Has The Culture Worn You Out?

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do.” D. L. Moody

Do you feel small and inadequate in the world we live in? I do. Are you overwhelmed by what is going on in the culture around us? I am. Do you sometimes ask yourself, “What’s the point?” I do.

I liken this feeling to sitting in a leaky boat with water coming in through various holes. You try to plug them, but you don’t have enough hands. You can’t plug holes and bail at the same time, so your efforts seem futile; you’re going to sink.

The state of our culture has many of us feverishly bailing. I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle sometimes.

There are so many causes to get involved in, so many injustices to fight. We can wear ourselves out standing for righteousness and truth.

I have to ask myself though, should we really be worn out? Saddened by the evil that is running rampant, yes. Weary from the onslaught of opposition to God’s Word and truth, of course! But worn out? No, I don’t think so.

I tried looking for a scripture this morning that encouraged us to be worn out. Would you be surprised if I told you that I didn’t find a single one?

When we hear or say the phrase “worn out,” it suggests tired, empty, weak—all things that occur when we are physically spending ourselves. We get to the point at which, to rephrase a common saying, we become so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good!

My friends, it is easy to take on the burden of this world. But all through Scripture Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. We know that the battle is not an earthly one, but oftentimes it’s easier for us to try and fight verbally and physically, through social media posts and protests, than it is to fight on our knees, where the battle is truly fought and won.

I do believe we have to take a stand and engage the culture. We are called to be salt and light in this world. We are to be the voice of righteousness. But not in our own strength.

We should not be taking on our shoulders a burden that only God can carry. We can’t plug all the holes and bail at the same time.

Our hearts should be broken for lost souls who believe the lies of the enemy, and that should drive us to pray.

Pray for those who are in such darkness that they believe they are something other than what God created them to be. Pray for the evil hands that shed the innocent blood of the unborn. Pray for those in authority in our nation who are pushing agendas that fly directly in the face of the Lord. Pray for churches that are watering down the truth. Pray for those who have a platform and claim to know Christ but are compromising for money, book sales, and popularity.

The question we need to ponder is, what has God called each of us to do?

For me, He has called me to raise my children to be a blessing and a beacon to the next generation. He has called my family to be a remnant family, a kingdom family. He has called me to proclaim truth in a culture that is saturated with lies. He has also called me to trust Him with the issues that are out of my control—to rest in His peace and remind myself often that He has not and will never fall off His throne.

For those of you who, like me, have been struggling to bail the water out of the boat, stop wearing yourself out.

Second Samuel 22:33 reminds us that it is God who arms us with strength, and He makes our way perfect! Believer, “the Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still” (Exod. 14:14).

Get out of the boat and keep your eyes on Jesus, because He wins in the end.

Lord, help us to trust You in a culture that is so adamantly against You and those who stand for righteousness. Help us to take up only what You have called us to take up. Help us not to become weary in doing good but to rest and gather our strength for the battle from You. May we be broken for the world around us, seeing people as You see them. Amen.

New York – Honoring the Dead While Celebrating Murder

My heart broke a little today. For today, we as a nation took one more step onto the slippery slope away from decency and morality. On the anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision, as a sample of women from different races and ages gleefully looked on, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo signed into the law the most radical abortion legislation we have ever seen.

While my heart breaks for the millions of babies murdered every year, I am angered and disgusted by the fact that we have allowed this to happen in our nation. Women are high-fiving and celebrating; dancing, crying with joy at their newly received freedom. Our elected officials are proud to have passed such empowering legislation, and Andrew Cuomo is flaunting his accomplishments on social media like he is some kind of hero. No, Governor Cuomo you are not a hero; you are a wicked man. You have the blood of millions of innocents on your hands.

As I look at photos of One World Trade Center and the spire lit up pink in celebration of this decision, I find it ironic, that the building erected to honor the death of thousands, is now celebrating the murder of millions.

It is obvious that our culture is drifting further and further away from any sense of the Godly morality our country was founded on. My question is, how long will God remain patient with a country that is sacrificing children to the god of Self? Galatians 6:7 tells us that “God will not be mocked. Whatever we reap, we will sow.” I am afraid for our nation and I weep for it.

