Praying for you Marzieh

If there were a way I could protest this - I would.  You can see the full article HERE.  Basically, Actress Marzieh Vafamehr of Iran has been arrested and sentenced to 90 lashes for:

"Vafamehr often appears with a shaved head and no headscarf in the film, which also explores cultural oppression in Iran and taboos such as drug use," the paper said."

There is so much I could say.  If not for the seriousness of the punishment - hearing "90 lashes" is almost laughable in American culture.  I can NOT imagine living in a country that gives people "90 lashes" for appearing in a movie.  In our culture, we celebrate people appearing in movies - its a good thing - not a bad thing.  (Well most movies - but your appearance in ANY movie would not result in "lashes")

It also breaks my heart because the very real issue here is this talented women is about to be beat, if she hasn't been already.  Beaten for questioning a culture that degrades and destroys women.  Beaten for trying to make the world aware.  I just don't understand it.  It's so wrong.

I know there is no chance this women would ever read my blog - but if there are others like her that are reading it - know I am praying for you.  Praying for your strength, praying for courage.  Praying for boldness.  Praying for change in your country.  Praying for a day the value of women will be celebrated in Iran.  Praying for the day you will see your worth in Jesus Christ.

There's really not much else to say.  I'm sorry Marzieh for what has happened.  I'm sure you knew ahead of time the possible consequences.  Good for you for standing anyway.  Keep up the good work.

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Saw this article today.  Don't worry - it's not like the last one I shared - but it is about child abuse.  Does it break your heart like it breaks our father's heart?  It should.  May we be a people who hear the cry of our children and respond.

Child abuse rose during recession, research says

Boulder Wall Guy

Just wanted to warn all.  If you happen to see a man probably in his late 30's, early 40's, driving around in a darker brown/black pick up with boulderwallguy.com printed on the side of the truck, hauling the frame of an old car - beware.

Yesterday we were driving home on 23, headed south and stopped at a gas station off the highway in Milan.  As we pulled up, we saw a truck hauling a car pulled in front of the gas station.  Here was this guy in a cowboy hat taking pictures of girls in bikinis in front of the old frame of a car.  I immediately became hot under the collar for several reasons.

First - these girls were not that old.  Possibly in the late teens/early twenties - maybe some younger.  My initial reaction was "WHAT are these girls THINKING??" - and then I remembered everything we have learned.  What the girls were thinking is what they've been taught their entire lives.  I am an object to be objectified.  Whether they were abused, molested or just have naively given into the cultural lie of Satan that we control men by our bodies - I don't know.  I DO know they have been lied to - by Satan, by society, by absent or abusive fathers, or by fathers who maybe didn't touch their own daughters, but have no problem hanging playboy pictures of other mens daughters in their homes.  Whatever - they've been lied to and have fallen hook, line, and sinker for that lie.

My second, and more appropriate reaction was to harm this man.  It took EVERY ounce of strength in me not to go beat him to a pulp.  Literally.  I was even more disgusted when I entered the gas station full of men - none of which had any self respect whatsoever and were ALL visually enjoying the porno scene going on right in front of my eyes.  I am happy to report that it was my man, my Godly, wonderful, incredibly awesome man, was the only one able to keep his eyes where they belonged and not take part in the objectification.  My son was equally as strong and I was so stinking proud of him for seeing the whole thing for exactly what it was.  Sick disgusting men and very lost young women.

Anyway - I had to go back out to the car and heard him telling these girls - and any attractive woman that would listen - that he had a "cable show" that he was "filming" for.  Huh?  He had a cheap camera, driving a beat up pick up truck, wearing a cowboy hat and dirty clothes - it was SOOOOO obvious he was nothing but a pervert.  But there I stood, watching at least 10 beautiful young women strip down to their bikinis and pose for him (sexually obviously).  I wanted so much to tell them exactly where those pictures were going to end up - and it wasn't on the type of cable show they were thinking.  My heart was so broken and so angry at the same time.  Needless to say, he did not ask me for my picture - both because I am not a size 2 and maybe because of the daggers I was shooting with my eyes.  If looks could kill - the man would have not lived to see another day :)

I didn't know what to do.  If I had thought fast enough, I would have gone over and offered to take a picture of him with the girls - and then promptly smashed the camera as soon as it was in my hands.  Of course that might have landed me in jail, or worse so it's probably good that didn't enter my head until later.  I wanted to tell these girls what was really happening - yet they were old enough to voluntarily both pose and then hand him their phone numbers.  I don't think they were really that naive.

It was sad and I was disgusted and angry.  It bothered me all night.  The brokenness of those girls broke me.  What horrible things have happened, what horrible lies have they believed, to allow themselves to be so disrespected.  Oh how my heart broke.

I intend on contacting the company listed on his truck.  It's probably his company but I'm going to contact them anyway.  If he's not the boss - his boss will be informed of what I witnessed.  It was so wrong on so many levels.

