The Danger of Video Games: Satan's Playground

     What do the names Adam Lanza, James Holmes, Jared Lee Loughner, Elliott Rodger, Dylan Roof,  and Chris Harper-Mercer have in common?  Besides being among a growing number of mass murderers, they were all fanatic video gamers.  I have been criticized in the past for making that connection, but I do not think that anyone can deny that there are some people who simply have a warped sense of what's real and what's not, thinking that real life is just like a video game.
     And what is even more alarming is the number of people who may not be capable of following through on their own distorted sense of reality, will nevertheless glory in the acting out of these killers.  Think this is an over-the-top representation of a popular pastime in America?  Just read this bit of information printed by Charisma News:  Chris Harper-Mercer killed 10 people, including himself, and left seven more injured in the massacre that took place on the Umpqua campus in Oregon.  Harper-Mercer was known as a recluse who was obsessed with violent gaming and the digital world, even finding supporters on those sites. On an anonymous chat room website, he left messages about what he was planning to do.  One of his comments was,  "Some of you guys are alright. Don't go to school tomorrow if you are in the northwest. So long space robots." The responses he got back to this were terrifying to say the least:

"DO IT" 

"You might want to target a girl's school which is safer because there are no beta males throwing themselves for their rescue."

"I am so excited for this. If this comes true then thank you for my late birthday gift anon."

"I suggest you enter a classroom and tell people that you will take them as hostages. Make everyone get in one corner and then open fire. Make sure that there is no way that someone can disarm you as it possible. I suggest you carry a knife on your belt as last resort if someone is holding your gun,"

Then, here are some of the responses after the shooting:

"That score, ouch. Not even double digits on current reports."

"THE MADMAN ACTUALLY DID IT"

How can people actually gloat over someone killing another person, or refer to the death count as a "score"?  It is beyond my comprehension!  Yet, the killers themselves leave us clues that the fantasy violence they become addicted to leads to their murderous actions.  Harper-Mercer is reported to have said, "I've been waiting for years to do this" before he opened fire on his victims.
     Yet there are mothers who will tell me that they have let their sons play video games their entire lives and they know the difference between make-believe and reality... their sons would never act out a video game.  Yet the afore-mentioned mass murderers are sons of other mothers, and they did just that.
     But why is it not conceivable that such violence in video games -- especially the first-person shooter variety -- could lead to a destabilization in a young person's mind?  Whether you believe the devil takes advantage of the spiritual aspect of a kid's life or not, surely our society should be able to recognize that, overall, violent video games may not be suitable for children and their impressionable minds.
     And it's not only the pliable minds of children that we have to worry about.  Recently, researchers at Ohio State University conducted a study and concluded that, "People who have a steady diet of playing these violent video games may come to see the world as a hostile and violent place." Brad Bushman, professor of communication and psychology at OSU, continues, "These results suggest there could be a cumulative effect in making video game players more aggressive and violent over the long term as well as over the short term."  In other words, a steady diet of depersonalizing and dehumanizing violence just might numb the brain to a zombie-like state.
     In fact, Evan Ramsey, who snuck a shot gun into his high school and shot a student and the principal and wounded two others, was clearly deprived of his power of reasoning. He claims that a video game, Doom, distorted his version of reality: "I did not understand that if I pull out a gun and shoot you ... you're not getting back up. You shoot a guy in Doom, and he gets back up. You have got to shoot the things in Doom eight or nine times before it dies."
     Michael Carneal shot girls as they prayed in a prayer group. Carneal never moved his feet during his shootings, and never fired far to the left or right, but instead fired only once at each target that appeared, just as a player of video games maximizes his game score by shooting only once at each victim, in order to hit as many targets as possible.
     And I'm sure you remember Anders Behring Breivik, who shot 68 people dead at a youth camp of the Norwegian Labor party, and another nine in a bombing of government buildings.  According to the judgment rendered against him, he liked playing violent games. He actually used the video game Call of Duty to train for his shooting massacre.
     By now, I'm sure you're getting the picture.  Whether you want to give credit to Satan and his use of technology, or merely lay these horrendous crimes at the feet of unstable people; it should be clear that realistic and violent video games are doing something to our cognitive behavior.  Too many people (primarily male) are developing negative patterns of thought about the world, and are unable to distinguish their fellow human beings from created video characters.  And in turn, they have a distorted view of themselves in the role of avenger, victim, hero, or any other number of disturbed roles.
     This is not an indictment of all children who play video games, anymore than it is of all video games, themselves.  However, when will we, as a society, realize that the most dangerous weapon a person yields is their mind?  And yield is the key word.  The way Satan gains control of a person's mind is when their mind is passive, idle, and not occupied with God's will.  The more we allow our children's minds to be consumed with images of violence and killing (even if it is represented as coming from a moral authority), the more Satan will pull them into his web of deception and lies.  And the more minds are corrupted with death and violence, the more dangerous society becomes.  How much longer will we deny this truth?

Psalm 11:5   "The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence."

Advice For The Daughter In All Of Us

It's not often that I run across an article that says something that I feel should be shared in its entirety.  But in this day, when raising children is beset with all kinds of misinformation through social media and our education system, it is refreshing to see a father give some sensible advice to his daughter.  There are a few things that I would like to add to his recommendations, and I will do that at the conclusion of his commentary.  But, to begin, I would like to introduce John LeFevre, a former Wall Street banker, who left the industry to become a writer for, among others, Business Insider and the Huffington Post.  If I am correct, I believe Mr. LeFevre writes from a secular perspective, yet this article, written for his daughter, offers some logical and well-grounded council.  

     When it comes to our kids, we seem totally lost. It’s not just that millennials tend to be these narcissistic, overly sensitive, entitled kids who are unable to cope with the realities of life, it’s that we’re the ones enabling this dreary, flaccid, cultural malaise.
     So far this year on college campuses, we’ve seen the banning of phrases like “land of opportunity” because they might be offensive; the removal of the American flag from “safe zones” because it endorses American superiority; and the canceling of screenings of “American Sniper” for fear of offending Muslim students. Teachers are even afraid to give low grades because of their students’ emotional fragility.
     What kind of adults are we raising them to be? Look no further than the advice the New York Times recently prescribed for being a modern man, which included such absurdities as owning a melon baller and a shoe horn, while sanctimoniously dismissing guns. And the advice that young woman are getting from a media enamored by social justice warriors is even worse – politically correct, unrealistic and even dangerous.
     Since I wrote a book about deviance and debauchery on Wall Street that included anecdotes about the celebrated misogyny and objectification of women in the workplace, I get snidely asked all the time, “What are you going to say to your daughter?”  So, now that I have a daughter, [and] here’s my advice for her:

1.     Stand up straight.
2.     Know how to change a tire, but whenever possible, let a man to do it for you.
3.     Your physical appearance matters. That’s the world we live in, and it’s also how we’re wired.
4.      Inner beauty — intelligence, personality, confidence and a sense of humor — becomes more important as you get older. Wit never sags.
5.     You are more beautiful than you will ever give yourself credit for.
6.     It’s my job to keep you safe. That’s why it’s also my job to teach you how to use a gun.
7.     Take good care of your skin.
8.     Don’t worry about dieting. Eat healthy, exercise, drink in moderation and everything will fall into place.
9.     Gender is not a social construct. Embrace the differences between men and women.
10.   Read more. It allows you to borrow someone else’s brain.
11.   It’s safe to assume that almost every guy you meet wants to sleep with you.
12.   If anyone says it’s OK to be fat, they’re lying to you.
13.   Let him pay for dinner most of the time.
14.   Just because you can fit into that tiny dress doesn’t mean you should wear it.
15.   Don’t sleep around.
16.   Play sports. You’ll probably run, throw and fight like a girl, but that’s magnificent.
17.   Money is important. It won’t make you happy, but it solves many of the problems that will make you unhappy.
18.   You will regret getting a tattoo.
19.   If you are blessed with the gift of being able to create and shape a life — embrace it. You’ll probably find it more rewarding than any career.
20.   You have all the power over boys. Let them cherish and revere you.
21.   Ignore the boos; they usually come from the cheap seats.
22.   Don’t try to party like one of the guys. You don’t metabolize alcohol at the same rate, and that’s how bad things can happen.
23.   Success is doing whatever it is that you love, and doing it well. But… (see No. 17.)
25.   Just because your brother might go on spring break with his friends doesn’t mean you can. (See Nos. 6, 9, 11, 22.)
24.   Finally, remember that rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of a smart, strong woman.

