UPDATE: I didn't check the link earlier, so I've fixed it now if you want to check out the other blog. If it still doesn't work, the address is: http://www.tbds.blogspot.com Have a great day!
Hey all ~ there's a new blog in town! It's something I've wanted to do for a while, so it's about time it's done. All you have to do to get to it is click on the title of this post ~ "Apples of Gold"
It's not really a blog ~ it's more of a devotional page. I write something called "Treasure Box Devotionals" for an e-newsletter for moms called "Emphasis on Moms." I love doing it ~ opening up God's word for people to be encouraged, taught and challenged by. It seemed natural that they turn into a blog....
So, each week...or sometimes day...(that's my goal ~ to do it daily)...there will be a new verse or passage posted along with a short little thought bubble at the end.
In doing this I simply pray that you would be encouraged in Spirit and in deed to draw closer to Christ and all His beauty and might.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Pete's Health
Thank you all so much for your prayers. One thing we have discovered, and it's a good thing, is that Colon Cancer is not as scary as it sounds. Thankfully we've come so far in knowing what needs to be done to "get it" that the Doctors don't sound like they're too worried about this.
THANK THE LORD!!!
From what we've been told Pete will probably start with Radiation treatment, then surgery, then chemotherapy to finish it all up. When I asked Scott if the doctors had given any idea of the severity of the prognosis his reply was, "it sounds like they're saying, 'let's take care of this and you can get on with your retirement.'" So that's a good thing.
It just seems so strange to hear the word "Cancer" and not have it carry the horror or horrors that it has in so many other instances. My friend, Jennifer Withe, experienced the same thing when she found out she had breast cancer a few weeks ago. She had a mastectomy, will go through chemotherapy, and will continue to live her life. I never cease to be amazed at the abilities God has given us to fight and cure disease.
So, the future looks bright, and I thank you for your prayers.
THANK THE LORD!!!
From what we've been told Pete will probably start with Radiation treatment, then surgery, then chemotherapy to finish it all up. When I asked Scott if the doctors had given any idea of the severity of the prognosis his reply was, "it sounds like they're saying, 'let's take care of this and you can get on with your retirement.'" So that's a good thing.
It just seems so strange to hear the word "Cancer" and not have it carry the horror or horrors that it has in so many other instances. My friend, Jennifer Withe, experienced the same thing when she found out she had breast cancer a few weeks ago. She had a mastectomy, will go through chemotherapy, and will continue to live her life. I never cease to be amazed at the abilities God has given us to fight and cure disease.
So, the future looks bright, and I thank you for your prayers.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
F-I-L
Please pray for my family-in-law. Last week we found out Scott's Dad has Colon Cancer. He sees the specialist today to find out just how far advanced it is as well as discussing necessary treatments/surgeries/procedures and other options. Thank you for praying!
When I let my mind "go there" I can't help but be overwhelmed with sadness on a number of different levels. There are so many wonderful times we've had with Pete, and I treasure some of our conversations we've had while on vacation with he and Cathy. One in particular has us standing at a railing at the resort in Canada while we were staying there before the Foskett 50th Family Reunion. I enjoy hearing about his years growing up and his sharing tidbits of Scott's grandparents. Having come into the family from out of the blue it's a special gift when he takes the time with me to open up the past and the memories he has with his family from before I was a part of it all.
He's not gone, he's very much alive, and I thank God daily for the opportunity the boys have to have Papa Pete as their Grandfather. His work ethic is unmatched and his love for his family is huge. This is not a small thing that is easily taken for granted...quite the contrary. He is also my husband's best friend. Scott said the other night, "I don't quite know what to think of all this...." I can tell that he is simply not allowing himself to "go there" and to pray in faith that God can heal his Dad. He had come home from New Mexico the day I found out. I had gone to pick him up at the airport, and we were going to have lunch as is our tradition when he comes in and the boys are at school. When he walked up I could tell there was an extra weight on his shoulders. I thought it was work-related as I've seen it a few times when everything hits at once, but as he got closer I could tell this was something deeper. He had tried to call me right after he had gotten off the phone with his parents, but I was unavailable so I asked him why...that's when he told me...you could have cut the air with a knife. It wasn't tense, it was a feeling of overwhelming grief of the unknown. And there's so much more unspoken....
