Girls Gone Mild

[UPDATE:  Read Chapter One of Wendy Shalit's new book Girls Gone Mild online!]

Last summer, my friend Kathy recommended a stirring book called A Return to Modesty. Author Wendy Shalit’s writing style is engaging, honest, and thought-provoking. I think Wendy has been given a gift of knowing how to clearly relate common sense to a society in the habit of falling for foolish lies. Wendy seems to be a sort of “voice crying out in the wilderness.”

Reading the book caused me to analyze my own thoughts about sex and modesty, realizing a few twisted ideas were lurking in the depths of my brain (and I was raised in a conservative Christian household).

To give you just an example of Wendy’s thoughts, here is a snipped from Modest Extremes: Why an Observant Jew Understands Sexuality Better Than Hugh Hefner:

“History has taught us a surprising lesson: Real intimacy flourishes only where there’s also restraint. Having sex for its own sake, without waiting to integrate our deepest emotions and hopes, at best becomes boring, fast. At worst, men and women end up competing over how cruelly they can use one another.

“In truth, the real reason for sexual modesty is not shame, but an awareness of how precious we are. Smirk at that statement if you will, but the fact remains: It is a rare dog that desires a candlelit dinner before mating. On the other hand, it is a rare human who can have a one-night stand without feeling at least a twinge of guilt afterward. And, howls of protest from vested interests notwithstanding, most men know that their most intimate relationships should not be with their computer browsers.

“…Most of us recognize that being desensitized to the power of sexuality is sad, that if you’ve gotten to the point where stopping for a lap dance is like stopping at McDonald’s, then you’re missing out. Yet instituting concrete boundaries to preserve sensitivity such as not hugging people of the opposite sex outside of one’s family is still seen as absurd. Nonetheless, I maintain that examining our sexual values from the vantage point of Orthodox Jews can be refreshing. If you pull aside a religious woman from Jerusalem and try to explain our debate over whether your boyfriend’s receiving a lap dance from a stripper constitutes cheating, she will surely think it is our culture that’s gone completely crazy. Indeed, she might argue with good reason that we are the ones who are repressed about sexuality. Emotionally repressed, that is.

“And could you really blame her? When it comes to modesty, I often wonder, who are the real extremists? Those who insist that only public and tawdry displays of sexuality are legitimate, or those who appreciate privacy and restraint as necessary components for attaining real intimacy?”

This summer, Wendy Shalit has come out with a new book entitled, Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It’s Not Bad to Be Good. I can’t wait to read it.

Girls Gone Mild has been popping up all over the media and blogosphere — with mixed reactions!

ABC News

Newsweek

The Virginity Mystique

Girls: Mild or Wild?

Chaste by Choice

Tim Challies’ Review

Unrequited Love

A list of sites demonstrating “enough with sexy stuff for 6 year olds!”

CA Assembly Bill 1236: Kindergarten Readiness Act

Have you ever wondered how Kindergarten came into being?  John Taylor Gatto in Why fix a system designed to destroy individual thought? mentions the origins of Kindergarten and its connections to Socialist philosophy.  I think Kindergarten is a fine option for some, but no one who believes in freedom should stand by and give the government permission to make Kindergarten mandatory.  Please pay attention to the upcoming California Assembly Bill 1236 which would do just that.

 

I received the following in my inbox from Diane Flynn Keith, well-known for her Clickschooling and Universal Preschool websites. I have been meaning to research and write a bit about this bill, and haven’t had time.  I am thankful that Diane gave me permission to re-print a few of her thoughts here:

 

 

Help Stop Mandatory Kindergarten In California & Beyond!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

California School Borgs
Launch Mandatory Kindergarten:
Is Resistance Futile?

