‘Live With Purpose’ (a tidbit of Chapter 1 of my book)

How often do we think ‘September thoughts’? “Since the school year is starting, I will do ____” or “I can have 30 weeks to study ____ a little bit more.” It’s easy to think we can let our schedules and circumstances determine our life; to help our future along. It’s like living on autopilot: letting social life, full calendars, games, appointments, and homework become our purpose for living. And for us college women and beyond, it’s easy to think housework and college and chores is all that’s worth living for.

These activities are all worthy and many are necessary to living. Chores need to be completed. Homework must be finished. Doctors need to be seen. Teeth need to be filled. It’s life.

But, when we start to look to our calendars to determine what’s next, our lives are set to live on autopilot. And when a huge change comes (like graduation, for example), we aren’t sure what we’re supposed to do. We feel lost, like our social life has been stripped away; we feel like we have no reason to exist: like we have no purpose… like God has taken everything we liked to do away!

I confess I used to live on autopilot. Looking to the next thing on the list to determine what I should do. It is how we young single women start to feel discontent when we’re 18 or 21 or 30 and not married- or even seeing anyone. We’re too used to everything coming at us in an orderly fashion, being in control of our lives. When things like a job, marriage, or college don’t come our way, the discontentment sets in.

In reality, God is not taking anything away from us. WE are living without purpose.

“Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in You.” Saint Augustine

So often, we’re caught up in living life to simply live life, we forget what we’re here for. We were made for God, not the next big thing! It is only when we live for God do we genuinely begin live vibrantly, wholly, and fully.

How do we do that?

Well… that’s what my book is all about!

Christianity vs. Islam

We’re going to compare Christianity with Islam, and see what “God” is like in each. I’ve read a ton on Islam, including the Qur’an, and I feel the need to share what I’ve learned. I made note of many verses that contradicted the Bible. Islam intrigues me- it makes me wonder why God allows Satan to make such a religion to grow, and who would take the time to think up a religion like this… it boggles my mind.

The first major difference we will notice is:

Christianity: Trinitarian Theism- or one God, three persons. 2 Cor. 13:4, Matt. 28:19 both refer to Son, Spirit, and Father. (If you know of more verses on the Trinity, let me know)

Islam: Unitarian Theism- in Surah 5:73 It says They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no Allah save the One Allah. Perhaps the idea of the Trinity was too confusing for Muhammad. It confuses me too, but I believe it. It’s not illogical. What logic law does it violate?

The second major difference is:

God cannot lie or change-   James 1: 17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no varying, neither shadow of turning.      Titus 1: 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

Allah lies and changes: Sura 8:30 They plot and plan, and Allah, too plans, but the best of the planners is Allah. Another translation uses “schemers” another, “plotters” and another “deceiver”. The word plotter seems to imply Allah is not all knowing.

Mondays and Fridays will be “VS.” days for now. Maybe not while I’m away in August, but definitely for now. I have no plans to make theme days, like blogs everywhere around me are doing. But it should be interesting. And if you are bored to tears, let me know somehting you’d like me to write about, and I’ll make a post just for you.

Someone guessed the answer correctly (of the two of you that guessed!) ENVY

It Only Happens Once…

Life gets busy. Just when I thought graduation would be the end of my social life, I find myself loaded with projects and tasks, visits and meetings. It makes me grouchy, some days, because I’m getting sort-of ”plum-tuckered” out.

I didn’t want to go to church last night, but I’m glad I did. We had an interesting discussion on personal convictions and Romans 14-15.

After the study, we all split up into self-organized spontaneous groups. I noticed a elderly lady looking around the room. No one was sitting near her, people were praying with their friends. After prompting my mom to go sit by her, we went over and introduced ourselves. We ended up having a lovely discussion with Mrs. Powell, who must’ve been in her eighties! She talked of her growing up grandchildren, and her middle aged son, their missions work and then asked us what we were doing lately. My mom mentioned how busy we were with my graduation party. With her faltering voice, she shook a finger in my face and said “Enjoy it… it only comes once!” Shortly thereafter, her equally elderly husband came out and sat behind her. You could totally tell they were still in love! I was tickled pink when Mrs. Powell mentioned she was engaged to three other men at various point in life, broke it off each time and ended with ‘him’ (as she jerked a thumb at her man) for the last 65 years. Aww!! She patted my knee and said in a mischievous voice: “When you start courtin’ watch out!”

When I’m 80 something, I want to be alive and kickin’ like her!

