Christian Worldview on Transgender Issues from a Medical Perspective

This is an EXCELLENT resource from the Christian Medical and Dental Association that defines and describes sexuality and transgender issues from a Christian perspective:

https://cmda.org/resources/publication/transgender-identification-ethics-statement

Here it is summarized:

Biblical: God created humanity as male and female, they are morally and spiritually equal, and are created to have roles that are in some respects alike and in other respects wonderfully complementary.  They are all loved by God, struggle with moral failure and fall short of God’s standards, thus they need forgiveness that God provides through Christ alone.  As fallen creatures with a sinful nature, this is expressed in many ways, including sexuality and can result in confusion of gender identity and sexual immorality.  The divine purpose of sex is for procreation and facilitating unity in the lifelong commitment of marriage between one man and one woman, which fosters a secure and nurturing environment for children and reflects the unity of Christ and the church.

Biological: Sex is an objective biological fact determined genetically at conception by the allocation of X and Y chromosomes to one’s genome, immutable throughout one’s lifetime, and cannot be changed at will.  Humans are sexually dimorphic, and the phenotypes are the outworking of sex gene expression which shapes sex anatomy, sex hormone secretion, sex differences in the development of the CNS and other organs. Procreation requires genetic contributions from both a male and a female, and anomalies of human biological sex are an outcome of the fall and do not invalidate God’s design in creation.

Social: Gender identity issues are complex, and removing traditional definitions and boundaries is not a requirement for self-actualization. Finding one’s identity within God’s design is the secret to a more healthy and fulfilled life, and is not decided by choice and desire but by nature. God’s design will always transcend culture.  Transgender ideology should not be imposed on all society or healthcare professionals based on reasonable disagreements on scientific, moral or religious grounds, but are protected by the freedoms of speech and religious liberty.

Medical: It is well documented that transgender individuals who use cross-sex hormones and undergo sex reassignment surgery have an increased incidence of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and risky sexual behaviors.  Hormones that block puberty inhibit normal growth and fertility and if taken during adolescence is associated with increased risks, including HTN, blood clots, stroke, and some types of cancer. Some studies suggest that sex altering surgery has uncertain and potentially harmful psychological effects and can mask deeper problems. Transient gender questioning can occur during childhood, is somewhat malleable and influenced by psychosocial experiences. It is exceedingly rare for people to have chromosomal and phenotypic sex characteristics that are in discord, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ambiguous genitalia, and androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Ethical: Medicine rests on science and should not be held captive to demands or desires that contradict biological reality. Sex reassignment operations are physically harmful because they disregard normal anatomy and function, which are not a disease. Dissatisfaction cannot be remedied medically or surgically. Gender identity disorder should not be discarded on the basis of social activism. Spiritual, psychological, and social support are needed, as hormonal or surgical interventions only lead to further spiritual turmoil and distress.  Parents should not intervene on behalf of the child with hormone or surgical treatments, as children lack the ability to consent and can have lifelong physical, psychological and social consequences.  The purpose of medicine is to heal the sick, not collaborate with psychosocial disorders, and altering normal sexual anatomy to conform to transgender desires disrupts health. The inability of men to bear children is not an illness to be remedied surgically.  Transgender designations may conceal biological sex differences relevant to medical risk factors, so biological sex documentation is necessary in the medical chart, and any alteration of gender characteristics recorded factually.

Christian Community and Healthcare Professionals: Transgender patients should be treated with respect, compassion, love and civility, in a non-judgmental manner consistent with the humility and love Jesus modeled and commanded we show all people.  Those with a biblical or traditional view of human sexuality should not be discriminated against or forced to provide care they believe is morally wrong or harmful to the patient. There should be a genuine effort to understand and respond to the psychological distress, accepting them as a person but not necessarily agreeing with their ideology.  

Here are a couple other great links:

From Focus on the Family:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/sexuality/transgenderism/understanding-transgenderism

From the American College of Pediatricians:
http://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/gender-ideology-harms-children

Can Atheists Be Good People?

