Author Archives: Felicia Alvarez
Kirk Cameron and Tolerance
It’s interesting that my last post was about tolerance and just last week we had a wonderful current example of a celebrity figure practicing biblical tolerance. Here is some of what Kirk Cameron said during an interview on the Piers Morgan show when Piers Morgan asked Cameron what he’d tell his kids about gay marriage.
Cameron responded, “I’d tell my children what I believe myself…I believe that marriage was defined by God a long time ago. Marriage is almost as old as dirt and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage, and I don’t think anyone else should, either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”
Morgan then inquired whether Cameron thinks homosexuality is a sin, and the actor replied, “I think that it’s unnatural, that it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”
Naturally, his comment caused quite a stir in our “tolerant” free-speech society. Here is Cameron’s response to the backlash:
The only way to properly answer these kind of questions is to begin the discussion with another question: Is life and sexuality sacred or are they not? If they are, then God has something to say about these things. If not, then everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the matter.
I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America. I should be able to express moral views on social issues – especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years – without being slandered, accused of hate speech and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.
In any society that is governed by the rule of law, some form of morality is always imposed. It’s inescapable. But it is also a complicated subject, and that is why I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect.
Praise God for men who stand for God’s word and practice biblical tolerance! Preach Truth in Love.
From My Bookshelf
Tolerance. A word of many meanings. Co-authors Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler define it well in their book. They share that tolerance today has a very different meaning than in did years ago. They call today’s tolerance the “new tolerance,” which is also the title of their book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it interesting that this book was written over ten years ago, warning of how tolerance would destroy our society, and now we are experiencing much of what they predicted. Here are some of my favorite quotes found in the book:
“But Eve decided that wasn’t good enough for her. Enticed by the serpent, she determined that she wasn’t going to let God tell her what was good and what was bad; she would make that decision herself … As Christian apologist and author Ravi Zacharias points out, when she and her husband ‘questioned the reality of His voice and supplanted it with their own authority, they made themselves the measure of all things.’ They set themselves up in God’s place and took something that belonged only to God: the power to decide what is good and what is evil.”
“If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we mean that which always applies [to all people], that which provides a final or ultimate standard. There must be an absolute if ther eare to be morals, and there must be an absolute if there are to be real values. If there is no absolute beyond man’s ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions.” -Dr. Francis Shaeffer
Tolerance says, “You must approve of what I do.” Love responds, “I must do something harder; I will love you, even when your behavior offends me.
Tolerance says, “You must allow me to have my way.” Love responds, “I must do something harder; I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk.”
Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks. Tolerance is indifferent; love is active. Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything. – Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
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Introducing…
Many of you have asked for more information about my videographers. So, I wanted to introduce you to them briefly. (to watch the video go to my video page).
Last month, a friend introduced me to Chantillie Cabrera, a wonderful young Christian woman gifted in film. In 2005 she and her family founded Badcab productions, a family owned and operated video production and media service. Their slogan is “Taking Every Moment Captive.”
Chantillie wears many hats, in addition to co-founder she is the the producer and editor. Working with Chantillie and her family was a wonderful experience! They are professional, punctual, and keep the recording environment pleasant and fun. I hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with them again! It is so encouraging to see a Christian family in the arts and entertainment industry. Visit Badcab productions website for more info
Some shots from the shoot.
They are also wonderful photographers! All of these photos were taken by the Cabrera sisters.
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)
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Fearless
Fearless…
No, I’m not talking about Taylor Swift 
Far from it.
I just wanted to take a minute to comment on a fearless leader.
Fearless means unafraid, bold, brave, courageous, dauntless … and all of these words describe Pastor Voddie Baucham. He’s long been known for his dedication and obedience to God’s word, even when it means going against the cultural grain. A few days ago, he did something that most pastors would never dream of doing. He wrote a blog post on politics.
I respect him for doing this. I’ve always felt like it was a major no-no for anyone in ministry to talk about politics (could risk your popularity), but never felt like it was right. So, I am glad that Pastor Baucham broke this unspoken Christian ministry taboo and shared his opinion.
I’m glad that he makes it clear that his hope is not in politics or candidates, but in Christ. And I’m glad that he is transparent enough to let us into his reasoning of who he is voting for and why. More Christians should speak up. Not forcibly, but transparently.
We need more fearless Christian leaders. Men not swayed by cultural Christianity or man’s opinion, but only concerned with God’s opinion.
Want to read Pastor Baucham’s blog? Click here.
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:
