Friday, September 11, 2009

By faith...(hers, mine & ours)

update...I finally read for myself about the shooting (we don't get the paper). I gather it happened after 4:00 AM - at a party ... when someone wanted to leave & another was blocking their space...soon weapons were out & the rest is history. But the story only gets more tragic - as another person was killed as well & I believe three men are in prison facing murder/attempted murder charges. So many ?? flood my mind here ... & if ever I've written about something senseless, this is it.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said."Do not do anything to him.
Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld
from me your son, your only son."
Genesis 22:12(NIV)

- The other night a boy (sombody's son, brother, friend...) who went to Playmaker's school was shot/killed! right on the route Playmaker takes to get to school - apparently during an argument over a parking space at a party....

- Yesterday, one student leading the the Pledge of Allegiance (via the video monitors in the classrooms) left out the words "under God" & threw everyone off.

- Last yr when Playmaker had a major paper to do, she used the biblical account of David & Bathsheba as a past ex. of a timeless theme from Romeo & Juliet - but her teacher wasn't even familiar w/ the account & didn't seem impressed. What more familiar/magnificient/profound literature- historical (timeless!) record - could she have chosen an ex. from?!

When Playmaker was given an assignment to make a poster favoring the theory of evolution, she asked - & was given permission - to do one that exposed the holes in the theory of evolution as well - & in this case, her teacher seemed impressed.

I could go on & on listing examples that challenge Playmaker's faith
at school day in and day out bc they fly in the face of the Almighty, the One we've placed our faith in & whom we love, serve & worship.

While all of this can be (is!) so unsettling to a (this!) mother's heart, the so-called "Hall of Faith" record in Hebrews 11 comes to mind & the thought occurs to me - that while the powers that be may be somewhat successful at removing God from textbooks, lessons, & the Pledge of Allegiance ... He promises never to leave her or forsake her. Wrapped in that promise (Hebrews 13:5) is the assurance that as long as she is there, He is too(!) - & I'm confident that w/ each step/choice she (key word here) takes/makes in faith, our faith .....becomes more her own.


"I urge you to consider and actually live as though
each person you come into contact with is Christ."

Crazy Love
by Francis Chan
w/ Danae Yankoski

4 comments:

Mug said...

Oh, MyStory, what powerful words here. I (and my family) have been so entrenched and surrounded by the Word during our lives...living in the so-called Bible belt, I guess, and attending schools based on Christian principles ...that we tend to take our faith for granted. Thank you for this eloquent and powerful reminder to stand tall and confident (without being judgemental) in a world that is fast becoming everything BUT "based on Christian principles"....
Playmaker goes to the top of my prayer list as she stands tall and confident in her daily life.

And, although I know "to God give the glory", you and your husband are to be commended for obviously standing as "tall, confident" examples of "keeping your eyes on Christ" for your children.

Keep "running the race"! The finish line is just around the corner:)

The 4 Bushel Farmgal said...

I agree with Mug that we live in a world that disregards Christian principles/the Golden Rule/or however you choose to view it.
I try to live a good life, and hope/pray/dream for each person to do the same.
How sad it is that our countrymen (and women, and teens) have lost their compassion for each other. Shot over a parking space...
Kudos to Playmaker for keeping true to her faith in her education.
Quite an inspiring and thought-provoking post.

MYstory of HIStory said...

Hi Ladies. Thanks for sharing your tho'ts here...I'm convinced that being a parent is the toughest job you'll (I'll) ever love... Tryin' to figure out when to hold on & when to let go...

Yiota said...

Earlier today we were watching a TV series with teenagers and there was this scene where one of the characters says 'Thank God!' for something and another one looks at her stunned and asks appalled (I'm not exaggerating) 'You believe in God?'. It's shocking: it's not only far from considered the norm, people who believe in God are mocked and made fun of as well.
Well Done for Playmaker! ...and you. Keep up the good work!