In the midst of a busy point of life, I was reminded by someone far older than me that a successful life cannot be measured by friends, money, or status. Enjoy the experience. Make the most of every opportunity. It only happens once…

It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 1:10:

Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.

We need to find wisdom from ages before us. So, look to people from ages before us! We have some catchin’ up to do as young folks.

And then onto 14:

 I have seen everything that is done under the sun,

and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Life is nothing new. But, by the time 50 comes around, people realize there’s more to life then money. Then they wish they’d known that earlier in life. They were chasing after something that didn’t matter for half their life.

That’s why this blog is called Echoes in the Wind. I’ve seen all the chasing after the wind. Okay, maybe not all of it, I’m 15 days shy of being ten and eight years. But I’ve seen people wasting their young years on a lot of things that don’t matter. Music. Money. Clothes. Fiction not worth reading. Boyfriends.

Echoes come back to you.

Echoes haunt you, reminding you of what’s happened. Perhaps telling you of what could be.

Echoes will come back to you, and continue to, unless you stop making a ruckus. There can be good ‘ruckuses’ and bad ‘ruckuses.’

Echoes warn other people far behind.

Echoes can come from people on mountains. We’re all said to be climbing up a mountain toward God. Not sure if I like that analogy, but it’ll do. 

This blog’s original intent was to stretch and encourage and tell younger girls of what I’ve learned in life. To make you think. To make you want something better. To let God use my talent of writing and creating to inspire you on your journey up a mountain.

Life should be simple. Don’t make “it’s complicated” your life’s motto.

Life is not about frivolity. Clothes don’t make the man. Neither does your color of nail poish.

Life is not a show. Don’t pretend. Be REAL (the link will tell you the wrong definition of real)

Life has ideas. Be familiar with them. Know them. Study them.

Life should be colorful. Be vibrant. Don’t be dull.

Life should focus on serving. Look around for needs. Attend to them. Act like you alone know about a need.

Life should be ultimately about God, and the pursuit of Him.

Now, I’m not blogging to just younger girls anymore. I’m blogging to peers, older young women, friends, young men, married and single adults, and other random people who join for fun or for laughs .

Many people who are tired of chasing after the wind.

Rastafari Movement + short devotional

This religion believes in black superiority.

History/Founders

Marcus Garvey, called “The Black Moses” was positive the Israelites talked of in the Bible were black. Though born in Jamaica, he urged the blacks to collaborate and meet in the Promised Land, reversing what he called “divine punishment”- scattering blacks worldwide. He suggested that all blacks should reclaim the ‘Promised Land’ (Ethiopia). He also predicted a person would come and redeem them. (A messiah of sorts)

 In 1930, Haile Sellasie took the Ethiopian throne and blacks in Jamaica were happy. The prediction had seemingly come true. When he met Jamaican blacks on his visit to Jamaica, people became more convinced he was the savior.

  More and more ideas were added to the Rastafarian Movement over the years, like smoking wisdom’s weed (marijuana); eating only vegetarian food; and the newest idea that ‘God is in all of us’.

God?

God was considered the same as the Judeo-Christian God, now a force in us all we must become one (in tune) with.

Books?

The Black Man’s Bible

Salvation?

Be one with God and fellow Rasta’s

(I know, Mormonism, Catholicism, and Cao Dai were supposed to come too…You try baking 22 dozen cookies in the midst of the busiest three days of your life!!)

Now for a short devotional~

Discovery!

I recently found out I am extremely jumpy. We’ve been having plenty of severe storms, and with all the news of F-5 tornadoes down south… nighttime doesn’t seem like a good time to take lone walks in cemetaries anymore! I’ve been jumping at the smallest things, which my brother has gladly taken advantage of. After another prank that sent me screaming up to my room , I realized it was time for personal devotions. I usually start out with opening my Bible and reading the first verse I see. I flipped my Bible open and was in 2 Timothy, chapter one, verse seven- The Spirit which God gave us was not a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (translation: Modern New Testament)

We need to understand that our fears are well-concealed lies. God has not given us a spirit of fear: but of love, power… and a SOUND MIND!!!

Sound means strong, positive, and self-controlled. When we start thinking: “Ah! House fire! We’re doomed!” We are not being any of these. When we scream: “The government is taking over our personal lives aaaaah! We need to riot!” We are not any of these. When we rant and rave “I wish I didn’t have cancer. I am miserable. I am never going to make it-” we are not being any of these.

