The Government Can!

Let me know if this makes you laugh or cry? :-)

Civilian Army?

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This is frightening. I am sorry to have to share something so bad but Americans need to know about these things. We have to know what is happening around us.

Read this.

Glenn Beck - Current Events & Politics - Picture of the Day - August 28, 2009

Glenn Beck - Current Events & Politics - Picture of the Day - August 28, 2009

Shared via AddThis

Gadhafi, USA, And An Average Guy?

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Have you heard the news? I was shocked. Apparently, Gadhafi (yes, the Libyan dictator) wants to pitch his tent here in the USA! Can you believe it? Even more shocking is that someone (maybe the president) hasn't just said, "no, it isn't going to happen". Check out the story here, here, and here.

As a bonus check out what an average citizen had to say in 1961 about socialized medicine. This is amazing as it is so relevent today. You will probably recognize his voice. Gather the children around and wave your American flags. Click here.

Check Out Tim Hawkins

I just love this guy. He is so funny. We live in difficult times so it is really important to step away for a while and get a good laugh. Laughter truly is GOOD medicine. After you watch this video check out some more funny things at Tim Hawkins.net If that isn't enough for you I HIGHLY recommend his DVD "I'm No Rockstar". It was given to me by my wonderful family for my birthday. You won't regret that purchase.
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Have You Heard About This?

Have you heard about this bit of news? I have heard a lot about the man that killed the late-term abortionist but nothing about this. Just thought I would pass it on since the media seems to be holding it back. Click here to read the article. This is so sad for the 18 and 23 year old young men that have been taken from their family.

Frugality & Kids

I just found a great post on frugality and kids. This was presented in a very unique and interesting way. Check it out here.

Wise Bread

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I found a neat web site today and thought I would share it with you. A lot of people are working hard at living less expensively so I thought this might be worth checking out. Click here. I am adding it to my side bar also so you can check it out any time.

Don't Tread On Me!

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Did you know that a Louisiana man was detained by police for having a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker on his car. That's right... the police directly challenged this man for having an "extremist" (i.e. patriotic) bumper sticker! This is crazy! Would you have ever dreamed that would happen 10 years ago? 5 years ago? Even 1 year ago? The information below came to me in an email today. I wanted to share it with you. Join me as an official card-carrying "Right-wing Extremist"! I have already ordered mine!! Let me know if you order one too. Now, I want to get a bumper sticker AND matching flag. :-)

These are outrageous attacks and we need to throw them back in the face of our Nation's new ultra-left leadership.

=============
After all, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you and I are "right-
wing extremists."

A recent DHS Threat Assessment specifically listed pro-life, pro-veteran, and pro-Second Amendment citizens -- as well as those who simply believe in a limited federal government --
as terror threats!

Under pressure, Secretary Janet Napolitano removed the report from her agency's web site, but she has refused to repudiate it.

This outrageous report is symptomatic of the animosity our Nation's new leadership holds toward people of faith and patriots who love this country.

The same President who changed the "war on terror" to an "overseas contingency operation" and has removed "Islamic extremist" from his lexicon has instead put the bull's eye on America's people of faith and traditional values! Now WE are allegedly the terror threats!

Well, I've decided to match fire with fire...

+ + We're sending it right back at them!

I want to invite you to join me in throwing these outrageous attacks back in the face of our Nation's new ultra-left leadership by taking a simple step...

I want you to join me as an official Liberty Counsel card-carrying "Right-wing Extremist"!

Go here to request your complimentary card:

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=19197&RID=16601122

I want you to have the official laminated, wallet-sized card (personalized with your name) for two reasons...

First, our "Right-wing Extremist" card is a symbol of your personal rejection of the new administration's attacks against people of faith and those holding traditional values. You can join me in turning the tables on them by wearing the term "Right-wing Extremist" as a badge of honor!

If being pro-life, pro-faith and pro-veteran makes me an "extremist," then so be it!!

Second, I want you to have the phone number to our Liberty Counsel office in your wallet or purse at all times... just in case you are confronted in any way by a government agent who is hostile to your faith or your traditional values.

And it's already happening... just ask the man in Louisiana who was detained by police for having a patriotic bumper sticker. That's why I want you to have the card -- so our legal team can
be notified and we can stop this outrageous profiling wherever and whenever it takes place.

Go here to see a sample of what your card looks like...

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=19197&RID=16601122

+ + The card is my gift to you

Once again, there is no cost for the card. I am so outraged by the attacks that are coming from this Administration against patriots and people of faith that I feel we must get these cards into the hands of all our team members.

Of course, there are expenses associated with this national campaign, so any financial support you provide will be greatly appreciated and put to immediate use in advancing and protecting our precious liberties.

So please...

Take a moment right now to take a stand with me against these attacks and request your Official Liberty Counsel "Right-wing Extremist" Card.

Thank you and God bless you,


Mathew Staver, Founder
Liberty Counsel

P.S. The card will be personalized for you... and it's free. But to begin processing your card, I must hear from you. Please go here now:

http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=19197&RID=16601122

...and may you further join us in annoying federal bureaucrats who have the audacity to try to label law-abiding, every day Americans as being "extremists" and "potential terrorists"!Image Source-Navy Jack

After reading this be sure to visit this web site. I found it to be an interesting read. You can read more about the story mentioned above here. You can also order some other goodies. Flags are here,
shirts are here
stickers, mugs, hats, and more are here.

Check out Gadsden.info

Cultured Moms Favorite Things-Hummingbird Feeder

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I love my hummingbird feeder. It has given me a lot of pleasure to be able to watch these tiny and adorable creatures.

