This is a well-written article that I thought you might be interested in:

by Rachel Campos-Duffy (Subscribe to Rachel Campos-Duffy’s posts) Dec 9th 2009 4:00PM 

When the now infamous White House social secretary Desiree Rogers revealed to The New York Times that the Obamas were planning a “non-religious” “Christmas for the people’s house,” she put herself at the center of an entirely different, but no less fiery, controversy — the Christmas wars.

Early this year, during a luncheon with other former social secretaries, Rogers announced that part of the Obamas’ new spirit of inclusiveness (ironically) would exclude references to Christianity during Christmas.  Most notably, the Obamas would not be displaying the 18th century White House nativity scene. An Obama official confirmed that there were internal discussions regarding the manger display, but in the end, tradition (along with post-state dinner scandal fatigue) trumped, and the Holy Family was not banned from the East Room after all.

Meanwhile, Dr. James Dobson’s influential conservative Christian organization, Focus on the Family, is promoting StandforChristmas.com, a Web site that helps shoppers rank “Christmas-friendly” retailers, (most friendly: Bass Pro Shops; least friendly: American Eagle Outfitters). The site reminds visitors that retailers “want your patronage and your gift-shopping dollars” and then asks, “but do they openly recognize Christmas?”

Sadly, both approaches precisely miss the point of this sacred and beautiful holiday.

It makes zero sense to recruit retailers in this crusade when consumerism is the reason why Christmas has morphed into a hollow shopping ritual that, come January, leaves too many families with debt hangovers and an empty feeling inside. Demanding that store clerks cheerily proclaim “Merry Christmas” as they ring up your power tools and iPod does precious little to put the Christ-child back in Christmas.

To the Obamas and others pushing the ridiculous notion of a “non-religious” Christmas, it would do them well to consider that respect for other people’s faith is not accomplished by hiding your own. If the goal of the White House is to remain neutral about part of our nation’s heritage, Christianity, or, for that matter, about the religious beliefs held by many of its current residents, fine with me. But if that’s the case, then please spare us the tab for the reported 50,000 visitors who will be cocktailed and dined this month in an endless succession of banal and meaningless “holiday” parties.

If Christians truly desire to bring sacredness and religious significance back to Christmas, then it’s silly to look to retailers or the First Family. Instead, let it begin, as charity does, at home. Families can start by reintroducing the season of Advent and the spirit of reflection and spiritual preparation that once occupied the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Instead of allowing ourselves to get swept up in the whirlwind of “holiday” parties, useless gift exchanges and harried shopping, we can use those weeks to prepare our hearts and homes in meaningful ways for the Prince of Peace. Make time for family prayer, singing and the lighting of the Advent wreath. Choose cards and decorations that have religious significance.

How many homes have a prominently displayed nativity scene at Christmas time? My guess is not too many. The same goes for Christmas carols. Does your playlist include more Frosty and Santa Baby than Silent Night and Handel’s Messiah? How about keeping those lights on and the tree in the house for the twelve days of Christmas – you know the twelve that follow Christmas day. Or consider caroling or having a Christmas gathering after December 25th? We have only ourselves to blame when we lose these beautiful traditions.

Should Christians be concerned about the secularization of Christmas? Sure they should. I resent school “winter” concerts, “holiday” parades, and the ridiculous fear that prevents people from wishing each other “Merry Christmas!” with total abandon.

But Christmas starts with us. In our hearts. In our homes. And in a very simple decision to reclaim the silence, joy, and quiet simplicity of that first Christmas in Bethlehem when God chose to speak to mankind in the small cry of a newborn baby.

     Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family ministries and host of its radio program, is leaving the airwaves. For three decades, he has been the scourge of liberals and a trusted resource for conservative Christians; indeed, it seems people view him as either one extreme or the other. I’m that rare case who is ambivalent about him, so if you’re hoping to read either a hagiography or a broadside, you’re about to be disappointed.

     1.5 million people listen to Dr. Dobson’s program every weekday, and most Christian stations broadcast it. I cut my ministry teeth on Christian radio and I never worked anywhere that didn’t carry the show. Even a decade ago, when I was just starting, Dobson’s influence could not be overestimated. He has come to be viewed as something of a “kingmaker,” and politicians vie for a nod from him on his program; such a gesture could translate into hundreds of thousands of votes. Because he’s so respected by his listeners, he can marshal that enormous audience to bombard Congress with letters and phone calls. And he can organize a boycott quicker than an ACORN staffer can cook the books for a bordello.

     I and my fellow social conservatives owe a great debt to this man. We who grieve over the American holocaust of abortion have a great friend in Jim Dobson. We who view marriage as God’s sacred union of one man and one woman for life – a picture of Christ and the church – have a valued and effective ally in him. We who choose to educate our children at home rather than in public or private schools have found him to be one of our staunchest defenders against NEA propagandists and the paternalistic, intrusive regulatory presence of bureaucratic busybodies.

     Other groups would be quick to thank him as well: For example, those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions are given no hope from establishment psychiatry, and homosexual activists only tell them that the change they seek is mythical; however, Focus’s Love Won Out conferences have helped thousands see that “myth” become a reality. And he has been an outspoken advocate for parents who feel that ADHD diagnoses and mood-altering medications are being foisted on their sons, boys who were guilty of nothing more than the sometimes-inconvenient-but-altogether-normal behaviors of boyhood.

     But just like the rest of us, Dobson has his problems too, one of which is his skin: It’s just far too thin for the path he has chosen. His response to criticism is usually pouty, petty defensiveness. Not a good look for a man in his seventies. I’m just sayin’.

     And there’s something disturbing about his tendency to be star-struck by any celebrity remotely connected to Christianity. When Mel Gibson was plugging The Passion of the Christ, Dobson brought him on and practically canonized him as the apostle to Hollywood. Not long after, Gibson was caught driving drunk and during his arrest, he delivered his now-infamous anti-Semitic conspiracy rant.

     Just this year, Dobson gave 2009 Miss USA 1st runner-up Carrie Prejean the same treatment: To her credit, she had spoken out against same-sex marriage during the pageant, yet she seemed to have no moral dilemma when it came to posing for some prurient photographs. Dobson praised her for the former and had little to say about the latter, holding her out as a fine example of Christian womanhood who had been martyred by the media. I was still program director at a Christian station at that time, and we were given a choice between airing the Prejean interview or using an alternate show. We aired the alternate, and I’m glad.

     But my deepest conflict is over the times that, in my estimation, his patriotic fervor and his ardor for conservative political activism – which are both fine ideals in my book – have appeared almost to rival his zeal for the Gospel. This should never be, and I don’t think it helps the cause of Christ or the cause of conservatism.  My few complaints aside, however, James Dobson has advanced both causes in lots of other ways.

     Over the past few months, the mainstream media types haven’t hidden their celebratory glee over indications that evangelicals, especially Dobson, are becoming less politically and culturally influential. I personally feel that the celebration is premature; I believe this “trend” that they’re celebrating probably results from the combination of their own wishful thinking and their lack of connection to the America that exists outside of N.Y., L.A., and D.C.

     Nevertheless, the celebration is going to continue. Big-time scribblers and talking heads won’t allow reality to interfere with their conclusions. Certainly, the announcement that Dobson will step down in February of 2010 has made the gala even more festive for them, but one thing is for sure: Come March, the media party is going to need a new piñata.

By Rev Ed Hird

Every financial decision is a life decision.  As someone once said, “Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.”  True prosperity, according to the original Webster’s Dictionary, is “advance or gain in anything good or desirable.” 

True prosperity is found in our posterity, not in our portfolio.  As J.W. Whitehead put it, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

Investing in the development of our children’s character is the most strategic kind of investing on earth.  What greater reward is there for us than to see our children develop character qualities such as integrity, honesty, teachability, loyalty, responsibility, courage, determination, endurance, hospitality, generosity, and humility?  That is why Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”

Russ Crosson, financial planner and author of A Life Well Spent, holds that the only mark that will truly last is our posterity.  He defines posterity first of all as our descendants, and secondly as those individuals in whom we have significant influence.  The best way, he says, to get a higher return on life is to invest in our posterity. 

The root of the word “business” is busy-ness.  So often in our frantically busy world of business, our children get squeezed out of our day-timer.  Lack of time is the greatest block to strategic investing in our posterity.  Time is our most finite and irreplacable resource.  Time is the best gift we can give our children.  As Dr. James Dobson, Founder of Focus on the Family, puts it, “If a couple lose our kids, they have nothing.”

Russ Crosson points out four time-stealers that rob our investment in our posterity:

our inability to say no

our inability to slow down

our inability to turn off the television

our inability to control our desire for possessions.