I have heard it said that atheists want to communicate that they can be good people without God in their lives.  They deny the existence of God, which differs from agnostics, who say you can't know for sure.  Well, to begin with, the Bible says that no one is truly good but God (Romans 10:18).  Romans 3:10-12: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.: "

A civilized culture that is founded in biblical, godly wisdom will have laws that reflect goodness, however.  Being in that culture will overflow into the citizen's worldview.  When goodness and justice are being upheld around them, they will form habits that will reflect that goodness.  However, as stated in Romans, in ourselves we are not good.  Our righteousness is as filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” 

However, one of the arguments for the existence of God is that we do have a basic sense of morality ingrained within us because we are made in the image of God.  Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."  We care for our children.  We protect the innocent.  We have the capability to love.  Again, our sin nature inside us is dead spiritually until we accept Christ, and even then that old nature wars against the new nature that is saved.  But people who have rejected God and His existence, which by the way does not eliminate Him, only denies Him, can still perform good acts. 

People who are cynical and don't want to believe in anything they cannot see or touch may still donate money to the poor, for example.  A kind deed it is!  And someone who does believe in God can do a terrible thing, such as murder someone.  Why is this?  Because we are made in God's image, so we have some of His likeness, but because of sin every one of us, believers and nonbelievers, still have a sinful, corrupt nature.  We were created perfect, but are tainted and stained now.  We're in essence damaged goods.

What do we do?  2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  John 3:36: " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  Trust in Christ, be saved, and you will have the Holy Spirit living in you to help you reject sin and walk in newness of life.

Is the antichrist here now?

The antichrist hasn't come yet, but Jesus said to watch for the signs of the end times, and it is getting closer. Things are being set up in our world now. When the antichrist comes, he will be strong and authoritative and lead people to believe we have world peace, and it will be peaceful for 3 1/2 years. "Peaceful" in the fact that anyone who doesn't follow his rule will be murdered in the name of patriotism. He will be a world ruler, we will have a one world religion, one world currency, people will buy and sell with a computer code on their hand or forehead, and if you don't take that computer code, you will be murdered as a rebel. NOW is the time to get your heart right with God and accept Jesus because once the rapture of the church occurs, these things will take place, and you will be murdered if you choose Christ, and if you reject Him, you will be deceived and believe all that is happening is good and you will experience the worst 2nd half of that tribulation (the other 3 1/2 years of 7 total years) the world has ever known, people crying to the rocks to fall on them. God's wrath will be unleashed, and people will die in their sins and spend eternity in hell, separated from God and all that is good and righteous forever. Everything the Bible has ever predicted has come true, and these things still are yet to come, and you can be sure they will come. My message to the world is: trust Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior and Lord now while you still have time. 2 Corinthians 6:2: "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. The way - we want to find the path to God! The truth - the truth will set you free; we don't want lies, we want truth. The life - we want life, not death. JESUS is still the answer, He is the way, the truth and the life. It's a narrow road. Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The majority of people won't heed this warning. Don't let that be you.

An Intelligent Analysis of What's Really Behind the Transgender Issue

I am sharing a couple links to great articles that break this transgender issue down to better understand the agenda behind it.  We are truly not helping people when we close our eyes to reality and real issues behind the symptoms.

http://dailysignal.com/2016/05/16/a-former-transgender-persons-take-on-obamas-bathroom-directive/

http://www.wnd.com/2016/05/whats-really-behind-americas-transgender-mania/

Gender Ideology Harms Children

This is an excellent report by the American College of Pediatricians.   It states, "The American College of Pediatricians urges educators and legislators to reject all policies that condition children to accept as normal a life of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex. Facts – not ideology – determine reality."  We need to spread the word, and stop bad legislation that can further harm America's children.

http://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/gender-ideology-harms-children


Listen to "The Truth of the Matter" song

Franklin Graham's Response to Obama's Bathroom Decree

Excellent post by Franklin Graham and shared by Dr. Ben Carson. A country that lacks moral integrity will destroy itself from within, like a cancer. External enemies can more easily be defeated by our uniting together against them. But what about internal conflict, an "in your face" rejection against God by our citizens and leaders? The very people who claim everything has to be proven by science are now saying that ideological claims about gender being different from one's biological sex are true and right and normal and to be upheld by civil rights protection? And rather than the states having the power, the president is AGAIN overstepping his authority over all the states and making laws, which belongs to the legislative branch of government. I'm in culture shock! I shouldn't be because we've been heading down this road for a while, but we have got to wake up and use our voices while we still can!