We have a feeder very much like the one above hanging right in front of our sliding glass doors. It is very easy to walk up to the door and get a really close look at the hummingbirds.

Until last year I always struggled with cleaning the feeder. This design on the one I have comes a part and is very easy to clean. It makes a big difference. If you buy a feeder make sure it comes apart in more than one piece.

You can spend just a little bit of money (under $5 at Walmart) or a lot more for the fancier ones.

Apparently, there are other visitors that enjoy the hummingbird feeder. I never thought of this and was very surprised to see it. Don't be alarmed though. I have NEVER seen this and have had a feeder for at least 12 years. I think this may only be in a certain part of the country. Check out these photos.

You can see a short video by clicking here.

If you haven't had a hummingbird feeder before there are a couple of things you should know. You do not need to purchase the liquid for the hummingbirds. Just boil a cup of water (in the microwave will work) and then add 1/4 c. of sugar. Stir until it is dissolved. Let it cool and then put it in your feeder. Be careful when pouring in the sugar as it can overflow quickly. Since this is super hot water you don't want to get burned.

Another thing to know about hummingbirds is that a male will not share with another male. He will share with a female. Usually, one hummingbird will dominate a feeder. If others come along there is usually a battle for it. It is pretty entertaining to see them sneaking up to the feeder and then another hummingbird coming out of nowhere to shoo it away.

I have never had this problem but I found this place that talks about what you can do if you have a problem with bees at your feeder. Click here.

A hummingbird feeder is cheap entertainment. Once you have the feeder all you need is some water and some sugar. If you have a feeder in a good location I am sure you will love it. You can also get some really good photos. I read about someone that sat in a chair holding the feeder. The hummingbirds came to it and drank while he was holding it. He could feel the wind from the wings and hear the sounds they make. I thought that sounded like a fun thing to try.

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To see a lot more of Cultured Moms Favorite Things click on the bottom of this post where you see those words. Let us know if you try a hummingbird feeder or what you think of the one you have.

Power To Regulate & Control The Air-You Will Pay

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You really NEED to read this.

From the Desk of:
Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance

Waxman has launched his fast-track strategy for the
Carbon Tax... AND we have the "smoking gun" that
exposes the fraud of the carbon scheme. See below.
--Steve



The cap-and-trade Carbon Tax is now officially on the fast-
track and Chairman Henry Waxman is forcing a vote in less
than 48 hours.

Yesterday, Waxman officially skipped the subcommittee and
sent out a memo that the 1,000+-page bill would be pushed through the key Energy and Commerce committee by Thursday:

"My goal is to conclude consideration of the legislation on
Thursday, May 21... Members should be prepared to work
late on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings."

+ + Radical Statism On Fast Track!

I believe the Carbon Tax is the most dangerous and oppressive power grab that we have yet seen -- perhaps even worse than the bailouts!

The Waxman bill will give the government the power to regulate and control the air -- and you and I will be forced to pay!

+ + Faxes and Phone Calls Needed Non-Stop For Next 48 Hours

Waxman wants this bill wrapped up and through the Energy
and Commerce Committee this week because there is real
opposition -- even from some Democrats -- to this outrageous energy tax.

That's why it is absolutely crucial that every Grassfire team
member help us flood the House with phone calls and faxes urging this committee to reject the cap-and-trade carbon tax.

Go here right now to schedule your faxes for immediate
delivery to your Representative and key members of
this committee:

http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?U=19080&CID=112&RID=12130289

(As always, we provide all the information for you to send
your own faxes, if you choose.)

Once you have scheduled your faxes or if you have already
scheduled your faxes...

Call your Representative and these key members of the Energy
and Commerce Committee and tell them you oppose the cap-and-trade
Carbon Tax...

Rep. Sullivan 202-225-2211

We have identified the key members of the Energy and Commerce
Committee who need to hear from grassroots Americans:

Rep. Michael Ross (AR) 202-225-3772
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA) 202-225-4031
Rep. G. Butterfield (NC) 202-225-3101
Rep. Zack Space (OH) 202-225-6265
Rep. Michael Doyle (PA) 202-225-2135
Rep. Bart Gordon (TN) 202-225-4231
Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX) 202-225-3236
Rep. Gene Green (TX) 202-225-1688
Rep. James Matheson (UT) 202-225-3011
Rep. Rick Boucher (VA) 202-225-3861
Rep. Peter Welch (VT) 202-225-4115
Rep. Jay Inslee (WA) 202-225-6311

+ + Talking Points

1. I am disappointed that Rep. Waxman is rushing the 1,000-page
cap-and-trade Carbon Tax through the Energy and Commerce
Committee this week.

2. This bill deserves full deliberation and should not be rushed.

3. I oppose the cap-and-trade Carbon Tax. This is an outrageous
power grab by the federal government that will greatly expand
government control and increase my taxes.

4. Especially in these difficult economic times, Congress must not pass a this tax on the American people!

+ + We have the "Smoking Gun""!

One more note -- while Obama was pushing Waxman to fast-track
this Energy Tax, a memo leaked out of Obama's Office of Management and Budget which harshly criticized the Carbon Tax...

"The decision to regulate CO2... for the first time is likely
to have serious economic consequences"...

The memo -- which adds that CO2 has "no demonstrated direct health effects" -- has been a source of great embarrassment to the Obama administration. Go to my ResistNet blog to read it:

http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?U=19081&RID=12130289

This entire cap-and-trade scheme is a statist power grab cloaked
in leftist "save the planet" lingo just to make us swallow it
hook and sinker. Thank you for taking action!


