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Newsletter #25: Socialization   Message List  
Reply Message #25 of 175 |
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Bold Christian Living E-Mail Newsletter, Issue #25

You can subscribe or unsubscribe to the free Bold Christian Living
E-mail Newsletter by simply sending a post to
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don't send requests directly to me (I'm pretty busy).

Likewise, I can't respond to requests for previous issues of the
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internet access (you'll need to get help from a friend with such
access). For past issues of the Bold Christian Living E-Mail Newsletter,
go to the ONElist archives at <http://www.onelist.com> and enter
BoldChristianLiving in the "Find a list: Enter subject" box. You'll need
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one (you can choose your own password by following the directions
they'll provide, and they'll send you a confirmation). When the next
screen comes up, scroll down to the description of this newsletter and
click on the name, BoldChristianLiving. The next screen is the most
recent archive of the newsletter. You can either read that or click on
"Archive Index" to find a list of previous archives. The archives are
listed by date, but you can search for a topic by entering in the
"Search Archives" box any key word you are interested in.
---------------
I'm working on a newsletter dealing with courtship and betrothal. But
with preparations for this weekend's seminar in Lompoc, California ("A
Time For Preparation") as well as hosting my co-worker Matthew Chapman
and his family, I haven't had time to formulate the responses to some
great questions and comments that have come in. So we'll try to get that
one out next week.

For this newsletter, though, I'd like to deal with the touchy issue of
"socialization." A new subscriber sent the following:

> Your newsletter is a tremendous blessing to me -- I am very grateful. I
> love reading your amazing answers (they are foreign to me. I grew up in
> a house with very worldly ways.)
>
> If you don't have time to answer my question, I understand. Thank you
> for all you do. My question...
>
> Your feelings about homeschooling would not change with respect to an
> only-child, right? I have an only-child who loves to be around other
> children her age but does not have that many opportunities (there are
> not many in our family, neighborhood, or church congregation.) Would I
> do her wrong by keeping her home from a Christian school? She will have
> only me much of the time, which concerns me that she will be lonely,
> bored, and possibly resentful. (I am new to all this, so please be
> patient with my ignorance.)

You've raised a good question. We have all been brain-washed to think
that children need interaction with other children to be properly
"socialized." If we look at the issue from scripture, however, God
portrays a very different perspective. He says (Prov. 13:20), "He who
walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be
destroyed." In fact, no scripture directs parents to be certain they
provide social outlets with peers to their children. All the warnings
are on the opposite side.

For example, Prov. 12:26 warns, "The righteous should choose his friends
carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray." Paul expressed
the same thought when he said (1 Cor. 15:33), "Do not be deceived: "Evil
company corrupts good habits." Paul apparently thought we could be
deceived on this issue. I hope we all see how easily deceived we are.

So what social interaction is healthy for our children? Certainly not
interaction with fools. As Prov. 13:20 above tells us companionship with
fools brings destruction, Proverbs 22:15 tells us where such foolishness
is to be found: "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The
rod of correction will drive it far from him." The verse is intended to
motivate us to use the "rod of correction" with our children, but it
also tells us where you will find foolishness. It is in the hearts of
children.

Now certainly adults can be fools as well, but apparently children are
almost inevitably fools. My children, your children, all children have
foolishness bound up in their hearts. Yes, even homeschooled children.
So our enemy has designed cultural pressure to incite us to place our
children in environments where they will be required to have foolish
companionships. And the result is their destruction.

This is the primary reason I believe God has called me to homeschool my
children. It is also the reason my children aren't part of Sunday
School, Youth Groups, etc. I'm not necessarily questioning the godliness
of the leaders of such programs. It's the structure itself, which forces
children to be companions with fools.

Instead, God intends our children to "walk with wise men." What wise
men? Us! We recognize all too clearly that we also have foolishness, but
we are most likely wiser than our children's peers.

Psalm 68:6 says, "God sets the solitary in families." What is God's
solution to loneliness? Families! Where does God want singles, young
people, children, everyone, to get their social stability? Families! Not
special programs and institutions.

Why families? What's the difference between a family and a class? There
are many differences we could enumerate, but there's one I want to focus
on at the moment. God could have made our families like classes, as he
has some of His other creatures. He could have given us children all the
same age, so they would be with peers. He could have given humans
litters (I know, He occasionally gives human litters (:>), but He
generally gives us children one at a time, so our families end up with a
multi-aged group. It seems God wanted to minimize peer relationships.

