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?

What Is Our Life?

What is our life? A play of passion.
And what our mirth but music of division?
Our mother's wombs the tiring houses be
Where we are dressed for this short comedy.
Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is
Who sits and marks what here we do amiss.
The graves that hide us from the searching sun
Are like drawn curtains when the play is done.
Thus, playing, post we to our latest rest,
And then we die, in earnest, not in jest.

~Sir Walter Raleigh

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

~From Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

Life is short. Use it well.

Legalism or Holiness?

It seems I hear more and more of Christian young people who say they have become disenchanted with fundamentalism or Christianity in general because of legalism. While I believe in many cases Christians are more pharisaical than not, I believe this is often an excuse for pleasing themselves without feeling guilty. By placing the guilt on older Christians, these young Christians feel justified in listening to music, or watching movies, or dressing in a way that pleases them and not necessarily God.
I guess it all comes down to a relationship. How well I know my God motivates why I do what I do. It doesn't matter if I have seen countless Christians who only dress the way they do or listen to the music they listen to because it makes them seem like a "good person." It doesn't matter how many fundamentalist churches I have seen that are filled with legalism. It doesn't matter how many "legalist" rules I grew up with. What matters is my relationship with God. What I know and believe about Him should motivate what standards I set for my life.
Though other Christians may set their music standards on what looks good to other people, I will set my music standards on what pleases God. I will dress in a way that pleases God. I will follow the "legalist" rules of my parents or Christian college because obeying God by obeying my authorities matters more to me than how stupid the rule seems.
I have no doubt that at some point in my life, someone will accuse me of being legalistic. But it won't matter. I will be holy because my God is holy.

Well, the verdict is in, I am a sheltered teenager. I've never been to the movies, what I watch on TV is censored, accountability is a must on the computer, the music I am allowed to listen to is either traditional Christian music or classical, and I can only go to the mall with my parents along.

But despite the fact that I am a senior in high school and should be chaffing under my parent's rules and regulations, I am thankful for Mom and Dad's involvement in my life.

I have been made fun of before for being sheltered, and at the time, I started to get upset at my parents for how closely they guarded my heart. Now, though, when I look back on it, I realize I am the lucky one. I don't have visual images of sinful things that I've seen on TV forever stuck in the back of my mind. I don't have lyrics that displease God constantly running through my head. I don't have to be scared that my parents might find out what I've been doing on the internet.

I'm not saying that anything is wrong with the movies, or TV, or the mall, I'm just saying I'm thankful for how careful Mom and Dad have been to keep impurity out of my life. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I couldn't tell you who the latest rap singer is, or who is the latest star in Hollywood.

God has taught me that a sheltered lifestyle, in the world, but not of it, is ok. It's what He wants for His children. He wants me to be pure for Him.

And besides that, I like going to the mall with my mom.

Sugar-Plum Fairy

Her name is Julia. She's a four and a half year old fairy. She flits around the church, stopping to stare inquisitively at a candy wrapper on the floor, then floats away again.
I see her dancing towards me. "Whitty," she says with that impish grin on her face, "C-can I haf a piece of c-candy?"
Who can resist her?
"Of course." I say, holding out my hand for her to take. We skip together to the candy jar. I open it and hold it out to her. She reaches her little pink hand into the jar.
"C-can I haf two?"
"I guess so."
Her grin spreads from ear to ear.
"T-tank you, Whitty!" Then off she flies to dazzle her next victim with a smile. I can almost see wings flapping behind her.