The Morning Cruise w/ Suz

Kimberly Daniels’ column, “Draw the Line,” which ran in the November issue of Charisma, appears below.

Draw the Line!
White Christians can’t say this—and black preachers won’t touch the issue. But it’s time black Christians faced the reality about Barack Obama’s dangerous moral values.

As a child in the 1960s I rode in the back of the bus. I was at the front of the riot lines in the 1970s, when I hit white boys on the head with bricks and dragged white girls down sidewalks near my school. I also experienced serious racism when I was an athlete in college.

I have been called the "N" word many times. I was taught to hate white people, and some of my relatives still call white people names such as "honky" and "cracker." But after I found Jesus, I was delivered from racism. I am free indeed!

The residue of my abuse has dried up at the root, and I am no longer a victim of what I call "ricochet racism." This occurs when the abused becomes the abuser.

Ricochet racism is a boomerang that grips the victim with pride and makes him think he has a right to hate. When I was saved, God taught me that I did not have a right to hate white people. Jesus nailed all my excuses to the cross, and I moved on.

Now that I am a born-again Christian, I do not consider my race to be my primary identity. I am a Christian first—before I am an African-American, a Democrat or a Republican. That's why I am troubled that so many African-American Christians are voting for Barack Obama simply because he is black.

If someone won't vote for a person because of race, we call this racism. But it is also racism when someone votes for a person because of his race!

Believe me, I would love to see a black brother in the White House—but not someone like Obama, who has embraced humanistic doctrines. Many white preachers are afraid to say this, and many black preachers won't touch it with a 10-foot pole.

I love Obama and pray for him and his family. But as Elijah troubled Ahab in Israel, I will challenge his views because they are dangerous to our religious liberties. It's time to draw the line.

Black Christians today need to put their faith first when they step into the voting booth. Does Obama represent godly values?

We know, for example, that he is an inclusionist. For 20 years he attended a church in Chicago that preaches that (1) Jesus is not the only way to God; (2) there is no hell; and (3) God will allow homosexuals to go to heaven even if they remain in their sinful state. Obama also has defended the killing of unborn babies, even in the third trimester.

He claims to be a Christian, but in his book The Audacity of Hope he calls the first chapter of Romans an "obscure" passage of Scripture. God's admonition about the sin of homosexuality is hardly obscure. It is very clear!

Jesus is the only way to God, and God will surely send homosexuals to hell if they do not turn from their ways and accept Christ—just as He will do for all other sinners who do not trust Jesus.

Regardless of political opinions, the Bible makes it clear: Those who support the homosexual agenda and the murder of unborn babies will be judged (see Rom. 1:32). These were the main issues in the days of ancient Israel, and they are critical issues today.

The pro-abortion movement is tied to the worship of two idols, Chemosh and Molech, the gods of child sacrifice. The movement toward gay marriage is rooted in the spirit of gameo, a Greek word that refers to same-sex marriage (see Matt. 24:38).

How can we vote for politicians who favor these ungodly movements? The Bible says we must separate ourselves from sin and wickedness. God is looking for faithful Christians who will not bow to the gods of this world.

I know what I am saying is not popular, and some people will denounce me for it. But I believe it is time to draw a line.

Believers can no longer make excuses by pulling their race cards, leaning on their lukewarm denominational rules or hiding under the covering of a political party. If we want America to recover, we must repent. We must choose the right side.

We must stand strong for what we believe and hold our ground. We must declare, as Joshua did, "Whoever is on God's side ... stand with me!"

Kimberly Daniels is the founder of Spoken Word Ministries in Jacksonville, Fla., and author of several books including her new release, Inside Out. Her website is www.kimberlydaniels.com.

The Best Way To Help Your Child's Faith Stay Strong
By Marlene LeFever

Q. Our daughter is in second grade and she's already starting to notice that other children see movies she's not allowed to see, talk about sex in ways she's been taught are wrong, and use language she knows is inappropriate. How can we help her hold on to her Christian values when many of her peers live so differently?