Steve Elliott, President
Grassfire.org

P.S. Waxman is gambling that grassroots citizens will not sniff
out his fast-track plan, enabling him to push the carbon tax
through the committee with little opposition. Because he is gambling, there is a chance that we can de-rail the carbon tax scheme this week. Please help.

Cultured Moms Favorite Things-Garmin Nuvi

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Since I just got back from a LONG trip I thought I would share one of my favorite things. This is THE BEST! For those of us that are directionally challenged you will love it. If you are one of those people that say turn left or right but can never say north or south you might need one. If you are one of those people that get lost often you might need one. However, even if you are pretty good with directions you may STILL want to get one of these. They are especially great on long trips.

In addition, to having a woman with a British accent telling you where to go all the time it will also give you the destination time. You can put in your address and it will tell you what time you will get there. Of course, it doesn't add minutes for stopping for gas or food. However, each time you start driving it will change your destination time according to how long you stopped.

This works with satellites.

As you can see you can enter an address, and intersection, or points of interest. Points of interest will show you were the fast food places are and exactly how close they are to your current location. For example, when we went on our trip Hannah wanted to be sure we stopped at Dairy Queen in MO. She searched on this and the Garmin Nuvi told her how many miles and which direction they were. If we clicked on one of them it would have set is as a destination and driven us right to it. Way cool! You can also find ATM machines, hospitals, and LOTS more.

There is so much I could say about this. However, I suggest that you go to the Garmin website where you can get more information in a more technically savvy way. I just can't sound that good since I don't know all the lingo. ;-) From one Mom to another I highly recommend this. My hubby surprised me with this for my birthday. I would have NEVER bought it for myself. It has saved me so much time and frustration so it was well worth it.

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Scent Of A (Young) Woman

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I read an interesting article today that I just had to share. The article claimed that there is a research company that shows that there are certain scents that remind people of youth. Scents that would make you seem younger.


37 people looked at models while they sniffed. The males then guessed the models to be 3-8 years younger.


A study done by the perfume company said that citrus fragrances, like mango, grapefruit & pomegranate smelled young and jasmine & musk smelled modern. This is according to 15 men. There is a perfume called Ageless Fantasy that combines all of these scents for only $120 a bottle. Talk about buying youth! Youth in a bottle! Amazing!

On a side note, I think my husband would have chosen 'pie' as the youthful fragrance.


Another study was done with 22 people. It showed that women over 40 produce twice the amount of pheromone noneal that is an odor associated with older age. There is some truth to someone that smells like an old person I guess.


This company is claiming that "young" scents are needed to neutralize this. "This" would be meaning "old people smell" I guess.

I am sure that it is true that certain smells are associated with youth. However, the bottle of pomegranate juice in my refrigerator dabbed behind my ears would be a lot cheaper than this perfume.


If you want to try the experiment for yourself they said that some similar scent combos are Pacifica solid perfume ($9) and Ed Hardy fragrance ($39.99), or this soy candle ($13.95).


Or you can be like me and just dab a little pomegranate juice (maybe add a little pie too) behind your ears. ;-)

Time For Some Humor!

We have been pretty serious on this blog so I think it is time for a good laugh. Check this out. By the way, I don't think these are ALL women drivers. There is something to laugh aobut for men & women so nobody needs to get too cocky! ;-)

Blessings or Burdens? Part 2

Some things to think about.

What Does Managing a Large Household Look Like in the Real World?

Can I Really Afford Children?

The second major issue pertains to practicality: Assuming that children really are a blessing and the fruitful womb “is His reward” (Psalm 127:3), how does that concept work in the real world where economic resources are scarce and time is at a premium?

Sometimes people pose the question this way: “I can barely manage and afford a family with one child. How could I possibly handle three or four, let alone (gasp!) seven?”

But there is another question that needs to be asked: Are there practical, economic, and spiritual blessings for the family that flow from an economy of scale?

I believe there are. And these are precisely the types of blessings and benefits that Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have modeled for all of us in their beautiful new book, The Duggars: 20 and Counting: Raising One of America’s Largest Families — How they do it.

From a practical perspective, this book offers definitive answers. And it is absolutely delightful, transparent, hands on, and full of humor. After reading it, you will walk away loving your own family more and will gain great ideas for household management. My wife gobbled it up:

This is a totally delightful book, easy to follow, and full of personal stories about their life as well as practical, tangible information about THEIR family which can be easily adapted into MY family, or anyone else’s. It is honest, humorous, humble, and completely in earnest. . . . You will read about their life story, from Michelle and Jim Bob’s childhood up to right now, their many businesses, their solution to laundry, education, music, and even food preparation. (Read more of Beall’s review here.)

There is a reason why this family has captured the imagination of America through their top-ranked television show, 17 Kids and Counting. They are communicating a Christ-exalting vision of home. And they are the real deal! A family that loves their children — all eighteen of them. There is so much negativism in the world, but the Duggars are using their life as a large family to show the beauty and practicality of the Christian household to a generation where many children never even experience the blessing of sitting down with their whole family for dinner.

What Does the Bible Say about the Blessing of Fruitfulness?
Does this Apply Today?

The final issue is the most important one:

What does the Bible say about having babies?

For Christians, the Bible is our standard for faith and practice. Everything necessary on the subject of having babies is found in God’s Holy Word. It is both the starting place and the “final court of appeal” for prayerful Christians who desire to make wise decisions regarding the womb.

Related issues include: Why are children a blessing? What does it mean to be fruitful? How does the Bible specifically link low birthrates to national judgment? Does the Bible promote, condone, or encourage baby banning? Is it a good idea to have babies in times of economic hardship?

