Where are America's Virgins? Discouraging the Virtuous

This article is from ebireflections.com

   Splashed on the cover of magazines commemorating 2011, there is the image of Kate Middleton, the spectacular bride of Prince William during their April nuptials. Kate, now Duchess of Cambridge, was wearing a beautiful, white dress, the quintessential symbol of the bride who waited for her man. Except that today’s typical bride has not waited, as we noticed during the Royal marriage. Kate and William were long-time cohabiters. Their pre-nuptual living arrangement is considered normal these days, but 30 years ago when William’s father, Prince Charles married Diana Spencer, his young wife’s virginity was widely touted. No doubt many parents used Diana’s example of purity as a teachable moment for their teenage daughters. Three decades later, virginity is under such withering attack, you would think it was child abuse. It is associated with words such as ‘frigid,’ ‘prideful,’ ‘judgmental’ and ‘holier-than-thou.’ “Virginity” was on the Washington Post Outlook section’s 2010 list of the year’s top 13 things to “throw out.” There are now books out with titles like “The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women” by Jessica Valenti. The nay-sayers seem unusually ferocious these days in their zeal against the ideal of virginity. I am surprised at how would-be defenders in the religious community are doing such a poor job of striking back. In January, Christianity Today’s women's blog, Hermeneutics, reviewed WeWaited.com, a singles site for virgins seeking other virgins. The writer suggested the idea was unrealistic, moralistic and “poses problems” in terms of exalting a potential partner’s virginity rather than his or her Christian commitment. Yet, now as in previous eras, virginity is a major test of one’s Christian commitment. Agree with the Bible or not, Scripture is clear that sex is to be abstained outside of marriage. It is the job of the church – likewise the mosque and temple and other traditions that at least on paper aspire to purity at the marriage altar – to hold the line. The church has surrendered its teachings on chastity, so it’s no wonder that even among the devout, the virginity percentages are dismal. The most recent studies conducted by National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in 2009 and a 2010 study of Southern Baptist young adults from Texas, both estimate the population of non-virgins in churches as about 80 percent. That is four out of five kids in the typical church-going youth group. Despite abstinence rings and pledges, the evangelical abstinence subculture is not sticking. Why? There is no support for it. Many parents’ sexual histories are not credible examples for their offspring. Pastors find virginity an impossible sell and never mention it. A few voices in the wilderness, such as syndicated columnist Mike McManus, have urged churches to openly support chastity among their singles. Mr. McManus and I have asked each other when is the last time either of us heard a sermon on sexual purity. Answer: Never. We tend to hear more on marrying early, meaning that if the highly sexed cannot stay off the cot, at least tie the knot. No one credits the abstinent with trying to follow some very unpopular precepts. Virginity may not say much about sexual compatibility, but it does say a lot about character. This past spring in Touchstone, a conservative Christian publication, Russell Moore, a Southern Baptist minister who is dean of Southern Seminary’s School of Theology in Louisville, penned “Like, A Virgin?” His essay criticized a chaste female who wanted her husband to be a virgin like she is. He hinted she was being unrealistic and judgmental for judging a potential mate on his sexual history rather than his Christian commitment. This hapless woman resisted the spirit of the age and yet, her Christian leader denigrated her values. So much for seeking out a pastor’s advice. And then there was that charming New York Times article last January: “Single, Female, Mormon, Alone,” about a 35-year-old who wrote that her virginity had brought about arrested development akin to children from Russian-speaking countries whose lack of physical contact had stunted their brains permanently. Church leaders (and imams too as some of the respondents were Muslim) should read all 107 comments to that article because it would open up a whole new window on how devout single people feel about the faith institutions that have so failed them in holding to this ideal. I call it the discouragement of the virtuous; the wearing down of the virgins in our midst who are told non-stop how old-fashioned and out-of-step they are. One of the few recent items dealing with this topic is Anglican convert Lauren Winner’s 2005 book Real Sex. Also, there is the Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On by Dawn Eden, a Roman Catholic, came out in 2007. Other than that, Protestant and Catholic publishers are not exactly racing to publish books on this. They probably think there is no one out there to read them.

