Help the Brethren Help the Haitians

Here are some links to Christian charitable aid organizations which are accepting donations and which have existing brethren contacts in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to funnel aid in to bring real help to the Haitians in their intense physical and spiritual needs following the devastating earthquakes God has created there in his Providence. May God use and equip His people to bring His healing to this nation.

Esperanza International-USA
Missionary Flights International
Children's Hunger Fund
Only a Servant

The Noa's in Washington have posted a link to an Amazon.com site where you can buy needed items to have shipped to Haiti, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

You may be interested in this news article, "U.S. Christian organizations sending disaster relief to Haiti"

Recipe: Ambrosia Salad

Here is an easy fruit salad, also good for potlucks. I modified the recipe from the original so that it would be more healthful and delicious!

2 cans (8 to 10 oz. each) crushed pineapple in juice (or fresh)
2 cans (8 to 10 oz. each) mandarin oranges in juice (or fresh)
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup real sour cream
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 tsp coconut flavoring (opt.)

Mix together in a big bowl and chill. Enjoy!

Does anyone have more dishes that are good for potlucks?

What a Gospel Tract Can (and Can't) Do

Tracts do not disciple or build a relationship with another person. They simply get the gospel and the word of God out. I personally believe tracts are vital to evangelism. But they are not the whole picture or even the major picture.

People need to be properly taught and discipled in a local Bible-believing church to grow in the faith, receive proper training in the doctrine of the Word, and grow a strong-rooted faith. If you are discipling someone in the faith, teaching the Bible, answering their questions, building trust and relationship with them, and they ask to pray with you for their salvation, by all means, pray!

But tracts don't do all that. Tracts are just a small beginning. They call the lost, proclaim the gospel, and may even convict of sin, but they can't disciple a soul.

Boycott Pepsi Co.

Note: this was originally posted in June 2009. I have someone close to me who I love who is enchained almost to death with this enslaving sin. Since I first posted this, Pepsi Co. has gone on to fund many more "Gay Pride Parades" in major cities nationally.

In this post, I have a link to more information about boycotting PepsiCo, Inc. for their radical support of the homosexual agenda. Please consider boycotting PepsiCo products and writing a respectful letter to the Chairman of this company, letting him know of your decision and why.

I also want to reiterate here that love means respectfully and gently talking with someone about their sin and telling them the Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus--salvation from death, sin, and the devil. It is cruel and unloving to never say a word about salvation in Christ to someone in a hellbound "deathstyle."

Please know that Jesus Christ can save a homosexual from his or her sin:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11

There is Hope for Homosexuals.

More links to sites that can offer loving hope in Christ for homosexuals:

Christian Resources about Homosexuality and AIDS
ChristianNewsWire article

Life Decisions International

Life Decisions International (LDI) opposes Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s (PPFA) agenda.

Planned Parenthood was founded in 1916 by elitist eugenicist Margaret Higgins Sanger. This “not for profit” has a one billion dollar annual operating budget--nearly one-third from taxpayers--with an "excess revenue" of $114 million in 2006-2007. Yet, Planned Parenthood incessantly claims to need more money.

PPFA also has a radical birth control agenda, promoting fornication, homosexuality, population control, and carcinogenic chemical use (including The Pill and “Emergency Contraception”). They work to undermine parental rights and even cover up statutory rape.

Planned Parenthood commits more abortions than any other single entity in the United States. They “surgically” killed 289,750 pre-born human beings in 2006 alone, generating $125 million. Only 2,410 customers were referred to adoption agencies that year.

In 2006, PPFA sold 1,436,846 “emergency birth control” kits, each of which delivers a huge amount of carcinogenic chemicals in an attempt to keep a conceived baby from implanting in the womb, to abort the few days old baby (if it exists). Many Planned Parenthood “clinics” accept orders for the deadly concoction by phone and/or online with no physical examination.