In lock-step with the California Teachers Association, and marching to the beat of the do-it-for-the-global-economy-and-new-world-order drum, California Assembly Member Gene Mullin (Democrat, South San Francisco) introduced the heinous Assembly Bill 1236: Kindergarten Readiness Act that will be heard on Wednesday, April 25th before the Assembly Committee on Education. The bill:

1) MAKES FULL TIME KINDERGARTEN MANDATORY UNDER PENALTY OF LAW for children who turn 5 years of age by September 1st of any given school year beginning in 2011. The state is going to force parents of little, tiny kids to put them in school. When did we all agree that the state should have the responsibility for educating our babies? How can anyone in a free nation go along with the idea of FORCED government schooling of defenseless and vulnerable children? Where’s the freedom and liberty in that?

2) In direct opposition to the will of the people of California who voted against Prop 82 - The Universal Preschool Initiative in June of 2006, AB 1236 REQUIRES school districts to offer KINDERGARTEN READINESS CLASSES (also known as universal preschool) for all children one year before they are enrolled in kindergarten. While these preschool classes will be offered as voluntary at first, mandatory preschool is the next specious step.

The MINIMUM school day for 4- and 5- year-olds in kindergarten readiness classes and kindergartens will be 3 HOURS A DAY, 5 DAYS A WEEK! This time is to be filled with state-concocted, developmentally inappropriate, rigorous academic content standards for both kindergarten and preschool programs in math and literacy. The bill requires assessment (also known as TESTING) of tots!

The push to detain young children in preschool and kindergarten is driven by imprudent and corrupt political and social agendas that advance the globalized future. How could there be any other explanation when policy makers IGNORE early childhood education experts such as the signers of the declaration of The Call To Action On The Education of Young Children who warn against too early and too highly structured education in preschool and kindergarten saying:

“If such practices were effective for five-year- olds, we would have seen better long-term results by now. We call for a reversal of the pushing down of the curriculum that has transformed kindergarten into de facto first grade.

Current trends in early education policy and practice heighten pressure and stress in children’s lives, which can contribute to behavioral and learning problems.

This well-intentioned but misguided policy may actually put children at increased risk of school failure.“

While the monolithic, corporatized school system may be a formidable opponent, I call on all parents to protect California’s (and every state’s) 4- and 5-year olds from politicians who mindlessly and robotically introduce and pass legislation that is not in the best interests of young children. Their hearts and minds have been assimilated by what I can only think to refer to as “school borgs.” They care more about money than they do about kids. Let’s stop them in their tracks.

Since a resistance movement is most immediately needed in California, please take one or all of the following actions:

FAX or send by U.S. mail a letter of opposition to “AB 1236: The Kindergarten Readiness Act” to the members of the Education Committee. (If you want to email them, click on their names, go to their websites, and fill out the email contact form there.) Or telephone their offices and let them know you are opposed to AB 1236. Here is the contact info for each member:

Mike Eng
FAX: (626) 450-6117
Phone: (626) 450-6116
Address: 9420 Telstar Avenue, Suite 103, El Monte, CA 91731

Lori Hancock
FAX (510) 559-1478
Phone: (510) 559-1406
Address: 712 El Cerrito Plaza, El Cerrito, CA 94530

Bob Huff
FAX (909) 860-5664
Phone: (909) 860-5560
Address: 23355 E. Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Betty Karnette
FAX: Call for Fax #
Phone: (310) 548-6420 or (562) 997-0794
Address: 3711 Long Beach Boulevard, Suite 801, Long Beach, CA 90807 or
461 West 6th Street, Suite 306, San Pedro, CA 90731

Alan Nakanishi
FAX (209) 333-5333
Phone: (209) 333-5330
Address: 218 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240

Jose Solorio
FAX (714) 939-8986
Phone: (714) 939-8469
Address: 2400 E. Katella Avenue, Suite 640, Anaheim, CA 92806

If Mandatory Kindergarten or Universal Preschool is looming in your state, you can find the contact information for your legislators HERE.