We are weak, and our first reaction is to panic.  When we exude powerful peace, calmness in the storm, strength in the face of danger, we then showcase the power of a sound mind, positive attitude, and self-control.

  Two busy days until graduation!! I need to rehearse my speech! Yi! (I signed up at the start of the year to give a speech to all our parents…bad choice. I’m a mess!)

Stay At Home Daughter

Part One

  People won’t like the fact you are going to live at home until you marry.

Fact.

Expect their disapproval, but don’t be discouraged by it.

Prepare answers!

  There’s a passel of myths swirling around the church community and abroad, tricking people into thinking our time at home is a time of… laziness. Unless a stay at home daughter is making no contributions to the family household whatsoever, this daughter is not wasting her time at all. People at church grill me almost every week because, well, I’m weird. And weird (to them) means sheltered, narrow-minded, stupid, and maybe even lazy. Some of the questions I’m asked are:

  “Don’t you want to have a life?” “Do you feel like your parents are forcing this on you?” “What about college? Do you mean you aren’t going away?” “Maybe you’re just afraid of the real world.” “Why not move out and get an apartment when you’re graduated?” “What if you’re dad and mom die?” “Maybe your parents are making you do this because they know you’re not ready and are naïve?” “How can you say you like living at home?” “Don’t you want to learn life skills?” “You won’t know what’s new in technology and in the culture if you’re not in it!” “What? You’re graduated/graduating?” “What about socialization?!”

  I’d like to attempt to destroy these myths and give you an idea of how to go about answering similar questions that may be asked of you.

  “Don’t you want to have a life?”

I usually laugh, because I find this question forthright and hilarious. I ask them to define “life” and what “life” entails. Remember: the battle over ideas is a battle over the definition of words- when words lose their meaning, people lose their lives (and debates). Life, to them, is a fun-filled, outing based, social time where a girl spends her single time growing socially, shirking her duties at home. “Life” means that I should not be ‘stuck’ inside a house all day. “Life” is all about me!

  Life, in God’s definition is serving others, learning all I can before some guy steals me from my mom and dad , and getting a grasp on reality: LIFE is not about FUN, is not FAIR, or is of things FRIVOLOUS, nor is it based on crammed social agendas! My mom told me recently that life is not about the next great thing to look forward to: it’s about looking forward to the next thing God tells you to do. How true.

 “Do you feel like your parents are forcing you to do this?”

Not at all. My dad is really one who says “Whatever you do is fine, honey,” in most situations. He would not force me to do anything- unless it is something that I would benefit from, like sticking out a class at a co-op, or when I was younger eating all my veggies. My mom likes loves to see me carry out my convictions and obey the Holy Spirit. She is full of guidance, and is definitely one of my best friends; but I came to discover the idea of Stay at Home Daughterhood by myself, through reading.

 After being at home for so long, they assume your parents have an attachment problem and will not let you go! You can help this by one verbal move; but it is hard to make someone change their mind about you.

Simply speak of your commitments as your own. Don’t say “My dad wants me to wear skirts.” “My mom doesn’t want me to go to this activity.” Make your commitments your own. “I prefer skirts, they are more modest.” “That activity would not benefit me.” This will erase the idea of “bondage” into parents passing on convictions, or a ”teach them to your children” outlook, or even “indoctrination”. Proving the commitments are accepted and fine by your book doesn’t make your parents look like captors.

Suggested resource list-(do in order )

1. Read: So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

Listen to the CD by these girls: Strength and Dignity for Daughters

Watch: Return of The Daughters

2. Joyfully at Home by Jasmine Baucham (I really like this book, I apparently have a lot in common with Jasmine, so it really really hit home for me)

Watch: Dominion Oriented Daughters (Geoffrey Botkin)

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

I, again, ask those who are leaving book-long comments meant to stir up rabble rousers for the convention to S-T-O-P.

This is our family’s final year @ Midwest Homeschool Convention (unless they invite Ken Ham next year and allow AiG to display in the exhibition hall…). I’m excited to be going (though bittersweet, because of the grim events happening concerning AiG). I will be posting pictures and notes over the weekend, so be sure to check back!

What We’ve Gone and Done to ‘Light’

In the beginning, God said:

“Let there be light!”

And there was light!

God said:

“That is good!”

And it was!

Recently, man said, “Let there be full color pictures and stereo surround sound riding the light!” And there was TV. And CBS, PBS, ESPN, ABC, NBC, and CNN said “That is good!”