These questions and others are answered in our CD, Children and the Dominion Mandate, and the book Be Fruitful and Multiply, both of which are included in this week’s special offer. If you have ever found yourself wondering how to respond to such questions, or if you have friends or relatives that disapprove of the number of children in your family, these indispensable tools will help you to use Scripture to reason through the many complex issues which are on the table.

Don Feder noted, "In 30 years, worldwide, birth rates have fallen by more than
50%. In 1979, the average woman on this planet had 6 children.
Today, the average is 2.9 children, and falling." He explained the situation
noting, "demographers tell us that with a birthrate of 1.3, everything else
being equal, a nation will lose half of its population every 45 years"

This article was from Vision Forum.

Another interesteing blog post here.

Blessings or Burdens? Part 1

What do you think?



As the world faces a potential demographic winter of underpopulation, political leaders move to clamp down on babies, and liberal social commentators use the language of hatred and fear-mongering to further anti-family campaigns aimed at proponents of fruitful families, many Christians remain undecided as to whether or not babies are a blessing or burden in troubled times.

After more than fifteen hundred years, Japanese culture is on the verge of extinction. There are not enough children. And similar fates may be in store for France, Italy, and elsewhere. These nations and others are on the brink of a demographic implosion with far-reaching economic implications — and they know it! There are simply not enough babies being born to maintain their economies.

But they are not alone. In the United States, the birthrate has been experiencing a dramatic and steady twelve-year decline. Despite this fact, last week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi defended her proposal that an important ingredient of the nation’s $825 billion “economic stimulus package” would include a taxpayer-subsidized effort to prevent the birth of more children. Why? She argues that children are bad for the economy. [For a more in-depth look at this international crisis, click here]

Three Key Issues Addressed

Are babies a blessing or a burden? This is a simple question, but one fraught with tremendous controversy and significant implications for nations and families.

There are really three issues on the table: First, the demographic implications of having babies; second, the practical issues concerning babies and the family during a recessionary economy (or at any time); and third — and most importantly — the scriptural foundations for a Christian worldview of the womb.

What May Happen to America and Other Nations Because of the Dramatic Decrease in Childbirth?

This first issue goes right to the heart of the present culture war: Will we be a self-indulgent nation with little regard for the sanctity of life, or will we recognize the God-ordained blessing of the biblical institution of the family with its emphasis on fruitfulness and the blessing of children?
As a nation, we have chosen the former. Now the question is this: What are the practical implications of our selfishness and disobedience? What happens to a country when the Malthusian dream is realized, and women have fewer and fewer babies?

The ultimate result is a culture-eradicating phenomenon and economic catastrophe called “Demographic Winter” — where the selfishness of a generation of families who refused God’s gift of children leads to a national birthrate that is insufficient to replace its aging population.

Don Feder put it this way:
Demographic Winter is the terminal stage in the suicide of the West — the culmination of a century of evil ideas and poisonous policies.
Here is how one demographer described the imminent catastrophe that will result from declining birthrates:

The ongoing global decline in human birthrates is the single most powerful force
affecting the fate of nations and the future of society in the twenty-first
century. —Phillip Longman, The Empty Cradle: How Falling Birthrates Threaten
World Prosperity.

This perspective may be a shocker for those raised during the libertine ‘60s and ‘70s with the message of the Pill and population control, or for those spoon-fed on a diet of Green theology in the ‘90s. It is not comfortable to radical feminists who have made the “right” of a mother to destroy her own child the highest virtue a society can embrace.

But the facts are inescapable.

And this is the subject of the documentary, Demographic Winter: The Decline of the Human Family, one of the most important and groundbreaking films of the last year, maybe of the last decade. This is the first significant film to explore the most overlooked crisis of our generation: the rapid worldwide decline in birthrates.

The data presented is chilling. Columnist Don Feder summarizes the important issues raised by the film (i.e., how “demographic winter” will impact many areas of our lives):

• What will happen in the First World as fewer and fewer workers are called on to provide pensions for more and more retirees? At what point will the burden become so onerous that young workers will simply rebel and refuse to support a system that they couldn’t possibly hope to benefit from?

• How will Russia, which is expected to lose a third of its population by mid-point of this century, defend its borders? If Russia, which occupies the largest territory of any nation, dissolves into enclaves of squabbling ethnic groups, it will destabilize both Europe and Asia.

• Due to falling birthrates, at some point in the century, the world’s population will begin to decline. Then the decline will become rapid. We could even reach population free-fall.

• Throughout the course of history, there is no instance of economic growth accompanied by population decline. How can an industrial society be maintained with fewer and fewer workers and consumers? [1]

This film does not pretend to be a Christian film with a biblical analysis, but it is so full of carefully-researched data that is indispensable to this critical culture battle that Christian parents around the nation need to own it, and watch it, and then watch it again.

This article was from Vision Forum.

Raw Milk? Are You Serious?

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Yes, I am serious.

We switched from store bought overly processed milk to raw milk from a local dairy around November of 2005. That is over 3 years ago. I can count on one hand how many times my entire family has been to the doctor. Most of those times were for a twisted ankle or a sore back or neck. I don't think either of the children have been in all that time. Of course, we try to do other things to stay healthy so I am sure raw milk is not the only thing helping us out. However, if it was really unhealthy 3 years would be plenty of time to show up. I know a lot of people are afraid of this idea because we have been conditioned to think we need everything sterilized. I challenge you to read an article on the benefits of drinking raw milk. See if there is anything about it that could help you or your family.

I will give you one of the reasons here.

Raw milk contains probiotics.

“Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing
down a few billion a day for your health might seem — literally and figuratively
— hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you
can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing
certain kinds of live bacteria. Northern Europeans consume a lot of these
beneficial microorganisms, called probiotics (from pro and biota, meaning “for
life”), because of their tradition of eating foods fermented with bacteria, such
as yogurt. Probiotic-laced beverages are also big business in Japan.”
— Harvard Medical School, “Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics”

Have you heard anyone talking about needing more of the "good bacteria" in your gut? Have you seen all the products to buy with probiotics in them?

Pasteurizing is NOT helping us out here.

Click here to read the whole article.

"Why They Don't Get It" Part 5

Part 5 (and the last) of the article from yesterday.

4. Confront them with, rather than isolate them from, the major cultural battles of our day.

Challenging students to love God fully by thinking deeply, discerningly, and truthfully about His word and His world is foundational to what a truly Christian education is. Any other educational means and methods that do not include this as a goal cannot, in my opinion, really be considered Christian education (even if there is a plethora of rules, Bible references, and verses to memorize).

According to the way the Scriptures describe the grand narrative of God's redemptive plan for creation, Christianity is neither a religion of ascetic withdrawal nor a dualistic philosophy that denigrates certain human activity as less than spiritual. Rather, followers of Christ are called to dive deeply—and hopefully headfirst—into the significant historical and cultural issues of the human situation. As G.K. Chesterton once said, "If Christianity should happen to be true—that is to say if its God is the real God of the universe—then defending it may mean talking about anything and everything."

This is what ought to be meant when the language of worldview is used in education. Historically, Christians have sought to understand, and respond to cultural crises. They understood that these crises were the site of the battle of worldviews. Unfortunately, many Christians today are unaware of, disinterested in, or avoiding of issues like embryo-destructive research, euthanasia, emerging technologies, the arts, film, fashion, legislation, human trafficking, politics, and international relations. In Gethsemane on the evening before His death, Christ prayed these astounding words for his followers: "Father, do not take them from the world, but protect them from the evil one" (John 17:15). Our prayer, and preparation, for our children should be no different.

One final word about the spirit from which we approach the next generation: a few months back, I received a thoughtful and appropriate criticism to a talk I often give which I call "Why Students Walk Away from their Faith (and what we can do about it...)." The letter asked if I was coming at this issue from a position of fear—fear of the world and the enemy—and very appropriately suggested that Christians should not be fearful.

I must say that I fully concur with this point. The fear of God casts out all other fear. As the late Richard John Neuhaus wrote: "We have not the right to despair for despair is sin. And, we have not the reason to despair for Christ has risen." I hope I am not approaching this issue from fear, though I can certainly see how it could be seen that way.

I hope I am approaching this issue from a perspective of realism, for students really are walking away from or checking out of the faith they were raised with, and we should confront this reality as Biblically and resourcefully as possible. This is not something we can ignore. As the historian Will Durant aptly noted: "From barbarism to civilization requires a century. From civilization to barbarism takes but a day."

I can say in all truthfulness that as I write this, I really do have hope. Fundamentally, I have hope in Christ—He has risen. The day He died was actually the day that death died, and nothing can ever undo that reality. I also have hope in the Church, despite my critical words about it. I am part of this institution which Christ established and announced that against it the gates of Hell could not stand. (My reading of Church History has done more than anything else to secure my belief in those words).

Finally, I have hope because annually I work with many students—both here and abroad—who do, or are fighting to, "get it." They want their lives to matter for Christ, they want to take the Gospel into all the world (including every corner of culture), and they want to think well about and in this world. They will be better than my generation has been. They will love God better, serve others better, care more deeply, and think more clearly. They want to read good books, and they want to live for something bigger than themselves.

This article came from here. Be sure to visit this great web site.

"Why They Don't Get It" Part 4

Part 4 from the article from yesterday.

2. Give them a thorough education in worldviews and apologetics.
Because everyone has a worldview—a basic way in which they see, understand, and interact with the world—education is at its most fundamental level a worldview-shaping enterprise. It is the responsibility of a Christian institution to challenge students with the Christian view of life and the world, while exposing the non-Christian worldviews that others hold and which are behind historical movements and cultural expressions.

First, students need to know what they believe. Many see Christianity as merely a private faith rather than as a robust view of reality that offers a tried and true map for life. If students are convinced that the core of the Christian faith is how they can get to heaven and have a happy life, rather than as the Truth about all of life and the world, they do not know what they believe.

Of course, there simply is no substitute here for equipping students to dive deeply into the Scriptures. At the same time, however, it is important to help them dive into the Scriptures in the right way. Unfortunately, many students have only seen the Bible handled poorly by other Christians. Often, their only experience with the Scriptures include it being replaced by therapeutic clichés, utilized and memorized completely out of context, tacked on but not central to a lesson, strangely pieced together with other verses to make a point, proof-texted to supplement a devotional book or song lyric, or largely ignored.

When the Scriptures are handled this way, bits and pieces of the Bible only get co-opted into the student's existent worldview. They may know the Bible, but they don't think Biblically. Rather, the student remains as the central arbiter of truth and interpretation.

The goal is that the Scriptures would transform the student's mind (i.e. worldview). I fear we may have a generation of students who see the Bible through the lens of their culturally inherited worldview, rather than seeing the culture through the lens of the Bible.

Second, students need to know what others believe. There are non-Biblical worldviews that are battling for hearts and minds as well as our culture. Historically, Christians from Justin Martyr to Augustine to Pascal to Edwards to C.S. Lewis, not to mention the Apostle Paul, exhibited a strong understanding of the competing worldviews in their culture.

