Grace's New Blog

Grace has a new blog. Please visit: Betsy, Tacy, and Tib.

How Maddening...

Try to be a voice of reason and get ignored. Sob...sob...sob.

I tried to post this comment on someone's blog where young ladies were raving about Christa Taylor clothes and acting as if they've never seen modest clothes before...and my comment wasn't posted. *Sob* :-D Anyway, here it is:

"Um, ladies, you act as if you've never been able to buy modest clothes before. They've been around for years. :-) Modesty isn't just about being covered...it's about wearing nice, pulled-together outfits. I'm surprised that people who beg for modesty haven't worked harder to bring the preppy look back in. Christa Taylor's collection looks very similar to say... American Eagle's fall/winter collection. CT's tops are too short and too tight; modesty doesn't mean painted on. Nor does it mean "let's try to fit in with the rest of the world by wearing the same loud, obstreperous stuff." Not very classy. Try Brooks Brothers 346 or J Peterman. Prep rocks."


Oh well, I tried. Why is it that people never want to hear the other side?

Guess the Song

Guess which song is from a secular label and which is from a Christian label.

Song 1 –

Turn it inside out so I can see
The part of you that's drifting over me
And when I wake you're never there
But when I sleep you're everywhere
You're everywhere

Just tell me how I got this far
Just tell me why you're here and who you are
'Cause every time I look you're never there
And every time I sleep you're always there

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know that makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

I recognize the way you make me feel
It's hard to think that you might not be real
I sense it now, the water's getting deep I try to wash the pain away from me
Away from me

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know that makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

I am not alone

And when I touch your hand
It's then I understand
The beauty that's within
It's now that we begin
You always light my way
I hope there never comes a day
No matter where I go I always feel you so

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know that makes me believe
I'm not alone

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I catch my breath it's you I breathe
You're everything I know that makes me believe
I'm not alone

You're in everyone I see
So tell me

Do you see me?


Song 2 –

Dream is fading, now I'm staring at the door

I know it’s over cause my feet have hit the cold floor
Check my reflection, I ain't feelin what I seeIt's no mystery
Whatever happened to a passion I could live for
What became of the flame that made me feel more
And when did I forget that...

Chorus
I was made to love you
I was made to find you
I was made just for you
Made to adore you
I was made to love
And be loved by you
You were here before me
You were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me
Never would you leave me
I was made to love and be loved by you

The dream's alive with my eyes opened wide
Back in the ring you've got me swinging for the grand prize
I feel the hate is spittin’ vapors on my dreams
But I still believe
I'm reachin’ out, reachin’ up, reachin’ over
I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah
And daddy I'm on my way
Cause I was made to love...

Anything I would give up for you
Everything, I'd give it all away
(Repeat 3x)
I was made to love you
I was made to adore you, made just for you
(Repeat 3x)











Answer – Song #2 is from the Christian label. Yeah, the one where the guy sounds like he's singing about a girl. It's Toby Mac.

Song #1 is by Michelle Branch. Maybe she doesn’t mean it to be a Christian song, but that’s what it’s always been to me. She can really rock too. :-)







My point: Give other artists a chance…even ones from non-Christian labels. Christian music these days is drivel or as my brother and I like to say, "It sounds like a coyote sitting on a blender." By the way, I know people that have worked with Christian artists and have heard their stories. Believe me…these artists are not saints. You should also know that CCM is regarded as an “easy in” to the music business. I can tell some stories myself about certain “Christian” artists and their “all about me” attitudes at concerts. Example, I’ve always appreciated Michael W. Smith’s music but ever since I went to a concert of his, I’ve been uninspired. When he came out the song, “Here I Am” from his Stand album (which was ho-hum compared to Live the Life) kept playing over and over. Finally, there he was and he…was…full…of…it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone act more conceited. (And I’ve been to many concerts…Christian and non) He should have been singing that song called "I'm The Greatest" it would have fit better. :-D It really turned me off. I still appreciate his music but I don’t care about the man at all anymore and I haven’t bought any new music. So, anyway, Christian music is a minefield these days. You’re better off listening to the classics. Like the Beatles.

