2010 Christian Heritage Homeschool Conference

This Thursday through Saturday, April 22-24, I plan to attend the 5th* Annual Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington Family Discipleship & Homeschooling Conference! I am so excited!! I attended last year and have the CDs from past conferences as well. The speakers are wise (at least wiser than I am!), and so inspiring!

Why attend when I am not married and have no children to homeschool? Because I pray in the Lord that I will be married and have children that I may homeschool one day. I want to prepare for it and possibly meet like-minded families. I certainly support other families who homeschool their children.

For more information about this conference, go to their web site,
here.



* I corrected this to "5th Annual" on May 4th. (It said "4th Annual" before.)

Judas Asparagus

I received this in an email. It is so cute and made me laugh. Enjoy!

A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. Through the eyes of a child:

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one badapple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except forMethuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David.. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.

The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Domestic Felicity: Student debt gone to extreme

Mrs. Anna T. over at Domestic Felicity has a good article on questioning student debt gone to extreme.

Like many young women raised to reject God's ways and embrace feminism instead (and I didn't need to be raised that way, I would have followed the crooked path of my sinful heart on my own!), I incurred huge student debt to pursue a career I never wanted in my heart of hearts.

Thanks to God, after many years in the workforce, I have paid off that debt and am now debt-free (renting an apartment). Nevertheless, I wasted years earning money to pay off debt to which I should never have enslaved myself. We have a merciful God in Christ Jesus!

And may other dear young ladies be warned by my bad example!

Doug Phillips' Commentary on American Missionaries in Haiti Charged with Child Kidnapping

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum gives an excellent analysis of the recent charges brought against American missionaries in Haiti. Click on this link.

What I Require in a Gospel Tract in Order to Buy and Distribute It

1. It must be attractive, good design, visually pleasing

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" (Phillipians 1:27)

2. It must give a clear exposition of the gospel, including a discussion of SIN.

All who would be Christians need to hear the bad news before we can be grateful for the good news.

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Romans 3:19)

"The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."(Matthew 11:5)

"And [Jesus was] saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)

3. It must quote directly from the Bible. No paraphrase "bibles" (The Message, New Living Translation).

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

"What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32)

4. It must be God-honoring, portraying God as His word does: as sovereign, good, holy, mighty, faithful, merciful, just and as Creator, Savior, Lord and Judge of all men.

In the modern "church," there is an almost blasphemous portrayal of God as a buddy, someone we are equal terms with. He is portrayed as being made in our image. This is evil, and I would never buy or give out a "gospel tract" that portrayed God that way.

We must be reverent, worshipful, humble and grateful before God, and we must never lie about Who He Is! It is only because of the gracious condescension, mercy and love of God that He allows us to have a relationship with Him in Christ.

God does not fit our (sinful) idea of love and friendship, rather He teaches us what true love and friendship is. He is the Judge of us; we are not the judges of Him!

"I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (Proverbs 30:3-5)

"Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further." (Job 40:1-5)

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another." (John 15:12-17)

5. It must not say "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life," tell the reader to insert their name into John 3:16, or some similar gimmick.

How do you know? How do you know that if they hear the true gospel, they will believe? It's presumptuous at best and a falsehood at worst.

"For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

6. It must not tell the person how special they are, and that's why God loves them and offers them salvation, or a similar false "self-esteem gospel."

While it's true that every person is made in the image of God and is therefore valuable beyond measure, it's also true that each person is also a depraved, despicable sinner (since the fall, except for Jesus Christ), who is in desperate need of the way the truth and the life, Jesus Christ.

"They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:3)

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinithians 5:21)

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

7. It must not emphasize the person "choosing" or "deciding" to believe in Jesus or "commit his life" to Jesus. Or "choosing" to go to heaven instead of hell.

Faith is neither an intellectual decision nor existential (of an act of the will in the flesh to “create” a reality).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

8. It must not lead the reader in a "sinner's prayer."

We have enough lost people who think they are Christians because they were: led in a prayer, prayed for, walked down an aisle, baptized, raised in a church, raised in a Christian family, raised in the "Bible Belt," sent to Vacation Bible School (VBS), and all the other ways people are not saved.