But what about your situation, the only child? Doesn't he need special
outlets since he doesn't have any siblings to "socialize" him. In
scripture there were some remarkable characters that God chose to have
raised alone, without brothers and sisters. Some were born only
children. Others were raised apart from their siblings. Consider John
the Baptist. Jesus said (Matt. 11:11), "Assuredly, I say to you, among
those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the
Baptist." That's a rather high compliment. God obviously had a special
work for that little boy to do. So He made sure he was raised alone, in
the wilderness, by aged parents.

Consider Isaac (God had Ishmael sent away). Consider Moses (raised apart
from his siblings). Consider Samuel (raised as the only child in an
adult environment).

Imagine the possibility the Lord has something special He wants for your
daughter. He would quite possibly sovereignly choose for her to be
raised without the influence of other children, even siblings.

I believe large families are a blessing. But when God designs an
environment of solitude for a child, with only adult interaction, it
seems likely He has a purpose for it. I would encourage you to embrace
that purpose rather than allowing the world's assumptions to rip off
God's best for your daughter.
---------------
Many have been rather shocked (and annoyed) by my suggestion that church
youth groups are extra-biblical at best, and quite possibly the most
significant force for worldliness and compromise in the modern church.
The following is a powerful testimony confirming this perspective.

> I have really enjoyed your newsletters. My husband and I have listened
> to quite a few of your tapes and have heard you speak at our state hs
> conventions. We really appreciate your ministry.
>
> My husband is a pastor. We have 8 children ages 18 mos. - 16 yrs. and
> are expecting our 9th in June. The posts on Emotional Purity, and the
> letter from the sister who is struggling with her 2 daughters has
> prompted me to write.
>
> My husband was the pastor of a church which had a youth ministry in which
> the youth would go out as a group and minister in nursing homes, day care
> centers, etc. When we moved to this church, our oldest daughter (then
> 12) was very shy. She showed interest in this ministry, and we allowed
> her to take part thinking that it would draw her out a little bit. Her
> involvement was limited to ministering only and she was not allowed to
> participate in the "social" aspects of the group. As we expected, she
> did come out of her shell quite a bit. However, this drawing out came
> with a hefty price tag.
>
> During the 3 years she was involved in this ministry, we watched as her
> sweet spirit began to turn rebellious. Now, I don't mean rebellious in a
> way the "world" would call rebellious. The world's definition of
> rebellion usually includes outward defiance of authority usually
> accompanied by drug abuse, or immoral behavior. However, by God's
> definition - she was rebellious. Although she truly tried to be an
> obedient and loving daughter, the influence of the "worldly" youth were
> too much for her to handle and we watched as she slowly stepped away from
> what we knew were God's principles and guidelines for our children. We
> saw her respect for her father slowly fade away as she listened to the
> other girls complain about their fathers. We noticed that all of a
> sudden, her younger siblings became a bother and "in the way" as she
> watched the interaction of her "friends" and their younger siblings. We
> observed a change in her taste of music becoming more and more worldly
> -even though it still had the label "Christian." We felt as if we were
> "losing" our daughter as her opinions and tastes became more and more
> like those of her "Christian" friends. We knew we should step in, but we
> allowed ourselves to be swayed by the peer pressure which kept telling us
> that we were being too strict.
>
> After a while, my husband decided that it was time to take a firm stand
> regarding this youth ministry. Little did we know what havoc this would
> raise. It ended up with our having to leave the church. Looking back,
> we can see God's hand of protection as he removed us from a situation
> that was slowly eating away at the Scriptural standards we KNEW we were
> to implement in our family.
>
> Now, after almost 2 years, we and our daughter have taken back some of
> the strongholds the enemy had built in our lives during those 3 years.
> She came to us a few months ago, and we literally spent hours listening
> as she confessed everything that came to her mind about those 3 years.
> The things she confessed would not have been considered bad at all by
> those "friends" who were telling us to ease up on her. It mainly
> concerned things like t.v. shows she watched, books she read, music she
> listened to, the desire to have a boyfriend although she knew we were
> desiring her to commit to courtship (our definition of courtship is the
> same as your definition of betrothal - we just use a different term),
> etc. all of which were approved of by others in our church. However, she
> knew we would not have approved, and she felt defiled by some of the
> things she had seen, read, and heard.
>
> Since we have come out from that church, her heart has turned back to her
> father, her relationship with her siblings has improved immensely, she
> has become firmly committed to courtship/betrothal and she is seeking the
> Lord more fervently than before. One of the results of those years was a
> lack of assurance of her salvation. She felt that because she had gone
> against our wishes in so many areas and compromised the convictions we
> were trying to instill in her - that she must not really be a Christian.
> We had to confess to her and ask her forgiveness for our "failure to
> protect" her from these worldly influences. Even though she is
> accountable for the things she did, how much more are we accountable for
> neglecting the responsibility God gave us to raise her up in the "nurture
> and admonition" of the Lord. We are still praying with her in the area
> of assurance of her salvation. Since she has cleared her conscience, we
> have noticed that she spends more time in the Word, she listens
> attentively and takes notes during church, and she spends time talking
> with others about their walk with the Lord.
>
> I'm sorry for rambling on so, but every time I hear of a mother
> struggling with what I have come to know as a God-given desire to
> "protect" her children, it makes me think back to where we have been,
> where we are now, and where we COULD be if only I had heeded His warning
> to protect. I praise the Lord for drawing my daughter back to Himself.
> He is ALWAYS faithful, even when we are not. He loves our children much
> more than we will ever love them - and He will always honor our obedience
> to His Word.
>
> We are so thankful for your willingness to speak out boldly on the issues
> that are controversial in today's world. We have loaned your tapes with
> a number of friends and are grateful for such a wonderful resource to
> pass on.