Life Decisions International wants to get the word out about Planned Parenthood. They also research and contact many corporations that have contributed to Planned Parenthood to inform them of Planned Parenthood’s agenda. If the corporation affirms their support of the PP agenda, then Life Decisions International adds them to their boycott list.

I encourage you to visit the LDI web site, learn more, contribute, purchase the Boycott List, and participate in their boycott/letter writing/prayer campaign. I do not benefit personally from LDI in any way. I simply think it is a good organization that Christians should support, if they can.

Almost 50 million babies have been murdered before birth in this country since 1973. Christians must continue to speak out against this sinful atrocity and reach the lost in the United States (and all over the world) with the gospel of Jesus Christ.



Do you have a family story about being active in the pro-life movement you'd be willing to share in the comments? Is there a particular pro-life organization you particularly support and stand with?

Neutrality?

As a Christian, I'm so aware of the tension between being in the world, but not of it; and I don't always have that balance I should, as I tend to lean one way then the other. I feel the same tension when I want so much to speak the truth in love (but so often fail). But what about the gray areas? Are there gray areas?

The truth (in love) is, there is no such thing as neutrality.

Either one worships the Creator or the creature.

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."(Romans 1:25).

The philosophy summed up in the phrase "Man is the measure of all things" is called humanism.

In contrast to humanist philosophy, Christians believe that the triune God of the Bible is the measure of all things. Christians follow Jesus Christ and believe in Him as the LORD God incarnate, Creator, Savior, Judge, Lord, Father, and Friend. Man, human reason, the earth, the animals, and the sun, moon and stars are all creatures (part of God's creation). God alone is to be worshipped and honored as the Creator.

Either one is for Christ or against Him.

"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."(Luke 11:23)

Either one loves life or loves death.

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:36)

Either one serves Christ or mammon (a false god of the love of money)

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

Either one is a child of God or a child of Satan.

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."(John 8:42-47)

Either one builds his house on the Rock or on sand.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27)

Either one produces good fruit or bad fruit.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."(Matthew 7:16-23)

It's so hard to think of that nice, moral non-Christian who you love as an anti-Christ enemy. Yet we are to know they are our enemy and love them anyway. And yearn for them to know eternal life and freedom through faith in Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(Jn. 3:16)

For Some the Only Way

The article I quote below could have been written for me. God used a Bible left by a dumpster to begin to work in my heart, until He brought me to a state where I signed up for a class about Christianity at a local church. I was born-again in that Bible-based class, and I was saved through the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary atonement on the cross for my sin. And He is faithful, keeping me in faith.

How did you come to Christ? Was it primarily through hearing the word of God, or by reading the word of God first?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17, KJV)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25, KJV)

From:
Moments With The Book: "For Some, the Only Way"

It's a wonderful thing that the story of the grace of God can be compressed into a few hundred words and printed on a piece of paper. It's even more wonderful when you consider that masses of people will not listen to a Christian broadcast on radio or TV. Neither will they enter a church or discuss spiritual things with a Christian.

You've probably heard the common reply, "I don't believe in discussing politics or religion."

Did you know that millions of people have this attitude? Multitudes cannot be reached by any other method than gospel tracts. Why? They have closed their hearts and minds to all public gospel approaches. Only the private door is open.

A person sitting in an airport will read the tract they find on their seat, yet they would stubbornly refuse to discuss the same truths with a witnessing Christian. Or a person may find a tract in a hotel lobby or a restaurant booth. In that secret moment the Holy Spirit can deal with them about Christ.

A whole segment of humanity cannot be reached in any other way. This means that the tract ministry is as vital as any form of evangelism. These people can be reached in a private moment with a tract that tells the message of Jesus Christ.

Many people have been deceived into thinking that tract ministry is not that important. Without realizing it, many Christians are despising one of the choicest ministries for our day of hit-and-run living. Once a believer begins to use gospel tracts, he finds how tracts reach people that he will never even meet face to face. Leave one in a public place, and the Holy Spirit will have someone ready who needs this approach--a person you'll never see until we reach Heaven. There is no substitute for the "hidden treasure" concept of Matthew 13:44. Some people just have to find Christ by themselves.