     I would only add a couple of suggestions of my own, and they concern the spiritual life of Mr. LeFevre's daughter.  I would advise her to look beyond what this world tells her defines her as a woman.  I would hope that she sees a comparison between her relationship with her earthly father and her Heavenly one... that she seek to please Her Father in Heaven and to respect and submit to His commands, as much as she does her daddy here on earth.
     I would also tell her that there is a purpose for her life greater than the treasures that youth, beauty, and fame can bring; that God wants to work through her life to project His grace and mercy through serving others --- it is not all about her.  
     And finally, I would recommend that she seek the counsel of older, wiser women who can share their testimonies of hope and faith in a God who has protected them, strengthened them, and grown them through the ups and downs of life.  We all have stories to tell, and our experiences in our salvation process are immeasurable.  Think about it... what advice would you give?

Psalm 31:28-29:    Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
     
   

The Millennial Generation: Is Their Narcissism Good For the Workplace?

Today's blog post was generated after watching "CBS Sunday Morning" this week, and a segment on the Millennial generation.  I guess I'm no different than my parents before me, or their parents before them ... but I find myself asking "What's going on with this generation of kids"? 

     Every generation must face the fears about their future.  A common concern is the question, "What is the state of the U.S. economy, and will I be able to establish a firm foundation for the rest of my life?"  None have been more apprehensive than what we call "The Millennial Generation".  Of course, the natural tendency for us older Americans is to compare this generation with our own.
     My parent's generation was "The Greatest Generation", which gave birth to my generation, "The Baby-Boomers".  The offspring of my generation is called "The Millennials," because they will come of age during the new millennium.  
     Born between the years of 1981 and 2000, they now constitute 75,000,000 in numbers, and one out of every three workers in the U.S.  So how is this generation affecting the American workplace?  I think you will get a clear picture when I give you this quote from Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University:  "We know from looking at narcissism scores among college students from the 1980s to recent surveys, this generation does score higher on narcissism... from 1 out of 8, [it has grown] to 1 out of 3."

     That should concern us because the definition of narcissism is self-love, self-admiration, self-absorption, self-obsession, conceit, self-centeredness, self-regard, egotism, egoism.  Let's just say modesty is not a part of their vocabulary.  In fact, after decades of studying self-assessments by millions of the Millennialists in which they reported how accomplished, how motivated, and how special they consider themselves, Professor Twenge wrote a book on them entitled, Generation Me.
     That seems to say it all, doesn't it?  Furthermore, one of her research papers reveals that "Millennials in the workplace are defined by... the combination of not wanting to work hard, but still wanting more money and status...".  As Twenge explains, this latest generation is seeing and facing a more competitive and challenging job market than previous generations.  The problem is they haven't been prepared, perhaps because they received so much praise growing up and they got a trophy just for showing up at sporting events.  As Twenge accurately comments, "Unfortunately, the workplace doesn't work that way.  You have to do so much more than just show up."
     The scary thing is that the question now becomes, "Are they going to adapt to the workforce, or is the workforce going to adapt to them?"  Professor Twenge says the answer to that question will shape the future of the U.S. economy.  And sadly, I'm afraid that the forecast for our future may not be as bright as it should be.
     Mind you, I am not seeking to condemn all Millennials, but from what I have seen, far too many of them have an "entitlement" attitude.  If the work gets a little too hard, or they get bored, or it just isn't something they "want" to do ... they quit.  Or I have also seen that they will do the job assigned to them, but no more or no less -- and then they want a raise and a promotion.  One member of the Millennial generation was at least honest in her assessment of her peer group:  "The need for praise is absolute.  That is a big issue in our generation.  We don't particularly respond well to criticism, and we absolutely want praise immediately."  Do the words spoiled, overindulged, and bratty come to mind?
     Yet her honesty was also right on target when she said that the explosion of internet technology had done her generation no favors.  "The internet culture is part of the problem... you put a picture up on Facebook, you want to be in double, triple "Likes" within the hour.  If you put a picture up on Facebook, and no one likes it, you feel as though you failed.  This instant-gratification cycle that we've gotten into has developed into a bit of a problem in the workforce."  But she also credits a certain amount of "delusional narcissism" as necessary if you want to be a successful and creative entrepreneur.
     While I will admit that confidence in yourself is a great trait in the workplace, what happened to those workers who are willing to be the first one on the job, and the last one to go home?  Those who do more than is asked of them? Or those who are grateful to have a job, instead of always expecting more to be handed to them, or to be accommodated and catered to?
     I especially find it interesting that of those Millennial workers that seemed super-motivated during the CBS program, they all seemed to be children of immigrants.  The workers of Asian or Middle Eastern ethnicity had a different attitude about them; as though they thrived on the competition and challenges of proving themselves --- instead of workers who are multi-generational Americans and are the products of easier, more comfortable, and less demanding life-styles.   
     In the end, what does this mean for the American workplace and the future of the U.S. economy?  Does our DNA still contain the elements of motivation, single-handed determination, and the drive to succeed?  Or have we spawned a generation of pampered, spoon-fed kids with their hand out and no will to go beyond the minimal effort?  If so, I'm afraid that we will continue to see our economy surpassed by those countries who are willing to put their nose to the grindstone and give more than expected of them, and who are willing to be patient for their gratification and rewards.  Unless they can find it within themselves to put their employer first, in hopes that their hard work will pay off in the future, I'm afraid Millennials will find themselves living in their parents' basements, dreaming of the next job and their instant reward.  I know I'm going to sound old-fashioned, but narcissism is no replacement for a good work ethic.  I can hear my father now....

Proverbs 27:18    "Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored."


