Fifty Shades of Grey

400 million people have watched and according to USA Today Fifty Shades of Grey is still dominating at the box office.

Are those 400 million really going for the amazing story line? I think not.

Would I be lying if I said my interest wasn't piqued? Yes I would be. Of course it interests me.  I mean what woman wouldn't want to watch some relatively harmless (if you compare to porn) scenes to possibly liven up her own sex life?

I haven't read the books and I will never see the movie(s). I don't need to read or watch to know what the basic premise is.

And I have one question for the 400 million men and women who have watched this movie: would you want your son or daughter to be either one of these characters? I know I wouldn't. So if you wouldn't either why is it OK to watch a movie where someones son or daughter is portraying this. And while it is easy to sit back and say "well its only a movie, or its not even real" allow me to enlighten you; IT IS REAL!

It happens every day all over our world. Have you heard of sex trafficking?
"OK, you say but this was a consensual relationship." AND? That makes it OK? That this gorgeous billionaire takes a young innocent virgin and takes advantage of her in order to fulfill his sick fantasies that were birthed as a result of an abusive childhood. Do you know what happens to virgins in the sex trafficking industry? They are sold to businessmen who believe it to be good luck to have sex with virgins (click here to read more) then sold to brothels to be further exploited. Not unlike Christian Grey I'm afraid. He basically did the same thing, but because of his money and power did not actually purchase her just manipulated her for his own gain.

Take the same troubled childhood, and sick fantasies and add those to a relatively broke not-so-nice-to-look-at guy without a penthouse in the sky and he will find himself in jail in about 2.5 seconds and labeled a sex offender ruining the rest of his life.

How about all the followers of Christ reading the books or watching this movie? This is not about judgement or being holier than tho. After all I just admitted my interest IS piqued. But I choose not to indulge.
And here is why.
The Bible says, "To not look with approval on anything that is vile." Psalm 101:3 Would reading these books or watching this movie be considered vile? I am just wondering how someone can justify either one based on scripture alone? Much less common sense.

If you disagree please don't be shy, comment?

Explain to me how you would feel about your son or daughter being Christian or Anastasia?

Brian's additional guest Post:

Sorry folks I could not help but add my two cents here.

As someone who has seen and experienced first hand the trail of destruction pornography leaves, I will say I am shocked at the number of women who regard the books and this movie as "good".

As someone who preforms weddings, I would never expect to see any women agree to Christian's contract, devised by Christian’s lawyer, consenting to become his submissive (or “sub”), ceding control over her body, diet, hygiene, sleep, and wardrobe, and stipulating her tolerance for various sexual acts and accessories (manacles, hot wax, genital clamps, etc.). Imagine during your wedding ceremony if the grooms vows were not present and the brides were; "I vow to cede control of my body, diet, hygiene, sleep, wardrobe and will tolerate any form of sexual act presented at anytime, I guarantee you would see brides running off the alter and some grooms being laid out!

I see this simply as sick fantasy no more than a female version of Penthouse forum which I disagree with as well. The major difference is this has become mainstream and somehow accepted?

The problem stems from our society today, we have become a society of self. Are needs and desires are put before everyone and everything else whether it is morals or someone else's well being and until our society stops looking inward and starts looking outward and truly to God the problem will continue to get worse and those of you today who don't really see this as a big deal will be the ones who will be caught off guard later in life by it, unfortunately it will probably be too late.

Albert Pike once said,

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Searching for logic

As I checked my email for hundredth time, I sighed when nothing new popped up. What was I even waiting for? Less than 24 hours ago I submitted a third letter to our daughter in China and some new questions for the social worker there. I know they have to have time to translate and get it sent, I know they (our agency) are in the middle of moving to a new office, and I know, because of past times they say to give it a minimum of 3 days. 
I'm looking for answers to my questions but I am not really sure I want them. We have asked several times for them to ensure that someone, anyone has really and truly and thoroughly explained to her why she cannot stay where she is. We do not feel that has been done. Why does it matter?
For weeks I have been wrestling with this whole adopting an older child, a child specifically who is aging out of the system. I have been trying to wrap my head around it, and every time I try, I hit a wall.
I am a logical person. I am all about 2 and 2 making 4 and when they don't I just struggle. I like it when things make sense. 
This adoption of a child so old makes no sense. 
Now, before you freak out and question why I would pursue this or even go down this road, make no mistake I have no doubts we are supposed to do this. 

