Are You a Chia Pet?

I love when things hit me and I don't see them coming. I'm talking about things God shows me. I just finished listening to a sermon in which we were presented with a choice, Would you rather be a chia pet or a guitar? The point being until we are fully surrendered to Holy God we are as useless as a chia pet. On the other hand, when we completely surrender to God, we become a guitar that He can use to make beautiful music. Why is it that we are so afraid to allow God to freely and totally use us as He sees fit? After all, we are made in His image, He created us because He wanted us and loves us, more than we can imagine--remember He sent Jesus! Oh, how we could turn this world upside down for the sake for Christ if we were totally sold out and surrendered to Almighty God! Lord, may we be BOLD in your name!

** Sermon by Perry Noble, Newspring Church, Identity Theft Series, Chia Pet

An Eye-Opening Lesson From History

So here is a short history quiz for you. What time and place in history do the following statements take place? I'll even make it multiple choice...

Use these choices for all of the questions:

A - America during the 1950's
B - Ancient Greece, during the later stages of its decline
C - America today

* People, especially the educated ones, have rejected traditional religion
* Cults from the East have been accepted
* Astrology is practiced
* Patriotism has declined
* Men practice manners which have previously been considered effeminate
* The upper class is consumed with the pursuit of pleasure
* Education stresses knowledge more than character, and produces masses of half-educated people
* Public athletic games have turned into professional contests
* Homosexuality is popular
* Men who want to watch dances by unclad women do not have to go far to find them
* The dramas of the day are full of seduction and adultery
* A women's liberation movement has brought women into active roles in a previously male-oriented culture
* Motherhood us devalued, and the bearing of children is viewed as an inconvenience
* Abortion is commonly practiced, as well as infanticide

So, how'd you do? Well, if you answered B or C, either one will do, to any of the questions, then you were right! Little scary, huh? We can learn a lot from history,but how many people actually take the time to investigate it?

I found this quiz in a book that the boys and I are doing in school this year, Assumptions That Affect Our Lives by Dr. Christian Overman. This is chapter 1!!! Can't wait to dig deeper in this book! We were looking at how our culture has been affected by primarily both the ancient Greeks and ancient Hebrews. We are at this point in our country leaning more toward the Greek influence, and we see where that got them...

Just wanted to share what we were learning and hopefully, inspire you to look at our current culture differently and stand counter to it!

Bailey

So this is Bailey. She has lived with us for a few months now and as you can see she is quite comfortable here. She believes she is royalty and expects those around her to treat her that way. We are slowly breaking her of some of this attitude however, she does try... She loves to lay in the sun and as the days get warmer she is enjoying being outside more and more. She is adjusting to her new life and home quite well as so are we.