Richard Swenson commented: “to be able to say no without guilt is to be freed from one of the biggest monsters in our overburdened lives.”  Many of us unfortunately, in our desire to be positive, keep adding more and more onto our schedules.  It is usually our time with our children that bears the brunt.  Russ suggests that we should only say yes if it replaces something else that’s already in our schedule.

The second time-stealer is our inability to slow down.  Crosson comments that in today’s world everything goes fast, and we strive constantly to see if we can make it go faster.  If the computer makes us wait seconds for data, we want a new computer.  If the fast-food line takes more than two minutes, we get impatient and visit another fast-food place the next time. 

Richard Swenson holds that our relationships are being starved to death by velocity.  No one has time to listen, let alone love.  Our children lay wounded on the ground, run over by our high-speed intentions. 

Perhaps symptomatic of this tragic busyness is how many families no longer have time to even eat together at dinner.  Investing in our posterity means taking the radical step of slowing down our frantic pace and taking time to actually listen to each other.

Jane Fonda, the famous actress said: “The few things I regret in my life are.not having put enough time into mothering, wiving, taking care of the inner life.”

Billy Graham, Christian statesman and communicator, said: “The greatest mistake was taking too many speaking engagements and not spending enough time with my family.”.  Life is just too short. Life is too sudden. 

My prayer for those reading this article is that we may become strategic investors in the things that last forever.

Rev. Ed Hird

Rector, St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver

Anglican Coalition in Canada

http://www3.telus.net/st_simons

-author of the award-winning book ‘Battle for the Soul of Canada’

http://www.battleforthesoulofcanada.blogspot.com

-previously published in the Deep Cove Crier

Time will tell but this sure seems like a refreshing shift at Focus on the Family.  Jim Daly, who has risen from a hellish past, replaces Dr. James Dobson at the helm of the conservative Christian organization based in Colorado Springs and vows to be a different kind of leader.  Instead of being dogmatic “it’s more about having a conversation with people.”  He admires Barack Obama, wants to focus on the positive and says ”lets shove off the rhetoric and get together on practical matters.”  There’s hope in that kind of thinking.  Here’s more on Jim Daly from Electa Draper of The Denver Post. 

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12581442

For more information on Vicky Collins visit http://teletrendstv.com.

It’s hard, but it doesn’t have to be.

I don’t like it when teenagers claim to know everything about everything, but I think if you’ve experienced something or in the midst of a situation, you should write about no matter what age you are.

One of the things I and my family have been struggling with is learning how to take the next step. Wouldn’t it be nice if God appeared every 6 months and said “Hey guys, this is where you’re moving in less than 3 months. Mary, you’re going to go to this college and into this field, which I promise you that you’ll love and it’ll be very profitable in many ways for many years to come.  I’m going to warn you about a few things, but it’ll all be okay…”

Actually, He does sort of say that:

“…For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity….”

-Jeremiah 29:11-14b (NIV)

We know where we are now, and God tells us where we’ll end up. It’s the middle, the specifics, that are scary. The what’s-going-to-happen next factor. The suspense. The fact that you could be killed in a car accident tomorrow. It’s the fact that you’re in the dark, feeling your way through. Yeah, you know the dark hallway is straight, so why not walk straight? Because something might be in the way.

It all boils down to trust.

You’re not in control of the situation, God is. Remember that job offer last year? You applied to 20 places and didn’t hear back from any of them, but then your friend’s uncle had an opening in his business and hired you. All those applications and resumes had nothing to do with the outcome. Remember when your relative had a serious health issue? You sent him all the get well cards and flowers that money could buy, and you prayed so hard and long and urged your friends to do the same. Yet, his fate is not in your hands. God decides everything, and even if someone’s chances are against the odds, He can (and has) perform miracles.

Bad things do happen, but God doesn’t suddenly sit up in his chair and ask, “How did that happen? I just look out the window for one second…”

No, He knows the outcome and how it all fits together for His plan. Even if, along the way, something horrific were to happen, He would be there grieving with you. But he always has something bigger planned.

I’m going to use a relatively minor issue for an example: my driving test next month. God knows if I’m going to pass or not. If I do, great. If I don’t, then there’s obviously some reason I’m not supposed to get it. Do I know why? No. Do I need to know why? Of course not.

Using another relatively minor example: it’s the same thing with my book. So many times I’ve printed out the first three pages of a story and gave them to my mom to critique. But then the story isn’t my secret anymore. I lose steam, and start another project. Repeat. So far, my novel is 80,000+ words, and no one has read a single sentence.

But I’m sure there are other reasons than being “secretive” that andwhy God doesn’t want us to know His plan. We have to trust Him, and it’s when we trust Him that our faith grows stronger.

Ah, maybe this is just me putting Chapters 15 and 16 of Dr. James Dobson’s Life on the Edge into my own words. I’m just applying it to my life, I guess.

One more Bible verse:

“What we’ve learned is this: God does not respod to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by leting him set the pace, not by proudly or anciously trying to run the parade.

-Romans 3:27b-28 (The Message, Eugene Peterson)

Headlines, stories, quotes, and photos from around the nation

Obama Sits Out National Day of Prayer as Millions Pray for Him

CAPITOL HILL (CNSNews.com) — A caucus room in a House of Representatives office buidling was transformed into a place of worship on Thursday, as people in the nation’s capital joined with millions of others Americans across the country to celebrate the National Day of Prayer.

Members of Congress, religious and military leaders, and ordinary citizens prayed for the nation and for those who lead it, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden – neither of whom made any public appearance or speech to mark the occasion.

Obama issued a proclamation marking the day on Thursday afternoon, which is required by federal law…

“It comforts me to no end to know that it isn’t any human being, it is the Lord that has the government on his shoulder,” Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) said. “All things are possible. He is our true hope. He is the light of the world and in these uncertain times, it is a comfort when Scripture tells us, ‘I am God.’” full story

A time for hope: National Day of Prayer marked at Michigan Capitol


LANSING, Mich. (LSJ.com) — Congregations from 45 Lansing-area churches gathered in front of the Capitol on Thursday to participate in the National Day of Prayer.

“People need hope,” said Stephanie Butler, Lansing Partnerships coordinator for Trinity Church and event organizer. “God is real. He is here and he is listening. We believe that as we come together to pray, God will heal our troubles.” full story

Dobson regrets Obama’s snub of prayer ceremonies

CAPITOL HILL (AP) — After attending the Capitol observance, Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson said that since Obama welcomes athletic champions to the White House, it would seem appropriate to give more recognition to prayer as past presidents have done.

“We will not be disrespectful of him because of the office — and we do pray for him,” Dobson stated. “But I do regret his lack of emphasis on the foundation of prayer, on which this country was based.” full story

Where’s the National Prayer Day?

BAINBRIDGE, Georgia (BainbridgeGA.com) — First, President Barrack Obama abandoned the traditional National Prayer Day observance at the White House, then local ladies found the same situation in Bainbridge…

This year, instead of church leaders offering prayers and mobilizing the community on National Prayer Day, only a small group of about a dozen women arrived at Willis Park, but found no one else there.

For many years, clergy and the community have gathered in Willis Park on the first Thursday of May, at noon, for the observance.

The ladies did not turn and leave, however. They gathered together and offered thanks for the freedom to pray in public and to repent the nation’s sins… full story

WH Release: President signs Prayer Day Proclamation

…Let us also use this day to come together in a moment of peace and goodwill. Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth… full proclamation

LA CHURCH & STATE EXAMINER EXCLUSIVE: PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON WENT PUBLIC WITH PRAYER

HELP!

Dr. James Dobson,

On the itsy bitsy chance that you should come across my low profile blog, please help me!

Love a distressed mother lost in Kentucky.

J.

——————————-

I realize that my plea most likely won’t be heard (or read) by Dr. Dobson. It was worth a try though, right?

C. Hmmm. Remember how I mentioned in a previous entry that he has a very strong-will? I read Dr. Dobson’s “The New Strong Willed Child” in hopes that I could find… well… HOPE. And help.

I am afraid that while I have always considered myself a strong-willed person that I feel miserably, pathetically, defeated by my two year old. Tonight alone, we faced two thirty minute fits. When I say fits, I mean full fledged, in the floor, kicking, screaming, tossing, turning, arms flailing TEMPER TANTRUMS.

Don’t raise your eyebrow at me. I know what you are thinking. I’ve heard the same sentiment from my mother. “You just don’t have control over him.”

