Hamoud Bin Saleh, Saudi Christian, 28, Arrested for His Blogger Blog --now blocked by Saudi officials (How can they do that??? )

http://www.persecutionblog.com/

GO TO THE LINK FOR THIS STORY--HOT OFF THE PRESS. HAMOUD BIN SALEH ARRESTED IN MID-JANUARY for blogging about his conversion to Christianity.

I don't see how the Saudi gov't can block a blogger website without Blogger's assistance. Of course, he wouldn't be able to have a computer in prison. He's a modern St. Paul.

Could this happen here? and if not, why not? I've already experienced tremendous desire on the part of Left-wing folks to censor Christians in the US.



"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

TWO COMPETING KINGDOMS! Christians abroad are being killed. Is this a Church wake-up Call?

Christians, what do you think of the following?

Erwin Raphael McManus wrote:

“Domesticated Christians are far too willing to abdicate the battle for the soul of the world. Civility focuses our energy on all the wrong places. We spend our lives emphasizing our personal development and spiritual well-being….In contrast Jesus calls us to a different way. He tells us this is a battle of kingdoms….To see from a kingdom perspective is to know that there is a conflict of invisible kingdoms and that people’s lives are forever changed by what happens in the unseen. We are called to be warriors of light in dark places.” (The Barbarian Way, pp. 108-109.)

I got the above from the director’s article by Tom White in the Voice of the Martyrs magazine, Feb. 09.

I have always said that, contrary to the charge that we are only railing against homosexuality and abortion, the American evangelical churches are focused on personal piety, spiritual ecstacy in worship, feeling love for all people and that we do not like to get our feathers ruffled or our feelings riled. Hence,the move by some away from political action and discussions regarding abortion and gay rights. After all, there are angry foes on the other side defending these sins as legitimate choices. The challenge for us is the same as for the wife of a polygamous cult: Staying sweet. Never showing tempers. Always feeling love and showing forgiveness –always feeling the joy of the Lord. So, many of us avoid conflict and the resulting unpopularity. Being civil in disagreement IS Christian --no name-calling or insulting of others' intelligence. But I think being so civil as to avoid controversy is to cater to the wrong kingdom.

Many such Christians are also involved in ministry to each other, to their extended families, active in church activities/ministries and givers to charity and missions. They may be prayer warriors. So, I'm not meaning to judge those who don't contend for the faith or confront the culture openly --but to challenge us to do so.

Love over hate and temper is part of the continual battle between the kingdoms ---personal spiritual well-being would include that as described by the above author. But the director of VOM cites John, author of Revelations, who goes back into the persecuted church instead of staying in exile where God gave him the Revelation of Heaven. Instead of biding His time on the Isle of Patmos, waiting for his transport to paradise, he chose to “identify with those who carried their crosses in the steps of the Savior.” This was when Emperor Domitian infamously executed Jews, Christians and his own relatives for not worshipping the emperor.

Then White tells that the VOM has a video tape they don’t show because of the horror and tragedy of it –a video of a 12-year-old girl stoned to death in Egypt because she accepted Jesus. He then calls us to be co-participants, helpmates and encouragers to those who suffer tribulation in dozens of nations.

He notes that “Muslim converts to Islam are usually very bold; such is the liberating joy that flows out of them.” He quotes a Christian convert from Islam, “If you think there is a place you will be safe when you follow Christ, you are wrong….but Islam is cracking. The crack is becoming bigger with those who want to know Christ the Lord. This is why the fundamentalists (Muslims) are angry.”

I think this is not a day in OUR nation to retreat from proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel where people hate Christians for their doctrines and their definitions of sin and the message to repent. This is a time to shine the light of truth in dark places –to be that shining city on the hill –that light on the lampstand –where all can see it. We ought not retreat from proclamation of the whole truth –including Biblical definition of sin vs. righteousness

And just because they hate us doesn’t mean our method is wrong or that we have truly behaved hatefully as charged. St. Paul proclaimed the truth about homosexuality in ROME where it was an issue. In the U.S., it is again an issue –as is abortion. No matter how you say it, liberals want to cast you as a “gaycist” –just as wrong as racists.

Yes, if people would truly convert and follow Christ, they would all agree on the social issues. The Bible is full of preaching and teaching against the sins of the day –that we may know what displeases a Holy God. We CANNOT avoid the issue of sin in our culture –we must stand against it in public square, in government, as well as in the church. The majority of those who are calling evil good are not IN the church to hear the messages –so how will they know what it is that they should repent of, if we aren’t salt and light speaking Truth to power and to our culture –even on places like blogs?