-Julia Duin was an assistant national editor at the Washington Times for more than 14 years. Currently, she writes for the Economist and the Washington Post. She has written two books for single Christians.

Christians and Wine by Ken Symington

Christians are often divided over the issue of alcohol.

Total abstinence has been linked to Godliness, and those Christians who feel at liberty in Christ to enjoy wine are often made to feel 'ungodly'.

But what does God's word say about wine?

'Go eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do' Ecl. 9 7

‘..your kisses are like the best wine that goes down smoothly, gliding over lips and teeth' Song of S. 7 9

‘Thou doest cause the grass to grow for the cattle....and wine to gladden the heart of man..' Psalm 104 14

Most of Jesus' parables were about vineyards. He used wine and wineskins, and vines, and winepresses to illustrate spiritual points.
His first miracle was turning water into wine. Gallons and gallons of the best wine for a party.
John the Baptist did not drink wine (Luke 1:15 & 7:33) but Jesus did drink wine, and was even accused of being a drunkard. (Luke 7:34)
Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach.(1 Tim. 5:23.)

Jesus gave wine the highest honour of representing His precious blood during the last supper, and asks His followers to use wine in remembrance of His death until He comes. (Luke 22: 18-20)

In Deuteronomy 14 God tells the Israelites to bring their tithes in to the place of His choosing once a year to rejoice before Him. In His clear instructions He gives them the freedom of choice to spend the money on whatever they want in the way of food and drink. Not only is wine given Yahweh's clearance, but so is 'strong drink'!

“Go to the place which the Lord your God chooses, and spend the money for whatever you desire. Oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves, and you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice.”

Note that is was alright to drink or not to drink wine or strong drink. It was the individual's choice made before God.
Tony Campolo humorously suggests that we should get T-shirts made declaring 'My God is a party Deity'
(At this point every religious spirit within us will be rapidly rising to the surface!)
Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a wedding feast or celebration or a wedding party, and He was likening it to a Jewish wedding!. Our solemn piety might leave us feeling a little bit out of place at such a celebration before the Lord.
Wisdom is said to have mixed her wine in furnishing her table (Prov. 9:2). Wine might be drunk with milk (Song 5:1). Melchizedek brought wine and bread to Abraham when Abraham returned from battle (Gen. 14:18). Wine was offered by the old man of Gibeah to the traveling Levite (Judg. 19:19). Jesse sent David with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat as a present when Saul was fighting the Philistines (1 Sam. 16:20). Abigail brought David two skins of wine (1 Sam. 25:18). Strongholds were supplied with "wine" in case of siege (2 Chron. 11:11)
The tribes of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought wine to David (1 Chr.12-40) when David was made king. Ziba brought David wine as he fled from Abasalom (2 Sam. 16:1–2). Job’s children were drinking wine at their brother’s house when disaster struck (Job 1:13, 18). Wine was on the list of supplies that the Persians furnished the captive Jewish people when they returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 6:9; 7:22). "And whatever they need . . . wheat, salt, wine, and oil according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem . . ." (6:9).
Wine was also used as medicine. It was said to revive the faint (2 Sam. 16:2) and was suitable as a sedative for people in distress (Prov. 31:6). Mixed with a drug, it was used to ease suffering (Matt. 27:34; Mark 15:23). The Samaritan poured oil and wine on the wounds of the injured traveler (Luke 10:34).

So quite clearly, unmistakably, scripturally, wine is a good gift from God.

And if the devil can't counterfeit God's gift, he will encourage its abuse and so bring discredit upon it.
This applies to spiritual gifts as much as to wine.

Paul warns us of deceitful spirits who will.. ‘forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer, 1 Tim. 4 1-5

However like all of God's blessings, such as wine, and sexuality, we can, through the lusts of the flesh, and the prompting of our adversary, so easily allow the blessing to become a curse.