Thank you for praying. We appreciate it and covet them now more than ever.
ADD-ON:
Here's an e-mail update we've received from Pete & Cathy just a moment ago...
"Pete and I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support and love this last week. We have heard from so many via telephone, e-mails, cards, personal visits and people praying with Pete on the phone. It is so encouraging knowing so many are thinking of us and praying for us. Please continue to pray for courage for us as we begin right away with meetings with doctors and procedures.
We have met with the specialist this morning. We will be coordinating Pete's treatment with 4 different doctors right away, who will discuss with each other and us the best plan of attack. Each day we will probably be knowing more. First, Pete will have blood work drawn and a CAT SCAN done immediately. Then with those results and the information we now know, the oncologist will decide which will come next, but it will probably be radiation first, then surgery and then chemotherapy. Those procedures should all be beginning within the next 3 weeks.
Again, thank you for your love and your prayers for courage, for patience and for a peace that passes all understanding as we begin to take the path down this road with courage and with a strong faith that God will see us through.
Love, Cathy and Pete"
Friday, October 5, 2007
Me? A Strong Willed Wife? .......maybe.
In going through some of my old posts I saw this and saw that I hadn't posted it. I wrote it back in July, but realize it still is pertinent...I'm still a strong-willed wife.
**********************************************************************************
It seems like God must get really sick of my character most days! I am a stubborn, bull-headed and opinionated woman who thinks I know what's best for everyone involved. I can tell you how to parent your children, how to love your husband, how to lead your small groups and blah, blah, blah.... No wonder I can turn my husband away with a single word or bring tears to my children's eyes with a look when I'm so focused on myself.
I write this as a confession. I am a strong-willed wife, mother, and friend. I'm sure I was a strong-willed daughter and sister, too.
Hello. My name is Trayc, and I'm a strong-willed wife.
Lord, help me!
This doesn't come about randomly. I podcast Midday Connection from Moody and Dr. Debbie Cherry is the guest I'm listening to right now. I have gone into a slump of discontentedness in the last few weeks ~ tired of a marriage with two people who are opposites from each other and don't know how to truly let down our guards with each other. Tired of children who, once they get around other people, decide to show everyone where my parenting weaknesses lie. Tired of having to change my lifestyle and complete diet just to be healthy enough to live. This Midday is the answer to my prayers ~ and it's not at all what I want to hear!
**************************************************************************
Submission: Insights from a Strong-Willed Wife
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D
“My husband is just not the leader type. It takes him forever to make a decision. If he won’t lead then I guess I have to.”
“I know my husband can lead because he’s great at it at work. But at home he just lets me do it all.”
“I wouldn’t mind letting my husband lead our family…as long as he does it the way I would.”
Have you ever found yourself making comments like those? If so, it’s very likely that you are a strong-willed wife. There are some amazingly wonderful things about being blessed with a strong-willed personality. And as long as those traits are controlled by the Holy Spirit we strong-willed wives can bring changes to the world around us and do amazing things for the kingdom of heaven. But those same traits can cause some serious difficulties as we are trying to have a marriage that follows God’s ordained authority structure in our marriages. As strong-willed women, we struggle to let go of control and really allow our husbands to take their God given role in our homes. But it is something that we really have to learn to do if we want a marriage that God continues to bless.
Strong willed women think fast, move fast and make decisions fast, and expect others to do the same. But when our husbands don’t meet these expectations we tend to step in and do it for them. What if your husband would be willing to make more decisions but you don’t allow him the time he needs to do so? And what if the decision he makes isn’t the same one you would have made? Would you still let his decision stand? Many husbands may be more cautious and slow in their decision making but that doesn’t mean they won’t or can’t lead. A husband who has never taken the lead may need to take on this responsibility in stages, just as you will likely need to release your responsibility and control in stages.
So if you are ready to start letting your strong willed personality work in your favor and really start using your personality to honor God and your husband, here’s some things to help get you started as you learn to let go of control and let your husband lead:
1. Talk openly with your husband about what you plan to work on: This will help your husband know where to join you in prayer about the changes you are going to be making. It will also help him be aware of the areas you are working on and be available to give praise and encouragement along the way. And finally, open communication is necessary so the two of you together can identify what areas you are going to start handing the reigns over to him in first. If you don’t discuss this and you just decide to release the reigns without him knowing it’s his turn to pick them up and lead, then the whole family could go running out of control with no one in the leadership role.
