Homeschooling and Why We Love It

Back in April, I wrote a blog post entitled "Out of Hospital Birthing and Why We Love It." Now, I would like to do something similar regarding the subject of homeschooling. My reason for doing so is two-fold: 1) For my sake. 2) For your sake.

Let me explain. I may know why I believe what I believe just fine in my head but when I can write it down and get my thoughts on paper (whether literal or digital), it helps me greatly to be able to articulate to myself these beliefs, convictions, and reasons. I can choose much more precisely my words in writing versus in conversation. And it allows me documentation to keep, re-read, and remind myself of when the going gets tough. I am not bound by what has been written, though, and if something needs to be edited in the future, I will certainly make changes as necessary.

My second reason for wanting to write this blog post is for your sake.
Maybe you are someone in our lives who wonders why we homeschool but doesn't want to come right out and ask. This is your chance to get some answers!
Maybe you are someone who is considering homeschooling but you need more information about the whys and wherefores. I hope you will find this post helpful!
Maybe you are a fellow homeschooler and in need of companionship or confirmation along the way. Perhaps this post can be an encouragement to you in your journey to know that you are not alone in your decisions and that our family is walking this same adventure one day at a time!

Before I begin, I would like to offer a similar "disclaimer" to the one I wrote in my home birthing article. If you haven't picked up on it already from the posts and pictures I share on this blog, I am very passionate about homeschooling! The reasons I love homeschooling are many as I plan to outline below, and I would go so far as to say that for me and my husband, homeschooling is a deeply held conviction that this path is best for our family. However, holding this belief does not mean that we therefore hold non-homeschooling parents in less esteem or that we think everyone should do exactly as we do. So please don't take my opinions and beliefs and reasons for homeschooling as a judgement call on your own decision to believe or do differently.  Please don't feel the need to justify yourself if you are choosing a different path or to think that I will not want to be your friend anymore, okay? There is enough division on this topic already and I am not seeking to create more of it. I am simply seeking to communicate for my own sake and the sake of other's why we have chosen the homeschooling path for our family...and in the process, my passion for the subject will likely spill onto the page, so just be ready! ;)

First, I will list our reasons for homeschooling and then I will address some common concerns and objections that are usually raised against homeschooling.

Reason #1 - For the love of God
More than anything, we want our children to love God with all their being, to have a strong faith in Jesus Christ and His Word, and to bring Him honor with their lives.  We take seriously the command in Scripture to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) Nurture means: "The whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of the mind and morals..." Admonition means "to put into the mind," and in this specific context, it relates to that which is "of the Lord."

Is it possible to raise a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord without homeschooling them? Yes, it is, and many parents have done just that! However, homeschooling can be a wonderful tool that helps facilitate this process! When we homeschool, we are able to train our children in the knowledge of God all day long. We are able to select curriculum that is distinctly Christian in its worldview or discuss things we read that are not in line with Biblical teaching. We are able to cultivate our children's morals through everyday opportunities in character training, in application of Scripture verses that we have been teaching them, and in the things they are exposed to (i.e. books, media, peers, etc.).

Discipleship is a buzz word amidst Christendom today, and rightfully so! It is crucially important to the development of strong believers and best accomplished when done on a very personal level in one-on-one or small group settings. We believe that the children God has entrusted to us are to be our most prioritized disciples. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth," wrote the apostle John, in reference to his "spiritual children." We parents who love Jesus could write the same thing when we see our own flesh-and-blood children walking in His truth, too, right? There really is no greater joy!!

Though we are not Jews living under Old Testament Law, there is great inspiration to be gleaned from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 when it comes to how to practically teach our children to love the Lord our God: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."  When we homeschool, it allows us to indeed talk of God and His ways throughout all parts and portions of our day and to understand academics and world-wide events through the lens of a Biblical worldview.  We believe it is our Biblical responsibility to be the main influence in our children's lives especially when they are young, and that is much better accomplished when we are together with them, just as Jesus gave the example of being with those He discipled until it was time to send them off.

Reason #2 - For the love of our children
Homeschooling is not often easy. It requires dedication and sacrifice. But the love we have for our God and for our children compels us! Not only do we long to see them walk in truth and goodness according to God's Word, but we also desire to protect them from the brokenness of a sin-filled world as much as possible while they are so young, to guard and cultivate their childlike wonder, to let them be children, and to tailor their schooling to their individuality.

I know it is not possible to protect our children completely or forever, nor do we wish to raise children who are "weird," backward or naive, but there are some things better learned at older ages, some behaviors better seen when they will not be influenced by them, and an innocence in children worth guarding.  Homeschooling allows us to raise our little ones in a greenhouse environment where they are protected from the harsh elements of the world before transplanting them to grow on their own.  Though we can't control everything nor do we seek to be control-freaks or helicopter parents, homeschooling allows us to "nip in the bud" wrong attitudes, actions, and beliefs before they can fester and poison the plant. We can guard against "the little foxes that spoil the vines" because we are there...watching...listening... ...guiding.

Homeschooling gives us the chance to encourage their childlike wonder and be free to be children. Children were designed to move a lot, to run and squeal, to play, to learn about God from nature by being outside in it. We love how being home throughout the day gives our children these opportunities! There is a time and a place for bookwork and table work for sure, but in general, I don't believe it is healthy for children mentally, physically, or emotionally, to be relegated to a desk most of the day, confined inside of four brick walls. So many studies are coming out now about how important recess is in a child's life, and that more recess time (not less) increases academic performance. I see the articles shared on Facebook and the Ted Talks that make rounds on the internet. I see the teachers in my circles rallying for more recess and less testing. I love how homeschooling allows us the freedom to balance learning through bookwork with learning through play. The world is our classroom!

Lastly, under this heading, I love how homeschooling allows us to tailor our children's education to their individuality. We are able to customize their studies to the way they learn best, the pace they need, the time of day they learn best, and the interests they have that fuel greater focus on a particular subject. I know this customization is the desire of many wonderful teachers in public and private school settings, but it's just plain hard when a classroom of 15-30 students must be taught at once. (It is also difficult when so much emphasis is placed on test-taking and the need to perform well on a test in order to get a good grade as either a student or a teacher - more on that below.)  Working as a homeschool teacher allows me the freedom to select a teaching style that suits me and a learning style that suits my children. For the present, this means that we are doing a primarily literature-based, Charlotte Mason style approach to learning with lots of good books and hands-on activities.