     
       

Boys With Sticks: Intelligent Advice From A Wise Mother

     If, like me, you are "of a certain age", then you are most likely becoming discouraged about our culture's disparagement of manhood.  Our little boys are dissuaded against playing with toy guns; of displaying any form of aggression or boldness; and of emphasizing their decidedly genetic tendencies to protect "the fairer sex".  For pity's sake, they can't even point a fake finger gun at anyone without their school record classifying them as a "danger" for their entire academic career!
     We now live in an age where men are no longer allowed to be "men".  They must now subject themselves to a lower status for all the years that they supposedly "kept women down."  The culture not only wants to blur the line between the sexes, but appears to promote the erasure of any line at all ... we are all free to "be" whatever we feel like on any particular day; and heaven forbid you are decidedly one sex or the other.  But you most definitely do not want to flaunt any characteristically male behavior.  No sir, that's strictly taboo these days, because, don't you know ... it always leads to unnecessary violence!
    So, I want to applaud Simcha Fisher, a mom with common sense and (whether she knows it or not), the wisdom to know that God made boys in His image.  In an article titled, Boys With Sticks, Fisher lays out her argument for letting "boys be boys".  She writes:  Are we so afraid of the power of violence to overtake us that we are uncomfortable with its harmless expression in children’s play?
     Yes, we are, and it’s making a mess of the world. It doesn’t make violence go away when we always tell boys, ‘Put that stick down.’ Instead, it’s making a world where people -- boys and girls alike -- have no idea what to do about unjust violence.
     Boys playing with sticks is not a meaningless game. It’s something that little boys absolutely must be allowed to do, if that’s how they want to play. A boy who wants to pick up a stick needs to know that he can, and he may, and that his affinity for sticks is not a bad thing. He needs to know that a stick is a powerful thing, and that the world needs men who know how to use their sticks.
     Bravo, Mrs. Fisher!  Your sentiment fits right in line with what Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14:  "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."  Those without God in our culture want us to throw out that first sentence; and in attempt to force their version of the second sentence, they have emasculated our boys and men into becoming ineffective warriors.  For, warriors is what they are called to be.  It may sound old-fashioned, but I can remember when men could take pride in being their wife’s protector; in being a father who provided for his family; or a brother who watched over his siblings -- when policemen were celebrated for their service to the public's welfare; and a soldier for defending his country.
     Actually, that's a pretty smart play by the devil.  If he can convince us that without warriors, there will be no violence in the world, then he has leveled the playing field in our spiritual warfare.  Of course, you recognize that I am looking at this issue through my Biblical worldview.  But I don't believe my view is really that far off from Simcha Fisher, who says this about the warrior mindset:  Boys who are never allowed to be wild are boys who never learn how to control that wildness. Boys who are not allowed to whack, and be whacked, with sticks never learn what fighting is like. What’s so bad about that? Well, they may end up hitting someone weak, with no idea how much it hurts to be hit. Or they may end up standing by while the strong go after the weak – and have no idea that it’s their job to put a stop to it.
     While I see no mention of God's plan for His male creation in that statement, I certainly think the  description of a boy's experience she offers can yield the opportunities to learn both compassion and what it means to stand steadfast for righteousness and justice.  This is perfectly stated in Micah 6:8, which tells us, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Of course, that last part is vitally important in accomplishing the first two admonitions.  And there is the unspoken truth that with these responsibilities as protector, provider, warrior, God has set the boundaries for men ... it is all to be done to glorify Him.  So little boys must be given rules to play by, and to know where their sense of power comes from.
     I must say that I am glad that I am of a generation that still honors the traditional roles of men and women.  I love knowing that my husband takes his role as my protector and provider seriously and with pride.  I am thrilled to see my nephews following their calling as police officers. And I am encouraged by seeing my Godson live out the warrior spirit that is inherent in his young personality.  This world is spiraling into chaos and unmanageable violence.  Satan has his warriors on the battlefield... we better be training up ours for the fight of our lives!

Psalms 18:39    For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

If We Could Erase Time...

   

     How many remember exactly where you were fourteen years ago this morning?  Every American over the age of 25 most likely has a distinct memory of that tragic day ... the ash-colored faces of panicking people rushing to escape the falling Towers behind them; the grief-stricken families wandering the streets of New York City in the aftermath, holding photos of their loved ones and hoping beyond hope that someone would tell them their son/daughter/father/mother/spouse had been spotted among the injured; the images of NYC firefighters atop mountains of rubble continuing to do their jobs after 343 of their comrades died trying to rescue those trapped in the buildings.
     Sadly, there is a generation of children growing up who don't remember; and for most of them, this all seems like ancient history.  They have lived their entire lives in the effects, results, and consequences of that horrific day, yet they have no emotional connection to the nearly 3,000 Americans who perished that day.  And there are the peripheral statistics:  the documented 863 firefighters and ambulance workers with cancers certified as relating to their work on September 11 2001 (although Mount Sinai Hospital's World Trade Center Health Program -- which is run for police officers, construction workers, sanitation staff and other New York City employees and volunteers -- reports it is treating 1,655 patients with cancer out of the 37,000 who worked at the site of the 9/11 attacks).
     And we mustn't forget the nearly 6,650 Americans who have died in the ensuing Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, along with the more than 50,000 wounded troops -- 16,000 of them so seriously that they would certainly have died had they suffered an equivalent wound in any prior conflict.  It has been suggested that nearly 1/5 of all military personnel who served in the Middle East since 9/11 suffer from some form of PTSD.
     All this is the aftermath of that terrible day.  Is there any remnant of what we used to be before?  And how many of us would like to turn back the clock and live in a simpler America; one less adorned with the complexities of what modern America has become, and in a way that is reminiscent of bygone days?  Unfortunately, we can't erase time, but I'm happy to say that my Godson, Hunter, is able to experience a piece of that picturesque Americana.

     You see, Hunter will be six years old this fall, and he just started Kindergarten at Pine Creek School in Montana.  This small, rural school is similar to the old one-room school house; although in reality, it consists of three rooms.  Kindergarten through Second Grade comprise one room, and Grades 3-5 and 6-8 take up class in the other two rooms.  This year Hunter is one of only 4 Kindergartners, and there are no 8th Graders for the 2015-16 school year.
     The original Pine Creek School held its first class in 1893, and the school building was made of logs.  It has been updated and upgraded in the years since.  Up until the 1950’s there was an outhouse, no running water, a wood burning stove, and kerosene lamps for light.  Sometime in the 50's the school acquired a well, bathrooms in the basement, electricity, and finally an oil burning furnace, which was a blessing till it belched and covered the schoolrooms in soot.
     While Pine Creek School is the picture postcard of a rural school from a bygone era, it is thriving in 21st Century America.   Even though there are only three teachers, plus some part time professionals, it functions as a modern K-8 education system.  As of 2014, Pine Creek School has ten top-of-the-line, i7,  all-in-one,  touch screen computers with a dedicated internet connection, along with iPads and laptops, as well as a collegiate connection in educational technology.
     Pine Creek may be a throwback to earlier rural education models, but it is co-developing curriculum and implementing the Next Generation Science Standards with the current Montana Science standards, and working with the Montana Outdoor Science School.   This small rural school is determined to navigate into a leadership role in educating its students in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM).
     Yet Hunter will have the old-fashioned benefits that many city-educated kids will never know.  Learning in a classroom with older kids, I suspect he will be motivated and challenged by listening to the older kids studying their lessons.  If he excels beyond his grade level, he will be seamlessly integrated into the lesson plans for the higher grades.  Likewise, if a fellow student can't quite keep up, he will be allowed to continue studying with the lower grades until he becomes academically proficient for that grade's requirements.  In this manner, students are not overtly singled out as being smarter or slower than others.  They all work at the pace they can accomplish, and receive individual attention by the teacher(s).