Then, man spoke again! “Let our pictures and sounds ride the light into every home in the nation!” And RCA, Sony, Toshiba, and Magnavox said, “That is good!”

Then man spoke AGAIN! “let every man, woman, and child in the nation stare at the light.”

So, the light flickered and the sound roared into every home! And Proctor and Gamble, General Mills, Kellogg, Coke, Pepsi, and Ford said “Hey, that’s good!”

Then man, hyponotized by the light, spoke again. “Let there be even more light!” And a kaleidoscope of satellites, cable systems, laser beams, decoders, earth stations, keyboards, computers, and camcorders sprung up around the universe, coming forth to spread the light.

And the pictures pulsed and the sounds roared with new life. “By 1985″, say the prophets and the sages, “3 million homes will be bathed in 120 channels of non-stop light!” And Comcast, GE, and Turner said “Boy, that’s good!”

Everywhere there was light; dancing, singing, shimmering, growing, glowing light. Women stared at the light longer that the men. Older men and women stared longer than the younger. Younger children stared longer than the teenagers. Families with more members stared more than families with less. Families with large income stared longer than families with less. Everybody stared more between 8 and 10 PM than any other time. And everybody stared more on Sunday night than any other night. And man spoke on more time. “More light! More light! Let there be more light!”

And a host of camcorders and playback units, flatscreens and giant wall screens, video games, small computers for home use, boomboxes, slide systems, and video cassettes came up from man’s hands to spread the light. And Atari, Apple, IBM, Kodak, GE, Nikon, and Canon said “That is good!”

And the people, led by the light, sat and stared in silence and wonder.

And God saw what man had done with His light and He said,

“That is NOT GOOD! Not good AT ALL!!!!!”

Chapman, from Bind Us Together, 1985

Yeah, some of the contraptions are a little old (try slide systems and video cassettes), but we really do spend a lot of time in front of ‘dark’ light! Think about how much time you spend doing things that don’t really matter.

Would God say “That is good” to the shows and media you use?

The funny song after this narration sums up our media controlled culture:

People in a box

TV personalities,

Show me how to live

In specific generalities

People in a box

Out of bed? tune them in!

How much do I learn

From people in a box?

Pressure to Be Attached

People call me crazy. People also call me stupid. Let me explain:

A smattering of guys have, at one time or another, confessed their undying, hormone related affection for me. I don’t want any of it. It’s distracting, and once these young men started hinting blatantly at liking me, the friendship hurled went downhill. I still have a good friendship with one, but it is because of being careful. I don’t reply to flirtatious comments, look at him when he sighs loudly, or tell him if I like him back. For the most part, he understands. I think. I spend a lot of time praying about “Alexander” but he is not the foremost of my thoughts. People usually tell me to go after him, because after all, I’m nearly of marriageable age, and of course, they only want me to be “happy.” When I say that I’m happy without a boyfriend or the prospect of getting one, most pat me on the arm and say I’m deceiving myself and someday that will change. Ha. Far from it, folks.

Marriage is a beautiful thing, and I sure would like to be married sometime in my life. But God has given me a greater desire, a desire stronger than having a husby or a bunch of kids. That desire I have is from Him and for Him. God’s will takes over any thought I may have over Sir Charming the Gallant. If only more girls would stop playing the dating game and learn that contentment in Christ is the key to life!

“Who is this?” asked an old man of a 20-something woman.

“This is my boyfriend… Charles” the girl declared proudly.

It was amazing how much was said in those few words. This girl had been involved in my youth group for several years, all the while encouraging us not to seek after a guy but follow after the Lord. She should have led by example. While declaring she was not looking for a relationship, she started a singles group, researched ‘singles explosions’, and went to every event she could find where available men were. After three years, her search was successful. She has a boyfriend, and she talks of him all the time. Her identity is not in who she is in Christ, it’s who she is with her boy. You see, the young lady equates being fulfilled and human with being attached. Not so! What makes us human (profoundly human) is the Gospel! It makes us see our enormous need for help…and makes us become fulfilled after we’ve let Jesus fill that need. The Gospel is enough to satisfy. Stop living like it isn’t.

Those who “date around” want to have a great marriage someday, that’s unanimous! But, when it comes down to who they date, the standard is set quite low. Over the years, missionary dating has become popular at my church. It started with one couple, then it snowballed. Another couple started, and another, and then, this aforementioned girl found herself an unbelieving boy. The first relationship that started it all sadly ended when they found the “converted” girlfriend was fooling around at college.