Arm yourself with these silent evangelists, and you'll contact souls beyond the reach of any public evangelist. For some it's the only way.

--C. S. Lovett

(Also, please do read all the other wonderful tract articles linked on that page.)

"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled."

— Charles Spurgeon

Growing Your Hair Long

Here are some thoughts I've had on the controversial question: Should a woman grow her hair long? I've also included some tips for growing your hair long, if you'd like to do so!

The Bible teaches us that men and women are distinct from each other. Men are to be masculine, and women are to be feminine (Deuteronomy 22:5). Part of a woman's distinctive femininity is her long hair.*

"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." (1 Corinthians 11:14-15)

As we read more of the Bible, we find that a woman's hair and head "covering" is a symbol of the greater reality of the covering of Jesus Christ provides for His beloved Church (Genesis 3, Psalm 140:7, Isaiah 3:20-30, 1 Corinthians 11:3-8, Ephesians 5:23).

Sadly, many a Christian woman has lost sight of the fact that her hair is a glorious symbol of her protected, cherished, forgiven position in the hierarchy of God's creation. Some women who want to grow their hair long feel afraid or conflicted about it, or may just not know how. Watching Oprah, reading the women's magazines, or talking with friends, many women are receiving the worldly, pressuring message--contrary to God's Word--that long hair is a burden, a shame, and the glorious thing to do is to cut it all off!

Feminists often cut their hair short because they see it as a glorious "freedom" from the "covering" and protection of God and man. That is why, after hundreds of years of keeping their hair at full-length, women cut off their hair during the rebellious feminist and Marxist times of the 20th century, especially since the 1920's. That is why a woman will feel angry and want to cut off her hair (Jeremiah 7:28-30) when she has been cut off from masculine protection (sometimes at her own instigation) and has been abused by a man. That is why, ironically, extreme feminists will often cut their hair very, very short to make it look like the hairstyles of men (Deuteronomy 22:5).

In this post, I would like to encourage ladies to grow their hair! How long? The Bible doesn't spell out an exact length--and I don't think it is important how long. I encourage you to read Scripture to get a better idea of God's perspective of a woman's hair, and the more important understanding of Christ's relationship with His Church.

Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself: Do I feel very feminine and distinctive (unlike a man) with my hair this way? Do I feel feminine when I care for my hair, dress it, braid it, comb it? Do masculine men, especially men who protect and cherish me, seem to appreciate my hair this length? Am I able to keep it healthy and well-cared-for at this length?

In my experience, I had never been able to grow my hair past my shoulders. I had always wanted to grow my hair longer, but felt somehow that I "couldn't" grow my hair. I never felt like my hair looked "right" and tried all sorts of expensive, damaging treatments, such as dyeing and perming, to try to make it look "right." Then, I researched various ways to grow my fine, straight hair and put them into practice as an experiment. Six years later, my hair is healthy and waist-length, and I am very happy with it!

As you read the list below, notice how the very acts of caring for long hair train a woman to be more feminine and gentle.

Here are some tips to grow your hair healthy and longer, whatever length that is for you!

1) Stop going to hair salons. Don't listen to hair stylist fashionistas and TV commercials which have money-worshiping, worldly, feministic reasons to undermine you in this area.

2) Trim your hair yourself at home. Here are instructions on how to self-trim long hair. Also, trim only damaged individual hairs if you can. Here are instructions on how to "dust" your hair.

3) Stop coloring, bleaching, frosting, perming, straightening, and heat styling. Be very gentle. If your hair is very damaged, you may have to cut off the damaged hair and start over. Trust that God made your hair the "right" color and texture, and He'll grow it the "right" length, too.

4) Comb gently and slowly through damp hair with a wide-tooth comb. Never use a brush on damp hair or very curly hair.