     But here's the part I really love .... each morning the entire school gathers on the playground and faces the flag.  They place their hand over their heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together.  They say "one nation under God" (although Hunter says, "one nation under Jesus and God"), and they do it with pride and conviction.  There's no room for political correctness at Pine Creek School!
     Each day Hunter and the other kids go outside to play at recess, and they are already forming a community... the older kids looking out for the younger, and all of them sharing a unique identity associated with this rare and exceptional experience.  Most of the kids come from surrounding ranches and the rural countryside, and I suspect there won't be any concerns about disrespect towards each other or the teachers.  In fact, Hunter's teacher has already commented to his mom that she was delighted when Hunter answered "Please" and "Yes, Ma'am" on his first day of school.
     The principal reported that Hunter was "polite, and interested in the environment and the safety of the other kids".  (His mom and I laughed about that because we know that he is as rough and tumble as they come, and there might be future calls from the principal that relate to another side of this thoroughly rowdy ranch kid).  But at least I don't think that this school system will try to change who he is.  I am thrilled (and a little jealous) that Hunter is able to experience this nearly extinct chapter in American education.  As I worry about the level of education that our kids are getting in the modern school system, I know that Hunter is getting the best ... an educational experience that is suited to his curious and demanding mind; a respect for what it means to be an American citizen; and the kinds of friendships that will last for a lifetime.
     We mustn't forget the significance of this historic day.  It is burned into the souls of Americans who lived the nightmare that was 9/11.  I pray that Hunter will not have to experience any thing close to that tragedy, but no matter what lies ahead of him, he will have a foundation built on the historic values of one-room school houses and those who attended them before him.  He is inheriting the philosophy of the one-room schoolhouse, which stressed family involvement.  It stressed helping one another, and there was a sense of belonging to one place, and "this is our place."  We can't turn back time, no matter how much we care to.  September 11, 2001 stripped away much of our nation's innocence, but it's nice to know that there are still oases where our traditional values are still honored and appreciated.  And for that, I'm grateful this day.

2 Thessalonians 2:15:  "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter."
   

The War Against The South

     The horror and sadness of the Charleston murders have focused our national conscience on racial tensions.  Along with all the dissection of the murderer's motives, comes the sudden decision that the Confederate flag played a major role and should essentially be outlawed.  It seems to me (in a move designed to appear sensitive to the victims' families), every politician, fake media apologist, and greedy corporate CEO has now joined in the call for banning this iconic symbol of Southern heritage.
     Perhaps I'm a little sensitive, since I live in what is considered part of the South.  In fact, I have lived here for nearly three-quarters of my life ... by choice.  I love the hospitality and friendliness of the people; I love their pride in their history; and I love the importance they place on faith.  And perhaps I'm sensitive because my father recounted his grandmother's stories of escaping rural Tennessee ahead of the Yankee army, which was burning everything in its path.  As a small child, it was my great-grandmother's job to dig up the family silverware from its hiding place in the ground, and to gather as many family mementoes as she could carry in the wagon.  Or maybe I'm proud because my paternal grandmother's maiden name was Lee, a historic and proud name in the South and because our family lineage can be traced back to Old Virginia, and a possible connection to Stonewall Jackson, a celebrated Confederate General.  And maybe I just plain don't like the one-sided picture that is being painted of the South.  They weren't all slave holders.  Like much of the South, my family were farmers.  And to many. the flag simply means pride in their roots and traditions.

     I find it disturbing that in the rush to prove that the nation has transcended its racist past and will not tolerate the likes of a crazy, white supremacist, such as the Charleston killer, there is a growing move to eradicate all Southern influences ... and the over-reaction is neither reasonable nor rational.
     For instance, the memory of Pastor Clementa Pinckney has became the rallying point for removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse.  Somehow, the politicians and the PC police felt that the flag symbolized the hate that caused his murder and the deaths of eight of his parishioners.  There was an outcry that his casket was actually carried past the Confederate flag during his funeral.
     But would it surprise you to know that in 2000, during his first term in the South Carolina State Senate, Pinckney actually voted in favor of H5028, the May 2000 compromise which placed the Confederate flag at its current location?  From what we have gathered about Reverend Pinckney's character, it seems to me that he would have cautioned against such a rash decision and rush to judgment.  He would have recognized the emotional attachment that millions of Southerners have to the flag -- not that it represents slavery to them; but that it is a symbol of their unique heritage and of the approximately 600,000 who died in a war that split the nation apart.  Is it too much to consider the sentiments of one writer, who said, "I find it strange that the actions of one sociopath should mar the reputations of millions, as if the flag itself pulled the trigger?"  It is as if somehow, just being proud of being a Southerner means that you are a racist and a bigot.
     But it is not just the Confederate flag that is under attack.  There are actually those who wish to cleanse the nation of all its Southern culture; to wipe it out as if it never existed.  Corporate giants such as Wal-Mart, Amazon and Sears are now refusing to sell any Confederate products (while continuing to sell Nazi paraphernalia).  There are efforts to change the names of military installations named for Confederate generals and soldiers; among them Fort Bragg.  So far, at least, the Army is not going for it.  “Every Army installation is named for a soldier who holds a place in our military history,” Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Malcolm Frost said in a statement. “Accordingly, these historic names represent individuals, not causes or ideologies. It should be noted that the naming occurred in the spirit of reconciliation, not division.”
     But I'm afraid that's exactly the point that these modern-day dogmatic ideologues wish to stress.  They are not interested in reconciling or allowing the South's history to coexist with the national narrative.  In fact, they would rewrite history, if they could.

Statue of Jefferson Davis on UT campus

     A good example is the effort being made at my alma mater, the University of Texas, in which there is an actual petition to remove statues of Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate army, and Albert Sidney Johnston, a Confederate general who died during the Civil War.  The petition states, “It is impossible to reach the full potential of an inclusive and progressive learning institution while putting an idol of our darkest days on a pedestal.”
     But here's where these leaders of student government fail.  They have listened to their progressive professors, who have filled their heads full of distorted truths, and the result is they also want to remove a statue of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, because, "Given Jefferson Davis's vehement support for the institution of slavery and white supremacy, we believe this statue is not in line with the university's core values — learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility."
     If these students had been taught any form of critical thinking, they would do their own research and find out why Jefferson Davis assumed the Confederate Presidency.  They could decide for themselves if the protection of slavery was his motivation, or if there was another more important reason, as he expressed in his own words:  "Every evil which has befallen our institutions is directly traceable to the perversion of the compact of union and the usurpation by the Federal Government of undelegated powers...My faith in that right as an inherent attribute of State sovereignty, was adopted early in life, was confirmed by study and observation of later years, and has passed, unchanged and unshaken, through the severe ordeal to which it has been subjected ... I shall die, as I have lived, firm in the State rights faith."  Furthermore, he asserted that he was loyal to his country, "by the bonds of community independence, the supremacy of law, and adherence to the Constitution as it was interpreted by those who made it."
     It saddens me that there is such an abusive and over-reaching attempt to eradicate the history, influence, and culture of the South.  Even Gone With The Wind is under attack as romanticizing the history of the Slave South.  What's next?  Will there be a book burning of To Kill A Mockingbird, The Color Purple, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and all novels by William Faulkner?
     We cannot and should not re-write our history!  But tell that to the students at the University of Texas.  Believe it or not, but according to a survey many of them would remove statues of George Washington because he owned slaves his entire life, and did not emancipate them until after his death.   And when, as part of the petition, UT students were asked if they would also support a move to wipe Washington from the pages of history?  A good portion of them answered Yes!  Several also agreed that demolishing the statues would be a fantastic way of "controlling the future by re-writing history" -- a line lifted straight out of George Orwell’s 1984.  “It’s so bad, it’s like as if you’re having a statue of maybe Hitler or someone like that,” said one trendy as he signed the petition.
     This, folks, is what our kids are learning at universities all across America.  Just the mere use of words like "racist statues" or "treason", when applied to the historical figures of the South, were enough to get the results the petitioners desired.  Let's face it. We are seeing a clear and blatant attempt at "cultural cleansing".  And just like all the "movements" of the past decade, I am astounded at the speed in which it has materialized and is advancing.  It almost feels as if we are powerless to stop the tide of change and deception that is flooding our nation and the world.  But why should I be surprised... we should recognize it.  We've seen it before in Nazi Germany, and we are well aware that the devil knows his time is short, and we know he's coming at us with all his fury.  He knows that the Civil War nearly destroyed this nation under God, so why not try that tactic again... divide and conquer.  But we must be determined that we will not allow that division to occur again, while maintaining the proud heritage of the South.  And please, Lord, help us to educate our young!  They are so easily deceived!