And so God's word is firm on such abuses.

‘And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery' Eph. 5 18

‘..not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or robber.' 1 Cor. 5 11

We can eat too much, or debase our God given sexuality and the Bible has many examples and warnings against such behaviour. Never do we contemplate forbidding Godly eating, or Godly lovemaking. Rather we preach wisely against gluttony and we preach forcefully against the wrongful use of our sexuality.
The same principle must be applied to wine. Exactly as God applies it.
As children of God we have inherited a hard won freedom in Christ. Not outside of Christ. There lies bondage, but IN Christ, lies our freedom. Paul tells us..

‘All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful - I will not be enslaved by anything' 1 Cor. 6 12

‘Deacons must be serious, not double tongued, not addicted to much wine..' 1 Tim. 3 8

Any good thing God gives us can be easily abused and turned into a curse.
Amongst the first things Noah did when he emerged safe and sound out of the ark was to plant a vineyard.

However, he abused the gift of wine, fell down on top of his bed, drunk and naked. One of his sons, Ham, saw him in this state and told his brothers, presumably having a laugh at his father's dishonourable state.

Noah awoke, presumably still under the influence of the wine, and instead of apologising for his foolishness , he placed a curse on Ham, the son who had not correctly honoured him, and out of this unfortunate son, came Canaan, and through Canaan came so much of the troubles that God's chosen people had to contend with in the promised land in years to come. Noah blessed the other sons Shem and Japeth, and out of Shem came Abraham, and the Jewish nation, the children God chose for Himself to reveal His glory through.

Wine resulted in a family split, and a family line at war with each other. A warring family line that is still outworking that original curse in the cauldron of the middle east at this very moment in time.

A family split eventually became nations split.

All over a righteous man's abuse of one of God's gifts to him.
For our doctrine to be God's doctrine it must be able to accommodate everything God has to say about it. We cannot hold on to the negative scriptures alone and build a man made doctrine which of necessity must then turn a blind eye to the positive scriptures.

Here in Northern Ireland we've often been so against alcohol in any shape or form that there are ministers who confidently teach that when Jesus turned the water into wine He turned it into non-alcoholic wine. Wine alright, but new wine as yet unfermented (and therefore non - alcoholic)
Two points make this teaching unscriptural.
First, wine was a long standing part of the nation's stable diet and Jesus stated as a fact that Jewish people knew that old wine was much better than new wine. Luke 5:39) The wedding guests immediately recognised this wine that He supplied for the party as being 'the best wine' which meant that it was recognised as aged, full bodied and well refined wine.
God's idea of the best wine is stated clearly for us in Isaiah 25:6

And in this mountain
The Lord of hosts will make for all people
A feast of choice pieces,
A feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow,
Of well-refined wines on the lees

Secondly, and more basically, 'wine' is fermented grape juice. The natural sugar ferments and turns to alcohol. Sometimes the juice was preserved in its unfermented state and drunk as 'must' but not as 'wine' If wine was to be kept for some time, a certain amount of 'lees' was added to give it body. The wine was consequently required to be "refined" or strained previous to being brought to the table.
Indeed, after reviewing Hebrew words used for wine, Smith's Bible dictionary comments.. "It has been disputed whether the Hebrew wine was fermented; but the impression produced on the mind by a general review of the above notices is that the Hebrew words indicating wine refer to fermented, intoxicating wine"
There are preachers who tell us that the wine in the last supper was non alcoholic. There is no scriptural or historical mandate for such a conclusion.

The wine used in the New Testament church was alcoholic wine, because Paul gave off to them about over eating over drinking and getting drunk at church.