Barbara Curtis on Modesty

Mommy Life, blog of Barbara Curtis, delights my soul, informs my mind, encourages my walk, and eases my heart. Usually. Her current posts on modesty are really getting under my skin — modesty, or immodesty, in our culture can no longer be ignored. Not by parents, not by Christians, not by women, not by Americans. We need to analyize this situation we find ourselves in, and figure out what to do next!

Barbara points out that this is not simply a problem in our country. She points to an interesting, disturbing post called Snuffing out Childhood Before It’s Even Begun by Not Just for Superheroes in the Phillipines. Barbara introduces the modesty issue here and here, explains about the responsiblity girls have to be modest here (complete with great conversation starters to have with your daughter), and she informs us all about how Second Wave Feminism and the Sexual Revolution contributed to much of what we consider “normal” here. The excerpt from her book Reaching the Left from the Right (from the aforementioned post) is worth a quick read!

While you are over at Barbara’s blog, I hope you’ll take the time to be encouraged as well. Her story is fascinating, and as a former Montessori teacher and mother of 12, she does pretty swell reviews of books and children’s products.

Moms for Modesty

Lindsey from Enjoy the Journey, announced a new campaign Everyday Mommy has begun called Moms and Dads for Modesty. (You can read Lindsey’s thoughts on Modesty as a Mom-issue here and here.)

Apparently, what started the idea with Everyday Mommy was the barrage of comments on this post about whether particular clothing was suitable for little gals. Everyday Mommy is encouraging modest-minded parents to sign the mission statement she has provided, hoping retailers will notice this blog movement and react accordingly (as some merchants responded to this gal’s complaint back in 2004):

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

 

• As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.
• I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.
• I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
• I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
• I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls’ and young women’s clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

 

I am relieved that God has seen fit to give me little boys (at least so far :)) because I think I am just starting to truly mature in this area.

I’m not sure, had my firstborn been a girl, that I would not have fallen myself into the cutesy, sexy fashions for toddlers and small children. I have been blessed to watch and learn from our good friends, the Hernandez family, as they have dealt with female fashions for their little girl. Allison’s take on it has been, “Why let her wear something now, that I have to tell her in a few years is inappropriate?” Why start a bad habit now, a habit that could eventually be truly destructive (causing men to stumble) when your daughter has a post-pubescent body? (And, the truth is, in this day and age, there are plenty of people with warped views of sexuality who would find slutty fashions very tantalizing on a little pre-pubescent body. And I honestly don’t know if I blame them. The more we dress our little gals in sexually arousing clothes, the more the general public will associate little girls with sex. Is that not a logical leap?)

A year or so ago, we were walking through the mall when I saw a group of gals dancing — gyrating, wiggling hips and bottoms — while wearing very provocative clothing (or lack of clothing?).

(I searched Google Images under “Libby Lu” to find these photos of a popular birthday party trend with young girls these days, in case you haven’t been to the mall lately!)

This were LITTLE girls, acting like grown women — and not modest, humble, lovely grown women (like the kind Titus 2 describes)! I am all for children’s playtime being practice for maturity. Children look forward to growing up, and part of playing should be preparation for one’s future life as an adult. Let’s open a store at the mall where little girls can nurture babies and cook meals for their families… Oh, I can hear you now: “That is so last century.” Fine. How about a more modern store where gals can play dress up as doctors and lawyers and teachers and Mother Theresas?

From my perspective, Libby Lu and the mothers and fathers who drop them off there are priming their daughters for careers as striptease artists or rock stars, communicating to them that baring skin and flaunting one’s body lead to success and happiness (do you think this way of thinking could have anything to do with the body-image crisis many teenage girls are undergoing in the U.S.?) At the very least, parents promoting this kind of play are teaching self-glorification and self-advertisement, sentiments not high on the list of values most Christian parents seek to instill in their daughters.

(And, I have to wonder how many perverts hang out in this area of the mall, just to watch these groups of mini exotic dancers celebrating birthday parties!)