We at Summit Ministries contend that, at minimum, students need to have a handle on at least six major Western worldviews before going to college: secular humanism, Marxism/Leninism, postmodernism, Islam, New Age, and Biblical Christianity.

Third, Christians must know why they believe what they believe. Too many Christians cannot answer, and are even afraid of, the challenging questions about God, Jesus, the Bible, morality, or truth. Unfortunately, too many adults dread the moment that a student asks them a tough faith question they cannot answer. This avoidance, of course, does not remove the question. It merely delays the question until the student is an environment where the question will be entertained (like college!). We ought to see these questions as opportunities for the student, and ourselves, to dive even deeper into this faith we claim is true. Plus, God is big enough for the question.

3. Show them that Christianity is not just about what we are against, but what we are about.
Proverbs says that without vision, the people "cast off restraint." One of the main reasons that students are casualties of immoral choices is that they lack a big vision for their lives. While they may know what they are not supposed to do, they fail to understand the life of meaning, purpose, and impact Christ calls them to. Christian students often get the impression that we are merely saved from, and not "to."

The picture of redemption in Scripture is far broader than this, however. We often forget how many words used in the Scripture for redemption are "re" words: renew, regenerate, reconcile, redeem, re-creation, etc. The implication is that salvation is a return to the real life God intended for us before the fall. Christ not only came to save us from death, he came to save us to life—an abundant life at that!

This life is not merely our "spiritual" lives either. Rather, the Scriptures offer us the true Big Story of the world: from creation to new creation.

Come back tomorrow to read the last part of this article or go here to read the whole thing.

"Why They Don't Get It" Part 3

Part 3 from the article yesterday.

Helping Students "Get It"
by John Stonestreet

In my previous article, I argued that a major project for those of us who work with students is to help them "get" Christianity. While a significant number of Christian students reject Christianity during their university years, far more struggle to embrace a faith that is not really authentic or orthodox. Theirs is a "moralistic therapeutic Deism" as Christian Smith put it; a tame faith that is privatized and perhaps personally meaningful but which is not publically true, culturally significant, or fundamentally informative to the rest of their lives.

Rather than trying to make Christianity as attractive and entertaining as possible, we ought instead to be sure that what we are communicating to them is actually Christianity. As I noted, this is very challenging in a culture of information overload, where students are bombarded daily with a multitude of messages, most of which, encourage them toward a mentality of adolescence.

Still, there is good news. Adolescently minded cultures like ours inevitably have a leadership vacuum. So, there remains a terrific opportunity for influence for those who produce the leaders, especially if they produce networks of leaders who can think deeply and contribute broadly to a wide variety of cultural institutions.

How can we do this?

1. Challenge students, instead of coddle them.
Frankly, it is my opinion that we aim too low with teenagers. Students do not need more entertainment, whether it is from the television, the Wii, the iPod, or the youth group. We will never effectively prepare students to engage our entertainment-driven culture by replacing it with Christian entertainment.

It is foolish to expect students to take Christianity and the world seriously if all they have been exposed to at youth group is games, pizza, and mindless mini-therapy lessons that may or may not come from the Scriptures. The church should be the place where we no longer believe (and students no longer experience) the myth of adolescence.

Instead, students need (and want) to be challenged: with the Scriptures, theology, tough questions, and cultural dilemmas. We see this every year at our Summit student leadership conferences—students endure 70+ hours of lecture and instruction on worldviews, apologetics, culture, and character. Then they call home and ask for more money, so they can buy books!

I think there is something of the imago dei in these students that screams in rebellion against the low expectations they face everywhere. For proof, see the movement of teenagers started by Brett and Alex Harris' recent book Do Hard Things.

Come back tomorrow for part 4 or read the whole article here.

"Why They Don't Get It" Part 2

Part 2 of the article from yesterday.

3. The cultural identity crisis.
Darwinism was the central battleground of worldviews in the late 1800's, the reliability of Scripture in the early to mid 20th century, and truth for the Gen X'ers. While these issues are still very important, most of the contemporary worldview battles are rooted in a basic disagreement of what it means to be and live as human.

Today's students enter a world of runaway biotechnology, postmodern social constructions of gender, virtual online identities, family redefinition, distorted understandings of beauty, and multiple sexual orientations, each of which fundamentally challenge our concept of humanness. Further, our culture has largely embraced Darwin, trivialized Scripture, and relativized truth, and therefore left few stable resources to negotiate this corporate identity crisis.

At the same time, clear teaching on what it means to be imago dei is largely neglected in the church. Conservatives, as Nancy Pearcey noted, [4] often begin the redemption story in Genesis 3 rather than Genesis 1. The fall, though taught, lacks context (from what have we fallen? To what will we be redeemed?) On the other hand, liberalism replaces the rule and responsibility endowed upon humanity by God with muddy concepts of "freedom" and "self-image." The depth and breadth of the fall is trivialized or ignored.

What it means to be human is a critical touch point for students vis-à-vis the Christian worldview.

4. The issue of definitions.
The battle of ideas is often the battle over definitions. Asking students, "What do you mean by that?" has never been more crucial. Assuming that we share definitions, or that traditional definitions will go unquestioned, with the emerging generation is a mistake with significant consequences. Among the more crucial words needing careful definition include God, human, truth, faith, Gospel, Kingdom, evil, tolerance, male, female, pro-life, justice, marriage, family, freedom, rights, responsibility, and the good life.

Further, the concept of worldview needs clear definition if it is to be preserved. Having been used and misused in a variety of ways, it is dismissed as a modern concept from one side and in danger of dying the death of the "we already tried that program" from the other side. Abandoning the concept would be wrongheaded, given its rich history and its Biblical foundations.