SOMEHOW I have a great 9 year old, that I raised, on my own. I thought I had the parenting thing down to that age. Needless to say, my two year old has been teaching me otherwise.

He’ll be angelic, sweet, loving. Something really random will just suddenly set him off. Then after the fit he’s sweet, loving, angelic. During that fit though? I’m ready to either pull my hair out, or break down crying. Sunday he threw one of these fits and afterwards I ran to my room, dropped to my knees and just started crying. I feel DEFEATED! By a TWO year old, at that. Talk about feeling like a failure as a mother. JIMINY!

“The New Strong Willed Child”… is a great book. I wish I hadn’t loaned it to his bio-father so I could directly quote portions of it. Except I loaned it to his bio-father in hopes that he would take the lessons from it and we could develop more uniform methods of dealing with C between our two households. (Now THAT is called wishful thinking.)

As I’ve told a few people, I found the book helpful, but not very hopeful. Essentially I’ve gathered that things will get worse before they get better. And then, they’ll get worse again (in the teenage years… not really a surprise there). It seems the next SEVERAL years are going to be …. Challenging. The most hopeful of Dr. Dobson’s words is that a high percentage of strong-willed children return to the values that their parent’s were trying to teach them…. once they reach age 23 and up. Oh boy. Really? 21 more years? Are you SERIOUS? *sigh* *tears*

It feels lonely dealing with these fits. Terribly lonely. I feel like a failure as a mother when he throws them because I can’t figure out how to avoid them. I plan grocery shopping trips around when he’s with his bio-father (once a week). We don’t go out to eat thanks to experiences when he was much younger and he would seemingly get so distressed with the experience.

My father was surprised when I expressed this to him. He said, “Is he not like X?” *laughter ensues* No. Not. At. All.

X was, what Dr. Dobson would refer to, a very compliant child from the very beginning. He started sleeping through the night within the first week home from the hospital. He went through a minor “terrible-twos” spell, but only threw ONE all out “temper tantrum.” He used to LOVE going out to eat even when he was little. Didn’t make big messes, was careful with everything, and was, altogether, compliant.

C… oh boy. Didn’t start sleeping through the night until he was over 6 months old. Had colick from about 4 months until around 10 months old. Three hours an afternoon, like clock work. Very predictable. VERY inconsolable.

We went through a mostly peaceful period. Then, his father started wanting to actually be a part of his life. I chalked most problems up to the inconsistancy between our houses for routine. We went through court to have things set-up officially for visitation. For quite a while C was doing much better. Then, about 5 or 6 months ago his behavior started changing for the worse again. And now? *sigh*

Please pray for me. And C. I think he needs prayer for a calmer spirit as much as I need prayer for a stronger spirit.

I now have two more books to read by Dr. James Dobson: “The New Dare to Discipline” and “Bringing up Boys.”

No, I’m not pregnant. But I do find that breathing seems to be rather essential to making it through my day to day life.

Life has felt… overwhelming. Emotionally it has been a rollercoaster.

One day I’m sad about the miscarriage we had. Another day I’m not sure that I have the strength to have another kid (that would be courtesy of dear C’s strong will that challenges my own will). I frequently experience the change of emotions within the same day.

Today… wow. C had quite the day with his willfulness during mid-afternoon. He was fighting his nap with all his might, which isn’t normally an issue. USUALLY he is like clockwork with his desire for a movie, climb into the big comfy chair, and doze off for afternoon nap (naps do NOT happen in his bed … just doesn’t work that way with him). Today though? Today he fought nap for a full three hours post usual time and his mood… defiant, willful, challenging, emotional. My mood? I literally arrived at the moment where I ran to my bedroom and dropped to my knees. I cried my eyes out and I prayed for God to give me the strength (emotionally, mentally, physically) and the patience to be the mother my child needs. God must have heard my prayer because a short 20 minutes later C was asleep, in his bed. AND, even better? He didn’t sleep so long that it was going to mess with his bedtime and make him want to fight sleep. He woke up in a sweet, cuddly, loving mood. I honestly don’t think it was a coincidence that the evening was smoother. Then, he went to bed without more than a whimper or two in protest at our usual time, 15 minutes earlier even.

My dear fiance got home from doing business stuff with his father shortly after I had submitted myself to the bedside during my emotional breakdown. He came in and loved on me. He patiently waited for me to be able to talk through my sobs. He attempted humor as he said that perhaps I shouldn’t leave my job if my days were going to bring me such emotional discourse being a SAHM. Which, ended up making me cry harder. Talk about feeling like a poopy sorry excuse for a mother! I wasn’t mad at him. I was frustrated with myself. I felt defeated by my two year old. I felt incompetent as a mother. And I felt afraid he might be right.

As I told him though, I KNOW that C will outgrow some of this. He WILL get easier for me to manage. I MUST focus more on dealing with C’s Strong Will. I MUST incorporate Dr. Dobson’s advice in “The New Strong Willed Child.”

Migraines. Yikes. Those have started up again. I have had three this weekend alone. NOT pleasant.

I must overcome the control my mother has over my psychology as well. And I must learn to tell my cousin that I don’t want her to call me to tell me about the things going on with my ex-hub and ex-in-laws. Both of these things stress me out more than I care to let on. I MUST quit stressing about little things. Generally, I think I do pretty well, but in certain areas of my life, certain aspects, I let things mount and mount and bring me into a near state of desperation for an emotional crutch.

Then… do I really want to leave my job? Am I truly ready to leave my job security? I feel so very secure at my job. I have a great employer… it’s not at all my Director that I am wanting to leave behind, or my company. I want to get closer to my kids. I want to get closer to my college degree. I want to get closer to myself. I need … I don’t know what I need. I need to allow myself more solitude in the evenings to truly reflect on life and contemplate these things. I’m a planner, thinker, information gatherer. I tend to get very anxious feeling if I think I might have missed something important in my gathering… I want to make thorough and informed decisions.

And now? I want to go to bed. And cuddle with my sweet, supportive, loving fiance. I need rest.

Today I decided that I needed to take an aptitude test, after reading a chapter from Life of the Edge (Dr. James Dobson) on college planning, and trusting God, and figuring out God’s plan, all that jazz.

I took two tests, actually.

One was from RocketCareer.com and the second was from LiveCareer.com. The first one said that I am 100% in administrative and clerical. I don’t know exactly what I am that’s 100%, but I’ll swing with it. Basically, I’d be phenominal (a big word I’ve been favoring to use lately) as a bill and account collector, statement clerk or a calculating machine operator.

Dangit. I was hoping for something like U’D B THE BEST POLICE INVESTIGATOR EVERRR <3 or LEARN MORE BIG WORDS AS A BRAIN SURRRGIN!! Not accounting. Not accounting! 

Then I tried LiveCareer’s 100 question test. Mind you, the three top career choices for me right now are: baking, sonography and social services. I scored 93 percentile in food service and 89 in writing. Haha!! Something that actually came out with decent results! Oh, and LiveCareer, I’m sorry I lied about my phone number and my home address. It’s just because of the witness protection program, I promise.

Health service came in at 76 percentile. Apparently, I’m also assertive. Scored 60 on that one, but it was the highest out of persuasive and systematic.

as⋅ser⋅tive   /əˈsɜrtɪv/ [uh-sur-tiv]

(Dictionary.com)

You know…I don’t even want to know what dogmatic is, but I’m going to assume that it doesn’t mean I bite people.

SO, while I’m taking these tests, my head starts to (naturally) hurt.

Now, I’m weird. I’ve known this for a long time, and one of the supposed symptoms of homeschooling is the urge to research things voluntarily, but, see, I like to research weird things and lately I’ve gotten into medical stuff,(including big, fancy words like anomalous, filangies, and polymer phosphates–though I don’t know what the last one is. I heard it on Bones.) and I’ve also gotten into psychology and the human brain (thanks to http://HowStuffWorks.com). So there, on my wall is a chart of the human brain and it’s components.

And lately, whenever my head hurts, I am able to specify which cranial lobe (?)  it is that hurts. Hmm…it’s my frontal lobe that’s hurting.

I’ve been sitting there for the past 20 minutes completing questions such as:

I would like to…
(_) Dumpster dive
(_) Wipe a child’s nose
(x) Interrogate a suspect

And, and, and that so-called frontal lobe controls the decision-making processes between good and bad, or better and best.

I was thoroughly amazed. But that really didn’t get me anywhere, so I think I’m going to take a walk and get rid of my headache.

This is a great book for bringing up boys-as the title suggests! It’s encouraging and helps me understand where my boys are at and why they do/act a certain way.

Dads, feels free to read as well. Go on, buy a copy!