Thank God He is a Redeemer and fixes broken things. His grace is
manifest even in our sin! Incredible! So "What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!" (Rom. 6:1-2)
Although God has used such imperfect vessels as youth groups, Sunday
Schools, youth camps, Christian rock concerts, etc., this does not imply
His endorsement. Everything must be evaluated in light of God's word.

Does the scripture encourage youth groups? Does it even mention them?
The only youth groups I find in scripture are pretty scary examples.
Remember the youth group in Bethel that mocked the prophet? God sent a
bear to maul them! (2 Kings 2:23-24) Or remember the youth group
Rehoboam preferred over the elders? (1 Kings 12) Or remember the youth
group Dinah wanted to hang out with? She ended up defiled and murders
resulted! (Gen. 34:1) There are no positive examples in scripture of
youth herded together except those godly youth in captivity who were
already being forced into a peer group (Dan. 1).
-----------------

The following letter illustrates further the tragic deception of youth
addicted to peer support. Last week I published a letter from this dear
girl's mother and counseled her to restrict her daughters' access to
questionable influences.

> Dear Mr. Lindvall,
> First of all, please do not think the worst of me for what I write in
> this letter, I am normally a quite quiet and gentle person, but you
> have got me so mad that I think I would very likely explode if I did
> not tell you what I am about to. The other day my Mum ([deleted])
> wrote to you concerning me and my sisters. You in turn gave her some
> advice which has ruined my circumstances so that I feel like I am
> about to have a nervous breakdown any time. I have been crying myself
> to sleep every night! You told her for a start that we should not go
> to youth groups. Going to our youth group was one of the high points
> of my week! All my friends go there, and no, the teachers do not teach
> us wordly values there, and no, my friends where NOT going to lead me
> astray from God!!! If anything in me was changed there it was that my
> belief in God grew stronger! And now YOU have single handedly taken it
> all away from me. We never did or learnt ANYTHING there that was bad.
> All we did was study this book. You might try reading it sometime. It
> was called the Bible! Also we went ice skating or bowling once a
> month, a thing our family can never afford to do in its present
> circumstances. And next month we were going to go sailing, a thing I
> have never done before and have always wanted to do. I hope your
> conscience can cope with that.
>
> Secondly, you told Mum that I shouldn't be writing to my penpal. Big
> mistake buddy!!! He happens to be my best friend. Whether he is a boy
> or not, I don't care . Besides which, he lives in Arizona and I live
> in England. So even if I WAS remotely contemplating liking him THAT
> WAY, which I'm not, it would come to nothing. As it happens, he is a
> homeschooling Christian who doesn't like pop music, doesn't like
> rubbish TV programs (I don't either as it happens, whatever Mum may
> think)and doesn't believe in dating but does believe in courtship. I
> repeat again, I DO NOT like him that way. I have no intention of doing
> so, and I do not want to do so. He is a very good friend and that is
> all. But you saw fit to take him away from me in a situation you have
> nothing to do with. I am very mad to say the least. I only hid his
> letters under the bed because, basically they are MY letters and not
> anyone else's to read. Besides which I am severely lacking in drawer
> space in which to put things anyway, and it was the best place to put
> them! So please, with all due respect, shut up about me "obviously
> having a reason to hide them". Because I do and it's a very good
> one!!!
>
> Regarding the tapes and books under my bed, the tapes are in French
> and I have never listened to them anyway, and the books were pretty
> much OK if I say so myself. So Mum might not have liked them, but she
> didn't even read them, so how does she know what they are like anyway!
> I have a secret box under my bed for the simple reason of keeping my 9
> year old sisters hands off of my stuff. So there! Mum is just being
> paranoid beyond the call of duty.
>
> Mum is not letting us see any of our friends at all not even those who
> are Christians and perfectly well behaved and sensible and