Reason #3 - For the love of learning
This reason overlaps quite a bit with the previous paragraph, but I would like to extrapolate a bit more on this topic.

It just so happens that Nathan and I were homeschooled (no secret) and that certainly has had tremendous influence on our own desire to homeschool our children (even though it is not the primary reason we have made this choice). However, I bring this up to say that one of my parents' goals in pursuing home education was to instill a love of learning in their kids. And they certainly accomplished that! To this day at 30 and 33 years old respectively, my sister and I are constantly seeking to learn new things! Whether it is in regards to health and nutrition, homesteading, the science of how boys and girls learn differently, how to run a business, natural remedies for our families, new languages, new musical instruments, Bible studies, recipes, or parenting, we are regularly researching and reading on multiple topics at once. We love learning and never want to stop! Why? Because my mom made learning enjoyable. With the exception of math, I loved school! (But don't worry, I still did my math.) Some subjects were more preferred than others (like reading and writing and history), but generally speaking, school was fun. I have wonderful memories of building a covered wagon out of a refrigerator box when we studied the Oregon trail and pioneer days, of dissecting a cow's eyeball in science class, of reading books out loud together, of writing papers and getting my mom's expert editing advice (even though I didn't always like her corrections...I eventually came around and they made me the writer I am today), of many hands-on projects we did during a unit study based off the American Girls fictional history series, and much more! Ours was truly a "living education" that tremendously shaped the person I am today. And I want that for my own children.

I want my boys to love learning! I want them to get excited about studying topics that interest them (like space and dinosaurs and bugs and robots just to name a current few)! I want them to love reading because of their exposure to quality books and gripping stories. I want them to love the fun we have together writing letters in cornmeal, building play dough igloos, painting coffee filters to look like the sculptures of famous artists, using blocks to learn mathematical concepts, pretending to be the missionaries in Africa who lead little goat herders to Jesus, and playing games that teach phonics.  I am so thankful that, for the present, when I announce that it is time to do school, they don't groan and moan or find their work to be boring or stressfully overwhelming. I know this may not always be the case and that sometimes, you just gotta learn something because you gotta learn it. But I pray that I will always have the desire to make the effort to keep learning interesting and engaging for them, no matter how old they get while under my tutelage.

I am not saying that school is all play and no work...although at these ages, there is certainly a lot of play involved. They still have to learn to write their letters neatly and tidily, to do their math even if it's challenging, and accomplish the tasks I assign them even if it's not their preferred activity for the moment. But generally speaking, I love that my boys enjoy school and pray that it stays that way! An engaged learner is a much better learner than one who is just going through the motions to fill in a bubble on a test.

Along these lines, I want to teach my children how to learn; not just what to learn. A person who knows how to learn can teach themselves anything.  Homeschooling seems to facilitate this process quite well. We have the time freedom to go deep with desired topics, utilizing books, YouTube, websites, or wizened individuals if we so choose. I remember when Isaac was just 3 how absolutely fascinated he was with space! He wanted to read about it all the time, watch movies of people going to space, build a solar system with balls, and dress up like astronauts. So we did. For several weeks, we studied space and he loved it! To this day, he still remembers nearly everything we learned about during that "space age" focus we had.  And even though he is older now and we are following a more "mapped out" curriculum with a daily schedule, we still have the opportunity to stop and zone in on a particular topic of interest or search out extra books at the library to enhance our studying.

Learning is what the point of school is supposed to be, right? It's not about getting good grades or taking tests well. It's about really absorbing knowledge so we can use that knowledge for good in the world. It's about developing the ability to understand and the ability to do.  I love how homeschooling allows us to teach a love for learning and a knowledge of skills with the perspective of, "We are learning this to better glorify and serve our Creator."  After all, He is the God of math, of science, of history, of writing, of music, of art, and the author of the Best piece of literature ever written.

Reason #4 - For the love of what's really important in life
God, His Word, and the souls of people.
Those are the only three things that are going to last forever. In the end, the academic success we achieve in this life, the college scholarships, the income we make (whether high, low, or middle ground), and the "stuff" we acquire is all going to pass away. It won't really matter much.  But how we love...how we live...how we invest our time, talents, and treasures - those things matter!

So I want to prepare my children for a future that is more eternally-minded than just getting into a good college, nailing down a good job, and being a productive member of society. Those things are not wrong in and of themselves, and in fact, they can be very good, but life is about so much more!

Therefore, the way we approach school is with a holistic mindset. It's not just about learning academics, although academics are important. (And by the way, can I just say, it's not just about playing sports either, although that can be a wonderful aspect of life!) For our family, school is about learning with eternity in view. It's about learning academics...and character...and skills, so that we can be good representatives of God's image in the earth, serving and investing in people, making disciples, striving to be Godly spouses who raise Godly children, and be able to stand before the Lord Jesus one day with "gold, silver, and precious stones" to offer Him instead of "wood, hay, and stubble." (1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

I love how homeschooling provides a rich context in which to prepare for the future and keep our focus on what is really important in life.

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I could probably keep writing out reasons we have chosen to homeschool, but those would certainly be the top four.

Now, allow me to address some of the common concerns and objections that are sometimes raised against homeschooling.

Concern #1 - What about socialization?

I will be the first to admit that there are some pretty "backward" homeschoolers out there who have given the rest of us a bad name in this "socialization" department. But you know what? I have met and currently know quite a few children, teens, and adults who are socially awkward who were not homeschooled. So to chalk it all up to homeschooling is a rather unfair stereotype. Actually, the vast majority of homeschoolers socialize very well, because even though they don't sit through 7-8 hours of a classroom setting surrounded by 20 children all their same age, they don't usually live like hermits in a remote cave somewhere. They go to church, youth group, sports activities, music, dance, and drama lessons, homeschool co-ops, grocery stores, banks, nursing homes, libraries, hospitals, movie theaters, bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, and coffee shops just like the rest of society. They interact with people of all ages on a regular basis.