Please click on the image to buy this book.

By sheer chance we found a clipping from our late friend’s files. We would have thrown it away, noting that it’s a half-page torn old, old newspaper. But  something caught our fancy.  We even don’t know the name of the paper it came from.  That doesn’t matter.  What matter is that we found a piece of gem.  Printed on the paper was a poem by Dr. James Dobson (from Parenting Isn’t for Cowards).  We read it in silence at first, then we couldn’t help but recite it out loud.  We liked it. We even like the content (we’re swerving away from our literary tenet of form over content). What Dr. Dobson has to tell us is that grandmas are now groovin’ their way to the new civilization.  Here’s why:

Where Have All The Grandmas Gone?

by Dr. James Dobson

In the dim and distant past,

When life’s tempo wasn’t fast,

Grandma used to rock and knit,

Crochet, tat and baby-sit.

When the kids were in a jam,

They could always call on “Gram”.

In that day of gracious living,

Grandma was the gal for giving.

 

BUT today she’s in the gym,

Exercising to keep slim,

She’s off touring with the bunch,

Or taking clients out to lunch.

Going north to ski or curl,

All her days are in a whirl.

Nothing seems to stop or block her,

Now that Grandma’s off her rocker!!!

We were caught in an unusual sentiment. We know our grandmothers are not the persons Dr. Dobson are referring to.  We were raised by a grandmother who wears mumu dresses (we call it “duster”) and chews areca nut.  We were raised to behave properly and we’re not allowed to talk when the older folks are talking.  We were raised not to sing, cry or scream when eating meals at the table or we’ll drive away God’s grace. We were raised to respect our elders and call them by their proper age and gender-specific honorific designation. We were raised to believe that it is okay to see people eat dogs or cats. We were raised to respect nature and not to talk out loud whenever we travel into a forested area, lest we disturb the dwarves and fairies and other elementals and they’ve make our balls swell. We were taught to be modest. You will not see us wearing those sweat pants on campus and let people see how our armaments hang and bounce like a bell. You will not see us fondle ourselves or even scratch while in the classroom. No, we were taught to be decent.

That is why we find 21st century American grandmas pretty groovy.  We see them  wreck the treadmill at the gym or threaten to sue the plastic surgeon if their request for bigger implants were not granted. Some beg for in-vitro fertilization. We find American grandmas defy the laws of nature, particularly the law of gravity.  We usually find them “expressionless” owing to the “stretch to the limit” facial surgery.  We find them wearing boots even in summer and a plunging neckline even in winter. 

However, the grand kids love them.  They spoil them rotten.  The kids’ parents don’t complain or they’d see their inheritance washed down the drain.

Consider that God, the same God who created everything around you, knows you personally. He knows how many hairs you have on your head, knows your every breath, your every heartbeat, your every thought and emotion. You are a child of God’s. He has chosen YOU. Ponder that for a few moments, and let it instill confidence, security and radical hope.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1

Power Thoughts

1. Faith in God – life can never take you by surprise again.  JAMES DOBSON
2. God’s Heart is especially tender toward the downtrodden and the defeated. He knows your name and He has seen every tear you have shed. JAMES DOBSON
3. This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living. TRYON EDWARDS

Last Monday, January 12th, my favorite USA Today columnist Tom Krattenmaker presented a terrific column on what he described as a new wrinkle in the Evangelical Pro Life movement (http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/01/life-movement-e.html). Krattenmaker proposed that by carrying the Sanctity of Life argument beyond the womb to include on-going efforts to thwart slavery and human trafficking, Christians engaged in this effort were in fact expanding the Pro Life agenda. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear the conversation expanding into to such a forward thinking space. Pastor Rick Warren has long expounded on adding to the agenda by including extreme poverty and AIDS hospice work to the traditional Pro Life (read anti-abortion) platform. And while eliminating (reducing) unwanted pregnancies and abortions is obviously still a primary concern and focus, the inclusion of these other long neglected facets of need actually lend credibility to the Pro Life platform. While interviewing Dr. John Perkins for Lord, Save Us From Your Followers, he described to me a more “holistic” approach to the Pro-Life agenda, one that specifically called for our amplified attention on the issue of poverty. “I agree with Dr. Dobson that we should be concerned about the babies in the womb, but I wish we would care more about them when they are out of the womb,” Perkins said. Yeah, pretty basic I know, but such simplicity and clarity reminds me not to over think the issues. It also reminds me to do what I can to help.
Compassion First founder Mike Mercer, featured heavily in the USA Today piece, mentioned to me that, “10,000 new non-governmental organizations could all focus on ending human trafficking and slavery and they’d all be busy. There is room for everyone to help. We need everyone to help.” Mercer’s involvement in the human trafficking issue came as a result of a personal encounter. While on a fact-finding trip he came face to face with young women who were trapped in a life of sexual slavery and debt bondage. Mercer describes the burden as highly personal, “Now that I know their names I am unable to ignore them. They are my problem now.”
This past fall I had a lunch with Justin Dillon, director of the excellent concert/cause film Call + Response. We talked about the impetus for his filmmaking journey and I was struck by how similar the description of his motivation was to Mercer’s – again it was personal. Dillon told me about being on tour in Russia and meeting some young women who were in the midst of being trafficked. Appalled and surprised by the bold corruption, Dillon’s vow to expose this world of Human Trafficking evolved into Call + Response. We should pick up on the clue that when someone encounters such pure evil they are personally changed and, beyond that, driven to enact change. I appreciate the sacrifice of the hundreds, maybe thousands by now, like Mercer and Dillon. Regular guys, not men of great means, but men who have had their hearts broken by the suffering of others and are strong enough of conviction to rally others to the rescue. I am also grateful to see the church moving beyond political agendas to embrace the needs of fellow Image Bearers of God.

Oleh: John Adisubrata

KUASA D.O.A.

“yaitu kebenaran Allah karena iman dalam Yesus Kristus bagi semua orang yang percaya. Sebab tidak ada perbedaan. Karena semua orang telah berbuat dosa dan telah kehilangan kemuliaan Allah, dan oleh kasih karunia telah dibenarkan dengan cuma-cuma karena penebusan dalam Kristus Yesus.” (Roma 3:22-24)

Masa akhir hidup Ted yang harus dilalui selama bertahun-tahun sebagai seorang narapidana bernama buruk, yang amat dibenci oleh masyarakat, ternyata merupakan suatu jangka waktu berharga yang khusus diberikan oleh Tuhan kepadanya di dalam sel penjara. Di sana ia mendapatkan kesempatan yang ‘singkat’ untuk merenungkan kembali serta mengevaluasi semua perbuatan-perbuatan keji yang pernah ia lakukan.

Banyak penjahat bernama buruk lainnya, yang mungkin perbuatan kriminil mereka, jika dibandingkan, tidak ‘sehebat’ kejahatan yang pernah dikerjakan oleh Ted Bundy. Tetapi mereka tidak mendapatkan kesempatan berharga seperti yang dialami olehnya di dalam penjara. Mereka tidak menyesali tindakan-tindakan yang telah mereka lakukan. Mereka tidak peduli dengan keadaan mereka, bahkan keinginan untuk melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan jahat yang lain, tetap berkobar-kobar di dalam pikiran dan hati mereka.

Mengapa bukan hal-hal seperti itu yang dialami oleh Ted Bundy di sana? Apakah karena Tuhan gemar membeda-bedakan umat ciptaan-Nya? Atau, … apakah karena ada ‘sesuatu’ yang terjadi di sorga, yang mendorong dan menyebabkan Tuhan berkenan akan keselamatan hidup Ted? Sehingga Ia mempersiapkan semuanya untuk kebaikan ‘masa depan’ hidupnya, jauh sebelum Ted dijatuhi hukuman mati oleh para penegak hukum negara tersebut?

Keterlibatan pengacara Kristen, John Tanner, dalam proses pengadilan kasus Ted Bundy bukan merupakan suatu hal yang terjadi secara kebetulan, karena Tuhanlah yang mengirimkan hamba-Nya tersebut ke sana! Jalinan persahabatan dengannya selama bertahun-tahun yang pada akhirnya membuahkan pertobatan Ted, juga bukan merupakan hasil upaya pribadi John Tanner dan isterinya, melainkan hasil pekerjaan Roh Kudus yang sudah mampu menyadarkan diri Ted dari semua dosa-dosanya.

Kejadian-kejadian tersebut telah mengawali proses pertobatannya, yang berakhir dengan pengakuan, penyesalan dan kesediaannya untuk menerima Kristus sebagai Juruselamatnya.