Read more about today's Christian martyrs:

http://www.persecution.com/





"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

GIRLS PROFESSING LESBIAN ISM EXPELLED FROM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

FROM ONENEWS.COM

An appeals court in California ruled this week in favor of a Christian school in an anti-discrimination case.

In September 2005, California Lutheran High School in Wildomar expelled two girls after they admitted to the school principal that they had told other students they were lesbians, and that they had engaged in lesbian conduct with each other -- in direct violation of the school's code of conduct. The girls' parents then filed a lawsuit, claiming discrimination against their daughters.

Christian Legal Society attorney Tim Tracey is handling the case.

"The question before the court was whether or not private religious schools were subject to state anti-discrimination laws," he explains. "[Essentially] does it violate those laws for a private religious school to say we want our students to abide by our beliefs and to live according to rules of conduct that are consistent with those Christian beliefs?"

A lower court and now the 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside have ruled in favor of the school. It remains unclear whether this latest ruling will be appealed to the California Supreme Court, a body that has ruled in favor of special rights for homosexuals the past several years. That concerns Tracey.

"When the question before it is gay rights versus religious freedom, the California Supreme Court said 'we go with gay rights,'" says Tracey. "And this is obviously a case that I can see the California Supreme Court being very eager to take and to rule on."

The case is Doe v. California Lutheran High School Association.

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

CANDOR from COULTER

See Ann Coulter's article here: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30372

Excerpt:

"...It is a liberal trope to insult conservatives by asking them meaningless questions, such as the one repeatedly asked of Bush throughout his presidency about whether he had made any mistakes. All humans make mistakes -- what is the point of that question other than to give insult?

When will the first reporter ask President Obama to admit that he has made mistakes? Try: Never.

No, that question will disappear for the next four years. It will be replaced by the new question for conservatives on every liberal's lips these days: Do you want Obama to succeed as president?

Answer: Of course we do. We live here, too.

But merely to ask the question is to imply that the 60 million Americans who did not vote for Obama are being unpatriotic if they do not wholeheartedly endorse his liberal agenda.

I guess it depends on the meaning of "succeed." If Obama "succeeds" in pushing through big-government, terrorist-appeasing policies, he will not have "succeeded" at being a good president. If we didn't think conservative principles of small government and strong national defense weren't better for the country, we wouldn't be conservatives.

And why was that question never asked of liberals producing assassination books and movies about President Bush for the last eight years?

Say, did liberals want Pastor Rick Warren to succeed delivering a meaningful invocation at the inaugural?

The way I remember it, the Hope-and-Change crowd viciously denounced the Christian pastor, stamped their feet and demanded that Obama withdraw the invitation -- all because Rick Warren agrees with Obama's stated position on gay marriage, which also happens to be the position of a vast majority of Americans every time they have been allowed to vote on the matter.

Liberals always have to play the victim, acting as if they merely want to bring the nation together in hope and unity in the face of petulant, stick-in-the-mud conservatives. Meanwhile, they are the ones booing, heckling and publicly fantasizing about the assassination of those who disagree with them on policy matters.

Hope and unity, apparently, can only be achieved if conservatives would just go away -- and perhaps have the decency to kill themselves.

Republicans are not the ones who need to be told that "the time has come to set aside childish things" -- as Obama said of his own assumption of the presidency. Remember? We're the ones who managed to gaze upon Carter at the conclusion of his abomination of a presidency without booing.

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Ann Coulter is Legal Affairs Correspondent for HUMAN EVENTS and author of "High Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Slander," ""How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)," "Godless," and most recently, "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans."

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WHAT AMERICANS ARE SAYING--IN COMMENTS TO ANN'S ARTICLE:

I was amused by the coronation. Liberals act like poorly trained children; deliriously happy when they get their way, and able to throw a healthy tantrum when things are not to their liking.
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:20 PMDLJ, Maine, USA

Great Column, Ann, and you are correct there are two standards alive and well in America one that enables and endorses every bit of venom from the left and cosigns all of their nonsense. We will never hear or read those questions and if Pelosi and Reid have their way with the Fairness Doctrine...we will be lucky to candidly assess the success or failures of any parties administration.I too wish Obama well, and am happy to be counted amongst the loyal opposition so to speak...If I agree with a position or a policy that he might have I will happily say so. However so far I am not impressed...
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:21 PMMelody, Annville, LWRGA

If Obama wants his followers to "put aside childish things", perhaps he should publicly rebuke them for the "Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye", send-off they gave President Bush as he departed. Children will never grow up if not reprimanded.
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:29 PMLeigh, USA

The 1st thing HUSSEIN does is call his muslim buddy and finance abortions for foreign countries. He is going to be more pathetic than jimmy carter.
Jan 21, 2009

From the White House home page agenda (below), it looks like conservatives have their work cut out for them.