"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10)

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

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. (John 3:16)

Whiter Teeth the Frugal Way

My favorite tip to keep your teeth white inexpensively is to brush your teeth with a little hydrogen peroxide (HP) along with your toothpaste a few times a week. No need to pay for a dentist or buy those $20 hydrogen peroxide strip kits. After brushing a bit to get some foam started with the toothpaste, sip (don't swallow!) only about 1/2 a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide from a glass you've poured a bit of HP into and swish your teeth with it. Then brush as usual. I don't actually measure the HP; I just "eyeball" it. After brushing and spitting out the toothpaste/HP, I rinse my tongue with water, but not my teeth, so the HP has time to work to whiten the teeth. Then after 10 or 15 minutes, I rinse my whole mouth with water.

This will only work on natural teeth, not caps, crowns, etc. If your mouth gets sore or you develop canker sores, then use less often. Your teeth might be a little "sensitive" after--that's normal. At first, when my teeth were quite yellow, I did this three days in a row. However, for maintenance, I usually only brush with HP once or twice a week.

Good dental care is so important, not only to your smile, but to overall health. A healthy person is the most attractive. So take care of those choppers!

For more information about health issues caused or exacerbated by poor dental health:

From Wrong Diagnosis, symptoms of tooth decay, including comorbid symptoms

Tooth decay and gum disease linked to heart attacks


I highly recommend using a Sonicare, if you can afford it--I found mine on sale for $20, and I usually use rechargeable batteries to power it. Be gentle and thoroughly rinse and air dry the brush head after each use, and you can easily extend the life of the brush head to 9 months, or maybe more. You will save much money in dentist bills because it improves the health of your teeth and gums when used properly.

But you can have healthy gums and white teeth with a regular manual toothbrush. Always floss, no matter what type of toothbrush you use. When you floss, it should be gentle, and feel like a tickle, as you gently work the floss around between your teeth. Then use a soft brush head, to very gently scrub with small, slow gentle circular strokes along the gum line and the surface of the teeth. You only need a small pea-sized bead of toothpaste; using any more than that is just a waste of toothpaste (money).

A friend of mine would only brush once per day (until she basically lost most of her teeth to decay; now in her 60's, she has thousands of dollars worth of fake teeth). If you have to pick a time of day to brush your teeth, then pick the evening before you go to bed. However, you can safely brush two or three times a day as long as you are GENTLE and swish and rinse thoroughly with water.

Debating Christianity

I thought it might be fun and interesting for my readers to read some of the threads I've posted in on the web site Debating Christianity. I've attempted in these threads to defend the faith and debate some people with anti-Christian philosophies and worldviews.

How do you respond when someone has an angry challenge or hostile response to your faith in Christ? Do you have a philosophy of apologetics or have an interest in apologetics? Or maybe it's "forced upon you" by unbelieving family? How do you handle it, if you're a believer and your family are all unbelievers?

The Importance of Vitamin D

For several weeks, maybe even months, I've been feeling quite rundown. I wasn't sick enough to go to the doctor with anything...just extremely tired, infections coming and slowly going, mild nausea, down mood, not sleeping well, and fatigued. I've even been late/stayed home from work a few days, and morning worship on the Lord's Day one day.

I was praying to God about this strange malaise, and I remembered my mom telling me about how common vitamin D deficiency is, especially during the winter in overcast Western Washington State, where we live. Vitamin D is the vitamin our bodies produce when the skin of our face and hands/arms is exposed to strong sunlight for 10-15 minutes per day. It is also available in certain foods. I didn't think much of it at the time because I love the rain and the hazy grays of winter here, but I realized that for months, I've been going to/coming home from work when it's dark and avoiding egg yolks (to save fat and cholesterol) and other vitamin D-rich foods.

Vitamin D aids the body's absorption of calcium and strengthens the body's digestion process, immune system, and sleep cycles (I think). I bought some OTC vitamin D pills and have been taking 2,000 IUs per day for the past few days.

I can't believe the difference! All my energy and vivacity has come back and my eye and ear infections have cleared up. My digestion is very good and my nausea has disappeared.

Please consider if you might have vitamin D deficiency and take pills/get more sunlight/eat more vitamin D-rich foods. Doctors can check this as well, and even prescribe a high-dose vitamin D if you have very low levels. Such a simple thing to fix, and I feel so much better! :-)

A prolonged vitamin D deficiency can cause even more serious health problems. Here's a link for more information.

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! :-)