Those who follow my facebook are aware of my recent post on Anne Rice leaving Christianity or the Catholic Church that is…who knows. Anne Rice is a best-selling American author of gothic, erotic, and Christian-themed books.
The news article concerning Rice leaving Christianity may be somewhat misleading as Rice tries to explain that she isn’t giving up on Christ, but just the followers. It doesn’t come to much surprise from a Catholic with an “in and out” past. I must admit, I never followed her books and only listened a few times on radio stations or thru the news. The most troubling thing about her last post on facebook was just reading the comments from her fans. You had some not agree with her decision to ditch the followers of Christ, while others are praising her for her decision and go on to explain you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian…just do good things! My favorite comment of all is “Do what’s best for you, if it makes you feel good.” What they are commending is for someone to look deeper and deeper within themselves to gain inner experience of what is true and false. I would be interested in the outcome if that statement was given to Charles Manson or any other murderer outside of prison.
For those who do take the advice to “do what’s best for you, if it makes you feel good” is encouraging that person to further themselves from Christ. Christ tells us to stop looking to ourselves for answers! When we look to ourselves for truth, we are held captive to our own bondage. Christianity is quite simple…just sit, and receive His judgment and His grace. I love Mike Horton’s book, “Christless Christianity.” My Church had a study on this book and used his famous logo, “Don’t just do something…sit there!” This is a perfect way to explain how simple Christianity is. You don’t have to pile a list of “To Do” items, such as, not drinking or smoking, homeschooling kids, voting Republican, etc. Some of these items are from my own experience from my Mormon days as well as past experiences in churches I have witnessed or attended.
Why does there always have to be a “To Do List” to Christianity? It is rather simple to fall into this as the “Christian Way.” My first experience stepping inside a Christian Church was rather refreshing coming from a Mormon background. I just sat and listened to God’s Word being preached. For the very first time in my life, I was being feed His Word and didn’t have to do a thing but receive His grace. I am thankful that the very first Church was Christ-centered in their worship. Many churches use morals or politics to feed their congregants as this is new and relevant to our generation. As Christians, we need to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
I couldn’t end this blog without recommending Mike Horton’s book, “Christless Christianity.” You can visit the website at www.christlesschristianity.org.
“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5).
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Birth Control--Just one click away from your TV remote
I haven't updated my blog in a while. I blame this on my fully occupied life. I have been consumed with tons of work and my son's extreme developmental growth that I haven't had the energy to post anything worthwhile. I try to post articles that stand out rather than typical boring articles that may leave viewers assuming my life is lame. Well, I guess I could possibly fall into that category...moving along; I noticed a change in reality series. Yes, I am a huge reality show junkie. My husband is planning on buying me my own TV for the upstairs so he can watch his own shows in the basement in peace. What a sweet man I married to allow the woman to control the remote…sometimes that is.
There are many family oriented shows out there to express how rough it is to raise a family or how unique a large family is. I have been jumping back-and-forth from Teen Mom, Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting, and Raising Sextuplets. I heard some time ago that the abortion rate dropped and there has been an increase in child birth. It is a true blessing to hear, but such shows as Teen Mom call teen childbearing an “epidemic”. I really detest the word epidemic when relating to a child. I don’t agree with these women getting pregnant outside of marriage. It then leads the teen to feel obligated to marry the person who they most likely don’t love and then it will reflect the way they raise a child. To give the teens positive feedback, I do find it encouraging that they chose the selfless gift of having their children and expressing to other teens how it’s not always easy as they may think. My solution to preventing pregnancy for those outside of marriage…don’t have sex. Now, in my case as a married woman with a child, I choose to space my children out. Watching these shows is my "free" birth control without the pill or doctors note. All you need is cable TV!
Many may think it is a joke, but with all honesty it isn't. Let me be clear that I absolutely LOVE children and believe they are a blessing from God. I am Pro-Life and do believe God provides all things necessary to raise children. I am not so quick to having another one right away while I am watching 6 little Isaiah's running around destroying a home and getting sick all at once on TV. These parents are phenomenal!