In my home growing up, socialization was just a normal part of life and we were taught manners, "social graces," how to make eye contact with grownups when speaking to them, how to shake hands firmly and say, "Nice to meet you," how to set a table properly and host people for dinner, how to start conversations instead of sitting in awkward silence or only talking about ourselves, and how to be bold about ministering to the needs of people in nursing homes or international gatherings. This is certainly how we are striving to raise our children now as well.

Is socialization the main reason to send a child to school? If not, then why is it often the main objection?

Socializing with with a variety of ages. :) 

Concern #2 - Are you sure you're qualified to teach? What about when you get to the really hard subjects like trigonometry?

Yes, I am qualified to teach. Not because I went to college and got a piece of paper telling me so, but because I am their mother. I love them like no other and have their very best interests at heart...which includes not just their academic achievements, but their character, and their eternal destination. Obviously, I cannot control the end results, but I can certainly lay a foundation in their hearts and minds that will hopefully guide them to the One who is deserving of their devotion. Therefore, I am willing to offer my own time and energy to pour into their lives all day every day so that they can learn to love God, to love learning, and to live with eternal purpose in life. I hope you can hear my heart! I do not say this out of pride in my stellar abilities, but rather in the fear and trembling of how deep a responsibility I have willingly, gratefully, humbly taken on.  It is a daily walk of dependence on God's grace!

And while it is true that I certainly do not know everything about microbiology and trigonometry or Latin verbs, that is what books, video courses, and tutors are for! ;) Where there is a will, there is a way to get the job done. Thankfully, in this day and age, resources ABOUND for the homeschooling parent in regards to higher level learning or extracurricular subjects that a parent may not feel knowledgeable enough to teach.

Getting equipped at the Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati!

Concern #3 - Aren't you afraid you will shelter them too much?

No. We believe little children need sheltering, as I hinted at above when I compared them to greenhouse plants. (Even the Bible compares them to olive plants around the table - Psalm 128:3.)  I'm pretty sure most level-headed parents would agree with me that there are far too many 8 year olds using profanity, 12 year olds having sex, and 15 year olds dealing drugs. I would much rather my children learn about the "ways of the world" from me or Nathan explaining these topics at an appropriate time from a Biblical worldview than from a fellow 6 year old.  The brokenness of this sin-filled world is not something they need to be exposed to unnecessarily until the time is right.

Even with this perspective, I am fully aware that they will likely learn about and hear about things earlier than we would wish, and we will deal with these topics as they come up. However, I do not want to purposefully subject them to the depravity of the world through the means of unsupervised peer influence and media. Case in point, we had a discussion about ghosts after the two oldest boys came back from 3 days at Grandpa and Grandma Camp surrounded by (mostly older) cousins (who all come from Godly homes). It's life. It happens. We'll talk about it and keep moving. Isaac told me with great excitement the other day that a new friend of his has an XBox! I asked him if he knew what an XBox was. He said, "No," so I explained one. Considering that he doesn't even know what video games are, I'm not sure he fully grasped the concept, but I cracked up when he said, "Oh, I thought it was a blue box with an X on it like you see on treasure maps!"  No wonder he was excited! ;)

There is a fine balance between sheltering and exposing, and we are just trusting that the Lord will give us the wisdom to find that balance.

Lookin' pretty sheltered there... ;)

Concern #4 - If you homeschool your children, how will they have the opportunity to be lights in the darkness? Public schools need missionaries too!

We certainly want to raise my children to be lights in a dark world, but we do not want to send them into the darkness until they are ready to actually shine in it instead of being swallowed up by it. And I don't believe my children are ready to know why they believe what they believe, to stand alone, to go against the flow of peer pressure, or to "shine" until they are much, much older. Being easily influenced just as children are designed to be, they would likely be swept along instead of able to stand strong.

This is not to say that God can't use children as bearers of the Gospel message. He can and does! However, we would prefer that their initial opportunities to minister as little lights take place under our guidance and in settings that do not compromise our efforts to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  All missionaries need training first, and that is what our responsibility is in these early years: to train them and equip them for the work to come. By the time they are teenagers, we are hopeful that they will be much more able to stand strong in their beliefs and have the courage to let their lights shine wherever they find themselves.

Isaac with his fire fly.

Concern #5 - What about sports and music opportunities? How will your children get those if you homeschool?

Thankfully, there are many opportunities for homeschoolers to pursue extracurricular interests these days! (But even if there weren't, the reasons for homeschooling still far outweigh the opportunity to play a sport, in my opinion.) There are homeschool co-ops, private sports leagues, private and group music lessons, hybrid schools, and even band and orchestra opportunities in most places in the U.S. - some public schools will even allow homeschoolers to play on their teams or in their bands. I am not so much worried about having enough opportunities for my children in these areas, but in narrowing down the opportunities to what needs to take priority and not getting too overbooked running around to all of them! ;)

Concern #6 - I really want to homeschool, but I just don't think we can afford to live off one income. How do you do it?

I am a firm believer that if the Lord is leading you to do something or showing you an area you need to obey Him in, He will provide for you! Sometimes this means adjusting our understanding of what we "need" and learning to live with less. Homeschooling always means sacrifices in some form or fashion. The question is, "How important are the benefits to you? Are they worth the sacrifices?"

In my personal opinion, the souls of my children are far more important than a nice house, two cars, or a large grocery budget. We already try to live reasonably within our means, but if times got hard and we had to sell our house and live in an apartment or a single wide trailer, we would if it meant we could keep homeschooling. If we had to go down to one car instead of two, we would. If we had to live off oatmeal, rice and beans, and peanut butter and jelly, we would. We would look for extra work on the side or something I could do from home (like I do now actually!).  If I had to work evenings as a waitress so I could stay home during the day to raise my children, I would!

Maybe this seems extreme to you, but I believe so whole-heartedly in this freedom and privilege and to homeschool, that I would do whatever it takes to keep it possible for our family!  My children are my top priority and being the one to raise them, teach them, and disciple them for the few short years we have with them is paramount.