5) Use jojoba oil, cocoa butter, or even cooking oil on the ends of hair if the ends seem dry.

6) Stop using hair accessories that pull, rip, and damage hair. Be very gentle.

7) Learn hair styles that keep your hair femininely confined in braids and updos.

8) Wear flowers and ribbons in your hair. Wear hats and scarves over your hair, especially in worship service, to remind yourself of the unearned covering and loving protection the Lord provides you.

9) Comb your hair gently before you shampoo, and shampoo very gently with the minimum amount of shampoo. Never pile your hair on top of your head and scrub. Use the pads of your fingers when you shampoo. Rinse very throughly and gently.

and

10) Wear your hair long no matter what age you are. The world is totally wrong when it tells us that women become more masculine as we age because of hormone changes. You are fully a feminine woman all your life, no matter what stage or season of life you are in. (Remember Sarah, who though old and past childbearing age was so beautiful in her godly grace that a king desired her and took her from Abraham. God protected her from the king's advances.) The younger women need to be able to look up to the older women who have the godly courage to remain beautiful and distinctively feminine as they age.

"In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate." (Isaiah 28:5-6)

* If you are sick, and don't have any hair or must keep your hair very short, you can still be feminine and "covered." First, and more important, you can be covered by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Secondly, and less important, you can wear pretty scarves, hats, and wigs. I am speaking against a rebellious, feminist spirit in this post, not against ladies who have a physical illness.


If you have any long hair tips or stories, I hope you'll share by commenting!

How My Mother Got Her Soft Face

"For when you looked into my mother's eyes you knew, as if He had told you, why God sent her into the world--it was to open the minds of all who looked, to beautiful thoughts."

James M. Barrie, Margaret Ogilvy

Why I Must Marry a Christian Man

When I became a new Christian at age 30, I was dating men in the hopes of getting married. After I became a Christian, it took me a while before I realized I should only be considering dedicated brothers in Christ for any future marriage plans!

Yet I was still approached by non-Christians and nominal-only Christians, and I had to come up with something to tell them. Or maybe to remind myself? Here are some of my answers to the question, why only consider a Christian man for marriage?

God says so. Genesis 28:1, Judges 4:15, 1 Kings 11:3-5, Song of Solomon 4:10, Ezekiel 16:31-33, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 2 Corinthians 6:14, 1 Peter 3:7

A man is the head of his wife (Ephesians 5:23). If he does not lead her to God (1 Corinthians 9:5) or wash her in the Word (Ephesians 5:25-27), then where is he leading her? If he refuses to lead her, then why would she marry him? (1 Timothy 3:12)

A Christian man knows God wants him to marry and have children (Genesis 9:1, Psalm 127:4, 1 Timothy 5:14). How could a non-Christian man know this and why it is so?

A man who knows Christ, knows his role is to be humble to Christ and submitted to Him, and to lead, protect, cherish and provide for his wife and children (Micah 6:8). How could a non-Christian man do this?

How could I share spiritual matters and discuss the Word of God with an unsaved man? How could I love and be intimate with a man I knew would spend eternity in hell (if God did not intervene before the end of his life)?

A Christian man understands that love, truth, and beauty actually exist (Philipians 4:8), but a non-Christian man isn't quite sure. What if it's just electro-chemicals in the brain caused by random chance accident, he can't help but wonder sometimes (PBS "love").

A Christian man has faith to continue on and overcome problems and remain faithful, but a non-Christian man's faith is only in himself, and when he runs into problems cannot remain true...a woman becomes an unbearable burden, then; he does not have the strength of Christ to sustain him (2 Corinthians 12:9, Philipians 4:13, 1 Peter 5:10).