It seems that dating is like a snowball. It starts out with a faithful Christian girl and a guy. She is serious about her walk with God, and every day is like a mountaintop experience. They date, get involved, and break up. The girl blames God for her problems, and starts look for another guy. The cycle repeats with several more guys, adding baggage, making the process of “backsliding” go faster. Things gain momentum. The snowball builds up more ‘junk’ and keeps rolling… downhill… faster and faster… until crash! The whole thing blows up in her face and her life is at the bottom of the hill. In order to get back to the top, she must get serious and start depending on God again for everything! Only then can she have a deep relationship with God and get back on the victorious mountaintop.

The reason for unbalanced relationships is the preset standard (or the lack thereof). Most people have no standard or even the slightest idea what they’d like to see in Prince Charming. As young women, we shouldn’t swoon over what our dear Johnny should look like. We should be praying for his character, his strength, and his spiritual well-being!

As I looked into qualities of husbands, I found absolutely no standard of any sort out on the Internet. Not even a bare minimum or a few requirement ideas. Sure, every girl is different, but there’s the need to set a standard and a few expectations to get her thinking about the kind of man she’ll marry someday.

Hence the big surprise. (No, it’s not that I’m getting married, but thanks anyway to those who asked!!) It’s a list of potential qualities that you should think about. This isn’t final gospel, and I’m only a weak, finite human, so it’s not a law to follow. Rather, this is a list to get you thinking. Take ideas from this list and start building your own. Tell me about some of the qualities you came up with on your own!

Check it out- The List  

This list will only be up for the week of Valentine’s… (February 14th-February 19th)

Pressure To Be “Smart” and “Successful”

A good education [through books, documentary, magazines, sermons, teachers, elders, and the like] provokes thought.

The teachers don’t think for you.

They don’t shove watered down indoctrination down your throat.

They let you do the thinking.

They let you decide for yourself what conclusion makes sense.

If you’re not asking good questions, you’re not thinking. If you’re not thinking, you’re not getting educated.

It’s that simple.

Colleges really don’t care if you exit their campus  with knowledge. They want your money and your heart sitting obediently in their laps. Universities divide and conquer by belittling, student “organizations” and the coveted A… which is only placed on the papers that spit back what your professor told you.

Colleges are out to indoctrinate you- they aren’t big promoters of free thinking and speech. Look at all the colleges that have hate speech codes! The college campus is a dictatorship of relativism, a horrible dominion or atheism, with a whatever floats your boat, goes. {exception: Christianity} You won’t find the dean very sympathetic to your complaints of low grades on biology papers. They won’t tolerate your ‘intolerance’ (which, by the way,  is intolerance).

The University was once a pinnacle point to be if you wanted to become a thinker… a free thinker… but now, they are places for liberals to produce minions,  the young to learn Communist doctrine, and a haven evolution studies.  If you think about the whole open-minded, tolerant issue, they are the ones that are narrow minded and intolerant!

Because we hold college so high on our list of great things to do, success becomes synonymous with a piece of parchment with words that mean “Sue Public is educated.”

Let me tell you about some people who didn’t attend university, but became great leaders, thinkers, and speakers. Some of these people have character that is amiable, people I’d like to be like…

Abraham Lincoln~ Even though he started the whole tax thing, the admirable Mr. Lincoln’s fight against slavery and steadfast faith in God is what got him to the Civil War Presidency.  Not a degree. President Lincoln was a first rate speech giver, though quiet and thoughtful by nature.  This man self taught himself trigonometry and algebra, and simply read books to become a lawyer. That’s thinking.

Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin~ Homeschooled authors of So Much More, co-stars of Return of the Daughters and Homeschool Dropouts did not attend college.

Andrew Jackson~  This US president was homeschooled and taught himself law, made it to congress, and was a judge.

Ben Franklin ~ A little eccentric in his style, Ben Franklin never went to school! His mother and father taught him, later on he learned through discussion with the people in his city.

Christopher Columbus~ Be thankful that this guy had the initiative to studiy maps and geography, figures and languages, because without that, he might not ever had made it the “Indies”. Perhaps we would be European? Though he didn’t discover America, as the fable tells us, he did discover the fact of another continent.

Henry Ford~ He didn’t invent the car, but he did invent the assembly line. This man who grew up just miles from my house didn’t even think to go to college, and studied human actions and time saving qualities until he came up with the assembly line!

