Join the Rebelution!

My husband and I have always had an interest in young people. We met while on volunteer staff with Young Life and spent the first 10 years of our marriage in youth ministry together. One of the reasons we felt drawn to youth ministry was the idea that young people aren't as "messed up yet" or as set in their ways as their adult counterparts, and that it is therefore easier to get them started on the right path toward a healthy, successful life of deep, abiding relationship with Christ.

We just didn't realize quite how much young people are capable of...we set our sights too low.

And we didn't realize what an important role parents play in their children's future well-being -- not only whether children come to Christ but how richly the children will end up living for Christ and how well they will be able to sustain healthy friendships and marriages and reach others for Christ. (How could we have missed the importance of parents? Uh, I'm really not sure.)

One thing leads to another, and the birth of our first child brought the first stirrings of change in our minds and hearts. These stirrings led to several years of slow change, which in turn led to a paradigm-shift of thinking regarding young people.

The Rebelution Tour is coming to the Sacramento area (north of Auburn), this March 11th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The teen boy speakers and their father truly epitomize the standard of teen living we have come to see as normal Christianity. (Ahem, that's "normal" according to scripture, not "normal" meaning what is average today).

I highly recommend this tour to teens, parents of teens, grandparents of teens, single adults, and parents of someday-teens.

I am praying and hoping, and praying and hoping, and praying and hoping for Reformation in The Church, and it tickles me pink that God could use teens as part of this movement!

From the Rebelution Tour's Website:

What is the Rebelution?

--It's a movement among Christian youth from around the world to throw off the shackles of low cultural expectations.
--It's a cry for young people to return to historic levels of Christian character and competence.
--It's a network of young men and women who are mutually committed to glorifying God by "doing hard things" in their teen years.
--It's a reformation by those who recognize the biblical commandment to use the teen years, not as a vacation from responsibility, but as the launching pad for all of life.

Check out the Harris boys' blog!

Homosexuality and The Emerging Church

This just snagged from the A-Team's blog:

"The Mark Driscoll-Brian McLaren Throwdown, Round 1"

"If you thought this blog was rough, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Emergent leader Brian "The Godfather" McLaren recently posted this article about homosexuality, to which Mark "The Pistol" Driscoll fired back with a very unrestrained comment, which was posted here. Various reactions to the Driscoll-McLaren Throwdown have sprung up around the blogosphere, with Andrew Jones and Steve McCoy leading the way. So, who wants to get in on the betting action? I got ten bucks that says Driscoll knocks McLaren out in the eleventh round. Boo-yah."

Also found this link to Douglas Wilson's response to McLaren.

It is nice to see people reacting to this and disscusing the topic with some spunk...
There is still life in The Body -- I was worried we were all asleep!

Calling All Dads!

I received an email notice today that Family Life did 2 radio programs on daddies leading family worship. I'm listening to them right now, and they sound great so far!
Ron and I have come across many statistics lately revealing the number one factor in having kids that follow Christ is dad leading his children in some type of family worship. Back in the Pilgrim or Puritan days, a father could be whipped for not leading his family in daily devotions -- yikes! All whips put aside, I sure hope God moves in the hearts of men to turn their hearts back to Him and back to their wives and children.
We wives and children hunger for spiritual food from our men.

Theology From A Bunch of Dead Guys!

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I stumbled onto this site of Phil Johnson's today, and it is a hoot!

From the introductory page:

A FRIEND who noticed my reading habits asked, "Why would anyone want to study theology by reading A Bunch of Dead Guys? Shouldn't you focus mostly on current works, or risk becoming an irrelevant theological fossil?"My answer: the truth about God is timeless. The last infallible book of theology was written nearly two thousand years ago. In theology, if it's new, it probably isn't true.The best of the men featured here knew that. Though they are dead, they still speak (cf. Heb. 11:4). Scripture was their supreme rule of faith. Their theological line of descent is clearly traceable from the Reformers, to Augustine, to the Apostle Paul, to Isaiah, to Abraham—all the way back to the first promise God made to Adam in the Garden (Gen. 3:15).

This site is informative and fun, especially for a light intro into Church History (Warning -- the information is from a Calvinist point of view). The site owner provides a little map with caricatures or pictures of specific dead guys. You can navigate your way down the map -- but be careful! Too far to the left or the right and you'll find yourself in theological trouble! The site also provides links to follow under each of these people groups, for further study or enlightenment :) You may explore a page of links to different creeds, catechisms, and confessions.