2. Stop doing everything: Once you and your husband have talked about the areas where you both want to start making changes, then it’s time to step back in those areas and give him the space and time he needs to take the lead. As you back off, remember that over time your husband has probably become dependent on you to do it all because you always have. So be patient and wait for him to do what he has said he will do. How far you have to back off will be different for every marriage. But I assure you it will be further than you are comfortable with.
3. Set realistic expectations for you and your husband: If you expect perfection (as most of us strong willed wives do) from either yourself or your husband then you are setting both of you up for disappointment. Not only will husband not be perfect as he tries to learn about godly headship, but you also won’t be perfect in your attempts to let go and let him lead. If you set realistic expectations you will be able to see your successes as steps forward and your failures as learning experiences.
4. Take ownership of your behaviors: This means that you will have to stop blaming others, stop denying the behaviors, and stop avoiding responsibility for your behaviors. All three of these are things that we strong-willed wives often do. We have to learn how to take ownership of our part of the problems that come up in our relationships and when we do we need to learn to apologize and seek forgiveness for them.
5. Stop criticizing: We strong-willed wives tend to focus on our way of doing things and saying things as the right way (and sometimes the only way). When people do it differently we feel it necessary to correct them. But learning to control our tongue will make a huge difference in our relationship with our husbands. The key to this step is to learn to accept your husband’s differences and to understand that different does NOT mean wrong. If you continue to criticize your husband or redo what he’s done, you undermine your attempts to let him lead.
6. Praise often: The other side of controlling your tongue is learning to give praise on a regular basis. You need to learn to look for the good in this man that God has blessed you with, and be open with your praise. Make a conscious effort to look for things that he does or traits that you see in him that are praiseworthy and shower him with these comments. Say things that let him know that you trust and respect him and his ability to lead your household. These statements will make him start to feel like the man of the house again and like the man God created him to be.
7. Strive toward unity: Biblical submission has as its ultimate goal a stronger and more intimate marital relationship. It’s about blending into one flesh and setting aside our selfish desires. We are on the same team and working toward the same goal. So when it comes to decisions within your home, the ultimate goal needs to be unity. To experience this unity you will need a plan of action that the two of you have agreed upon and that keeps you moving in the same direction. The plan can take several different forms as long as you come up with it together, both agree that it is a workable solution and then follow through with it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the CEO of Today’s Family Treasures. http://www.tftreasures.org/
Article is adapted from her book: The Strong-Willed Wife: Using your personality to honor God and your husband. NavPress, 2007.
Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11544585/
**********************************************************************************
It seems like God must get really sick of my character most days! I am a stubborn, bull-headed and opinionated woman who thinks I know what's best for everyone involved. I can tell you how to parent your children, how to love your husband, how to lead your small groups and blah, blah, blah.... No wonder I can turn my husband away with a single word or bring tears to my children's eyes with a look when I'm so focused on myself.
I write this as a confession. I am a strong-willed wife, mother, and friend. I'm sure I was a strong-willed daughter and sister, too.
Hello. My name is Trayc, and I'm a strong-willed wife.
Lord, help me!
This doesn't come about randomly. I podcast Midday Connection from Moody and Dr. Debbie Cherry is the guest I'm listening to right now. I have gone into a slump of discontentedness in the last few weeks ~ tired of a marriage with two people who are opposites from each other and don't know how to truly let down our guards with each other. Tired of children who, once they get around other people, decide to show everyone where my parenting weaknesses lie. Tired of having to change my lifestyle and complete diet just to be healthy enough to live. This Midday is the answer to my prayers ~ and it's not at all what I want to hear!
**************************************************************************
Submission: Insights from a Strong-Willed Wife
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D
“My husband is just not the leader type. It takes him forever to make a decision. If he won’t lead then I guess I have to.”
“I know my husband can lead because he’s great at it at work. But at home he just lets me do it all.”
