February 14, 2012

Fornication? What’s That?—Cohabitation, Part 3

By Lisa Cherry

I have never heard that word used anywhere other than at church. Have you?

Standing in the checkout line with last-minute Valentine’s Day goodies, I don’t expect we’ll see headlines that say: Susie Starlet Fornicates with Her New Man. 

No doubt about it, fornication seems to be an obsolete word from my great grandma’s day. Fornication, the act of sex between two unmarried individuals, has actually become the cultural norm, so much so that we do not even call it what it is.  But that does not mean it is a Kingdom of God norm.

We—and our kids—are bombarded with subtle and not so subtle images of romance and sex outside marriage.  With a majority of today’s adults considering cohabitation morally acceptable and even normal, fornication is the foregone conclusion.

You know how this message plays out. How could we expect anyone to remain “unfulfilled” sexually? After all, science has proven the innate sexual drives and needs we all possess. We just need to make sure the activity is consensual and “safe.”

What if someone were to dare to launch an anti-fornication media campaign?   I cannot even imagine the accusations of “intolerance” and “judgmentalism” that would arise.

And what happens when someone dares to preach to this young generation that sex outside the bonds of marriage is a sin?  George Barna’s research team can tell us. They simply leave the church.

How’s that for a threat? Stop preaching about that sexual sin stuff or I will leave your faith behind, Mom and Dad. 

What are we, as Christian parents, to do? Soften our stance? Re-write the Book where it says that God will judge fornicators?  Tell them they can pick and choose what they believe? Give up?

None of the above will fare well for us when we give an accounting of our parenting assignment to the Lord. We must have the courage to stand for truth. And we must have the ears and the hearts of our children for it to have a hope of effectiveness.

This is causing me to pray. How about you? Good thing our God has seen this pressure before and He knows what to do!

In case you missed them, here are the earlier posts in this series:

Cohabitation: The New Dating?

I Just Live with My Boyfriend Because it is Cheaper,” Cohabitation Part 2

Posted by on February 14, 2012 in Christian Parenting and tagged , , , , .

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February 13, 2012

Whitney Houston and Your Legacy: Kid Worldview

By Beth Groh

Those of us old enough to remember stirrup pants and cassette tapes got a stunning reminder of mortality this weekend.

The untimely death of pop star Whitney Houston jolted the collective pop culture into a sobering realization—lives of the so-called “rich and famous” may not be so fulfilling after all.

Sadly, she has now joined the list of “larger than life” performers—like Michael Jackson and Elvis—who became even larger in death.

As the tabloids exploit her final days and years, we can expect to hear tawdry tales of drugs, dependency and perhaps, despondency.  Old allegations of abuse will likely resurface too, along with accolades about how she shaped the lives of millions with her powerful voice.

She left a mark, yes. And her death undoubtedly leaves a hole in the hearts of her loved ones who will miss her dearly.

But does her legacy have eternal consequences?

Will yours?

As parents, grandparents, or those involved in the lives of today’s youth, we do leave a mark—whether for good or for ill.

With God’s help, we can live our lives so that Christ’s light shines through us (Matt 5:16). We can heed Scripture and keep God’s Word on our lips as we interact daily with our children (Deut. 6: 6-9).

And will that leave an eternal inheritance?

Yes, but with some limits if based solely on our actions as sinful beings. We can say the wrong words, make the wrong choices. Our words can ring hollow to our children and be forgotten, just like the lyrics masterfully sung by Houston.

But we have a powerful tool to truly shape the lives of young people today…one mightier than the words or actions of so-called role models.

It’s God’s Word.

Our influence over the lives of our youth is truly limitless if steeped in God’s Word, as He reminds us through the Prophet Isaiah. When unleashed, God’s Holy Word has no boundary: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

So as you hear the commentators wax eloquently about the legacy of Whitney Houston, pause and consider your own legacy…and whether you keep God’s Word as your lyrics for life now, and for eternity.

Posted by on February 13, 2012 in Kid Worldview and tagged , , , .

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February 11, 2012

A Reality Show for Predators

By Lisa Cherry

I watch so little TV that I am often appalled when I find out what the networks and cable companies are offering.  Reality shows bring in the big bucks.   But there is one in particular that must hold the record for being low and disgusting.

It’s called Toddlers and Tiaras.   I  do not recommend that you watch this show to learn more.  It’s a sick and dangerous exploitation of children and parents who have fallen into the pageant industry.  Mom Spark recently blogged about it.

Children are shown dressed in scanty, alluring clothing…made up like adult women…and dancing suggestively.  …Reflecting a culture that doesn’t blink at using children for sexually stimulating, evil purposes. And conveniently served up weekly for predators to watch and record.

I’m praying that God will show us what to do to stop this madness and rescue the children being hurt by this.  Will you join me?

Posted by on February 11, 2012 in Sexual Abuse and tagged , , , .

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February 10, 2012

Seeking Discernment over Deception: Kid Worldview

By Lisa Cherry

In order to aim our families for God’s remnant, we will need to increase our ability to discern the deceptive reasonings of spiritually dull minds. When we find an article that can challenge our thinking, we will pass it along to you.

Head over to James Robison’s weekly commentary for his article Small God, Big Government as he explains what can cause our hearing to become dangerously dull, and why we must not see the government as a safety net.

When I was in Canada last year, a pastor friend explained to me how dull his country had become. His explanation? The government took care of everyone’s perceived needs, so no one “needed God.” Interesting!

Perhaps after you read this article, you will want to discuss these issues at the dinner table with your kids. We find kids and teens are often more interested in discussion than what we give them credit for!

Thanks to my sister, Beth Groh, for calling this to our attention.

Posted by on February 10, 2012 in Kid Worldview and tagged , .

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