Phil Johnson makes learning theology from a bunch of dead guys feel like browsing howstuffworks.com!

Resources on Figuring out Feminism

Oh. If only I didn't have a husband and kids to minister to, perhaps I would have more time and a less-cluttered brain to sit down and do something really important -- like blog about feminism in the church! :)
Really, I am working on Parts 2 through at-least-4 of the Unwitting Feminism series. I keep jumping around between them -- and none of them is able to stand alone as a post at this point. Hopefully I won't end up posting them all at once!
Besides, it is amusing to just check back and read everyone's incredible comments. Dad and Danielle have already stolen my thunder on a few words of wisdom. And George, though I agree with a lot of your assessment of things, I think "feminism" and its spread throughout society and the church is more men's fault than women's! And I think that feminism has done nothing but harm to both sexes.
It's been fun to think about everything you ALL had to say so far -- thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Before I get to the next controversial "real" post, here are some resources for you. All of these books or websites come from a pretty conservative, but very biblical standpoint. I would challenge you to look at any of these sources (with a Bible on your lap) and see what you think!

Books I have yet to Read that Look Great:
The Feminist Mistake by Mary Kassian
Review of The Feminist Mistake by Tim Challies (this review is worth the read)
Roger of The A Team interviews Mary Kassian (includes a link to read the first chapter
of this book online)
The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott

Websites with lots of articles:
Patriarch Magazine
Ladies Against Feminism
The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Family Ministries

Books I have found helpful over the past few years:

Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
Family Man, Family Leader by Philip Lancaster
The Way Home and All The Way Home (the 2nd is "way" better) by Mary Pride
Created to Be His Help-Meet by Debi Pearl
The Fruit of Her Hands: Respect and the Christian Woman by Nancy Wilson
On the Other Side of the Garden: Biblical Womanhood for Today's World by Virginia Fugate

A lot of these resources will seem odd and extreme in light of most of the other stuff out there these days.
At first, I even threw Reforming Marriage to the floor -- it made me so mad! But I can't get past the biblical wisdom from many of these authors. Not that I agree with EVERYTHING each of them has to say, either. I am just so tired of explaining away scripture verses -- it has been refreshing to read books written by those who take the Bible for what it plainly says. These authors and people who live this way have drawn me into investigating Reform Theology (although they are not ALL Reform, Debi Pearl and Reb Bradley of Family Ministries are assuredly NOT Reform).
If you've read any of these books/articles, I'd love to hear what you think.

Post-Christian America

Do you know who Albert Mohler is? I didn't until today.

While checking some of my favorite blogs today, Mohler showed up on two of them -- one remarked that he would be on Larry King Live to discuss the gay cowboy movie, Brokeback Mountain, and the other to a link where Mohler discusses a recent inspiring and empowering sermon of John Piper's.

Poking around his website, I found an article entitled Transforming Culture: Christian Truth Confronts Post-Christian America that puts into words some of the reasons I have felt frustrated with society and helpless to change it. Our society has changed as much as an entire "civilization" in the past 50-60 years.

Mohler's message is one of stating the facts and encouraging Christians to do what they are called to do.

A few passages from the article:

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Looking within, Americans have adopted a therapeutic worldview which has transformed all issues of right and wrong into newly created categories of authenticity, self esteem, codependencies, and various psychological fads which basically tell us that we are victims, not responsible moral agents. A cult of self-worship has developed, substituting a search for the inner child in place of the worship of the transcendent God.

Isn't this the truth! And it is so difficult for me to know how to respond to people who think this way. When you bring up sin, you feel as though you are guilty of picking on someone for being sick. And in a way, you are -- but the Bible clearly states that men are gulity of this sickness of sin and must repent. There are ways to soften the truth, sometimes, but as my 7 year old is fond of saying, "Truth Hurts."

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The displacement of the Church is characteristic of the process of secularization, which has now so thoroughly altered the landscape of American culture. Though sociologists point to continuing high levels of religious activity and statements of belief--both of these in sharp contrast to other western nations--the truth is that very little of this activity translates into authentic discipleship, active church membership, and bold Christian witness.

An interesting comment on where we as Christians stand in America.
Religious, but not authentic, active, and bold.