So my suggestion to someone wanting to homeschool or at the very least, be a stay-at-home-mom, would be to take a serious look at your lifestyle and figure out where you can cut corners or add a side income in order to make this goal a reality. We do need money to live, but I firmly believe we can live with much less than we have been conditioned to believe in our society if we get our priorities in the right place. There are scores of work-from-home online jobs available, network marketing jobs available, tutoring children in China jobs available, and cottage industries that could be considered for someone wanting to stay home with her children. Again, where there is a will, there is a way, especially when God is the one making a way!

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In closing, I would like to share a few more thoughts.

As passionate as I am about homeschooling and as convinced as I am that this is the right choice for our family, I recognize that it is not a "guarantee" that our children will turn out as Godly people who love the Lord and live for Him. There are no guarantees for that kind of result in life! It is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Himself and the power of the Word of God that brings conviction. However, I do believe that it is my job to be faithful to train them in the knowledge of this Word and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord alongside my husband, trusting God with the results, and we see homeschooling as the best way in which to do that.

I also want all my teacher friends to know that I greatly respect you for the work you do investing in the lives of children and teenagers in schools throughout our country! I realize that not all families can or do homeschool for various reasons, and I am thankful for people like you who are there to pour into their lives! Your work is valuable and appreciated.

Lastly, I want you to know that I realize articles like this can generate praise or criticism, and mine will likely generate both. Your comments are welcome, but I do not wish to spark debate or create dissension, especially within the Body of Christ. There is room for a variety or opinions and convictions on this matter of education. I do not write to please people on one side of the fence or the other, but in accordance with my stated objectives above...ultimately seeking to please Christ.

He has entrusted our precious children to our care and keeping and we are seeking to do the best job of raising them that we can. They will not be perfect. They will make mistakes, as will Nathan and I. We are simply striving to walk this journey of life with as much grace as possible and inviting you to do the same alongside of us - no matter what choices you believe to be best for your own children!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one’s youth.

5 

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

A Timely Word

If you want to better understand Friday's ruling by the Supreme Court regarding homosexual "marriage" from a Biblical perspective and what this will likely mean for religious freedoms, listen to my husband's powerful, passionate sermon from today's church service!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/PastorNathanSermons/Specials/Homsexual+Marriage+Decision+.mp3

Hard Times, Honest Confessions, and Hope in the Home that is Coming

I think I first heard this song from Laura Story on my Pandora station about a year and a half ago.  I clearly remember being deeply touched by its beautiful melody and stirring lyrics.  I was impressed that someone would have the courage to write a song so counter-cultural to the anti-suffering, instant-gratification, health-and-wealth version of modern Christianity which has permeated our society.

It's one thing, though, to like a song.
It's another thing to actually live it.

A couple of days ago, Blessings again gently drifted across my Pandora station.  I hadn't heard it in months, and this time, the beautiful melody and stirring lyrics stopped me dead in my tracks.  As I stood at the kitchen sink listening, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes...

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

That prayer for healing and for His mighty hand to ease my suffering?  Um, yeah.  I know about that one.  I have been praying it for over three months.

You see, about five weeks after Isaac was born, and likely due to childbirth, a case of internal hemorrhoids manifested themselves.  (I know; it's a rather private topic to discuss on a blog, but in an effort to be real about life's tribulations, I'm just going to go ahead and say it like it is.)  At the time, I didn't know hemorrhoids were what I was dealing with...in fact, I didn't even know such things existed!  I thought my problem was something else.

I did some research and started trying to treat my condition with home remedies to ease the constipation, discomfort, and pain I was suddenly experiencing.  I tried one thing after another: prune juice, more fruits and veggies and whole grains, increasing my water intake to one gallon a day, sitz baths, stool softeners, essential oils, etc.  But instead of getting better, my problem just got worse.

And all the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

I had never experienced pain like this before.  Excruciating and agonizing don't even begin to describe the feeling.  It totally trumped childbirth ten times over.  Things got so bad that every time I had a you-know-what, it was like knives sliced through me, after which, a fire burned inside of very sensitive tissue for the rest of the day.  And then, the same thing would happen all over again the next day.  Needless to say, I dreaded going to the bathroom.  In fact, some mornings, I just plain dreaded getting out of bed and facing the torture that the day was bound to bring.

Recognizing that things were not improving, I finally called our family doctor in desperation.  I told her what I thought I was dealing with and she recommended coming in for an exam.  In the meantime, she told me to increase my fiber to 30-40 grams per day.  When I actually started counting grams, I realized that previously, my diet had been greatly lacking in this department!

I consciously began eating the right amount of fibrous foods (and continuing with all the other home remedies) and was so encouraged to see immediate improvement!  For a few days, that is.

It was the doctor's exam which revealed the problem to be hemorrhoids.  While I had heard this word before and encountered it in my research, I didn't really know what hemorrhoids were or anything about them.  (Enter more research!)

Armed with a topical prescription cream to start using and the encouragement that the fiber had been making a big difference, I went home with hope in my heart that this problem would begin to heal and life could return to normal.

Actually, no.
Instead, my pain only seemed to get worse...if that was even possible.  Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick..." That definitely described my emotional condition.  As my hopes for recovery were once again shattered, the discouragement I had been fighting for many weeks seemed to settle over me like an ominous black cloud.  I cried many tears because of the pain and the overwhelming feeling of despair.

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love...

My thoughts were in a constant whirlwind.  My theology says that God is in control and while He could heal me, He certainly didn't have to.   At the same time, as a mother, I couldn't imagine watching my child suffer excruciating pain day after day and not do everything I possibly could to bring him relief.  So, why didn't God do the same for me?  He is my Father, after all!  I knew I was supposed to trust Him and give thanks in all things, and I really did try...but it didn't seem to help my despair.

Oh, how the thoughts did tumble and the doubts rage!
Would I ever get better? Would I have to deal with hemorrhoids every time I had a baby?  How could I keep enduring this terrible pain day after day?  What kind of mother could I be if all I could do each day was feed and diaper my child in between taking hot baths?  God, I don't know what to do!  Please help me!  I'm mad at You because You could heal me, yet you aren't healing me.  Yet, I am ashamed to admit I'm mad because You are God and You know best and You are worthy to be trusted!  I know suffering is a part of life, but this is not the kind of suffering I had in mind!  This is not the kind of suffering I read about in Your Word.  At least suffering for one's faith is a noble and worthy cause.  But suffering with hemorrhoids??? I'm guessing this is a test, but I don't know to what purpose and I'm confused and hurting...