But think about it for minute. A family you have lived with for over 10 years has called you their daughter and you have referred to them as your mother, brother and sister, has told you they love you, have cared for you, seen you through surgery and sickness, have sent you to the best school and now...sorry, time to move on. What?!
OK, I get it, its China. They make their own rules, they always have. But these kids didn't decide to be orphans. They didn't choose to be born with cleft lip/palate, facial birthmarks, heart defects etc. They didn't choose abandonment and rejection from their birth parents. So how is it the Chinese Government deems them second class citizens? How are they the lowest of the low? It should be the opposite. As I write my heart and soul are so heavy. Its been this way for weeks. 
Oh sure we have heard from our girl on the other side of the world. She is sad to leave all she's ever known but thankful for a forever family. 
But what is going on inside of her heart and her head. How is she reconciling that all she has ever known is about to be ripped away from her in a matter of weeks. To move to the other side of the world and live with a family who, let's face it, look great in pictures and videos but she doesn't know us. She doesn't look like us, well, maybe one of us. 
I can't imagine the frustration and pain in her heart as I am sure she must question "why wouldn't you keep me? I'm a good girl, I do well in school, I do my chores and homework and do as I am told".
Can you even imagine for one second? This whole situation, this whole aging out system is so illogical. It makes no sense to rip a child away at 13 years old. What makes sense is to leave them where they are (if that is what they truly want) and pay for them to go to school and then college and help them have a future. At least here in the states a foster child leaving high school is guaranteed help with their studies. In China, there is no help for these kids. At 14 they are sent out of foster care and back to the local orphanage and by 16 or 18 they are on their own. No education and worst of all no chance to get one. They don't have money or family. They have NO ONE to fall back on. The statistics are sad at just how many end up on the streets and you can only imagine what happens then.
So great! We save one. ONE! It sounds so pathetic when said that way. And I am thankful. Thankful for the chance to do this. But it is not enough. It isn't near enough. And ultimately I just have to choose trust because God isn't about logic and everything making sense all the time is He? Otherwise there would be no need for faith.
So, even though I am sick of fundraising and begging people for money, and I hate to fly and I really don't care for Chinese anything (minus my kids) I know in my heart this isn't the end. And well, you people that we are so blessed to do life with and call friends...you better hang on because God is moving and this is only the beginning.

Blessings.

Living in the Land of "What If"

Where are you from is a common question everywhere I've lived. Since leaving Canada at age 12 its painfully obvious, pretty much everywhere I've moved that I am not from where I am currently living.
However, as obvious as that might be, where I actually live is not the state I currently reside.

For I am living in the land of "What If". Are you familiar with this place? Perhaps you also live here. I have a couple of friends that abide here with me. I have lived here for the better part of my life and I am so sick of this place. Sadly, I feel as if there is no picking up and moving on. I feel very stuck here in the land of What If. Its somewhat comfortable, familiar. But its also draining. The truth is, living in the land of what if is nothing more than worrying about what will probably never be or about most if not all of the things I cannot control. Living in sin. Why is it sin? Because Jesus said to "not worry about anything, NOT TOMORROW, not what we eat, drink or wear". He said to "cast our cares on Him because he cares for us". He said to "look at the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field, they neither sow nor reap yet your heavenly Father takes care of them". See 1 Peter 5:7 Matt. 6:25

This adoption, more than JG's has me playing the "what if" game. What if...she hates us...what if she doesn't want to come home with us...what if she has had some really bad stuff happen while in Foster Care...what if the plane crashes? On and on to the point of exhaustion. The what if game has me, in my mind, guessing every single possible scenario in only one direction...the negative one.

What about the land of promise? This is believing in and standing on God's promises and recognizing that while things will not always be perfect (in fact far from it most of the time) His promises are still true and trusting in His ways (which are higher than our ways) bring so much peace.

I encourage you today (as I also encourage and challenge myself) to get up move out of the land of What if and into God's promised land. Its not going to be easy or comfortable most of the time but the peace that carries you as you walk through it is well worth the journey.

A CUT FOR LOVE HAIR CUT FUNDRAISER- PLEASE SIGN UP BELOW!!!

We are definitely in the final weeks of preparation and both of our heads are spinning as we scramble to pull everything together.

In an effort to raise the final funds needed we are hosting our last fundraiser. 

So come on out and support us by getting a wet or dry cut from one of our four amazing stylists/barber's who between them have more than 40 years experience. 

Sunday Feb. 22nd 12-3

Minimum donation $10

To secure your spot and the stylist/barber of your choice please click the link below and also please share with everyone you meet. In the event we have more interest we can always secure another stylist/barber. 

CLICK HERE

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT!!!!