“I wouldn’t mind letting my husband lead our family…as long as he does it the way I would.”
Have you ever found yourself making comments like those? If so, it’s very likely that you are a strong-willed wife. There are some amazingly wonderful things about being blessed with a strong-willed personality. And as long as those traits are controlled by the Holy Spirit we strong-willed wives can bring changes to the world around us and do amazing things for the kingdom of heaven. But those same traits can cause some serious difficulties as we are trying to have a marriage that follows God’s ordained authority structure in our marriages. As strong-willed women, we struggle to let go of control and really allow our husbands to take their God given role in our homes. But it is something that we really have to learn to do if we want a marriage that God continues to bless.
Strong willed women think fast, move fast and make decisions fast, and expect others to do the same. But when our husbands don’t meet these expectations we tend to step in and do it for them. What if your husband would be willing to make more decisions but you don’t allow him the time he needs to do so? And what if the decision he makes isn’t the same one you would have made? Would you still let his decision stand? Many husbands may be more cautious and slow in their decision making but that doesn’t mean they won’t or can’t lead. A husband who has never taken the lead may need to take on this responsibility in stages, just as you will likely need to release your responsibility and control in stages.
So if you are ready to start letting your strong willed personality work in your favor and really start using your personality to honor God and your husband, here’s some things to help get you started as you learn to let go of control and let your husband lead:
1. Talk openly with your husband about what you plan to work on: This will help your husband know where to join you in prayer about the changes you are going to be making. It will also help him be aware of the areas you are working on and be available to give praise and encouragement along the way. And finally, open communication is necessary so the two of you together can identify what areas you are going to start handing the reigns over to him in first. If you don’t discuss this and you just decide to release the reigns without him knowing it’s his turn to pick them up and lead, then the whole family could go running out of control with no one in the leadership role.
2. Stop doing everything: Once you and your husband have talked about the areas where you both want to start making changes, then it’s time to step back in those areas and give him the space and time he needs to take the lead. As you back off, remember that over time your husband has probably become dependent on you to do it all because you always have. So be patient and wait for him to do what he has said he will do. How far you have to back off will be different for every marriage. But I assure you it will be further than you are comfortable with.
3. Set realistic expectations for you and your husband: If you expect perfection (as most of us strong willed wives do) from either yourself or your husband then you are setting both of you up for disappointment. Not only will husband not be perfect as he tries to learn about godly headship, but you also won’t be perfect in your attempts to let go and let him lead. If you set realistic expectations you will be able to see your successes as steps forward and your failures as learning experiences.
4. Take ownership of your behaviors: This means that you will have to stop blaming others, stop denying the behaviors, and stop avoiding responsibility for your behaviors. All three of these are things that we strong-willed wives often do. We have to learn how to take ownership of our part of the problems that come up in our relationships and when we do we need to learn to apologize and seek forgiveness for them.
5. Stop criticizing: We strong-willed wives tend to focus on our way of doing things and saying things as the right way (and sometimes the only way). When people do it differently we feel it necessary to correct them. But learning to control our tongue will make a huge difference in our relationship with our husbands. The key to this step is to learn to accept your husband’s differences and to understand that different does NOT mean wrong. If you continue to criticize your husband or redo what he’s done, you undermine your attempts to let him lead.
6. Praise often: The other side of controlling your tongue is learning to give praise on a regular basis. You need to learn to look for the good in this man that God has blessed you with, and be open with your praise. Make a conscious effort to look for things that he does or traits that you see in him that are praiseworthy and shower him with these comments. Say things that let him know that you trust and respect him and his ability to lead your household. These statements will make him start to feel like the man of the house again and like the man God created him to be.
7. Strive toward unity: Biblical submission has as its ultimate goal a stronger and more intimate marital relationship. It’s about blending into one flesh and setting aside our selfish desires. We are on the same team and working toward the same goal. So when it comes to decisions within your home, the ultimate goal needs to be unity. To experience this unity you will need a plan of action that the two of you have agreed upon and that keeps you moving in the same direction. The plan can take several different forms as long as you come up with it together, both agree that it is a workable solution and then follow through with it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debbie L. Cherry, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the CEO of Today’s Family Treasures. http://www.tftreasures.org/
Article is adapted from her book: The Strong-Willed Wife: Using your personality to honor God and your husband. NavPress, 2007.
Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11544585/
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Trouble With Harry...
I'm not one to raise my voice against something based on feeling or without having a leg to stand on. Most of the time, anyway. I guess I actually learned something in my debate classes with Mr. Krick. (he'd be shocked to read that!) So I haven't gone real public with my views on Harry Potter. I've talked to friends about the books and had some very interesting conversations with those who enjoy and read the books, but I have never made public my view....until now.
When I was living in Norfolk, NE with my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dee I was kind of the "Adult Sunday School" teacher. I say "kind of" because I think I learned more from everyone else than I think I taught...but I digress.
In the Fall of '97 I wanted to do a few lessons on Halloween. I have no issues with kids dressing up in fun and frivolous costumes and knocking on doors for candy. In fact, some of my favorite pictures are of my boys dressed in said costumes. However, as we get older Halloween can have the tendency to take on a different set of circumstances. It was with this mindset ~ as a warning to help our children understand the importance of keeping Christ first and foremost in our lives ~ that I wanted to do a series on what Halloween was about for the world....the unbelievers....and those who took it to the extreme it was originally.
When I mentioned it to my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dee they had a very interesting story for me ~ and a warning of their own. Their warning was to make sure I was spending more time in the Word of God than I was in research of Halloween. Their story told the reason why.
Evidently, my Uncle Jim did his thesis (I'm probably going to get this part wrong...the part about WHEN he did it...but the story is correct as I remember it....) about alternative religions and the occults. Maybe I should stop here and explain that my Uncle Jim is an ordained Nazarene Minister. At the time I was living wtih he and Aunt Dee they were officers in the Salvation Army and heading the church and ministry there in Norfolk. He has worked with addicts, unwed mothers, and more people than I have probably ever talked to in my life. At this writing he and Aunt Dee are serving in the Louisiana area as relief workers for those affected by the hurricane. (Side note: Aunt Dee is in the hospital with some serious medical issues...please keep them in your prayers.) All this is said to let you know my Uncle Jim is a fascinating and well-read man of God. He loves people extravagantly, but his love for people is surpassed in multiples by his love for Christ. His greatest desire is for people to know Christ's truth...which led him to study the occults and alternative religions. He wanted to understand what would draw them in....
As he studied he found that he, himself, was being drawn in. He was in The Word, but the draw of "the dark side" was very real and pulled him strongly. It was Aunt Dee's rebuke that allowed him to see that he was being pulled in and he needed to stop. Uncle Jim admits that his desire for the Word of God was dwindling, while his desire to learn more about the occult was growing. He stopped and asked a friend to keep him accountable and grounded in his study of the Word of God first...and THEN to see through eyes of TRUTH what it was he needed to know and what he needed to stay away from.
Having heard this story...and honestly being amazed that even a man of God as my Uncle Jim could find himself pulled in...I knew I had to be careful. So I did my studies with great trepidation. I learned what I needed to learn, prepared my lessons and went on with my life knowing Halloween was something I needed to have fun with when my kids were little while instilling in them the dangers of the tricky one Halloween is based on.
So you can guess that my fear, my anxious heart, kicks up when I hear of and/or see people who profess to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls, and minds reading and condoning the reading of Harry Potter. It is tricky (no pun intended) work of the enemy of our hearts, souls and minds that pulls people in to this series of books and movies that makes the God vs. Satan line fuzzy and, most times, absent. The enemy of our hearts, souls, and minds wants nothing more than to pull us away from the LOVER of our hearts, souls and minds...by giving us just enough truth to pull us in to the lies...by making his world of lies, hatred and deceipt look beautiful, sensual and fair. It's lies, though. He is a liar and a cheat and the killer of all things beautiful.
I know this for fact ~ when I was in High School a friend of mine got sucked in to the Wiccan lifestyle. I saw the power of the enemy in that time. It's stuck with me. And I know the line that is so easily crossed when it comes to astrology and the such. What starts out as no big deal has a tremendous ability to lead to a VERY big deal.