Keinginan Ted untuk meninggalkan suatu ‘warisan’ sebelum kematiannya guna memperingati dan menolong orang-orang lain yang mungkin sedang berada dalam situasi dosa yang sama, yaitu melalui jalan sesat mematikan yang pernah ditempuh olehnya selama bertahun-tahun, telah memungkinkan tim ‘Focus on the Family’ untuk datang menemuinya di dalam sel penjara. Semua itu dapat dilaksanakan, juga hanya oleh karena koneksi yang dimiliki oleh John Tanner, si pengacara kristiani yang mengenal Dr James Dobson secara pribadi.

Bagaikan raja Daud yang bertobat di depan nabi Natan, mengakui dan menyesali dosa-dosa perzinahan dan pembunuhan yang telah dilakukan olehnya, yang dicatat dalam keseluruhan ayat-ayat termasyhur Mazmur 51, Ted ingin melakukan hal yang sama melalui pelayanan Dr James Dobson.

Raja Daud menulis di situ: “Maka aku akan mengajarkan jalan-Mu kepada orang-orang yang melakukan pelanggaran, supaya orang-orang berdosa berbalik kepada-Mu.” (Mazmur 51:15)

Peristiwa-peristiwa indah yang dialami oleh Ted tersebut tidak terjadi secara kebetulan. Semua itu dapat dilaksanakan, oleh karena ada orang-orang kudus yang sedang memperjuangkan keselamatannya melalui doa-doa syafaat yang mereka panjatkan kepada Tuhan.

Sebelum wawancara singkat tersebut berakhir, Ted Bundy sempat mengikrarkan imannya sekali lagi kepada Dr James Dobson, tentang kekuatan yang sudah diterima olehnya melalui hubungan yang intim dengan Tuhan Yesus Kristus.

Meskipun demikian ia tidak berhasrat untuk berpura-pura di depan umum dengan mengatakan, bahwa ia sama sekali tidak mempunyai rasa kuatir. Ia mengakui dengan terus terang, bahwa pada saat-saat yang amat genting, di mana ia harus berjalan seorang diri dalam lembah kekelaman, sering kali ia merasa tidak mempunyai kekuatan untuk melewatinya.

Perasaan-perasaan seperti itu selalu menghantui dirinya sepanjang tahun-tahun terakhir, di mana ia harus menunggu keputusan pengadilan mengenai ‘nasib’ hidupnya.

Raja Daud menulis salah satu Mazmur yang paling termasyhur mengenainya: “Sekalipun aku berjalan dalam lembah kekelaman, aku tidak takut bahaya, sebab Engkau besertaku; gada-Mu dan tongkat-Mu, itulah yang menghibur aku.” (Mazmur 23:4)

Jelas perjalanan Ted tersebut bukan merupakan suatu hal yang menyenangkan baginya, karena sering kali ia merasa sepi, sendiri dan tak berdaya, terutama di saat-saat terakhir menjelang hari kematiannya. Tetapi ia selalu mengingatkan dirinya sendiri, bahwa pada suatu saat semua orang, bersedia ataupun tidak, pasti akan mengalami perjalanan yang akan dilaluinya tersebut. Suatu kelaziman hukum alam yang tidak akan dapat dihindari oleh siapa pun juga!

Keselamatan hidup yang diterima oleh Ted Bundy, si ‘pembunuh serial berdarah dingin’, sebagai hadiah kasih karunia Tuhan sebelum kematiannya, akan selalu merupakan suatu teka-teki aneh yang tak terpecahkan, suatu misteri yang tidak akan pernah dapat dicernakan oleh akal pikiran manusia biasa seperti kita, bagaikan kisah salah seorang penjahat yang disalibkan di sisi Tuhan Yesus Kristus, di atas bukit Golgota.

Pada menit-menit terakhir sebelum kematiannya, penjahat tersebut bertobat dengan mengakui Yesus sebagai ‘Raja’-nya. Suatu pengakuan tulus yang mengakibatkan dia menerima hadiah karunia keselamatan hidup dari Tuhan.

‘Lalu ia berkata: “Yesus, ingatlah akan aku, apabila Engkau datang sebagai Raja.” Kata Yesus kepadanya: “Aku berkata kepadamu, sesungguhnya hari ini juga engkau akan ada bersama-sama dengan Aku di dalam Firdaus.” (Lukas 23:42-43)

Adakah seorang di antara kita yang berani ‘memprotes’, jika Tuhan Yesus menyatakan tawaran-Nya ini di depan kita kepada Ted Bundy, atau orang-orang lain yang sudah pernah melakukan kejahatan yang cukup serius terhadap kita? Dan … oleh karena itu menganggap, bahwa dengan menawarkannya kepada mereka, Tuhan telah bertindak ‘tidak adil’.

Beranikah kita ‘melecehkan’ pertobatan seseorang di hadapan Tuhan, karena menganggap bahwa ‘musuh’ kita tersebut sama sekali tidak layak untuk melakukannya?

Apakah kita juga mempunyai keberanian untuk mengutarakan kejengkelan hati kita di hadapan hadirat Tuhan yang kudus, dengan menggerutu seperti orang-orang (Kristen) yang berterus-terang di depan Dr James Dobson, mencurigai dan memprotes pertobatan Ted, dan … alhasil, … juga keselamatan hidup yang sudah dikaruniakan kepadanya?

Tuhan Yesus datang ke dunia dengan tujuan untuk menyelamatkan SEMUA orang yang berdosa, yang bersedia menerima Dia sebagai Juruselamat mereka. Di mata-Nya, harga keselamatan hidup Ted Bundy, atau mereka yang sudah ‘melukai hak-hak asasi’ kita, sama seperti harga keselamatan hidup orang-orang berdosa lainnya.

Jangan lupa, … kita juga termasuk di dalam kelompok orang-orang berdosa tersebut! Karena dosa segenap umat manusia, Ia rela mati disalibkan untuk menanggung semuanya.

Berjaga-jagalah selalu dengan sikap ‘naruli’ kita, agar jangan sekali-kali kita harus ditegur secara pribadi oleh Tuhan Yesus sendiri, seperti para ahli Taurat dan orang-orang Farisi yang terus-menerus berusaha mencobai Dia. Mereka menganggap tingkat ‘kesucian’ diri mereka begitu tinggi, sehingga merasa berhak untuk menghakimi wanita yang tertangkap basah sedang melakukan dosa perzinahan di suatu siang hari bolong.

‘Dan ketika mereka terus-menerus bertanya kepada-Nya, Iapun bangkit berdiri lalu berkata kepada mereka: “Barangsiapa di antara kamu tidak berdosa, hendaklah ia yang pertama melemparkan batu kepada perempuan itu.” (Yohanes 8:7)

Apakah ada salah seorang di antara kita yang berani melemparkan batu yang pertama? Silahkan!

Syalom,

John Adisubrata
April 2005

Oleh: John Adisubrata

PATUTKAH IA DISELAMATKAN?

‘Ada suatu kesia-siaan yang terjadi di atas bumi: ada orang-orang benar, yang menerima ganjaran yang layak untuk perbuatan orang fasik, dan ada orang-orang fasik yang menerima pahala yang layak untuk perbuatan orang benar. Aku berkata: “Inipun sia-sia!” (Pengkhotbah 8:14)

Bukankah kita juga harus mengakui dengan jujur, bahwa seringkali kita menunjukkan sikap yang serupa seperti sikap nabi Yunus terhadap bangsa Niniwe, ketika suatu kasus kejahatan sedang menimpa diri kita atau keluarga kita. Kendatipun kasus tersebut mungkin tidak sebanding dengan kasus kejahatan Ted Bundy yang sudah menggemparkan dunia. Mereka yang menyebabkannya langsung kita ‘cap’ dan kita masukkan ke dalam ‘black list’ orang-orang yang tidak kita sukai!

Apabila seseorang telah melakukan suatu kejahatan cukup serius terhadap kita atau keluarga kita, yang tampak terlampau berat untuk menerima pengampunan dari kita, apalagi amnesti dari Tuhan, biasanya kita akan merasa kesal sekali, jika kesempatan untuk bisa menyaksikan orang tersebut menderita, setimpal penderitaan kita gara-gara kejahatannya, menjadi musnah! Pikiran manusia akan selalu menuntut pembalasan atas perbuatan-perbuatan jahat ‘musuh-musuh’ kita, lebih berat lebih memuaskan! Terasa kurang ‘sreg’, jikalau mereka bisa terbebas dari dosa-dosa atau hukuman, hanya gara-gara pertobatan mereka.

