Mother's Milk

Prolonged breasting feeding has no real benefit for a child when it comes to proper growth, both socially and physically. Anyone who has seen "Extraordinary Breastfeeding" on YouTube can testify to that. I tried to upload it and failed miserably. 

Growing up in the church 4 nights out of my week were spent at church; my Bible was my pride and joy and learning from my parents I used it. Huh, go figure, I mean I actually used it. Marking it up when I thought the verse was applicable to my life and making notes to remind myself of where I need not be. 

That was my childhood until around mid high school, and yes most kids go through their rebellious and experimental stage. But what really changed was that spiritual nourishment was lacking. I had my time being feed milk, and soft food, what was needed more than anything was food....real food. The intake, proper digestion, and the absorption of nutrients. This was needed and what was moralistic sugar and white bread. 

Saturating myself in sin came far too easily for me even though I found myself every Sunday morning (sometimes still intoxicated from the night or hour before) in church listening to topical teachings. 

1) Topic

2)Don't do it/do it

3)Verses to fit the topic

4)If you do it, God's grace is there to save you...

Grace,grace,grace...Amen! I will never understand the amount of grace my Father in Heaven has for me. I am a living testament to His grace and love.....however it came with a price. Repentance is not a bad word, though I feel lots of churches are afraid of mentioning the word because of scaring people off. We need those nutrients, we need that solid spiritual food made up of the Living Word and most of all repentance.  

It has taken me 28 years and counting of hurting people I love and causing emotional and sometimes physical pain to myself; only to realize this Spiritual food was right in front of me. The Word. God's living covenant to us His children to consume the Word, digest it, absorb the nutrients and produce fruit. It is not easy weaning off of sugar and white bread and does not always taste as great, but it is needed for proper growth. 

Like any change in diet it requires not motivation, but a change in daily habits. Start at the beginning, open up Genesis eat up and enjoy! Cheers!

The Fall of the Family

"When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman." Betty Friedan

 

Since the rise of feminism, woman feel the pressure to let go of the dream of the white picket fence, family, husband, and the opportunity to perfect the perfect pies. Women are made to feel weak and that their education will go to waste if they make a career in raising a family. 

With the responsibilities stripped from the woman, the man's role in the family is thrown off kilter and thus begins the snowball effect of mass disfunction. 

Role reversal takes effect and boys grow up with their mothers insulting their fathers for everything from not fixing the plumbing to not being affectionate. Young boys grow up to be young males, not young men  which explains the frightening incline of loser males who all too easily leave pregnant girls to fend for their own or who never learn life's lessons to pass on to better equip their children. Learning from their mothers, daughters grow up feeling like their role is to control men and to scorn the title of "housewife" which in turn encourages young girls to explore sexually based on the fact that morals are "old fashion and prudent". 

The most severe victims of role reversal and extreme feminism are the children. They are left to be raised by strangers while both parents are out of the house where they learn lessons not taught by Mother and Father but by community college drop outs, and bored women looking to earn and extra buck. 

Does this not concern you?

Not all women are called to the work force and not all women are called to raise children. However, women stand tall and take pride in your place in the home. Love and honor your husbands, teach and set examples of compassion and patience to your children. Take pride in knowing that your role in the home will help change our families for the good and therefore set a better example of what a family is for our screwed up and fallen society. 

Rwanda

In 1994 Rwanda experienced mass genocide 1,000,000 human beings like you and I, were slaughtered in only 100 days based on tribal differences and opposing political views. 

Please check out information on KEZA at:

http://www.myspace.com/sistersofrwanda

In April we're going there to learn and to teach as guest artists in the Hair & Makeup industry. Giving the people more options than drugs and prostitution and a chance to really establish themselves in this creative field is exciting! The goal is to prepare them for Rwanda's Fashion Week and to help build a strong foundation (no pun intended) and impressive reputation for themselves and the beautiful country they represent. 

It is truly God that we're even in the position to be going. Please keep us in your prayers that we gain wisdom on how to financially get there, and that we become open to any changes that we need to make in our lives to prepare us for Rwanda.