So, why am I writing this? Well...as a warning, sure. There really IS spiritual warfare going on in this world. And if you don't believe me, ask a soldier who's been stationed in Iraq about the evil that is alive there. Ask my friend from LA whose parents were Satanists about the evils she saw growing up. It's not some fantasy land that does not exist!! It is real.
The other reason is to get you thinking....if you read Harry Potter and anticipate the next novel's coming with great anxiousness do you read the Bible with equal zeal? Do you look forward to spending time with Christ and reading the amazing TRUE-LIFE stories of what He did on this earth as much as you look forward to knowing what happens with Harry next? (I know....do I look forward to reading my Bible as much as I look forward to the next Karen Kingsbury book or Dee Henderson book or John Ortberg book??? duly convicted....)
We all have it ~ if it' s not Harry Potter it's something else, but the Harry Potter mayhem has brought this about. Thanks for reading..and thinking...and praying with me that a desire for God's Word would overtake the desire for the things of this world.
I have a couple of links for you...one is in the title. It's an article that is well written, well thought out and well researched about the danger of Harry Potter and it's acceptance in the Christian community.
The second is a link to a gal's Xanga site that I subscribe to. I have never met her, but I enjoy her entries so much that I look forward to seeing an entry in my mailbox when they come. The entry I'll link to is her entry about Harry Potter. in it you will find links to her daughter's Xanga and to the article I have linked in the title. Here is her site (you'll have to cut and paste it): http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=thats_italian&nextdate=7%2f27%2f2007+23%3a59%3a59.999
My hope and prayer in writing this is not to put a wall up between us if you think Harry Potter is okay ~ but rather to get those who call themselves Christians...Christ-followers... to think about what you are putting into your mind. I know this goes for all things ~ and I'm guilty of finding pleasure in wrong things, too. (trust me ~ this is not a "Harry Potter Only" rant and God is bringing to mind those things in my own life that need to be let go of....) However, for now I feel the need to warn of the dangers of what a "fantasy" book carries with it.
I'd love to hear your thoughts ~ and I'm sure there are those who completely disagree with me ~ so talk to me about it! Let's start a conversation looking for truth.
Sincerely,
Trayc
PS: if you want a great fantasy book that captures your attention why not "Narnia" or "Lord of the Rings?" Excellent books of fantasy that will blow you away when God's goodness overcomes satan's wickedness! I watch the Lord of the Rings fight scene between good and evil and I stood up and cheered I was so filled with hope!
When I was living in Norfolk, NE with my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dee I was kind of the "Adult Sunday School" teacher. I say "kind of" because I think I learned more from everyone else than I think I taught...but I digress.
In the Fall of '97 I wanted to do a few lessons on Halloween. I have no issues with kids dressing up in fun and frivolous costumes and knocking on doors for candy. In fact, some of my favorite pictures are of my boys dressed in said costumes. However, as we get older Halloween can have the tendency to take on a different set of circumstances. It was with this mindset ~ as a warning to help our children understand the importance of keeping Christ first and foremost in our lives ~ that I wanted to do a series on what Halloween was about for the world....the unbelievers....and those who took it to the extreme it was originally.
When I mentioned it to my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dee they had a very interesting story for me ~ and a warning of their own. Their warning was to make sure I was spending more time in the Word of God than I was in research of Halloween. Their story told the reason why.
Evidently, my Uncle Jim did his thesis (I'm probably going to get this part wrong...the part about WHEN he did it...but the story is correct as I remember it....) about alternative religions and the occults. Maybe I should stop here and explain that my Uncle Jim is an ordained Nazarene Minister. At the time I was living wtih he and Aunt Dee they were officers in the Salvation Army and heading the church and ministry there in Norfolk. He has worked with addicts, unwed mothers, and more people than I have probably ever talked to in my life. At this writing he and Aunt Dee are serving in the Louisiana area as relief workers for those affected by the hurricane. (Side note: Aunt Dee is in the hospital with some serious medical issues...please keep them in your prayers.) All this is said to let you know my Uncle Jim is a fascinating and well-read man of God. He loves people extravagantly, but his love for people is surpassed in multiples by his love for Christ. His greatest desire is for people to know Christ's truth...which led him to study the occults and alternative religions. He wanted to understand what would draw them in....