‘When you meet together it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. What, do you not have houses to eat and drink in?”
Tony Campolo is Baptist, and Baptists use wine in communion where many other denominations use blackcurrant juice, or wine with the alcohol removed by modern technology. He is fond of saying "That's ok. You do it your way. We'll do it His way" Humorous but pointed!
When folks want to try and make scripture say something that is clearly does not then it produces all sorts of theories. There is talk that the Hebrews always watered the wine down with water. Picture the Lord's supper. Jesus holds the red wine that symbolises His precious Blood that will seal the New Covenant. Then one of the disciples tells Him to remember to water it down. Enough said.
People are free to not drink wine, to drink wine, or to water down their wine. Whatever, as long as everything is done as 'on to the Lord' When we do it as on to the Lord then we do it with a right heart and with wisdom, because we will not want to bring discredit to the Lord.
There is the theory that wine was only used to purify the water. Jesus drank wine, John the Baptist did not. The water did John no harm. No where in scripture does it say that God gave us wine to purify water. Scripture says that wine is to 'gladden the heart' (Psalm 104:14)
This is not to send people out to buy wine, it is simply to bring God's word in to play in place of traditions made of men. This is not to say that these traditions are bad traditions, but that is what they are, and must be declared so.

But God has powerful restrictions to place on the use of wine.

Aaron, set apart by God to minister to God's people was told that if he went into the sanctuary with drink he would be killed.

“Drink no wine nor strong drink, you nor your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.” Lev. 10 9

Coming to minister as God's servant with drink taken is as we see, a definite ‘no no' throughout all generations.

And for some people, God has specific personal demands regarding abstinence , and He will let these people know of His will on this matter.

Our bodies are God's temple that He chooses to dwell in. When we can enjoy all God's blessing without being captured and controlled by them, we will know that Godly liberty that God allows us under the Lordship of Christ.

But mature Christians are asked not to let their liberty become a stumbling block for less mature, or weaker Christians, and so we are to be wise in our freedom.

‘Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow becomes a stumbling block to the weak.' 1 Cor. 8 9

‘For you were called to freedom brethren, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh..' Eph. 5 13

We are free to enjoy God's blessing of wine, but not free to abuse the blessing, and not free to let the blessing be a stumbling block to a brother who has had, or may still be wrestling with a drink problem.

And if someone would be upset by our drinking we must respect their sensitivities and not wave our freedom under their noses. In many homes it is justifiably a sensitive issue. There has been a painful history of alcohol abuse.

Remove any stumbling blocks that would hinder anyone from coming to Christ, or drawing closer to Christ.

But also beware of the Pharisees. Jesus was labeled a drunkard and a glutton, presumably because He was to be seen in the close company of 'sinners' who were drunkards and gluttons. He was a friend of sinners. However the continual fruit of His non condemning friendship and the demonstration of His perfect liberty in the midst of their bondage bore testimony to His wisdom.
"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children." Matthew 11:19

And herein lies a similar problem for us.

Even the most mature of us in Christ need enormous wisdom in exercising our liberty in Christ otherwise we can give the appearance of evil. (1st Thessalonians 5:22)
In mixing with people who as yet do not know Jesus and do not attend church, we could stand with one or two glasses of wine or beer all night, while all around us people are drinking heavily.
The casual onlooker may not know that we are in Godly control, since every time they look we are holding a drink in our hand, and they cannot know that it is the same drink they saw half an hour ago, therefore in outward appearance we too could be wrongly accused of being drunkards and gluttons no different from those all around us.

If they accused Jesus of being a drunkard, then in similar circumstances we can expect the same slur on our Christian character.

Personally - and it is personal between the Lord and myself - I enjoy wine, or an occasional beer, when I'm in the company of people who know me, and know where I stand with the Lord. There I can enjoy my freedom in Christ.

But at general open gatherings where drink abuse is likely, I choose to mix freely but drinking orange simply to ensure that as an ambassador for Christ, no slur is thrown on me the following day, when the drunken antics of the evening are being recounted.

But it was not the public revelers that accused Jesus. They undoubtedly would have known He enjoyed the wine, not visa versa. He was only enjoying what He created after all, though they wouldn't have known that!

It was the religious people who pointed the finger and threw the slurs upon Him.
But He cared not about their religious arrogant piety.

He had peace about His actions with God His Father.