Thanks to writer Todd Starnes, and to the D.C. Clothesline website for their invaluable insight.

Psalm 52:2    "Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit."

The Demise Of Womankind

   

     I have to admit it ... my generation is largely to blame for the state of confusion among Millennials of the female gender.  We were the Baby Boomer daughters who were often among the first of our family's women to attend college.  We grew up watching women role models on TV; like Lucille Ball, Donna Reed and June Cleaver, who were probably pretty close to the images of our own mothers -- happy in their roles as child-nurturers and support systems to their husbands.  There was something comforting about the TV personas of these domestic goddesses who were queens of their castles.
     But then something happened.  Perhaps it was the seduction of being "on our own" in the world.  Suddenly, we stopped admiring the women that our mothers represented, and were lured to the celebrity of a new breed of women who told us that we shouldn't limit ourselves to the roles our mothers played.  They even called themselves by a powerful new title ... feminists.  
     In reality, they weren't the pioneers they proclaimed themselves to be.  They were actually the descendants of an earlier generation of women who focused mostly on equal voting rights and the rights to own property.  This second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 70s was actually a delayed reaction to the efforts to return women to their domestic roles after a brief release from those duties during WW II.  During the war years, women went to work in the factories to support the war effort, only to return to home-making when their husbands came home, and needed the jobs.
     The likes of Gloria Steinem and the feminist movement reawakened the cause, and broadened the debate to a wide range of issues: sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, perceived inequalities, and official legal inequalities.  Suddenly, we young women looked upon our mothers' domestic roles as too traditional and quite frankly, unfashionable.
     TV shows like Mary Tyler Moore glamorized the new "professional" woman; a woman who didn't need marriage and motherhood to fulfill her -- and didn't even need a man.  That mindset soon led to uncommitted sex and inconvenient pregnancies, which led to the "liberating" option of legal abortion.  And from those seemingly proud accomplishments, we have progressed to this moment in time and society ... we seem to have rejected our identities as women.
     I feel sorry for the young women of this Millennial generation.  Who are their role models?  Who is the media and culture touting as representing them? Increasingly, they are the misguided and sad little puppets who are the result of the women's movement run amok.  They have not only bought the lies that motherhood, marriage (especially to a man), and home-making are a waste of their time; but they have taken the "I don't need a man to support me" principle to the furthest extremes ... and if they have a weak moment and their maternal instincts kick in, they don't need a man to produce a child; medical technology has solved that issue.

     And what about love?  Well, men aren't needed in that department, either, these days.  In the 60s, Walt Disney Studios promoted a young, innocent girl named Annette Funicello, who grew into a beautiful young woman who wasn't afraid to embrace her femininity and attraction to young men.  At the turn of the century those same Walt Disney Studios were promoting the modern version of the cute, clever young girl in Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana.  But something happened to Miley on her way to womanhood.  She lost what defined her as an attractive young woman and embraced the "anything for shock value" mode of self-promotion and identification.

     And she is the icon for a whole new platform among Hollywood women -- of all ages.  They are proud to declare the "gender fluid movement".  I'm not quite sure how to define it, but by the press that young stars like Miley Cyrus and Kristen Stewart are receiving, I can guess that it probably means they follow their base instincts and are free to choose to love anyone of any gender ... or no gender at all, such as Miley's "Agender date" to a recent gala supporting AIDS research.  But then Miley is proudly exhibiting armpit hair these days, and openly calling the Bible "a fairy tale", so let's just say that what she thinks doesn't have any relevance to me.
     But that being said, I fear that she and the current movement to destroy the acceptance of the traditional man-woman relationship is gaining some steam.  It seems as if every new young starlet feels compelled to announce, as Miley did, "I never want to label myself. I am ready to love anyone that loves me for who I am. I am open."  But open to what??? To a delusion that loving a woman is the same as loving a man?  Open to some misguided belief that we must accept any and all relationships despite the fact that they are not natural?  How has loving a man suddenly become so taboo and intolerable?
     It also seems that you can't watch a TV show, or go to the movies, or listen to a song without it promoting "the freedom" of young girls to pursue female sexual love.  Let's call it what it is ... Satan's seductive instrument called ... LUST!  It is unnatural and ultimately unfulfilling.
     And how long before the young women of faith who enjoy the traditional male/female roles, and who denounce such sinful lifestyles, are ostracized and driven from the public square of debate?  The so-called "sexually enlightened" love to proclaim that "labels are outdated", and we should see each other as all equal and potential love partners.  I'm sorry, but I just can't go there!
     You see, I don't want to blur the lines between the genders.  I love what makes me different from men, and I enjoy how we compliment each other and challenge each other through our differences.  I like that my husband wants to protect me and provide for me, and I like being in charge of making a comfortable home for him.  I also like that he values my opinions and that we pull together on this journey called life.  I like the security and commitment that comes with marriage.  I like that he knows what I'm thinking, even when I haven't said a word.  I can't say it any plainer than this ... I love how he appreciates me as a woman.
     I have no desire to let my armpit hair grow, or deprive myself of his companionship and love, just to prove that I am equal and don't need him.  Does that sound rational, at all?  You see, I love the blessings that come from that label "woman".  And the fact that our society is desperately trying to eliminate all references to gender -- in effect, trying to become "genderless" -- is a sad commentary on our slide into degeneracy.
     So, I believe it is inherent for us "mature Christian women" to show our young sisters in Christ that it is not only natural to embrace their female gender and their God-ordained role as partners to men; but they need to recognize that accepting any other definition of their role is willfully sinning against their Creator.  It's true that we may have been wrongfully seduced by the promises of feminism in our youth, but let's help this generation begin a new movement ... one that returns to Biblical definitions of marriage partners; honors and embraces the unique ways God made males and females different; and restores the beauty and dignity to what it means to be a woman.

Romans 1:25-28    " Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator ... For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one ... And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome."

