More views on "The Golden Compass"

The Golden Compass
Question Whose Authority?

December 6, 2007

Note: This commentary was delivered by PFM President Mark Earley.

After months of controversy, the fantasy film The Golden Compass finally opens this weekend. Some fans of Philip Pullman's books have been tying themselves in knots over this. They have expressed their hope that the film will keep Pullman's original anti-God message. But at the same time they were declaring that Christians were being ridiculous for saying that there was any anti-God message at all!

So now for the $64,000 question: Is the movie openly anti-religious?

Hanna Rosin wrote in the Atlantic Monthly that New Line Cinema has "stripp[ed] out [Pullman's] theology and replac[ed] it with some vague derivative of the Force." In a sense, that is true. New Line, as Rosin recounts, has been keeping a "nervous" eye on the bottom line, knowing that blatant atheism in the movie would hurt sales. Besides, if the film would have delved fully into all of the complexities of the books' belief system, it would have come to a screeching halt.

In short, Pullman's anti-God, anti-religion message has been toned down a little in the movie. But it is still there.

The main villain in the movie is a mysterious organization called the Magisterium—a word that will be familiar to Catholics. The organization's headquarters bears a remarkable similarity to famous religious landmarks, and some of their buildings have pictures of saints on them. Their goal, we are told by various characters, is to "tell people what to do" and to put an end to "free will." The Magisterium tries to force obedience and stifle thought. And it goes to violent lengths to try to prevent children from reaching puberty and having what Nicole Kidman's character euphemistically calls "nasty thoughts and unhappy feelings."

The somewhat simplistic message that emerges is, "Question authority." But as the Ignatius Press blog points out, it comes across more like "Question authority. Just not our authority." That is, we are supposed to accept the film's assertions about what religion is like as, well, the gospel.

But it is just a story, isn't it? Of course, it is. But as Philip Pullman himself once wrote, "'Thou shalt not' might reach the head, but it takes 'Once upon a time' to reach the heart." That is exactly the point made in the new book The Pied Piper of Atheism, which draws the connection between Pullman's fantasy tales and the legendary figure who stole children away by playing music that appealed to their emotions.

No matter what the filmmakers meant to do, Pullman certainly intended to capture children's hearts and plant the seed of doubt there. And the film, watered-down as it may be, cannot help but reflect that—as will future films, for in the second and third books in Pullman's trilogy, the hatred of God is expressed much more clearly and strongly than in the first. (Despite the film's PG-13 rating for violence, which is justified, parents took younger children to the preview screenings, and more children will undoubtedly be going when the film officially opens.)

In fact, Christian parents are already being bashed by some for not wanting to take their kids to hear this anti-God message. To those parents I say, good for you. Keep questioning the culture's authority.

The Golden Compass; to view or not to view

With the release of The Golden Compass today (12-07-07), many Christians are looking for the truth behind this controversial movie. Adapted from the first book in a trilogy written by Philip Pullman, a self-described atheist, Compass has been accused of being anti-Catholic and pro-atheism. But how concerned should we be about the power of the film?

This week, one of the ChristianityToday Movies critics offers practical advice about how we might respond to The Golden Compass, and answers some of the most common questions about the film in their feature article, "Fear Not the Compass."

Also, be sure to check out the rest of their coverage on the movie for some insightful commentary on Philip Pullman's writing and thoughts from their readers about the impact of the film on children.

Good Guilt or Bad Guilt

Learn MORE here!

AND here!

The History of Thanksgiving

Ever wonder what the pilgrims and their Native American guests really ate at the first feast? Travel back to Plymouth and discover some of the humble origins of Thanksgiving traditions we celebrate today and what the original celbration was actually like!

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i could be fit and trim if i wanted....

Gracism!

Practical ways to reconcile the racial divisions in our country and in the body of Christ.
"Gracism" is the answer to racism.

To learn more, hit the link below.

MORE! interview with David Anderson

MOTIVATION FROM JULIA HAVEY

A...always believe in your ability to succeed. This is important to success because if you do not believe that you can and will succeed in reaching your objectives...why would you try? I think that we give up and fail to reach our goals because we predispose ourselves to fail. We think negative thoughts such as "the last diet didn't work, so this one won't either" or we listen to others tease us for "going on yet another diet". Put those thoughts and others like them out of your mind. From today forward, believe in YOU. Believe in your ability to take control over your situation and to improve every aspect of your life.