http://injo.com/2016/05/606021-franklin-graham-nails-obama-with-response-to-bathroom-order-asks-question-millions-are-thinking/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=partners&utm_campaign=ods&utm_term=prm6

Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, and Rock 'n Roll

Sex outside of marriage and outside of God's design for mankind, drugs that are used for recreation or inappropriately used as "self-medicating", tobacco, alcohol, and rock 'n roll - what do all of these things have in common?  These are all things that should not be so named among Christians.   In other words, they have no place in the life of a Christian.  NO PLACE.

There was a time when preachers preached hard the Word of God, conviction occurred in the souls of men, and they were wonderfully and gloriously saved.  They went home and threw out their rock 'n roll albums, they stopped cursing, they dumped their alcohol down the drain, they cut up their cigarettes, they threw out their porn magazines, and they marched forward for Christ as a NEW creature.  Old things were passed away, and all things became new for them.

2 Corinthians 5:17:Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I'm going to step back and tell you an interesting story with two blessings.  I was at a book signing a week or two ago, and I didn't sell a thing.  Two young men were walking their dog and came by my table near the end of the day, and looked at my books.  They were interested in what I was doing, trying to reach young people for Christ through  my writings and songs.  They only had $5 left, so they gave it to me as a donation.  I said, "Oh, why don't you take an I Will Stand book." He said, "I'll tell you what.  Give that book to someone you think needs it."  "Agreed."

Fast forward to today.  This afternoon I was at another book signing, and again, sold nothing.  But something else beautiful happened.  There was another ministry table in front of this coffee house where I was, and it was for Teen Challenge of New England.  This is a faith based ministry that brings hope and healing through the Word of God to those addicted to drugs or alcohol.

I got talking to one of the young men who was at the table.  I had asked him to take my picture in front of my book table, which I always like to get whenever I do a book signing.  He noticed my books, and asked questions about what I wrote about.  I told him, and he really liked what I was doing.  He gave his wonderful testimony about how the Lord delivered him from crack cocaine and heroine addictions.  He gave testimony of how happy he is now, but how turned off to God he was at the beginning of his journey into drugs and alcohol.  He actually grew up in a Christian home, but saw hypocrisy and abuse by those who claimed the name of Christ.  No thanks.  He wanted nothing to do with that.

He ended up needing rehab.  It was a Christian rehab facility out of state that he went to, and finally was able to deal with the anger he had inside.  He had learned to cope with his problems by using his fists, and now he used prayer and Scripture to find his strength.  He is so happy now, and while he has some social anxiety to still deal with, he enjoys helping others find their way.

He has a younger brother who is at a crossroads.  He felt very burdened for him, as he fears he may choose to go into drugs and alcohol like he did.  He is trying to help him find the Lord, but of course has to tread carefully and can't force him.  I explained that a nurse friend of mine had given one of my I Will Stand books to her nephew who was in a drug rehab facility, and it helped change his life.  He recovered and decided to help others to not go down that same path.  This is where that book needed to go: to his brother.  I gave it to him, and he thanked me, and said he just bought an envelope and stamps, so could send it to him.  I feel like I was able to pass that blessing along that started with those two young men at the first book signing, and that gave me great joy, even though I sold nothing.

So that was blessing #1.  Blessing #2 was the discussion we had about drug addiction - from his perspective.  That's what I wanted.  I hear healthcare providers and conservatives on TV say that marijuana is fine for adults to use, as long as they are responsible, and using it like they would alcohol.  You just shouldn't be excessive in its use.  I wanted to hear his perspective on this philosophy.  So here it is.

Basically, he said that no one becomes a heroin addict right away.  No one starts shooting up with needles in their arms.  They start small.  If you ask a heroin or crack cocaine addict what they started with, they will say "weed" or marijuana.  Now, he knows a lot of people who smoke marijuana and they seem just fine.  They use it to relax themselves, cope, feel better, and when it gets out of their systems, they're not sick.  It's not like the withdrawals from heroin in which you feel like things are crawling under your skin and you feel terribly sick, and you know that for $5 you can take a tiny bit of heroin, and you will instantly feel better. I've seen heroin-withdrawing patients in 4 point leather restraints (that means both arms and both legs are restrained) when I worked in the ICU, and they had super human strength as they writhed in agony from the withdrawals, and we were medicating them heavily with sedating and anti-anxiety medication.  