Ingrid

Sad but True

Not all Fathers are warm and loving.






Some might even try to lead you to the dark side.


:-D


(Dad, you're excluded from this. :-) )

The Way of a Man with a Maid

I've been reading this online book, by Robin Phillips.

The Way of a Man with a Maid ~ A Response to the Courtship & Betrothal Movements

http://www.users.waitrose.com/~robinphillips/Way%20of%20a%20Man%20with%20a%20Maid.htm

It's very interesting because I can see parallels in Gothard's teaching with all the Vision Forum stuff and Lindvall's teaching is very similar to that of the Botkin's and also Emotional Purity. Hmmm... I guess this junk has been around for longer than I thought! Maybe Heather Paulson got her ideas and material from several of the authors mentioned in this book? It bears some consideration.

What do you think?

Ingrid

Re: Let it Be = Love3

I could tell you how busy I’ve been this summer but since you don’t know me anyway…who really cares. :-D Anyway, here’s a tidbit that I find interesting. It happened about a month ago and I just wanted this to be more visible to regular readers. I’ve had really interesting comments on my blog…some I haven’t posted….but may use in an article at some later date.

This is a comment and my reply to it—referring to my Let it Be = Love3 essay, part 7. http://ingridgraceandaudrey.blogspot.com/2007/10/part-seven-let-it-be-love3.html

Jonalee said,
I just briefly skimmed your post here about Josh's book Boy Meets Girl. I have to say that my husband and I are "David and Claire" in chapter 4. All of what you read is true and the reason we had a helicopter take us from our reception was because my husband's good friend is a pilot and hooked him up with a good deal (which his dad helped pay for by the way). No, not everyone get's "whisked away by a helicopter". But if that's all you take from our story, you've missed the point.

So, I wrote,
:-) I'm glad to hear it. The point of my article is that all courtship stories are different and that young people shouldn't expect their story to be like anyone else's. The only things that remain the same about relationships are boy + girl = love & marriage. And young people should not expect their sweetheart to do anything really expensive or far-out in order to have a memorable courtship and/or wedding. If you really love someone you'd marry them at City Hall if you had too. Your courtship story was great and very sweet...but I'm just a simplistic person and the way Josh Harris wrote about your wedding made it sound a bit too...over the top. I'm sorry to pain you but there it is. I'm happy that you were able to afford a helicopter... but Josh Harris made it sound... too perfect... I wish he'd said what you said. It's like the difference between watching a perfectly glossy scene in a movie where the heroine's hair is perfectly in place and her make-up is perfect, even though things are blowing up around her and then watching the behind the scenes where the actress says that the corset under her costume was making her dizzy from lack of air, the hair style had to be re-done between every take, and her mascara was running and had to be washed off and re-done every five minutes. Writers of these type of books need to be blatantly honest...it's okay to "flower-up" a novel but writers shouldn't flower-up real life...and they need to state over and over that this is just one story and that everyone's story will be different. I'm tired of the authors never saying that. Why? Because I'm concerned that young people (or their parents) take these stories and believe that their (or their children's) future will or should look like that...and that belief, I know from experience, can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes, people who are married forget how much singles hang on every word in these books and stories...they need to remember what it felt like to be 14 and impressionable. You should have taken the time to read the rest of my essay...not just skimmed one part. :-)

Ingrid

Don’t pick on “Claire” in your comments please. :-)

The Questions They Ask

For as long as I can remember, my grandparents have been there for me. I do love them very dearly. However, they have always asked many questions… usually repeatedly. This is a list of questions that my mom has been asked, I have been asked (up to "Age 19"), and/or questions that I anticipate being asked in the next ten years. :)



Age 1 day: “When is she going to sleep through the night?”

Age 1: “When is she going to be potty trained?”

Age 2: “When is she going to start preschool?”

Age 4: “When is she going to start school? What is homeschooling?”

Age 13: “Where is she going to high school? Can you still teach her at home?”

Age 14: This is about the time when the big college questions start. “What are you going to do in college? Where are you going to college?”