B...always be prepared. Many people write to me and say that they intend on eating a healthy meal but end up pressed for time and utilize a fast food restaurant for their meal. You know your lifestyle better than anyone. I can not tell you what will work for you in each situation, but you can! If you routinely are pressed for time, prepare for this, anticipate this happening. Being prepared means packing food from home before leaving for the day, filling a cooler with everything you need for a healthful day, do what you can to insure that healthy food will be readily available to you when you are hungry.

C...care for yourself. If you have not taken the time to do the self-discovery survey on my website, do it today. Visit, www.Juliahavey.com to take yours. Or take out a piece of paper and do it non-cyber way! Write down ten adjectives right now that you would use to describe youself, or just think of them in your mind. What words do you select that best describe you? Are they positive words that signal a strong sense of self? Are they words that reflect the being that you are? Are the words that you chose negative and self-depreciating? Do the words focus more on the condition of your body than of your personality and soul?

I want you to think carefully about the words that you selected. No one else can read them, no one else can hear your thoughts, these are your private thoughts about yourself. Read them over. How do they make you feel? If you words are positive in nature, good for you. You will have a much quicker start on this journey. If your words are negative, ask yourself if you would ever use these words to describe a loved one or a best friend. If the answer is no, then you need to stop using them to describe YOU, the most important person in your life.

Now that you have your ABC's down, let's get to the 1-2-3's! To jumpstart your journey on the path of self-improvement through self-motivation all you need to do are three easy steps.

1. Identify the worst thing that you routinely do that is hindering your weight loss or self-improvement. Do you mindlessly eat chips or pretzels late in the day at work? Do you walk by the communal bowl of M&M's and grab a handful a few times a day? Do you drink regular soft drinks? Identify that which you know is the worst habit that you have and go about breaking it. Replace it with something positive. Are you a nibbler by nature? No problem. Nibble, but switch the unhealthy snack that you have previously chosen with something better for you, such as carrots, grapes, raisins, etc...

2. Work your body! Right now you may very well feel like the rusty, squeeky and hard to move about "Tin Man" from the Wizard of Oz. It may have been so long since you actually used your muscles that they now feel like the won't move, but move they will! With a little bit of oil (WATER intake, in our case!!!) and a little bit of movement they will respond and soon they will be as good as new and maybe even better than ever before. One of the best things about being human is that even if you have been overweight your entire life and have NEVER been in shape.....you can change! You can lose weight, you can get your muscles toned and tightened. You can realize the body that you have always dreamed of. All you need to realize is that dreaming and wishing won't produce results. Work your body and it will work for you!

3. Attitude is everything. If you mope around and feel sorry for yourself thinking that life will be a series of denials and deprivation if you adhere to your "diet", then you have already lost the battle. If you embrace change and believe that all the years that you endulged in unhealthy foods, didn't excercise and lived in a body that you didn't like, that THEN you were being denied and deprived of all that life has to offer...then you are on the road to change! Living life in a healthy manner is NOT deprivation, it is abundance. When you can run through the park with your children, fly kites, jump on trampolines, make love with out fear or shame, dance even when people may see you...this is the stuff that life is made of!

Even after losing 130 pounds, I was intimidated to do yoga. I have always wanted to try it, but felt that I would not be limber enough or coordinated enough to do it. Last week while at my gym later than usual, I saw the class assembling for 7PM yoga. I actually left the gym. I went to the car and threw my stuff in it, ready to retreat and go home, even though I had only done 45 minutes of my 60 minutes of cardio! Coward! I realized this and turned around and headed to the yoga class. I took off my socks and shoes and grabbed a mat. I looked around at the other ladies, most were in great shape, a few were not. I endured one hour of awkwardness. I was unfamiliar with the moves but NOT unable to do them. I actually thought that the workout was fairly easy, mostly stretching and holding in that position. The next day, I realized why yoga is so good for you. For one, I actually relaxed during the class (for those who know me, you know I am fairly hyper!). And unexpectedly, my muscles were sore. Yoga is a great from of exercise and toning that I had denied myself of for many years! I allowed preconcieved notions, bias and fear of the unknown keep me from doing something that I now love!

What is holding you back from realizing your dreams and goals? What is there in life that you want to do and have not been allowing yourself to realize? Attitude is everything.

Now, make a list of what you like about yourself, keep reading it each day to remind you. Figure out what you have been being denied and make a plan to realize it! It really is as easy as 1-2-3!

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Can you explain the Trinity?

