Spanish Version of Culture-proof Kids

If you know someone who worries their children might fall in with a bad crowd, try drugs, alcohol, sex, or suffer from low self-esteem you can now direct them to a book that offers help in Spanish. The book teaches parents how to avoid major problems by building godly character into their children. Editorial Vida, an arm of Zondervan Publishers published the Spanish version of Jeannie’s book which was originally published in English, Culture-proof Kids, Building Character in Your Children.

With practical how-tos, this encyclopedic guide covers everything from using the Bible for drawing boundaries to teaching children how to forgive. It even includes a section encouraging parents who think they’ve done everything wrong by showing them that it is never too late for their children to change.

This hard-hitting, comprehensive guide shows parents, grandparents, and teachers how to shape children of character by:

• Spotting problems and correcting them before it’s too late
• Teaching children how to interact with society without falling prey to it
• Teaching children to command respect and avoid bullying
• Making children feel cherished and confident
• Guiding children to choose wise friends
• Building a home where children will be insulated from the ills of the culture.

You can pick up a copy for yourself or a friend on Amazon.com or CBD.com.

Troubling Statistics

Though Christianity is still the largest religion in the United States with 76.5 % of the population, during recent years Christianity increased only 5% while Islam grew at 109% and Sikhism swelled by 338%. Christianity and Judaism appear to be the slowest-growing religions in the United States. 

For more statistics on rapidly growing religions go to . . . 

http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#Pew_branches

Listen as Michael LeMay chats with Maxine Marsolini and I about the topic on our blog talk radio show

 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/krvr/2013/01/28/the-suicide-of-american-christianity

Maxine Marsolini and I will interview Dr. Gregory Jantz about emotional abuse on our blog talk radio show on Monday January 31^st. Dr. Jantz says many victims of emotional abuse tend to minimize their abuse even though the abuse can affect all their relationships. Has emotional abuse affected you? Go through the check list below, identifying whether you were emotionally abused in the past or are being abused presently. Then tune in to our show on the 31^st and let Dr. Jantz tell you how to begin healing.

Signs of Emotional Abuse from the book

Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse

by Dr. Gregory Jantz

1. Making the person feel worthless
2. Putting the blame for one’s mistakes on the other person
3. Minimizing the other person’s point of view
4. Threatening or hinting of physical or sexual abuse
5. Going into fits of rage
6. Failing to fulfill commitments or promises made or implied
7. Lying to avoid responsibility for the truth
8. Refusing to acknowledge the other person’s feeling
9. Verbally or physically humiliating the other person through inappropriate gestures, comments, or “jokes”
10. Using shame or guilt to manipulate the actions of the other person
11.  Not allowing the other person to articulate his or her feelings
12. Denying the person access to his or her personal possessions or pets
13. Withholding financial resources
14. Refusing to communicate with the other person – the silent treatment
15. Displaying extreme ranges of mood
16. Making conditional agreements in which the conditions keep changing to avoid fulfilling the agreement
17. Using a hostile or sarcastic tone of voice with the other person
18. Being critical or each action, thought or remark of the other person
19. Viewing others as a part of that person’s own personality as opposed to individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions
20. Belittling, humiliating, marginalizing, and / or ignoring the other person

Prayer Prompting Stones

A Hands-on Prayer List

 Great Hand-Crafted Christmas Present

 

© Jeannie St. John Taylor

               All through the Bible, God uses stones as reminders.

                In the first book of the Bible, Jacob took the stone he used as a pillow and set it upright so he would remember the place where God met him in a dream (see Gen 28:11).

                God wrote his Ten Commandments on a stone with his own finger so his children would never forget his laws (see Ex.31:18).

               He instructed Moses to incorporate engraved precious stones into the clothing the high priest wore when entering the Most Holy Place. When God saw the stones he was “reminded of his people continually” (Ex. 28:29 NLT).

