Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Guest Post by Melody Carlson
Teens and Their Supernatural Pursuits By Melody Carlson
Have you even wondered why some teens are drawn toward things like Ouija boards or psychics? Or why séances are still popular at sleepovers? Does it just have to do with Halloween and that spine-chilling need for a good scare? Or could it be something more? And, as a Christian, should you be concerned? Those questions, as well as some confused reader letters, prompted me to tackle the “supernatural” in one of my teen novels (Moon White, TrueColors, Nav Press). And whenever I write an issues-based novel, I’m forced to research—and often in some dark places. So I began scouring websites, learning more about Wicca and the occult, trying to grasp what was really going on with today’s teens—and how I could write about it in a helpful and relevant way. But, as usual, when I write a teen book, I go back to my own adolescence...trying to connect with my inner teen...and I suddenly remembered a short era when a friend and I got very interested in witchcraft. I had honestly forgotten about this time and was fascinated to recall how we scoured some witchcraft stores on a local campus—I think we even purchased a few things. Fortunately, this interest was short-lived and I became a Christian not long afterward. However, as I reconnected with my inner teen, I had to ask myself—why had I looked into witchcraft back then? Why do teens dabble with it now? Suddenly the answer became crystal clear. I was searching. I’d been calling myself an atheist for several years by then, but I was spiritually hungry—starving in fact. Consequently I was looking for spiritual answers—something that would fill that empty void within me. I wanted a supernatural force in my life and I didn’t even care where it came from. I needed something bigger than me, more powerful than me, something to hold onto. I had no idea at the time that I was really searching for God. This realization changed the way I viewed my research. Instead of feeling disgusted and dismayed by the witchcraft/Wicca sites (which are not particularly enjoyable) I began to recognize that these people (mostly girls) were simply searching too. They wanted a power source in their lives just like I wanted one in mine. They just hadn’t found God yet. This led to another discovery. A girl who’s attracted to a religion like Wicca is usually seeking to gain some control over her life. Something is wrong and she wants to change it. To do so, she’s often enticed to purchase something—like “magical herbs”—to create a potion that will give her some control over her situation. Unfortunately, she doesn’t even realize she’s being tricked. But think about it, wouldn’t you love to have control over a bad situation sometimes? Wouldn’t you love to be able to change the circumstances that make your life unpleasant? So what if someone offered you the “power” to do just that? Perhaps if you’re fifteen, you wouldn’t see that person as a charlatan and you would fall for it. Which brings me to another important factor in understanding this generation’s attraction to the supernatural. Follow the money. The more I researched, the more it became painfully obvious that Wicca and witchcraft and the occult are money-making enterprises. Thanks to the internet, these savvy distributors sell anything imaginable—and many things you can’t. That leads to some serious motivation—these marketers want to hook their unsuspecting young customers and reel them in. Of course, these potions and trinkets and how-to books don’t come with a money back guaranty. Nor are they approved by the FDA. Yet they are a multi-million dollar industry. So, in a way, it’s a perfect storm. Teens that are insecure, lost, unhappy, and searching...meet up with an unregulated industry that offers supernatural answers and power and control...for a price. And, oh yeah, I never even mentioned how this opens a door for Satan to slip in and wreak havoc. For that...you’ll have to read the book.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
McCoy on TNG
Dave and I watched the first epidsode of Star Trek Next Generation the other day on Netflix. It was kinda corny but good fun. I love this interaction between Dr. Mccoy and Data.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Life Lesson from The Help by Poppy Smith
Life
Lessons from The Help
Pain
Happens in a Broken World
By Poppy
Smith
Have you read or seen the movie, THE HELP? If you
have, you know it is a story about racism and the treatment of black maids who
worked for white people in the South. People’s reactions range from outrage at
the humiliation blacks have often received, to charges that it was biased and
untrue.
I came out of the movie grieving. I not only felt wretched at the pain
racism causes, but also at the hurt and suffering that comes when people
mistreat others. Pain Happens in a Broken World. Being cruel to
others, whether by actions or words, happens in every culture for many reasons:
because individuals think they are superior for some reason due to their skin
color, gender, position in society, wealth, or education. Whatever the reasons,
they all flow from a sinful heart.
Have you been hurt?
Three necessary principles
for dealing with pain:
Remember something else: the Lord is our Healer. He wants you to experience
joy, no matter how much pain you have experienced. He wants you to THRIVE in
every aspect of your life. And He has provided a way for this to happen! Will
you walk in it?
Author
Bio
| |
With
her fun personality and passion for communicating life-changing truths, Poppy
Smith inspires believers to thrive spiritually and personally. Poppy’s practical
how-to messages (in print or in person) uses colorful examples from her own
struggles to be more like Jesus. She encourages women (and men, at times) to
grow in every kind of situation—whether joyful or painful! Poppy is British,
married to an American, and has lived in many countries. She brings an
international flair seasoned with humorous honesty as she illustrates Bible
truths. A former Bible Study Fellowship Lecturer, Poppy’s teaching challenges
women to look at their choices, attitudes and self-talk. As a result, God’s
speaks, changing hearts, changing minds, and changing lives.
| |
The
above article comes from Poppy’s recent Thrive e-newsletter.
Receive Poppy’s Ten Tips for Saying
“No” by signing up for her newsletter at: http://www.poppysmith.com/newsletters.htm
| |
"Life Lessons
from THE HELP" is loaded at docstoc.com. If for some reason you have
difficulty copying or downloading the article, we will be glad to email the
article in .pdf or .doc format.
This article
content is provided free of charge by the author through Kathy Carlton Willis
Communications. You are welcome to place this article on your site or in your
publication as long as 1) it’s used in its entirety, 2) the full bio is also
used, and 3) you notify KCWC at russ@kathycarltonwillis.com.
All other
standard copyrights apply.
|
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Super 8 Movie Trailer 2 Official (HD) Warning trailer contains language and voilence
I watched this movie the other day. It actually was pretty good. There is quite a bit of language and some violence with blood so definately would not recommend for young children or even younger teens. Here is what Plugged In (Focus on the Family's media review site) has to say.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
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