So what are we to do? I have been asking myself this question over the last few days. It isn’t practical for everyone to be camped outside of abortion clinics or attending rallies.

I am realizing that it’s time to take a stand. Many of you are weary, but it’s time for Christians to stop being afraid and start being bold. It’s about preaching Christ and His power to transform lives. God’s arm is not short, but His church is anemic and passive. We are afraid to speak out because we might lose friends or offend family members. We are afraid to post on social media, because we don’t want to rock the boat. Let me tell you something -the boat needs to be turned over! It’s time to get into the battle Christian. It’s time to pray! The enemy is alive and well and is no longer hiding his tactics; he doesn’t need to anymore.

Dr. Martin Luther Kind Jr said “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

I believe we are at a turning point in our culture. As Christians we know how this all ends, and we are hopeful. But until then, lets take up are armor and finish well.

Lord, help us to see life through your eyes. Help us to take our focus off of ourselves and place it on Your purpose for us. Bring our leaders to repentance and help them to see the wickedness they are perpetrating in our culture. Help us to realize that You have called us to be Your voice here and to use them for Your glory and for Your kingdom. Help us to finish well, Lord. Amen.

Pornography- The Epidemic Taking Out Our Families

3,564,591,201 Can you guess what this number might be?

This number is the number of internet searches for pornography since the beginning of 2015. As I put the digits into this post, the numbers continued to climb on my phone beside me, I can’t keep up.

Over the years we have seen many prominent members of the Christian community exposed for their involvement in pornography and adultery. Lives lived in darkness brought out into the light. Many of us were truly saddened; we were disappointed, disgusted. Unfortunately, many stood in pious judgment, almost enjoying being a spectator of someone elses demise.

It has been a reminder to me, that Satan really does prowl around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. Even so, I also know that God will not be mocked. He will not allow His people, to on one hand proclaim His name, while on the other live in sin. It’s time to face it! Pornography is no longer the dirty little secret that hangs out in the back room of a seedy store. It is no longer just subject matter for the frat house, or boys locker room. It is here – in our homes, in our purses, at our desks, in our schools, in our back pockets and unfortunately it has made its way into our churches and pulpits.. It is as easy to access as our favorite recipe blog. It’s free, available and it’s not going away. The statistics are staggering.

• Every second – $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
• 64% of Christian men and 15% of Christian women say they watch pornography at least once a month.
• 51% of pastors say internet pornography is a temptation
• 1 in 5 mobile internet searches are for pornography.
• 24% of smart phone owners admit to having pornographic material on their device
• 9 out of 10 boys and 6 out of 10 girls are exposed to pornography before they are 18. Most are exposed by age 12. Many are exposed at church youth group.

I could go on. The statistics only get more heartbreaking. So, as Christians what do we do?

It’s an easy thing to push aside uncomfortable subjects within the church. We hope to keep inappropriate things outside of our four walls. However, as the church becomes more compromised and Christians become weaker in their faith, these issues have to be addressed. To be completely honest, I am tired of the devil gaining ground and God’s people not engaging in battle. I am over sin being called a disease or sickness. It’s sin, plain and simple.

But there is good news! God has given us everything we need in His word and through the Holy Spirit, to defeat the schemes of the enemy. There is nothing that we can be tempted by that Jesus did not endure. “Well, He was God!” you say. Yes, He was. He was also God in the flesh, a man. He was open and vulnerable to everything that we are faced with today, and He has provided a way for us to flee temptation and overcome sin. It’s our choice as to whether or not we take the way out.

So, you may be reading this and be thinking to yourself. “It’s easy for her to say, she’s never dealt with this”; “People get sucked in by accident!”; “It’s the devil’s fault!”; “It’s an addiction!”; “She doesn’t understand how hard it is!”

No, I’ve never had to deal with this issue personally. But I’ve walked with many that have. As God’s people, we need to stop putting the blame for sin on others. We each have a choice- a free will.

Men:

It is a choice to type those words into the Google search bar. It is a choice to open that email. It is a choice to click on those pictures. It is a choice to look with lust at the woman walking by you on the street. It is a choice to flirt with the co-worker in the office. It is a choice to watch an inappropriate TV show or movie. I could go on. In all of this, there is a common thread- choice.