               When the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land, God told them to set up memorial stones on the bank of the river so that, in the future, their children would be curious and ask about the stones. Their questions would remind the parents to share the story of how God opened a path through the Jordan River when the Ark of the LORD started across (see Josh. 4:6-9).

               In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the cornerstone and declares we are the living stones God is building into his spiritual temple (see 2 Pet. 2: 5,6). The last book of the Bible mentions the white stone engraved with the new name

Jesus will give us when we enter heaven and change into perfect beings (see Rev. 2:17).

               How appropriate for us to use stones as visual reminders to pray for our friends and loved ones, the very people Jesus longs to perfect as he builds them into the living stones of his temple.

 

Assembling the Stones

Purchase polished semi-precious colored stones at a gift store or buy polished river rocks at any craft store

Making the Stones into a Prayer List

With a fine point permanent marker or an enamel pen, neatly print the name of one person for whom

You wish to pray on each stone. A single name can represent an entire family: i.e. “Barb” might remind you to pray for Barb, her husband, her parents and all ten of her children.

Arrange the name-stones in a dish that has a special meaning for you. I like to use a crystal bowl, or

shallow crystal coaster for fewer stones, because crystal symbolizes purity. You may use a bowl with special meaning to your family.

 Or you may prefer a hand-crafted earthen bowl to help you remember we humans are made of clay.

Set the stones in the bowl on a table or the counter where they will catch your eye and remind you to pray.

How to Use the Name Stones

               Every day, sort through the name-stones one at a time. As you read the name on each stone, ask the Holy Sprit to show you how to pray for the name on the stone and the names he / she represents. Then pause for a moment before you begin praying to give the Holy Spirit time to speak into your thoughts.

More Ways to Use the Stones

Explain the purpose of the stones to your loved ones. Then expect to hear clicking sounds when they’re

alone in a room with the stones. They will be sorting through the pile, looking for their name-stone, feeling

affirmed and loved by you — and God.

To help with a difficult day at school, let your child take his / her name-stone with him / her. It will

Comfort your child as he / she remembers you are praying.

Display the stones in a prominent place in your home or on your desk  at work. They will offer unexpected

opportunities to witness.

When someone is going through a difficult time, stick their name-stone in your pocket or purse to remind

yourself to pray through the day.

Look Up These Stones in the Bible

Altars built from uncut stones (see Ex. 20:25)

Stones used to determine God’s will, the Urim and Thummim, (see Ex. 28:30)

Stones used to kill Goliath, the giant threatening God’s people (see 1 Sam. 17:40)

Stones used to execute lawbreakers (see Deut. 13:10)

Repairing the stone walls that surround and protect Jerusalem (see Neh. Chapters 3 & 4)

Stones would cheer for Jesus if people didn’t (See Luke 19:40)

No stone could keep Jesus in the grave (Mark 16:3,4)

Precious stones inlaid into the walls of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:18)

Warning!

   Always remember that the stones themselves have no power. They are simply a visual reminder to pray.

(Jeannie’s Prayer Stone come packaged as a kit complete with

stones, bowl, and a name pen on Christianbook.com.)

Pumpkin Recipes

Tapioca Filled Baked Pumpkin Dessert 

One small to medium pumpkin (no larger than a basketball).

·        Cut off top of pumpkin and clean it out as you would a Jack-o-lantern. Bake on a rack over a pan of water in the oven at 350 until you can pierce it with a fork.

·        Filling option one: Fill the cooked pumpkin with already-made tapioca pudding purchased in the refrigerated section of your grocery. Bake until hot through.

·        Filling  option two: Follow the directions for making tapioca pudding on the back of a box of dry tapioca pearls. Fill the pumpkin with the tapioca. Bake for half an hour. 

Tip: Wrap this delicious dessert in large bath towels and it will stay hot for three to four hours while you wait for company to arrive. To eat, scoop out the cooked pumpkin along with the tapioca.

Dinner in a Pumpkin

One small to medium pumpkin no larger than a basketball.