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The truths of God's Word reveal the Gospel of spiritual transformation, and the proclamation of the truths of God's Word is the only means available to us of cultural transformation. From beginning to end, it is all in God's hands. We are called to faithful witness and compassionate ministry. In the context of post-Christian America, our task is to preach the Gospel and to proclaim the truths of God's Word. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, the Gospel is foolishness to those seeking wisdom and a scandal to those looking for power. To the redeemed, however, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Here is found the only genuine transformation. Therein is found our charge.

Mmm. Good reminders. The rest of the article is worth a read.
I think I'll be back for more of Albert Mohler's writings. It seems like he has good stuff to say!

Unwitting Feminisim, Part I

Feminism by Any Other Name -- Still Doesn't Smell Sweet

I'm beginning to re-think many current "Christian" ideas concerning the role of women.

I'm re-thinking them because they just don't seem to hold up to biblical precedent. How I could have been reading this same Bible for years, content to gloss over verses concerning my life as a woman? Usually, I used the excuse of the Bible being written so very long ago, during a different time period, a different culture. These verses needed to be carefully interpreted in light of these differences, and then thoughtfully dismissed. They simply couldn't apply to my life in the straightforward way they were written, could they? And besides, compared to my friends outside the church, I was practically old-fashioned. I shared a bank account with my husband, took his last name when we married, didn't make any major decisions without him, and decided to not work outside of the home once we had children. Heck, I even submitted to him the two times we needed a "tie-breaker!" Feminist? Not me!

In an article entitled Many Evangelicals Unwittingly Live as Feminists, Russell D. Moore is quoted as saying:

"Evangelicals maintain headship in the sphere of ideas, but practical decisions are made in most evangelical homes through a process of negotiation, mutual submission, and consensus. That's what our forefathers would have called feminism -- and our foremothers, too."

I'd agree with Moore. Today's typical books on Christian marriage promote a contemporary way of looking at submission and many other issues having to do with a woman's role in life, marriage, the church.

In the introduction to The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to Reality, Mary Pride sounds a wake-up call to Christian women about the feminist ideas we have picked up and made our own:

"Christians have accepted feminists 'moderate' demands for family planning and careers while rejecting the 'radical' side of feminism -- meaning lesbianism and abortion. What most do not see is that one demand leads to the other. Feminism is a totally self-consistent system aimed at rejecting God's role for women. Those who adopt any part of its lifestyle can't help picking up its philosophy. And those who pick up its philosophy are buying themselves a one-way ticket to social anarchy."

Pride's words certainly were true of me -- I had rejected radical feminism but had fully embraced moderate feminism. A few generations of moderate feminism, and we end up with a church that not only is hardly distinguishable from the world, but one that is bent on self-destruction. (In fact, I wonder how many church issues could be fixed by a re-wiring of our brains when it comes to reading scripture? A Reformation of thought where we return to the ideas of sola scriptura?)

What parts of feminism have we as Christians unwittingly picked up? What parts of scripture have we closed our eyes to? How have these thought patterns affected the church? How in the world did these changes come about? And how did I come to see my own patterns of thought had strayed so far from the biblical ideal?

Stay tuned for more thoughts on this controversial issue. . .

New Age Practices in the Church?

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I just read an interesting book review over on the A-Team's Blog about a new book entitled Running Against the Wind by Brian Flynn. Flynn describes his life as an anti-Christian, first looking for hope in sex, drugs and rock 'n roll and later looking for it in Nirvana, meditation, and conferring with the spirits. When he met Jesus Christ, he found the Truth and he found his Hope. Next Flynn goes into his journey as a Christian, and his surprising encounters with New Age beliefs INSIDE the church. He says that New Age practices have slipped into the church, mostly without us being aware of them.
This subject fascinates me as I often wonder how much of our culture affects our Christian Worldview. In my own life, I have discovered so many ways of thinking that seemed unquestionable until I found scripture saying the opposite (my version of feminism, for example).
It is very hard to lift our heads up above our culture to really analyze what parts of our current lifestyles are biblical and which parts need to be thrown out.
I will be getting ahold of this book soon. It will be exciting to challenge another area of thinking and hold up common practices to scripture.

Black Widow Scare!