Age 15: “When are you going to start driving? When are you getting your driver’s license?”
This age is also the start of “When are you getting a car? Don’t you want your own car?” My answer (that silenced my grandpa for a while): “Sure, you can just buy me a VW Beetle- light blue or red, and then pay for the insurance, maintenance, and gas and I will drive it!”

Age 16: “Is she going to prom?”

Age 17: If you are still undecided about college, (and almost everyone is) they become very anxious and the college questions become more frequent. “What are you going to study in college? Where are you going?” Well, to the same place you asked last month- “The College of the Undecided.”[1]

Age 18: "Is your (Homeschool) high school diploma valid, I mean... does it really signify that you graduated from high school?" :)

Age 19: College is settled now… so you can guess what comes next! :) “Do you know any boys? When are you going to go out with a boy? Why don’t you date?” My answer: “Well, I’m not really interested in boys right now. In a few years I will find a nice man and get married.” Response from grandparents: “You have to date before you can get married” and “You’re too young to get married.” :) Note: My new response will be "I'm as old as you were when you got married."



Married (unknown age): When are you going to have a baby?

After having 2 children in a period of two to four years: “You do know how babies come, right?”


After having 3-4 children (at this point they freak out): “When are you going to stop having children?” and “Don’t you think #__ is enough?”

~Grace

[1] Quote from the Movie “What a Girl Wants,” 2003

Better Ways to Spend the Summer

If you read any of the "self-help" books, then you begin to analyze everything and end up thinking more and more about yourself and your problem(s) and not about God and other people. Whereas if you would just keep busy with helping others and reading other books (i.e. about real things and classic fiction) then you wouldn't have time to need the "self-help" books because you are too busy to think about yourself. Believe me, it works.

Recommended Summer...

Reading:

Fiction:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
The Sarah's Journey series by Wanda Luttrell.
Emma by Jane Austen.
Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.
The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. (Including Carney's House Party.)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Shakespeare's Plays and Poems.
The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes.
The Liza, Bill, and Jed series by Peggy Parish.

Non-Fiction:
My Story by Ingrid Bergman and Robert Burgress.
Catherine the Queen by Mary M. Luke.
A Crown for Elizabeth by Mary M. Luke.
Gloriana: The years of Elizabeth I by Mary M. Luke.
Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson by Peter Kurth
All the Presidents Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Burnstein. Also the sequel, "The Final Days.". (There is some language in these but oh well.)
Paul Revere and the World He Lived In by Esther Forbes.
The Bible.
Various Autobiographies of Interesting People.

DVD Airings:
Casablanca
Chariots of Fire
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Little Women (1994)
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew TV series from the 1970's.
Anastasia (starring Ingrid Bergman)
Ever After (great score (music) as well)
What a Girl Wants
Hairspray (2007)
Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow)
The Original Star Wars Trilogy
Gone with the Wind
Enchanted
Follow Me Boys
Gummi Bears series
Summer Magic
Elizabethtown

And when you're done with all that...go hiking or something. :-D

I think that this is how people lived in the past...they kept very busy and didn't have time to analyze things. We could all learn a thing or two from them. :-)

Just wondering.... And waiting.

If you have been reading the papers, no doubt you know of what has been going on in Texas for the past week. (If you don't just type "Texas Cult" into the Google news search...and prepare to throw up.) It's enough to make you sick...it makes my stomach hurt...and it also makes me really mad. "This is a sick world we live in! With sick people!"

A couple questions:

1: Where is Vision Forum's statement? (They are ready to comment on Virginia Tech but not on something in their own state? It's actually about 160 miles north-west of San Antonio.)

2. I believe that some of the victims were taken to San Antonio. Is Vision Forum making any effort to help these women and children?

Just I thought I'd ask...not that Vision Forum or their friends ever respond. *sigh* Badly done, Vision Forum. Badly done.

Ingrid

Should Women Vote?

Should women vote?

Must we listen to those that say that it is unnecessary? (Yes, Patriarchy people I'm looking at you!)

I'm not going waste time arguing with anyone; because this quote says all that I need to say.

"I find it poor logic to say that women should vote because they are good. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country." ~ Jo March, Little Women, 1994.

There.