Libby Lu is just one example of immodesty of little girls in our culture. I’d like to encourage you as a parent to give serious thought as to your personal standards of modesty, for yourself and for your little ones. Don’t let culture decide them for you. Who was it that said if we don’t think things through for ourselves, we WILL be swept along the tide of popular culture? I can’t recall who said it, but I certainly agree.

If you concur with the Mission Statement at Everyday Mommy, sign your name to the list and add a link to your blog. Let the retailers know that we parents won’t stand idly by as others dress our children provocatively.

Here are a few other resources that may be of interest to you:

Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America

Listen to Leslie Ludy share about Teaching Girls the Truth about Modesty and Purity, Part I, Part II and Part III

Michelle Malkin shares on Standing up to the “Girls Gone Wild” Culture

Teaching Your Daughters to Value Modesty

Modest Daughters by Douglas Wilson

Feminine Dress by Elisabeth Elliot

Libby Lu in the News:

Club Libby Lu, Glamour Babes

Catechism, smatechism?

My dad recently emailed me this post from Bob’s Blog, about how re-introducing catechisms into our churches’ ministries to children should be a “no-brainer.” It’s a very informative read, and if you are at all curious about catechisms, I adjure you to take the time to read this post and Bob’s promised series on catechism.

Bob quotes John Murray, Assistant Editor of Banner of Truth Magazine as saying:

“It is surely an indictment of the Church today that in dealing with the subject of catechizing we have to begin by explaining the very meaning of the term. What was looked on as a necessary and beneficial practice by the early church and by the Reformers has now fallen into such disuse among Christian people that very few seem to have any understanding or appreciation of the subject. And yet we believe it is to the discontinuance of this practice that we can trace much of the doctrinal ignorance, confusion and instability so characteristic of modern Christianity.”

Wow. Mr. Murray may just have a point — at least about the lack of understanding or appreciation in today’s Church for the practice of catechism. Although I was raised in a born-again family with parents in full-time ministry (mostly Baptist churches), I didn’t really know what catechism was until went to a Christian Middle School that was affiliated with a Lutheran Church. Even then, I only knew it was something many of my friends had to “do” to become a full-fledged adult in the Lutheran Church, and I didn’t realize exactly what it was they were “doing.” My friends from Baptist churches seemed to have a better handle on Christian doctrine and truth than those involved in more liturgical churches, so the idea of catechism was not a draw to me at the time.

As parents, my husband and I have recently considered the idea of teaching our children from catechisms, and possibly memorizing one or more of them. The first time we really gave it some thought was when we read this fabulous article on family worship (see pages 6 through 16 of this very large .pdf file). Though the article resonated with me, I sort of wrote off the idea of catechism as “Presbyterian Thing.” I thought, “Catechism, smatechism.” I planned to teach my children plenty of scripture, and didn’t understand why someone else’s take on scripture would be of value to us.

The more my husband and I have considered catechisms, the more we have found there is to like. Instead of being a replacement for scripture, I see that catechisms can be used to organize scripture, and help with memorization of scriptural truths. I still don’t think catechisms are NECESSARY to teaching children or new believers about theology, but now I see they can indeed be very helpful (along with creeds). The conclusion I’ve come to is that if one sees catechism as his/her servant, not becoming a slave to the catechism (and not letting the Word of God become secondary to it), it can be quite useful for teaching your children systematic theology.

We haven’t yet used any of the following ideas concerning catechism, but thought I would share what direction we are looking toward. Hopefully these ideas will be helpful to you as well:

From Crown and Covenant, we found a devotional book called Training Hearts, Teaching Minds that looks fabulous. Training Hearts, Teaching Minds focuses on each question/answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism for one week at a time, reading scripture and devotionals on different aspects of that question/answere each day of the week. (Not long ago, Training Hearts and catechisms in general sparked a lively discussion on the Choosing Home blog.)

Somehow (I can’t remember how!), I came across this Small Catechism for Preschoolers, homemade by a dad for his little kiddos. I love this idea, using scripture as the answers to the catechism questions — you can’t go wrong with scripture. I’m thinking about re-writing it using our favorite Bible version, the ESV.