> God-fearing! It is just ridiculous! The only children she lets us see
> is one (perfectly nice) homeschooling family who live half an hour
> away so we hardly see them anyway! I like them and all, but I need
> friends! And ones I can see more often than once a month! God never
> called us to be perfect loners, and lonely is definitely what I am!!!!
> Please take me seriously in this letter. The last thing I would want
> you to think is that I am just some whinging teenager, you have really
> truly totally ruined my life to the point that I am wandering around
> miserable all day. Mum had not lost our hearts, or even our little
> toes for that matter! Oh yeah, by the way, don't even try to tell Mum
> that I wrote you all this, because I am the sole person who checks her
> e-mail (her being afraid of going near a computer) and I will just
> delete it.
>
> I hope you fully understand how terrible this all is for me. I am
> really fighting hating you and being a Christian is the only thing
> stopping me right now.
> Yours sincerely,
>
> P.S. How old where Matthew and Maranatha Chapman when they got
> married, I couldn't resist asking no matter how mad I am at you.


Hello XXXXXXX. You'll notice I'm sending a CC of this note to your
mother. If, as you said at the end of your post, you get to her e-mail
before she does, and delete it, that will be between you and the Lord.
But I believe I would be sinning against the Lord, against you, and
against your parents to not share with them what I am responding to you.

First, I want to commend you for being honest and open about your
response, to the degree that you are truly being either honest or open.
Although writing to someone half way around the world may seem safe, you
have made yourself vulnerable by revealing yourself through your letter.
I believe such vulnerability is healthy. It allows the Lord to use
others to show us things we otherwise refuse to see.

I recognize you are quite upset with me. I really do feel badly to have
been a source of such pain for you. But I feel sorry just a doctor might
feel badly for the pain he must inflict in order to bring healing.

Imagine a child who has been allowed to eat mostly ice cream and candy.
He doesn't recognize his diet is a direct cause of his frequent
illnesses and general poor health. But one day his parents decide to ask
advice from a dietitian and are persuaded to make drastic changes to
this child's diet. When they cut out the ice cream and candy the child
throws a tantrum, sulks around the house, and generally tries every
trick he can think of to manipulate his parents into returning to his
"goodies." He is so angry at the dietitian that he sends him a nasty
e-mail expressing his anger. He blames the dietitian for his
unhappiness, claiming to be "about to have a nervous breakdown any time"
and to "have been crying myself to sleep every night."

Oh XXXXXXX. Don't you see yourself? You're pouting like a spoiled
child. You like all the things your parents now believe have been
harmful to you. You can't imagine life without your former pleasures. I
empathize! I'm just as spoiled as you are. And the Lord has to
discipline me for my selfish attitude. But you know, the fact that He
disciplines me is proof of His love to me. Hebrews 12:6-8 says, "For
whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He
receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for
what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without
chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons."

Your parents love you, XXXXXXX. That's why they're doing this. If they
simply let you have your own way to keep you from irritating them, it
would be evidence that they didn't love you. But the do!!! They're like
the parents in the example above who make their child start eating
healthy food he doesn't necessarily like. They realize what you like is
not necessarily good for you.

You may have a hard time believing this, XXXXXXX, but my heart went out
to you as I read your post. You are trapped in some ways you yourself
don't see. My written words are going to sound harsh. One of the
weaknesses of written language is the limitations in expressing
feelings. Please understand my heart. I don't mean to be harsh. But I do
love truth. And I love my Lord Jesus and His ways. If the things I am
writing are not truth from the Lord, then you have no reason to fear
them. On the other hand, if they are of the Lord, you need only fear
them if you are resisting Him.