The comforting thing is, is that God gives us the greatest choice- His Word. When Jesus was confronted with temptation, He used scripture to fight. God’s promises are for us today! Ephesians 6:17 gives us clear instruction to put on the helmet of salvation. Guys, a helmet is not attractive, or fashionable! We use a helmet for a practical reason. The helmet protects the mind from wicked and corrupt thoughts and schemes. Once again, it is a choice to pick it up and put it on. God has provided, but you have to do your part. Once your helmet is securely in place, do what scripture tells you to do; FLEE!! We are never instructed to fight temptation. We are to RUN!

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

2 Timothy 2:22 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

Men, for the sake of your wives, children or future wives and children, do not let the devil steal your future. Put on the helmet and FLEE!

Ladies:

Yes, I’m addressing you too! Even though we tend to think that this is a male problem, we are not off the hook. I am not out to purposefully offend or ruffle feathers, but if I do that in the pursuit of truth, so be it. Before I get attacked for blaming women for mens failings I want to say this; we are not responsible for the sin of others. Men and women make their own individual choices. Their sin is their own. However, we are called to be responsible to each other as believers.

Galatians 6:1-3 “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

We are to bear one another’s burdens, not just physically, but spiritually. So while we aren’t directly responsible for the choices of others, we are responsible to help in bearing their struggles. We are to do everything in our power to not aide in the falling of our brothers and sisters.

1 Corinthians 8:13 “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”

This doesn’t only apply to just food and drink. It applies to anything that may cause someone else to stumble.

So ladies, in short, this is what I ask; please keep your short skirts, and low hanging tops at home for your husband. The only breasts and backside my husband should be seeing are mine!

Secondly, I find it quite alarming just how many women within the church that are exposing themselves to what the world sees as reality when it comes to marriage. We are bombarded by Fifty Shades of Grey style books and Bad Mom movies, and we seldom blink an eye. We enjoy the escape from our boring, humdrum lives. For a moment we are able to leave to demands of house and home and be transported into someone else’s world. We are allowed for a short time to let our hair down, and laugh at those things we’ve been feeling or wanting to say for years. The problem is, (other than the fact that they are completely wrong, distorted and against what God created marriage and motherhood to be), they are leading women into a sense of dissolution with their own families. Visions of ‘life on the edge’ cloud our minds and fills them with falsehoods. Husbands are no longer enough. We long for something daring and freeing. Eventually women find themselves in a place of detachment and discontent. Stop buying in to the fantasy, it will inevitably leave you empty and broken.

Ladies, fix your eyes on things above! Be thankful for the call that God has placed on you as wives and mothers. Find your contentment in Jesus! Ultimately, God is the only one able to squash the desires for things outside of your marriage that are not good. Once again, we have a choice. A choice, that even when we don’t feel like it, we love our husbands anyway. Even when we don’t want to, we are patient and nurturing to our children anyway. Please ladies, fall in love with God’s plan for you. His plan is good and right and will result in blessing.

Parents:

Lastly, I want to address parents.

Our children are in the middle of a battle; a battle for their souls. As their parents, we will one day stand before God and give an account for how we have raised them. That’s a massive and heavy responsibility. We can no longer stand back from our teenagers and give them their space. They need you to draw close now more than ever.

If you want children that serve God, you have to spend the time teaching them how. You can not give them a phone, laptop, tablet or any other device, and not expect them to discover pornography. Whether intentionally or by accident, it is a click away. They will find it, and it will pull them in. Please take the time to check your children’s devices. My children know not to expect any privacy when it comes to their online activity. I check their texts, their device history, and question them often on their viewing habits. We talk, a lot! My kids know they can trust me and my husband as their parents. Do not let anger with their behavior cloud the bigger picture. If your children think you are angry, they will hide. Hide both their activities and their hearts. Ask the Lord how you are to respond. Go to scripture with your children, show them what God says. Pray with them, hold them accountable, forgive them, love them.

It has taken me an hour to write this post. The pornography hit counter is now at 3,565,319,907 and counting. It’s time to step up, stop making excuses for sin, cast aside those things that hinder us, and be the Christian (Christ Ones) God has called us to be.

For those who are stuck in the mire, struggling with this issue and don’t see a way out; there is hope, forgiveness and healing. He loves you and has a much bigger plan for you than you currently see. Don’t settle for the scraps, when you are invited to the King’s table.

