parenting

faith, freedom, Parental Rights, parenting, UNRC Treaty

Slippery Slope, Indeed

We just returned from a 4 day mini-getaway in the Big D, and I have much to write about.

Yet, this blog post I read on Kim’s blog this morning left me feeling that discussing my little vacation would be so wrong when our country’s freedoms are literally being stripped away while we sleep.

The end of America as we know it is not as far away as we think, folks. It’s frightening to look at how many freedoms and rights have been taken in the last few months. Gun sales are up because people are terrified of losing the right the even buy them.

It’s come to the day where we have the right to burn the American flag, but not criticize our government. Funny, I thought the flag was a symbol of our government…someone help me, because frankly, I’m confused about this.

I am positive we are headed for a communist society. The very idea that we as a nation would be “okay” with the government taxing ex post facto the bonuses of those AIG execs? While I’m not pleased with the fact that the execs at AIG grossly mishandled taxpayer money – I am quite sure that the federal government is not going to give that money back to us. And I am not at all pleased with the idea of a government that can go about changing the rules as they see fit with executive orders that open us up for foreign attacks on our soil and at the same time, use our money for murder-for-hire causes.

I know what you’re thinking…”She’s done gone off the deep end”. I say that jokingly, but I’m no conspiracy theorist…anyone who has half a brain can see what’s happening to our country. As Christians, we need to be aware of what is going on – it’s truly a time for prayer. I am praying for our nation and our president. I am praying that he will come to know the Jesus I know.

I am praying the prayer of Abraham…that God will be able to look down and spare the nation for just one righteous man. I am thankful to have the peace of God through this time, because as frightening as it is – I have read the back of the book and I know how it ends. Romans 8:18 states “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

I think my biggest concern is that if Jesus doesn’t come back soon, my children are going to be living in a vastly different world than what we know today. It has already changed drastically from my own childhood, I hate to postulate as to what it might become. I can only cling to my favorite verses (Romans 8:37-39) that remind us that no matter what happens, we cannot be separated from the love of God.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I realize this is quite a departure from my standard “fare”, but I’m really interested in your thoughts on this subject – are you talking with your kids about this? (You should be) Do you think I’m crazy? Do you think I’m right? Have you even thought about this? Is this the first time you’ve been exposed to some of these articles? So don’t hold back….shoot it straight to me in the comments. I can handle it.

And here’s one of my favorite songs on the subject, for your listening pleasure:

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a good cause, kids, Parental Rights, parenting, UNRC Treaty

An Open Letter from Michael Farris – Parental Rights Amendment

Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) is as passionate as we are about the Parental Rights Amendment, and he has committed to introducing the bill in the House again this year. Unlike last year, though, we are introducing it this year with the intent to get it passed. (Rep. Hoekstra introduced the bill last year with the intention of beginning discussion on parental rights issues.) Therefore, Rep. Hoekstra wants to have 50 co-sponsors by the time he presents the amendment bill in the House. Fifty is not a requirement, nor a magic number. But it is a significant number. Enough, we hope, to communicate to the committee and to the entire House that we are serious about this bill.

As of today, we have 31 co-sponsors committed to joining Rep. Hoekstra. We need 19 more to reach our goal and introduce this bill in the House of Representatives.

Today, we need your help to reach that goal. Please check our list of sponsors and take the appropriate action:

1) If you live in the district of a representative who is already on our list of co-sponsors, consider sending them a brief note expressing appreciation to them for standing for this vital cause.

2) If your Representative is not already on our list, we need you to call your Congressman’s Washington office and urge your Representative to contact Pete Hoekstra’s office (it’s pronounced “HOKE-struh”) and become a co-sponsor of the Parental Rights Amendment.

In either event, you can find your Representative’s (Washington office) contact information by typing your zip code into the box at Congress.org.

Thank you so much for participating in this vital push to get the Parental Rights Amendment introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. When we have succeeded with every step, and the Parental Rights Amendment is added to the Constitution, the day of its introduction in the House, with 50 or more co-sponsors, will be a significant day in American history. Today is your chance to bring that day about!