Joyce C Hall~ Started Hallmark Cards after spending his time working odd jobs to supplement the family’s income. His faith in God propelled him to step out in faith selling cards… and eventually he started the business. He never went to college, but studied some business on the side

Rachael Ray ~ Though she annoys me to kingdom come, it is amazing that she never went to college, attended culinary school, or took a formal cooking class. She taught herself.

Sarah Mally~ Founded Bright Lights, a discipleship group for girls; leads Strong in the Lord Conferences; and wrote a book. Never went to college, and the same with her brother and sister, whom she wrote another book with.

Thomas Edison~  This guy was homeschooled, and worked on the railroad at age 12. Studied subjects that interested him, which developed into the invention of the movie camera, lightbulb, and others.

There are so many more degree-less people out there who are just as smart (or smarter) than those with degrees!

Going off to college is actually not Biblical. Sure, young adults back in the day went to a group learning session or two a week, but it didn’t require them learning away from home and living at the school. They came and went and weren’t required to believe everything that their teachers did. The teachers were elders who were wise, skilled, and old: with lots of experience behind them. This is the best kind of teaching! If they wanted to learn specifics, they did live with a relaitve or dear friend who knew a lot about the subject at hand.  Don’t leave your father’s house to go live in a place full of deceivers and mockers. Why should a Christian girl purposely immerse herself with these kind of people?

There are alternatives to going to live on a college campus. Here are some things that help you gain knowledge the right way!

1. College Plus ~ a system that I am planning to do once I graduate this spring. This is an online course through Thomas Edison State and Bryan Colleges. Using CLEP tests and distance learning, you stay at home and work through your own pace. I’ve heard of some people who get their degree by age 15, 16 or before they graduate! When I first heard that, I was shocked, thinking “But they are too young!”

That is the wrong kind of thinking. Just because you’re 18 it doesn’t make you magically ready for higher learning! That is the Darwinian view that “young can’t understand because they haven’t evolved…so we need different levels- segregated by knowledge…” or the Communist view of “divide and weaken, then conquer…” (This is why churches have 5th grade Sunday school, 4th grade Sunday school… break up the family, weaken the church) Age doesn’t equal smarts!

2. Ask to have an elder, wise person to write down things that they wished they’d known at your age. This is very helpful. There are a lot of older ladies at my church who randomly give me great (and I mean GREAT) advice! Our church has a mentoring ministry for older to teach the younger. Though I think parents should teach the topics, I think it’s nice for those who have families who won’t teach their kids. Some topics our church covers are: canning, sewing/mending, knitting/crocheting, mechanics, gardening, cooking/baking, home repair, etc.

3. Start a home journal with recipes, ideas for cleaning and design, notes to self in the future… focus on your home!

4. Do an internship! I’ve applied to go intern with the Mally family in Cedar Rapids IA this summer. If I am accepted, (which I am praying fervently that I am!!), I will gain experience in running a business, organizing conferences, leading ministry effectively and efficiently, and other little things like sharpening my initiative (living away from parent’s reminders to do my laundry, haha), improving budgeting, and smart grocery shopping. I will be living away from home, but it is with a very strong Christian family who will support what my parents have taught me and strengthen my walk with God, not tear down or mock. This is ideal! I have several friends who are going to internships this summer. A few are going to intern at the Michigan capitol as assistants to state house reps, one is going to the Associated Press for a photography course, one is going to work with a designer, one is going to live at his friend’s farm and learn farming all summer, and another is going to a local photography business and still living with his parents. There are so many internship opportunities out there, and the best news is, many of them are free or of little cost!

5. Read. Read. Read some more. Read again and again and again. Don’t’ just read anything. Read something that’s got something profitable in it. Then read it again. And again. Until you know the book so well you could explain the whole gist of it to another person. I re-read all of my hundreds of books at least three times through the whole year. (If I get accepted for that internship, I may haul a bunch out with me) I am always carrying a good book around with me. I started a book blog for that purpose:

6. Community college- You stay at home and attend classes during the day or evening. Most of the graduates from my church attend a community college, and it works well. The only downside is, you may have a prof who thinks you’re stupid because your faith. Since you are near to your parents and church, you’ll be able to go home and discuss possible rebuttals – easy!

7. Ellerslie School of Honor ~ This is like a Christian college without being a real college. There is no writing, math, or geography or whatever else ‘real colleges’ teach. Eric and Leslie Ludy teach you about living the Christian life and remaining set apart- it lasts for an entire semseter. I’d like to go here someday!

