Couldn't Help Noticing

The parents strike back

It seems that the age of parents as all-validating, non-authoritarian, all-listening, teach-don't-punish nice guys is coming to an end. A recent spate of books reviewed in March's Atlantic Monthly indicates a shift in the breeze—away from the “romantic, feelings-centred, nurture-over-nature era of child-rearing” to one which has a more realistic view of children and their needs, and a more robust appreciation of the need for parents to exercise some control and discipline. With titles like Confessions of a Slacker Mom, From Here to Maternity and (my favourite) Cheap Psychological Tricks for Parents, the new crop of secular parenting books heralds a return to the good old days when parents entertained their kids during the holidays by saying, “Go outside”.

A sample of chapter headings from one of these new books gives the flavour: ‘Saying No to Your Child: It's a Kick!’, ‘Bedtime: Is Five-Thirty Too Early?’, ‘Child Labor: Not Just for the Third World!’, and ‘Children's Music: Why?’.

The reviewer, Sandra Tsing Toh, reveals that for her, the most freeing confession in Confessions of a Slacker Mom was where the author (with the unmistakably American name of Muffy Mead-Ferro) writes:

I get mad at my kids. And I holler at them—I try to make sure I apologize, but I didn't stop being emotional or fallible when I gave birth. Besides I don't think getting mad is necessarily ineffective...

One of the consequences of bad behaviour is that it tends to make other people irate. So even if you don't have a better reason to be good, you'd better not be too bad or you might really tick somebody off.

Judging by the parenting styles (and children's behaviour styles) that I see amongst my kids' school friends, this swing in the pendulum is well overdue.

Just what religion is he?

I can only hope that the newspaper report of the Easter sermon of the Dean of Perth is wildly inaccurate. If there is even a modicum of accuracy, the man needs to be immediately removed from his position.

This quote gives you an inkling of the sort of view he is reported to have espoused:

“The idea of God suffering and dying to pay off some fictional debt makes a travesty of God,” Dr Shepherd said.

“(Good Friday) is the day of suffering and death. Not suffering and death undergone by Jesus to square off some Shylockian deal.”

“Our God isn't a God who needs satisfying ... atonement of ourselves and God is not a settling of accounts, not a secret deal that is supposed to restore our relationships with God to what it was at the beginning.”

“Whether we are repentant, unrepentant—whether we ask for forgiveness, or not—God couldn't care less.”

Dr Shepherd said God suffered along with the world, and the idea that God would punish humans through acts of nature, such as the Boxing Day tsunami, was obscene.

Is it possible to misrepresent the Christian message any more than this?

Dr Shepherd will one day discover that the debt we owe to God is not “fictional”. For his sake, and for the sake of his flock, I hope that day is sooner rather than later.

Terri Schiavo

Like many of you, I have read the media's reports of the legal wrangling over Terri Schiavo, and her parents' legal fight to keep her alive. The ubiquitous description used is that Terri is in a ‘vegetative state’, conjuring up in my mind a picture of someone basically in a coma and unresponsive for the last 15 years.

But according to LifeSite News that is not a particularly accurate mental picture of what we are talking about. I confess I was slightly shocked at the following description given by those trying to keep Terri alive:

Terri's condition is consistently described as that of a ‘vegetable’ by news media. But the definition of ‘persistent vegetative state’ has been disputed by bioethicists for years. Some doctors believe that there is no such condition and that what is known to medical science about the human brain is too unreliable to trust such blanket labels.

Terri's nurses have testified and gone to the media with their eye witness accounts of Terri's ability to interact with staff and visitors and respond to spoken words—such as opening her eyes wide upon request—and her attempts to speak and communicate.

In an extraordinary account, Terri's attorney, Barbara Weller, tells of her last visit with her client. On the day of the order to remove the feeding tube, Terri's family accompanied by Weller, went to Terri's room and told her the news of her death order.

Empire Journal reports that when asked by her parents and their attorneys if she wanted to live, Terri Schiavo made two attempts to say “Yeah,” then began to cry when told that her husband, Michael Schiavo, would be removing her feeding tube on orders of Judge Greer, which would result in her death by starvation.

Christian Publishing

More on the intriguing world of Christian retailing...

Interesting to see on the Retailers Choice website, what American Christian retailers want to encourage by giving awards. The list of categories is fascinating (category in bold, followed by the 2004 Award winner):

Health/Fitness
10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People (Zondervan), Walt Larimore, M.D.

Evangelism
What's So Amazing About Grace? (Zondervan), Philip Yancey

Series
Women of Faith Study Guide Series (Thomas Nelson)

Wall Décor
Names of Jesus cross (Inspirio)

Devotionals
His Passion (Integrity Publishers)

Nonfiction
The Faith of George W. Bush (Charisma House), Stephen Mansfield

Relationships
The Power of a Positive Wife (Howard Publishing), Karol Ladd

General Gifts
You Are Loved voice message photo frame (Lighthouse Christian Co.)

Bibles
Revolve (Thomas Nelson)

Music
Adoration (Sparrow), Newsboys

Gift Books
Daily Inspiration for the Purpose-Driven Life (Inspirio), Rick Warren

Charismatic
Knowing God Intimately (Warner Faith), Joyce Meyer

Christian Living
Next Door Savior (W Publishing), Max Lucado

Decorative Accessories
Family silver flip photo frame (Lighthouse Christian Co.)

Spiritual Growth
Experiencing the Heart of Jesus (Thomas Nelson), Max Lucado

Spanish
Una vida con propósito (Vida Publishers), Rick Warren

Jewelry
Fashion Jewelry Collection (Bob Siemon Designs)

Self-Improvement
Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them (Zondervan), John Ortberg

Children
20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know (Standard Publishing)

Fiction
And the Shofar Blew (Tyndale House), Francine Rivers

Anyone notice any absent categories that you might expect/hope to see there?

Conditions apply*

I can't help noticing how often advertisements—whether newspaper, radio or TV—either have several lines of fine print or end with the phrase “conditions apply”?

I saw an ad recently (in a Christian business directory) which made me laugh. It offered “free” financial advice. This offer was followed by the obligatory asterisk. Down the bottom of the page it said “Fees, terms and conditions may apply.”

Fortunately, God's free offer of forgiveness doesn't come with an asterisk.