As he studied he found that he, himself, was being drawn in. He was in The Word, but the draw of "the dark side" was very real and pulled him strongly. It was Aunt Dee's rebuke that allowed him to see that he was being pulled in and he needed to stop. Uncle Jim admits that his desire for the Word of God was dwindling, while his desire to learn more about the occult was growing. He stopped and asked a friend to keep him accountable and grounded in his study of the Word of God first...and THEN to see through eyes of TRUTH what it was he needed to know and what he needed to stay away from.
Having heard this story...and honestly being amazed that even a man of God as my Uncle Jim could find himself pulled in...I knew I had to be careful. So I did my studies with great trepidation. I learned what I needed to learn, prepared my lessons and went on with my life knowing Halloween was something I needed to have fun with when my kids were little while instilling in them the dangers of the tricky one Halloween is based on.
So you can guess that my fear, my anxious heart, kicks up when I hear of and/or see people who profess to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls, and minds reading and condoning the reading of Harry Potter. It is tricky (no pun intended) work of the enemy of our hearts, souls and minds that pulls people in to this series of books and movies that makes the God vs. Satan line fuzzy and, most times, absent. The enemy of our hearts, souls, and minds wants nothing more than to pull us away from the LOVER of our hearts, souls and minds...by giving us just enough truth to pull us in to the lies...by making his world of lies, hatred and deceipt look beautiful, sensual and fair. It's lies, though. He is a liar and a cheat and the killer of all things beautiful.
I know this for fact ~ when I was in High School a friend of mine got sucked in to the Wiccan lifestyle. I saw the power of the enemy in that time. It's stuck with me. And I know the line that is so easily crossed when it comes to astrology and the such. What starts out as no big deal has a tremendous ability to lead to a VERY big deal.
So, why am I writing this? Well...as a warning, sure. There really IS spiritual warfare going on in this world. And if you don't believe me, ask a soldier who's been stationed in Iraq about the evil that is alive there. Ask my friend from LA whose parents were Satanists about the evils she saw growing up. It's not some fantasy land that does not exist!! It is real.
The other reason is to get you thinking....if you read Harry Potter and anticipate the next novel's coming with great anxiousness do you read the Bible with equal zeal? Do you look forward to spending time with Christ and reading the amazing TRUE-LIFE stories of what He did on this earth as much as you look forward to knowing what happens with Harry next? (I know....do I look forward to reading my Bible as much as I look forward to the next Karen Kingsbury book or Dee Henderson book or John Ortberg book??? duly convicted....)
We all have it ~ if it' s not Harry Potter it's something else, but the Harry Potter mayhem has brought this about. Thanks for reading..and thinking...and praying with me that a desire for God's Word would overtake the desire for the things of this world.
I have a couple of links for you...one is in the title. It's an article that is well written, well thought out and well researched about the danger of Harry Potter and it's acceptance in the Christian community.
The second is a link to a gal's Xanga site that I subscribe to. I have never met her, but I enjoy her entries so much that I look forward to seeing an entry in my mailbox when they come. The entry I'll link to is her entry about Harry Potter. in it you will find links to her daughter's Xanga and to the article I have linked in the title. Here is her site (you'll have to cut and paste it): http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=thats_italian&nextdate=7%2f27%2f2007+23%3a59%3a59.999
My hope and prayer in writing this is not to put a wall up between us if you think Harry Potter is okay ~ but rather to get those who call themselves Christians...Christ-followers... to think about what you are putting into your mind. I know this goes for all things ~ and I'm guilty of finding pleasure in wrong things, too. (trust me ~ this is not a "Harry Potter Only" rant and God is bringing to mind those things in my own life that need to be let go of....) However, for now I feel the need to warn of the dangers of what a "fantasy" book carries with it.
I'd love to hear your thoughts ~ and I'm sure there are those who completely disagree with me ~ so talk to me about it! Let's start a conversation looking for truth.
Sincerely,
Trayc
PS: if you want a great fantasy book that captures your attention why not "Narnia" or "Lord of the Rings?" Excellent books of fantasy that will blow you away when God's goodness overcomes satan's wickedness! I watch the Lord of the Rings fight scene between good and evil and I stood up and cheered I was so filled with hope!