What Disrespect Has Cost Us

     I've wanted to talk about this idea for awhile, and with all the turmoil we're seeing in our nation, it just seems like the time is now.  Do you remember when, as children, we were taught to call our elders by "Mr." or "Mrs."?  When it seemed impertinent to refer to them by their first names?
    And do you remember when we held the door for women, or helped the elderly carry their groceries, or smiled and said, "hello" when you passed a stranger on the street?  When was the last time that the teenage cashier at your local convenience store thanked you for your purchase, or even met your eyes during the transaction?
     Somehow, in the last 50 years we have allowed the spirit of Disrespect to poison our relations with others.  It has never been more prevalent than the ongoing scorn and rude behavior being displayed to our law enforcement officers.  Has there been some concern about the lack of respect that some of the officers have shown individuals?  The honest answer is "Yes".  But that does not imply that all policemen should receive a blanket indictment of contempt.  The large majority of them do their job well, and I must admit, I would find it hard to show respect and civility to some of our citizens, myself.  But, as mediators between society and unlawfulness, they deserve our respect and admiration.  Without respect for the law and its custodians, we are doomed to chaos and tyranny.
       Now, think about our teachers and educators.  I remember when insolence and rude behavior was not tolerated in the classroom.  You can ask my husband how many times he was paddled for not behaving in school; and that was when a trip to the principal's office was seen as an embarrassment.  But today, according to a teacher's blog on The Guardian website, a poll of more than 1,500 teachers by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) revealed that more than half of teachers in state schools have faced aggression from pupils in the last year, and more than a quarter have experienced it from parents or care-givers. Does anybody else find this appalling?!?
     But, here's the deal ... disrespect in our school systems ranges from acting out in class, to verbal insults, to physical threats.  Those kids have learned that behavior ... either in the home or in the culture.  Haven't you noticed the increasing number of headlines detailing teachers being attacked inside and out of the classroom?  What is happening to our society?  Why the disdain for respect towards others, where did we get so far off track?
     I think we have to look at how, as a society, we have stopped demanding a standard for ourselves; we've eliminated a code of behavior, or a code of honor, morals, scruples, and ethics, if you will.  Somewhere along the line, it was determined that we were too hard on ourselves, and it was time to relax the guidelines a bit.
     But do you see where that line of reasoning has taken us?  It was too difficult to expect (or respect)  a lifelong commitment in marriages, so adultery and divorce were given a green light.  It was too much for our kids to be expected to work hard for good grades, so we taught them to disrespect themselves, disregard education, and then we dumbed them down with the "every kid gets a ribbon" standard.
     Perhaps the biggest social mistake we made was instituting the welfare system, in which the government convinced our citizens that self-respect and dignity were worth nothing.  The poor bought the lie and exchanged the disintegration of their families, and the satisfaction of a hard day's work, for a monthly pittance.  Now disrespect is running rampant; and that same lie, which was generated by the government, is being foisted upon small businesses and successful entrepreneurs.  "You didn't build that" is just the latest manipulation of disrespect against free-thinking and industrious people.
    However, the greatest example of relaxing our standards can be seen in how we treat God.  How do you think He views the wearing of shorts and flip-flops when we come into His House?  What about our relaxing the standards for His shepherds and elders?  And what about how we've turned His Temple into entertainment centers, defiling the holy atmosphere of being in His presence? How we no longer rebuke or discipline sin among the members of the Body of Christ; the "don't ask, don't tell" policy towards abortion, adultery, sexual perversion?  Is the stench of our Disrespect as offensive to your senses as it is to mine -- and as it most assuredly is to YHWH?
     Respect is defined as "a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements."  When we decided that the measure of those abilities, qualities, and achievements should be disregarded in the attempt to make everyone equal, then there was no standard in which to regard each other.  When we decided that those standards could be reduced, or weakened, then there was less to admire about each other.  And when standards begin to crumble, we find that our code of behavior suffers and the results are destructive ... we no longer honor commitments and promises; we think only of ourselves and stop caring about others; and we stop listening and talking to each other.  It all adds up to DISRESPECT.  
     We're paying the price for decades of this harmful mindset; and at this point, I'm not sure we can turn the tide.  Only through the full recognition of all our mistakes, can we begin to reintroduce moral absolutes and a standard of righteousness.  And we can't do it without God.  Reverence towards Him, His House, and His statutes would be a good place to start.

Isaiah 53:6    "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Now THIS Is Profitable For Teaching!

     Every once in awhile there is a bright spot in our culture; a moment that lets us know that God's remnant is still living and active in speaking Him into the world.  And, occasionally, that voice comes from the heart of a generally godless segment of our society -- and it is like rain falling on parched ground.

     Such was the case when Academy-Award winning actor Denzel Washington gave the commencement address to the graduates of Dillard University, a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans.  He promised a short speech, with three very simple recommendations.  His first words of advice were succinct and to the point:  "Number one," he said slowly and resolutely.  "Put. God. First!"  No better counsel was ever given to a college graduate.
     “Put God first in everything you do,” Washington continued to loud cheers. “Everything I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.”  Bravo!  That's exactly what this entitlement generation needs to here.  Furthermore, he shared that he got off to a rocky start in his college career, nearly flunking out, until one day a woman in his mother's beauty parlor prophesied that God had a plan for him, and he would one day "travel the world and speak to millions of people."  He went on to state that throughout his long and successful career,  “the most important thing that stayed with me [since that moment] is that I’ve been protected, I’ve been directed, I’ve been corrected. I’ve kept God in my life and it’s kept me humble.”
     Hopefully those graduating seniors heard the subtle message ... It's not all about YOU!  If God is at the center of their lives, then they will reap both the challenges and the rewards of a life lived according to His purpose and will.  It won't be easy, but if they heard one thing from the accomplished actor, I hope it was this:  "I didn’t always stick with Him, but He’s always stuck with me.”
     Advice Number Two: Washington encouraged the students to take chances: "fail big and dream big".  He continued:  "Dreams without goals are just dreams, and if one doesn't have goals, then those dreams just ultimately fuel disappointment.  In order to achieve these goals, you must apply discipline and consistency.  Working hard is what successful people do."
     "In this text, tweet, twerk world you've grown up in, remember this ... just because you're doing a lot more (and here he imitated the motions of furious texting), it doesn't mean you're getting a lot more done.  Don't confuse movement with progress."  He cautioned that it is a big world out there; a mean world, and it can be scary.  But they should pursue what they are passionate about.  "Don't be afraid to go outside the box, or think outside the box... and continue to strive for your goals."
     Advice Number Three:  "You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.  You can't take it with you... and it's not how much you have.  It's what you do with what you have.  We all have different gifts that we can utilize to achieve success.  But the most selfish thing in this world you can do is help someone else.  Why is that selfish?  Because of the gratification and goodness that comes to you ... there's nothing better than that.  That's where the joy is!  That's where the success is!"  At the end of their lives, it's how they lived that counts, not what things they amassed.
     As he concluded his short speech (only 10 minutes long), he closed with this advice:  “I pray that you put your slippers way under your bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them ... And while you’re down there, say thank you. Thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents, thank you for love, thank you for kindness, thank you for humility, thank you for peace, thank you for prosperity. Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours.  True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you, sent beforehand, to indicate that it’s yours already."  He repeated that last statement to get across his point ... whatever itch or desire they had to do something good was God's proof that He had put it in their heart, and it was their's to claim.  He further admonished them to work hard to get it, and "when you get it, reach back and pull someone else up ... each one, teach one."
     Wow!  This man gets it!  He just combined several Scriptural passages of hope all into one simple address ... and finished it up with the advice to say, "Thank You!"  In his wise words, we hear familiar teachings from the Bible ...  God knows the plans He has for your future, and the hope He wants to give you; if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, He will direct your path; those who love God will find that all things work together for good and God's purpose [which He knows beforehand]; Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
     With a simple testimony of the role God has played in his life, and the admonition to be grateful for the gifts they've received, Denzel Washington managed to give those graduating seniors a recipe for success.  “Don’t just aspire to make a living,” he concluded -- emphasizing each word with emotion -- “aspire to make a difference.”  If they follow that advice, they will be prosperous in the things that matter in this world, while at the same time, storing up great treasures in heaven.  I can't think of any better words of wisdom for this generation.

Deuteronomy 32:2-3     "My message shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the light rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God."

I Wouldn't Trade Places

     These past few weeks I have encountered soon-to-be high school and college graduates who seem desperate to hide their panic about their futures.  Faced with high unemployment rates and few options for sustainable careers, they are realizing that their choices are limited.  Add to this the fact that they are bombarded through round-the-clock technological "connectiveness", which is screaming the threat of war across the globe.  You can't blame them for feeling apprehensive about a less-than-bright future.
     And in case you think that other generations have faced similar fears and negative prospects, I would like to remind you that past generations stood on the foundation of a national faith in God, strong family values, and a solidly cohesive populace.  This generation of young adults has witnessed a battleground in all those areas, and stands on shaky ground.