Pikiran kita yang sangat terbatas, tidak mungkin dapat menyelami pikiran dan rancangan Allah bagi keselamatan hidup segenap umat manusia. Rencana kita tidak akan pernah sama dengan rencana-Nya, apalagi jika rencana tersebut merupakan salah satu dari rancangan-rancangan ‘jahat’ pikiran kita bagi orang-orang lain yang tidak kita sukai, apa pun motivasi atau penyebabnya.

Alkitab mencatat, bahwa Tuhan selalu mengampuni semua dosa, tidak ada perkecualiannya. Jika kita mau datang menghadap kepada-Nya, dan mengakui dosa-dosa kita dengan segenap hati, Ia berjanji akan mengampuni semuanya serta menyucikan kita.

“Jika kita mengaku dosa kita, maka Ia adalah setia dan adil, sehingga Ia akan mengampuni segala dosa kita dan menyucikan kita dari segala kejahatan.” (1 Yohanes 1:9)

Peristiwa perempuan yang dikenal oleh seluruh penduduk kota sebagai seorang berdosa, tetapi mempunyai ketabahan untuk datang menghadap Yesus, pada waktu Ia sedang duduk makan di rumah seorang Farisi, bernama Simon, sudah membuktikan kebenaran firman tersebut. Perempuan itu membasahi kaki-kaki Tuhan Yesus dengan cucuran air matanya, lalu menyeka mereka dengan rambutnya.

Tetapi tindakan selanjutnya, di mana ia menciumi kedua kaki Yesus serta meminyaki mereka dengan minyak wangi yang mahal berasal dari dalam buli-buli pualam, telah membuat pribadi wanita berdosa itu menjadi termasyhur sekali, seperti yang ‘dinubuatkan’ oleh Tuhan Yesus sendiri kepada Simon, di hadapan para tamunya. (Matius 26:13; Markus 14:9; Yohanes 12:7) Bahkan peristiwa yang amat mengesankan tersebut sudah diabadikan di dalam keempat Injil Perjanjian Baru.

Yesus juga mengetahui apa yang sedang dipikirkan oleh Simon! Ketika Ia mengamati, bahwa orang Farisi tersebut memperlihatkan sikap tidak senang, karena Ia membiarkan perempuan berdosa itu melakukan semua tindakannya secara bebas, Yesus segera menegur Simon dengan suatu kisah yang sederhana!

Di depan para tamu yang hadir di rumahnya, Ia menceriterakan sebuah perumpamaan tentang dua orang yang meminjam uang. Yang seorang berhutang banyak, dan yang lain hanya sedikit. Karena mereka tidak sanggup untuk melunasinya, si pemilik uang membebaskan hutang mereka berdua. Yesus bertanya kepada orang Farisi itu: “Siapakah di antara mereka yang akan terlebih mengasihi dia?” (Lukas 7:42b)

Kita semua tentu sudah mengetahui dengan fasih jawaban Simon terhadap pertanyaan Tuhan Yesus, karena jawabannya memang terdengar logis sekali. Apakah kita tidak akan memberi jawaban yang serupa, jika pertanyaan Yesus tersebut ditujukan kepada kita?

Yesus mengakhiri kisahnya dengan mengatakan: “Sebab itu Aku berkata kepadamu: Dosanya yang banyak itu telah diampuni, sebab ia telah berbuat banyak kasih. Tetapi orang yang sedikit diampuni, sedikit pula ia berbuat kasih.” (Lukas 7:47)

Jikalau kita mempelajari awal riwayat hidup Ted Bundy sesuai dengan uraiannya kepada Dr James Dobson, kita akan mengetahui, bahwa ia sebenarnya berasal dari sebuah keluarga Kristen, yang menurut pengakuannya sendiri, adalah keluarga baik-baik dan ‘normal’, yang setiap hari Minggu pergi beribadah ke gereja.

Ted menekankan, bahwa sedari kecil ia bukan seorang anak ‘luar biasa’ yang patut dijadikan teladan anak-anak lainnya, karena jelas ia bukan malaikat. Ted hanya seorang anak biasa-biasa saja bagaikan anak-anak lain sebayanya, yang dididik dalam sebuah keluarga Kristen yang stabil, dibesarkan dengan penuh kasih sayang oleh kedua orang tuanya. Ted bukan berasal dari suatu keluarga yang hancur berantakan, seperti yang sudah diduga, disebar-luaskan, dan ‘disahkan’ oleh masyarakat dunia.

Seperti umumnya terjadi pada keluarga-keluarga biasa lainnya, kedua orang tuanya juga mengasihi dan selalu berusaha melindungi kehidupan kelima anak mereka dari pengaruh-pengaruh jahat dunia yang dapat menyesatkan dan merusak masa depan mereka.

Kendatipun kedua orang tuanya harus menanggung rasa malu yang tidak dapat dilukiskan dengan kata-kata lagi, karena mempunyai seorang anak yang dijuluki ‘monster’ oleh masyarakat dunia, apakah mereka sebagai orang-orang percaya, akan berhenti mengasihi dia? Apakah mereka akan berhenti berdoa untuk keselamatan hidupnya?

Apakah jemaat gereja lokal mereka, dan juga orang-orang Kristen yang mengenal keluarga tersebut, tidak ikut berdoa untuk anak Tuhan yang sangat hilang ini?

Roh Allah selalu bekerja dengan penuh keajaiban, yang terlalu misterius untuk dapat dimengerti begitu saja oleh keterbatasan pikiran kita.

Di sinilah KUASA DOA orang-orang kudus untuk pertobatan Ted Bundy dibuktikan oleh Tuhan sendiri!

“Tetapi sekarang, setelah kamu dimerdekakan dari dosa dan setelah kamu menjadi hamba Allah, kamu beroleh buah yang membawa kamu kepada pengudusan dan sebagai kesudahannya ialah hidup yang kekal.” (Roma 6:22)

(Bersambung)

D.O.A.:
NYARIS TIADA MAAF (4)

KUASA D.O.A.

Oleh: John Adisubrata

PERTOBATAN YANG ‘MENJIJIKKAN’

‘Tetapi firman TUHAN: “Layakkah engkau marah.” (Yunus 4:4)

Tampak tulus sekali, ketika ia mengutarakan kekuatirannya atas pengaruh-pengaruh kekerasan dan pemberontakan yang ditawarkan oleh film-film asal Hollywood. Ia yakin sekali berdasarkan pengalamannya sendiri, bahwa pengaruh mereka dengan mudah dapat merusak citra diri para remaja di dunia.

Menurut Ted, kombinasi dari pengaruh buku-buku serta majalah-majalah porno, minuman-minuman alkohol, dan ‘violence’ yang dilebih-lebihkan dalam film-film tersebut, yang disaksikan olehnya di masa remajanya, adalah penyebab utama ketagihannya akan nafsu-nafsu berahi yang tidak normal, nafsu-nafsu seksual yang hanya dapat dipuaskan melalui tindakan-tindakan kekerasan yang harus dilakukan olehnya pada para korban perbuatan kriminilnya.

Ia mengatakan, bahwa SEMUA penjarawan yang dikenal olehnya di sana sebagai pembunuh-pembunuh (serial) yang kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan, sangat terlibat dengan segala hal yang berhubungan dengan ‘hardcore’ pornografi di masa muda/remaja mereka. Bahkan sepanjang hidup mereka!

Patut sekali untuk diperhatikan, bahwa pada saat percakapannya dengan Dr James Dobson direkam awal tahun 1989, internet yang menawarkan situs-situs pornografi masakini masih belum ada!

“Dengan apakah seorang muda mempertahankan kelakuannya bersih? Dengan menjaganya sesuai dengan firman-Mu.” (Mazmur 119:9)

Pria muda tampan yang baru berumur 40 tahun lebih sedikit ini tampak amat cerdas, tenang, ‘normal’, bahkan menarik sekali, sehingga begitu mudah baginya untuk dapat menyusup masuk ke daerah kita, dan hidup bebas sebagai salah seorang tetangga kita, tanpa menimbulkan prasangka apa pun mengenai latar belakang kehidupannya yang sejati.

Lebih dari 10 tahun lamanya Ted Bundy berhasil mengelabui mata kedua orang tuanya, bahkan keempat saudara kandungnya, keluarga dan sahabat-sahabat karibnya, dengan menutup rapat rahasia hidupnya yang sangat mengerikan tersebut. Tidak ada seorang pun di antara mereka yang menduga, bahwa ia sebenarnya adalah pembunuh serial ternama, yang sudah dirasuk setan pornografi, dan yang sedang dicari dan dikejar-kejar oleh FBI!