A. All Christian parents wish they could protect their children from the dangers of our secular culture, but the truth is you can't. So rather than simply pulling children away from the world, I encourage parents to create a "parallel culture" where their children can discover a different way of living in a world that doesn't always honor their beliefs. In doing so, we can help them become agents of redemption who bring their best into a world that desperately needs Jesus. Here are some ways to start:

Create a safe place for questions.
Give your child the freedom to talk about her concerns. Do your best to help her understand why your family chooses to live the way you do. Ask her what she thinks about the language she hears or the topics others are talking about. Use these family conversations to help your daughter begin to develop her own filter for what's appropriate and what isn't.

Make church a family habit.
Expand on what your children experience while they're at church with questions, prayers, and real-life applications. Commit to your Christian community and involve yourselves in the lives of others you meet there.

Provide alternatives.
If your child is feeling left out because her peers are watching movies she's not allowed to see, help her discover the positive movies out there (go to dove.org for suggestions). Encourage her to invite friends over for family movie night. As she gets older and music becomes more of a concern, steer her the huge variety of Christian alternatives. Or skip media altogether and spend an evening telling stories. Talk about how Grandpa became a Christian, read about one of the heroes of our faith, or tell each other about times when you've felt God at work in your life. One study found that the average child spends just 12 minutes a day in intimate conversation with parents, so just hang out and talk.

Build new traditions.
When my friend Amy was young, her father bought her an expensive pen that would be hers when she grew up. Every Christmas and Thanksgiving he would use the pen to write her a letter telling her why she was special and to share his dreams for her. Now Amy has the pen and is doing the same for her son. This kind of tradition helps a child feel connected to something bigger than the world of peers and popularity.

Model good stewardship.
Show your kids how to share what they have—time, talent, money—with others. One man I know, Caleb, says he's never forgotten the year he and his family saved enough money to buy a mule for their missionary friend, Ed. Brainstorm ways your family can give of your resources and help your children see that this is part of bringing God's kingdom to life here on earth.

Connect with other families.
Building relationships with other Christians can help your children understand that there are plenty of other people who do share the values they've been raised with. Get together with these friends often to talk about the ways God is working in your lives and to encourage each other as you seek to impact the world for Christ.

Marlene LeFever is the Director of Church Relations at Cook Communication Ministries.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today magazine.
Fall 2003, Vol. 16, No. 1, Page 23

Words of Life
by Randy Robison

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

There’s a lot of talk about the economy these days. The stock market is taking a beating, homes are being foreclosed and the dollar is losing value. The news is full of doom and gloom, so people are worried. Accusations of thievery and mismanagement abound. But when the blame is set aside and the financial intricacies are stripped away, what is the core issue?

Mark Punzo, a friend of the ministry who works at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, recently asked me, “What is something worth?”

It didn’t take me long to reply, “Whatever somebody will pay for it.”

“So what are you worth?” he asked. I admit my first thought went to life insurance actuary tables. My salary times x number of years before I retire…

But I knew that wasn’t what he was driving at, so I guessed, “Whatever someone will pay me?”

“Whatever someone will pay for you,” he corrected. Then he asked a question that really bent my mind. “What did God pay for you?”

Now I got it. God paid for me with His only Son’s blood. It certainly wasn’t the first time I’d heard that principle, but it was the first time I had heard it put that way. It struck me hard. Is that really the value God places on me? Am I worth the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Why don’t I act like it?

“When God spoke that to me,” Mark continued, “He then said, ‘Look at all the people around you. That’s what they are worth to Me, too.’”

What incredible value! You, your loved ones, your acquaintances and even the people you don’t know are by far the most valuable things ever created, worth more than any company’s stock, assets or investments.

So why is it that we seem to be more concerned about our retirement plans than our relatives? Why do we react to an economic crisis with more urgency than a spiritual crisis? Do we really see the value in ourselves and in other people that God sees?

I confess that I take people for granted. If I spotted a $20 bill in the gutter, I’d stop to pick it up. But I have passed right by a person lying in the gutter without any second thoughts. I think perhaps my sense of value is askew. As a “responsible” husband and father, I spend time laying up treasure on earth for medical bills, college and (hopefully, some day) retirement. But those things will all pass away. My daughter’s car will eventually break down and rust, but her spirit is eternal. My son’s braces will give him a nice smile for a while, but what kind of man will he be when his teeth are falling out and his looks don’t matter any more?