"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

OBAMA'S SOCIAL ACTION AGENDA

FROM THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Obama acts quickly, lays out his abortion and gay agenda

TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE HOME PAGE


One of first moves pushes social issues to the top

Supporting Stem Cell Research:
President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment.

Reproductive Choice (Abortion)
Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.

Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.

Support for the (Homosexual Community)
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

.American Family Association – Tupelo, MS 38803

www.afa.net

"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

SUPREME COURT WON'T PROTECT KIDS FROM PORN

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=108&sid=1581003

That's just great! I'm trying to find out which justices voted how.


"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Double Standard on Inaugural Expense --Rude Dems and other Tho'ts

The Media was all over GWBush and GOP for their expensive inaugurations --and then Obama spent 3 times as much --and that's OK.

You know, if you stayed home, you actually saw the inauguration --in comfort. NOthing could make me want to be packed like sardines with 2 million people in 18? degree weather. I was impressed that the violin/cello, ensemble number was played so beautifully outdoors --seemingly in jackets, not coats. Did they use video screens throughout the crowd, I wonder? Good news --no arrests. I hear there were boos for Bush but I did not hear them on TV. Democrats are so rude.

Someone wrote a piece in National Review, I think, on the "hissing" that democrats do in crowds and how republicans don't. I did boo Al Gore when he came, come to think of it --when he spoke of women's right to abort. Shame on me. I was younger and my booing was to make a statement that I thought was necessary in a pro-democrat crowd of 5000 down at Portside. It was the first Clinton-Gore campaign, i believe.
That's where I first saw young girls chanting at us pro-lifers with our posters, angrily, snarling, something about the church keeping its hands off their ovaries. It was a rhyming ditty. We were there to defend the unborn and remind the audience that the Clinton-Gore ticket favored abortion --as did Obama's, though one democrat caller seemed ignorant of the fact. Democrats tend to vote their Union's wishes, instead of their Church's.


"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Rick Warren's Prayer --Great Job!

Rick Warren's prayer was the best speech of the day. He proclaimed God's love for all people --asked forgivenes for our failings and for our lack of civility to each other. Pastor Rick also closed without saying "In Jesus name" by ending with the Lord's Prayer --yet, was true to his witness, in acknowledging Christ as His Savior and the giver of the Lord's Prayer.

I did wonder if he should not have referred to Obama's election being significant because he was afr-american. Although that significance was noted by many Afr-americans themselves. But I bet obama would like to be known for something other than his race --like to have people quit focusing on that --though it is a milestone against racism in America. He'd like to think that his election was great and joyous for his attributes other than race, I'm sure!

I have to agree with Gerson (speaking on Fox News) that Obama's speech was good in content --like all innaugural speeches --but not literarily significant --no great memorable lines to go down in history--and lots of cliches. I found it rather anti-climactic in emotional tone --and noticed that people actually looked bored, not inspired.

I certainly wish him great success as a president --but he has a lot of evil forces at work on him --who want him to promote gay marriage and abortion and the atheistic and liberal agenda in general. Feinstein and Pelosi come to mind. Why was Feinstein so prominent in the event?

If Obama accomplishes reform in Social Security and health care, without breaking the bank, he will have done something necessary. I don't want national health care, per se, but I sure do think all families need jobs and insurance.

I bet Condi Rice is more qualified than Hillary to be Secretary of State.





"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Obama, still better than most liberal bloggers

Obama praised Bush's team for helping with a smooth transition and said part of what America is about is being able to have "disagreements politically and yet treat each other civilly.

Time after time, in the blogosphere, surely from all perspectives but more consistently from liberal bloggers, I see the America that Obama isn't talking about.

EVIL ABOUNDS --SAD TO SAY!