I have heard about this little CD, Why Can’t I See God by Judy Rogers, that is based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It is a little goofy, but I think my kids would like it, especially my son-who-makes-up-songs-wherever-he-goes. Please, leave a link in the comments section if you know of other catechism resources that may be helpful to our family.

**Please forgive any error on the idea of or misuse of the spelling of “catechism” — I am still figuring this stuff out. For example, is the word Catechism a noun or a verb, a body of words or a class you take, should it always be capitalized or only with with a proper name attached?? ACK!

Practical Tips on Raising Loving Children

I love the Bradleys.  I don't know them very well, really, though I sure would like to get to know them better.  I have listened to many, many hand-me-down audio tapes from church services and seminars given by Beverley or Reb Bradley, and have been quite impressed.  Last week, we visited the church the Bradleys attend, Capital City Church International, and the Bradleys were sweet as pie and hospitable as could be.  A few good gal friends know Beverley very well, and say that what you see is what you get — she is who she comes across as during seminars.  Overall, I find this couple to be real, humble, and filled with spiritual wisdom and insight.

Visiting their site tonight, I found the new chapter that has been added to their book, Child-Training Tips.  I thought this excerpt was encouraging enough to share with my friends who are parents:

WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR RAISING LOVING CHILDREN?

     From the time they are born, we must elevate love as their life purpose.

1. Emphasize to them throughout their day that loving and serving others is our supreme goal. Evaluate all their social and moral decisions from the standpoint of love.

2. Make frequent opportunities for the family to serve others, ie: looking after widows or single moms, visiting convalescent hospitals, volunteering at the local Crisis Pregnancy Center, etc.

3. Encourage the children to surprise their siblings by secretly serving them, ie: doing their chores for them, making their beds, etc.

4. Make the absence of love the issue of every childish dispute. When children are in conflict do not just rebuke them for fighting, but admonish them for not loving. Don’t ask them “Who started it?” Ask them each how have they failed to love the other. 

5. Frequently fill their hearts with your loving affection. Since a fresh dose of God’s love fills the heart of a new believer with love for others (I John 4:9) consider that bickering children may respond powerfully to a moment of strong fatherly affection, ie: a group hug which does not end until the little ones are laughing and affectionate.  

6. Pray with them about it, but don’t wait until they are mad at their siblings. Every time you pray, including bedtime and meals, ask God to show them creative ways to love others.

7. Read story books or make up bedtime stories about children who are kind and compassionate servants.

8. Give them greater affirmation when you see them love and serve than when they hit a homerun.  When they love and serve, allow them to hear you brag to others about it.

9. Do not permit ANY unkind words in your family, ie: no derogatory names, no making fun, no teasing, or belittling of any kind.

10. Model service and kind speech in your marriage. Many have said that the best way for children to learn to love is to be around two parents loving each other.

Excellent list, isn't it?  Of course, easier said than done!  May the Peace of God abound in your home, neighborhood, and very lives (and ours, too!).

“living with regret from vasectomy”

(Please see A Reversal of Heart for more of our vasectomy reversal experience.  Updates to our scenario will be posted under the Baby-Making category :))

I love WordPress.  One of the cool things it does for you is keep track of how people find your blog through search engines.

A few times, I have gotten hits to my blog from someone typing into a search engine something along the lines of "living with regret from vasectomy."  Oh, how my heart aches for the persons googling this topic.

I believe that many, many people live with regret from the vasectomy decision.  You see, when you get a vasectomy, you hear from the doctors and websites that there are only a very few reasons a man would regret his vasectomy.  Those include such things as getting re-married due to divorce or widowhood or having one of your children die.  In fact, many of the questionnaires ask you to make sure you are in a "stable relationship" before having the vasectomy done.

