I know many of you won’t agree with me on this, but the Twilight series is pure evil. It has captured the hearts and minds of Christians all around the world and has twisted them around to make them want to read the books instead of the Bible. I think there is something wrong when the slowest reader I know can read a Twilight book in less than a day when it takes them a life time to read the Bible. A friend of mine stayed up ALL night one Saturday night reading one of Stephanie Myers’ books. She didn’t come to church the next day because she was too tired to get up after staying up all night. That is WRONG my friends. Totally and completely WRONG.
Just a few minutes ago, I did some research. I typed in “the Twilight series from a Christian perspective” into the Google search engine. EVERY ONE OF THE THINGS I READ WERE FOR THE TWILIGHT SERIES!!!!!! There is something TERRIBLY and HORRIBLY wrong here. In God’s house, the only thing most of my friends can talk about is the Twilight series!!!! If you are going to read them, the least you can do is not obsess over them to the point that all you can do is talk about it everywhere you go!! This Sunday, my youth leader is going to talk about the Culture and some of it’s evils. He’s also going to talk about bringing glory to God in everything we do. Here’s a little bit of his outline he sent us on facebook.
Colossians 3:5-17, I Thess. 5:22, Philippians 4:8, Psalm 115:1Here are some questions to ask about the things you do:
Will it build me up spiritually? I Cor. 10:23
Will it bring bondage? I Cor. 6:12
Will it defile God’s temple? I Cor. 6:19-20
Will it cause anyone to stumble? I Cor. 8:8-9
Will it further the cause of evangelism? I Cor. 10:32-33
Will it violate my conscience? (Rom. 14:23)
Will it bring glory to God? (I Cor. 10:31)
Glorify God in . . .
What you read:
Harry Potter – I have real problems with this – good mixed with evil, has Wicca influences & is endorsed by Wicca but not Christian bookstores, uses sorcery to serve self & to play around, Bible says to avoid witchcraft/sorcery & doesn’t line up with what the Bible says about good/evil, author is an unbeliever, has led some to become curious about conjuring spells, ouija boards, etc…
Twilight series – I also have problems with this – good mixed with evil, endorsed by Wicca religion, MTV but not Christian bookstores, vampires are associated with evil, no Biblical basis, thoughts of lust & erotic content, author is Mormon & believes in eternal romantic love – her playlist includes Linkin Park (her favorite band), Korn, & other ungodly bands – Here are some thoughts from others:
February 21, 2008 12:38 PM KEA said…
I’m a youth leader and decided to read Twilight after a girl from the group became somewhat obsessed with it. I’ve only read the first book- but here is my take, for what its worth.
I agree Katelynn, the book does not explicitly speak out against God or the Bible. However, it does not present a Godly message either. As a youth leader and parent of a 10 year daughter, the obsession that Bella has towards Edward is concerning. She gives up all regard for herself or her family to be with someone that she knows is dangerous. I can see high-school aged girls reading this book, longing for a relationship with someone like Edward that would not be healthy to their Christian lives.
I can see a paraellel between Edward and Satan. Satan was called the “Morning Star”, the most beautiful of angels. The lies he offers up can appear to be beautiful outwardly, all the while he is trying to cheat you out of eternity with God. Bella is so smitten with the beauty and power of Edward, she is willing to offer up her own mortality to be with him forever- even if it means losing all she is and has known.
Satan sneaks into our lives wherever he can. I don’t think reading this book is to the glory of God and I would caution parents to make sure your child was not getting hooked to the point of giving up quality time with God or family.
Just my two cents.
April 12, 2008 1:06 PM Abby said…
I read all three books in Twilight series in a three day period. I fully agree with anyone who says these books are not only well written, but absolutely brilliant. I will say this, however. After I read them, I had a very, very hard time. I experienced a lot of mental spiritual warfare and I literally felt like I was locked in the story. I immediately discerned a spirit of witchcraft on these books and it made me angry because I loved them! But I literally had to get them out of my house, that’s how bad it was.
So I went to God with it and He showed me what is going down. It isn’t obvious and it isn’t about the content of the books, it is something entirely spiritual. The spirit behind these books is identical to the spirit behind Harry Potter and the spirit behind certain music, like My Chemical Romance. Look for the things that draw obsession out of this generation and pull them away from God. I guarantee you every one of them, the major ones that are addicting to scary and dangerous measures, are a tool of the enemy to infiltrate witchcraft into the lives of an entire generation of young people.
I’m not saying this from a judgmental, outside perspective, I am speaking as someone who is very, very familiar with this sort of thing and who experienced it first hand. If you want proof, you can find dozens of Wiccan and Witchcraft websites that promote these books. Doesn’t that tell you something? And if that isn’t enough to convince you, let Isaiah do it.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
-Isaiah 5:20
The biggest thing that stood out to me was the way vampires are portrayed as “good” in Twilight and witches and wizards are portrayed as “good” in Harry Potter. It is NOT about the content of the books, people. It is about the deceptive spirit behind them.
Open your eyes
Love in Christ,
Kelsea
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Prayer Power!
"Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Friend To Friend
Over the past few years, my spiritual life has changed dramatically. I've witnessed the LORD move in amazing ways, and have felt His hand guide me like never before. What's the big secret? Why the big change? Simple: prayer. There is unexplainable power in prayer.
No, prayer isn't new to me. I've prayed ever since I was a child. But even though I love God, I often struggled to remain focused during my quiet time ... or to even carve out a daily quiet time, for that matter. My creative mind has a strong tendency to wander. So a few years back, I began keeping a prayer journal and my faith has really grown as a result.
My journal isn't fancy or expensive, just a notebook that can be picked up anywhere, but it has been a power tool for God's movement in and through my life. By keeping my heart focused in prayer, my journal has fanned the flame of my prayers, and has fueled the fire in my soul to connect with our active and living God who longs to be the center of our attention.
It's not rocket science and there aren't any special tricks. A prayer journal can be an effective tool for spiritual growth, but the power is in the praying. How do I put my power tool to work? I start off by writing the date. I then jot down who I want to pray for and what I want to pray about. I also love to write out Scripture passages that have spoken to my heart. Then I go to my Father- focused and fearless. God is the source of all power, and prayer is essential to experiencing His power in our lives.
Martin Luther said, "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray." Prayer moves the hand of God, yet, statistically; most Christians spend less than 5 minutes a day in prayer. That's just crazy! Why would we expect God to show His power in our lives if we don't give Him more time than we spend brushing our teeth each day?
Are you experiencing the power of God in your life? Would you like more strength, peace and direction in your days? God wants you to come to Him in prayer: when you are hurting, when you are angry, when you need direction, when you need answers, when you need hope, when you need healing. He wants you to come to Him for forgiveness, courage, strength, confidence, and perspective. Come with praise, adoration, humility, honor, and worship.
So - grab a journal and focus your heart and thoughts on God . The main thing is to get alone with God. He just wants you to come.
A GIG PLEDGE: Let's commit together to spend more time on our knees! Raise your right hand and say out loud: "Lord, it is my sincere intention to seek you more fervently from this moment on." God assures us, that when we seek Him, we will find Him! As Girlfriends in God, we are growing rapidly in numbers. All around the globe, close to 200,000 women join together in devotion to seek God's face. As we grow in width, may we, as GiGs, also grow in depth. I pray that we will each seek Him and experience His powerful and presence daily.
Let's Pray
Holy Father, thank You for allowing me to come to You in prayer today. I humbly bow before Your throne of grace and ask that You would forgive me for all of the times I have failed to come. I need You more than I know. Please help me experience the fullness of Your life-changing presence in a fresh and powerful way.
For Your glory and In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Consider keeping a prayer journal. Grab a pen and a notebook and get started! If you don't know where to start, use this as a template to begin:
Begin reading the Psalms during your quiet time. Journal what you learn and write down the verses that stir your heart. (There are 150 of them and if you meditate on one or two each day, you could be kept busy for a few months!)
Friend To Friend
Over the past few years, my spiritual life has changed dramatically. I've witnessed the LORD move in amazing ways, and have felt His hand guide me like never before. What's the big secret? Why the big change? Simple: prayer. There is unexplainable power in prayer.
No, prayer isn't new to me. I've prayed ever since I was a child. But even though I love God, I often struggled to remain focused during my quiet time ... or to even carve out a daily quiet time, for that matter. My creative mind has a strong tendency to wander. So a few years back, I began keeping a prayer journal and my faith has really grown as a result.
My journal isn't fancy or expensive, just a notebook that can be picked up anywhere, but it has been a power tool for God's movement in and through my life. By keeping my heart focused in prayer, my journal has fanned the flame of my prayers, and has fueled the fire in my soul to connect with our active and living God who longs to be the center of our attention.
It's not rocket science and there aren't any special tricks. A prayer journal can be an effective tool for spiritual growth, but the power is in the praying. How do I put my power tool to work? I start off by writing the date. I then jot down who I want to pray for and what I want to pray about. I also love to write out Scripture passages that have spoken to my heart. Then I go to my Father- focused and fearless. God is the source of all power, and prayer is essential to experiencing His power in our lives.
Martin Luther said, "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray." Prayer moves the hand of God, yet, statistically; most Christians spend less than 5 minutes a day in prayer. That's just crazy! Why would we expect God to show His power in our lives if we don't give Him more time than we spend brushing our teeth each day?
Are you experiencing the power of God in your life? Would you like more strength, peace and direction in your days? God wants you to come to Him in prayer: when you are hurting, when you are angry, when you need direction, when you need answers, when you need hope, when you need healing. He wants you to come to Him for forgiveness, courage, strength, confidence, and perspective. Come with praise, adoration, humility, honor, and worship.
So - grab a journal and focus your heart and thoughts on God . The main thing is to get alone with God. He just wants you to come.
A GIG PLEDGE: Let's commit together to spend more time on our knees! Raise your right hand and say out loud: "Lord, it is my sincere intention to seek you more fervently from this moment on." God assures us, that when we seek Him, we will find Him! As Girlfriends in God, we are growing rapidly in numbers. All around the globe, close to 200,000 women join together in devotion to seek God's face. As we grow in width, may we, as GiGs, also grow in depth. I pray that we will each seek Him and experience His powerful and presence daily.
Let's Pray
Holy Father, thank You for allowing me to come to You in prayer today. I humbly bow before Your throne of grace and ask that You would forgive me for all of the times I have failed to come. I need You more than I know. Please help me experience the fullness of Your life-changing presence in a fresh and powerful way.
For Your glory and In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Consider keeping a prayer journal. Grab a pen and a notebook and get started! If you don't know where to start, use this as a template to begin:
Begin reading the Psalms during your quiet time. Journal what you learn and write down the verses that stir your heart. (There are 150 of them and if you meditate on one or two each day, you could be kept busy for a few months!)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Inspiring story about Mosaic Mysteries
Read this story from a woman who purchased a Mosaic Mysteries game for her husband who suffers from dementia. It is an inspiring story and makes me proud to be selling Discovery Toys that have a positive impact on the lives of children and adults. - Jennifer
My husband Harry plays with the puzzle at least once a day, and sometimes two or three times. Most of the time he just does concentric circles of colors, as he's into matching like things together (cards into sets of numbers or suits, etc.) Everything has to be arranged "just so", including lining up the glass and silverware with the design of his placemat, and the placemat with the grain of the wood of the table. That is why this puzzle is so good for him. Recently he has been putting pieces of one color spaced around the edge, and then fitting other colors in between. I've watched as he stared at it, then selected a new piece. It is fascinating to watch his thinking process. While he has lost a lot of brain function (due to vascular dementia), I am watching him re-access some of his previous design knowledge.
He had lost his ability and desire to draw (I did mention that he was a professor of art and regionally recognized painter with many awards for his artwork?), and has come back to making drawings again. I think I helped him regain this ability by providing the toys for him to play with. They allowed his hands to be busy, and in turn that stimulated the part of his brain that still understood art and design principles. I began with a Magna Doodle, which he scribbled on for hours every evening for months. He tore one completely up he worked so hard. He then found a pen and decorated the front of a magazine filling it with scribbles. I asked him if he would prefer a piece of paper, which he accepted. I had been trying to get him to draw for months but he had declined. I think he was aware that he was losing his ability to draw, his hands shook so much. Now, though, he seems to be less afraid to try, as he is even less aware of his surroundings. It has been about two years since he began to draw again, and he has regained many of his skills, producing quite a large number of designs, landscapes, and portraits. Although these works are nothing like his previous work, we celebrate their uniqueness and provide him with something to do with his time. I really believe that his ability to draw again is a direct result of manipulating the toys and playing pieces.
I hope I haven't bored you with my little history here. I am just so thrilled with his new art, as are all of our friends who know Harry's story, that I like to share it. In fact, I have created a slide show of his new artwork and have presented it to a couple of groups already, the first with the Seven Oaks Art League where Harry and I have been members for years. I have also been asked to share it with the Caregiver Coalition of the Midlands (Columbia area) annual conference in November. I will definitely give credit to Mosaic Mysteries, and Discovery Toys in my talk!
My husband Harry plays with the puzzle at least once a day, and sometimes two or three times. Most of the time he just does concentric circles of colors, as he's into matching like things together (cards into sets of numbers or suits, etc.) Everything has to be arranged "just so", including lining up the glass and silverware with the design of his placemat, and the placemat with the grain of the wood of the table. That is why this puzzle is so good for him. Recently he has been putting pieces of one color spaced around the edge, and then fitting other colors in between. I've watched as he stared at it, then selected a new piece. It is fascinating to watch his thinking process. While he has lost a lot of brain function (due to vascular dementia), I am watching him re-access some of his previous design knowledge.
He had lost his ability and desire to draw (I did mention that he was a professor of art and regionally recognized painter with many awards for his artwork?), and has come back to making drawings again. I think I helped him regain this ability by providing the toys for him to play with. They allowed his hands to be busy, and in turn that stimulated the part of his brain that still understood art and design principles. I began with a Magna Doodle, which he scribbled on for hours every evening for months. He tore one completely up he worked so hard. He then found a pen and decorated the front of a magazine filling it with scribbles. I asked him if he would prefer a piece of paper, which he accepted. I had been trying to get him to draw for months but he had declined. I think he was aware that he was losing his ability to draw, his hands shook so much. Now, though, he seems to be less afraid to try, as he is even less aware of his surroundings. It has been about two years since he began to draw again, and he has regained many of his skills, producing quite a large number of designs, landscapes, and portraits. Although these works are nothing like his previous work, we celebrate their uniqueness and provide him with something to do with his time. I really believe that his ability to draw again is a direct result of manipulating the toys and playing pieces.
I hope I haven't bored you with my little history here. I am just so thrilled with his new art, as are all of our friends who know Harry's story, that I like to share it. In fact, I have created a slide show of his new artwork and have presented it to a couple of groups already, the first with the Seven Oaks Art League where Harry and I have been members for years. I have also been asked to share it with the Caregiver Coalition of the Midlands (Columbia area) annual conference in November. I will definitely give credit to Mosaic Mysteries, and Discovery Toys in my talk!
Worth a Bowed Head!
Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to
be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can
take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the
same respect to this prayer.. Friends, who pray together, stay
together.
If you pray this prayer, change the number.
Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to
see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving
God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You
keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for
everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this
day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best
of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let
me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.
And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my
wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example --
to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You
listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me
strong that I may help the weak.. Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.. I pray for those who are lost and
can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and
misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray
for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray
for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for
all my sisters and brothers. For every family member in their
households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their
homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem,
circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your
hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the
hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them
willingly..
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen..
be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can
take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the
same respect to this prayer.. Friends, who pray together, stay
together.
If you pray this prayer, change the number.
Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to
see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving
God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You
keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for
everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this
day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best
of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let
me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.
And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my
wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example --
to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You
listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me
strong that I may help the weak.. Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.. I pray for those who are lost and
can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and
misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray
for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray
for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for
all my sisters and brothers. For every family member in their
households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their
homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem,
circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your
hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the
hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them
willingly..
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen..
New Life Pastor Asks Christians to Embrace Speaking in Tongues
New Life Church is "one of those tongue-talking churches," the senior pastor said unashamedly on Sunday.
His statement was met with applause from the Colorado Springs mega-congregation.
Pastor Brady Boyd acknowledges that there's a wide range of teachings on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. To some, it's foreign or weird and to others, it's no longer active.
But Boyd believes the spiritual practice is as real today as it was 2,000 years ago when believers in the very first church service spoke in tongues (as recorded in the New Testament).
Continuing his message series on the "The Supernatural," Boyd felt he hit a particularly sensitive topic as he was swarmed with questions on the gift of tongues before he even preached on it this past weekend.
He has many friends who disagree with him on the subject. But for Boyd, speaking in tongues – known to some as a private prayer language – is nothing out of the ordinary. Every church he attended while growing up he saw the demonstration of tongues, he said.
"I thought everybody had that at birth because of the way I grew up," he told the New Life congregation.
He himself couldn't imagine being without it. Pointing out that pastoring a church is tough, he said he would not survive long-term at New Life if he didn’t pray in tongues – which gives him "amazing strength."
But traditions aside, Boyd asked the thousands in attendance to "let Scripture interpret Scripture" and approach the Bible as if they were reading it for the first time.
"I'm not going to stretch Scripture," the New Life pastor emphasized.
Reading from Acts 2 in the New Testament, Boyd underscored the account that on the first day of the first church service, every one of the 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.
"If I were reading the Bible for the very first time, as a young believer, and I was trying to make sense of this tongue thing, I think that would jump off the page at me and go 'wow, if in the very first church service everyone there spoke in tongues when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, it should be fairly common among us today," said Boyd.
"I think that's a safe assumption on all of our parts."
The senior pastor went on to point out the God-fearing Jews who recognized that their language was being spoken by people that didn't know the Jews' native language.
Speaking in tongues, Boyd said, could be used to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers. Thousands were born again that day when the Holy Spirit first came down upon believers. And Boyd said he knows tons of stories of such witnessing in tongues happening today.
"Sometimes we think tongues is just people getting in an emotional frenzy," he said. But the spiritual gift is practical, he stressed. It is intended to draw people to God.
"I think that oftentimes we have made the spiritual gifts about us. 'What does it do for me?'" he noted. "Not every time are the spiritual gifts for you. Oftentimes gifts are there ... to draw people to Christ."
Even if attendees might dismiss other reasons on why Christians should embrace the gift of tongues, Boyd asked them to "at least consider that God may want to use you to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers."
Other reasons he listed to embrace the gift are: to strengthen fellow believers, to personally communicate with God, and to "strengthen ourselves.
If the gift is used properly in a public setting, such as in church, then the body of believers can be strengthened, Boyd said. The pastor, citing Apostle Paul, noted the need for boundaries as to not become consumed by fascination with speaking in tongues and get away from the priority of the Scriptures.
On a personal level, praying in tongues "edifies" believers, or "does something in our hearts to strengthen us for the [spiritual] battle we're all in," said Boyd.
"Oftentimes I just find myself praying in the tongue God has given me ... and I find an amazing reservoir of strength from heaven that I could never tap into in the natural but it's certainly available in the spiritual," he said.
When Boyd prays in tongues, sometimes he knows what he's praying for and other times he has no idea what he's praying for.
"But I know this: the Holy Spirit is God and He's omnipotent and omniscient and if He urges me to pray I'm going to pray because He knows what needs prayer," said Boyd.
Dispelling some myths about the gift of tongues, the New Life pastor said tongues isn't always the first evidence of baptism of the Holy Spirit and it does not signify that the Christian is a mature one. Also, speaking in tongues does not mean one will lose control and fall into a trance.
"The Holy Spirit never ever asks us to lose our free will to do anything on His behalf," he stressed. "God is not looking for somebody He can take over."
New Life attendees were given the opportunity after the sermon to pray and ask God for the spiritual gift of tongues.
"We lay down our pride, our unbelief, our doctrine that's been wrong," Boyd prayed. "We say 'yes' to your giftings."
Boyd began leading New Life Church, one of the largest churches in the country, in 2007. He kicked off "The Supernatural" message series at the start of the new year. Topics he covered since January include miracles, giving, leadership, prophesying and demons.
His statement was met with applause from the Colorado Springs mega-congregation.
Pastor Brady Boyd acknowledges that there's a wide range of teachings on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. To some, it's foreign or weird and to others, it's no longer active.
But Boyd believes the spiritual practice is as real today as it was 2,000 years ago when believers in the very first church service spoke in tongues (as recorded in the New Testament).
Continuing his message series on the "The Supernatural," Boyd felt he hit a particularly sensitive topic as he was swarmed with questions on the gift of tongues before he even preached on it this past weekend.
He has many friends who disagree with him on the subject. But for Boyd, speaking in tongues – known to some as a private prayer language – is nothing out of the ordinary. Every church he attended while growing up he saw the demonstration of tongues, he said.
"I thought everybody had that at birth because of the way I grew up," he told the New Life congregation.
He himself couldn't imagine being without it. Pointing out that pastoring a church is tough, he said he would not survive long-term at New Life if he didn’t pray in tongues – which gives him "amazing strength."
But traditions aside, Boyd asked the thousands in attendance to "let Scripture interpret Scripture" and approach the Bible as if they were reading it for the first time.
"I'm not going to stretch Scripture," the New Life pastor emphasized.
Reading from Acts 2 in the New Testament, Boyd underscored the account that on the first day of the first church service, every one of the 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.
"If I were reading the Bible for the very first time, as a young believer, and I was trying to make sense of this tongue thing, I think that would jump off the page at me and go 'wow, if in the very first church service everyone there spoke in tongues when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, it should be fairly common among us today," said Boyd.
"I think that's a safe assumption on all of our parts."
The senior pastor went on to point out the God-fearing Jews who recognized that their language was being spoken by people that didn't know the Jews' native language.
Speaking in tongues, Boyd said, could be used to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers. Thousands were born again that day when the Holy Spirit first came down upon believers. And Boyd said he knows tons of stories of such witnessing in tongues happening today.
"Sometimes we think tongues is just people getting in an emotional frenzy," he said. But the spiritual gift is practical, he stressed. It is intended to draw people to God.
"I think that oftentimes we have made the spiritual gifts about us. 'What does it do for me?'" he noted. "Not every time are the spiritual gifts for you. Oftentimes gifts are there ... to draw people to Christ."
Even if attendees might dismiss other reasons on why Christians should embrace the gift of tongues, Boyd asked them to "at least consider that God may want to use you to communicate the Gospel to unbelievers."
Other reasons he listed to embrace the gift are: to strengthen fellow believers, to personally communicate with God, and to "strengthen ourselves.
If the gift is used properly in a public setting, such as in church, then the body of believers can be strengthened, Boyd said. The pastor, citing Apostle Paul, noted the need for boundaries as to not become consumed by fascination with speaking in tongues and get away from the priority of the Scriptures.
On a personal level, praying in tongues "edifies" believers, or "does something in our hearts to strengthen us for the [spiritual] battle we're all in," said Boyd.
"Oftentimes I just find myself praying in the tongue God has given me ... and I find an amazing reservoir of strength from heaven that I could never tap into in the natural but it's certainly available in the spiritual," he said.
When Boyd prays in tongues, sometimes he knows what he's praying for and other times he has no idea what he's praying for.
"But I know this: the Holy Spirit is God and He's omnipotent and omniscient and if He urges me to pray I'm going to pray because He knows what needs prayer," said Boyd.
Dispelling some myths about the gift of tongues, the New Life pastor said tongues isn't always the first evidence of baptism of the Holy Spirit and it does not signify that the Christian is a mature one. Also, speaking in tongues does not mean one will lose control and fall into a trance.
"The Holy Spirit never ever asks us to lose our free will to do anything on His behalf," he stressed. "God is not looking for somebody He can take over."
New Life attendees were given the opportunity after the sermon to pray and ask God for the spiritual gift of tongues.
"We lay down our pride, our unbelief, our doctrine that's been wrong," Boyd prayed. "We say 'yes' to your giftings."
Boyd began leading New Life Church, one of the largest churches in the country, in 2007. He kicked off "The Supernatural" message series at the start of the new year. Topics he covered since January include miracles, giving, leadership, prophesying and demons.
Pro-Lifers Take Final Stand Ahead of Health Care Vote
Conservative and pro-life groups are mobilizing Americans to make a final stand against a contentious health care bill that is now on the fast track toward a final vote.
* Pro-Life Groups Reject Obama’s Compromise Health Care Plan
* Health Summit Fails to Reach Compromise
* Abortion Fight Remains Fierce in Health Care Debate
Opponents of the legislation, including members of Congress, are scheduled to take part in a national townhall at the Family Research Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night.
"This national townhall webcast will mobilize tens of thousands of Americans for a final stand against a bill that would force Americans to support Planned Parenthood in the killing of unborn children, saddle families with higher insurance premiums, raise our taxes, and deny our parents and grandparents the essential health care they need," said FRC Action President Tony Perkins in a statement.
The House Budget Committee on Monday voted 21-16, taking the first step to get the bill before the full House this week. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama made a stop in Ohio that same day to garner support for his bill.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs expects this will be "the climactic week for health care reform."
Some Christians are pushing for the passage of the legislation. National Council of Churches General Secretary Michael Kinnamon said in a letter to the U.S. Congress on Monday that now is the time to pass a "desperately-needed reform of this country's health care system."
"What is needed now is the political and moral courage to act on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our society – those who are uninsured," he wrote. "May we as a nation demonstrate a commitment to the common good through a health care reform that places the well being of all at the center of our national life."
But more conservative faith leaders are trying to look out for a different group of "vulnerable" members – the unborn.
The National Right to Life Committee has branded Obama's bill as "the most pro-abortion single piece of legislation that has ever come to the House floor for a vote."
The group is urging Americans to contact senators before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tries to "ram" the bill through the House before Congress goes into recess for Easter on March 26.
"Whether she succeeds or not depends on what House members hear from their constituents during the days immediately ahead," the pro-life group stated.
The bill needs 216 votes to clear the House. A couple of pro-life Democrats have sided with Republicans in opposing the bill and calling for tougher restrictions on the federal funding of abortions.
Ahead of Tuesday night's townhall, Perkins stressed, "The American people have made their wishes clear through the ballot box, townhalls, rallies, and phone calls and letters. They will not accept this health care takeover or any variety of it. However, the Obama Administration and the Democratic leadership refuse to acknowledge that this health care, which indisputably funds abortion, is grossly out of step with the American people."
* Pro-Life Groups Reject Obama’s Compromise Health Care Plan
* Health Summit Fails to Reach Compromise
* Abortion Fight Remains Fierce in Health Care Debate
Opponents of the legislation, including members of Congress, are scheduled to take part in a national townhall at the Family Research Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night.
"This national townhall webcast will mobilize tens of thousands of Americans for a final stand against a bill that would force Americans to support Planned Parenthood in the killing of unborn children, saddle families with higher insurance premiums, raise our taxes, and deny our parents and grandparents the essential health care they need," said FRC Action President Tony Perkins in a statement.
The House Budget Committee on Monday voted 21-16, taking the first step to get the bill before the full House this week. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama made a stop in Ohio that same day to garner support for his bill.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs expects this will be "the climactic week for health care reform."
Some Christians are pushing for the passage of the legislation. National Council of Churches General Secretary Michael Kinnamon said in a letter to the U.S. Congress on Monday that now is the time to pass a "desperately-needed reform of this country's health care system."
"What is needed now is the political and moral courage to act on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our society – those who are uninsured," he wrote. "May we as a nation demonstrate a commitment to the common good through a health care reform that places the well being of all at the center of our national life."
But more conservative faith leaders are trying to look out for a different group of "vulnerable" members – the unborn.
The National Right to Life Committee has branded Obama's bill as "the most pro-abortion single piece of legislation that has ever come to the House floor for a vote."
The group is urging Americans to contact senators before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tries to "ram" the bill through the House before Congress goes into recess for Easter on March 26.
"Whether she succeeds or not depends on what House members hear from their constituents during the days immediately ahead," the pro-life group stated.
The bill needs 216 votes to clear the House. A couple of pro-life Democrats have sided with Republicans in opposing the bill and calling for tougher restrictions on the federal funding of abortions.
Ahead of Tuesday night's townhall, Perkins stressed, "The American people have made their wishes clear through the ballot box, townhalls, rallies, and phone calls and letters. They will not accept this health care takeover or any variety of it. However, the Obama Administration and the Democratic leadership refuse to acknowledge that this health care, which indisputably funds abortion, is grossly out of step with the American people."
Top US home-school texts dismiss evolution
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Home-school mom Susan Mule wishes she hadn't taken a friend's advice and tried a textbook from a popular Christian publisher for her 10-year-old's biology lessons.
Mule's precocious daughter Elizabeth excels at science and has been studying tarantulas since she was 5. But she watched Elizabeth's excitement turn to confusion when they reached the evolution section of the book from Apologia Educational Ministries, which disputed Charles Darwin's theory.
"I thought she was going to have a coronary," Mule said of her daughter, who is now 16 and taking college courses in Houston. "She's like, 'This is not true!'"
Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. And for most home-school parents, a Bible-based version of the Earth's creation is exactly what they want. Federal statistics from 2007 show 83 percent of home-schooling parents want to give their children "religious or moral instruction."
"The majority of home-schoolers self-identify as evangelical Christians," said Ian Slatter, a spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association. "Most home-schoolers will definitely have a sort of creationist component to their home-school program."
Story continues below...
Those who don't, however, often feel isolated and frustrated from trying to find a textbook that fits their beliefs.
Two of the best-selling biology textbooks stack the deck against evolution, said some science educators who reviewed sections of the books at the request of The Associated Press.
"I feel fairly strongly about this. These books are promulgating lies to kids," said Jerry Coyne, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago.
The textbook publishers defend their books as well-rounded lessons on evolution and its shortcomings. One of the books doesn't attempt to mask disdain for Darwin and evolutionary science.
"Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling," says the introduction to "Biology: Third Edition" from Bob Jones University Press. "This book was not written for them."
The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its "History of Life" chapter that a "Christian worldview ... is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is."
When the AP asked about that passage, university spokesman Brian Scoles said the sentence made it into the book because of an editing error and will be removed from future editions.
The size of the business of home-school texts isn't clear because the textbook industry is fragmented and privately held publishers don't give out sales numbers. Slatter said home-school material sales reach about $1 billion annually in the U.S.
Publishers are well aware of the market, said Jay Wile, a former chemistry professor in Indianapolis who helped launch the Apologia curriculum in the early 1990s.
"If I'm planning to write a curriculum, and I want to write it in a way that will appeal to home-schoolers, I'm going to at least find out what my demographic is," Wile said.
In Kentucky, Lexington home-schooler Mia Perry remembers feeling disheartened while flipping through a home-school curriculum catalog and finding so many religious-themed textbooks.
"We're not religious home-schoolers, and there's somewhat of a feeling of being outnumbered," said Perry, who has home-schooled three of her four children after removing her oldest child from a public school because of a health condition.
Perry said she cobbled together her own curriculum after some mainstream publishers told her they would not sell directly to home-schooling parents.
Wendy Womack, another Lexington home-school mother, said the only scientifically credible curriculum she's found is from the Maryland-based Calvert School, which has been selling study-at-home materials for more than 100 years.
Apologia and Bob Jones University Press say their science books sell well. Apologia's "Exploring Creation" biology textbook retails for $65, while Bob Jones' "Biology" Third Edition lists at $52.
Coyne and Virginia Tech biology professor Duncan Porter reviewed excerpts from the Apologia and Bob Jones biology textbooks, which are equivalent to ninth- and 10th-grade biology lessons. Porter said he would give the books an F.
"If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they're being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology," Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth.
Wile countered that Coyne "feels compelled to lie in order to prop up a failing hypothesis (evolution). We definitely do not lie to the students. We tell them the facts that people like Dr. Coyne would prefer to cover up."
Adam Brown's parents say their 16-year-old son's belief in the Bible's creation story isn't deterring him from pursuing a career in marine biology. His parents, Ken and Polly Brown, taught him at their Cedar Grove, Ind., home using the Apologia curriculum and other science texts.
Polly Brown said her son would gladly take college courses that include evolution, and he'll be able to provide the expected answers even though he disagrees.
"He probably knows it better than the kids who have been taught evolution all through public school," Polly Brown said. "But that is in order for him to understand both sides of that argument because he will face it throughout his higher education."
Top home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution
Home-schooling parents who prefer evolution say textbook publishers push Bible's origin story
DYLAN LOVAN
AP News
Mar 06, 2010 14:26 EST
Home-school mom Susan Mule wishes she hadn't taken a friend's advice and tried a textbook from a popular Christian publisher for her 10-year-old's biology lessons.
Mule's precocious daughter Elizabeth excels at science and has been studying tarantulas since she was 5. But she watched Elizabeth's excitement turn to confusion when they reached the evolution section of the book from Apologia Educational Ministries, which disputed Charles Darwin's theory.
"I thought she was going to have a coronary," Mule said of her daughter, who is now 16 and taking college courses in Houston. "She's like, 'This is not true!'"
Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. And for most home-school parents, a Bible-based version of the Earth's creation is exactly what they want. Federal statistics from 2007 show 83 percent of home-schooling parents want to give their children "religious or moral instruction."
"The majority of home-schoolers self-identify as evangelical Christians," said Ian Slatter, a spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association. "Most home-schoolers will definitely have a sort of creationist component to their home-school program."
Those who don't, however, often feel isolated and frustrated from trying to find a textbook that fits their beliefs.
Two of the best-selling biology textbooks stack the deck against evolution, said some science educators who reviewed sections of the books at the request of The Associated Press.
"I feel fairly strongly about this. These books are promulgating lies to kids," said Jerry Coyne, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago.
The textbook publishers defend their books as well-rounded lessons on evolution and its shortcomings. One of the books doesn't attempt to mask disdain for Darwin and evolutionary science.
"Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling," says the introduction to "Biology: Third Edition" from Bob Jones University Press. "This book was not written for them."
The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its "History of Life" chapter that a "Christian worldview ... is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is."
When the AP asked about that passage, university spokesman Brian Scoles said the sentence made it into the book because of an editing error and will be removed from future editions.
The size of the business of home-school texts isn't clear because the textbook industry is fragmented and privately held publishers don't give out sales numbers. Slatter said home-school material sales reach about $1 billion annually in the U.S.
Publishers are well aware of the market, said Jay Wile, a former chemistry professor in Indianapolis who helped launch the Apologia curriculum in the early 1990s.
"If I'm planning to write a curriculum, and I want to write it in a way that will appeal to home-schoolers, I'm going to at least find out what my demographic is," Wile said.
In Kentucky, Lexington home-schooler Mia Perry remembers feeling disheartened while flipping through a home-school curriculum catalog and finding so many religious-themed textbooks.
"We're not religious home-schoolers, and there's somewhat of a feeling of being outnumbered," said Perry, who has home-schooled three of her four children after removing her oldest child from a public school because of a health condition.
Perry said she cobbled together her own curriculum after some mainstream publishers told her they would not sell directly to home-schooling parents.
Wendy Womack, another Lexington home-school mother, said the only scientifically credible curriculum she's found is from the Maryland-based Calvert School, which has been selling study-at-home materials for more than 100 years.
Apologia and Bob Jones University Press say their science books sell well. Apologia's "Exploring Creation" biology textbook retails for $65, while Bob Jones' "Biology" Third Edition lists at $52.
Coyne and Virginia Tech biology professor Duncan Porter reviewed excerpts from the Apologia and Bob Jones biology textbooks, which are equivalent to ninth- and 10th-grade biology lessons. Porter said he would give the books an F.
"If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they're being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology," Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth.
Wile countered that Coyne "feels compelled to lie in order to prop up a failing hypothesis (evolution). We definitely do not lie to the students. We tell them the facts that people like Dr. Coyne would prefer to cover up."
Adam Brown's parents say their 16-year-old son's belief in the Bible's creation story isn't deterring him from pursuing a career in marine biology. His parents, Ken and Polly Brown, taught him at their Cedar Grove, Ind., home using the Apologia curriculum and other science texts.
Polly Brown said her son would gladly take college courses that include evolution, and he'll be able to provide the expected answers even though he disagrees.
"He probably knows it better than the kids who have been taught evolution all through public school," Polly Brown said. "But that is in order for him to understand both sides of that argument because he will face it throughout his higher education."
___
Apologia Educational Ministries: http://www.apologia.com
Bob Jones University Press: http://www.bjupress.com/page/HS+Home
Jerry Coyne's blog, "Why Evolution is True": http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/
Look At It This Way!
Today's Truth
Proverbs 4:24 (NCV) "Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good."
Friend To Friend
One of my favorite parts of attending Vacation Bible School as a child was the music. I enjoyed the Bible stories, crafts and being with my friends but singing was definitely the highlight of my day. I particularly loved the songs that included hand motions and can, to this day, remember most of those songs and hand motions.
One of my favorite songs was "Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes." The lyrics and melody are simple but the truth of this song is profound.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above is looking down in love.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
A study was done of concentration camp survivors to determine the common characteristics of those who did not die from disease or starvation. Victor Frankl was a living answer to that question. Before the Nazis threw him into a concentration camp, he was a successful psychiatrist. After his rescue, Victor Frankl traveled the world, sharing his story: "There is only one reason why I am here today. You kept me alive. Others gave up hope. I dreamed that someday I would be here telling you how I, Victor Frankl, had survived the Nazi concentration camps. I've never been here before, I've never seen any of you before, and I've never given this speech before. But in my dreams, I have stood before you and said these words a thousand times."
Outlook determines outcome. Victor Frankl survived because he chose a right focus, keeping his eyes fixed on what was ahead. Proverbs 4:25 explains, "We need to keep our eyes focused on what is right and look straight ahead to what is good." The picture painted here is one of an "upright" life, a life of "moral purity." We serve a holy God who is very serious about sin - serious enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, as payment for that sin. We claim the miracle of blood-bought forgiveness while flirting with sin. We give lip-service to God's sacrifice while allowing impurity to negate its power in our lives. We point others to the cross when we are the ones in desperate need of its deliverance.
When it comes to having a right focus, not only do we turn away from what is worthless but we turn to what is worthy. In yesterday's devotion, we discovered that Satan knows if he can control the mind, then he has won the battle. Who wins that battle is up to us and hinges on the choices that we make. The battle of the mind is won by controlling and filtering what we set before our eyes. In Psalm 101:3, we find an important key to guarding our mind, "I will set before my eyes no vile thing" (NIV). "Vile" means "evil one or troublemaker." Anything that is not feeding and nourishing the soul is depleting the soul, originates with Satan himself and will bring nothing but trouble. If it is not of God, it will numb you to what is of God. Be very careful what you place before your eyes - books, movies, television, magazines. We foolishly believe the lie that we "can handle it." If we could handle our sin, there would have been no reason for Jesus Christ to give up His life in order to pay for that sin. We are lost without Him!
I once lived in a small, rural community where cows were familiar neighbors and lost cows a common occurrence. How does a cow get lost? It starts nibbling on a patch of green grass. When it finishes, the cow looks ahead to the next patch of green grass. That patch digested, the cow looks ahead to the next patch of green grass and starts nibbling on that one. Then it nibbles on a patch of grass right next to a hole in the fence. The cow then sees the green grass on the other side of the fence so it nibbles on that one and then goes on to the next one and the next one. The cow finally looks up to discover it has nibbled itself into being lost.
We do the same thing. We bury our heads in the patches of everyday living. We make a single wrong choice and instead of looking up for forgiveness, instead of looking straight ahead for new direction, we look around for another wrong choice. Soon, we find ourselves at the bottom of a pit wondering how we got there. We must learn to keep our glance on the circumstances and our gaze on Him.
Let's Pray
Dear Father, please help me to focus on Your plan and purpose for my life. I keep looking in the wrong places for the right answers. I confess that I often keep my gaze on things that do not please You. Today, I ask You to give me the strength and power to look for You in every circumstance and to keep my focus on You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
As you go through today, be aware of the things you see and watch that are not pleasing to God and do not measure up to His standard. How can you eliminate them?
What is the focus of your life? How does it need to change?
What consequences have you suffered because your eyes were focused on wrong things or wrong people?
Wow! I know! I am getting downright personal, aren't I? But the reality is - if He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. In other words, we need to surrender everything to God, including the control of our "eyesight" and choose to focus on what is right and good. Screen your thoughts, the books you read, the movies you see and ask yourself if they are pleasing to God. If not, get rid of them. Choose against them and choose to look at things God's way.
Play, Learn, Create!
Help your child learn to love reading
Learning to read is the cornerstone of every child's education. By reading aloud to your child, you will be sharing one of life's most valuable gifts and opening all kinds of doors for the future.
Here are some tips on making the most of reading with your child.
- Choose a time and a place where you can be quiet and give your child lots of attention. Make the occasion a special one.
- Turn off any distractions such as the TV, music or the computer.
- When you are reading aloud, show your child that you are having fun!
- Involve your child. Let yourself be interrupted with questions; talk about what you think of the story and the pictures.
- When your child has started learning to read, follow the text and encourage him or her to point to the words as you go along.
- Establish a routine. Try to devote some time every day to reading.
- Take your child to your local library and involve him or her in choosing books.
- Notice what kinds of stories your child enjoys and look out for ones with similar themes.
- When you are reading aloud, praise your child for listening well and sitting still. When your child is learning to read to you, give praise and encouragement too, but be sure to gently correct your child when he or she makes mistakes.
- Help build your child's vocabulary and memory skills by supplementing reading sessions with audio books on car journeys and after meals or at bedtime. Audio books are especially helpful in building memory skills and supporting the learning of dyslexic and autistic children.
Sharing your child's journey into reading can be one of the most rewarding experiences of parenthood. You owe it to your child, and to yourself, to make it a priority in your daily life.
Gratitude
This could not have come on a better day!
May everyone have a blessed day!
| A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. |
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