Somalia is a mess, overrun by evil people with no shred of human decency --or so it seems. They stoned that girl 2 months ago now. According to Joel Brinkley's article in the Blade on January 1, 2008, this girl was buried up to her neck by armed militia of their town of Kismayu in a pit in a stadium. And 50 men stoned her to death in front of a thousand people --for the crime of adultery. She was 13. They said they thought she was older. She was raped and when her family reported it to the "authorities" of their region, they blamed her --and killed her. She had been enroute to her grandmother's house.

Joel is saying the UN should be sending troops --that the WORLD should rise up and go after these and other rogue nations who are torturing their citizens. (That's what Geo. Bush did, BTW, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those are the kinds of people he jailed at abu Graib and GITMO.) Somalia's pirates are also holding 14 stolen boats and their people? still. A dozen ships from around the world are going to apprehend these pirates --hopefully, but Joel felt it was a drop in the bucket of action needed. The UN secretary-general said, "Not one nation has volunteered to lead," to restore order in Somalia.

Other evidence of evil: Egyptian rich folks living lavishly in California were finally convicted of slavery --forcing a 9 year old into slavery for years, housing her in their garage. She couldn't use their laundry facility but had to wash her clothes in a bucket in the garage. She wore oversized t-shirts as her "uniform." She worked for everyone in the family and had enormous responsibilities for every detail of household cleanliness and order. The children in the family called her "stupid." She was treated as less than human. Her parents had sold her to this family in Egypt. Since then, she has been adopted, graduated from high school in the U.S., and is estranged from her parents. Her captors served a few years in jail and were deported. Reports are that the family once again has another girl who looks to be the same age serving them in Egypt--where there is no law against it??? At least no enforcement against such an arrangement.

We need to look hard at our immigration policies. We need to look at the crime rates and see if we are admitting people who are as bad as or worse than Irish Travelers and the Italian Mafia! The Mexican drug-pushers and so on. People who believe in honor killings. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SOME IMMIGRANTS DO NOT HAVE OUR NICE VALUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY --AND THE TEN C'S AND THE GOLDEN RULE! And we had better start to teach those Judeo-christian values in all our schools --once again! Because those are the values that even make a Mudrake believe in tolerance, justice, human rights, freedom, equality and so on. Without that Judeo-christian base, you have a culture that can stone a girl to death, imprison a child, exploit kids for internet porn --and so on. Without Judeo-Christian values cherished in the minds of the masses, taught to them by parents and schools, you get a Somalia.

Thirdly, pornography is evil. Mona Charen wrote an excellent piece on this recently, telling of the addictive aspect --and the fact that Hugh Hefner can't even make it with 7 women in his bed. He requires porn to get excited enough to perform as a man --and I'm not sure that's with a woman instead of just the pictures and himself! I gathered it was the porn alone with whom he had his most intense sexual activity. (He is really old.) This can't be good for marriage, parenting, etc. Mona was telling of a collegiate conference where the effects of porn were reported as harmful like drugs, with a brain-changing effect.

Finally, they showed murderers and murder victims in Toledo in 2008 in the Blade this week. Almost all of them are African -american. Why? I know it's not race --but what about the black community makes it more volatile and vulnerable than the larger white community--though granted, murderers and their victims certainly come in all colors.

I think parenting is key. Teen mothers are ill equipped. Kids need fathers AND mothers who aren't druggies, drunks, thieves and prisoners. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SHORE UP THE CRUMBLING AMERICAN FAMILY!?? And help these children?

I say, we need military-like --but loving-- Christian schools where kids know they HAVE to behave respectfully or fear the paddle --and we need GODLY, loving, talented leadership for such schools --and preaching that the Holy Spirit inspires and uses to change hearts --so that kids grow up having self-control and wanting to please Jesus Christ who died for their souls.

We need a national revival if we are going to help our own nation and the larger world. We need to marry and raise children for the future. We need to find time not just for our own families but for the children of others. Men need to form healthy relationships with the fatherless.

God, help us!




"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

Should Christians Exit Public Schools?? and how to cultivate faith in kids

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=370350

Check out this link --an article about encouraging Christians to exit from public schools.

There are many comments following, also.

They cited the fact that a previous vote to ban gay marriage in California was supported by more people than the recent one. They believe more young voters are being influenced in public schools to support gay marriage --to be liberal in general. What I see is that these young people are influenced in secular universities by atheistic/agnostic thinking --liberal profs in our classrooms. Measure a Year said this was so at U.T.