As if every promise from Your word is not enough

And all the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

As these thoughts tumbled and the days passed and the pain became more raw, another doctor's exam showed that my hemorrhoids had multiplied and some were now ulcerated.  At least there was an explanation for the increase in pain.  I was given a second prescription cream to start using...
...and then...

a breakthrough.

I'm not exactly sure when the black cloud started lifting, but I think it was around the time of my birthday.  The phone calls with dear friends and family, the comments you all wrote in, the conversations with many who knew exactly what I was going through and had advice to share...it was all like a breath of fresh air!  Encouragement can mean so, so much!

In addition to the hot baths, high fiber diet, and prescription creams I was using, I began adding the various other natural remedies people suggested to my daily routine.  These in turn led to more research and more ideas until I soon had a long list on the fridge of all the different "treatments" beneficial to healing hemorrhoids.  At that point, I was willing to try just about anything that would lead to recovery.

The spark of hope in my heart that sputtered out so many times over the months is burning once again.  Recently, I've had several days of very minimal pain and have been able to function normally, attending to my husband, household, and baby!  This relief from the pain has also brought tremendous encouragement to my soul.

Additionally, I have been reminded this past week that my issue, while incredibly difficult to muddle through, is not nearly so hard compared to what some people deal with.  A visit to a 93-year-old church member who is on oxygen for life because of a mistake doctors made and who probably won't ever heal from recently broken vertebrae due to her age was a rebuke to me as I observed her constant cheerfulness.  A Facebook update on a new mother who is battling stage 4 cancer was an admonition to be grateful that I am not facing a fatal disease or agressive chemo therapy treatments just as a new baby entered my life.

Yes, even though my life has been fraught with physical difficulty that has taken its toll on my emotions, there really is so much to be thankful for.

Even though I've had some good days of late, I'm not by any means fully recovered.  In fact, today was another hard day of burning, stinging pain that lasted for hours on end in which I could do little more than feed and diaper my child in between various types of baths and treatments.  But thanks to the encouragement I've been receiving, the healing I think I am starting to experience, and the disappearance of the dark cloud overhead, the day was a little easier to endure.

This issue with painful hemorrhoids and a big question mark over how long it will be before I am totally better certainly makes these words from the song Blessings ring true in my heart!

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not,

This is not our home

As my husband constantly reminds me in sermons and personal conversations, the only true hope we have in life is the coming resurrection. This world is cursed and sin wreaks havoc every day.  There is great suffering, trial, and tribulation.  But those whose faith rests in the Lord Jesus and his substitutionary death on the cross in their place will one day leave this all behind and live in perfect bodies free of pain in the presence of God forever.  Home is coming!

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise?

A Refreshing Political Perspective from John MacArthur

Nathan and I recently started reading a book together called Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong, written by John MacArthur and the leadership team at Grace Community Church.  It is a book that tackles current controversial issues in the church and society, and as such, has sparked some interesting conversations between us!  I always love hearing my husband's feedback on each chapter. :)