He was where He could do most good. In their midst.
Going to them, not waiting for them to come to Him.

But some distance away the religious pious were busy placing a great divide between themselves and those who most needed the good news about the Kingdom of God. They stood looking down their spiritual noses at the great physician amongst the spiritually sick.
A place we often carefully avoid for fear of undeserved rebuke from within the church. Or fear of temptation.

So there's a careful balance.
Freedom with wisdom, and humility before God.

If, under the Lordship of Christ, loving God and your fellow man, you choose to drink wine, God will honour your decision. You will have that 'peace'.

If, similarly, you choose not to drink wine for personal reasons, God will honour your decision. You will have that 'peace'.

If, similarly, you choose not to enjoy a little wine, as a sacrifice to God, or to make sure you never would fall foul of temptation, or put a stumbling block in anyone's pathway to God, or offend anyone's sensitivities, He will honour that decision too. You will have that 'peace'.

If, however, under a spirit of religion, you choose to abstain from wine as an outward show of personal piety, or to score spiritual one up-manship points, and look down your long spiritual nose at those who do not abstain, but respect God's gift, then you're in good company. The Pharisees.
The earth is the Lords, and everything in it, and all things were made for His glory. Everything God made He declared as 'good'. It is the abuse of the good gift that makes the event bad. When we let the abuse cause us to declare the actual gift as bad then we make a serious statement. Sexual intercourse is a powerful gift from God, but carries God's parameters. If you are reading this then you are the result of sexual intercourse. It is the abuse (i.e. the ungodly use) of this powerful gift that brings untold misery to millions of individuals and families every year. Such misery from the abuse can so easily lead people to believe that God does not approve of sexual intercourse itself. Go forth and multiply means go forth and have sexual intercourse. We must learn to separate the abuse from the gift and not let Satan's religious spirits cause us to state or even imply that God's gifts are in themselves 'bad'.

We'll let Jesus have the final words on the fruit of the vine. At the last supper He told His disciples
that from now on, - meaning of course that He had enjoyed sharing the fruit of the vine with them previously, right up until this awesome moment in history, when He designated wine as the sacramental symbol of the precious Blood that He would soon be shedding to cut the New Covenant between God and man.
“From now on, I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22 18)

or as Mark records His words.. “Truly I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 14 25)
Jesus was going back to the Father as their mediator, as our mediator. To intercede for us, to pray for us, to mediate like a barrister on our behalf until that day of the great party - The wedding feast of the Lamb.

The bridegroom will have His spotless wife. Like Jacob finally getting Rachael, the bride he wanted, and worked for, Jesus will be inviting us to the wedding feast where the banner over us will be love, and then and only then, will He be free to drink the wine again with all His disciples.

Revelation 19 verse 9..'And the angel said to me, “Write this - Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

That table is being prepared for us right now, in the presence of our enemies - those terrible powers of darkness in heavenly places who continue to bring such pain to God's creation.

The fruit of the vine is God's gift to us to gladden our hearts, and as with all good gifts from above, it is to be used with wisdom in order that it should be a blessing in our lives and not a gift that has been hijacked by the devil and transformed by his evil touch into a curse.

And the fruit of the vine is divinely symbolic when blessed and set apart to remind us of what Jesus did for us on Calvary, nearly 2,000 years ago, and to remind us that one day we will be sharing the fruit of the vine anew with Him at the marriage feast.

We have all been invited.

When we witness for Him, we are merely handing out His invitations to drink wine new with Him in heaven

Recipe: Zuchini fries (really good!)

                

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 (9 inch) zucchini, peeled
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil lightly greased with cooking spray.
2. Cut the peeled zucchini in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Slice the zucchini ito 1/2 x 1/2 x 4 inch pieces.
3. Combine the bread crumbs, cheese, and seasoned salt in a pie plate. Dip the zucchini fries into the melted margarine, then press into bread crumbs. Gently toss between your hands so any bread crumbs that haven't stuck can fall away. Place the breaded zucchini onto the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake the zucchini in the preheated oven until the fries are golden and tender, about 15 minutes.

