I know, I know...It's been eons since I've posted, and anyone who actually is reading this is certainly more devoted than I ever expected.  But I felt compeled to warn some folks who may be going to see a particular movie....

I just read a review of "Transformers 2" and I must say, it sounds horrible. Don't waste your time or your money! Wait until it comes out on DVD and you can watch the clear play version. (If there is anything left of the movie after the trashy sexual scenes are edited out.)

Check out Plugged In's review at www.pluggedinonline.com  It was discouraging, but not surprising. Appalinig, but not shocking. Please check it out before you go spend the money to see this movie!!!

Blessings on you all!

We were given a children's book from a dear friend called "The Story of Jesus." It s a "little golden book" for those of you familiar with that. Now this friend certainly meant well and was genuinely being generous, for which we are grateful, and perhaps did not realize the politically correct nature of that book. But it is politically correct at best, heresy at worst.

It is not a bad book because of what it puts in, but instead for what it leaves out. It never mentions that he was "the Son of God", but it does mention in one spot that he knew his "life purpose would be to work for his Father in Heaven, telling people about him." It leaves out almost all mention of the supernatural. When speaking of Joseph and Mary's return from Egypt, it merely says that Joseph "got a message" that King Herod had died. It makes it sound like he got a letter from his great aunt Miriam, rather than a message from an angel. In telling the story of Jesus baptism the book says "John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. As the two men prayed, God sent a dove down from Heaven - a sign that He was pleased." They conveniently leave out that it was the Holy Spirit, descending on him in the form of a dove.

Then read the next page, supposedly about the temptation in the wilderness: "Afterward, Jesus went off by himself, deep into the rocky wilderness. He stayed for many days, thinking about the good and evil in the world. He prayed for God to show him the way to live his life." Excuse me? No Devil, no temptation? Why is Jesus praying that God would "show him the way to live his life"? Do you see how children would be mislead by this? It gets worse.

The rest of the book talks about Jesus' teaching, and some of the kinds of people he talked to. The only supernatural thing mentioned is the feeding of the 5000. But the main problem, the biggest omission comes on the very last page: "After Jesus' death, his followers took his teachings all around the world. And the stories he told are still known and loved and retold today, in every land on Earth." No mention of why he died, zero mention or depiction of the cross, and worst of all, they do not mention the fact that he rose from the dead and is alive today. You can see how subtle the deception is. They don't exactly say anything that is untrue, they just conveniently leave out important details that end up deceiving the reader.

I can stomach a lot of things, but when someone misleads a child or lies to them about Christ....let's just say what Jesus did: "It would be better for them to have a millstone hung around their neck and cast into the sea."

My Hetti and I are celebrating two years of marriage today! Some of you may not know how she got that nick name. She left a comment on my blog once, before we officially met. (A pre-Xanga blog.) She had to leave her email in order to comment, so I responded to her with some thoughts of my own. This surprised her, and at her fathers counsel, she decided to keep her name and identity a secret for a while. This made me more interested actually, to guess her identity or at least the connection. ("How did this person find my blog?") The only thing I had to identify her was her email at the time: hettihuanne@______.com  Well, we began corresponding a little more frequently, but nothing romantic. Just doctrinal/what do you think issues mostly. Since she wouldn't tell me her name I decided I needed something to call her that was short, so I naturally selected Hetti. She liked it. No one had ever shortened hettihuanne to Hetti. At the time I thought she might be a 14 or 15 year old girl from the midwest somewhere. I wasn't trying to be "sweet" or romantic, but it ended up that way.

My wife is an extremely patient, kind, and loving woman. I am far from the perfect husband (contrary to popular legend). Some days I am a very bad husband to her. Yet she still loves me with all her heart. And even though she knows my faults better than anyone except God, she also loves me more than anyone I have ever known, saving Christ. Anna lays her life down for me and our children (yep. ) in more ways than I can count. Jesus said that is the greatest love a person can have. To lay your life, your every day living life, down for your friend. I am so grateful for my best friend, and the deep and genuine love she expresses to me every day.

She is my treasure of treasures, my blessing of blessings, my lamp of gladness. Through her I have received multiplied joys again and again.   I LOVE YOU, Hetti! You are my one and only.

XOXO

(In case you missed that little hint up there....Lord willing, we will be having another blessing in August this year. God has blessed us with another child!)