Just a few days ago, we read a chapter entitled God, Government, and the Gospel.  In light of the present political climate, I thought I would post a few excerpts from this chapter that struck me as worth sharing (the underlined portions being ones I especially wanted to emphasize).  So many Christians I know have expressed great worry over the state of our nation and the yet unknown results of the upcoming election.  It is my hope that these paragraphs will provide a much-needed reminder that the end has already been established by One who knows and that we can rest in His plan with utmost confidence.  Let us keep our focus on that which matters for eternity!

~~~~~~~~

"As I write this chapter, our nation is on the brink of another presidential election.  Not surprisingly, the U.S. political scene has reached a fevered pitch.  From conventions to campaign ads, American televisions, radios, and newspapers echo the emotional upsurge we've come to expect every four years...

[Sound familiar?]

As is often the case, much of the evangelical church has eagerly jumped on the political bandwagon.  Pulpits resound with accolades for one or the other candidate and with approval or disdain for certain bills and plans...Some even suggest that to be a Christian means you must be a Republican and not a Democrat, and that not to vote is a serious sin.  After all, they say, good citizenship implies political involvement.

Such political preoccupations are somewhat ironic considering the dominant premillennial eschatology of conservative evangelicalism.  Our end-times theology tells us that until Christ returns, nothing can or will fix this crumbling world system. Yet our political practice suggest we are desperately trying to fix it nonetheless...

Only the Gospel, through the power of the Spirit, can effect real change in society - since it transforms sinners sinners from the inside out.  After all, there are no Christian countries, only Christian individuals.  Hence, our commission is to proclaim that Gospel faithfully in whatever context God puts us in...

...we can trust God regarding both national and foreign affairs.  No matter who is in the White House, the Congress, or the courtroom, God is on His throne.  He is the one of whom Paul exclaimed, "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and eternal dominion!  Amen." (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

A quick survey of Scripture reveals that God is sovereign over all the affairs of this world.  He is sovereign over Satan and sin (Job 1:12; 2:6; Luke 5:21; 22:31), over all governments and military powers (2 Chr. 20:6; Romans 13:2); over nature and natural disasters (Psalm 107:29; Nahum 1:3-6); over sickness and disease (John 9:3; 11:4; Revelation 21:4); and over every human being (Acts 13:48; Romands 9:17-18), including you and me (Prov. 16:9; 19:21; James 4:13-15).  Put simply, God is in control.  He does "whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3), and "works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11).

God's sovereignty does not excuse human sinfulness or irresponsibility.  But it should give Christians great reason to hope when they see the society growing more and more wicked.  It should relieve them of anxiety and worry (cf. Matt. 6:25; Philippians 4:6), as well as the misguided notion that it is their responsibility to effect political change.  The Lord is directing our nation within His providential purposes for His glorious ends.  And He is doing the same with every other earthly government.

God has already revealed how this world will end.  In its discussion of the last days, the Bible is clear that society will continue to get worse until the return of Christ (2 Thess. 2:7-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:3).  Yet many evangelicals approach politics as if the degradation of society if something they can stop with legislation.  The truth is that no society will ever be truly made right until Christ comes and sets up His kingdom.  Until then, believers should be surprised to see morally-conservative efforts fail, or to realize that such failures are part of God's sovereign plan.

...National and international affairs can be entrusted to God.  This is not to say that American Christians should not vote, but that in voting they should realize that God has already determined the outcome of every election.  Whatever that outcome may be, believers can be absolutely confident that it accords perfectly with God's sovereign purposes for the future of both our nation and our world.

- John MacArthur

I read a very well-written, thought-provoking article from a link on Facebook today that I thought was worth passing on. It's called, "Clothing Matters: What We Wear to Church." It's somewhat lengthy, but I encourage you to check it out!

A Must-Watch. Period.

A compelling documentary about the Holocaust, Abortion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what they all have to do with each other.

(To pause the background music, scroll to the bottom of the page.)

An Article Worth Sharing

I have to admit I have not kept up much on world news during my time here in Bolivia. I do happen to know there are debates going on right now in my country between Republicans vying for the presidency, but I haven't been in the loop on all that has been transpiring during this process. Yesterday, I received an email from One News Now containing an article entitled Mormonism and the Presidency, and it caught my attention so I clicked to read. The article was so good I wanted to share it here. Please take some time to read it and be aware that a presidential candidate's personal beliefs DO matter!

Mormonism and the Presidency

By Sandy Rios

Does Mitt Romney, an elder and former missionary of the Mormon Church, believe he will one day be a god ... equal to Jesus ... ruling his own planet? Does he agree with Mormon teaching that Jesus and Satan are brothers? That America is the Promised Land where Jesus will return one day to rule from the Garden of Eden, which Mormons believe to be Jackson County, Missouri? And do American voters have the right to know this?

When Barack Obama was running for president, he assured us he was a Christian. Pastor Rick Warren brought Candidate Obama to his mega-church and questioned him before a national audience. Obama's answers seemed to satisfy and with Warren's blessing, he proceeded to campaign. Never mind he sat for 20 years under a pastor who fumed Christian apostasy. Dr. Jeremiah Wright preached anti-Semitism, embraced homosexuality and abortion, and practiced open promiscuity. Obama and his family were mentored by Pastor Wright, but Obama said he was a Christian and that, in the minds of those who wanted to support him, made it so.

Almost three years into his presidency we see that those very anti-Christian teachings of Pastor Wright have made their way into policy. President Obama has suspended enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act and forcefully secured open homosexuality in the military. Against their protests, the Defense Department has ordered Christian chaplains to perform same-sex marriages in military chapels. Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, has a champion in the White House; and Israel, having been strategically undermined by this president, is in a fight for its life.

Do a presidential candidate's core religious beliefs have any bearing on his ability to perform his duties? Rather than embrace the Judeo-Christian ethic of hard work and personal responsibility, the current president incites envy between classes. Rather than speaking truth, he has embraced dishonesty to implement "hope and change."

If Christianity means anything to a person, it results in transformation of their character to the character of the central figure of Christianity, Jesus Christ. One can say one is an apple tree, but if fall comes and there are no apples, it might not be so. Are core beliefs of presidential candidates important or not? And does the voting public have a right to know what they are?

When the Founding Fathers established "no religious test" in Article VI they were precluding literal religious tests commonly used by the colonies to ascertain Christian orthodoxy among would-be local candidates. There would not be a national church, but there were state churches, and the denominations of those states wanted leaders to be faithful to those particular teachings. The Founders did not want federal office seekers to have to pass such tests in order to serve, but they never intended to infer it was of no concern to voters what a potential public servant's deeply held views were in order to inform their vote.

So now again come questions about Mormonism and Mitt Romney. Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, declared in an interview after introducing Governor Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit that Mormonism is a cult.

To my knowledge there have been no follow-up questions to Dr. Jeffress to ask why he believes that. But there has been a quick rush to discredit him for saying it and another one to demand other hapless Republicans declare or defend what he said. No one seems to have asked Mitt Romney what he actually believes that might be of concern.