A Christian man will agree with God that he is a sinner (Rom. 3:22-24, 1 Jn. 1:8), that he sins in specific ways, and repent of those sins, and be sanctified by the Word and Spirit (Lev. 5:4-6, Ezek. 18:29-31, Luke 13:3, Luke 17:4, Acts 3:19, Jn. 17:17-20, 1 Cor. 6:11)so that he will become more holy, as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16), and be ever more conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-30). Also, he can forgive the sins of his wife, as Christ has forgiven his sin and hers (Matt. 6:15, Mark 11:25, Eph. 4:32).

A non-Christian could influence me away from God, and perhaps any children we might have also (see above Scripture, next to "God says so").

That's just for starters ;)

But it's probably enough...

Please comment--how do you (or would you) handle this, especially if you are a woman living on her own with no fatherly protection?

Air Drying Laundry

One way to save money, both by reducing energy expenditure and by reducing the wear and tear on your clothing and your electric dryer, is to air dry your laundry.



It's very good to have a clothesline set up in your back your backyard, but if you're like me, and live in an apartment, setting up your own outdoor clothesline isn't very practical. I've seen pictures of apartment city dwellers using their small balcony railings to dry their clean, wet laundry--but I what would I do if my unmentionables blew away?


When I lived in a studio apartment with radiator heat, I would dry my laundry spread over the top of the laundry basket or some other contrived rack, with the basket set atop the radiator cover. The laundry room was on a different floor, and I found the trips up and down and having to guard my laundry very tiring. This make-do innovation reduced the time I spent on laundry significantly! Also, the laundry dried quickly that way because the radiator always blasted heat with no way to adjust it! Why feed quarters into an automatic clothes dryer, then? :-)


Now, even though I currently have a washer/dryer in my apartment, I use a wooden clothes drying rack with vinyl covered horizontal wooden rods. Bought many years ago at a garage sale for $3, this clothes drying rack has served me well. I think they are around $10 new in the stores--still very much worth the purchase price, in terms of cost savings over the years. More on that below.


I have tried the wooden racks without the vinyl covering, but unfortunately, the rack became warped and mildewed after several uses because the moisture invaded the wood too much. The vinyl covering realy protects the wooden rods well.


Speaking of humidity, a clothes drying rack is a wonderful way to bring humidity back into our modern, overly-dry aired homes.


Everything, including sheets, blankets, towels, sweaters, and denim items, can be dried on this type of rack. However, these things can be very heavy on the rack straight out of the washing machine. Usually, I partially dry the very heavy things in the electric dryer, and then put them on the wooden rack to finish drying. However, this isn't necessary. If you have two wooden clothes drying racks, you can spread the weight across the two of them, and two should bear the load just fine.


Or if you have more than one person in your household, I am sure you will want more than one :-) This might be a good way to get children involved in caring for their clothing and helping their families with the household chores. Perhaps each child or each children's room could have its own clothes drying rack. They fold up and can be tucked away in a closet when not in use.


Another way I air-dry my laundry when I have a lot--too much for the one clothes drying rack I have--is to place the blouses, tops, skirts, and dresses on hangers and hang them on my shower curtain rod. They are usually completely dry within 12 to 24 hours, and then they are very easy to iron quickly (if necessary) and put away in my closet! Many times, items do not need ironing, if dried this way, though--even better!


If it's not too windy outside, and you have a clothesline, you could also use hangers to hang your clothing on the line.


I think I remember reading in Amy Dacyzyn's Tightwad Gazette book, that it cost around $0.44 (c. 1991) to dry a full load of laundry in the electric dryer. I wash about four loads of laundry per week. Using the 1991 number, that's a savings of over $90 per year (or almost $500 every 5 years), just from this one little habit. Of course, if you must do more than four loads a week, you will save even more! Plus the clothes last much longer, and you don't have to buy and maintain a humidifier.


I don't know about you, but I would rather spend that money in other ways!

What are some of your favorite ways to save money with laundry or make your clothing dollars stretch? Has anyone else read the Tightwad Gazette? It's one of my favorite books! :-)

Man's Sin and God's Salvation