We had answers for these questions.  For one, we weren't going to be divorced — our relationship was plenty stable, thank you very much.  And if I died, I wanted Ron to marry a woman who could love my kids as her own and not feel that she had to have her own biological progeny (don't we all hear such scary stories of step parents?).*  If one of my children died, I would hardly think of "replacing" him, as if he were a goldfish or something!**  (We also felt that we would not find the room in our home and hearts for an adopted child if we kept popping out homemade ones, and that getting the snipping done would be guaranteed motivation to follow through with adoption.)***

Well, I have come to think the vasectomy information sites are sorely lacking another reason or two that people consider reversal.  I joined a yahoo group called VasReversal to find out information about reversal doctors and such, and only a very small number of the guys and gals on that list were in a re-marriage situation, and none of them had children that died.  Most of them simply decided they wanted more children, and that the vasectomy had been a rash decision.  A good portion of them felt that they needed the reversal to "make things right with God" (many of these folks were satisfied that they did what they could to undo the vasectomy, whether or not they end up having more children).  Several others had the original vasectomy done in a moment of crisis — dealing with a major childhood illness in one of their children or even being overwhelmed by September 11th (not wanting to bring any more children into the evils of this world) – and somehow the parents have come to think more optomistically about life.  A few of the parents made the vasectomy decision in a time of financial crisis, and have since found themselves more financially stable. 

My own discoveries shocked me — I had no idea how common were these reasons for people to seek vasecomy reversal.  I really expected the group to consist mostly of folks in a re-marriage situation, that I would be the oddball.  Instead, I found myself in good company.

If you are looking into having a vasectomy done, I would recommend a few things:

Wait at least FOUR YEARS after your youngest is born (definitely don't be dummies like us and get it done while your wife is pregnant!).  Wait until you are pushing the age where babies don't come naturally (after 40, at least), so you can feel like you are just speeding up Mother Nature a bit instead of cutting her off at the pass.  Consider why you do not want any more children in light of scripture.  Make sure you research all the possible side effects (or click here for a few stories from the UK).  Read a few stories of others who have gone through vasectomy-reversals to make certain you won't find yourself in their saga.  Remember that you have many other birth control options, and strongly consider any and all possible reasons why permanent birth control may not be the answer for you.

I was talking recently with a cousin who sincerely regrets her cute little ankle tattoos she had done 13 years ago.  She said, "I don't have any clothes in my closet from 13 years ago!  Why did I think I still like the same sun on my ankle after 13 years?"  A lot can change in 13 years — or 1 year or 3 years – you may end up regretting something that sounds like a good idea today.

Vasectomies are permanent.  You may change your mind, and it just may be under circumstances the doctor didn't warn you about — circumstances much less sinister and much more likely.  I just don't have much advice for those who are "living with regret from vasectomy."  Vasectomy reversals are possible, and we have certainly felt much better after getting the vasectomy reversed.  But they are expensive, and there is a good chance you will not be able to conceive even with reversal.  What I hope for is the chance to dissuade a few folk who are wavering on the vasectomy fence.   You know what They say, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! 

Please take your time to think and pray before making this dramatic decision. 

And, you know, the truth is, I actually don't even know if we would be in the position we find ourselves in today of wanting more children had we NOT had the vasectomy in the first place (and thus I can thank God for what I now see as a bad decision — for this decision led us to change of mind that has already brought blessings in our way of thinking).  Perhaps it is as my brother-in-law might say, "Sometimes You Have to Kill Uriah."

—

*I have since changed my mind on this issue!  I have read so many incredible stories of godly step parents, mostly from our history studies (folks died at younger ages in the pioneer days and the smart thing to do was to find a new spouse to help with the kids and farm.  Think of Abraham Lincoln, or the fictional story Sarah, Plain and Tall).  I know if I die that Ron isn't going to marry some knob who won't love my boys!  I can trust God to lead Ron to a lovely wife who will adore my boys just as Abraham Lincoln's step mom adored him.  For some reason, I now have more faith in God to take care of my children. I can't imagine not wanting Ron to have the chance at receiving more blessings — even if I am not around to share them.