It is nearly midnight. I just found a black widow spider. My husband is out of town.
Not only am I deathly afraid of any scary-looking spiders, but a black widow takes the cake. And she is in a really hard to reach spot, under my sink. I was down there to get out the bread maker (we were going to have fresh bread for breakfast tomorrow -- not now!) when I saw her scurry back in there. It is pretty dark in there, so maybe I am wrong about her being a huge, black poisonous spider!
If only it wasn't so late, I'd go over to the college boys next door, or call my uncle or brother-in-law who both live nearby. My boys aren't big enough for this job, I don't think! I just don't think I have it in me to kill or trap her tonight.
Thank goodness I just had a swig of NyQuil -- maybe I can get some sleep even though my skin is crawling and itching with dozens of imaginary spiders!!! Eeek!
Honey, my Protector Extraordinaire, come home soon!!

"Stupid in America"

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On 20/20 this evening, John Stossel aired a special report called "Stupid in America."
I admit it, we are John Stossel fans in our home. Not that we agree with every opinion he has, but we admire his sensibility and the fact that he calls things as he sees them.
The program was very interesting, and seemed to reveal a debate of larger proportions going on in our country -- over deeper worldview issues, perhaps the ideas of Socialism v. Capitalism? Hmm. Well, this show may have been the kick in the pants I needed to finally get around to reading John Taylor Gatto's Underground History of American Education.
At the end of the program, Stossel said something along the lines of, "Well, this was our show on education. We hope it sparks a debate." Boy did it. If you missed the program, you can catch a few video clips here.

Love Stinks - or What Goes Around Comes Around

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Lately I've been thinking about how void the public squares are of children and old people -- especially during the daytime "work hours." Our society tends to lock these types of people away all day, behind closed doors with other people their same age -- in the places that are "natural" and "better for them."
When the kids and I do meet an elderly person at the grocery store or park, I make certain to stop and chat for as long as I can -- exposing my children to this generation of people, their wisdom, their fragility, their love for friendship and companionship, their delight in little children. How can it be normal to disregard, at least in action and attention, such a valuable portion of our society?
We recently went with our eldest son's Cub Scout Troop to sing Christmas Carols at an old folks' home. My three-year old asked me (hopefully everyone there was too deaf to hear him), "Mama, why everybody here dead?"
Oh my goodness! After a quick reminder to him that we will all die some day, I explained that the people there were very old, but were not dead. But, to tell you the truth, the place felt pretty dead. It wasn't a place I would look forward living any time soon. Though I am sure Bingo or Bible Study with senior gals my age will be a blast, being locked up with them in an institution doesn't look like fun.
It got me thinking about how many people begin to live like they are dead way before the Angel of Death comes a-knocking. I made a NOTE TO SELF: If at all possible, live in such a way that I will not flicker out like an old candle -- I want to go out in a blaze of glory!
How have old folks' homes become so typical? I UNDERSTAND that homes for the elderly are an absolute need for some people, especially for medical reasons. But we have taken what should be a last resort and made it average, inevitable, and desirable. We've all seen the bumper sticker, "Be Nice to Your Children; They'll Choose Your Nursing Home."
My mantra instead is, "Value and enjoy your time with your young and simple-minded children now, for if you do, they will value and enjoy time with you when you are old and feeble-minded."
One of my family members mentioned that he would prefer to be in a nursing home so that the people he loves won't have to bathe and feed him, should he deteriorate to such a level. Of course, wiping faces and bottoms isn't Number One on most people's entertainment list, but guess what? Love stinks! I am willing to take care of my mom and dad in any way they need. They did it for me, and I can do it for them.
I once had a neighbor, dear old Bertha, who had 6 children -- five of them sons. Even though her husband died at a young age, Bertha never had to worry about money. She never had to mow her lawn or hire a lawn service. If the plumbing needed fixing or the roof leaked, one of those boys was over in a jiffy.
What happened to old-fashioned retirement plan of having children and raising them well? It worked for Bertha, and I hope it will work for me.

Marriage Has Its Rewards

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When my eldest son Christian was only 3 1/2, he let us know that he would not be getting married one day as he wanted to have "more time to serve God." (Apparently he caught wind of I Corinthians 7:32-35).
Since that time, whenever I say, "Look at the way you helped your brother -- you'll be such a good daddy someday!" or "Thank you for killing that spider. Your wife will love it when you do that," he patiently reminds me that there is a good chance he just may never get married.
Christian has also stated that marriage would be rough -- because you would "have" to kiss, and because you just may end up having to go to the store with your wife to buy a bra or girl underwear.
Today, as we were sailing down the freeway toward my parents' house, with a sudden and dramatic sigh Christian exclaimed, "Oh no! I just thought of something! If I don't get married, I won't be able to use the CARPOOL LANE. Ohhhh...then I'd end up just SITTING in traffic."