I observe that even the Christian-school educated are coming out more liberal than we'd like to see. I wonder if tv isn't the bigger influence. With no adults supervising at home, with the prevalence of working mothers, television is raising the kids, even more than any school is.

My kids have their faith intact and their morals relatively unscathed compared to the world's children in America and Europe. They went to public school. I think Christian parents need to be there and be vigilant for the sake of all the children, but the folks in the article made one observation: we are not converting the public school children to Christianity; they are converting our kids away from it.

Well, not so in my family. However, there were some harmful influences in public school, but we and our church --and the church colleges we sent them to --were stronger influences in the long run.

However, we didn't see our role in public school as being to convert --but to be salt. We did put the brakes on some liberal notions in our district -- teachers WERE taking advantage with liberal oriented, inappropriate books and films. They needed parents who would protest and remind the school of their limits. These were OUR children for them to teach --not THEIRS to liberalize and propagandize. We didn't like their "values clarification" decision-making guides in "life skills courses." The child was the primary decision maker --it was stated that "no one has a right to tell you what is right for you." What are the implications of such a statement?

We've seen the results of public, Christian, and Christian home schools. Some of the most devout Christian young people I know came through public schools and went to Christian colleges. Some of the most wandering in their faith went to the public universities --but some very devout people attended there also.

In fact, I'd rather see Christian parents save their money for Christian college instead of Christian school K-12. College is the time when the kids are thinking about the big questions and asking them --this is when they need to be sitting at the feet of godly men and women as profs --people of faith. Instead, we send them to all kinds of liberal colleges to study philosophy, religion, lit, history and science --all subjects subject to liberal influence and interp.

There is also something stuffy about Christian schools --but not Christian colleges. AT least, that was so many years ago when we DID send the girls to Christian schools through 3rd grade. We might have continued except for transportation difficulties and the fact that we had a fine public school where we lived. I credit that school with an excellent college prep and music ed.

This is a topic I often think about: How to cultivate a saving faith in your children.
1. have one yourself--a saving faith
2. don't be hypocritical about your view of other people. If Jesus says to love and forgive everyone, you must try to show that you love and forgive everyone, that you are not a snob and teach them not to be. That you don't hold grudges. I think it's wrong, e.g., to let them pick and choose friends for a birthday party --when others in the same social circles will know they were left out.
3. adore your children --be high on your kids while always tenderly and firmly shaping their character and their beliefs, holding them accountable for sinful attitudes and behaviors. I think kids are happiest when they think their parents enjoy them--as well as when they have limits and know them.
4. Provide rich influences --youth seminars, speakers, Christian books and magazines. We would listen to Ravi Zaccharias CD's on family trips. They didn't have radios of their own, just tape players --as we discouraged the rock music stations with some success. Our house was never filled with rock music.
5. Don't make EVERYTHING religious --enjoy the wholesome aspects of secular culture. We also listened to Garrison Keillor on CD's. SOOO funny!
6. Teach, teach, teach --as you watch tv, after movies, in the car, etc. Teach right from wrong. Teach about the benefits of righteous living vs. sinful living --and use real life examples. Teach God's laws and principles.
7. Cultivate a love for God in them, a feeling and belief that God is a loving Heavenly Father who has expectations for them FOR THEIR OWN GOOD.
8. Don't let them disrespect you. You earn respect --but you also command it because it is right for them to respect their parents and other authorities who are doing right. This must not be done from threatened ego or a power trip, however. All that you teach and require is for their good --the good of their character and soul's future --not for your ego as a "good parent." They are not to think they are more important than other people in God's sight --even though they are of utmost importance to you, their parents.
9. NEver discipline in uncontrolled anger --but do let them know that certain things make you angry. I often had trouble feeling really angry at little kids, especially, and had to let them know that some things were VERY DISPLEASING and seriously wrong! Or they wouldn't take admonitions and corrections seriously. I concluded they needed to experience anger sometimes for their own good and know remorse for their sins.

Enough for now. What are some of your child-rearing theories?

What do you think of this issue linked above?






"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

SUPPORT SAT 7 IN THE MIDDLE EAST

http://sat7.org/en/sat7_arabic

This link tells you about SAT 7, Christian TV broadcasting to the Middle East. These people deserve the prayer and support of all Christians --for they will surely be targeted by radicals who persecute Christians. I am really impressed with what they are doing.



"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible