This Is Love

Bending slowly he kneels
Beside her chair. As he
Opens the box in his
Hand, he softly speaks.

She reaches in and takes
The contents of the box.
She whispers a response,
Then sips lukewarm water.

The back of his finger
Strokes her cheek. His eyes
Meet hers. There are tears
In his; hers are dry.

Bony arms clasp around
His neck. Slowly he stands;
He gently pulls her up.
She cannot stand alone.

Her timeworn, tired face
grimaces. She wobbles,
He supports. The box in
His furrowed hand holds pills.

I have often wondered what true love really looks like. I have seen it as I have watched my papa care for my nanny in her illness.

I get so fed up when people start talking about movies or other entertainment things and then say to me, "Oh, you probably haven't seen that", or "You wouldn't know about that." Really, I shouldn't get frustrated, I should rejoice, because, more often than not, there is probably a very good reason I haven't seen or wouldn't know anything about what they are talking about. And that should be OK with me. My parents have done their best to make sure that, as much as is possible, my heart is pure. The problem is that a lot of Christians seem to think it's bad to be sheltered.
I know that many of my posts deal in some way with this area, but I'm convinced that most Christians don't get the point that it isn't personal preference that determines what they watch, read, or listen to; it's God's nature that should determine what entertains them. God is holy. God is pure. Therefore, everything a Christian does in life should be holy and pure, and anything that isn't doesn't glorify God. Yes, that means anything that is not holy and pure should not be allowed in a Christian's life. Any movie, song, book, or magazine that has the tiniest amount of impurity in it has no place in a Christian's life. I'm not being intolerant; I'm not trying to hurt feelings; I'm just saying what most Christians know but don't apply to their lives.
1 Cor. 10:31--Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Peter 1:16--As it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Cor. 6:19, 20--What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Probably one of the biggest problems with Christianity today is that we want to please ourselves so much that we do not care what God thinks. But every time I sin, every time I please myself, I am basically slapping a holy, almighty God in the face and saying, "You really don't matter to me." That's scary.
Think of everything God has done for those He has saved. He sent His only Son to die a horrible death, to take my sin upon Him, to be forsaken by His Father and His disciples to redeem me. He forgives me every time I sin and gives me grace, mercy, and strength to live in a Christ-like way. Considering all He has done for me, don't you think the least I could is choose to honor Him in everything I do, including how I entertain myself?

Sonnet

I eat, I drink my sin like a starved dog.
I cannot turn my back to it; I lust
For more. It calls, it beckons, come I must.
Wallow in sin, I do, like a fat hog.

But God looks down and hates my blackened stains.
His boiling wrath will be poured out on me.
To curb His wrath requires a ghastly fee.
My sin, once my bliss, now my deathly bane.

“My God, what must I do for life?” I cry.
God pities me and grants eternal life.
He gives, for me, His only Son to die.
And on the cross for mine His life
He gave. And now to Him I can come nigh.
Because my sins are covered, I have life.

What do you really believe about God? If you were to ask me that question, I would probably tell you that I believe God is good, God is love, God is holy, God is just, you know, the basic Sunday school answers. But, really, those aren't the real answers to that question. Yes, I know those things in my head, but not really in my heart. What I really believe about God is revealed in my everyday actions and reactions.
I started reading The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer today, and after only getting through the first chapter I am already under conviction.

"What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God....Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God."
~Tozer

So what do I really believe about God?

When I skip my quiet time and sleep that extra half hour, what does that reveal about my belief in God? It obviously shows that God is not important enough to spend time with. I am putting myself in the place of God. In a word, idolatry. Tozer says:
"Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character."

What do my actions reveal about my belief in God when I wrap myself in self-pity because Shannon is a better musician than I? It reveals that I don't believe God is good. I don't believe that He can use me the way He made me.

What do my actions reveal I believe about God when I speak harshly to someone in my family? I really don't believe that God loves nor do I believe that I am to follow His example in loving.

What do my actions reveal I believe about God when I watch a movie (or book, cd, or any other form of media) that has an unbiblical worldview, that portrays ungodliness in a way that is pleasing? I really don't believe that God is holy, that He hates sin, and that He expects me to be holy because He is holy.

And I close with yet another quote from Tozer:
"The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God."

Homeschool Myths

There seem to be many myths floating around this world about homeschooling. But lest you begin to tremble from fear over who to believe these days, I, an expert on the subject, am here to relieve your worries and to bust the ten most common myths about homeschooling.

Myth 1: Homeschoolers are anti-social creatures who prefer to hide out instead of hang out.
Truth: As evidenced by my sisters and me, we are not anti-social. Our favorite thing to do is to hang out with friends.

Myth 2: Homeschoolers never have homework.
Truth: I don't know about the rest of the homeschooling world, but the teachers on LINC sure know how to hand out the assignments. Never a day goes by when I am not overloaded with homework. (Yes, you can get literal and say all of my work is homework, but we're not being literal, now are we?)

Myth 3: The typical homeschooler's school day only lasts at the most until noon.
Truth: In my dreams! My classes range from 8:30 am until 3:15 pm.

Myth 4: Homeschoolers can't spell.
Truth: This is a difficult myth to bust, because there are a large number of homeschoolers who cannot spell. I have no doubt, though, that the number of homeschoolers who cannot spell is directly proportional to the traditionally-schooled and even college-educated people who cannot spell.

Myth 5: Homeschoolers have a lower IQ than the general public.
Truth: As a rule, this is not true, though, out in the wide world, I am sure there are some stupid homeschoolers. I have come to believe that this myth arises out of jealousy of the aforesaid general public because some homeschoolers happen to be geniuses.

Myth 6: All homeschoolers are geniuses.
Truth: How this myth came about when Myth 5 was already floating around, I haven't the slightest idea. Take one look at my sisters and me. No more discussion needed.

Myth 7: Homeschoolers get to sleep in longer than the rest of the world.
Truth: No comment.

Myth 8: Homeschoolers are nerdy.
Truth: While I like to believe I am not nerdy, I can't say that everyone believes the same, but I know as a fact that there are homeschoolers out there who aren't nerdy. Some of them are my friends. I think.

Myth 9: Homeschoolers wear pajamas all day.
Truth: Mom and Dad believe that wearing pajamas while doing school decreases productivity, so yes, I have to get dressed before I start school.

Myth 10: Homeschoolers will have a difficult time adjusting to college life after not having a social life in their pre-college years.
Truth: First of all, I do have a social life. Secondly, I have not been to college yet to see if I will be able to adjust. Thirdly, Kayty has had no problem adjusting to college life. She has taken to it like a fish to water or a fly to a trash can. Enough said.

There you have it. Ten common homeschool myths busted. And before you believe anymore lies about homeschooling, please see me for the truth.

Recently, on The Rebelution forum, someone began a thread on watching violent movies/TV shows.
I'm not against violence in movies; some of my favorite movies are pretty violent. But, the whole topic got me thinking. Why do I watch what I watch? What is this movie doing for me spiritually? Do movies or books or any other kinds of media have to be spiritually edifying for me to enjoy them?
One guy left a checklist that I thought was interesting and a good thing to share:

1) What is the message of this movie? What aspect of Christ does it reflect?

2) Is this a movie I could in good conscience recommend to my sisters and brothers in Christ? If not, why am I watching it?

3) How does this movie uplift me in my Christian walk?

4) Is the message of this movie potent and life-changing enough to justify the time spent viewing it?

5) Is there anything in this movie that might cause lustful or sensual thoughts? If so, why am I watching it?

6) What worldview is depicted and promoted by this movie? Is it a Christian one? Is it a correct one? If not, why am I watching it?

7) Lastly, is God glorified in this movie? If not, why am I watching it?

I have always struggled with the fact that my parents were so careful about what my sisters and I watched. It seemed like my friends, most of them Christians, had a much longer list of movies seen than I did. I was always embarrassed when they had seen movies that I hadn't. I am beginning to understand (largely because of a study we did recently in youth group), though, the importance of glorifying God in all that I do. It may seem extreme to ask "Is God glorified in this movie (or book or song, etc.)?" But if I am not willing to ask that question, or not willing to respond to the Holy Spirit's leading in answering that question, who am I living for, God? or myself?