     These college graduates pursued degrees because their parents still believed that a college education was the roadmap to success.  And you can't blame them ... education has always been a building block and a stepping stone to achievement and success, no matter what path you took in life.  But you can no longer expect that a job will be waiting for you at the end of that four years, or even with a graduate school degree.  Too many of our college graduates are working two or three temporary jobs in the simple hope of being able to move out of mom and dad's house!
     So where does that leave the high school graduate?  There is certainly nothing to encourage them to take on the debt of college; they see those who have gone before them in desperate search of a job.  Why go down that road?  And the military used to be a viable option for high school graduates and for building a career.  But I'm sad to say, that with the treatment that our military receives and the attempt to remove God from our armed forces, I no longer think that noble service to our country is a wise choice.
      While the Greatest Generation of WWII may have faced the ultimate Evil of their time, they could concentrate on defeating the Enemy without having to contend with transgenderism within the ranks, being accused of "white privilege", or being restricted from practicing their faith during wartime.
     I graduated from college during the Carter years and in the midst of a failing economy.  But I didn't have to worry about every comment being scrutinized for racism, while suffering under an oppressive culture that was trying to force me to bend to their sexual agenda, at the same time that I was trying to figure out how I was going to afford health care insurance.  I also knew that my church was a safe haven from the influences of the culture; a place where I knew I could receive God's truth about how to live my life.
     So, while the wealthy and elite are trying to discover the fountain of youth and ways to become immortal, I have no desire to be young again.  I cannot imagine facing a long life of our decaying national identity, or determining how to navigate in a world that I can no longer recognize or respect. That being said, I deeply desire to reach out to these young people; to help them maintain a sense of individuality and marching to a different drummer than society is forcing on them.  We may not have left them hope for a prosperous future, but we can still try to instill in them a notion of uniqueness and character and value as a child of God.  They're going to need it.

Revelation 21:7   "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son."

Smartphones, Our Children, and Their Mental Health

     What does the year 2010 and the increase in mental health issues of children have in common?  You can probably guess from the title of this blog that it is Smartphones.  In an article on the website for U.K.'s The Telegraph, one of the country's foremost psychotherapists explains that in 2010, "I saw my work increase by a mad amount and so did others I work with. Suddenly everything got much more dangerous, much more immediate, much more painful."
     Dr. Julie Lynn Evans explained that in the 1990s she might have one or two suicide attempts a year.  Now that number has increased to around four per month.  She reports that the access to the internet that comes with Smartphones has opened up a world of danger to our kids.  These phones, in effect, allow predators easy access to impressionable young minds.  Just consider that anything -- anything -- is available on the internet.  Add to that, the reality that parental approval or supervision is unnecessary and rarely asked for, we are left with an unsupervised generation that is easily exploited.
     We've all seen them ... the adult chat rooms, the pornography sites, the virtual reality rooms where anyone can disguise their real identity.  Children wander into these sites, and spend unlimited amounts of time there, being sucked into dark places they are too inexperienced and unprepared to handle.
     But it is not only pernicious sexual situations that are harming our kids.  Dr. Evans says, "My clients are cutting their arms, thighs, shoulders and stomachs; they are exhibiting signs of seriously disordered eating, they are medicating fast and furiously, they are refusing to go to school, they are sleepless and scared. Some are depressed and anxious, some have conduct disorder and problems with authority, and some are simply terrified. My consulting room, and those of my colleagues, are full of children who are more dramatically unhappy than they were a decade ago."
    As if that's not enough, kids are not developing healthy relationships because Smartphones don't encourage kindness, compassion, or ethics.  Everything is instantaneous and no thought is given to consequences from an unkind or cruel remark.  Bullying has become a constant companion for far too many kids.  And parents are too busy on their Smartphones to notice the warning signs.
     I have spent far too many instances with people who can't stay off their phones long enough to have a complete conversation or share a meal.  Meanwhile, their kids are becoming zombies; glued to their phones and unable to communicate in any other meaningful way.  That has to be affecting their brains, as well as their social skills and ability to solve problems on their own.
    Once again, I find myself lamenting the rapid advancement of technology.  Has it really improved our lives for the better?  Sure, it has brought progress in medicine; helped us to organize our lives better; and expanded our knowledge base.  We can find the answer to almost any question we have on the internet.  But have the negative side effects outweighed the advantages?  Have Facebook and Google advanced our culture, or just taken our attention away from real person-to-person dialogue?  And have we given up our privacy and freedom from intrusion in our daily lives?  Has it been worth it?  Are we a healthier nation -- both mentally and physically?
     I am just afraid that Smartphones have become an unnatural and abnormal lifeline for the youth of this nation.  The devices provide a parent-free, unsupervised world in which they are losing their humanity.  We were not created to live such isolated lives; and Smartphones cannot express human feelings, grant forgiveness, or experience the joy of human contact.  What a perfect way for the Devil to entice our children into a life that lacks God's love.  Yes, technology has made our lives easier, but are our kids paying the price?

To read more about the mental health issues conveyed by Dr. Julie Lynn Evans, please click here or here. 
   
1 John 4:4    "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
   

Cyberbullying: The Evil Behind The Internet

     I have long railed against the impersonal and self-centered aspects of the Internet ... Facebook, Tweeting, InstaGram, and all the other self-aggrandizing forms of self-promotion.  With the ability to avoid face-to-face contact, the internet has led a whole generation of young people into a world where they feel powerful through their words, but without having to accept the responsibility of harming another.
     Well, that's about to change for some college boys who decided to attack the wrong young woman.  They weren't counting on crossing paths with her dad ... her famous dad, who knows a thing or two about squaring off against opponents ......  Here's the story:

     Baseball legend Curt Schilling penned a scathing column Sunday targeting a group of individuals who sent sexually derogatory tweets to his daughter over the weekend.  It started when Schilling tweeted a simple congratulatory message to his 17-year-old daughter Gabby for getting accepted into college.  Moments later, Schilling and Gabby’s Twitter accounts were flooded with vulgar, sexually-explicit messages.  Not one to let these kinds of things go unanswered, Schilling wrote the following answer to his daughter's bullies on his blog:

    If you are a dad this is something you well know already, if you are a dad with a daughter this is likely to get your blood going. If you are a boy, or young man, or husband, and you haven’t experienced children yet, or haven’t had a daughter, it’s next to impossible for you to understand.
     My daughter, my one and only daughter, has worked her a** off playing sports the past 9-10 years. She’s loved it, and I’ve loved being able to both watch, and coach along the way.  Last week we were told she’d been accepted to college and will begin playing softball there next year.  Clearly, an incredibly proud day.
     And [then] tweets with the word rape, bloody underwear and pretty much every other vulgar and defiling word you could likely fathom began to follow. Now let me emphasize again. I was a jock my whole life. I played sports my whole life. Baseball since I was 5 until I retired at 41. I know clubhouses. I lived in a dorm. I get it. Guys will be guys. Guys will say dumb crap, often. But I can’t ever remember, drunk, in a clubhouse, with best friends, with anyone, ever speaking like this to someone…
     My daughter comes to me beyond upset. She didn’t do anything, she never said anything, yet she’s now receiving personal messages with guys saying things to her, well let’s just say I can’t repeat and I’m getting beyond angry thinking about it. Her boyfriend, a wicked good hockey player who has a fighting streak I absolutely love is going out of his mind to be let off his leash but unlike the athletes tweeting this stuff he understands the potential consequences of his actions and knows the time and place will hopefully come when he can make it right on his own terms.
     These boys have yet to understand one of life’s most important lessons. In the real world you get held accountable for the things you say and if you are not careful that can mean some different things...
     This is a generation of kids who have grown up behind the monitor and keyboard. The real world has consequences when you do and say things about others. We’re at a point now where you better be sure who you’re going after.

