One Voice United In Prayer

Thursday, May 1, is the National Day of Prayer.  I'll be praying at MLCC from 10 am to 11am in the sanctuary.  Hope that you will join me in person or in Spirit!

Sex Ed For Children

The other day I sent my daughter, the mother of my 3 grandchildren, the link for this blog http://www.challies.com/articles/the-new-birds-and-bees.  She replied that what is described in this article is terrible.  She requested some Bible verses for educating her 9-year-old daughter on these matters. 

I heard that Kay Arthur’s book, “The Truth About Sex,” was helpful for some middle school tweens.  I purchased the book and began to gather Bible verses.

Also, I remembered that years ago we had purchased a set of Child Craft volumes from World Book.  In one volume there was a sex education section.  I’m not sure if the newer volumes are the same but the older set was helpful,’ http://store.worldbook.com/products/childcraft-how-and-why-library?gclid=CJ3Ty9iZ_L0CFcRlfgodhSMAuw

A friend recommended a novel for tweens called "Just Like Ice Cream," by Lissa Halls Johnson.  I read it and thought it may be helpful.

Here is a blog with some good suggestions for books to help, http://www.challies.com/resources/when-its-time-for-the-talk
This is a link to a helpful review--http://lifemoreabundant.me/2014/06/04/book-review-growing-up-gods-way-for-girlsfor-boys-by-dr-chris-richards-and-dr-liz-jones/

Here is a blog with some good recommendations:
http://jenwilkin.blogspot.com/2014/05/equip-your-kids-to-say-no-to-porn.html

As I was planning how to use the Bible to help my daughter I began thinking about my granddaughters. I realized that they enjoy girly things like dresses, jewelry, and making up puppet shows about weddings.  (I think that is because they were just flower girls in their uncle’s wedding.)  Maybe some girls are not interested in these things but I believe most are.  (I was never interested in girly things and wasn’t happy God made me a girl.  But eventually I realized not being happy with how God made me was rebellion against God.) So I’m delighted that my granddaughters enjoy being girls!

 Anyway, with all the commercials on TV about Viagra, menstrual cycles, and other references related to sex and sexuality, kids are processing what they see and hear.  Also, they need to filter stuff that their friends tell them.  It is a good idea to let them know that you will explain things to them the best you can.  That way they will feel comfortable asking you about such matters.  (When my kids were teens I made a list of advantages of being married and advantages of being single.  On the marriage side I put one advantage is that you can have sex.  They were embarrassed but at least they knew what I believed!)

So here are some verses I sent to my daughter to help her as she is teaching her children. As they walk along on this path of life together she can share as appropriate:

Genesis 1:25-28

Genesis 2: 7-8, 15-25

Genesis 39:7-9

Leviticus 20

Leviticus 18:22-30

Deuteronomy 22:13-21, 22-29

I Corinthians 6:9-20

Proverbs 5:15-23

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 7

Romans 1

I Corinthians 7:1-2,3-5,8-9

I Thessalonians 4:1-8

II Peter 2:4-10

Ephesians 5:3-12

What books, articles, or Bible verses would you recommend to teach sex education to children?

Random Bits and Pieces

MARRIAGE

When God brought Eve to Adam this was God’s way of telling us His plan for marriage.  God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.  God was showing us a picture of Christ and His Church.  He is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride.  In other words we need both masculine and feminine to show God’s design for marriage.

SUMMER BIBLE READING SCHEDULE

This coming summer I will once again be reading through the Bible according to a reading plan.  Here is a link which gives several different strategies for reading the Bible.  http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Bible-Reading-Guides.html

BREATHING

The other day we were discussing how asthmatics become panicked when they can’t breath. I commented that when I can’t breath, I just tell the Lord that if He doesn’t help me to breath soon that is OK, because I’ll be dead in a couple of minutes, and then we can discuss it face to face.

COMMON CORE

I watched a 30-minute video about Common Core. Click on the link below to watch.  Five people on the committee who produced the Common Core Curriculum did not sign off on it. Their names were expunged from the record.

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/04/08/common-core-building-machine-debut/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell

More misinformation is going out about Common Core. Not only is the Federal government trying to require it for every student, (the SAT test is optional,)they are dumbing down the test for those who are college bound.  Here are a couple of links to read about complaints: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/eight-problems-with-common-core-standards/2012/08/21/821b300a-e4e7-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_blog.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/opinion/the-problem-with-the-common-core.html?_r=0

ROMAN CATHOLISIM

I’ve been wondering why so many Protestants are reading “Orthodoxy” written by G.K. Chesterton, a Roman Catholic.  Here is what R.C. Sproul, Jr. said, “ Why would a rabidly anti-Romanism Calvinist insist his teens read a rabidly anti-Calvinism Romanist? Why for all the biblical wisdom of course. That, and the writing. Chesterton was Lewis before Lewis, and clearly Lewis to Lewis. This book, rightly handled, is gold for the soul.”