  

                          

Sophia Magdalena Scholl:Facing evil with courage

This is a report I had to do for School, and I thought I would post it. Sophie Scholl was an amazing person! I cried a little as I wrote this.  I was  really inspired and it  blessed my heart as I learned and wrote  about her. I hope you are are encouraged and blessed as you read too.

  Would you have the courage to stand up against evil when everyone else was afraid to?
Sophia Scholl did.
Born May 9, 1921, she was the fourth child of five.
In school, she studied art, reading and music. While she studied, Hitler was rising to power, to take over her country.
Sophie seemed to have little interest in polotics, but when she was twelve, she joined the League of German Girls. As she attended the meetings, she relized, the organization went against her Christian beliefs. The League was about the "Fuherer". God was de-emphisized, and Hitler was idolized (Collins 183) She also saw that Hitler was slowly doing away with her country and her Christian Faith.
  Sophie's older brother, Hans, joined the German Youth movement, a group that Hitler didn't like, and that he saw as a rival to his Hitler Youth. (Collins 183) Hans and some of his friends were arrested for voicing their views at the meetings, that went against those of the governments. Her brother was not held for long, but they were questioned and then told to pledge to live and die for Hitler. The boys were then released, but Sophie did not release what had just happened, it stayed in her heart and mind and made her think. She began to look around her, and as she read newspapers, listened to the radio, she realized her freedoms were being taken away.
Books she had once read were burned, her father was told not to speak in public meetings; free speech was only for those who agreed with the government.
The man who owned Sophie's familys property, was Jewish. Because of what the Nazis said, he was forced to give up his property and was quietly removed from the city.
 Hitler was praised everywhere. In the newspaper, the streets and even in pulpits. In some churches, Hitlers name was spoken more than God's. Sophie realized Hitler was replacing God with himself.
  Sophie was required to do war service for a short time, and during her war service, she heard horrible stories of war, stories ignored by most people in her country.
She learned of ones who were mentally retarted being taken from their families. Their families were told that the government was removing them and taking them to a better school where they would learn to live happy productive lives. That was a lie. the people who thought they were going to a better life, were headed to death by the gas chamber. The same happened to the insane and elderly.
  Sophie's boyfriend, Fritz, who was in the service, told her of all the horrors of war and how the people were treated. In one town they had taken over, the Jews and ethnic people were told to dig pits. When they were done, they were tossed into the pits like trash and shot.
Fritz also confirmed the rumors of death camps were true too. (Collins 186)
All of this information built up in Sophies mind and heart. her heart ached for the people who were being treated wrongly, and she became angry at what was going on. She was also maddened that the behavior was justified. She saw what Hitler was doing as sinful, and wondered where the men of God were who should be standing up to the evil? Why weren't people seeing it? Why wouldn't they speak out?
  She beagn to pray asking God for a way she could help end the maddness, or at leats get people to think and begin standing up. She read her Bible and tried to rationalize her hatred of Hitler with Biblical love and forgivness. (Collins 186) Sophie realized she couldn't do much alone, and she began to share her beliefs with her brother Hans as she prepared to go to the University of Munich that Fall.
Hans was attending the University too,and he came up with a plan to put together a non-violent resistence movement. He believed that if they could get the word out about Hitlers evils, and beg them to see the wrong that was being done, people would band together and take a stand.
Hans thought they  could print a phamphlet to accomplish it. He shared his idea with some of his college friends and Sophie who had been praying for a way she could fight for change and reason, liked the idea.
   In secret, with young vigor, they got together and pickeed out a name for their group and paper. They decided on the name: The White Rose after a spanish novel Hans had read about the struggle of the lower class against the ruling class. The rose also symbolized purity and beauty, and to Sophie it represented Jesus. (Wiki)
   In June 1942, they published and distributed their first paper that begged their nations people to see the satanic ways of their nations leaders, Hitler and the Third Reich. They encouraged Christians esspecially, to stand up together in large numbers so their voices would not be silenced. The White Rose also used the Bible to outline the evils done by hitler. (Collins 188)