End of story.

Serving Your Father vs. Serving God

While I was doing some research for various ideas this morning, I stumbled onto post by the Botkin sisters (most of which appears below). By the time I had read half of the lengthy post, I was quite irritated and started writing as you can see below :).

Excerpts from: ~Authoritative Parents, Adult Daughters, and Power Struggles~
Italics are original article by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

“The sign of our maturity and adulthood is when we willingly submit ourselves to God-given authority and therefore to God Himself. This is a struggle, and it requires strength, wisdom, responsibility and spiritual maturity.”

Why must parents come first in the Botkin’s minds? Everything in the following article is parents first, God later.

“An adult daughter, raised well by conscientious parents, will be able to think, will know how to live sensibly, will be discerning and self-controlled and self-disciplined, and will be wise and have understanding that may, in some areas, exceed that of her parents.”

Okay, I really do not have any problems with the beginning of this, until you get to the last few words “and have understanding that may, in some areas, exceed that of her parents.” My first thought is yes, we should be able to always have a gift from God that enables us to know something a little more than our parents. Ingrid loves history and Latin; she loves to stump our family with history questions and funny Latin phrases. I am a student nurse, so that automatically makes me the “medical encyclopedia” of the family. Whenever my family has a twinge, burn, or sprain, I am always the one that diagnoses their ailment. It can get quite funny at times: “No, sorry Ingrid, your arm will not heal from its sprain for 4-6 weeks, and it may take up to 6 months.” :) It should be expected that a child, as soon as he or she starts to learn, that they will learn something that the parents do not know. I love and respect my parents, but to put it bluntly: Parents do not know everything there is to know in the world! In fact, no human being knows everything. God is the only one who knows everything there is to know! The Botkin girls make it sound like you are sinning if you happen to get a little smarter than your parents.

“The sign of maturity isn’t that we simply “obey” our parents’ commands, but that we understand deeply what our parents’ hearts and goals are, and can anticipate and even exceed what they expect of us.”

A while ago, my dad wrote me a note that said what his goals were for Ingrid and me when we grew up. Some of them were that we would have a mature faith, be a wife and mother, serve others, and never be afraid to say what was right. I treasure that note and as I look back, it has nothing selfish about “serving me and your mother” or “giving up what God wants you to do to serve me.”

“The mature daughter is the one that takes the initiative and says, “Dad, what time would you like me to get up? I know that spending time with your family before you leave for work is important to you, and I love that about you… so how can I help make it happen?” This is one thing that makes us different from mindless automatons with no wills of our own (which some girls seem mortally afraid of becoming.)”

Well, maybe the Botkin girls like to get up at the crack of dawn, but please let me stay in bed until at least 7 am! (Unless I have to leave for clinicals at a hospital at 6am). Even my dad loves to sleep in when he is off, I do not think it is necessary to shave or dress your father, or be up early to serve your father. To put it bluntly (in fact, I am hardly ever blunt; just ask Ingrid) why does it matter? If I want to be mature, all I have to do is ask my dad what time he wants me to get up in the morning?? If I asked my dad (at the age of almost 19) what time he wanted me to get up in the morning, he would start laughing. I should know by now! :)

Where do the Botkin girls come up with such ridiculous words, such as “automatons”? The first word I thought of was robot (which is correct-why can’t they just say robot?), then I thought of auto-matrons, as in an automatic robot matron that does whatever her husband says. I do have one thought: if you are not mature enough to know what time to get up (and that may just be an example on the Botkin’s behalf-but a poor example at that), and you must ask your father… you are a “mindless automaton”!! I save my precious conversations that I have with my dad for much more intelligent topics. :)

“In our household, five of our seven children (all unmarried and living at home) are adults; four of us are in our twenties. Three of us have written books. Four of us have begun our own business. Two of us have our “own” ministry. Five of us speak at conferences. All of us have education and expertise in areas that exceeds that of our parents in multiple areas. But we don’t use these facts as an excuse to “outgrow” our parents. We use these things as tools to advance our parents. To build on their vision. To establish their authority. To proclaim their names in the gates. We all have taken our father’s vision and made it our own. This knitting together of our minds, hearts, and gifts has forged us together into one powerful weapon for Christ’s glory and Kingdom. Together, we are ten times more fruitful and effective than we each would be, separated from our parents’ unifying vision.”