Gratefully yours,
Michael P. Farris
President
ParentalRights.org

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children, parenting

On Parenting our Kids in Today’s World…

Well, that was interesting. TwelveFourteen people voted yesterday in the poll where I asked “Do you think today’s kids have it easier than you did?” and the overwhelming majority (10 of you) said that you don’t believe they do. Your reasoning was both sound and articulate and I must say I’m in agreement with you. My reasoning is a little bit different and you may disagree with me (which is perfectly okay, trust me), but here’s what I think.

I think that today’s kids have it a lot harder because they don’t have parents that are parenting them. You probably weren’t expecting that, were you? (Of course, I’m not talking about ALL parents here, you understand, but the vast majority — at least where I live). I know many of you stay at home with your kids and that those of you who work are doing the best you can. This is not about whether you work outside the home or are able to stay at home, so let’s not go there. I worked the first 7 years of my daughter’s life and it was the most incredibly difficult thing I’ve ever done, so my hat’s off to any mom that is able to juggle the never-ending demands of parenting as well as a full time job.

But I see so many parents lacking two little words called “integrity” and “character“. The simple definition of “integrity” is making sure your words and your deeds line up in accordance with one another. But it’s really so much more. Character is the ability to meet the demands of reality. When a person is lacking in either one, successful parenting is almost impossible. Have you ever heard a parent say, “I just can’t take it anymore!” (I’ve said that myself a number of times – don’t think I’m not talking about me here, too)That is a lack of character, or the ability to meet the demands of reality.

When I was growing up in Alaska, we fished every summer. I used to love sitting at the aft of our boat and watch the wake following behind us. It is such a beautiful, ever-changing creation as the boat continues on its path. You can tell a lot about a boat from its wake – how fast it’s going, if it’s steady and on course, or if the captain is dozing at the wheel (the wake will waver back and forth and look erratic). In other words, what the wake looks like can tell you a lot about the boat itself.

Parenting is a lot like that wake. Our parenting style is easily determined by the wake we leave behind. Have you ever noticed that there are two sides to every wake? In parenting, I would say that those two sides are the task side (what are you accomplishing) and the relationship side (how do you deal with your kids).

Are you focused on growing and training your children up in the way they should go? Or is it easier to avoid an argument and just let them do what they want? At the end of the day, we have to look back and ask ourselves if our wake was profitable or not. The wake doesn’t lie and it doesn’t care about excuses. It is what it is. I’m certainly no parenting expert, but I do have the ability to think for myself and learn from the mistakes I’ve witnessed others making in order to avoid repeating them. So many so-called Christians are living in denial and expecting the schools, their churches and daycares to raise their kids and teach them about morals. They use the excuse that they are “overextended” and “stressed out”. Excuse me, who isn’t? That’s a poor excuse for turning their children over to the world, if you ask me. Their children aren’t the reason they are working so hard (although they may lie to themselves and say they are) — the reason they are working so hard is because they like “things” and want to have the newest and finest and they want it right now.

On the other side of the wake are our relationships. This is the side where we leave the effects of our interactions with our kids on their hearts and minds. Do you think most kids are out there water-skiing on the wake, smiling and having a great time because they’ve had us as parents? Or are they left out there bobbing for air, bleeding, and left wounded as shark bait? Do todays kids consider it a blessing or a curse to have us as their parents?

These things have been weighing heavily on my mind lately. I’ve focused more of my time and energy toward my new design business and I’ve watched how my children have reacted. It’s a huge challenge to be consistent and have integrity when it comes to parenting. It’s even more difficult to find the character to face reality and say I’ve screwed up. But I’m honestly trying.

I’m also interested in your thoughts. Whether or not you agree. You can blog about it and link back to this post or leave it in my comments, either way works for me. You don’t have to agree with me – just give me a sound reason as to why your think I’m wrong. Only one request – please keep it nice.

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