Evangelicals have not been spared this courtesy. Byron York of the Washington Examinerasked Michele Bachmann during the FOX presidential debate if, as an evangelical, she believed she should submit to her husband. Rick Perry was asked by Brian Williams if he could sleep at night embracing the death penalty. Others have been asked if they thought mothers who aborted their babies should be prosecuted. Herman Cain was asked if he would appoint a Muslim to his cabinet. All of these go to the core of deeply held beliefs. It is at the very least instructive to hear their answers.

But, of course, pundits and questioners are not interested in deeply held beliefs, but entrapment. They play a dangerous game out of their own theological ignorance. It DOESmatter what a person believes who runs for the office of President of the United States. It might not matter what they choose as a religious diet ... whether they bow or kneel ... or conform to certain rituals, but what they truly believe truly matters and has an effect on public policy.

It matters which God they worship. Modern American culture would like to persuade us all faiths are equal ... all systems of belief basically the same, but in our rational minds, with the advent of radical Islam to our shores, we know inherently that isn't true.

Everyone in this country has the right to worship the way he or she chooses ... freely, but if they are running to be leader of us all, it does indeed matter what they believe and we as citizens have a right to know.

Why should a Christian theologian be ridiculed for telling us what he knows from his studies? Why should Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry be expected to explain it? Why don't pundits, if they really care to know, ask intelligent questions to help us all learn what is true?

Because conservatives want, at any cost, to beat Barack Obama in 2012 and some think Mitt Romney can beat him. Questions about Obama's faith were useful to them in '08, but questions about Romney's now are to be dismissed. They would rather diminish and humiliate Dr. Jeffress than allow the inconvenient teachings of Mormonism to surface.

Mitt Romney is free to practice Mormonism. And he is free to run for President of the United States. But he should not be free from answering questions about what he actually believes.

Once when we know that, we will be free to embrace or reject him based on truth, not obfuscation.

Free Viewing of Stirring Christian Film

Perhaps some of you have heard of a recently released Christian film entitled Divided. Well, today I discovered that it is available for viewing online for free until September. I just finished watching it and was thoroughly impressed by the content and the quality! This film contains a stirring message desperately needed by our generation! As it explores the controversial topic of the modern youth ministry, it's message is delivered graciously with conviction and thorough research to support it. Please take an hour from your day to watch Divided, or turn it into a family movie night. I feel certain you will be blessed by the way the Lord's Word is exalted, and perhaps challenged to re-think youth ministry!

Official Divided the Movie (HD Version) from NCFIC on Vimeo.

(You can click on the "X" shape in the bottom right-hand corner to blow it up.)

A Visit to the Hindu Temple

Recently, I had the opportunity to tag along with a group of the Bible Institute students on another field trip they took; this time to the local Hindu temple. Once again, it was an eye-opening experience.

We went on a Monday evening to their weekly "prayer service." The first impression I received upon pulling into the parking lot was that the Hindu temple was outwardly very beautiful. The architecture was pleasing to the eye and everything looked to be made of marble. We removed our shoes and padded sock-footed up the marble steps and into the building.

We couldn't take pictures inside, so I will do my best to describe it in words. The room inside was brightly lit and brightly decorated. Once again, as at the mosque, I was immediately aware of the smell of incense, only this particular kind was much stronger and made me feel queasy in my stomach. White sheets covered the floor with a red carpet stretching down the middle. On all sides were carved-out "nooks" in the wall and in each nook was a statue representing one of the many Hindu gods. The idols were designed to look like animals or humans or a combination thereof with a distinctive "Hindu" design. Each statue was adorned with flowers. Candles burned in front of each one and their were also offerings of fruit set before some of the gods. At the front of the room were three large alcoves each containing a separate idol of great proportion. One was an ebony elephant sitting on a throne of sorts; one was a human looking statute, kingly in appearance. I don't remember the third.

The Hindu priest was clothed with a wrap-around tunic that covered his body from the neck to the ankles. His face was painted with a design that reminded me of an African tribal look. The priest positioned himself near a small fountain in the center of the floor from which he conducted the service.

Chairs were set up for us at the back of the room to observe, but only a few of the worshippers used chairs themselves. The majority knelt on the floor around and behind the fountain. As each worshipper entered the building, they rang a loud bell overhead, walked up the red carpet, set an offering of fruit or flowers near the fountain, selected a prayer book from a basket, and found a place on the floor upon which to pray. When about 12 or so people were present, the priest commenced a long session of prayer chants in the Hindi language. Those who could followed along in their prayer books, chanting right along with him. As the prayers continued, more and more people arrived. After awhile, I counted more than 30. The majority of the worshippers were women, arrayed in native dress, but there were also a number of men and a few children, all appearing to be from India or some other nearby Asian country. Only one American was present for the service.

After the priest ended the time of chanted prayers, different people took turns going to the fountain and pouring milk on it. At one point, the priest took an offering of food up the steps to the statue that was in the middle alcove and pulled a curtain across the alcove while he did something behind it. I never did find out what he did, but it certainly piqued my curiosity!

It was at this point that our group had to leave. A gentleman followed us out and proceeded to give us a 10-minute speech about Hinduism and their various beliefs. I had a hard time following all that he had to say, as it seemed to be a combination of mysticism, meta-physics, legends, and morality all wrapped into one package.

Throughout the whole prayer service my heart was so saddened to see these precious people so deceived, so blind to the truth about the one true God. I was reminded of the verse in Scripture which says, "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." (Psalm 115:4-8)

After we returned to the school, Satsuki, Nathaly, and I sat outside on the swing talking about the experience and praying for our Hindu neighbors. Oh that God would give them a hunger and thirst for the truth, that they might seek the Lord and find Him!

A Movie Worth Watching

It's pretty rare that I post movie recommendations because there are so few movies that are worth recommending! However, I was very blessed recently by this new film from Pureflix called Sarah's Choice. The story is moving, the acting is impressive for an outside-of-Hollywood production, and the message is very timely.

Sarah's Choice follows the story of a young woman who was raised in a Christian home but chose to turn her back on God after her father died. Just when she is at the height of her career and about to receive a promotion, Sarah faces an unplanned, undesired pregnancy. When presented with the option of abortion as a "quick, easy fix" to her "problem," Sarah immediately declares that she could never do that. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that she is very undecided about her pregnancy. With her boyfriend on the fence and her career on the line, Sarah thinks abortion might be her only option.

Similar to Charles Dicken's ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Sarah is given three dreams from the Lord. These dreams present pictures of what life might be like if she chooses life for her child. Surrounded by pressure and confronted with truth, Sarah finally comes to the point where the only one she can turn to is Jesus Christ.

My family watched this movie together a couple weeks ago and when it ended, my mom and I were wiping our eyes. While Dad wasn't crying over the touching ending like we were, even he said, "That was really good."

Working in a crisis pregnancy center ministry on a daily basis, I thought the movie producers did an excellent job capturing on screen the realities that young women must deal with when faced with unplanned pregnancies. Delicate issues are handled graciously making for a wholesome film that is truly edifying.

There will be a free showing of Sarah's Choice this coming Friday evening at the chapel of Champions Forest Baptist Church hosted by our Care Net center. While admission is free, opportunity to give to a love offering for our ministry will be made available. The film will start at 6:30 p.m.