So: according to the Botkin’s, for our parents we are “to build their vision, establish their authority,” and “to proclaim their names in the gates. (bold added for effect)” Where do I begin?!? 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. (bold added for effect)” According to the Bible (not Botkin’s) we are to build God’s vision, establish God as the supreme authority, and proclaim His name to everyone around us! Is that not a brave and magnificent task?

Has no one in these “serve father” groups ever read the Gospels? Jesus left his earthly father and mother and preached. His disciples left their families too. In Matthew 8: 21-22, “Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead'." Matthew 4:21-22 says, “Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

“We only invest time in developing those gifts that will render us most useful to our Creator and King. This means dying to ourselves; it means sacrificing our personal interests and agendas. Ultimately, it means losing our lives so that we may find them. But that is the Christian life.”

Okay, this sounds promising, but wait… the look at the part about “dying to ourselves” again. If we die to ourselves and give up what we want to do in life, then we are following God, according to the Botkin’s philosophy. This makes little sense when you look at the big picture. As Ingrid says, “God gave all of us talents and abilities. If we sacrifice them, what do we have left to serve Him with?” I searched the entire Bible at http://www.biblegateway.com/, with the words “serve”, “father”, “children”, and “daughter.” I never found a verse that said “children must serve their father and/or parents, I did find:

“And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.” ~Genesis 31:6~
This is in the story of Jacob serving Laban for his daughters Rachel and Leah. If you know this story as well as I do, you know that Jacob served Laban 7 years for his daughter Rachel. Laban was dishonest and gave Jacob his other daughter Leah instead. Jacob did get Rachel as a wife, about a week later, but as a result, he had to serve Laban for another 14 years. I don't think that that is a great reason to serve your father.

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” Joshua 24:14 KJV. There are many verses just like this one in the Old Testament about serving the Lord, not the fathers.

“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26 KJV. These are Jesus’ words! We are to follow and serve Jesus to honor God, who is our heavenly Father. Of course, through following Jesus, we are also blessing our parents and honoring them.

“We need to see the liberty inside this grand vision, rather than looking for license outside it. Instead of repining all the things we may have to give up (e.g. “my life,” “my space,” “my time,” “my dreams,” “my schedule,” “my way,” “my friends,” etc.), we should say “good riddance” to useless, selfish, autonomous “adulthood,” and mature into loving the joy, productivity and adventure that is life in a Christian family unit.”

Jesus said “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10: 37.
If we are to serve the Lord, then we are to do what He wants. Sometimes, that can be through our parents, but sometimes it is thinking outside the box! I have my own schedule when school starts, but so do my homeschooled siblings and my parents. I am not being “selfish” if I am following my plan that was designed by God, not by my parents. My time is precious to me; when my homework and studying are done, I love playing games with my siblings, doing paperwork for my dad, cleaning something for my mom, and talking with Ingrid. I have my own “dreams,” but why should not we have dreams? Do the Botkin girls “dream” of getting married and having children? I do, and there is nothing wrong with that!

In fact, the more I think about it, it is really the fathers who are being selfish. They are blocking their daughters from following God by teaching them to be automatons.

“Observation three: A father can’t communicate properly with a daughter he cannot fully trust in. His heart can’t fully trust in you until he knows he has your hearts.”

This is a lie. It never says this in the Bible, so it sounds like more Botkin philosophy. I have not given my heart to anyone (yet!), and my dad still trusts me that I am not going to do something morally wrong and against our Christian faith.

“You’ve probably heard many times that you need to “give your heart to your parents.” What does it actually mean to give your parents your heart? The heart, called “the seat of the affections,” is the source of all passions, desires, loves, interests, likes and dislikes, convictions and opinions. Proverbs 23:26 says, “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

The Botkins put the Proverbs verse there to make you think that "Oh, it's in the Bible... so I have to do it." But they don't put the second part of the verse, because in the bible, it's a comma-- not a period that ends Proverbs 23:26. Verse 27 states, "for a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well." You have to read a verse in context sometimes to understand the full meaning. It seems that this verse is trying to say that you need to guard your heart and your emotions against sinful behaviors.