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ANSWER

Towel Racks and Weightloss!!

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SURE to give you valuable information and MAKE YOU LAUGH!


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A group of alumni, firmly established and successful in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all his old students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it's normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything. Remember that God provides the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee! "

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

What God Fearing Means to Me!

What does it mean to be a “God-Fearing People”? Are we to fear God so much that we are afraid to approach Him? St. Paul has advised us to boldly go to the throne. (Hebrews 4:16 -approach the throne of grace with confidence). If we have FEAR of God, in the sense that the FEAR is so terrifying, then we can not “boldly go to the throne” or even believe that God is loving. Here is my explanation as to what “God-Fearing” means to me:

God has blessed me and my brothers with two wonderful parents. They both are firm as to what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. My father could just give us a look (not mean, not terrorizing, not hateful), but a look that told us he was the father and he knew what was better for us more than we did and we better not cross that. My father has never raised a hand against me or my youngest brother, but I did see him, only once, whip my oldest brother. That was all it took for my brother to change his behavior. My father never had to do that again. I believe that it was true for my father on that day, the saying, “It hurts me more than it does you.” My father did not like to do this sort of thing, but it was necessary at the time.

My father worked a lot. He made sure that his family was taken care of. He was always very loving to us. There were times that he would take us places and we would do things together. We always had a wonderful time. When I was a child, he use to let me stand on the tops of his feet and we would dance around the room. I loved him very much. He rescued me once from my mother’s old wringer washer. (A wringer washer was an old washing machine that the inside tub did not spin to wring the water out of the clothes. Instead, the wringer part was two rollers slipped together and the motor turned it and you used a stick to push the clothes in between the rollers to wring the water out.) My mother was washing clothes in the basement and when my mother left the basement, I decided to wash my doll clothes. When I used the stick to push the clothes in the wringer, the stick got stuck and I was holding on trying to pull it out. Before I knew it my arm was stuck in the wringer. I started screaming as loud as I could. The wringer just kept turning and turning on my arm. My daddy heard me and jumped the flight of the stairs. He did not run down them, he jumped from the top to the bottom. When He reached me, he unplugged the machine, popped the wringer, and got me out. He held me for the rest of the day. He was certainly my hero. I loved him with all my heart and I knew that I could trust him.

My mother cares deeply for her family. She was always very supportive of my father and they loved each other very much. I never saw or heard them argue. They seemed to have this magical way of working things out. My brothers and I are very thankful for that.

My mother always did wonderful things for us. She had beautiful dresses made for me. Easter was a special time for that. She would also let me invite friends over to spend the night. She would always join me and my friends. She told us some wonderful and funny stories. She would let me and my brothers invite our friends over when it snowed. We would go sleigh riding and she would make cookies and hot chocolate. She loved having our friends over. She is a wonderful mother.

My mother also had a way of letting us know that she knew what was better for us. She set no uncertain terms for using the “Rod of Correction”. I tell you, she did not have to use it often, but when she did, we knew we had better straighten up. At one time, when I was misbehaving, she had me bring her a switch. I thought that I would bring her a twig in hopes that she might find humor in that. SHE DIDN’T. I had to go get another one and it better be a good one. I did and got my little legs switched. I knew not to defy her.

My parents were not abusive people. They did not look for reasons to whip their children. They did not enjoy it. They would sit us down and tell us why they had to do that and that it was our responsibility to do what was right in order to live in a good world and to make a better world.

This was how my parents were taught to correct their children. Back then NO ONE was yelling abuse. And I tell you, that way for my parents was used in a loving way. It got our attention and we knew to listen. God says, “Spare the rod, spoil the child” and my parents truly believed that.

Pr 13:24 - He that spares his rod hates his son: But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Pr 22:15 - Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Pr 23:13 - Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Pr 23:14 - Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell

Pr 29:15 - The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.

(This is not saying to correct with hate in your heart or by loving and enjoying beating a child. This is abuse. There is a difference.)

My parents chastised us as children and we feared that as we were growing up, but it never caused us to hate them or resent them and it never caused them to hate or resent us. Instead we knew that they loved us and they certainly cared for us. Their chastisement caused us to be better people.

My brothers and I love our parents with all our hearts and we often thank God for giving them to us. Although we loved them, we also feared them and respected them. You see, my parents loved us enough to care what kind of people we should be that they were willing to chastise us and cared enough for us to SHOW they loved us in many wonderful ways.

