Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Not only was this a title of a hit 90's tv show, it is also a question I ask myself a lot. For about a year now I have slept every night with a set of blue Christmas lights plugged in. I am afraid of the dark, I don't like it, it's unsettling and makes me quite paranoid. Even when the power went out last week I was so frightened I stayed in my friend's room just to have a bit more of a sense of calm. Since I was a child I had this fear, but as I grew older (and realized that really was just a sweater in my closet) I was no longer afraid. So, what brought about the sudden return of my fear? Spiritual Warfare, now I know several Christians who don't believe in spiritual warfare, I can full-heartedly say I do. I have experienced it a few times in my dreams, each time when I am at my strongest and doing work for God's kingdom. This warfare comes to me in the form of nightmares, each sharing the common element of pitchblackness. Now, you're probably thinking "if you can't see anything what makes the dream so scary?" There are many more elements to the dreams, ones however that I won't post about. These dreams however have left their mark on my poor psychy. At times I'm terrified, that however is when I turn to prayer and the Lord for guidance. Now it's true, these dreams scare me, but when I wake up from one, once I calm down I can't help but smile. I know exactly why I had that dream, I am doing something the devil doesn't want me to do. I am furthering God's Kingdom. I am making a difference and saving souls from Hell. I may be terrified, but I won't stop. If I have to have the Christmas lights on for the rest of my life, it is worth it. I am a woman of God, His will comes long before my fear. 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:10 NASB)

Stages of Faith

Spiritual growth is never easy, many different effects come into play when you are trying to spread the Gospel. In Fowler's book Stages of Faith we are shown both the psychological stages of growth as well as the spiritual stages of growth. Becoming a children's pastor I need to know how well the children in my ministry will be receptive to my message. I know it is easiest to reach a child when they are young, the question however is just how easy is it? In Part II Fowler initiates a "pretend conversation" between Lawrence Kohlberg, Erik Erikson, and Jean Piaget. Three brilliant minds all coming together to discuss the psychological growth mankind has. In the "conversation" Piaget states that, "In terms of cognitive development the era e now examine really should be thought of as a long transition, initiated by the joining of language and thought, toward the emergence of the first logical operations around the age of six or seven." This sounds like the perfect time to begin reaching a child with the message of the Bible. Now beginning to comprehend things and accept knowledge we can begin to express some of the many great things God has done for us. Though Piaget later mentions that the child is limited to their own perspectives and feelings on things, so our teaching needs to be done in a way that they can formulate the right idea about Scripture. It's so easy to be misinterpreted, especially by a child, our words need to be clear and concise, but creative enough to engage them. I understand how hard it is nowadays to keep a child's attention and get the information out. At times it seems impossible, but we need to adapt for them and their sake, not our own. Stage two is a very important stage for a child, "...we may say that those in stage two are more clearly aware of and therefore more effectively able to pursue their own interests and desires." Right here it seems is where we can either begin to lose a child or cause them to continuously turn to church. If a child loves God they will continually ask their parents to return to church, if church has proven to bore or confuse a child they will beg not to go. This is the time their faith in Christ could be solidified. Youth are a lot harder to reach because beliefs have already possibly been established. Hope however is not lost, fidelity can be reached Erikson states, "Where social conditions and favorable personal relationships support young persons in building a firm enough sense of identity to feel ready to commit themselves..." I myself have invested into a friend's life and managed to show them the truth that is God's love. This friend was a young adult, well passed the age of 13, yet they still made. Decision to have Jesus Christ as their Savior, partially because I invested myself into her life. Much like with the psychological growth, spiritual growth also has different stages. Fowler states, "For Stage 2 meanings are conserved and expressed in stories." thus this is the best way for us to deliver our message. Many people think skits or stories can be too "gimmicky", but if it helps a child remember say the story of Moses then tell the stories, as long as it's memorable for the child. Children remember the words we tell them, something that hit hard was part of the interview with Millie. Her literalism of what God was like was clearly Stage 2. She expresses clearly who God is, what He does, and where He lives. She even goes so far as to explain the devil. Now Millie is ten years old, and her interview shows the knowledge of God she has, how she refers to God, as a friend, and even the role of how He is like a parent to us. Her perspective and stages of growth are what are shaping her beliefs. As a pastor I will play a role in this shaping in another child. Many of my choices will effect the salvation of a child. However now, I feel far more prepared to make the right decisions. Part of the battle is to alter your tools for the level the child is at. Thanks to Fowler (and partially to Kohlberg, Erikson, and Piaget) I feel more ready for my ministry and the future children we will help.