To donate money for our journey to Rwanda we have a Pay Pal account set up. Comment below with your email address and an invoice will be send to you, every dollar counts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

History Will Repeat Itself

In 1607 a group of people fled their country to escape religious persecution. They faced disease, government bullies, squalls, and the unknown in the name of religious freedom. These people the Pilgrims had so much faith in their God, that despite the hurdles they kept going and paved the way for this beautiful country.

It's now (ironically) Thanksgiving season 2008 and I feel like in a lot of ways our country has reversed it's ideas of religion. Now, to be honest I'm not a "religious" person. I don't think Jesus would have considered himself a "religious" person either. He spoke and taught about the importance of our Father's love for us and how we need to respect and love others and reciprocate God's love. The only way to see God's face after we leave here is through Jesus Christ and having a relationship (or way of life) with Him. Not Religion.

Religion has completely mutated the face of Christianity. Religion has distanced God from His children. Religion has bored more children on Sunday mornings than plain grits. Religion has taken my rights from me.

As I get older I realize how often I'm afraid to tell people my beliefs, I'm terrified that if "they" know I'm a Christian I'll be punished for it, or ostracised at work. Are they afraid I'll pick up a Bible and throw it at them. Are they afraid I'll sit them down and have them confess their sins....for the love of it all I don't even want to hear those. (Because nobody I know probably wants to hear all mine) But because I'm not going to throw the Kings James at anybodies head, do not take away my "One Nation Under God"; do not throw a law suit at my church for not marrying two people of the same sex; do not judge me!

I'm writing this now outraged, because I've just realized how society has labeled me "ignorant" because of what I believe. That terrible less than accurate word has scared many Christians into social hiding. Being Christ like is being bold just as Jesus was bold. This is where it gets misinterpreted; don't be a Bible thumping jerk, that has never led anybody to Christ. Continue to stand up for what we believe in, persevere, be that disciple that we are called to be; and do all these things with love.

With that said, we should never back down. In 1607 the Pilgrims didn't stop, and Jesus did not let discrimination halt His purpose.

So Help Me.....

Treading lightly is what I need to do right now. *Uh hmmm, let me clear my throat.

Like most Californians I find myself in my car for a good part of the week (of course when I'm not riding my bike to and fro *wink). Please shed some light on this for me....please.

Why do people find it necessary to flaunt their afterlife destination on their expensive gas guzzling, two lane taking, luxury SUVs?

 

Damn the NOTW bumper sticker and it's trendy cool font and swirly designs.

Really? I mean if you ultimately believe we're Not Of This World then why aren't you still driving the perfectly older car you traded in two years ago? I mean come on, life is short, tell the Jones' to shove it, tell them you don't care about what you show up in at the kid's water polo games! Be extreme and live below your means. (wow-and it rhymes)

Let me encourage you, Christians, be bold! Let people know where you're destined to be when you leave this world. Not by your bumper sticker that you purchase for $2.99 from a "hip, and super funky" Christian retail store but by the way you love the people around you. 

When Did Christians Begin to Loathe Treehuggers?

Growing up in Southern California the environment, especially the ocean has become just as much a part of me as the traffic is bad. There is no better place to experience God in all His glory than in crystal clear water sitting on a board, and watching dolphins play nearby. 

* Gag me I know. That's all I could muster out without causing serious dumb chills for myself. 

In all seriousness I truly believe that. I also believe that as a Christian it is my responsibility to protect God's creation. After all, God did place Adam in charge of the land and sea; so why have environmental issues been tossed aside by Christians labeling them "Liberal" or "Left Wing"? 

I'm not suggesting that we should all become Granola eating (although it's tasty), Carbon footprint calculating (that's not a bad habit to form), bike riding (why not do it for your health), bring your own bag to the store (but if you do Trader Joe's enters you into a raffle), Hybrid driving (I couldn't get financed for one), patchouli wearing (reminds me of my mom) hippie! Start small by changing out light bulbs for energy saving ones, taking quicker showers, don't leave lights on too long; small changes however small they might be will have such an impact.

The argument can be made that "there are bigger issues out there like world hunger, corrupt governments, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic". Halting the effects of Global Warming certainly won't cure any of those issues, but neither will that excuse and neither will that much apathy.