  Copies of the paper appeared all across Germany. Papers were sent through corior through different places so as to detract attention from one place. They also discreetly dropped them in high traffic areas.
The reader was encouraged to 'support the resistance movement!" in the struggle for freedom of speech, religion and the protection of the indivdual citizen from the arbituary action of criminal dictator states." (H.E.A.R.T.)
  The group also painted on the sides of Nazi buildings. They wrote things like:"Down with Hitler!" and "Freedom!" When they wrote, they wrote with tar so their work was hard to remove.
The White Rose was amazingly kept from being found for 8 months even though the gestapo was deperetly searching trying to find the ones speaking the truth. During the eight months, they were able to print 6 papers. (Wiki)
  On Febuary 18, before school, Hans and Sophieworked quietly and quickly to drop stacks of papers around their school. Throwing the last few from a balcony,Sophie was seen by the janitor and he reported them. (H.E.A.R.T.)
  Brother and sister were seperated for questioning. Sophie was questioned by a man named Robert Mohr. He found her to be "wise beyond her years" (Collins 189).
When she said she stood for decency, morality and God, he yelled at her:"God does not exist!" He told her it was her duty to support the government at all times.
She told the investigator that a patriot speaks for good not evil, and Hitler was evil. She also told him she believed what she had done was good for her countryand that she would do it again and exept the consequences.
The exasperated man sighed and said: "Do you know what will happen to you? You will be found guilty of treason and executed!"
Sophie nodded that she understood and asked: "Will I be hanged or beheaded?" (Collins 189)
The investigator washed his hands of it and gave her a confession to sign her name and date.
She was taken to a cell where she told her guards and Russian cell mate that she belived God was with her.
  The show trial that was put on for Sophie, her brother and some of their other friends who had been discovered was on Febuary 22. The lawers they had, worked for the state and did little to defend them. Sophie remained calm when the judge yelled at her:"Look at what the state has done for you!" "Look at what the Fuherer has done for you!"
When asked why she participated in the White Rose, she proclaimed in a strong voice: "Somebody after all had to make a start. What we wrote and said is believed by many others, they just don't dare express themselves as we did. The German people want God, not Hitler." (Collins 189, H.E.A.R.T.)
They were found guilty of high treason, and over the noise of everyone who agreed with their execution, Sophie said:"You will be standing where we are standing now!"
  Taken back to her cell where she was supposed to live the customary 99 days before execution, she found out she only had three hours.
  Later, she was taken to aroom where her parents came to see her for the last time. Her father told her he was proud of her. "You will never come through our door again." cried her mother.
"But we will meet in eternity." Sophie reminded her.
After they embraced, her mother reminded her to look to Jesus, and as the gaurds came to take her away, she called back to her mother to do the same.
Back in her cell, she wrote leters to her family and friends, and prayed with a minister. She prayed others would seek God, and she asked God to bless those around her including the gaurds. (Collins 191)
She believed her trial and execution would cause others to see the evil of the Nazis, and she believed God had allowed it to happen for a reason, and she was going to use it.
”How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause,” Sophie said. ”Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go,” she continued, ”but what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?” (I.R.W.F.)
Her gaurd remembers her looking up at the window while she was writing her letter and seeing the sun shining outside. God was with her even in the shadow of death.
She was calm and at peace as she went to be executed, and as she took her final steps she said:"The sun tis still shining." The gaurds and executioners knew that it was her statement of faith, and that God was with her.
  One copy of the last paper that the White Rose printed was smuggled to England and reprinted by the Americans and British and dropped on German territory by palne.
  Sophia Magdalena Scholl dared to take a stand against the evil surrounding her, and speak the truth. She loved God, and her country so much, she died for it.
God's love and peace shone through her even as she went to her death.
Because of her and her friends, many people came to see the truth. Her life made an impact on many people, including those who killed her.