My favorite family reality show is “Raising Sextuplets” on the WE channel. If anyone has watched the show, it is nowhere comparable to "Jon & Kate Plus 8" or what my husband now calls "Jon & Kate Separate". I just hope those 6 little babies don't turn into lil brats like the Gosselin family...ooops did I say that? One thing I appreciate about the show is their martial commitment. They realize their marriage isn't perfect, but they meet with the Pastor and a Dr. to counsel their marriage difficulties. I don't find anything wrong with that. In fact, I nearly puke when I hear of couples who claim they never fight. What comedians those couples are! At times I know my husband and I need to take a break from our own personal readings and read martial counseling books. We only have a 4 year dent in our marriage, so we do plan on longer happy years together. Not to mention, the parent’s relationship has a tremendous impact on their child's life. I am blessed to say that my parents are still together (hard to find in this generation) and happily married. They raised all 9 of us and now that we are all grown and out of the house, they travel and do many date nights. If my parents didn't share this love to our family, I can only imagine how this would affect our own families today.
There are many family oriented shows out there to express how rough it is to raise a family or how unique a large family is. I have been jumping back-and-forth from Teen Mom, Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting, and Raising Sextuplets. I heard some time ago that the abortion rate dropped and there has been an increase in child birth. It is a true blessing to hear, but such shows as Teen Mom call teen childbearing an “epidemic”. I really detest the word epidemic when relating to a child. I don’t agree with these women getting pregnant outside of marriage. It then leads the teen to feel obligated to marry the person who they most likely don’t love and then it will reflect the way they raise a child. To give the teens positive feedback, I do find it encouraging that they chose the selfless gift of having their children and expressing to other teens how it’s not always easy as they may think. My solution to preventing pregnancy for those outside of marriage…don’t have sex. Now, in my case as a married woman with a child, I choose to space my children out. Watching these shows is my "free" birth control without the pill or doctors note. All you need is cable TV!
Many may think it is a joke, but with all honesty it isn't. Let me be clear that I absolutely LOVE children and believe they are a blessing from God. I am Pro-Life and do believe God provides all things necessary to raise children. I am not so quick to having another one right away while I am watching 6 little Isaiah's running around destroying a home and getting sick all at once on TV. These parents are phenomenal!
My favorite family reality show is “Raising Sextuplets” on the WE channel. If anyone has watched the show, it is nowhere comparable to "Jon & Kate Plus 8" or what my husband now calls "Jon & Kate Separate". I just hope those 6 little babies don't turn into lil brats like the Gosselin family...ooops did I say that? One thing I appreciate about the show is their martial commitment. They realize their marriage isn't perfect, but they meet with the Pastor and a Dr. to counsel their marriage difficulties. I don't find anything wrong with that. In fact, I nearly puke when I hear of couples who claim they never fight. What comedians those couples are! At times I know my husband and I need to take a break from our own personal readings and read martial counseling books. We only have a 4 year dent in our marriage, so we do plan on longer happy years together. Not to mention, the parent’s relationship has a tremendous impact on their child's life. I am blessed to say that my parents are still together (hard to find in this generation) and happily married. They raised all 9 of us and now that we are all grown and out of the house, they travel and do many date nights. If my parents didn't share this love to our family, I can only imagine how this would affect our own families today.
I truly believe that God is in control of blessing us with children and no child is a "mistake." I may scare many Moms or even my own family with admitting that I just go with the flow to parenting. I find many parenting books lame and believe that God helps to sustain me as a parent...why else would He bless me with one? I look forward to the time God blesses me with another child, but today I enjoy my little dude, Isaiah. He is an awesome kid that fills our house with laughter and fun. It’s amazing how a child can positively affect a family. I just hope the same applies to his teens. I know, I know…I am dreaming. :)
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