I appeal to you to reveal your heart to your parents. You say, "Mum had
not lost our hearts, or even our little toes for that matter!" XXXXXXX,
please don't be offended when I say this, but that is a lie. (I know
this is strong language. Please forgive me.) If your dad & mum had your
heart you would not hide anything from them. And you certainly would not
mind my sharing with her what you have written.

Let me ask you this. Have you given your heart to Jesus? You said
regarding your youth group, "If anything in me was changed there it was
that my belief in God grew stronger!" Believing in God is good, but it
doesn't make you a Christian. The apostle James mocked those who felt
belief alone was adequate when he said (James 2:19), "You believe that
there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!"
Have you given your heart to Jesus? If so, would you hide something from
Him if you could? If you did, that would be proof He didn't have your
heart.

Similarly, you are hiding your heart when you say, "Oh yeah, by the way,
don't even try to tell Mum that I wrote you all this, because I am the
sole person who checks her e-mail (her being afraid of going near a
computer) and I will just delete it."

I know now that you've written what you have, you are deeper in the hole
you've dug than before. Now it will be that much harder to open up to
your parents. But it is now much more critical for your own sake that
you do so. In fact, God loves His children so much that He makes sure we
can't get away with anything. XXXXXXX, sooner or later you will get
caught. The longer you delay, the harder it will be. But if you simply
humble yourself before the Lord and your parents now, you will save
yourself a lot of grief.

But perhaps you honestly don't think you will get caught. The apostle
Paul says in Gal. 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." If you think you can avoid
reaping what you sow, Paul says you are deceived.

XXXXXXX, I plead with you, for the Lord's sake and for your own, that
you respond to the Lord by honoring your parents and surrendering your
life to God's will for you. You're clearly dishonoring them now. And
you're clearly resisting God's purposes in your life. I hope what I say
further provides you with enough evidence to see yourself in the mirror
and realize how tragically you are enslaving yourself.

Why have you been "crying [your]self to sleep every night?" Is it
because you're thinking about yourself? Isn't this an evidence of your
selfishness? Are you concerned that your parents are pleased with you,
or are you more concerned that you have fun? What would Jesus do? If He
were in your shoes, would he cry Himself to sleep every night because He
doesn't get His way?

Remember when Jesus was a young man and His parent went against His
will? What did He do? Luke 2:51 says, "Then He went down with them and
came to Nazareth, and was subject to them." He was SUBJECT to them. That
means he OBEYED them! Now honestly, do you think he did it resentfully,
feeling sorry for Himself? Or don't you think He obeyed cheerfully,
recognizing that His Father had called Him to be protected by Joseph and
Mary?

If you are truly a Christian, you are called to be a servant. You don't
live for yourself and your own pleasure, but for the glory of God. And
He has called you to serve others rather than yourself. One of the ways
you are supposed to do that is by honoring your parents. Do you think
you are honoring your parents right now? Are you going through your day
looking for ways to please them? Do you simply want to serve them and
make them happy? Or are you making their lives difficult by pouting and
complaining? Are you displaying a cheerful countenance, or a scowl? I
don't know, but from the tone of your letter I think I can guess. It's a
bit hard to imagine someone who has been crying herself to sleep every
night projecting the joy of the Lord the rest of the time.

I'm commenting on your letter in the sequence of noteworthy points. You
said regarding your youth group, "my friends where NOT going to lead me
astray from God." Tell me, were your relationships causing you to honor
your parents more? In the last verse of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:6)
God promised to send a ministry that would "turn The hearts of the
fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their
fathers." I don't know anything about the youth group but what you've
told me, but it doesn't sound like turning your heart to your father is
what that ministry is trying to accomplish. I imagine they sincerely
want to help you turn your heart to the Lord, but how they do that is
critical.

You might be surprised to learn that I was a youth minister previously.
I think I was one of the better ones, but the way I went about turning
the young people's hearts to the Lord was to win their hearts to myself.
And the way I did that was by giving them privileges and experiences
their parents wouldn't or couldn't.

So here you are involved in what appears to be a similar group that
provides things your "family can never afford to do" like bowling, ice
skating, and sailing. Whether intentionally or unintentionally someone
is buying your heart away from your parents. Even if their motives are
completely pure, they are making you discontent with your family, rather
than turning your heart to your father. Yes, my "conscience can cope
with" having encouraged your parents to protect your heart from
seduction.

