unselfish peace

"There is no way to peace along the way of safety.  For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe.  Peace is the opposite of security.  To deans guarantees is to want to protect oneself.  Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes.  Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God.  They are done when the way leads to the cross." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I did not speak out

First they came for the Communists,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came fort he Trade Unionist,

and I did not speak out-- 

because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me--

and there was no one left to speak for me.

~Martin Niemoller

personal prisoner of Adolph Hitler

in Nazi concentration camps

Thirty-One...and the like

If Thirty-One, a company based on Proverbs 31 and therefore gaining a huge following of evangelical women, wants to support a variety of organizations that fund Planned Parenthood, the nation's number one abortion provider, then you know I will have something to say about it.


Please read this blog from Bound4Life.

Thirty-One claims they simply want to support “HER”...which I assume to mean all women in general.  So, why doesn't this “Christian” company pursue causes like The American Heritage Girls, Concerned Women for America, any number of thousands of crisis pregnancy care centers, Bridges to Motherhood programs, ministries that help girls in other countries, etc. Really, the list goes on and on. Did Thirty-One just not want to think too hard about who to support? Girl Scouts, Komen for the Cure, YWCA...these are no-brainer feminist/women's organizations (please tell me they have not linked arms with N.O.W.). A little research could find them plenty of unquestionable women's organizations that don't have ties to the abortion industry. I certainly can understand an oversight. However, even after Thirty-One has been made aware of their associations, they continue to defend them. (http://www.thirtyonegives.com/partners.html)

No doubt, the idea of withdrawing their support from such high-profile groups such as the Girl Scouts may bring the dreaded wrath of the liberal left media. Let us not quickly forget the recent outrageous Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle. Sure, it's easier to disappoint the conservative side...we're a little nicer in our response. The abortion-driven left will DESTROY you.  So, Thirty-One, please choose you this day whom you will serve. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches.” (Mt. 6:24) As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Jsh. 24:15)...and not Planned Parenthood....however indirectly it may be. If I give you money and you give it to the YWCA and they give it to Planned Parenthood, then what's the difference?  

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Give us a straight answer.  Don't try to appease; it won't work.  And don't word it "just so" thinking you can fool us.  You cannot serve two masters.  

“For do I now persuade men or God: Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)

My latest letter to Thirty-One:

Hello,

Can you please tell me if Komen is among the Thirty-One Gives partners?  

I know you are aware of the concern by many Christians and pro-lifers that some of your Gives partners are associated with Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.  While Komen is not listed on your website, I have receive information from Bound4Life stating that you are partnered with Komen.  I would like to verify that with you.  

Certainly you are aware of the recent Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle.  This is no small issue and many women who stand for life refuse to stand with Komen.   I am one, and I know a plethora of others.  

I hope Thirty-One will research well its partners and their associations with Planned Parenthood.  I understand Thirty-One to be a Christian company.  Is that true?  If so, many are trusting you to not associate yourselves with anything having to do with the murder of 3000+ unborn babies per day.

I appreciate your response.  I think you make a beautiful and quality product.  However, I must know the answers to these questions so I can make a decision of whether or not to support Thirty-One.

Thank you.

Very sincerely,

Kori Peterson

Willful Ignorance.

Is it still considered sin even if you don't know you are doing it?

Yes.

• In Judges 14, Samson kills a lion. Later on, he comes upon the carcass again and a swarm of bees have inhabited it, so Samson eats the honey. He gives some of the honey to his parents...though they don't know where it came from. According to Jewish Law (Lev. 11:27), touching the carcass of a dead animal was forbidden.
• In Genesis 20, Abraham asks Sarah to pose as his sister and not his wife. Subsequently, she is taken by the king.  God in his grace “knew the integrity of [Abimelech's] heart,” (Gen. 20:6) and caused him not to touch Sarah. But Abimelech confronts Abraham and says, “...you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin...” (Gen. 20:9. emphasis mine.)

