I ran across this interesting article by Beth Spraul (read it here), regarding the nature and potential dangers of “chick flicks.” Anyone who knows me well knows that I enjoy a good one, even sitting tirelessly with a satisfied grin on my face while watching the five-hour BBC version of Pride and Prejudice numerous times. How’s that for true confessions.

Regardless of my own tastes, I have often reflected on the ways these films can shape our views of romance and marriage in a way that is unbiblical, and therefore potentially harmful.

Read on for all of my comments, or click on her article above to read it first.

The book series turned blockbuster movie, “Twilight” raked in over 70 million dollars it’s first weekend, and mostly on it’s appeal to young teenaged girls.

I haven’t read the books myself, but I know those who have, and it’s popularity and appeal to young ladies certainly has made me wonder what they’re all about. I was glad to see a careful, discerning and balanced review by Tim Challies on his website. I thought it would be helpful to let you know it was available in case you, your kids, or your friends are looking for reliable information about the book from a Christian perspective.

Here is a basic summary of his conclusions from the end of the review.

I just don’t know that young girls will derive any benefit from spending hours reading and thinking about such an unrealistic, unobtainable, perverse kind of love. It glories in love that is forbidden, dangerous and just plain weird. The fact that the story involves vampires may be beside the point. My primary concern with Twilight, as I consider handing it to a girl of thirteen or fifteen or seventeen, is its sensuous quality. The lack of overt sexuality means that it is not an erotic book, but it is very nearly so. It oozes sensuality even without an act of consummation.

I hope you’re helped by the information

Today we will look at the final three areas of doctrinal concern in regard to what I have chosen to call the “Radical Homeschool Movement.” I will also give a very brief overview of the Bible’s call to discernment in all areas, and present a brief proposal for how churches should respond.

Click here to read the rest of the article!

Spotlight on the “Radical Home School Movement”

From time to time it is necessary to investigate certain movements and their teaching so that we are not unwittingly drawn into falsehood through a gateway that seems helpful and wholesome. This is not to say that we are to spend all our time defining what we are against, rather than what we are for - or to live our lives in haughty criticism of anything except what we are doing. However, it is vital to continually compare every idea and trend of evangelicalism to the truth of the Word in order to determine its value. Thus, today, I would like to do a very brief investigation of the extreme edges of the homeschooling movement which has taken the church by storm.

Click here to read more

At younger and younger ages children are being lured and enticed into delinquent behavior. Ultimately this is an expression of their depraved heart. However, the company young people keep also influences and shapes them. Christian parents, striving to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, must take measures to curb and restrain the competing nurture and influence of those who would lead their children astray. Often these “competitors” come in the form of friends chosen by the children themselves.

Parents must teach their children to choose their friends wisely. “If you do not help your children select, and help them learn to select for themselves, the right kind of companions, the wrong kind of companions will inevitably select them. The responsibility of teaching children how to choose their friends wisely is therefore a fundamental element of successful biblical parenting” (John MacArthur, Successful Christian Parenting, p. 88).

How should Christian parents approach this task? Here is a general philosophy and approach to the task of teaching our children to choose their friends wisely. Read on…

Tiffany (my wife) and I love our children (Silas, Mercy, Justus, and Ruby), and we are constantly looking for opportunities to teach our children (particularly our older children) about Christ.

Last Saturday I took my son, Silas, to a funeral. He recently turned four, and this was the first funeral he’s been to.

Click here to find out what happened.

This is my first blog post ever. I am about as comfortable with this as I am riding a camel. To illustrate, the picture at right is of my wife and I in Israel in 1998 on a camel.

Craig urged me to write about gender roles or parenting, maybe because I had the privilege of performing Craig and Tiffany’s wedding ceremony. (Ask Craig for pictures.) So I’ll begin my posting life with a series of perspectives on parenting.

May I start by asking what the supreme desire of a Christian parent is? When all is said and done, what do you want most for your child? … Click here to read more.

Rarely does a year go by when I am not asked by someone from our church what I believe a proper Christian stance toward Halloween should be. Can we “trick-or-treat?” Dress up in costumes? Should we have an “alternative” celebration at the church for young people? What about the pagan origins, demonology and witchcraft involved in the traditions of this night? I believe that particular question is more sensitive where I live (New England), because of a large number of practicing Wiccans.

Below is what I believe to be an informative article outlining a balanced understanding and response to Halloween, along with a few practical suggestions about how Christians can use this celebration as a platform for sharing the gospel. This article originally appeared here at the website of Grace to You. For convenience I have included the text of the article below as well.

Read on, and we welcome your comments…

John B. Leuzarder has written a wonderful book which will be a great help to parents explain the gospel to their children. What greater responsibility do parents have than to help their children embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Here is a short review.

I had a discussion a couple days ago about teaching children the gospel. The specific question that held our attention for some time was whether or not parents should tell their children God has forgiven them after the children say they are sorry…or after they say they have asked God to forgive them.
Why would parents […]