TIME FLIES AND I CRAWL

When I was young time would crawl, (when are these kids ever going to grow up?!), and I would fly as I had so much to do, and so little time.  Now time flies, (is it 9 o’clock already!?), and I crawl, (did it just take me an hour to figure out how this necklace hooks?)

MY PET PEEVE

Teenagers should spend hanging out time at home, church, or school.  Hanging out at the mall is fulfilling this saying—"Fools names and fools faces will often be seen in public places."  My gut tells me that the mall is not a good place for kids.  If they need to buy something they should go to the store, buy it, and then leave.

HAPPY EASTER!

Time for Peeps!

The Real War on Women

EVERYBODY WELCOME

(BUT NOT YOU)

Recently there has been a big flap about a woman, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a crusader for women’s rights in the religion of Islam, who was invited to speak at Brandeis University, but then was uninvited, because of complaints by Muslim students and CAIR, Council On American-Islamic Relations.  I watched 2 interviews of Ali and was impressed with how much she loves the United States and wants Muslim women to be free.  She lives with constant death threats because of her beliefs and speaking out about them.  She is the author of the movie "Submission."  The Dutch filmmaker was murdered because of his involvement in making the movie.

In this short interview you can tell how much Ali loves the United States and how much she wants to get the word out to Muslim women about freedom.  The host comes across as hating the United States:

In this brief interview on Fox News Megyn Kelly talks with Ali about her invitation to speak at Brandeis, and then being uninvited to speak there.  Ali also appears in the movie "Honor Diaries."

Many Americans are ungrateful for the freedoms that we have here in the United States.  Our nation bases its laws on Judea/Christian values.  We are guaranteed freedom of speech, religion, and many other freedoms by our Constitution.  In many countries controlled by Communism or Sharia Law the people live in fear and many times live in poverty.  Women are especially downtrodden.

As a young adult I didn’t appreciate the freedom we have here in the U.S. and almost bought in to the idea that we were trying to force our values on countries that didn’t believe the same way that we do.  As I’ve grown older I began to understand that we did interfere in other countries where people were being killed and abused by their governments because of our values.  In the Jewish and Christian religions we are taught to live according to the 10 Commandments given by God to Moses.  We are to love God and love our neighbor. That is what our country is founded on.

I can now understand why the “Greatest Generation” was so proud and thankful for how God has blessed our country.  Both men and women have great opportunities here. 

PS Here is an article which includes a comment on the "War on Women."
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/375544/thought-police-patrol-charles-krauthammer

Oso Strong

To see the pictures click on the  link below and then click on the arrows to see 37 pictures.
http://firsttoknow.com/mudslide-washington-oso-photos/

A great tragedy befell a town 40 miles north of us, in Oso, WA.  After many days of steady rain a huge landslide of mud, rock, and trees along the Stillaguamish River, suddenly let loose, and covered a neighborhood, including slicing the road, route 530, in half.   Over 30 people were killed or are still missing.   Search and rescue, the National Guard, dogs, and many volunteers supporting the searchers have been working around the clock for over a week.  Donations have piled up and hundreds of dollars in gas cards have been donated.  Many have to drive an extra 50 miles to get to work, as the road they usually commute on is gone. 

In the New York Times Timothy Egan complains that this slide could have been predicted here--http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/opinion/sunday/egan-at-home-when-the-earth-moves.html?action=click&module=Search&region

I can’t imagine how it would feel to abruptly loose your loved ones and everything you own.  I expect most to be in shock for some time before reality sinks in.  Right now the homeless are only concerned about having a roof over their heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and for the missing to be found.  The funerals haven’t started yet.  That will be another hurdle they will need strength for.

Please pray that they all will turn to our Heavenly Father.  He is the only One who can truly comfort us in such a time of loss.  It will be a long road back but the people of Oso and surroundlug areas will have help from many people and the government.  Alderwood Community Church has a motor home that teams will take to the area for the searchers to have coffee, sandwiches, and hugs, when they take breaks.  Many other Christians are involved in volunteering for search and rescue teams including our son-in-law.  I hope hearts will be touched and that many will be comforted with the knowledge of Jesus.  He can help if we ask.