Religion
Evangelical to Catholic #22 - Celebrating the Ascension
[Note: this is part of a continuing series chronicling my journey from evangelicalism to Catholicism. This series is not meant to cause division, but to reveal division already there - and to spark honest discussion. As an evangelical I've heard and continue to hear lots of criticism of the Catholic...May 1, 2008 - 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Jesus and Muhammad compared
An impressively through and fact-based analysis: Jesus and Muhammad compared By William J. Federer What motivates fundamental Muslims to violence? Much effort has gone into answering this. Muslim apologists are quick to point out Christians have also committed violence. Secularists suggest anybody who believes in God is prone to violence,...April 25, 2008 - 6:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Oprah finds the New Age, ditches a Savior
Crosswalk published some of my thoughts on Oprah and the New Age today: What is 'New Age' Religion, and Why Can't Christians Get on Board? Barbara Curtis Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer If you haven't run into it before, it would be hard to avoid it now. Oprah's rolling out the red...April 18, 2008 - 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Is Islam a religion of peace?
Just reminding you about my other blog - today's thoughts: Is Islam a religion of peace?...August 16, 2007 - 6:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hamas kindergarten
Here's some food for thought: I can't tell you how important it is as parents to be intentional - to have a plan for the kind of adults you want to launch into the world. They need to prepared for a world that may be very different than the one...June 2, 2007 - 9:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Jonathan of Equality Loudoun asks "What does it mean to be a Christian?" and I try to answer
Jonathan wrote this as a comment on Lisa Miller/ Janet Jenkins custody battle - can a child have two mothers? and my answer became so involved that I'm moving the whole exchange up here for anyone with the dogged determination it will probably take to read it through :) Hi...May 16, 2007 - 9:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
50 States affirm belief in God
Do you know the Preamble for your state? Alabama 1901, Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution. . . . Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to...April 26, 2007 - 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Children need Jesus too!
Kristy recently wrote me about the "dinner wars" she was having with her almost-five-year-old daughter. After describing the mother/daughter deadlock over food and all the right strategies she'd used to no avail, she continued: A new streak of rebellion has trickled into my daughter and I am finding myself at...March 19, 2007 - 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Building stronger relationships
I'm not like a lot of people. I don't smolder and burn inside and pretend nothing's wrong while sending hostile vibes or being downright rude to someone I'm upset with. If I have a bone to pick with you, I'll pick it. That's because I've learned that the relationships worth...March 2, 2007 - 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Doug Phillips controversy - Take 2 - Recovering from spiritual abuse
As I’ve gone about my day, I’ve been flooded with further thoughts on the Doug Phillips/Jen Epstein situation – and to tell you the truth, though I’ve been told there are other controversies surrounding Doug’s ministry, I simply don’t have time to work on them. First of all, I feel...January 8, 2007 - 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack
The Doug Phillips controversy
Since I published Doug Phillips' excellent New Year's piece on forgiveness, several people have emailed me asking about the controversy surrounding the excommunication and shunning of a couple from his church, as well as attempts to discredit them in the wider Christian community. How does that square with the wisdom...January 7, 2007 - 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack
Matisyahu - A different kind of rabbi
From my son Josh: This reggae rabbi speaks more scripture in his music than a lot of Christian bands. Listen to his words:...January 3, 2007 - 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
The Nativity Story controversy
I was hoping to bypass the controversy, but the following comment on my strong recommendation of The Nativity Story (you really need to take your family to see it!) opened the door: I have to ask...what do you think of the fact that they are using a 16 y/o girl...December 22, 2006 - 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBack
A meeting of the Catholic and Evangelical minds
For two months, Regina Doman and I have been trying to get together. She had emailed me in September to introduce herself and we kept setting up dates to meet but you know how it is with mothers - things come up and time for friends becomes short. Last night...November 3, 2006 - 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Defending your faith
This has been in my Inbox for a while - sometimes the ones that need answering most take the longest for me to get to. Sorry! I am a Christian. I am 33 years old. I come from a "Christian" family. I have been having an on-going struggle with some...October 14, 2006 - 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Talking about New Age beliefs
Dear Barbara, I know that you're crazy busy with your writing (good luck, I look forward to reading your most recent books!), but I wanted to know your opinion on a piece I saw on the Today show this morning on NBC. There's a man from Puerto Rico, claiming to...September 4, 2006 - 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Read-Aloud Bible Stories
I have recommended these books here before, but after Tripp read this story to our kids at our morning devotions, I thought it might help if you had a taste of the author's ability to translate the Bible into child-friendly prose, while maintaining the truth of the passage. This is...May 24, 2006 - 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Randy Alcorn on Grace and Truth
A Lesbian Responds to Grace & Truth by Randy Alcorn Some churches today embrace truth, but need a heavy dose of grace. Other churches talk about grace, but cry out for a heavy dose of truth. I invited an outspoken lesbian activist, who was also a prominent abortion activist, to...April 29, 2006 - 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Wife Swap Part 4
Dear Readers - Thanks again, everyone for your caring and taking the time to comment here on this subject. Mrs. S and Jamie - both your comments indicated that I might be interested in this idea to get myself on TV. People who've been reading here for a while might...April 29, 2006 - 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Wife Swap Part 3
Nickey wrote: Adultery doesn't just occur when sex is in the picture. God requires you to submit to *your* own husband. The idea of switching places with the wife of some other mans youth is completely out of place for a Christian woman and you should have no part of...April 27, 2006 - 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack
Easter sermon tidbits
Do you take notes during sermons? I do. And I always joke about using my pastor's material. :) But really, sometimes pastors just say things that knock your socks off and I like to be ready with pen and paper when they do. We go to Blue Ridge Bible Church...April 21, 2006 - 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Family Worship
I saw this at Angela's new blog Trusting Daily and had to lift it for you to see too! Thanks Angela for this reminder/motivator! ~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~ Is Family Worship Practiced in Your Home? By Steve Brandon I distinctly remember the place. I also remember the time. About nine years ago I...April 3, 2006 - 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Family Devotions / Teaching Children about Jesus
A few readers have asked me about good Bible books and devotion time for little children. I'm gathering my thoughts on this as I write, reflecting on what we have done and are doing in our family now. I really have to give a plug here for family devotions...March 20, 2006 - 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Which Bible do you use?