Two other verses that stuck out as I read Proverbs 23, were 15 and 19.
(15) "My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad;" (19) "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." It seems that these verses are speaking more to purity and intelligence.

“God wants our hearts and all that they contain to be surrendered to our parents – and ultimately to God – to be molded and directed. Making yourself vulnerable in this way requires Trust. You must trust your parents, that they ultimately desire what is best for you, and that they are qualified to lead you and guide you simply because they are your parents chosen by God to raise you.”

I love in this part how “God wants” something, but then you must “surrender to parents,” then surrender “ultimately to God.” Why are the parents first? I have given my heart to God, not to my parents. I try very hard to trust Him every day in His plans for my life. Last year, when I was waiting to be accepted into my nursing program I prayed, “Dear God, if it is your will, allow me to be chosen for this nursing program. If you want me to be a nurse, I will follow your plans for me and what you want me to do with my life for you.” It was a humbling and trusting prayer, I prayed it daily, sometimes more than once a day. Finally, when I was accepted, I felt God’s assurance, that I was following his plans for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’.” God has wonderful plans for our lives; we must follow Him and Him alone!

I feel so sorry for girls who are stifled by this teaching. We are also designed by God and have varying purposes, but if we just trust our parents to do what they think is best, we are not taking initiative and acting as adults.

“It also requires Faith. Faith that God will lead you through your parents, imperfect though they are. And faith in God’s promised blessings for your obedience.”

Back to above, why are girls taught to follow parents and not God? The Botkin girls say “God will lead you through your parents” where in the Bible does it say that??

“When your parents have your heart you will truly “delight in their ways.” You will love what they love, hate what they hate, and desire their approval and company and even “think their thoughts after them.””

The thought of not having my own opinion in any matter is shocking. :) Can you imagine believing that your parents are right about everything and that you will be so taken in that you “love what they love, hate what they hate, and desire their approval and company and even ‘think their thoughts after them’.” The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means parents and children alike! It seems that the Botkins and other families have set up their parents as idols to worship and adore.

This is called “seeking after the hearts of your parents” just as King David was “a man after God’s own heart.”

“So Jesus is supposed to be after Joseph’s own heart?” Ingrid was rather irritated when I read her the above. :) King David was “a man after God’s own heart” this has nothing to do with “seeking after the hearts of your parents” which, by the way, where is that in the Bible? In Acts 13: 20-22 it says, "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and he [God] gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he [God] made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my [God’s] own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’.” It is misleading to quote verses meant for glory and honor of God and to then twist them and give them a new meaning to support your article and beliefs. Just read Jesus’ words in Mark 9:42 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”

Similarly, your parent’s hearts should be able to trust in you, as it says in Proverbs 31, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her…” This means that they will have confidence in your obedience, when they are watching and when they’re not, that you will demonstrate loyalty to them and to every thing they have taught you, in what you speak and do, in public and in private."

That Proverbs 31 verse is referring to a wife’s heart being with her husband…not with the parents! I am so sick of people taking verses out of context! The above verse in Proverbs 31 has nothing to do with giving a girl’s (or child’s) heart to parents.

When I read the above article, I was astonished. Why are people following and listening to the twisted teachings of the Botkin girls? God told us to in Exodus 20:12 to “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” That verse does not tell you to serve your father! The Bible also tells us to serve the Lord numerous times: in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Psalms, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Ephesians, etc.... When Satan is tempting Jesus in Matthew 4:10, “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’”” (from Deuteronomy 6:13). Jesus understood the importance of serving God, not men. Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” It is one thing to “serve your father,” but it much more important to serve God! He should always come before your parents and His word should not be abused as to suggest otherwise.

Grace

Works Cited:

“Authoritative Parents, Adult Daughters, and Power Struggles” by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. Accessed on January 10, 2008, from: http://visionarydaughters.com/2007/05/authoritative-parents-adult-daughters-and-power-struggles