If I was a deranged protective dad I could have been face to face with any of these people in less than 4 hours. I know every one of their names, their parents, where they go to school, what they do, what team they are on, their positions, stats, all of it. I had to do almost nothing to get ANY of that information because it is all public. 
     What part of talking about a young woman, my daughter or not, makes you even consider the possibility that this is either funny or makes you tough?
     .... The ignorance and pathetic lack of morals or of any integrity is astounding.  These aren’t thugs, tough guys or bad a**es; these aren’t kids who’ve had it rough; they aren’t homeless or orphans; these are pretty much ALL white, affluent, college attending children, and I mean children.
     A mistake is tweeting once and saying “damn, I’m an idiot” and taking it down. These guys? They’re making conscious choices to cyberbully an amazing and beautiful young woman on the internet, that none of them know by the way, because they don’t like her dad or they somehow think saying words you can teach a 5 year old is tough? Cool? Bad a**? Something I am missing? My right hand to God I promise all of you that tweeted this stuff, the friends around you saying “dude that’s hilarious” and “OMG that’s awesome”? Those people? Inside they’re actually thinking “what an a**#$!Q” and “holy crap what a piece of trash”, no matter what they say to your face.
     Ladies? If any of these guys is your boyfriend you’re in for a real rude awakening.   Lastly? Not one of these gutless clowns would even think of saying a word of ANY of this in person. 

Curt

     Now, the rest of the story is that both men were identified by name; one lost his job as a ticket seller at Yankee Stadium over the incident.  The other, a college student, was suspended from school and denounced by his fraternity.  Was this enough to teach them, or anyone else of the "internet generation", a lesson?  Probably not.  You see, our kids have grown up in a cyber world, where nothing seems for real, and they think they are anonymous.  Therefore, the consequences of their actions are never realized.  They don't have to face the person on the other side of the computer screen.  As a result, they are in danger of never developing compassion for their fellow humans.  They don't see the tears, or the shame or humiliation.  They aren't aware of the hurt that is generated from their cruel and ugly remarks.
     When a society is no longer able to perceive the condition of being human, or to sympathize with another human being, then you will see more and more cases like this ... a pack of rabid wolves scouring the internet for their next victim to devour.  Kudos to Curt Schilling for reversing the tables, and pulling the masks off these bullies.  I just wish there were more like him to come to the rescue!

Ephesians 4:29    "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
     
   

The History of American Education: From Classical Learning to Moral Relevancy

     I am often dumbfounded when I stop to consider the difference in my own middle and high school education as compared to what's taught these 35-40 years later.  I can remember studying and memorizing Lincoln's Gettysburg address.  I loved the long and exhaustive studies of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King -- the epic twelve poems that retold the tales of the legendary King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom.

     But the terms of my education were nothing compared to the studies during the generation of our Founding Fathers.   As the website, Memoria Press, recounts ... Thomas Jefferson received early training in Latin, Greek, and French from Reverend William Douglas, a Scottish clergyman.  At the age of fourteen, Jefferson’s father died, and, at the express wish of his father, he continued his education with the Reverend James Maury, who ran a classical academy. After leaving Douglas’ academy, Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary, where his classical education continued along with his study of law.
     When Alexander Hamilton entered King’s College (now Columbia University) in 1773, he was expected to have a mastery of Greek and Latin grammar, be able to read three orations from Cicero and Virgil’s Aeneid in the original Latin, and be able to translate the first ten chapters of the Gospel of John from Greek into Latin.
      When James Madison applied at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), he was expected to be able to “write Latin prose, translate Virgil, Cicero, and the Greek gospels and [to have] a commensurate knowledge of Latin and Greek grammar.” Even before he entered, however, he had already read Virgil, Horace, Justinian, Nepos, Caesar, Tacitus, Lucretius, Eutropius, Phaedrus, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plato.
     So, what exactly is a "classical education"?  Historically, it was a course of study that was to develop exemplary citizens equipped with analytical thinking skills, virtuous character, and a passion for learning, all built upon a solid foundation of knowledge.  Sadly, these characteristics are disappearing from our modern educational system; especially as our kids are being threatened with the Common Core curriculum.
     Consider this op-ed in The New York Times by philosopher Justin McBrayer.  He states that he already knew that many of his college-age students did not believe in moral facts.  He says, "Philosophy professors with whom I have spoken suggest that the overwhelming majority of college freshman in their classrooms view moral claims as mere opinions that are not true or are true only relative to a culture"; the culture of Christianity, for instance.  Subsequently, this has led to an abiding belief in moral relativism, which is a philosophy that asserts there is no global, absolute moral law that applies to all people, for all time, and in all places. 
     You should know that Mr. McBrayer is an associate professor of philosophy at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he works in ethics and philosophy of religion.  So this is naturally an ideology that interests him and which he has seen often among his students.  But he wasn't prepared to see its tenets being conveyed in his son's second-grade classroom!  During the schools open house he "found a troubling pair of signs hanging over the bulletin board. They read:

Fact: Something that is true about a subject and can be tested or proven.

Opinion: What someone thinks, feels, or believes.

     So, what's the big deal, you might ask?  To cut to the chase, students are taught that claims are either facts or opinions.  And Professor McBrayer says that's a dangerous road that leads to moral relativism.  There are instances in which a person's opinion (or belief) is also a fact for him; his ideology can't be divided into fact OR opinion; it's both.  He prove's his point in this conversation with his young son:

Father: “I believe that George Washington was the first president. Is that a fact or an opinion?”

Son: “It’s a fact.”

Father: “But I believe it, and you said that what someone believes is an opinion.”

Son: “Yeah, but it’s true.”

Father: “So it’s both a fact and an opinion?”  The blank look on his son's face told the story.

     Do you see where he is going with this?  Can you see how the effort to separate a belief from a fact, could affect morality?  Every thought (or belief) that has some kind of value attached to it, could only be an opinion, never a fact.
     Now consider this Common Core worksheet, in which students were asked to label the following claims as either FACT or OPINION:
                                                •  Copying homework assignments is wrong.
                                                •  Cursing in school is inappropriate behavior.
                                                •  All men are created equal.
                                                •  It is wrong for people under 21 to drink alcohol.
                                                •  Drug dealers belong in prison.
     

     The answers?  Each one of these was labeled an opinion.  Since none of these could be tested or proven, then they must be subject to opinion only, and there is no truth in any of them.  Do you see the danger in this?  Ultimately, this is teaching our kids that anything that can be labeled good, bad, wrong, or right is not a fact.  Think how this mode of thinking affects our society.  When there is no consistency between what people decide is good or moral -- that it is all subject to one person's opinion versus another -- how do we ever raise children into moral citizens with critical analyzing skills and virtuous character?  If there is no moral standard that can be declared a fact for all, then anything goes, and there is no acceptable code of honor or behavior among a community.  Not only does the quality of living in that community subside, but chaos and confusion are the natural result.
     Just take a moment and consider that our Founding Fathers were fluent in Latin and Greek, could translate Books of the Bible, and were capable of defending themselves in a spirited debate.  Now realize that our public school systems are on the brink of failing our children.  They can hardly spell; their reading skills are poor; they can't divide or subtract without a computer; and they are lacking important critical thinking skills.  You might think that this is a different time, and the education that our Founding Fathers undertook does not relate to these times.  But it was the education they received that reinforced the knowledge, the skills, and the courage they would need to create this great nation. Are we giving our kids the education to carry on their moral values and traditions, and preserve the country?

1 Timothy 4:12   "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."