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea”

Lord, help us to be your followers. Help us to be blameless in Your sight. Strengthen us for the fight ahead. Help us to get off the bench and on to the battlefield, to stand on truth and not believe the lies fed to us by the enemy. We are belong to You- help us to live like we believe it! – AMEN

We Don’t Have a Gun Problem- We Have a Parent Problem

Once again our nation is wrestling with devastating news, this time out of Texas. Another school shooting. And once again people immediately start demanding more gun control, more legislation, more security measures, more mental-health screenings. All these knee-jerk reactions are common in the wake of a tragedy such as this. But sadly, this type of horrible event is going to happen again. Why? Because we have a generation of parents who have relinquished the responsibility of raising their children to others.

We have a generation of parents who are convinced that their children need more things rather than more of their parents’ time in order to be content—and as a result, we have children who are ungrateful and believe they are entitled to whatever they want.

We have a generation of parents who have been told by a consumer-driven culture that in order to be successful, they need a bigger house, a newer car, and the most up-to-date phones. With that comes larger debt, strained schedules, and two parents working outside the home just to make ends meet.

We have a generation of mothers who are no longer content to stay home and raise their children. They have believed the lie that being a stay-at-home mom is not a noble and fulfilling occupation. As a result, children are farmed out to daycares and public schools, raised by strangers just so parents can pursue equality and self-worth through a career or position.

We have a generation of fathers who have decided it’s ok to leave their families in order to follow their own lusts and desires; all because sometimes family life is hard and the pressure is too much.

We have a generation of parents who are so tired and stressed out that they allow devices to babysit their kids.

We have a generation of parents who insist God be taken out of their everyday lives, but then want to blame Him during times of crisis.

We have a generation of parents who believe their teenagers want nothing to do with them, when the reality is they need them more than ever.

We have a generation of parents who are ignorant of the dangers of social media and the depth of their children’s involvement in it. “All the kids do it,” they say. “It’s no big deal.” Parents fail to see that oftentimes social media becomes an outlet for their kids because it’s somewhat anonymous, a place where our kids don’t have to face reality. Children find belonging and family among strangers rather than the people in their own homes.

We have a generation of parents who are content with the average of thirty-four minutes of meaningful conversation per week they have with their children. Yes, you read that right—thirty-four minutes per week!

 We have a generation of parents who sit in churches all over America being taught that it’s ok to fit in with the culture; that biblical parenting is now old fashioned, irrelevant and offensive.

We have a generation of parents who are overweight, tired, and unhealthy,  who simply do not have the energy to get out of their chairs and engage in activities with their children. Instead, they over-schedule their kids with activities so they don’t have to deal.

We have a generation of drive-through parents who don’t have time to cook meals, sit at the table, and connect with their children.

We have a generation of parents who have bought into the lie that they should be friends with their children instead of parents. Discipline has become abuse, and punishment is seen as an infringement on children’s rights. So children are being raised with no boundaries or limits, and as such, they are unable to handle disappointment or hardship. It’s nonsense!

We have a generation of parents who are so concerned with selfies, status updates, and sports scores that they don’t take the time to look up from their phones on the odd occasion that their children do try to engage them. I’m preaching to the choir here, folks!

Parents, we have to do better. We can no longer push the blame onto guns, schools, organizations, politicians.

Newsflash: our children are our responsibility. It is our responsibility to be intimately involved in their lives. We have to do whatever it takes to connect with them.

If it means downgrading our cars and our houses to lessen our debt, so be it.

If it means saying no to our children’s wants or activities so we can spend more time engaging in conversation as a family, then we need to say no.

If it means sacrificing material desires so Mom can stay home, we have to do it.

If it means pulling our kids out of school to teach them at home, we need to get over ourselves and do it!

If it means turning off our phones and placing them in a drawer so we can’t see them, then we need to turn them off!

If it means looking at your teenagers social media, email and texts, look at it! You pay the bills, don’t you?

We are losing a generation, and it isn’t anything’s or anybody’s fault but ours. Rise up, parents! We need to stop pointing the finger and do our jobs!