By the way, I'm not offended at your snide comment: "All we did was
study this book. You might try reading it sometime. It was called the
Bible!" We can all use more Bible reading. But XXXXXXX, do you realize
how disrespectful such a comment is? Your mother previously told me you
had read and enjoyed the articles on my web-site. Surely you are aware
that I use the Bible a fair amount (many say too much). But even if I
was not familiar with the Bible, the manner in which you recommended I
read the Bible reveals a serious lack of honor toward older people.

Leviticus 19:32 commands, "You shall rise before the gray headed and
honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD."
Notice how the Lord links honoring older people with the fear of God.
Certainly telling me to "shut up" about your hiding your e-mail letters
from your mom was not "honoring the presence of an old man." Certainly
saying "Big mistake buddy!!!" and "So there!" displayed a rather tragic
lack of respect.

Your shocking displays of disrespect would actually be quite funny if
they weren't so sad. Where did you learn such blatant disrespect? I
doubt if it was from your parents. Might it be from your friends and the
media (television)? Can you see why your parents think they should
exclude these influences from you?

Much worse than your disrespect toward me, though, is your dishonor of
your parents. Do you really think it was honoring toward your mother to
say, "I don't either as it happens, whatever Mum may think." Or what
about, "So Mum might not have liked them, but she didn't even read them,
so how does she know what they are like anyway!" or references to "her
being afraid of going near a computer?" And certainly saying, "Mum is
just being paranoid beyond the call of duty" is rather extreme dishonor.

Your claim that "It is just ridiculous!" when your mother chooses to
select the influences in your life imply that you believe you know
better than she does, what is best for you. Your arrogance is so
apparent, XXXXXXX. Can't you see it? In order to honor someone else,
including your parents, it requires that you humble yourself in
relationship to them.

Regarding the correspondence of which you say, "they are MY letters and
not anyone else's to read" you are absolutely wrong. You belong to your
parents. The Bible says you are a "reward" to them (Psalm 127:3). You
are their possession! Everything you have is theirs. If you keep
anything back from your parents you are stealing from them what God gave
to them.

I know you see yourself as an independent individual. This is simply one
of the many areas where you don't realize that those of whom you said,
"my friends where NOT going to lead me astray from God" have already
done so. You disagree with God about who you belong to. You think you
belong to yourself. God repeatedly says children are a gift to parents.

Do you belong to God? Does God have a right to read your mail? I know
this sounds foolish, but read Numbers 30 about whether or not a girl has
the right to make her own decisions without her father. If you belong to
God, then He has the right to give you to whomever He chooses. He has
chosen to give you to your father and mother.

Let me conclude, by addressing your claim that "Mum had not lost our
hearts, or even our little toes for that matter!" XXXXXXX, you must
know that is not true. It is glaringly obvious, even to you, that your
father and mother don't have your heart.

You can keep withholding your heart from your parents, despite their
efforts to make the necessary changes to win your heart back. If you do,
God will bring other pressures to bear in your life. Sooner or later you
will realize you have been very foolish in resisting God's provision.
You could be such a grateful, happy, and wise young lady if you would
only repent and surrender to the Lord by honoring your parents.

By the way, regarding your P.S. asking the ages of Matthew and Maranatha
Chapman when they got married, it just happens they are visiting us
right now and I read them your letter. We are all praying for you. We
are praying that you will voluntarily humble yourself and receive God's
blessing as you surrender to Him. We are further praying that if you
don't do this voluntarily God will show His grace to you by quickly
bringing you to the end of your resistance by having you reap what you
are sowing before you sow much more. In other words, we're praying that
you get caught by your parents, and that they are able to deal with you
in a way to bring you to repentance.

In any event, I'll be happy to tell your dad or mom Matthew's and
Maranatha's ages when I am confident I can communicate with them without
your screening their mail.
----------------

Whew! Please pray for this young lady and her family. I've been unable
to connect with her parents.
--
God bless you.

Jonathan Lindvall Lindvall@...
Bold Christian Living http://www.BoldChristianLiving.com

PO Box 820 Voice 559-539-0500
Springville CA 93265 Fax 559-539-0804

...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it... Phil. 1:6





Fri Mar 26, 1999 7:14 am

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Jonathan Lindvall
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Mar 26, 1999
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