Salah satu momen mengharukan yang dipercakapkan oleh Dr James Dobson dan Ted Bundy di tengah-tengah wawancara mengesankan tersebut, adalah uraiannya tentang pengalaman indah pertobatan hidupnya.

“Kasihanilah aku, ya Allah, menurut kasih setia-Mu, hapuskanlah pelanggaranku menurut rahmat-Mu yang besar.” (Mazmur 51:3)

John Tanner, seorang pengacara kristiani terkenal, sahabat karib Dr James Dobson, berhasil mendapatkan kepercayaan Ted pada masa proses pengadilannya yang berlangsung sangat lama. Bahkan ia dan isterinya, Marcia Tanner, berhasil menjalin persahabatan yang akrab dengannya. Melalui kesetiaan pelayanan kedua hamba Tuhan tersebut di dalam sel penjaranya selama bertahun-tahun, akhirnya mereka dapat melunakkan hati Ted, dan memenangkan jiwanya.

Di dalam surat kedua rasul Paulus kepada murid kesayangannya, Timotius, ia menasehati: “dan dengan lemah lembut dapat menuntun orang yang suka melawan, sebab mungkin Tuhan memberikan kesempatan kepada mereka untuk bertobat dan memimpin mereka sehingga mereka mengenal kebenaran, dan dengan demikian mereka menjadi sadar kembali, karena terlepas dari jerat Iblis yang telah mengikat mereka pada kehendaknya.” (2 Timotius 2:25-26)

Ted Bundy, si ‘pembunuh serial berdarah dingin’ ternyata bersedia untuk bertobat! Suatu berita yang sangat menggemparkan masyarakat dunia!

Beberapa kali ia berusaha menelan ludah sambil menahan derasnya cucuran airmatanya, pada saat ia mengungkapkan penyesalan hatinya di depan kamera atas perbuatan-perbuatan tak berperikemanusiaan yang pernah ia lakukan, sebelum Ted bertemu muka dengan Tuhan Yesus dan memutuskan diri untuk menjadi pengikut Kristus.

“Ketika jiwaku letih lesu di dalam aku, teringatlah aku kepada TUHAN, dan sampailah doaku kepada-Mu, ke dalam bait-Mu yang kudus.” (Yunus 2:7)

Ted mengakui dengan jujur, bahwa meskipun sebenarnya ia masih belum mau mati, hukuman yang harus ditimpakan kepadanya adalah setimpal dengan perbuatan-perbuatannya yang kejam. Tanpa ragu-ragu ia menyatakan, bahwa ia layak menerima hukuman terberat itu, sebab masyarakat dunia memang harus dilindungi dari orang-orang jahat seperti dia. Tetapi menurut Ted, meskipun dirinya dihukum mati, ia tidak akan dapat memperbaiki kesalahan-kesalahan yang sudah diperbuat olehnya. Jelas para korbannya tidak akan dapat dibangkitkan lagi.

Tetapi melalui percakapannya dengan Dr James Dobson tersebut, ia mengharapkan agar kesadaran umum mengenai akibat-akibat pengaruh pornografi, lembut ataupun keras, yang begitu mudah untuk didapatkan dan dibeli secara bebas di mana-mana, bisa ditingkatkan lagi. Agar peraturan-peraturan hukum mengenai masalah pornografi yang sudah tersebar luas tersebut, baik di negaranya maupun negara-negara barat yang lain, bisa direvisi dan diubah guna melindungi kesejahteraan hidup masyarakat dari orang-orang seperti dia, yang begitu mudah terpengaruh oleh kejahatan media ini.

Ted tidak bermaksud untuk menyama-ratakan semua kasus, bahwa setiap orang yang kecanduan pornografi pasti akan menjadi seorang penculik, pemerkosa atau pembunuh seperti dia. Tetapi kenyataannya adalah seperti yang sudah dijelaskan oleh Ted sebelumnya: Semua narapidana yang ia ketahui di penjara sebagai pembunuh-pembunuh (serial) yang kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan, sangat terlibat dengan segala hal yang berhubungan dengan ‘hardcore’ pornografi di masa muda/remaja mereka!

Ted Bundy menyadari kesulitannya untuk bisa mendapatkan pengampunan dari orang-orang, terutama dari keluarga korban-korbannya, mengingat perbuatan-perbuatan kejinya yang sudah menghebohkan masyarakat dunia. Ia mengakui kenyataan, bahwa ‘nasi sudah terlanjur menjadi bubur’! Mengikrarkan imannya Ted berkata, bahwa pengampunan atas dosa-dosanya hanya bisa didapatkan olehnya dari Tuhan saja.

Raja Daud melukiskan penyesalan dan pertobatannya: “Korban sembelihan kepada Allah ialah jiwa yang hancur; hati yang patah dan remuk tidak akan Kaupandang hina, ya Allah.” (Mazmur 51:19)

Dapat disimpulkan melalui hasil wawancara yang diabadikan tersebut, bahwa keotentikan pengakuannya pasti terjamin sekali.

Pertama: Karena Ted Bundy sudah lahir baru.

Kedua: Karena jawaban-jawabannya atas semua pertanyaan Dr James Dobson terdengar spontan dan bernada jujur, penuh emosi-emosi penyesalan yang transparan sekali.

Dan ketiga, yang terpenting: Siapakah di antara orang-orang yang sudah percaya, yang dalam waktu amat singkat (hanya beberapa jam kemudian) harus bertemu muka dengan Penciptanya, masih berani berdusta di depan umum?

Di awal dan akhir rekaman video yang berjudul ‘Pornography: Addictive, Progressive and Deadly’ dari kumpulan seri ajaran firman Tuhan untuk muda-mudi ‘Life on the Edge – Video #7′, Dr James Dobson mengatakan, bahwa orang-orang menganggap pertobatan hidup Ted Bundy adalah suatu tindakan yang amat ‘offensive’ (menjijikkan). Dan oleh karena itu, pengampunan dosa yang diterima olehnya, adalah suatu bukti ‘ketidak-adilan’ Tuhan. Bahkan banyak orang meragukan dengan sinis kemurnian pertobatan Ted, serta … motivasinya!

Menurut Dr James Dobson, banyak orang, bahkan orang-orang Kristen sendiri, berterus-terang mengutarakan kejengkelan hati mereka atas pertobatan Ted: “Enak saja, perbuatan jahatnya telah menghancurkan kehidupan berpuluh-puluh, bahkan beratus-ratus keluarga yang tidak bersalah. Kok gampang sekali bertobat, agar bisa diampuni dan masuk sorga! Bagaimana dengan korban-korbannya?”

Secara manusiawi, mungkin kita bisa mengerti, menyetujui dan membenarkan sikap ketidak-puasan mereka atas pertobatan Ted, seperti yang sudah pernah dilakukan oleh nabi Yunus atas pertobatan bangsa Niniwe.

Pada waktu nabi Yunus melihat, bahwa Tuhan mengampuni bangsa tersebut, ia menjadi marah sekali! (Yunus 4:1) Di luar rencana Tuhan, nabi Yunus telah mengambil keputusannya sendiri untuk menghakimi, bahwa bangsa itu tidak sepatutnya menerima karunia pengampunan dari Tuhan. Jadi ketika ia melihat, bahwa Tuhan justru tidak melakukan kehendaknya, ia menjadi amat sewot! Padahal ironis sekali, … nabi Yunus sendiri baru saja diampuni. Ia diberi kesempatan yang kedua oleh Tuhan!

“Lalu berfirmanlah TUHAN kepada ikan itu, dan ikan itupun memuntahkan Yunus ke darat.” (Yunus 2:10)

(Bersambung)

D.O.A.:
NYARIS TIADA MAAF (3)

PATUTKAH IA DISELAMATKAN?

Oleh: John Adisubrata

BENAK PORNO SEORANG PEMBUNUH

“Sebab upah dosa ialah maut; tetapi karunia Allah ialah hidup yang kekal dalam Kristus Yesus, Tuhan kita.” (Roma 6:23)

Pada tanggal 24 Januari 1989, tepat jam 7.16 pagi, Ted Bundy, seorang ‘serial killer’ yang paling termasyhur, dan yang pada waktu itu menjadi topik perbincangan media dunia di mana-mana, harus menjalani hukuman mati di atas kursi listrik salah satu penjara yang dijaga sangat ketat di Amerika Serikat. Ia dikenal oleh masyarakat umum sampai sekarang sebagai salah seorang dari pembunuh-pembunuh serial yang terkejam dan paling berbahaya di dunia.

