Words, Words, Words....

Sometimes I have words and ideas in my brain that I am driven to get on paper, or the computer screen. As a result, blogging has become an outlet for me. There are some weeks, however, when my brain is so jumbled with details that I can hardly make it through the 7 days without crashing like a hard drive. This week represents the later....


At the same time, this week I have heard some incredible words from other venues! In my quest for Truth, I listened to a broadcast from Focus on the Family entitled "Strengthening Your Teen's Worldview." The message addresses the core of my search in terms of hope for the future - particularly my sons' futures.... I grew up with some really smart friends - actually gifted in the formal sense of the word. During those years, I observed that intellectually gifted teens often struggle with issues of faith. Fast forward 20+ years, and I now have a gifted child to teach and model my faith. Wow - it is a daunting mission! Additionally, I am currently immersed in an academic environment where I observe Truth questioned and dismissed. My faith is strengthened by these challenges, and I am deeply thankful for a personal relationship with Christ.


It is apropos these days to look down upon people with strong convictions. Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family frequently feels this kind of heat - from the full spectrum of people. Let me be quick to say that I do not embrace everything I hear on FOTF broadcasts, but more often than not, I agree. The aforementioned broadcast hits me in the center of my faith journey at this point, and speaks words that I have not clearly articulated. So, if my thoughts have resonated with yours during 2009, then take a listen.


Another broadcast touching the core of my search in recent days is Dr. Chuck Swindoll's current series entitled "Living Right in a Wrong World." Today's message, in particular, struck a chord with me on this journey. The title is "The Disturbing Realities of Our Times." These links will change with the date you search, so if you have trouble finding the exact message, use the website's library. Have I mentioned how useful mp3 players are these days?


Friends, may your journey be enriched as you pursue the knowledge of Christ - especially during Advent!

Another Poem - my poetry is depressing.

Belonging, Connection, Affirmation
is what I long for, but
Loneliness, Misunderstanding, Rejection
is really the plight of a foreigner.
My homeland is in heaven.

See Philippians 3:20a

Insecurity & A Goal for 2010???

December 1st is a mere six hours away! Parts of 2009 have sped by, and parts have been S-L-O-W (though with 2 kids, time generally flies). I can not believe that I am on track to complete my "Goal for 2009" - memorizing 24 pieces of scripture with my siestas on The LPM Blog. I am not completely up-to-date, but I know it would only take a few days of concentrated effort. Should I continue working on this goal into 2010??? Still thinking about it.... I want to, but I am not certain, yet.

Beth Moore has introduced a new group activity on her blog. Her newest book, "So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us," hits the market in early February. Because of the enormous impact of insecurity upon women, this writing project really struck a different kind of chord with Beth. The Ministry is sponsoring a book club of sorts through her blog - you can read about it here.

I read about the book blog right before Thanksgiving, and I was really, really missing my family last week.... So, I believe the Lord led me to invite family members to join me in reading Beth's newest book beginning in February. The group read will conclude around April 24th - the weekend of Beth's next simulcast covering the book's topic. My Aunt Kathi and I have an agreement - she will read the book, IF I agree to come to the Seattle area for the simulcast and a family girls' weekend. It is a done deal, friends! And, I could not be more excited. This is an example of how technology is used for the glory of God!

Chances are great that I will blog about my personal experiences (not those of my family members) with the book as I read it.... If you want to be on the same page, plan on obtaining the book in February. I sense something quite significant will come from sharing in this experience with other women.

Oh December, I thought you'd never come....
Now that you're here,
I am sooo looking forward to February and April!
Thank you, Lord, for the joy of anticipation!

Oops - I can't help it!

I said I was done with the "Twilight" blogging, but then I read this on Lysa TerKeurst's blog. I also have a read of few of these reviews of Touched by a Vampire on Amazon's website. The response to my review is interesting... because I like to hear opposing views. I chose not to respond because I really do not know who I am speaking with in such a forum.

And, I just signed on for another blog tour in January. It involves Shaunti Feldhahn's newest book entitled The Male Factor. Can't wait to start reading it - Shaunti Feldhahn is so thought provoking!

Controversy, Understanding, Wisdom - Who Knows?

There are so many controversial topics that touch my heart and mind these days. Today I prayed: Lord Jesus, speak to your people - myself included - in this present time about righteousness and discernment.

