Category Archives: Christianity

Christianity, headlines, TV

Standing Alone

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Neal McDonough has chosen to take a bold step. A step that may distance him a bit from his industry. McDonough (of TinMan, Boomtown, Desperate Housewives and much more) has chosen to walk away from, or possibly got fired from, the new ABC show Scoundrels. Why, you might ask? Because he refuses to do sex scenes. Yup, you read that right. Someone who was on Desperate Housewives, with Edie Brit no less, never got it on.

Apparently this has always been his position. Marc Cherry knew it as he walked into Desperate Housewives and McDonough’s people say that the people on Scoundrels knew it too. Part of the hubbub is because he was replaced 3 days into filming. I can see this going down a couple of different ways. Either his people (or himself) thought they could negotiate a script change because they happen all the time. Or the people behind the show thought they could talk McDonough into changing his view. I do have to say, his character is going to be in prison so how hard would it be to avoid showing him having sex?

But who cares? McDonough hasn’t come out saying that sex, sex on tv or actors who are in these scenes are bad. He just chosen to not participate due to his convictions. But people are taking it personally it seems. He made a decision for himself so if you feel guilty, examine your own conscience.

Over on Deadline many of the commentors seemed offended that he doesn’t have a problem playing someone who is a murderer. There is a difference. Yes, I understand that it is acting (and what acting means) but I also understand some mechanics. I also understand that I don’t want my husband rubbing up against some actress no matter how platonic it might be. Whereas, I don’t really care if he shoots blanks at you and you are spattered with fake blood. If it is on my carpet, that is whole different issue;).

I have always liked Neal McDonough in everything I have seen him in. I also know that taking a stand like this can cost you in Hollywood. So I for one am willing to step forward so he isn’t standing alone. I am not saying all have to make his choice (though, that would make watching tv a little less uncomfortable for some of us) but respect the fact that it is his choice to make.

(HT: Adam Baldwin)

Christianity

Saint Patrick’s Confession

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!! This picture is from my MOPS meeting today where we talked about Saint Patrick and Easter! I love Saint Patrick’s Day not for the beer (can’t stand it), the leprechauns, or that everyone dresses in green. I love it because it is the story of a man who returned to a people who enslaved him in order to preach the gospel. I know that shocks the many of you who thought he drove the snakes from Ireland but there weren’t snakes in Ireland;). If you are looking for a special thing to do for Saint Patrick’s Day I highly recommend you read Saint Patrick’s confession! It is a fairly easy adult read and it helps you to see his heart!

So go and remember God on this awesome holiday!

Christianity, fun

A Little About Purim

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Purim is from sundown on February 27th until March 1st this year (it is based on the Jewish calendar). But what is Purim you wonder? I have often heard it referred to as Jewish Halloween but there is more to it than that. It is the celebration of Esther and God’s saving of the Jewish people! We are to remember this every year (Esther 9:28):

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants.

It is a celebration. So in my house we might let the kids dress up, make noise makers and crowns. I will (probably) make Hamantaschen. The big feature is the telling of the Esther story. The children (and adults) boo whenever Haman is mentioned and cheer at the mention of Mordechai. We might also print off pictures and do some other fun stuff (go to my Frugal Homeschooler for activities and resources).

As Christians why do we celebrate Purim? Well, I could get into the whole Jesus celebrated Judaism and so we should also keep the holidays (with grace because we aren’t under the law). Or how when we excepted Christ we were grafted into the family of Abraham. But…. Here is a simpler reason. God was faithful in saving the Jews and because of that we have Messiah. So we need to celebrate God’s faithfulness to us by saving the Jews from Haman’s hand.
There are lots of lessons in the book Esther (like if Saul would have been obedient…) but that is for a different day. Let us start by rejoicing in God’s faithfulness! And the fact He uses a willing and obedient heart to do great things, like save a people.

Christianity, church, life, Wordless Wednesday

Be a World Changing Family!

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Today at MOPS we had an awesome speaker who spoke on being a world changing family. Shelley was awesome. Not only did she talk about some great ways to change the world with our kids (Operation Christmas Child, making sandwiches to give to the homeless, etc) she also brought treats!!! She made the adorable cookies herself!!!

