producing wholesome, God-honoring films—thank you and God bless!
So, let’s come together and rally behind the films that promote Christian values. Let’s make our money matter in the movie world. Will you join me?
IndoctriNation?
For children, school is their primary source of knowledge—the knowledge that they base their worldview on. But, exactly what worldview does the public school system teach? This is an important question, especially since the Barna Group reported that a child generally establishes their basic worldview by the age of thirteen.
Well, I’m pretty positive the schools don’t base their curriculum on biblical principles.
However, the most pressing question is: How is this affecting the children?
Colin Gunn, a Scottish filmmaker, tackles this question, along with many others, in a 90-minute documentary called “IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America.” He traces America’s educational system back to its roots.
What he discovers is a masterful design that sought to replace God’s recipe for training up the next generation with a humanistic, man-centered program that fragmented the family and undermined the influence of the Church and its Great Commission.
Part documentary, part testimonial — a confessional and a rebuke, this film is above all a challenge and an encouragement to millions of Christians who need to know what history, experience, and the Scriptures have to say about what is perhaps the pivotal issue of our time: the discipleship and training of the next generation. (quote from www.indoctrinationmovie.com)
I saw a preview of this movie in June and I highly recommend it. It is well-researched, with tons of interviews from a wide variety of scholars, professionals, leaders, and pastors. Watch it with an open mind. I know I learned quite a bit and it made me more passionate about keeping Christ central in all. Take the time to watch the full film. You won’t regret it.
You can start by watching the trailer . I’ll be sure to post more information when the DVD releases.