Lord, we need You so desperately as we raise our children in this day and age. Help us rise up and take responsibility. Help us put aside our own needs and wants, and live sacrificially for the children You have placed in our care. Forgive us for pointing the finger of blame at others, and help us do whatever it takes to engage with our children—love them, discipline them, and nurture them so they can grow to be the people You designed them to be. Amen.

Raising Boys Amidst the War on Men

To My Sons,

As I sit here writing this to you, you are in the midst of a cultural war against manhood. The message that is being shouted into our society is not one I want you to hear or listen to. What I want you to hear is this message from me: you were created in God’s image. He has a purpose for you. You were born to lead, provide, love, and serve. That is how your dad and I have raised you. So walk forward and grow to be men, my sons, and don’t be ashamed of who God has designed you to be.

Go ahead and blaze the trail through the woods with your machete, my sons. Because one day you may lead a nation.

Go ahead and learn to responsibly and respectfully use that gun, my sons. Because one day you may need to protect your own families.

Go ahead and love your country and those who have served for your freedom, my sons. Because one day you might have to fight for them.

Go ahead and climb that tree, my sons. Because one day you may need to rescue your daughter’s kitty or save your son’s kite.

Go ahead and hunt those deer and snag those fish, my sons. Because one day you may need to provide food for your families.

Go ahead and learn how to build a fire, my sons. Because one day your own children will learn that sometimes they need to go back to basics and be content with simple entertainment.

Go ahead and knock down that bully, my sons. Because one day you may have to defend the weak and helpless.

Go ahead and dig in the dirt, my sons. Because one day you might have to toil to make ends meet.

Go ahead and lift those weights, my sons. Because one day you might carry someone to safety.

Go ahead and love others, my sons. Because one day you will have to show the world that real men can be kind and compassionate.

Go ahead and dive into God’s Word and get to know Jesus well, my sons. Because one day the world will look to you for the answer to its problems.

Go ahead, my sons. Be real men, my sons. Your world needs you.

Love,
Mom xxxxxx

Raising Esthers in a Jezebel World

Have you ever felt weary from the fight? Does the state of our society ever weigh so heavily upon you that you just want to throw your hands in the air and give up? I will be the first to raise my hand and say, yes!

Day after day we wake up to news of violence, scandal, disaster, immorality, and death. At times I have found myself in fear for my children, who are growing up, and will more than likely be raising their own children, in this culture. I wonder how things will look for them as they become adults and seek to live out their faith in the midst of growing opposition to the things of God. It’s pretty discouraging when young people tell you that they question even having kids when they get older, simply because of the way the world is going.

In light of all this, it is very easy for us to get discouraged. We think back to the good ol’ days and wish we and our children had been born in better times. But if we allow ourselves to be overcome with fear and discouragement, we will become ineffective and unable to do what God has called us to.

It is no accident that you and I and our children and grandchildren were born at this time in history. As we look to God’s Word for answers regarding our society, we find Esther. Esther lived in a culture similar to ours. The nation she lived in was morally bankrupt, the region was under the rule of godless leadership, and there was seemingly no prophetic voice anywhere to be found. This is why I love and relate to her so much. She was just like me, just like you! Yet even in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation, God used Esther to save her nation.

Can we really save a nation like Esther did? Esther was just a regular person. There was nothing particularly special about her; in fact, her parents had both died, leaving her an orphan and at a disadvantage in life. We are told that she was young, beautiful, and won the favor of everyone around her; other than that she was ordinary. But Esther was willing, and through that willingness, she changed the course of history.

How did one young girl take on a kingdom?

She denied herself. Esther asked for nothing before she approached the king. She came before him as she really was, not pretending to be anyone else (see Esther 2:15).

She held to her beliefs when she could easily have compromised. Esther knew what was right and stood her ground (see Esther 2:20).

She was proactive and patriotic. Esther loved her people and was willing to sacrifice everything in order to mediate for them. She instructed her people to pray and then stepped out to be their spokeswoman (see Esther 4:15–16).

She was obedient. Esther submitted herself to her Mordacai, (her cousin who adopted her after her parents died) who had ultimately challenged her to rise up. He put the fate of the Jewish nation upon her shoulders, and she rose to the occasion (see Esther 4:14).

She was courageous. Esther defied custom, put on her robes, and, risking death, approached the king (see Esther 5:1–8).