My parents also taught us that we have a loving and caring God. He created us and we are His. They also taught us that God will lovingly chastise his people that do not obey His word. He is our Father; we are his Children. By fearing His chastisement, has caused us to be “God-Fearing People” and in looking at Him as our Father, helps us to respect, love, and honor Him. By fearing the Lord will help us to be better people, to live a better life, and to help make this world a better place.


Copyright © Brenda L. Stevens

DESIRE HAPPENS!

You see, you want. Then what?

Agnieszka Tennant | posted 3/29/2007 08:33AM

There are times in the lives of most Christians when a vital force inserts itself into our consciousness and demands to take over. We see someone, and we crave.

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The EPOCH Commentary

“Evangelical Perspectives On Current Happenings”

AMERICA'S QUADRICENTENNIAL: AN

"OBSERVANCE" NOT A "CELEBRATION,"

A VICTIM OF "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS"

400 years ago, on April 26, 1607, three small sailing ships, the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed, landed at what is now known as Virginia Beach. They had been at sea for just over 3 months, and the minister assigned to the voyage, Robert Hunt, declared 3 days of fasting and prayer. Then on April 29 they stepped ashore, and their first act was to erect a cross as they claimed this new land in the name of God.

A few days later they traveled up what is now known as the James River, and there they established Jamestown as the capitol of the new colony, and "began thereon in the name of God to erect a fortresse." One of the colonists, Richrd Hakluyt, wrote concerning their purpose, "Wee shall by planting there inlarge the glory of the Gospel, and from England plante sincere religion, and provide a safe and a sure place to receave people from all partes of the worlds that are forced to flee for the truthe of God's worde." In those few words he set forth the principles upon which the future United States of America would be based to provide a safe and secure haven for all who would seek to worship God according to His word.

Robert Hunt, the first minister of Jamestown, prior to his untimely death just about a year after landing, conducted regular church serrvices and daily prayer meethngs. It was upon the principles established by those hardy colonists that this nation was founded, and grew to become a world-wide symbol of freedom, a nation built upon these truths, that "all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights."

The 400th anniversary is surely something to celebrate, but through the intervening years something has happened to the original American ideal. In earlier years, each anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony was celebrated: the Centennial, the Bicentennial, even the Semiquincentennial (250th) . . . but this year the officials in charge of "Jamestown 2007" have banned the use of the word "celebration," and have substituted the word "observance." They have admitted to being ashamed for what was, in their minds, an "invasion." The new Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine has declared that the previous celebrations "did not tell the whole story." To make sure the revisionist story is told he appointed a panel including Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Otis Moss, who said that America needs to fix "the propaganda of history," and that the Jamestown colonists were guilty of "a holocaust and lynchings."

In other words, America's 400th annivrsary celebration has been made subservient to the present day cult of "political correctness." The nation's liberal media has been quick to join in the denigration of these Christian founding principles. The New York Times in speaking of the swampy land where Jamestown was built, described settlement as "a town which disappeared into the mud," and the Virginia Gazette wrote, "For a whole year or more we shall celebrate the fact that a bunch of British buffoons who knew nothing of what they were doing colonized a swamp for the sake of Christianizing Indians."

One wonders if we should send word to Her Majesty Queen Eilzabeth II, who is planning to come to America to join in the celebration ("observance") of the founding of the first permanent English settlement in North America, and the beginning of the American nation. And one wonders if the U.S. Congress should be chastised for having passed the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission Act in the year 2000. And perhaps President Bush should rethink that document he signed, proclaiming the year 2007 as the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown . . . the portion of that Proclamation reproduced here is indicative of the importance the President attaches to this 400th Anniversary of the initial settlement in what was to become the Unted States of America:

<>Four centuries ago, after a long journey,a small group of colonists stepped boldly onto the shores of the New World, and established the first permanent English settlement in North America. During the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, America honors the early pioneers whose epic of endurance and courage started the story of our nation.

<>Much has changed in the 400 years since that three sided fort was raised on the banks of the James River. Today we are a strong and growing nation of more than 300 million, and we are blessed to live in a land of plenty during a period of great prosperity. The long struggle that started at Jamestown has inspired generation s of Americans. Advancing the right to live, work and worship in liberty is the mission that created our country, the honorable achievement of our ancestors, and the calling of our time.

<>NOW,THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim 2007 as the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown. I encourage all Americans to commemorate this milestone by honoring the courage of those who came before us, participating in appropriate programs and celebrations, and visiting this historic site with family and friends.