**I have changed my mind on this one too.  I wouldn't want to "replace" my child, but as my friend Allison said, I could see missing the hustle and bustle of children, and the chance to influence the next generation in such a direct way — and I may want to replace THAT.

***I still have a hope for adoption in our future.  My husband is still interested in this, but doesn't feel that this is the right time.

Family Matters

I just found a book review on The Thinking Mother  for one of my favorite books, Family Matters:  Why Homeschooling Makes Sense. 

The author, David Guterson, writes from a unique perspective.  He is not only a homeschooling dad, but a teacher at a public high school!  This man has a foot in both worlds, and a love for the children in both worlds.   While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of all of our family and friends in the education industry.  In fact, I know I have left several comments over The Mimmenblog encouraging our friend George to read this book (George is a also a high school teacher who homeschools his children).

This book is a great read, EVEN if you are not interested in homeschooling.  Guterson will open your eyes to the benefits of homeschooling, and the reasons why our country will only remain truly free if parents continue to have the right to educate their own children. 

Mr. Guterson is NOT a Christian (from what I can tell!), and the book has a slight new-age feel to it, but Guterson's love for chlidren and his desire for children to be connected with their fathers will bless your soul.

If you read it, let me know how you like it!

Presidential Prayer Team for Kids

 

We receive a weekly newsletter, The Presidental Prayer Team for Kids, encouraging us to pray for our President and other government officials. 

1 Timothy 2 asks us to pray for, make intercession on behalf of and give thanks for our leaders.  We haven't been as purposeful about this as we should have been, but I'm anticipating reading over this newsletter more often, and sharing it with the boys — using it as a springboard to jump into prayer over our country.

Perhaps you would like honor God by lifting up our nation's leaders in prayer every day, or by teaching your littles to pray and ask God to not only give our leaders guidance, but to shake up their very souls with knowledge of His presence.

A few old editions of the Newsletter for you to check out:

November 11, 2005 

July 8, 2005

September 9, 2005

It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation's humble acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence.
–John Adams

Join the Rebelution!

My husband and I have always had an interest in young people. We met while on volunteer staff with Young Life and spent the first 10 years of our marriage in youth ministry together. One of the reasons we felt drawn to youth ministry was the idea that young people aren't as "messed up yet" or as set in their ways as their adult counterparts, and that it is therefore easier to get them started on the right path toward a healthy, successful life of deep, abiding relationship with Christ.

We just didn't realize quite how much young people are capable of…we set our sights too low.

And we didn't realize what an important role parents play in their children's future well-being — not only whether children come to Christ but how richly the children will end up living for Christ and how well they will be able to sustain healthy friendships and marriages and reach others for Christ. (How could we have missed the importance of parents? Uh, I'm really not sure.)

One thing leads to another, and the birth of our first child brought the first stirrings of change in our minds and hearts. These stirrings led to several years of slow change, which in turn led to a paradigm-shift of thinking regarding young people.

The Rebelution Tour is coming to the Sacramento area (north of Auburn), this March 11th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The teen boy speakers and their father truly epitomize the standard of teen living we have come to see as normal Christianity. (Ahem, that's "normal" according to scripture, not "normal" meaning what is average today).

I highly recommend this tour to teens, parents of teens, grandparents of teens, single adults, and parents of someday-teens.

I am praying and hoping, and praying and hoping, and praying and hoping for Reformation in The Church, and it tickles me pink that God could use teens as part of this movement!

From the Rebelution Tour's Website:

What is the Rebelution?

–It's a movement among Christian youth from around the world to throw off the shackles of low cultural expectations.
–It's a cry for young people to return to historic levels of Christian character and competence.
–It's a network of young men and women who are mutually committed to glorifying God by "doing hard things" in their teen years.
–It's a reformation by those who recognize the biblical commandment to use the teen years, not as a vacation from responsibility, but as the launching pad for all of life.Check out the Harris boys' blog!