I have attempted to highlight several barriers to communicating the full Gospel to the next generation. Articles like this that list trends tend to appear pessimistic. I am, however, encouraged by the commitment and courage I have seen from this current generation of students once they "get it."

Part 2 of this article will address what we can do as adult influencers to help them "get it." If students accept or reject Christianity, that's one thing. If they "don't get it," that's another.

Come back tomorrow for part 3 or read the whole article here.

"Why They Don't Get It" Part 1

The following is a really great article I read. I think all parents should
read this for sure. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment. ~Kim

Helping Students "Get It"

by John Stonestreet

Source Here

If Christian Smith and Melinda Denton are correct, our key concern in regards to the next generation is that they "get" Christianity. Our primary focus should turn from whether Christian students like church, or whether they think of Jesus as their best friend, or even whether they know why they believe what they believe (though that has been a useful tag line for Summit Ministries for years). Primarily, if Smith and Denton are correct, our focus should be teaching them what Christianity is because, simply put, they don't get it.

My experience working with students, most having strong histories in conservative evangelicalism (and representing almost evenly home, private Christian, and public schooling), suggests Smith and Denton are right. I often hear students describe their experience of Christianity in these terms: "I've been a Christian my whole life, but I don't really get it." Or, "I prayed the prayer when I was four, but I don't think it stuck." Or, "I committed my life to Christ when I was fifteen, but I am not sure it stuck."

How is it that students who are so deeply engrossed in church culture and who have more access to the Bible, Christian literature, youth programs, and other resources than any generation that has lived since the founding of the church, can be so confused about what Christianity actually is and why it matters? How is it that they possess such a truncated, neutered view of the Kingdom? How is it that these students just don't "get it"?

1. The distraction factor.
The age of information presents two unique challenges to this generation of students. First, they encounter daily an overwhelming amount of information. Of course, information isn't neutral; it contains, argues or embodies ideas. Students today swim in deluge of information. Whether or not there is an absence of the true or the genuine, there is often an inability to find it amidst all the noise and distraction.

Second, they experience this information, with the inherent ideas, differently than previous generations. Information today (especially via the internet) comes without context, without a clear source, and often without narrative. Their lives look more like a random episode of Seinfeld than the start-to-finish Cosby Show. They are not a linear generation.

The result? Neal Postman argued a long time ago, without understanding the full impact of the Internet, that the west had become a silly culture. [2] Entertainment had destroyed our ability to think and prioritize. We lack discernment. We care about irrelevant things, and ignore what is actually important.

Unfortunately, the Christian community often responds by heaping "Christian" noise on the rest of the noise. Attempting to be "relevant" to students, we instead contribute to their appetites for distraction. Entertainment has made us silly and Christian entertainment has made our students silly Christians.

2. The grip of adolescence.
"There was a time, literally, when there were no teenagers." [3] In virtually every other culture in the history of the world prior to late 20th century Western culture, kids became adults. Not anymore. Now, they become teenagers or, as we call them, adolescents.

Despite its rather recent history, adolescence goes largely unquestioned as a fixed stage of development. It is fully expected that students will lose their minds from ages 13-18. "Kids will be kids," we say. Only, we aren't referring to kids, we are talking about those who buy, vote, and drive automobiles.

Further, the grip of adolescence continues to forcefully expand. On the front end, we now talk about "pre-teens" (with marketing engines quickly spotting the financial potential). On the back end, whereas eighteen was once considered the end of adolescence, it is now the middle. Adolescence now refers to ages 11 to 30.

But, that's not all. Adolescence is now, and this must not be missed, the goal of our culture. Somewhere along the way, we ceased to be a culture where kids aspire to be adults and became a culture where adults aspire to be kids.

Often, our approaches to youth ministry sanctify adolescence. Whereas teenagers have the capacity (and thus, I would argue, the calling), to think deeply and broadly about their culture, confront evil and injustice, and champion the truth, they instead are encouraged in their adolescent narcissism. It's a neutered Gospel, only about them and their needs, lacking vision (Prov. 29:18).

Come back tomorrow for part 2 or read the whole article here.

Observations On The News

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I hardly ever watch CNN. I was at the gym and decided to watch it while I was exercising. I noticed 3 interesting things while watching.

#1 There was a lengthy conversation with President Obama and the headline under his face was, "I Screwed Up". It was on the screen forever and the words were spoken many times. First of all, I wasn't too impressed that the president of the United States was using that expression. It doesn't really say class does it? That is a little side point but interesting none the less. They had the President saying this and then were going on and on about it. They were saying to each other. "Have we ever had a President say this? Have we ever heard a President admit to making a mistake?" This is apparently the most amazing thing ever to them. Of course, I thought it was interesting that even when he says he made a mistake he is applauded. The other side of this is what would have been said if this had been a past republican president? I don't think the media would have been so impressed.

#2 It was mentioned that President Obama has a 64% approval rating. They said that was really good but not as good as when he first became president as it was an 84% approval rating. It is only Feb. so I am starting to wonder where he will be in another 2-3 months. Will his approval rating be equal to the last president by then?


Image from.....

#3 This last observation may have been from Fox News. They had a panel on their show of several different people. There was a black gentleman with the title of Rev. His comment was very interesting. He said anyone that believes in God could NOT vote for the current president. I am sure this made a lot of people angry. How can he say such a thing? Well, it is pretty obvious to me.

On July 17, 2007, Barack Obama said this to Planned Parenthood and...

On this fundamental issue of [abortion rights], I will not yield and Planned
Parenthood will not yield. ... The first thing I'll do as president is sign the
Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do. ...

