Semantics?

Lately I seem to be a person who picks apart words. I've always loved words. I love song lyrics. I love poetry. I love a good book. Words have meaning. So what we say and how we say it says a lot and implies a lot.

I had bought some Christian books at Ollie's a few weeks back and I started a mom's devotional book by a familiar author. I struggled with some of what she said but day 6 was the pivotal point. The author said, and I quote, "Jesus partied with sinners." Now, I get what she was trying to say however, Jesus definitely did not party with sinners. He loved them, spent time with them, ministered to them and saved them but partied? The author, who was appealing to the world in her choice of words, implied Jesus joined in with the sinners. Where is the reverence and holiness? Where is the honor? Where is the truth of what scripture says?

Today I heard in reference to Matthew 6 that Jesus was "picking on" the Pharisees. Again, the implication here is outside the nature and character of God. Jesus may have corrected, rebuked, and disciplined, but never did he pick on anyone.

Some say this is splitting hairs. Others say it is just semantics or choices of words. So, do the words we choose matter? Does saying Jesus partied with sinners or picked on Pharisees paint an accurate picture?

It has really been frustrating to me lately to see the irreverent way we as the big "C" church use modern lingo to paint a picture at the risk of being scripturally inaccurate. So, what do you think...hair splitting, semantics, or a scriptural issue to address?

The Council of Superintendents released a statement to teachers yesterday about a new video game being released. Below is the write up on the game from the makers website, Checkerboarded Studios.

SCHOOL SHOOTER: NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2012

In School Shooter: North American Tour 2012, you play as a disgruntled

student fed up with something or other (We're not exactly sure), who after researching

multiple school shooting martyrs, decides to become the best school shooter ever.

You must arm yourself with the same weapons as a previous school shooter,

including Eric Harris' TEC-9, Dylan Klebold's sawn-off shotgun, Seung-Hui Cho's

akimbo pistols, and Nevada-Tan's... Box cutter? The possibilities are endless!

You are free to do whatever you want (So long as it involves shooting people in

a school).

And your telling me video games do not impact our children's behavior?

The fact that the makers of this game use tragic events from real life as the model

is disturbing. Once I have contact information I will include it so that you can send

a letter, email, or make a call and have your opinion heard.

TV Petition

Takes 2 seconds to sign this petition......

ABC network set to attack Christianity with "Good Christian B-tches" show "For Heaven's sake, don't let God get in the way of a good story!" - GCB author Kim Gatlin March 7, 2011 The ABC network is currently working on a pilot for a prime-time program called "Good Christian B-tches." It's a Christian-bashing version of ABC's current "Desperate Housewives." The show centers on a recently divorced mother of two who moves back to the affluent neighborhood where she grew up to find herself in the whirling midst of gossip, Botox and fraud. Disney-owned ABC has no reservations about creating hate speech against Christians, but you can be sure they would never consider a show called "Good Muslim B-tches" or "Good Jewish B-tches." With a title like "Good Christian B-tches," you can imagine what kind of show it will be. Even if they change the title, the content will still mock people of faith. TAKE ACTION Sign a petition to ABC and parent company Disney to drop all plans to air the anti-Christian program "Good Christian B-tches." We'll add your petition to thousands of other voices in also urging advertisers to place it on their "do not advertise" list and consider pulling all ads from the ABC network in protest of this Anti-Christian bigotry. Sincerely, Monica Cole, Director OneMillionMoms.com

Adoption and the Christian Parent

I receive enews from HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) weekly and this week I had to blog this..... I'm pasting the article in but here is the direct link as well High Court Finds Christian Parents Unsuitable. While some will say oh, that is in the UK, read on. If we ratify the UN's CRC I can no longer adopt children who need a loving home as I believe the Bible speaks clearly on homosexuality.

High Court Finds Christian Parents Unsuitable

The United Kingdom’s High Court ruled yesterday that Christians with traditional ethical views of sexuality are not suitable to serve as foster or adoptive parents. The judge held that Christian beliefs regarding homosexuality are harmful to children and violate a child’s international human rights. Are these personal beliefs a good reason to deny children a home with a family who cares for them? And if exercising a protected religious liberty violates international child rights in this instance, who is to say what beliefs will be “unsuitable” next?

Those same rights are outlined in the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and would be binding on the United States should we ratify that treaty.

Fortunately, we expect a resolution opposing ratification of the CRC to be introduced in the U.S. Senate within the next week or so. Senator DeMint’s office is currently gathering original cosponsors on the resolution (which is equivalent to SR 519 from the last Congress). Once it is introduced and given a bill number, we will email you right away and initiate a call blitz to secure the 34 cosponsors needed to prevent with certainty the ratification of that dangerous treaty.

Still, only the Parental Rights Amendment can end the threat of ratification permanently.

To JBCAG...Waiting

Seeing I couldn't send this straight to you JBACG, I'll post it here. Keep worshiping in the waiting. He sees an end to it all...

Connected or Disconnected?