In Luke 12:54-57, Jesus said to a crowd of people:

"When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It is going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?"

It is so true.... We embrace weather predictions based on meteorology. When I am planning an outdoor activity, I pay close attention to the weather for days ahead of time, and I generally know what is going on with the weather from day to day. I often need to know the weather in order to dress appropriately, to pack my bags, to plan for a game, or to take the dog out before a downpour.

Yet, how many people pay close attention to our current cultural state for the purpose of understanding its impact upon our daily lives? Throughout history, there have been prophets making predictions - some biblical and some not. Who judges the accuracy of prophetic predictions for you? No one can say such knowledge and understanding isn't necessary for day-to-day living. We engage the culture everyday in making decisions! To take a neutral stance towards popular culture's affect on us is actually choosing a distinct position. Such a decision is to be ignorant, helpless, or overwhelmed - which is not Biblical.

Today I prayed: Lord, help me to glorify you in righteousness; help me to represent you well - drawing your children into deeper relationship with you. Colossians 3:16-17 says:

"Let the words of Christ, in all of their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Without you, Lord, I am legalistic. Give me discernment, make me righteous, and allow me to shine for you!

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:3-7).

For me, these ideas point to a distinct difference between human wisdom and Godly wisdom. Human wisdom is enticing; it is logical; it is dead wrong. Human wisdom is approved of in this culture; in fact, it is worshiped. Human wisdom leads people to give up thinking for themselves, although it makes them feel as if they are thinking deeply - far more deeply than the "average" human. When people embrace and worship the wisdom of humans, the world as God intended changes before their eyes. It appears good for this present time. Human wisdom begets human wisdom.... Godly wisdom fades in importance when human wisdom is prioritized. Godly wisdom become the wisdom to popularly question....

"Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you will have to become a fool so that you can become wise by God's standards. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God" (I Corinthians 3:18-19a).

In closing, Paul's words in Philippians are powerful:

"Pattern your lives after mine and notice who else lives up to my example.... There are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal loss, for their god is their appetite: they are proud of what they should be ashamed of; and all they think about is this life here on earth. But our homeland in is heaven" (Philippians 3:17-20a, TLB).

An Alternative to Fangs

After considering my previous postings, I have an alternative to the Twilight series for teen girls and younger. Check out Robin Gunn Jones' Christy Miller Series. I love these books!! Gunn Jones captures the innocence of young love and promotes high standards for meaningful lifelong relationships without regrets. Christy, Todd, and their friends exemplify the kind of lives that God meant for teenagers to live - fun, innocent, purposeful, and imperfect. The friends model how to approach real life issues while continually learning to trust God in all circumstances. I had a hard time putting all of these books down!

The Sisterchick Series is heart warming! Sisterchicks do the Hula is my very favorite. I envisioned a special Hawaiian getaway with my dear friend, Andrea, while reading this book, and I was actually sad when I read the last page....

The Glenbrooke Series also made me feel good about life! The female characters in this series overlapped with the Christy Miller series which made the reading all the more fun. All of Robin Gunn Jones' books have inspired me to grow spiritually in one way or another - even The Christy Miller series which is written for teen girls! I highly recommend this author for simple, pleasure reading with a purpose.

I believe this ends my "Blogging for Books" posts. For those who have followed, I hope you enjoyed the focus for the week. Now, I need to find some more books to read....

Faith & Fangs, Part II

It has been a long time since I have written a "book report," and I feel my "reporting" approach for the blog is less academic and more practical.... Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga feels a bit like the "Cliffs Notes" version of the Twilight Saga (I am showing my age, because these days the resource to use is "Spark Notes."). If I were more serious about this venture, I would have read the series and compared my thoughts with those of Beth Felker Jones, but that goes beyond my purpose. My motivation for participating in this "Blog Tour" was to think a bit more about how this immensely popular series impacts adolescent girls, and to possibly promote a resource for mothers of teen girls, youth workers, teachers, etc. For the later purpose, I highly recommend Touched by a Vampire.