Clearly if Abimelech had taken Sarah, he would have been sinning...even if he was ignorant of it. So it is with us. Just because we don't know about sin when we commit it doesn't make it any less a sin.

Granted, we all undoubtedly often sin unknowingly. I don't want to trivialize a very real situation. During the atonement, known and unknown sins (Lev. 16:30) were accounted for and washed away. God certainly knows “the integrity of our hearts.” Just make sure that there is integrity in your heart when you are ignorant of your own sins.

Should I go on sinning that grace may abound? Certainly not! (Romans 6:1)

However, I contend that many WANT to be ignorant and work hard to remain so - for the purpose of continuing to live their lives unwittingly irresponsible for those things they don't know about; and so they don't have to give up something they really like. Yes, like a cookie (Girl Scouts) ...or a bag (Thirty-One).

I understand that people don't want to sacrifice their comforts. I understand that people don't want to give up something they really like. But I refuse to justify such behavior.

Choosing to not acknowledge something just so you can live your complacent, comfortable life is selfish and harmful. I'm sure that German citizens during World War II felt it would be better to be ignorant and apathetic than to be in-the-know and therefore under a sense of duty to do the right thing. But this did nothing to help the Jews or the “undesirables.”

So, we today, willingly turn a blind eye to the horrors of mass infanticide, and to those who “indirectly” support it...so we can live our posh lives without being bothered with the unpleasantries of not having the latest material possession that we want. And so we unwittingly and ignorantly sin...shirking responsibility while 3000+ babies die because of our silence every day.

Walk worthy of your calling.

Be blessed and whole,

What do I think of Monumental?

Last week, I saw Monumental and really loved it.  The Pilgrim's history is thorough and accurate from my own studies on the subject, and I loved the 3rd section on the Founding Fathers and the input from David Barton.

My only unsure spot was the interpretation of the Monument.  It seemed a little like it was pulled out of thin air.  I thought it a beautiful interpretation and probably even accurate, but didn't find it wholly credible during the viewing of the movie.  I would've really like if it could have been backed up with something a little more substantial than just the assumption of the interpreter.  I'm not saying that he was just making it up as he went, but it could be construed as such.  If I was a critic, that would be the first thing I would call into question.  I'd love to see a more definitive roadmap of how he came to this interpretive conclusion.  I do hope the Monumental resources cover this interpretation in more detail and with a firm backing.

Skepticism aside, there is much to the Monument and it is inspiring.  If you saw the detail and pure fullness of this sculpture, can you imagine the incredible thought and design that went into it?

Our theater was bursting at the seams.  My party sat in the fourth row and we were there plenty early.  It was very encouraging to see such an impressive turnout for something so desperately important.

As a Patriot mom, I sure appreciate what Kirk Cameron is doing to stir a love of our Providential history into the hearts of families.  May we all know the truth, and may the truth keep us ever free!

I really love that Monumental resources and even curriculum are available to those who need to start teaching a firm foundation of our American history to the next generation.  My prayer is that all American families will embrace our true history.

As Kirk closed the film, he emphasized the importance of not passing the blame, but taking responsibility within the walls of our own homes.  That was excellent.  Ronald Reagan said, "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." YES!

I exhort you all to raise your own precious little (and big) ones in Biblical and historical truth.  It is our children who will change the world.  As the pilgrims were, so we are stepping stones to our posterity.  Attend local public service meetings.  Speak truth.  Have a voice in the public square.  We must be involved in our families, and we must be involved in our communities.  Bottom up, not top down.

Do you think your children are too young for history?  No!  History is just a lot of really cool, true stories.  Better than fiction!  If your kids like stories (what child doesn't?), then they will LOVE history!  The story of Paul Revere and the Lexington Battle Green is invigorating!  And the pilgrims and Squanto...wow!  Excitement, intrigue, adventure, suspense....kids love that stuff! 