·        Cut off top of pumpkin and clean it out as you would a Jack-o-lantern. 

1 onion, chopped                                                                                  2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tbsp. of oil                                                                                          1 can cream of chicken soup

1 ½ - 2 lbs. ground beef                                                                        2 tbsp. soy sauce

1 4 oz. can mushrooms, drained                                                            1 ½ c. cooked rice

One can sliced water chestnuts, drained

·        Saute onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown. Drain off drippings. Add all ingredients together and simmer for ten minutes. Spoon into pumpkin. Bake on a rack over a pan of water in the oven at 350 until you can easily pierce it with a fork. About an hour.

 Pumpkin Bread

Cream together:

1 c. oil

2 c. white sugar

Then add:

4 beaten eggs

1 pound pumpkin (2 cups)

Put these together then add to above:

               3 c. flour

               1 tsp. salt

               ½ c. nuts

               3 tsp. cinnamon

Dissolve in hot water and add to above:

1 tsp. soda        

Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

              

A Powerful Way to Pray

God gave my daughter the gift of tongues years before this story begins, but she rarely used it. She felt foolish doing so. Was she babbling nonsense? Had God really given her the gift? Sometimes she worried she just made the whole thing up.

Recently while facing a challenge, Tori’s prayers seemed to hit a ceiling. Finally, as a last resort she decided to pray in her tongue. Soon after she began praying, she experienced a powerful breakthrough in the situation. Excited, she shared with her husband. He said since he’d never heard her pray in her tongue, maybe for their regular nightly prayers she should spend some time praying that way.

She did.

He listened.

Her husband is Jewish and knows some Hebrew. When her prayer finished he said, “Tori, you’re praying in Hebrew.” Some of the words he recognized. Others he looked up. But the main phrase she had been speaking over and over was, “Consecrated to God. Consecrated to God.”

God knows Tori’s heart. He knows she wants more than anything to be consecrated to God. So he gave the most effective words she could pray in the language Adam and Eve probably spoke in the garden. He guided her to focus on him and declare her love for him rather than asking for help.

And then he helped her.
            Though God has not given me the gift of tongues, I want the same thing Tori wants. I long to be consecrated to God. So I’ve begun praying aloud, declaring in front of all the heavenly powers as well as to God, “Consecrated to God.” I pray in my only tongue, English, and mean it with ever fiber of my being.

When I do that, I feel God powerful presence. That’s the best gift possible, even though I know he’s also answering my requests.

Uncle Eldon 

In sorting through my files this morning, I ran across a brief devotional I wrote a few years back about my sweet Uncle Eldon Fuhrman. (You can find him on Wikipedia.) I wrote this devotional after he called to let me know he was retiring from his job as seminary president to care for his wife because her dementia had grown worse. I greatly admired my uncle and thought his sacrifice might inspire you.

Uncle Eldon's news caused me to fumble the phone and slop coffee on my jeans. “But Uncle Eldon!” I protested. “Seminary presidents don’t just retire in the throes of a successful career. Students and teachers need you. That job is your life. It gives you purpose.” I didn't say he should hire someone to take care of my aunt, but I thought it.

“Your Aunt Blanche needs me more, honey. The school can find another president, but no one else can love your aunt through dementia. She’s my purpose. Besides,” I detected joy in his voice, “This gives me more time to pray.”

Over the next fifteen years, I talked to my uncle often. He told me he prayed for me and each of my children daily. Eventually, he and my aunt moved into a nursing home and both needed wheelchairs, but he could still drive. So every day he loaded my aunt into his car for a long drive to visit the seminary. Before returning to the nursing home, he parked in front of the dorm named for him and prayed for each resident at length.

When he died in his late eighties, my Uncle Eldon still knew his purpose.

Thought: When tempted to feel old and useless, I remember my uncle and know God still has a purpose for me.   

Verses: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Eccl. 3:1 KJV

             “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me.” Ps. 71:18 ESV