8. Summit Semester/Oxford ~ Study in Oxford or in CO, but this is a more academic semester for serious student who want to think. I know a couple people who’ve done this, and they said they started out asking a couple of questions every day- and left asking hundreds every day. It really got them thinking! Plus, the teachers often won’t give you straight answers, they direct you to a pile of books to bring yourself to a conclusion.

9. Rivendell Sanctuary~ This is relatively new, so you may want to check out their website. This is a basics course, and there are opportunities to study abroad. I’ve heard it’s like Summit Semester… only in Minnesota (no mountains?! oh man…)

10 Attend a lot of conferences throughout the year. Homeschooling conferences usually don’t care if you’re a graduate, and you can learn a lot about teaching kids just by sitting in on some of the parent’s sessions. I’ve always loved going to conferences, and this year, I’m going to Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincy.

11. Other online courses, like Vision Forum’s occasional writing courses. I didn’t participate in Mrs. Morecraft’s writing course, but I heard it was excellent!

12. DVDs~ Order as many DVD documentaries as you can, watch them all and take notes. Start with Answers in Genesis, then check out Vision Forum

13. CD’s Order as many CDs as you can. Tomorrow’s Forefathers has several great ones, as does Vision Forum. Listen to sermons and lectures online (a favorite pastime, I’ve learned so much!)

14. Read three or four different translations of the Bible together. See which one is most correct. The NIV Bible is actually no different than the Jehovah’s Witness Bible. The NIV just has footnotes. ESV, NKJV, KJV, and God’s Word Translation are good to compare. Write down the differences and see what changes have been made. You’ll never know when you’ll need to argue against some faulty idea.

15. Take advantage of any class your church may offer. Bible study? Attend it if you can! Nutrition or cooking? Go! Women’s prayer and fellowship? Give it a try! Don’t grow weary in going, even you think you may not learn anything. If possible, start a singles women group and discuss the book Sacred Singleness. Encourage others to overcome their false view of marriage and singleness, and serve together in your community. Make a quilt and send it to a missionary in Sudan or another refugee-filled place. I remember doing this with some friends before I knew what Sudan Christians were facing. Do something that counts!

There are a lot more options out there!

Read… and you will be educated…

Pressure to Conform {short and hopefully sweet}

There’s a pressure that is so bad, it may destroy your life.

It uses the lie “You look/dothings/sound weird, so change! Fast!” to get around.

It comes as a whisper from the devil that we are too conservative. Too old fashioned. Too awkward. Too too!

It’s pressure to conform, and this pressure is a lie.

I’m thankful to have a great group of friends who don’t pressure me to be like them, and I try not to pressure them to be like me. But, some groups of friends, like some I’ve had in the past, tell you to your face you must be weird not to think like they do. That you’re so wrong being the way you are… so…why not change?

1. Because it’s not wrong to be a different person and have a different personality than li’l Eva over there.

2. Because God commands us to be different from the world. Don’t be different to be different. Be different to glorify God.

But what about influence?

Influence is a whole other thing. Influence is something that can be good, and can be used to bring glory to God. Influence is not pressure, but an example to follow. Of course, this example can be good or bad, but influence is largely a positive thing.

_________________________________________

Today, I watched this video today, and it really impacted me. It kind of goes along with conforming and influence, ministry and church.

I highly HIGHLY recommend you watch it, please take the time! You will not be sorry you watched it. 

Please, if you do nothing else this week, watch this video.

(Okay, I really want you to watch this! Get your tail over there! No pressure )

Parades with The Devil

Growing up, we never participated in Halloween. The whole festivity is rooted in evil! Just look at all the decorations and costumes next time you’re in Wal-Mart. Everything is scary, black, death related, or devilish. I feel like hell has spilled over into the aisles. Walking by Wal-Mart’s prominent Halloween section (right at one of their entrances!) makes me think of Dante’s Inferno (interesting book, I must say). The rubber masks with contorted faces, the fake blood, the skeletons… what parent in their right mind would let their kids parade with Satan in the name of … getting treats?

“Oh it’s only for fun…”

Really? How is spiritual death in masquerade fun?

It pains and annoys me to hear of all the parents at my church tell each other what their kid’s costume is, where they are going to get the most candy, and how they plan to keep their kids safe. In my opinion, if you want to keep your children safe, don’t let them roam the streets with demons. That’s basically all Halloween is: Satan’s attempt to lure those into his eternally damned fold.