Anyway - it was sad.  We have much work to do ladies and gentlemen.  We must teach our sons the worth of women and teach our daughters their worth in the kingdom of God.  Our hearts must break for those things that break God's heart.  And if you see that man driving down the road - keep your kids away.

***Update  - the company does not exist.  No surprise there.  The scary thing is - exactly what is he doing with those pictures he's taking?  Just like we teach our children - stranger danger.  Never talk to strangers.  ***

CNN News Story

Here is a link to a story done by CNN about Amy, a young woman who wore one dress - I think it was for 6 months - to help raise awareness about sex trafficking in our area.  You will also see Jeff, the founder of The Daughter Project.  So proud to be part of this group of people :)  We sure are BLESSED!  God is so good.

Click Here

Good News

Although I know this article ends with words that are not necessarily what we want to hear, I still find reason to praise.

President Obama spent Easter morning in a bible believing church. 

I don't know where the President is spiritually.  I don't agree with him on much of anything - but praise the Lord - he was in church today.  The Lord can work in anyones heart - and that includes our President.  How awesome would it be if today, President Obama saw his need for salvation?  What if today, on this resurrection Sunday, President Obama heard the still small voice of our Savior whispering in his ear?  What if?

With so much bad news about the President on the news every day - I thought I'd pull this out as something positive.  Yeah, it was probably about show - but who knows.  You and I, a lot of us, spent several Sunday mornings in church - for show.  We spent it there to make our parents happy, or because that's what a good person is "supposed" to do or for whatever reason we did - but along the way, seeds were planted.  The word never returns void.  Today, I pray and trust that President Obama heard the salvation message and if nothing else, is contemplating the meaning of it to him.

Creationism under attack

Creationism is under attack more than I've ever seen before.  Just this year, one of my kid's teachers told them the biblical story of Creationism has been disproved.  We've heard it said, by teachers, in militant fashion, that it is their job to teach kids who come from these wacko Christian homes the truth of evolution. 

If your kids attend public schools - or if they will attend a secular university especially - we must teach our kids the truth - at home.  We must ground them in the word.  The movement against Creationism is, as I said, militant.

Personally, I don't get it.  To me, it takes just as much faith to believe something came from nothing, to believe physical beauty came from destruction - and no matter what the evolutionists say - it all HAD to start SOMEWHERE.  It wasn't just THERE one day.  Even if you believe the nonsense - at some point - you have to agree there had to be a creator to create that first thing - gasses - whatever - in order to start the world in motion.  Hear me out here - I don't believe that - I can't look around and see the beautiful world that surrounds me and think it came from a ball of gasses floating around space.  That's stupidity at it's best.  Oh yeah, I went there.  I almost went off the deep end when above teacher tried to sell the whole bible has been disproved lie.  Funny how separation of church and state applies the minute a child/student tries to speak the truth - but our kids can be subjected to the RELIGION of evolution and that seems to be okay.

Moving along.  Let's see what the bible has to say about creation, because, after all, that's where we base our beliefs.

Of course, we have to start with Genesis 1 & 2 - the beginning of the world.  Read the chapters but Genesis 1:1 states "In the beginning God created heaven and earth."  Really, evolutionists could save themselves a lot of time and money if they would just read - and believe - that one verse.

Nehemiah 9:6 "You alone are Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all the starry host, the earth and all that is in it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Isaiah 42:5  "This is what God the Lord says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it."

There are several more, of course, but that's a start.  You can google it and find them, or ask and I'll give you more.

Just reading one article opposed to creationism calls us "brainwashed", "contentious", and accuses us of "fabricating beliefs based on an old book", and to end the article - I quote:  "Religious evangelism needs to accept science or cease spreading it's lies , for the good of everyone."

Do you hear the anger?  Do you see the dogmatism?   Do you feel the hate dripping in those words?  This article also says we don't base our beliefs in science - and there - he is wrong.  There is plenty of science disproving evolution and proving creationism.  I'm not putting it here - we could spend days arguing.  See the links below for more scientific proof that creationism is truth.

Personally, if someone wants to believe evolution - that's their choice. I disagree with them, and I pray one day they will see the truth - but I don't hate on people who don't believe the same way I do. I don't go around saying it's my job to teach these kids that come from wacko secular homes the truth. 

I'd like to tell the author of this article, however, that evolution evangelism needs to accept creation and cease spreading it's lies - for the good of everyone.

A great resource is Answers in Genesis.  There is all kinds of information on there for you to check out.  Resources, videos, devotionals, etc.  There's also the Creation Museum in Cinci.  I've never been there, but I hear it's awesome!

To sum it all up - have no doubt, your kids are being taught evolution in public schools.  Creationism is under attack. Teach your kids God's truth - show them the actual science of it since evolutionists aren't faith based anyway.  Teach them to stand in the darkness as light of God's truth.  One day - we will all stand before God and the truth will be revealed.  On which side will you stand?