<>IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

The indisputable fact is this, regardles of what the liberal theories of political correctness would have us believe, America was founded as a Christian nation. The initial colony in Jamestown made its first act upon stepping ashore to erect a cross and to kneel in prayer. Thirteen years later when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth they declared in the Mayflower Compact their goal of establishing a colony for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. In the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers affirmed that their purpose was to conform this new nation to the guidance of God and to accept His will and plan for His people. The recently promulgated theory that America was founded as a secular nation is not true. In this year 2007 we should give thanks to God for the faith and determination of men of God who, in the Declaration of Independence, based upon their firm reliance on Divine Providence, pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to establish this nation . . . and let us honor those Jamestown colonists who 400 years ago, despite all hardships, planted the settlement which grew into today's United States of America.

Afterthoughts . . .

A word from the Vatican: there is no question that since the days of the Reformation there has been a wide gulf between Protestantism and Catholicism on certain Theological matters, and this is not to suggest that gulf is not justified. But on certain issues the Vatican holds to positions in which Conservative Evangelical Christians can rejoice. This past week Archbishop Angelo Amato, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke in no uncertain terms about evils which are presented by the media as "expressions of human progress," and listed among those evils abortion clinics, which he termed "slaughterhouses of human beings," euthanasia and same-sex marriages, linking them to "parliaments of so-called civilized nations where laws contrary to the nature of human beings are being promulgated." Amato is the second highest doctrinal official for the Vatican, and is said to be very close to Pope Benedict XVI.

SEX from Lustfulness?

by Marianne Coyne
Copyright © 2007 Marianne Coyne

Some people prefer to say that sex is really from lustfulness. I have to agree. It is the natural base response to the attraction to another person, the desire to reproduce, or the response to a lustful feeling within us. It's natural, that is from nature - every animal has sex in one form or another. There really isn't anything special about it for humans. Some prefer to say it is a gift from God. Is it? I suppose so, in as much as filling your stomach with food when hungry, or drinking cool, clear water when thirsty is a gift from God. But let's not make more of it than it is just so that we feel better about engaging in it for any other purpose than to have children.

But, on the other hand....even eating or drinking can be a holy experience. We can make a base need holy by our reverence toward it - we bring God to eating or to sex. Imagine sitting at a table alone or with family, food prepared on the table ready for consumption. You take a deep breath, relax, say a prayer of thanksgiving, preparing your mind and body for the meal. You may think briefly of all that it took to put the food on your table: the farmer's hard work, the rain, the sunshine, all who harvested, perhaps even the animal which gave its life for your benefit. You are grateful for all of these blessings. If your family surrounds you, you may enjoy quiet encouraging conversation, or laughter. We have the ability to bring the Divine into every natural act or need, making it a holy experience.

Yes, even sex can be treated with reverence - and in doing so be enjoyed beyond one's expectations. Then it is called "love-making". This changes the meaning, the context, the reason why we make love - and changes what we bring to and take from the experience. It changes how we view the lover. The term 'making love' should be understood.

To 'make' means to 'create'. We are creating love - two people coming together with a holy aura, seeing the divine within the other, create something holy - Love. That is the Gift of God - Love.

I once read that while urinating, Benjamin Franklin was joined by one of the neighborhood dogs. As they stood side by side relieving themselves, Mr. Franklin was struck with the humility of his own base nature. Determined to spiritually elevate his position, in order to separate his act from the dog's, he decided that from then on whenever he relieved himself he would say a prayer.

It all comes down to choice. Benjamin Franklin chose to do what the dog couldn't - bring divinity and dignity to an otherwise base need. We can choose to keep sex as lust, where it will eventually lose its power to satisfy, or we can bring divinity and dignity to it, thereby creating a loving experience of mutual satisfaction which can last a lifetime. Only we have the power to choose whether or not we will be a true human being; the whole human being God intended us to be - in which our flesh and spirit come together to make the true perfect man; that is Anthropos.

Remember, what we commit ourselves to we become a slave to. Let us commit ourselves to the Divine. Let us do what God intended us to do, which is to bring the kingdom to dwell in this realm. May God bless you.

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

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In GOD We Trust!

We need to thank God that he has blessed America and we hope that He continues to do so.
Listen to the voices in the past. There is wisdom there!




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Christians and Unbelivers; Challenges and Rewards!

Discover the challenges and rewards Christians have faced in friendships with unbelievers.