She spoke up. Esther didn’t care what the consequences were. She petitioned for what she wanted and called out the evil that was being plotted against her people (Esther 7:1–6).

She brought deliverance. Because of Esther’s courage, the Jews defeated their enemies and were granted a powerful victory over them. The king ultimately bestowed great honor upon them and granted high position within his kingdom to Mordecai.

As we look at the days in which we live, may the story of Esther give us courage to raise our children to be the spokespeople of our day. The responsibility rests on our shoulders. If we do not rise up and challenge the culture and teach our children to become “Esthers” in their world, then we have failed and will see a generation perish. The calling we have is not for the faint of heart, but it’s the one God has given us.

Lord, help us to be Esthers is the day in which we live. When the culture has plans to annihilate Your truth, help us to be bold and unapologetic in our stand. Help us to recognize the responsibility we have and to know that we and our children have been placed here “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Amen.

Dear California……

This letter was written as a school assignment by a sixth grader. It is a blessing to see that not all children in this generation are indoctrinated and have a firm grasp on who we are as a nation. Enjoy!

Dear California,

In this letter I hope to explain why banning the sale of bibles or limiting what it says through bill AB2943, is stupid, arrogant, unethical, and against America and what it stands for.

I get it! You are trying to prevent hate speech. For some reason, you think having an opinion or a belief that is contrary to your, own is hate speech. For thousands of years people have had their own opinions and beliefs, and that how it should stay.

Homosexuality contradicts the bible. So should we ban homosexuality? The bible says yes, you say no. So, how do we get rid of this problem. The answer? We don’t.

Let’s take a look at the National Anthem, is clearly states that this land is the home of the free. So, what is freedom? Freedom is the ability for everybody to say and believe anything and everything you want. That is why the pilgrims came here in the first place. To be free from Britain, (soon to be California); to be free to practice and proclaim their religious beliefs. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech” This can not be translated any other way.

Quick Fact! California’s House of Representatives consists of thirty-nine Democrats including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and only fourteen Republicans. Only God can help California!

Anyway, the Bible and homosexuality contradict each other. I believe what the bible says, so does that mean I have the right to tell you how to live? According to the constitution, no. One-sidedness goes against America and the principles it was built on; The Land of the Free. That is why these things need to be left alone. You know what, California? If you want to ruin your state by taking out what it was built on, go ahead. But keep your dirty, one-sided agenda out of the rest of our country.

The Founding Fathers built a country with pillars; freedom and Christianity. When you take away the pillars of a building it becomes unstable, and eventually you know that building will fall. Well, California, you are falling and you are falling hard. If the Founding Fathers were to look at this bill, I’m sure that they would have frowned upon it. You take God out of a nation and it will fall. Nothing in California should change, but its one-sided agenda. It’s about time for us to see a ‘just’ California!

“If you want to make enemies, try to change something” – Woodrow Wilson

If this continues, there may come a day when Christians have to smuggle in bibles like in many communist countries. I pray this day will never come.

Sacrificing Families on the Altar of Feminism

I’ve often lamented that I should have been a young mom in the 1940s and 1950s—back in the day when it was the norm for women to relish staying home to raise their children, when women took pride in keeping the home and providing a home-cooked meal at the end of every day, when families sat down around the dinner table to discuss whatever the topic of conversation might be.

Unfortunately, in our day this way of life is more of a dream than a reality. Instead of being the norm, those of us who have chosen this lifestyle are now in the minority and oftentimes looked down upon. The reason? I believe it’s feminism. I’m not talking about the raging protesters who wear body-part costumes and take to the streets. I’m talking about a subtle movement that has taken root in the church, in those of us who are discontented with life as God designed it to be. In those of us who desire to see our identity in more than who we are in Christ.

You see, in our quest for more money, stuff, identity, we have ultimately ended up with less. Less of what matters. Gone are the days when we were satisfied with simple. Feminism has crept in subtly over the decades. Like a seed that’s planted, the more it has been fed and watered, the bigger and stronger it has grown, until one day it will be a giant tree that isn’t going anywhere unless it’s cut down.