Berita-berita mengenai penangkapan serta proses pengadilan kasusnya yang menghebohkan tersebut, menguasai halaman utama surat-surat kabar, majalah-majalah, dan melanda siaran-siaran berita di seluruh dunia dasawarsa itu, baik melalui radio maupun televisi. Ia dijuluki oleh massa sebagai seorang ‘pembunuh serial berdarah dingin’ yang sudah merampas hak-hak asasi manusia secara kejam sekali, yaitu dengan menculik, memperkosa, dan akhirnya membantai korban-korbannya guna menghapus semua jejak kejahatannya.

Sampai penangkapannya oleh polisi lalu lintas menjelang akhir dasawarsa ke-70, Ted Bundy berhasil menyembunyikan rahasia hidupnya yang sangat mengerikan tersebut lebih dari 10 tahun lamanya. Ketika ia sedang berada dalam perjalanan untuk membuang mayat korbannya yang terakhir, ia ditangkap oleh polisi, hanya karena mengendarai mobilnya di tengah malam buta dengan kecepatan yang melampaui batas-batas peraturan yang sudah ditetapkan.

Mempergunakan karismanya, dibantu oleh muslihat-muslihat licin yang sudah diperhitungkan dengan cermat, Ted selalu berhasil memikat dan mengelabui mangsa-mangsanya. Mereka tidak pernah menyangka, bahwa di hadapan pemuda sopan yang tampak begitu ‘normal’, kehidupan para wanita muda tersebut sedang diancam oleh mara bahaya keji yang tak terlukiskan.

Korban-korban Ted Bundy berjumlah 28 orang. Mereka semua adalah perempuan-perempuan dari berbagai tingkat sosial dan umur, mulai dari gadis-gadis remaja sampai wanita-wanita yang sudah dewasa.

Bahkan salah seorang dari korban-korbannya yang terakhir, adalah Kimberley Leach, seorang gadis yang baru menginjak usia 12 tahun. Gadis cilik itu disambar olehnya dari sebuah taman tempat permainan anak-anak di tengah kota, dilarikan dan diperkosa berulang-ulang kali sebelum dibunuh secara sadis sekali. Perbuatan keji tersebut dilakukan oleh Ted Bundy hanya untuk memenuhi dambaan pemuasan nafsu seksualnya, yang sudah berubah menjadi sangat tidak normal!

Publikasi mengenai riwayat hidup penjahat yang bernama buruk ini melanda media massa, baik melalui buku-buku biografi, maupun situs-situs internet. Tulisan-tulisan tersebut menceriterakan segala kemungkinan mengenai jati diri Ted, asal-usul keluarganya, bahkan peristiwa-peristiwa yang menyebabkan ia ‘menjelma’ menjadi seorang pembunuh tersadis dalam sejarah kriminologi di negaranya.

Bahkan ada seorang penulis yang mengkaryakan artikel khayalan cukup lucu, yang menghubungkan riwayat hidupnya dengan penggenapan nubuatan firman Allah atas bangsa Israel. Ada-ada saja!

Artikel-artikel yang beraneka-ragam tersebut sering menimbulkan pertanyaan-pertanyaan masyarakat mengenai realitas riwayat hidup Ted Bundy yang sesungguhnya. Tentu saja hanya Tuhan dan Ted yang mengetahui kebenaran detil kehidupannya yang sejati!

Sehari sebelum menjalani hukuman mati di atas kursi listrik penjara, dengan sengaja Ted Bundy memohon agar Dr James Dobson, pelopor acara kristiani ‘Focus on the Family’, datang menemui dan mewawancarainya dalam sel penjara, untuk meluruskan spekulasi-spekulasi yang sudah dikaryakan oleh media dunia mengenai dirinya.

Ia menerima begitu banyak tawaran wawancara lainnya dari berpuluh-puluh wartawan ternama di seluruh dunia, yang ingin menjenguk benak pikiran Ted menjelang jam-jam terakhir masa hidupnya. Tetapi ia menolak, dan bersikeras menghendaki hanya kedatangan tokoh kristiani ini dengan timnya, meskipun untuk memenuhi permintaannya tersebut, mereka harus datang dari tempat yang berjarak jauh sekali, menempuh perjalanan udara yang memakan waktu berjam-jam lamanya.

Ted Bundy menginginkan, agar Dr James Dobson merekam wawancara yang terakhir, sebelum ia menjalani hukuman mati keesokan harinya. Agar melalui rekaman video tersebut Ted mempunyai kesempatan penghabisan untuk mengutarakan penyesalan hatinya kepada keluarga para korbannya. Dan juga sekaligus meninggalkan ‘warisan’ yang diabadikan, agar sesudah ‘kepergiannya’, video wawancara tersebut bisa dipergunakan untuk menolong memperingati orang-orang lain, melalui pengalaman-pengalaman yang sudah pernah dilalui olehnya.

Suatu wawancara yang pasti dengan sejujurnya menggambarkan profil diri, keluarga dan asal-usul perbuatan-perbuatan jahat Ted Bundy, yang direkam secara profesional sekali untuk menciptakan suatu ‘record’ wawancara paling otentik guna membungkamkan mereka yang gemar menulis artikel-artikel khayalan mengenai dirinya.

Melalui wawancara singkat tersebut, ia ingin memperingati para keluarga, untuk selalu berjaga-jaga akan pengaruh-pengaruh pornografi dalam kehidupan generasi muda mereka, baik yang bersifat lembut maupun keras, yang ditawarkan oleh dunia bebas kepada mereka, melalui majalah-majalah bergambar maupun buku-buku bacaan.

Sebab Ted mengakui dengan terus terang, bahwa semua tindakan sadis yang dilakukan olehnya sepanjang hidup mudanya, hanya diawali oleh sebuah majalah porno, yang ditemukannya dalam sebuah keranjang sampah tetangga, pada waktu ia baru berumur kira-kira 12 tahun. Tindakan amat sembrono, yang dilakukan oleh tetangganya mengakibatkan Iblis menyuluh api ‘kecanduan’ Ted akan segala hal yang berhubungan dengan pornografi.

Secara sembunyi-sembunyi pemuda yang masih muda belia itu telah berubah menjadi seorang penggemar setia majalah-majalah dan buku-buku yang mengandung racun-racun pornografi bersifat ‘hardcore’, dalam usia amat dini!

Bahkan kecanduannya tersebut menjadi lebih meningkat lagi, ketika ia melihat untuk pertama kalinya gambar-gambar dalam buku-buku porno, yang menunjukkan hubungan-hubungan seksuil disertai tindakan-tindakan kejam yang diperagakan oleh para ‘pemeran’ di dalamnya.

Dan pada akhirnya, … pengaruh jahat buku-buku ‘haram’ tersebut mengakibatkan ketidak-puasan Ted Bundy akan hubungan-hubungan seks yang bersifat natural, karena Iblis, bapak segala dusta, telah mempengaruhinya dengan merubah makna seksuil ciptaan Tuhan yang sebenarnya. Tipuan Iblis sudah meracuni jalan pikirannya yang waras, karena ia sedang mempersiapkan Ted Bundy untuk mengikuti perjalanan bersamanya menuju ke neraka!

“Orang fasik tertangkap dalam kejahatannya, dan terjerat dalam tali dosanya sendiri.” (Amsal 5:22)

(Bersambung)

D.O.A.:
NYARIS TIADA MAAF (2)

PERTOBATAN YANG ‘MENJIJIKKAN’

Paragraphein brought this to my attention;

(Emhpasis is mine)

“His involvement with the pro-life movement is a natural–and not just because of Dobson’s Christian faith. He was adopted when he was 6 weeks old.”

“Many adopted children seek out their biological parents once they are old enough to do so legally. Dobson said he never has had the desire to find and meet his birth parents, chiefly because many such reunions, he believes, do not live up to expectations.”

“”I hear a lot of adopted kids talk about feeling that something is missing in life, about not being wanted. I say, ‘Do you understand the lengths parents go to adopt?’”"

“The two local ministries rely strictly on private donations, refusing to take tax dollars or public funds to avoid being controlled by government restrictions.“

” the local maternity home–which houses only teenagers–has had a nearly 40% adoption rate for residents since 1995 according to Doug Eberle, Executive Director. The reason? “The residents are not swayed by peer pressure, and they have almost constant counsel reminding them that their decision should be based on what’s in the best interest of the baby. Usually, when examined under the light of reality, they realize that adoption is the best choice for both them and the baby, based on where they happen to be in life.”"

“If a pregnant teen does not choose adoption, then marriage should be considered as the other good option.”

I don’t even need to say anything. It just speaks for itself.