Sunday to Monday

I live a pretty normal life, I'm a college student, I'm unemployed, I have plenty of friends and I love Jesus. The beginning of this week has been an amazing two days. From singing in two different churches to sitting in Starbucks playing Warhammer 40k. Sunday was purely amazing, I witnessed so many people being reached, even better was the second church. Not only was the food amazing, but the time of worship, my eyes were drawn to children all through the audience, they were so involved in worshiping and praising God that it brought tears to my eyes. My heart was touched and I was so happy to be a part of the choir.

Monday morning I arrived back on campus at 1:30 in the morning and was awake at 7:30 to walk down to Starbucks. Now Warhammer 40k is a tabletop roleplaying game much like the game Dungeons and Dragons. Now I know what you're thinking, "That game is of the devil!" Well I have to say it is no more of the devil then Harry Potter, or Disney, or anything else with magic. Parents are quicker to accept that their children will dress up like a wizard then play a roleplaying game. My mother put it brilliantly when she told me it reminded her of when I used to play pretend. It's a lot like when we used our imagination as a child. I don't feel anything from God telling me that what I am doing is bad. It doesn't upset me spiritually at all (which things do sometimes such as voodoo, or things to do with the occult). This is not to say that the stereotype of Dungeons and Dragons is always wrong, if one cannot differentiate between fantasy and reality then it could prove to be a huge mental issue. Such is why the game is seen in such a negative light.

I however can see this difference and don't face any mental issues, instead I can praise my God with hundreds of other people and spend the next day playing a fun game with my friends.

More Than A School Assignment

This blog...it was meant to be an easy assignment, it was meant to be something I did once a week just to get a good grade in a class. I feel however it will become so much more than that. Today in class we were asked about our Bible readings, I stated I was working through Psalm. Truth is I have yet to have my time in the Word today. I was probably going to forget about it. Even now my mind is going a mile a minute because of something that has been shared with me. I don't have all the answers, I don't have everything perfect in my life, I don't always know what to do. That, is how I feel right now. So what do I do? What any other college student does, I hop onto Facebook hoping to have some sort of distraction. A funny Youtube video here and there, perhaps a fun game I haven't played a while. Then it smacks me in the face. A friend of mine made a group, one similarly named to my blog called "The Path Less Traveled". I forget when I joined it, but right now I am thrilled that I did. My friend posted one a passage of scripture, one which, in a way makes me feel better.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 

My God is crying out, be it through another daughter of His, He is crying out. I feel a bit more at ease because I am heeding the call of my God. I may be burdened, but I can drop that all at His feet and He will help me through it.


This was supposed to be a school assignment, but I see it becoming so much more.

Reflecting

Well, this is a start of something new, I've never blogged before and it has never crossed my mind to do so. Today however has been by far an interesting day. I made it through nearly all my classes it seemed without having to give my testimony (odd for me, since all of my classes are ministry related and before it was a common practice). Then came my final class, Communicating with Children, and I was asked, so I gave it. My testimony is not a big deal, there's never been a time I didn't know Jesus that I can remember, but there was plenty a time when I was told to abandon my belief in Him. I was home-schooled most of my life, and barely attended public school, the last 2 and 1/2 years of high school was part of that time. Being a new kid there I was mostly shunned, when others found out I was a Christian, that's when the trouble started. "Jesus is just an adult's imaginary friend" "He's never done anything for my life" "What do you mean you want to wait for marriage to have sex?" My beliefs and values were forcefully and rapidly attacked, my "religion" as others put it, was simply something I was hiding behind. They were determined to take the "good little Christian girl" and turn her into one of them.

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;         5   Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,         10   And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.         15   I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.         20

This poem, describes my story in a culture where God is no longer valued, where it's ok to do what
I now deem morally wrong. I myself took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference. I am now thankfully in a place where I have support for my faith, no one attempting to corrupt me. Instead others are helping me down my path, and for that, I am thankful. Sometimes it's painful for my to reflect back on those days, but today, I see the strength I had, and I came out so much stronger.