Any single men out there need a good reason to get married?
Christian just came up with a fine one for your list!

Best of the Blogosphere

Just when I think I can break away from blog reading, I stumble onto delicious blogs!

Here's a few for you to check out!

Important things going on in Christianity:
Tim Challies
The A Team
Best of the God Blogs

Blogs for Gals:
Holy Experience
Girl Talk
Rebecca Writes (her post on Rick Warren is interesting)
Choosing Home
Amy's Humble Musings
Solo Femininity

Links to award-winning blogs:
Blogs of Beauty

Family and Friends' Blogs:
My Sister - She's Adorable
My Unicycle-Riding Father
My First-Born Son
Micah-in-the-Middle
My Brother-in-Law
George Mimmen
Classical Families
Anne of Green Curtains

Future Men

One of the books that I am reading right now is Future Men by Douglas Wilson. (I always have several books going at a time because its just too boring to finish one before going onto the next -- I prefer keeping several areas of my brain working out at once -- sort of like circuit training for the mind. LOL.) It is just so enlightening to read these books about boys. I am reminded that I am SUCH a girl -- through and through -- and I need the encouragment and direction for raising masculine men. Not to mention that these books on boys help me better understand my husband and his ways...!

From the Introduction to Future Men:

"The faith exhibited by wise parents of boys is the faith of a farmer, or a sculptor, or anyone else engaged in the work of shaping unfolding possibilities. It is not the faith of someone waiting around for lightning to strike; it is the faith of someone who looks at the present and sees what it will become -- through grace and good works.
"Countless examples may be multiplied from any given day in the life of a small boy. Say a boy breaks a chair because he was jumping on it from the bunk bed. Unbelief sees the cost of replacing the chair. Faith sees aggressiveness and courage, both of which obviously need to be directed and disciplined. Suppose a boy gets into a fight protecting his sister. Unbelief sees the lack of wisdom that created a situation that could have been easily avoided; faith sees an immature masculinity that is starting to assume the burden of manhood.
"Unbelief squashes; faith teaches. Faith takes a boy aside, and tells him that this part of what he did was good, while that other part of what he did got in the way. 'And this is how to do it better next time.'"

Oh, Lord, the Good Farmer! Would you sow seeds of faith in my heart? Would you help Ron and I to believe and strive toward the best in our sons? It is you who causes the crops to grow, Father. I just want to be your handmaiden, ready to serve You in any way you would prefer. Use me like a tool in your garden! May the crops that are raised in our home glorify Your name in just the way you desire.
I do not want to be guilty of squashing the Good in my boys.
I DO want to be faithful to instructing these little guys in the ways of godly, masculine men.
Thank you for revealing to me so much lately about the manly soul -- keep me appreciative of Your good works as I see to understand Your ways. Your thoughts are not my thoughts, and I am so thankful that You are so high above me! Usher me into Your Truth, and please give me the grace to walk by it.

These Are My Poems

I spent half the day yesterday fellowshipping at my friend Robin’s baby shower. Many of the gals attending were friends from a local Charlotte Mason support group I used to attend. I just LOVE spending time with women who encourage me to slow down, to respect and honor and submit to my husband, and to listen and walk with the Lord daily.

Ahhh...what a breath of fresh air these ladies are!

Can I just say to them...

I love you gals! Thank you for all the encouragement you've given me over the past few years. The Lord caused you to come into my life at the perfect time, a time when I was ready and wanting for your influence and inspiration. I appreciate how He has caused my eyes to open on many things over which I didn't even know my eyes were closed. My heart has been drawn toward home -- and you have definitely had something to do with this!

Thank You!

One of the gals read a stirring quote from a book of poetry. On the way to the shower, I had been thinking about how I wished I had more time to putter around with creative ideas. This quote was a nice reminder of the role I have TODAY – and that I can and should be pouring my creative ideas into serving my husband and children.

When I learn to follow God in the ways he has made clear in scripture and in my heart, I am confident He will “enlarge my territory” to have an effect on the world at large.

Many people have said to me
'What a pity you had such a big family
to raise. Think of the novels and the short stories and the poems you never had time to write because of that.'
And I looked at my children and I said,
'These are my poems. These are my
short stories.'
--Olga Masters