I personally believe that demons are more at work on All Hallow’s Eve (All Souls Night, Devil’s Night, or Demon’s Night in some regions) and on Halloween. I detest the feeling of spiritual oppression that comes over you the minute you walk outside on or between these days. The air has a totally different feel to it.

Under the guise of Devil’s Night pranks, demons influence teens and adults to do rather dumb, and sometimes harmful, things. You may think I am a prude and don’t want to have any fun. Quite the opposite. I love having fun! It has to be the right fun. Detroit, rather near to where I live, there are always reports of many arsons on Hallow’s Eve. There are more cases of rape, murder, break-ins, and theft all Halloween week. Cats seem to go missing like crazy as demon infested minds inhumanely kill for sacrifices to the devil. I hate this week of all the others. What reasonable Christian can call this fun whilst remaining under Biblical principles? How can one of the faithful not see through these pranks?

Demons and Satan are always at work, but more so this weekend than any other.

My family and I have done many things to ignore Halloween. Here are some ideas for those of you who are interested:

• We’ve gone to a restaurant and spent the entire trick or treat time fellowshipping. We rarely go out to eat because the food is not healthy, so it’s a treat: time with mom and dad, and junk food!
• We have a family tradition that many people laugh at, including ourselves. We set up our Christmas tree the day of Halloween. We can’t wait for the all clear siren to sound. When it sounds, I always mentally think “Satan, go back to hell.” Then, my mom turns on our Christmas tree lights, and my dad plugs in the deck lights. We get a lot of jokes aimed at us the next morning, but it reveals to our neighborhood how we feel.
• On Devil’s Night, I can never sleep. Three years ago, I began the habit of reading and studying the whole book of Proverbs as soon as I get in bed. I’m a speed reader, and usually have the book done in an hour and some odd minutes. I’ve noticed a trend that happens every year. Around midnight, the wind picks up and there’s a eerily faint demonic moaning noise that carries through the neighborhood. I’m not imagining things! So, instead of letting fear take over as it did the last few years, I’ve downloaded some worship music into my Mp3 player. I’m prepared!
• We don’t carve pumpkins because it invites trouble. They were first carved as lanterns to carry to the cemeteries in Ireland. Not a tradition we want to carry on or participate in. We should do nothing that pleases the devil if we can help it. (To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin)
• We don’t buy candy to celebrate.
• I don’t accept candy offered to me that has Halloween wrappers. I also turn down candy that is offered to me in celebration of Halloween. (One exception: my grandma’s harvest bonfire candy!)
• We turn down ‘Halloween’ party invites. (We will attend “harvest” parties or bonfires).
• We don’t go to haunted houses or corn mazes. We avoid Cedar Point’s Halloweekends. It‘s not the fun thing they make it up to be. (Cedar Point is the world’s best amusement park that is about 1-1 1/2 hours away).
• We don’t call it a holiday (holy-day) unless by accident. There’s nothing holy about it!
• We play worship or Christmas music the day of Halloween.
• We went grocery shopping one year. There was nobody there. (Except some weirdo in Darth Vader costume who wandered up and down the aisles). No wait, the entire staff at your service
• We don’t decorate for Halloween (you probably knew that already). We save candles with harvest smells for November.
• We only go down Halloween aisles in stores if we have to (like a shortcut).
• We avoid wearing the combinations of black and orange, green and purple, etc. to avoid any appearance of evil. In fact, some years I just avoid these colors all together.

I know some of you think my family and I are extreme in precautions of Halloween. I’ve had people tell me that we should just avoid Christmas altogether as well. Why? Because it’s the date of Saternalia, the Roman pagan festival in winter. Well, if the American people in history chose December 25th as a celebration of Christ’s birth, then so be it. It’s called “Christ-mas.” Why else do you think the ACLU wants to outlaw that holiday? If we were celebrating Christmas as Saternalia, they would have no problem with it.

I’d like to know your thoughts about Halloween. Why do you celebrate it? Why do you not? Is there anything you disagreed with in this post? Tell me! I will fairly post all polite and kind comments, both for and against Halloween. (Please take note of the two adjectives preceding the word “comments”)

Oh, one last thing from a trivia loving girl: around this time of year, people see a lot of people wearing black coats and capes (at least where I come from). I’ve heard of some calling them “Wiccans.” Well, did you know Wiccans do not believe in Satan? That makes these caped-people Gothic- not Wiccan.

Okay.

The end.