Society has taught us, and in turn we are teaching our children, that success is measured by what we have, how big our houses are, how new our cars are, what brand of clothes and shoes we wear. That somehow if we are only mere homemakers then we are repressed, and not reaching our potential.  Because we are under a barrage of feminist ideas that inundate us every day, we are conditioned to think we are somehow advancing, making strides as women—and maybe we are on a personal level. But take a look at the generation we are raising.

Anti-depressant usage is up 65 percent over the last fifteen years, and women are being treated for it at twice the rate men are. ADD drugs are being administered to children at an alarming rate. Children are disrespectful, ungrateful, overindulged. One in three children are overweight or obese—a condition we have seen accelerate dramatically in the last thirty years. We often throw blame for this at the introduction of convenience food or the drive through. But I have to ask, why is there a demand for such food? As women we either no longer have time to cook real meals, or we are so tired that it’s much easier to grab a “4 for $4” and call it good. Divorce is now at an all-time high; 50 percent of marriages now end in divorce. Pornography addiction is out of control, and for that we blame the ease of access to it. Things are a mess, people!

Might I suggest that if we who are women spent more time cultivating and feeding our homes and marriages instead of our careers, these statistics may not be quite as dramatic?

Women were designed beautifully to cultivate and nurture, to cultivate our homes and nurture our families—not to conquer the world, corporate or otherwise. There, I said it! I know it won’t be popular, but I said it anyway. Proverbs 31 is familiar to many of us, and we often use it as justification for work outside the home. I believe we are to be workers; we are to put our hands to things that will benefit our families. But not at the expense of our families.

We have somehow believed that if we are not breadwinners, we are less than. Proverbs 31 clearly describes a woman who is respected and revered, a woman who is looked to for wisdom and advice, a woman whose children bless and praise her. She is also a woman who cooks for her family, who opens her home for ministry and her arms to the poor. Just because a woman’s “job” is different from that of a man does not make her less than, just different from.

I understand that some women have no choice but to work. I believe many that do would rather be home. Scripture tells us that God looks at the heart, and sometimes our situation, in spite of our best effort, is beyond our control. As mothers, we do what we have to for our children. You may be the only source of provision for your family, and if that’s the case, may God bless you and provide abundantly!

I believe that as a result of our striving to be seen as equals, we have lost our uniqueness as women. Good men are becoming afraid to pay a woman a polite compliment. Many no longer give up their seats or open doors for women because their motives may be questioned. It’s a sad state of affairs. I am raising my boys to become real men. Godly men. Men who see being providers, protectors, leaders in their homes as a true calling. I am raising my daughter to value her femininity and future womanhood. Real “girl power” comes when we recognize the amazing opportunity we have as women to fulfill a calling that only we can fulfill: to raise our children and nurture our marriages as only we can.

Lord, let true feminism be alive and well in our homes and families. Help our focus to be where it needs to be—on the eternal and not the temporal. Forgive us for buying into the lie that we need to be more than what You’ve intended us to be. Thank You for womanhood and the tremendous blessing it is. Help us to be different from the culture around us! Amen.

Oprah for President? No Thanks!

As I signed into my newsfeed this morning, one of the top trending items to cross my screen was Oprah Winfrey’s rousing Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille Award acceptance speech. I’m not a fan of Oprah and her hot-aired opinions, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. People stood, they applauded, they bowed down, they looked on adoringly, they even went as far as to say that she would be a good candidate for president. Really? I thought. Have y’all lost your ever lovin’ minds?

Now don’t get me wrong. I will give credit where credit is due. Oprah rose from a seemingly hopeless childhood, and she fought and overcame an awful lot to arrive at the position she is in. But so have a lot of people. Ben Carson is black and was born into poverty to an illiterate mother, but even so he overcame. Through hard work and persistence, he became one of the world’s leading doctors in his field. Countless people can stand up and tell their stories of triumph. Hundreds could tell of how prejudice and abuse have hindered their journeys in life. Thousands of white women have been attacked and assaulted by black men and vice versa. Thousands of black and white children are abused by their black and white parents. Most of Oprah’s speech was rhetoric, good hashtag material, stuff we already know. But because it came from Oprah’s lips, it is somehow inspired, profound, worship worthy. Whatever.

