Bad news for baggy pants haters...

I'm not sure there's anything sinful about baggy pants, but apparently it disturbed enough folks to get a law passed banning them. However, a Florida judge has deemed that law unconstitutional, so our hard-earned tax dollars will likely pay for this case to climb the courts. 

Baggy Pants Ruled Unconstitutional

My husband never got a law passed, but our son's baggy pants used to drive Dan crazy.  He instituted a belt requirement and occasionally would give a tug on Jeremy's pants to make sure he was in compliance.  On one such occasion, he happened to do so in the middle of a discount store, and ended up "pantsing" the boy in public! While it turned out to be a funny story that we laugh about in our family, I do not recommend this as a means of dealing with baggy pants. However, I do believe Jeremy did a better job of remembering his belt from then on!   

What do you think?  Are baggy pants morally reprehensible, or are the adults who passed this law being legalistic and uptight?  

Snurf-legal and dangerous new drug

"You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything."  Colossian 2:10 (The Message)

It's hard to keep up with all the stuff out there that can be dangerous for our kids, so I try to stay on top of some of this stuff for you guys.  

There's a new drug causing quite a stir.  It's called Snurf; no, not the little blue guys from Saturday morning cartoons, those are Smurfs.  :)  Snurf is legally sold over the internet as an herbal supplement (although some of the so-called ingredients don't exist), and it landed four Pennsylvania teens in the hospital in the past week.  

Please read the link below to become familiar with this and other similar over-the-counter supplements that are being marketed to your kids.  Make sure you know the signs and symptoms of use and abuse. More importantly, TALK WITH YOUR KIDS about this stuff!  This opens the door for a great discussion about why people use and abuse drugs (i.e. what is missing in their lives?).  

Praying for you and your children,

Lisa

Growing Teen Abuse of Snurf Pills

Girls, girls, girls

“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”  John 7:24

There is nothing new about teenage girls pushing the envelope with their fashion choices.  It’s no revelation that the media and the fashion world cater to that rebellion.  There are, however, some interesting new ideas about the reasons why girls act the way they do.  There are also indications of a turn in the tide for feminism, a step in the right direction (in my opinion). 

Check out the articles below (I’ve included a snippet from each one).  There’s some thought provoking stuff here.  I’ll leave you to your own conclusions.  J

Time Magazine:  The Truth about Teen Girls

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1840556,00.html

“There are lots of reasons to worry about adolescent girls having sex too early .   But is it the sex we're worried about or the sexiness? Is it what they do or how they look? And whose problem is this anyway?”

ABC News:  Some Say It’s OK for Girls to Go Wild

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Health/story?id=2798436&page=1

“’Putting up pictures of yourself scantily dressed on MySpace is, in a way, kind of a good sign,’ he said. ‘The good news is that it's somebody who isn't horrified by their appearance. Also if they get some positive response, that can be very supportive.’"

 "’Adults think that kids take everything literally -- if [teens] pose in a bikini, they're suddenly sexually active,’ she said. ‘It's odd that adults who are supposed to think more conceptually are thinking so concretely.’"

 

Parent Dish:  It’s Not Bad to be Good

http://www.parentdish.com/2007/07/20/its-not-bad-to-be-good

“I was getting all the wrong attention from men. I wanted them to like me for me, but my "look" wasn't attracting that. I wish someone had been there to guide me, to show me that there was an alternative. (Someone other than my mother that is.) I wish someone was out there making it cool to be good.”

 

Toronto Star:  How the ‘Bad’ Girl Became Good

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/236893

"Looking ‘wild’ and acting ‘wild’ are supposed to be empowering, but more often they lead to misery, especially for young women who quickly learn to put their emotions in deep freeze to do what is expected.”

Talking to teens about TV role models

Integrating faith and culture is not always an easy thing to do.  Here's a great discussion tool from Common Sense Media when watching TV with your teens, which I highly recommend if your kids enjoy the teen dramas (soap operas).  

Talking to kids about role models

In God We Trust?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."  Proverbs 9:10

This week, several well-meaning American Christians sent me an email urging me to vote in an online MSNBC poll about whether or not we should keep the phrase "In God We Trust" on our currency.  

For those of you living outside the United States, there is a California lawyer who is suing to have the phrase removed because it is a violation of the principle of separation of church and state (which is a phrase thrown around by people who clearly do not understand our country's Constitution).  

Like most Christians, my first reaction to this issue was indignation.  How could they?  What a slap in the face to God!  This country would be nowhere without His blessing.  

Upon further reflection, however, I've decided not to take sides.  It's really OK with me one way or the other.  Before you threaten to take away my "Christian badge" or accuse me of being unpatriotic, let me explain why.  

If we keep it, atheists should relax and be OK with it.  They all have a god in whom they trust; they just don't realize it.  It's usually themselves.  So they can  simply look at their money and say, "In me I trust."  

If we don't keep it, Christians should be OK with it too.  After all, I'm not sure that phrase applies to our country anymore.  Do we really trust in God, as a nation?  The evidence points to the contrary.  We trust in politicians, celebrities, money, power, beauty, and a host of other things that come before God.  

Most importantly, whether or not we have that phrase on our money, God is still God.  He is still on the Throne, and Jesus is still Lord of all, even over the mighty and powerful United States.  In the end, that's really all that matters.  

Tender

Tenderize: to make tender, as by pounding or by a chemical process or treatment. 

My husband’s family has taken a pounding this week with the passing of my father-in-law.  We’ve been talking a lot about the legacy he left, but some of that legacy is yet to come.  Just as we are seeing the effects of his life, we are also experiencing the effects of his death. 

If you’ve ever had a loved one die, you remember the feeling of first receiving the news.  It’s like a kick to the stomach, a punch to the face, and a blow to the heart all at once.  Your mind, body and spirit take a beating. 

Alongside the tears, I’ve witnessed a “tenderizing” in many family members.  Suddenly everyone is much kinder to one another, more attuned to each other’s needs, and more compassionate and caring.  There are more hugs and more “I love you”s.  There is an abundance of grace and forgiveness. 

However, it takes more than a pounding to produce a palatable piece of meat.  We’ve all been seasoned by the love and support of friends, and now we will go through the fire of grief.  I pray that when we are done, we will be “the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).  And hopefully, if we willingly accept the pounding, we will continue to be tender.  

Teens and sexual sin: how to deal

I came across this thoughtful, well-written piece today on teens and sexual brokenness.  The article gives a Biblical perspective and response for parents who discover their teen is in sexual sin of any kind.  

Dealing with sexual brokenness in teens