I have decided to not worry about the economy. Good or bad, God is in control. I can only have one response if I want to hold on to anything of value: invest in the things in which God has invested.

You are worth what God paid for you. So is your spouse, your child and your neighbor. If you want to be rich, don’t look to your bank account. It will fail you. Look to the people in your life and invest in them. Then you will be truly prosperous, no matter what the economy does. And unlike the wealth of this world, you can take it with you forever.

This week, don’t worry about the economy; just make good investments. Deposit your time and love into someone’s life.

Prayer
“Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporal things of this earth. Help me to see the value in people that You see and lay up treasure in heaven by investing in them."

6 strategies for strengthening your influence on your kids
By Susan Alexander Yates

My daughter's pulling away from me. She's so into her friends, what they think is more important than what I say."

Is that lament familiar to you? If your kids are entering the preteen or teen years, I'm sure you can relate. Suddenly friends dictate what's in, what's out, who's popular, who's not. It's the power of peer pressure. So how can you keep influencing your kids when peer pressure kicks in?

1. Maintain an Open Home

I had five kids in seven years entering the teen years, so I realized I needed to make our home a hangout for their friends. Why? Because while I can't control what goes on in someone else's home, I can control what goes on in mine. That's why one of the most important purchases I made was a $10 Ping-Pong table at a garage sale. It was ugly—but it worked! The kids flocked to it.

Making your home the hangout means being willing to put your own social life on hold. And while you're at it, postpone redecorating plans, too. Your couch may be gross, your carpet may need replacing, but it's better to have a friendly atmosphere instead of one that communicates, Don't disturb anything in this house.

Institute an "open door/lights on" policy. A dark basement family room's an invitation to sexual temptation. Set curfews. Simply say to the kids ahead of time, "The house closes tonight at midnight" (or whatever time you and your teen choose).

2. Get to Know Their Friends

Another advantage to making your home the hangout is that you've got a natural way to get to know your kid's friends. But how do you get started making conversation? Think in two categories: schedules and relationships. Everyone has them! So ask your son's friend Joe, "What's your toughest class this year?" or, "What kind of job did you have this summer?" Ask questions that call for more than a one-word answer.

3. Spend Time on Their Turf

When our son John was a high-school junior, I went on his student government leadership retreat as a parent chaperone, and stayed in a hotel room with some of the teachers. Our walls were thin, so we could hear everything in the student girls' room next to us: obscene language, gossip about who was sexually involved with whom, which teachers "sucked." It was simultaneously embarrassing, horrifying, and enlightening. That experience opened a window into my son's world!

Volunteer at your child's school. Drive carpools to sporting events and performances. The car is a tremendous research lab. You'll hear things you might not hear at home! When you spend time in your children's world, you'll be better able to understand their pressures.

4. Call Their Bluff

My friend Sally got tired of her daughter constantly saying, "Everyone else gets to.…" Sally decided to find out if that was true. So she invited several parents to a local restaurant for some pie and coffee so they could talk about their kids.

Although the other parents didn't always share Sally's Christian values on how to handle a particular parenting issue, they established a relationship in which it was easier to call each other and ask, "What do you know about the kids' plans for Saturday?"

5. Encourage Adult Friendships

Our friend Doug always has taken an interest in our son Chris. Doug's adept at interacting with teens, and Chris often called Doug for advice during his teen years. Typically Chris followed Doug's recommendations—the same advice he wouldn't have accepted from us.

As your kids hit the preteen and teen years, they're more likely to listen to someone other than you. It's vital you encourage your kids to spend time with other adults who love Christ. You cannot parent alone.

6. Teach Your Kids to Be a Good Friend

Cliquish peers can be a source of intense pain. That's why it's important to teach your children how to be a good friend. Emphasize every person is created in God's image, and there's simply no place for snobbery. Ask your children to list what they think it means to be a good friend. Our list included items such as not talking behind another's back or not being possessive with friends.

My husband, John, and I interviewed several teens to see what advice they'd give parents with kids approaching the teen years. They told us: "Stop talking about the teen years as being awful. We get a negative reputation before we earn it."

So stay positive and remember you still can influence your kids despite peer pressure. Never give up!

Susan Alexander Yates is the author of numerous books, including And Then I Had Teenagers (Baker Book House).