So here’s my question. Why are we as a society paying attention to anything that comes out of Hollywood? Haven’t the majority who work there proven themselves to be hypocrites? The tales of abuse from that corner of the world that have recently hit the news are terrible, disgusting. But people! This has been going on for decades. Many prominent women in the entertainment industry have known about the depravity in the business and have done nothing about it! This makes those women in Hollywood accomplices, not heroes.

For Oprah Winfrey to stand up and tell all the “magnificent women” and “some pretty phenomenal men” (she had to throw in the men because, well, ya know, equality matters) that “a new day is coming, where nobody ever has to say #metoo again” is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Not only is it unrealistic, but it is completely disrespectful to the majority of men who are good, well intentioned, and supportive of women—like the men I am raising my sons to be.

For the Christian who lauds Oprah and her words, hear this: Oprah is a charlatan. She has bought into and peddles a philosophy, a religion, that flies in the face of God and His precious Word. If you heed anything Oprah has to say, you are being deceived.

Sin is here to stay. Not matter how many speeches we listen to, marches we participate in, or celebrities we expose, sin abounds. The only, to quote Oprah, “new day that is on the horizon” is the day when Jesus will return for His people. May we remain faithful to what is true and right. And while we wait, I pray, “Please Lord, do not let Oprah become our future President!

Choosing Culture Over Jesus

A couple of days ago, I was browsing Facebook and stumbled upon an interview of Pastor Carl Lentz on The View. The headline was this; Hillsong ‘Pastor’ Folds Under Abortion Question On The View. Of course I clicked on the play button to find out what the story was about. I should be able say that I was surprised by what I heard, but sadly, I wasn’t. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard a so called pastor or church leader choose culture over Jesus. In fact it’s becoming the norm.

When asked very clearly if he thought abortion was a sin, ‘Pastor’ Lentz waffled and dodged. Honestly, it was embarrassing. “Well, I would have to know the situation first”, “God’s the judge, not me” and “I would choose to go higher and get to know the person first”. These were all comments he made as he trampled the Word of God in front of millions.

Mr. Lentz, your response should have been an easy one. How I wish you would have used the platform you had, and said to all those watching, “yes, abortion is a sin. Abortion is murder, and murder is a sin.” That’s an opportunity you are not likely to have again.

Obviously the response to this interview has been mixed. Some say he is relating, he’s loving people where they are. Others say he is a heretic, a false teacher. I happen to believe the latter. However, Carl Lentz is one of many prominent men in our nation that are leading churches down a dangerous and deceptive path. Choosing culture over Jesus.

We are called to love people where they are, we are called to bind up the wounds of the hurting and restore the broken, however we are also called to preach the uncompromising truth of the Word of God. We are called to offer life changing truth, not watered down, palatable niceties.

So, this begs the question, how can we, Jesus’ ambassadors here on earth, love and give compassion, all while calling out sin for what it really is? It amazes me how much time we spend looking at books and blogs, trying to find out how to respond to different situations and circumstances in life. The answers are often times right in front of us if we will take the time to dig in to God’s Word.

In John 4:1-26, we have one of many perfect examples of how to love and yet call out sin in an uncompromising way. In this passage of scripture, Jesus was traveling through Samaria when He came to a well. Upon arriving he noticed a woman there drawing water and asked her for a drink. The fact that she was there in the middle of the day, alone, shows us that she was somewhat of an outcast in her own community. Typically, the women would come in the early mornings and take the time to catch up with each other. So we see that even the culture of the day looked down on this woman. As we read through the story, we notice that Jesus ignored the culture to speak directly to her. He took the time to, engage her and ask about her life. He was kind, but did not hold back in pointing out her sin. In verses 14-16 he calls her out.   ^“He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true” (NIV) Jesus didn’t pull any punches, but His affect on this woman was life changing. She became an evangelist in her own town, bringing many to hear the message of Jesus.

Jesus didn’t offer the Samaritan woman a watered down gospel. He offered her the truth. He calls us to do the same, and shows us exactly how to do it. May we be obedient and follow.,

“Lord, help us as Christians, as the church, to unashamedly speak truth to a world that is so desperate to hear. People need answers, not comfortable ideas. Help us to engage the culture, without conforming to it. Help us to love people enough to not tickle their ears with what they think they want to hear, but to offer them true hope that only comes from you. Amen”