Fight the "GOSSIP BUG"

Marian Liautaud suggests that those who gossip aren't necessarily doing so to be malicious. By gossiping we're looking for a shared connection with others. We all want to feel valued and like we're part of the "in" crowd—no matter what our age. Marian suggests concrete ways to fight off the gossip bug and nip it before it even gets started.




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The Horse that Helped Save a Fawn

By Bob Muth









This year we had a coyote den along the edge of our field under an upturned aspen. It seems only one pup survived, and they stayed around our field as it is full of ground squirrels.





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Installing Love

This is a very interesting way to learn a very important message. I know that I have reaped some absolutely magnificent benefits since installing this program on my system! I LOVE the Program! It keeps all things running smooth, and the Peace and Serenity programs working well!! I hope everyone will find the same and greater rewards from LOVE!!!



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Easter is a time of springtime festivals. In Christian countries Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God. But the celebrations of Easter have many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with Christianity.

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The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity. In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . .We are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead."



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Jesus and the Sinner's Prayer!

"What must I do to be saved?"

It's a question millions of people have echoed since it first sprang from the lips of Paul and Silas' jailor. And like the prisoners' partially recorded reply, the answer usually given may be a bit truncated.

After all, that brief "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" contrasts starkly with the detailed response Jesus himself delivered whenever he was asked about salvation.

Find out what Jesus said was necessary for eternal life as you read David Gushee's thought-provoking article "Jesus and the Sinner's Prayer," and see how this radical view of salvation could change the way you live.

Tired of dieting?

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I Looked Much Better......

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William Wilberforce and Modern-Day Slavery

His crooked spine and near-blindness could not quench his zeal for the freedom of all people. William Wilberforce championed the cause against the British slave trade, and during his 45-year Parliamentary tenure he proposed abolition a dozen times before it finally passed. Christian History & Biography has compiled the following articles and resources to help you learn more about the people and events behind the new movie, Amazing Grace, which chronicles the struggles of Wilberforce and his colleagues.





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Presidential Quote

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!
— Abraham Lincoln, March 30, 1863

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St. Valentine

Every February we celebrate Valentines Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, "Who is St. Valentine"? Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death. MORE!!!

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

Across the United States today, numerous memorials will be held to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated on April 4, 1968. A few years before his death, a young Black woman asked him a question. I include here both the question and the answer that Dr. King gave her.

Question: I am a Negro, but I don't like Jews. What can I do to overcome this feeling?

Answer: It is very unfortunate that you dislike Jews. This is a problem which you need to solve immediately, because it is no different from the attitude that many whites have concerning the whole Negro race. In order to deal with this problem, you must get at the roots of your dislike for the Jews. Most hate is rooted in fear, suspicion, ignorance and pride. You must be sure that all of these factors are removed from your personality where the Jews are concerned. The word prejudice means literally to prejudge, that is, to pass judgment before you have all of the facts. You have probably prejudged the Jewish community by an experience you had with one or more Jews or by some half-truths and distorted ideas that you have heard circulated concerning Jews. You can only remove this by knowing the truth and realizing that no one shortcoming can characterize a whole race. I would suggest that you seek real personal fellowship with Jews and you will discover that some of the finest persons in our nation are members of the Jewish community. Through this type of personal fellowship, you will come to know them and love them and thereby transcend the bounds of bigotry. Men hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they are so often separated from each other.

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Landscape

By Roy Lessin,
Co-founder DaySpring Cards

Your life's like a landscape and God has the brush.
The work is in progress, He's not in a rush.
Each stroke has a purpose, nothing's by chance.
To see all His wisdom takes more than a glance.

Notice the sunbeams that shine on the dew --
Even the clouds can't keep them from view.
Look at the pathway that turns at the hill --
Its course will reveal what's next in His will.

The stream that's flowing with water so blue
Is bringing down blessings meant just for you.
The trees that are planted close to the stream
Will bring forth more fruit than you've ever seen.

The bird in the nest with mouth opened wide
Is just a reminder that God will provide.
Now look at the sheep in the meadow that's near
And notice the Shepherd that keeps them from fear.

He's brought them to pastures which give forth the best,
That cool and refresh, and keep them in rest.
The eagle above, that soars o'er the gale
Is God's way of saying, "My strength will not fail."

That part of the painting which now seems unclear
Will take on new meaning with each passing year.
So trust God to work in His own perfect way
And rejoice in the beauty He's painting today.