But is it hard to be a world changing family, especially with younger kids? I don’t think so. The focus is to teach them to be generous and to care for others starting at a young age. The best way I can see to change the world is to show it God’s love. So start involving your kids (or start serving someone yourself) in showing love to others and that alone will change the world.
I think of the joy my kiddos have gotten putting change in the Salvation Army buckets. Or helping me take food to a family with a sick mom or a family that just had a baby. I love the idea of just making bagged lunches and handing them out to people who need them. I don’t know where you live but around here we seem to have people begging on every corner. You can also do canned food drives, collect change for your local Pregnancy Care Center or just about anything. Just do something no matter how small.
It isn’t hard but it is intentional.
That was a word that Shelley used a lot, intentional. This doesn’t just happen but you have to do it. Shelley had a great idea we might start doing. She has a friend that takes all of her kids’ artwork down to the convalescent home. I might have to start doing that. Between church and what the kids just make at home, we are swimming in the stuff. To think it might brighten someone else’s day and not have to go in the recycle bin (at least so soon) makes me happy.
So what do you do with you kids to make them World Changers?

Pray for Shelley and her family! They are a world changing family in a big way. They have sold their house and will be moving their family down to Colombia to preach God’s Word. They are not already in the ministry (her hubby is a teacher) and their kids are young (4 girls ages 10-6). So this isn’t convenient but they were called by the Lord. So I ask you all to keep them in your prayers!
Updated: I was asked why I would consider this a WFMW. I can say that for many years I was looking for ways to help my kids serve others. I think there are some really good ideas on how to get your kids active in showing generosity and love to others!

Christianity, life

God’s Grace and His Miracle

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My baby girl could have died today or been seriously injured. I am blogging about it because God completely spared her from any harm and I need to share to give Him glory. (This may read a little rambly, I am on pain meds)

For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook you already know that we took the crib out of NerdPud’s room on Christmas so we could move the kitchen set into her room. Now she sleeps in her big girl toddler bed. Which also means that she can get up during naptime to play. Since it is all so new we haven’t really stepped in to stop her yet.

Now in her room she also has a large dresser. It is more than 6 feet long and, at most, 4 feet tall. Out of 4 kids, we have had 1 ever start to climb on his dresser so given its shortness (and wideness) we didn’t worry about tethering her dresser to the wall. That could have been a fatal mistake.

So NerdDad put down all the kids for naps/rest time today and came downstairs. We heard them all playing, mostly quietly. Then all of a sudden I hear a large bang. I started sprinting up the stairs and she started to cry. NerdPud had managed to pull the dresser down on her self. I ran in her room to find her body covered with the dresser and her head and shoulders free. It seemed a bit propped up on the end she was at and I just slid her right out without resistance or anything.

The dresser just didn’t fall in that area all the way down. At first we thought it had landed on her bed, but it hadn’t. It may have been supported by the drawer but the dresser wasn’t designed that way. The drawer didn’t actually come out of the dresser so there is no logical way it should have been propped up. It was as if she truly had the hedge of protection around her just like I always pray for.

My baby girl came out of the whole thing without even a scratch!!!! No bruises, no bumps, nothing. As I was carrying her downstairs I asked a couple times if she had an owwie. She kept saying yes and when I asked where she kept saying on her drawers. There is no reason for this but God. I praise Him and thank Him for keeping my baby safe.

Christianity, Video

Everything Skit

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*** Repost! This was discussed last week at my Women’s Bible study and was requested so I am reposting it! I originally posted this back in January of 2008.

This has been floating around out there so it wouldn’t surprise me if you all have seen it. All my MOPS girls have it on their Myspace pages. But I post it for any who haven’t. When I first saw this skit I was a little harsh on it. I saw the Christ representation standing unable to get to her. But upon rewatching, you see Him pulling and when she has fought with all she has and has no more He intervened. Be prepared to shed a tear. I have every time I have watched it. Christ is waiting for us and our focus to be on Him. When it is and we use our strength to move towards Him, He will do the rest we need.

**Warning: this deals with real issues, not in graphic but obvious imagery. So don’t watch with kids unless you are ready to answer a couple of questions.

child rearing, Christianity

Glee, 80’s Rock, and Kids

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I saw the Glee premiere a while ago and loved it. It isn’t kid friendly but it was pretty good. But seeing this video really made me think. We all love this song but would it really be something that we we would want our 14 year olds singing? It seems that 80’s rock, and older music even more so, is protected by this “innocence” because it is old. But do parents, and especially Christians, judge this kind of music with the same kind of filter that they judge currently popular music? I think that genre’s are just more than content and that is a shame. Rap, hip-hop and pop are not inherently evil. But it is what they say that makes it inappropriate. Now I totally admit that I listen to music that I won’t let my kids listen to. But I don’t listen to it in there ear shot and I never lie about listening to it (I am rarely asked). It is the passive listening that seems to bother me the most because it is the thing that isn’t considered.

So do you test the message of the music you expose your kids to? How about what they hear that you are listening to?