I want to say thank you to those of you who write me and then have to wait so long - perhaps thinking your question drifted into a black hole somewhere - until I get around to posting and answering. Like all of you, my days are often spent...March 9, 2006 - 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack
Integrating the Sacred and the Secular
Actual Unretouched Photo was the second blog I ever read, and the first that touched my heart. Over the past 14 months I've gotten to know Mel a little bit and it is amazing how much we think alike, though our backgrounds are very different and we live on opposite...March 2, 2006 - 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
A Hindu convert to Christianity
I've been corresponding lately with a young woman who is curious about Christianity but not ready to commit her life to Christ. Something I was writing to her the other day reminded me of this story I have on file and I thought you might enjoy it. The following parable...February 20, 2006 - 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
How to treat homosexuals?
The following article was published in The Plain Truth last year. The article within the article "NIMBY - Now In My Back Yard" was published in World magazine 8/21/99. Rethinking My Views About Homosexualityby Barbara Curtis Oscar was the first gay man I knew well. It was 1973 and I’d...January 31, 2006 - 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack
Randy Alcorn on End of the Spear
I love Randy Alcorn - he is a man who truly sacrificed everything for his beliefs. I met him at Mount Hermon several years ago when he was keynote speaker. He is a humble and kind and gracious man. So I am truly blessed that he has invested personally in...January 31, 2006 - 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack
End of the Spear - Take Two
I posted the other day about The End of the Spear controversy over the casting of a gay actor in the lead role of Nate and Steve Saint. Though I wrote asking Jason Janz to reconsider his position, I received no answer from him. Not surprising as his bashing...January 30, 2006 - 9:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack
Legalism vs Grace in Les Miserables
I promised a while back to blog an article I published in Plain Truth on my favorite book, Les Miserables. Now that the End of the Spear has opened up a can of legalistic worms, I thought the timing was right. If you decide to read Les Miserables, you can...January 24, 2006 - 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
End of the Spear - How about End the Christian Witchhunt?
I got spammed this morning by Jason Janz with some heroic epic about his own personal crusade to save the Christian world from the terrible threat of The End of the Spear - a movie on the redemption of the native tribe who killed the five missionaries including Jim...January 23, 2006 - 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBack
Thy word I have hid in my heart. . .
I've said before I don't have a lot of time to go a-visitin' other blogs (say that with a Southern accent, which I hope I'm showing more of sine moving to Virginia three years ago, though the area I live in isn't very thick). But God seems to make...January 16, 2006 - 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Post-Thanksgiving ponderings
As promised, yesterday's Thanksgiving picture. A smaller group than last year as Jasmine and her family went to Ohio to spend the day with her father and Matt didn't come either. I won't pretend that our family is perfect. Right now we are in the midst of a lot...November 25, 2005 - 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Hooray for Gideon Bibles!
I remember once when we were involved in the New Age - chanting and meditating every morning, having visions of our past lives, creating our own reality - Tripp and I started going to an Episcopal church full of old people who made a big fuss over us and our...September 23, 2005 - 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Terri's in God's hands now, as are we all
Mel asked what I think about Terri Schiavo. I really have not wanted to write about this because it is too sad. When I see the film of Terri's mother cradling her head and Terri's eyes lighting up and the corners of her mouth lifting, it reminds me...March 28, 2005 - 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Choosy Beggars
Long ago, when I was a D.C. latchkey kid, my mother would leave a couple dollars and a list for me to go to the store after school. I'd walk down New Hampshire Avenue to "our" grocery store, load a basket, cross my fingers I'd have enough money not...March 8, 2005 - 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
And people think Christianity is weird
Re: DNA Confirms Parents of 'Baby 81': These parents have really been through hell trying to get their baby back. Can you imagine? Eight other couples claimed the baby, so they had to wait for DNA testing to validate their claim. Thank God they will be reunited! But the parents...February 15, 2005 - 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Walking the walk #2
Apropos of yesterday's post about women in church -- and I guess the 1/30 one on Kelly Hollowell -- here's a little more on where I'm coming from: "A man's life is always more forceful than his speech." ...February 10, 2005 - 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In quietness and confidence
I don't know about the issue of women in church leadership. For a former radical feminist who became a follower of Christ at 38 and then had to sort out my role as wife and mother through a new prism, it seems odd to encounter women searching for...February 9, 2005 - 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
