Archives for October 2009

October 29, 2009 by Michelle 5 Comments

Influences of Media

I grew up in a godly, fundamentalist home. I thought all fundamentalist homes were like mine, with parents who loved God’s Word and had good reasons for the things we did and didn’t do. But not everyone liked the choices they made, and they were sometimes ridiculed for them. One of the things my mom felt strongly about that some did not understand was the influence of music and television.

As I’ve grown up, I have retained a good deal of my awareness of the influences around me. Take for example, the Disney CD that my children have been listening to. A song on it until recently has never bothered me, “I’m a Policeman, Dressed in Blue.” Cute song, nothing apparently objectionable. It’s simply a public relations song for policemen (They direct traffic and help children. The song says nothing of drug busts and shootouts.)

After listening to it about ten times in a single day, I started wondering whether the phrase “nobody has a better job than mine” should be addressed. I wasn’t sure it mattered. Don’t you think a child is oblivious to the meaning of the words in a song or at the least would know that this phrase is hyperbole? That’s what I assumed, until I asked my oldest child “Do you think Daddy has a better job than a policeman?”

No, came the reply. Hmmm. Maybe he’s simply recognizing that the policeman in the song is happy to be a policeman, I thought. So I questioned him further. After discussion, I realized that he and his sisters really did believe that nobody has a better job than a policeman. I have a problem with this conclusion. If God wants a young man to be a policeman, then it is the best job he could have, but being a policeman in itself isn’t the best job for anybody, and I would be uncomfortable for a young man to choose any profession on that misconception.

David has started telling people he wants to be a policeman. Since this song represents his entire exposure to policemen, I’m pretty certain his perception has been shaped by the song. Is it surprising that a song can be so influential? (Yes, I’m aware that what a child wants to be when he grows up changes through the years.)

I deleted the song from the playlist, and I am more confident that limiting exposure to philosophical errors through media in early years is a really good thing.

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. I Corinthians 15:33-34

October 27, 2009 by Michelle 2 Comments

Chief Adviser to God

In the military, life takes twists and turns, but I’ve often admired myself for being so willing to go wherever God sends us. [Warning! Warning!] I would not dream of telling God where we should go, [Warning! Warning!] especially since NM was not even on our dream sheet but was obviously God’s plan for us.

Funny thing, this, because the unpredictability was predictable. I knew last year what Lee’s goals were, our desires and goals for our family. I even had a good idea where we were going to end up next. Then I discovered a few months ago that Lee was rethinking all that, and all the predictability was gone. I honestly wasn’t sure that I was comfortable with some of the changes (including some increased work hours for Lee for a few years). Moreover, I had some good reasons to inform God why we needed to be one place over the other.

Before long, I realized I was worrying that things out of my control would turn out for bad, and I had slipped into a self assigned role as chief adviser to God regarding my life. I need a good dose of reality and repentance.

Maybe you need the same medicine. Here it is!

Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,
Or as His counselor has taught Him?
¹⁴ With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
And taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding?

Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:

“ My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
²⁸ Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
³¹ But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:13-14; 27-31

We do need wisdom as we make choices that God gives us. Sometimes we don’t really know what is best. But when it comes to life circumstances out of our control, we can trust God’s care in our lives. He is the Wonderful Counselor.

October 23, 2009 by Michelle 4 Comments

When I Am Afraid…

Last night I awoke in a foggy blur to a little voice calling my name. At my side was Bethel, saying, “I was afraid you were not back yet.” I assured her that we had gotten back from our date soon after they were asleep, gave her a hug and kiss, and then asked her if she could go back to sleep. She nodded and started to leave.

Then she turned around and said intensely, “What can I think about?”

Joy! Even in the fogginess, I was tickled that she understood she was still feeling fearful and the solution was to think differently. I reminded her that Daddy had the day off, and she went to bed happy.

Then I was awake, and troubled. I spent some time worrying about what the future might hold, until I remembered my little one asking me “What can I think about?” As I began to consider what Christ has done in my life, and how he paid the price for my salvation, there was no more room for worry. God in his grace gave me good sleep.

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2

October 21, 2009 by Michelle 2 Comments

Teaching Purity to Little Boys

Yesterday I opened up Proverbs 5 and read it for breakfast. [long pause] Yes, that’s the chapter about the immoral woman.

Last week when we were at the thrift store looking for books, David and Bethel were excited to find some birding magazines. One of them was a Smithsonian, and although I glanced at it when they brought a stack over, I didn’t think anything other than pleasure that the bird magazines appeared to have good articles, and thankfulness that they don’t have ads that must be removed. Later that afternoon, I realized that the Smithsonian magazine was not in the stack when David informed me that it had bad pictures in it and he had put it back.

I wanted to take the time to talk about the immoral woman in the context of David making a wise decision to put the magazine back and tell mom about it. Here is what we talked about.

First, I read the passage about needing discernment and making our lips security guards for knowledge (verse 2). I explained some things are wise not to talk about with some people. That’s why I can talk with Laurel about poop when I’m helping her in the bathroom, but not allow her to talk about it in the car among her siblings as a joke. I wanted them to understand that some knowledge is private.
Next, I read about the immoral woman appearing good when she really was extremely dangerous (verses 3-5). I explained that the magazine David found looked like a good magazine. It had a beautiful bird picture on the cover, but the inside had bad pictures in it (truthfully, I don’t know how bad they were, but that doesn’t matter for my teaching opportunity). I asked, “Does the immoral woman always look dangerous?” NO! They got the answer right! I wanted them to understand that sin often appears attractive.
I then read the portion that tells us to get far away from the immoral woman (verse 8). David could have decided that he would look at the good parts of the magazine and not said anything about the bad parts. But he put it back and told mom. That’s exactly what Solomon tells us to do. (I do think asking mom to remove the offending pictures would be another acceptable action, but we haven’t talked about that yet.) We are not to reason with the immoral woman, try to convert her or convince her that she’s in danger. We are not to be cavalier about sin, and I want them to understand that running away from sin is a wise response.
Finally, I read the portions about enjoying one’s own wife (verses 15-18). I explained that this is why I don’t let anyone else touch my private parts except my husband, and that he enjoys this very much, just like King Solomon says. I want them to know that God’s ways are the best ways.

This post is a Wisdom Wednesday because I was convicted that God’s Word makes it clear that parents should be teaching their children about the dangers of the immoral woman, and the great value of the beautiful woman called wisdom. God showed me that I had a good opportunity to bring it up in a positive way. Maybe I’ll follow up this discussion with reading the chapters on wisdom, and then reading the Proverbs 31 chapter, too.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
Lend your ear to my understanding,
² That you may preserve discretion,
And your lips may keep knowledge. Proverbs 5:1

Influences of Media

Chief Adviser to God

When I Am Afraid…

Teaching Purity to Little Boys

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