I've realized more and more lately how our society is so connected via cell phones, internet, Facebook, text messaging, ect that we are actually so disconnected. We have lost the personal touch of a phone call to check in, a visit to chat, and dare I say a hand written note of encouragement.

I watch people in public talking while driving, checking out at a store, texting while at a dining table with family. We are always plugged in.

I know I am the odd one out but I do not like Facebook. I think relationships on Facebook have substituted for real life relationships. This may not be true of everyone but I see a lot of that going on. I know 2 other families who like ours have committed to not joining Facebook (for several reasons). One of them called me last month to let me know that we were "officially losers." She read that even the Queen of England was on Facebook!

All this to say, I am making it a personal goal to work on real life in person relationships. There is nothing like weekly long distance phone calls to pray with a friend, having a friend over just sitting on the floor chatting for hours while playing baby, calling a friend to see how they are really doing; did the insomnia go away, how's your marriage, do you need a meal?

I'm not saying I have mastered this. When I look at my list of friends I've lost touch with several. But, I am working on this and making it a personal goal...to care for others in real life. During my struggles I have been loved on in person while being real...I want to return the blessing.

Victories

I had two victories this past week.

The first (though I needed 1/2 an anxiety pill), was to take the girls and the grandmas to Canada for the Bird Kingdom. Now, anyone who knows me knows

1. I deeply dislike customs

2. Not a fan of the Canadian Bridge

3. Don't like driving if I don't know where I am going

4. Don't like driving in snow (and yes we had major snow that day)

And I did it...all. No problems at all. We had a great girls outing.

The second victory was church this Sunday. This was the first Sunday I did not take anxiety meds before going! Not only did I not take it but I went to both services, co-lead a group with Drew, and juggled the baby.

I've been doing well day to day but as soon as stressors come in I crumble. I'm keeping my load light and pressing on. I am having trouble putting weight on still which is causing headaches and fatigue. I have some appointments coming up to figure out what to do.

I am super grateful to the friends who have been by my side the whole time and lifting me up in prayer....you guys rock!

One Million Moms

I am a part of One Million Moms and it has been rewarding to have my voice heard. I have watched women, moms, and Grandmothers come together to share in the concern over what our children are seeing through media. If you aren't a part of this group, I encourage you to join and have your voice heard. It takes me seconds to sign a petition or email a company about what is on tv. Join me.....

From an email from Monica Cole, Director of OneMillionMoms:

Your help is greatly appreciated as we prepare to tackle ungodly values in the media this year! The more moms and grandmothers we have sending emails the cleaner the airwaves will be for our children and grandchildren.

There is power in numbers! With God's help, there is no limit what we can accomplish this year.

We greatly appreciate donations, but there are some who cannot support OMM financially at this time. Several have contacted me to ask on top of sending emails what else could they do. Here is another way you can help!

I need you to forward this email or send your own personal email to amazing Christian women just like you to join OneMillionMoms.com.

Please join OneMillionMoms.com to have your voice heard. We are making a remarkable difference!

Oh, and for the husbands, check out One Million Dads.com

Role Models

I don't write this to judge or condemn anyone just as food for thought.

As parents it is our job to "train up our child(ren) in the way they should go." We are to model Jesus to them and have relationships with others that will model Jesus to them. My question is, Why do we as parents allow role models into our children's lives that do not point to Jesus?

This conversation came up with my husband and I as he read the news article on Fox and saw the video about Miley Cyrus. Clearly she has made her share of mistakes from topless photos to pole dancing on tv. But this video of her smoking from a glass bong just adds more fuel to why she is NOT a good role model for kids. My husband and I were saddened for her and for all the parents out there buying Hannah Montana merchandise for their kids this Christmas.

We believe that what children watch on tv, or the toys they play with, or people they hang around will indeed dictate who they look up to. I wonder if parents are paying attention to what the role models in their children's lives are up to. I'm curious for people to weigh in on if they think this is a big deal. I do. I know we pulled a movie from our daughter when the main star went into rehab. We talked about her poor choices and how that is not someone to look up to. I'm not saying I have this all figured out. Often times we get comments on how much we keep from our kids. We are told you have to let them watch _____ or listen to _____ or else they won't fit in. Last time I checked, we are not to "conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds."

Thoughts?

My Obsession

Totally irrelevant to what I normally blog about but...I am obsessed right now with Rachael Ray's Cran-Apple-Onion Open Faced Turkey Sammies!

While feeding the baby the other day I turned on the tv to see if anything was worth gazing at. Racheal Ray was on (which I normally don't watch) but she was cooking up these thanksgiving leftover sandwiches. Abby came out of her room and wanted to know what she was cooking because it looked so good. (Abby loves to cook). We watched and decided to try the recipe that night with our leftover turkey. Daddy wasn't home so it was a good night to experiment. We both loved them. I have made them 3 times in the last 2 weeks. So, seeing I love them so much I thought I would post the recipe.

Rachael Ray's Official Website :: Cran-Apple-Onion Open-Face Turkey Sammies