If you don't live in Houston or cannot make the showing, Sarah's Choice can be ordered online or purchased at most Christian bookstores.

An Article Worth Reading

"As I sit and watch CNN and FOX share news updates of the Earthquake it rips at my heartstrings. Anytime you hear of 150,000 people dying it can’t help but touch your heart. It can’t help but touch the heart of the world. In these times people give money... sometimes lots of it. They give it for three reasons. One, because they have compassion for the people in need. Secondly, because they are thankful that their family and their world was not at the epicenter. And thirdly, because they subconsciously just want the world to get back to normal so they can get on with their life. Often it is a combination of the three. I’m sure there are other reasons too.

I am not estranged from what is going on. I was on the ground January 12, 2010 across the border in the Dominican Republic when the shaking first started. Many of my best friends were at the mission I serve which is located only ten miles from the epicenter... much closer than the city of Port-au-Prince was. We lost 25 of our 54 buildings... we lost way too many lives. All four of our medical clinics are beyond repair. So please understand that what I am about to say comes from a heart of concern for everyone and everything that happened.

I have a fear that in the wake of this tragic disaster that many good ministries that are saving lives every day will be forgotten because the news headlines will simply “out shout” them. I doubt that there will be any nationally televised concerts to send help to the abortion bound child. Please remind your donors that abortion takes the life of over a million children every year in the United States alone. I hope and pray that those who support your work will not be sidetracked from an issue that stops the beating hearts of more children every day than the earthquake and its aftermath will, and it does this every year.

Please understand my heart. I lost friends in this Earthquake. I cry every day. People I know lost entire families. My heart aches for the people of Haiti. But one tragedy should not cause another. The Pregnancy Resource Center movement IS saving the lives of children every day. The Pregnancy resource center movement is saving more lives every year than we lost on January 12, 2010, and they are doing it nationally on less money than we are raising to help Haiti.

Please help Haiti, and please help rebuild the mission I serve, but please do not forget to save the lives you can save right there in your own towns and cities. Thank you for saving lives every day. Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for thwarting the earthquake of abortion in millions of hearts every year. Keep saving the children of the world."

Mike Williams

Missionary to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic)

Exposing the Lies

I live in the city where the largest Planned Parenthood in the country, and the second largest in the world, is being constructed.

The abortion agenda is real. It is staggering. It is heart-breaking.

Please take some time to watch this five-minute undercover video that will reveal some of the lies being propagated by this massive organization.

Then, find out what you can do to help your local pregnancy center combat the evils of the abortion industry. It's time we take a stand.

21st Century Princess

Remember how I stated in the last blog that Geoff Botkin's message at the film festival entitled, How To Analyze A Hollywood Movie, deserved a blog post all of its own?

Well, today on Doug's Phillip's blog (founder of the film festival), he posted an article by someone named Adam McManus describing the sum and substance of Mr. Botkin's message - and thus saving me from having to do so! I think the issue at hand is greatly worth the post, so I am pasting the entirety of his article below.

First, as a little background, let me say that I wasn't even planning on attending Mr. Botkin's lecture at the festival. But when I heard he would be using the film Princess Diaries 2 as his example movie, my curiostiy was piqued as to what he would have to say. (I never have seen Princess Diaries 2, but I did see its predecessor several years ago...and was very un-impressed by the whole thing - to put it nicely.) Considering that it was Day 3 of the festival, and we had viewed a myriad of films already, Mom and I decided that Mr. Botkin's lecture would be a nice change of pace and would certainly be worth hearing.

I am so glad we went.

This lecture has opened my eyes even more to understand the agenda of Hollywood - targeted especially at my generation - and I am sure I will never view a film the same way again. My friends, I am more convinced than ever of the importance of not allowing ourselves to become desensitized by the sin and worldliness that is subtly packaged in such attractive entertainment all around us.

You may think the issues Mr. Botkin pointed out in his lecture are no big deal. It's just a movie. Yeah...that's the problem. Just a movie that thousands, if not millions, of girls have seen and been influenced by.

At the end of Mr. Botkin's message, he said something along the lines of:
In summary, don't be fooled by a lack of gratuitous sex, overt violence, or swearing. There can be far more harmful and insidious messages within the movies we watch, especially when we are trusting enough to allow our children to consume them freely or unattended. Everyone has a worldview, and they do not develop in a vacuum. Every film contains and communicates messages and a worldview, and those who don't watch with a critical mind and eye will absorb those messages and find themselves molded by that worldview. It is our duty to shape and form the worldviews of our children rather than allowing Hollywood to do it for us.

The Lord Jesus stated in His Word, "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31) If God cares even about the little things we do like eating and drinking, and He wants those actions to be pleasing to Him, don't you think He cares about the movies we watch?

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How Hollywood is Poisoning Our Daughters: A Review of Geoff Botkin’s Message “How To Analyze a Hollywood Movie”

Review by Adam McManus Host of KSLR’s The Adam McManus Show

When Geoff Botkin warned the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival audience that the G-rated Walt Disney film entitled “Princess Diaries 2” was filled with toxic messages antithetical to a biblical worldview, you could have heard a pin drop.

But, in scene after scene, Mr. Botkin revealed how this seemingly innocuous movie wasn’t innocuous at all!

Indeed, in the very opening scene, Mia Thermopolis portrayed by Anne Hathaway — the Crown Princess of Genovia — is graduating from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Policy. Mr Botkin described Woodrow Wilson as the second most treasonous president in terms of constitutional fidelity — the one who instituted the income tax system and established the Federal Reserve Bank. We learned that in the world of film making, nothing is there by chance. It’s all scripted to a “t” - including the decision to honor Woodrow Wilson over Ronald Reagan.

Throughout the movie, we hear the Princess declare over and over again the politically correct mantra “This is the 21st century!” — a notion no doubt instilled in her in the classrooms of the Ivy League. The message? Throw off the constraints of family, tradition, and religion and find your own “truth.” While the servants are conducting a slide show of possible suitors in order to help to get married within 30 days and retain the crown, Anne Hathaway’s character and a friend, without pause, yell out approvingly when they discover that one young man has embraced the abomination of homosexual behavior. In other scenes, materialism, lust, rebelliousness, and rudeness are all exalted as character traits in keeping with a Princess who wants to rule the country of Genovia as Queen.

Honor is a concept far from her mind, as Mia sneaks out the window to meet the cute boy, despite the fact that she is not only engaged, but literally hours away from holy matrimony. From Disney Company’s perspective, I suppose, it’s totally innocent since they don’t engage in sex.

I believe Walt Disney himself would be horrified at how the good, masculine, and honorable guy is presented as boring, and the bad, effeminate, skirt-chasing guy is seen as desirable. What messages are we sending both our young girls and boys if we allow them to watch this movie without an immediate biblical critique, or watch it at all? And why would a Christian pastor claim that Princess Diaries 2 was “loaded with virtue”?

Isaiah 5:20 comes to mind: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.

For too long, parents and pastors alike who profess to follow Christ have allowed the pagan culture to desensitize them to the dangers in the world’s films, TV shows, and music, missing critical moments for Christ-like discipleship. If, as Geoff Botkin suggests, we are to “take every frame captive for Jesus Christ,” we all need to look at the world through a biblical lens, not at the Bible through the world’s lens.

For more details from the message jotted down by another attendee, click here.