I am a fan of modeling life lessons through the realities of life, when possible. If I had a daughter, then I would probably read the series alongside her and discuss the themes that Felker Jones presents. I think this resource would be useful for a youth group or book club to consider, as well. Felker Jones writes, "I hope you'll use this book for personal reflection. Maybe you have a group of Christian friends who can help you reflect on the powerful themes we're going to discuss" (p. 11). To highlight the themes, note the following chapter titles:

• Forbidden Fruit: The Allure of Dangerous Romance
• Dazzled: How Love Works in the Twilight Saga
• Body and Blood: Twilight's Take on Abstinence and Sex
• The Superhero and the Girl Next Door: Gender Roles in Twilight
• Baseball and Loyalty: Twilight and the Ideal Family
• For Eternity: The Good, the Bad, the Reality of Marriage in Twilight
• Monster Spawn or Precious Child? Children in the Twilight Saga
• Inhuman Strength: Twilight and the Good Life
• My True Place in this World: Bella's Search for Purpose
• Passion for God: The Power of Desire in Twilight and in Real Life

When I was young, I read many teen romance novels - Christian and otherwise. I was also extremely interested in dating. Looking back, I know the books awakened within me expectations and desires in dating and marriage that were impossible to fulfill. As a result, my heart was broken several times throughout junior high, high school, college, and into young adulthood. To me, such heartbreak is unnecessary, and I regret focusing on the need to be in a relationship during those years. From Felker Jones' perspective, the Twilight saga is like the novels I read, and then some.

I believe the foundational issue is discernment in guiding young girls to build dreams upon God's best plan, rather than on man's interpretation of His plan. In Twilight, Bella's desire for Edward overtakes her identity, her dreams, and her entire life. She goes against her parents' guidance, and Edward's hesitations, to focus only on her own desires. This is a horrible example for girls to be obsessed with in our culture. The relationship is dangerous, intense, and all-consuming. These factors alone provide me with some serious red lights.

I had heard, and Felker Jones notes, the "save yourself for marriage" theme that the book touts. As I read the synopsis of the saga, it appears that the boundaries represented in Twilight are similar to the boundaries represented in "everything but intercourse is acceptable before marriage." Legalism in daily living equals drawing imaginary lines that can not be crossed. Righteousness is seeking God's best in the dailiness of life to please Him believing that He knows us better than we know ourselves, and that we can trust Him to establish our boundaries. For example, I had a boundary that knew not to cross during my dating years. I did not cross that boundary, but I sure hit it at times. My primary motivation was to stay on the right side of the line, rather than to glorify God via my relationships. Looking back, the source of my pain during break-ups was the bonds I had created in giving away my heart too quickly. Had I focused on glorifying God, I believe those relationships would have started and ended differently.

Another theme represented in Twilight, that I believe is dangerous for girls in real life, is the idea that another person can complete us (Felker Jones, p. 31). When we enter into any relationship or position with the hope that it will make us full or complete, then we will be disappointed at best, and devastated at worst, every time. Aspects of life bring aspects of fulfillment, but apart from God, no person, position or activity will ever completely fill us. As adults, we need to highlight God as the source of fulfillment as often as possible among children and teens. We must give them life examples to show this Truth.

Young girls and adolescent girls need role models of healthy, loving relationships. Twilight does not offer such a model. In fact, according the Felker Jones, Bella and Edward's relationship models numerous signs of an abusive relationship - controlling behaviors, manipulative behaviors, isolation, possessiveness, and threats of suicide (p. 38). I have a problem with popular books that idolize such a poor representation of true love, but we can utilize the books to highlight the definition of poor relationships. As such, I would not want my daughter to wallpaper her room with pictures of Edward and Jacob, and I would be very cautious in viewing the movies, but I would not ban her from reading and critically thinking about the plot.

As you can see, I have only addressed a small portion of the themes that Felker Jones provides in Touched by a Vampire. The book offers discussion questions at the end of each chapter providing tools to facilitate a discussion. As I previously stated, I am not in favor of avoiding the Twilight saga. In fact, I believe the series provides a unique opportunity for parents, youth leaders, and teachers to address important cultural issues in opposition to God's plan. If you are in the position to interact with young girls and adolescents, I recommend that you read Felker Jones' Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga, and utilize its popularity to draw these minds into critical thinking and meaningful discussions.

If you are interested in the reading Touched by a Vampire, then I would love to send you a complimentary copy of the book. I have one copy to give away! Please either leave a comment or privately contact me and I will choose someone to receive it.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.