If you are looking for books or resources to help guide you toward a love of history with your children, click on the "books & stuff" tab at the top of this blog.  I try to post our favorite history resources.  If your kids enjoy and memorize twaddle stories or even Bible stories, then they can totally love American history stories, too!  This ain't your dry, boring high school history course: the dull textbook and date-memorizing we had to laborious suffer through in school that cause our default perspective of history to be so dreadful and excruciating.  But, really, history is the best subject EVER!

The other day I was reading through Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9 and noticed how he cited the hand of God in Israel's history.  Isn't it so cool that Israel is so blessed in the fact that their history is God's history on earth? ...but we also, as Americans, have a unique history that no other nation (save Israel) can claim.  We have a Godly heritage.  We are truly a privileged nation. 

Hallelujah...more of You and less of me

dancing "Hallelujah" by Kelley Mooney for our Easter service at church.

Many have complimented me for the dance, for my passion for this country, etc.  And as uncomfortable as I am in those moments, I am also honored by the kind words.  I do seem to be a mover and shaker (I can't help it, I'm wired this way), though I know not all think it's wonderful.  But even amidst the praise, I can't take any credit.  It is my "reasonable service."  My duty.  My gift, wholly possible by God alone.  He could easily have given another the gift.  I am such a failure in grace, love, being a wife...  I'm self-righteous, holier-than-thou, and a jerk.  I'm sarcastic, ugly, and rude.  I am ever these things.  Yet God allows me to be influential and a whole-body worshipper of Him.  

How is that?  

He is mercy.  

He is grace.  

He makes the broken whole.  

He uses the foolish things to confound the wise.  

Who am I?  

A fool for Jesus and a fool for the blessed freedom poured out on this country.  

He makes the ugly beautiful.  Use this fool, Jesus.  And don't ever allow me to think anything good is my doing.  To You alone is all glory and honor and praise. For every good and perfect gift is from above, from the generous Father of lights.  Every good thing can only come from one source:  a good God.  The only true and living God.

no workie, no eatie

Mr. Prez,
Please stop taking scripture out of context in order to promote your own personal agenda and unBiblical way of thinking.  (Here it is, again.)  No where is socialism or communism advocated in Scripture...even if you quote "my brother's keeper" a million times over.  However, charity is... and it ought to be done cheerfully and of our own will and not mandated by a power-hungry dictator.  "For God loves a cheerful giver." (because your forcing us to do it is starting to make us bitter; did you notice?) (2 Corinthians 9:7)  And "Therefore if your enemy is hungry feed him, and if he is thirsty give him a drink..." (Romans 12:20) And "whatever you do to the least of these, You have done unto me." (Matt. 25:35-45)  Give charity and blessing back to the people.  We do it better anyway.  If you keep taking away the fruits of the labors of hard-working people, eventually those hard workers will become unmotivated to work their tails off when the end result is for you to take it and give it away to those who refuse to work.  Then, we will have a nation full of couch potatoes with zero ambition, zero ingenuity, zero innovation, and zero money.  Say goodbye to industry and "progress" as you claim to pursue.  But, you will have that communistic "everybody's the same" utopia that is the paradise of your dreams.

As for you and your proneness to twist Scripture for your own pride and personal gain: "...untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also with the rest of the Scriptures." (2 Peter 3:16)   So, twist away, Mr. Obama.  But in case you want to rescue yourself from your own destruction, here's one for you: "...if any would not work, neither should he eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)

Freedom is not defined as government-ordained rights, but by God-given rights.   Stop making yourself God and deciding what our values ought to be according to your skewed and crooked way of thinking.  And stop giving freebies to lazy, entitlement-minded, and often illegal alien leeches.

Those of us who refuse to be indoctrinated and told what to think ARE paying attention and are not asleep...as I know you would wish us to be.  I hope we are a GIANT thorn in your side.

An America citizen fed up with your crap,