What is the "Freedom of Choice Act"? It makes abortions a federal issue. It negates all state laws from parental notification to the Woman's Right to Know Laws to bans on partial-birth abortion.

The current president doesn't believe in the sanctity of life based on his willingness to not only allow abortions but broaden the scope of them. Abortion is not enough. We need to force hospitals to do it that are against it? We need to be able to have older babies to abort and allow young girls to do it secretly? Their parents shouldn't know about this?

I saw an image recently that summed it all up for me. It was talking about abortion and it said, " Would it bother us more if we used guns"? Can you imagine that? A baby is delivered and a doctor pulls out a gun and shoots it? Would we care then?

Thou shalt NOT murder

The current president must not know about or believe the scripture that says "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat".
2 Thessalonians 3:10

That doesn't mean if people fall on hard times we don't help them. That is what we are supposed to do. The problem is just giving hand outs (stealing from someone else) and giving it to people that have no intention to work. Causing a whole generation of people that think they are entitled to the money of others. Helping a person in need for a time is one thing. Taking from someone else to provide from another person is stealing.

Thou shalt not steal.

Of course, I could go on for a long time on this topic. It would be better if we looked to the scriptures instead. Look for yourself. Do you see anything about this president that goes against the scriptures. As I told my daughter yesterday we need to pray for our president. He needs to hear from the Lord. That is the only thing that will change his perspective. He is surrounded by 'yes men' and people that believe as he does.

Let's pray that God can get through to him before it is too late for this great nation.

Join the Patriotic Resistance

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I am not going to sit by silently as Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosiand Harry Reid re-make our nation in their liberal image.That's why I just joined a grassroots conservative effort to RESIST President Obama's liberal agenda. Please go here to join with me:

http://www.grassfire.org/111/petition.asp?PID=19544414&NID=1

The Resistance States: As an American citizen, while I will show respect to President Obama, I oppose the far-Left and socialistic elements that comprise the centerpiece of his agenda, including the massive Government spending spree that is being pushed as an economic “stimulus.” I recognize that it will take a patriotic and resilient Citizen Resistance to block implementation of this agenda and I join with others who oppose these threats to our liberties

Specifically, I Resist:

Socialistic wealth redistribution including any and all tax increases and big-government welfare programs. Silencing conservatives through the Fairness Doctrine and other efforts that restrict free speech.

Open border anarchy including amnesty for illegal aliens and promotion of multi-nation “unions”. Government-run health care that weakens our system and imposes more tax burdens on citizens.

Weakening of our military through rapid pullback from Iraq, defunding our troops and overall disarmament. Social liberalism including radical pro-abortion agenda, the end of marriage and the homosexual agenda.

Liberal court activism that undermines faith, family and liberties while expanding government control. Post-American globalismthat diminishes our global role and threatens our national sovereignty.

Environmental extremism, the CO2 tax, undermining coal and nuclear, and bans on
exploration. Weakening the 2nd Amendment through unconstitutional gun laws that take away or penalize us for owning firearms and our right to defend our family, our property, and ourselves.

Silencing conservatives through the Fairness Doctrine and other efforts that restrict free speech.

Government-run health care that weakens our system and imposes more tax burdens on citizens.

Social liberalism including radical pro-abortion agenda, the end of marriage and the homosexual agenda.

Post-American globalism that diminishes our global role and threatens our national sovereignty.

Weakening the 2nd Amendment through unconstitutional gun laws that take away or penalize us for owning firearms and our right to defend our family, our property, and ourselves.


From the Desk of:
Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance

+ + Sign the petition saying "No" to the bogus stimulus
and Obama's socialistic agenda. -- Steve

If you are as outraged as I am by the Obama-led rush to force the so-called stimulus bill through Congress, then please take action with me today.

The Senate is debating the bill right now and I want to rally tens of thousands of citizens in the next 48 hours to oppose this bogus big-government spending plan -- and then announce the grassroots opposition to the national media.

Please join Grassfire's Patriotic Resistance to this massive government spending spree and Obama's socialistic agenda:

This citizen petition rejects the bogus, big-government spending spree and also announced our unified Patriotic Resistance to Obama's agenda of higher taxes and more government control.

+ + Sign the petition, then call your senators!

Far-left groups like MoveOn.org are actively lobbying members of the Senate urging them to vote for this bloated spending bill. And President Obama is doing a full-court press with his allies in the liberal media.

Now with debate underway and a vote highly likely, your calls and faxes are more important than ever!

Is Everything Shrinking?

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I was starting to wonder if it was just me. I was thinking that everything was shrinking at the grocery store. I don't think it was just me anymore. My big question is this. When the economy has improved will things strart growing again? Will my ice cream REALLY be a half gallon again? I wonder. Check out this article if you have seen the same thing. Click here.

It's That Time Of Year

Time to make sure you are getting enough sunlight.

Would you believe me if I told you that sunlight FIGHTS cancer? I am sure a lot of you would be shocked and think I was seriously mistaken. However, it is true. Getting enough sun means getting enough vitamin D. Without the vitamin D you are in for some problems. You should not get sun BURNS but getting enough sun on your skin will make you healthy. In addition, to avoiding cancer you can also fight the flu with vitamin D instead of needing the flu shot. There are 2 very interesting articles on this topic here and here. As you already know vitamin D helps prevent bone loss too.

I encourage you to read the articles above and make sure you and your family are as healthy as you can be. This is also a money saving thing! By getting the FREE sunshine you can avoid cancers and most likely the flu. That is a bargain in my book. Now, I just need that sun to come out.