Bibliography:

Collins, Ace Women of Extrodinary Faith.Michigan, Zondervan press, 2008

Wikipedia, online encyclopedia. Sophie Scholl 2011

The International Raoul  Wallenburg Foundation website http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/holocaust/articles-20/sophie-scholl-white-rose/

Holocust Education and Archive Reasearch Team.http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/revolt/scholl.html

Happiness: French cookies

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Aren't these cookies so beautiful?  I found this website called .macroncafe.com that sells these cute little french cookies.  They  sell them in all kinds of flavors from their shop in Manhattan, and you can buy some from their website. I'd like to buy some, but I guess I"m cheap. They seemed pricey to me, but maybe someday I'll splurge and buy a small box. I'd love to try them!  Here are some of their macron cookies they sell:
                           ~Chocolate coconut

~Cassi (? don't know what it is but it looks good, and the color is beautiful!)

Honey Lavender

Peanut Butter

                                                                 Raspberry

                                      Rose

                             Violette fleur

Pistachio

                  Bonne journee! (french for have a nice day!:)

God cares for me and you

On my trip this summer, it being the first time I have flown, It was an amazing thing to me to see the clouds, and to see the land below us.   Everything looks so small and tiny from 6,000 or more feet off the ground!
As we were coming to a landing, I could see cars driving, and people, but they looked like my brothers car toys, like you could reach out and play with them they were so small.
  To think that God cares about us, these tiny little dust made sinful creatures on earth. To think that He sees us too! I couldn't see anyone from the sky!  I just think its so amazing and wonderful that God cares about us and loves us. We're nothing but  if we accept Him, He can make us something if we allow Him to.  Let God love you and make you into somthing:  what He wants you to be.

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17

"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds".Psalm 36:5

"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." Nahum 1:3

                                  
"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Mark 13:26

a summer treat

I make this ice cream recipe often. We really like it!    If you don't have an ice cream maker, and decide to put it in the freezer, make sure you stir it! If you don't you don't have ice cream, you have ice ice!  I stir it more often than it says: 15-20 min. I try to set the timer so that I don't forget.

Ingredients:


4 egg whites


2/3 cup sour cream


1/2 cup white sugar


vanilla


Directions


1.In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add white sugar and vanilla, continuing to beat until soft peaks form. Carefully fold in sour cream until well blended. Fold in any additional flavorings or goodies at this time.


2.Place the mixture into the freezer and stir every 30 minutes or so until frozen. This can be made without stirring, but the texture will be icy rather than creamy. If you have an ice cream maker, you can put the ice cream mixture in the maker, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Serves 4

VA

The Lord has really blesed me!I have had such a good time here in Virginia with my aunt and uncle.
We have been many places including Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Poplar Forest, Patrick Henry's home: Red Hill, and we've toured Liberty University.( just to name a few things we've done!)
I've also been refreshed  here too, as I've gone to my Aunt and Uncle's  church and have spent time with them. They are wonderful people, and I've learned alot from them!
 We'll be starting home this Saturday, and should be home Sunday night or Monday morning. I'm  so thankful for this fun,growing and learning experience God's allowed me to have! He's worked everything out so well!

Sorry it's been so long

Sorry it has been so long since I have last written. Life has been rough, and busy. Now that it has finally calmed down a bit, I will take some time to write.  I haven't really been inspired with anything to write, but I hope I will be able to soon. I have been struggling with alot inside lately, and just don't feel like writing much.
     I am really excited though, because my brother and I will be taking a trip to VA to see familydown there! We will be leaving on June 5. please pray that things will go well, and that we will have safety as we fly down.  We have never flown before, and there will be a small layover on the way, so please pray for us since it is our first time, and we don't really know what we're doing! :) 
   I don't really know what to do about my blog's sidebar. It still is messed up. Sorry about it. If you have a prayer request you'll have to leave a comment.
 I hope you all have a good day today! Enjoy the springtime God has given!

"Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all  ye that are upright in heart."

.Psalm 32:11