He also noted that marijuana gives you twice as much tar in your lungs and risk for cancer as tobacco.  And people who use it, while they do not get physically ill, they become mentally dependent.  They use it as a coping mechanism, and feel they have to have it to feel good with eating, anxiety, etc.  They might not consciously think about it; they just need it to get through their day.  

The problem with alcohol and marijuana is that it is socially acceptable, and more and more readily available and financially reasonable in cost.  And yet how many car accidents involve a driver with alcohol or drugs in their system?  People who get high can barely keep their eyes open, and their judgments are not precise.  I've seen patients under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and the changes it makes.  He was witness to a successful man who hit absolutely rock bottom, losing everything he had, because of alcohol.  It destroyed his life.  He didn't intend to become an alcoholic as he began to socially drink, nor do weed users intend to be heroin addicts.  It's progressive.  Not all will become that, but all that become that started in that place.  Why play with fire?  Why be controlled by a substance?  Why alter your mind?  The best way to quit a destructive habit is to never start it in the first place.  That is the healthier and smarter choice - to abstain, and it's a choice that each of us has to make.

Christian, please see the foolishness of this type of lifestyle.  I know you think you have Christian liberty, and that you can control yourself.  But Satan would love nothing more than to snag you into his grip and ruin your life.  You laugh, you socialize, you have fun now, but there are danger lights going off that you are either ignoring or failing to see.  My stepfather was an alcoholic and hurt me, hurt himself, and hurt my mother.  I have others close to me who drank wine for social and coping purposes, and it completely destroyed their lives until they could be freed from it, sometimes bound after losing everything.  The young man I spoke with ended up in jail, and that was helpful for him, because he was not in contact with it.  It was difficult for him to get out of jail and try to live life without using it, when that became a normal part of his daily life.  It entraps, making you like a caged bird.  Proverbs 6:27: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?"

Christian, will anyone give you a nickel for your testimony (in other words, respect you) when you are living the life of the unsaved while claiming you belong to Christ?  What are you doing to the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20:"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.")?  This applies to gluttony, too.  We can destroy our bodies with improper foods, and that is something we need to avoid also.  What about listening to loud music that injures your ears, or music that is dangerous to your soul?  Are you straddling the fence?  God desires people who will choose to serve Him.  

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” 

Joshua 24:15: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

If you are battling with addictions, please check out Teen Challenge.  Adults are welcome, too.  It's a program that offers hope and will help you gain victory over your addictions.

https://www.teenchallengeusa.com/

The Slippery Slope of Transgender Philosophies

A friend sent this to me, and I thought it was worth sharing.  Will you please consider in this debate where this slippery slope leads?  I am not minimizing this issue, but rather believe there are hurting, spiritually unhealthy people who are not getting the healing they need and deserve.  By trying to "normalize" a dysphoria, they are ignoring the real problems.  This is a problem of the spirit that people are trying to solve with the physical. 

The Absurdity of the Transgender Position

We are told that one’s gender is not determined by physical reality (whether someone is actually a male or female) but is determined by one’s mental state (that one’s gender may be whatever gender a person thinks it should be whether it is based on physical reality or not).

The person may say something like this:  “I am actually a female trapped in a male body, so I should be recognized as a female [even though I have male equipment] and allowed to use the ladies’ room and female locker room, etc..”

The absurdity of this kind of thinking can be illustrated by the following examples:

“I am actually a 22 year old trapped in a 16 year old body, and therefore I should be allowed to vote.”

“I am actually a 21 year old trapped in a 19 year old body, and therefore I should be able to purchase alcohol.”

“I am actually a black person trapped in a white person’s body and therefore affirmative action should apply to me.”    [Remember the case of Rachel Dolezal who claimed to be black even though her parents knew this was not true.]

“I am actually a female tennis player trapped in a male tennis player’s body, and therefore I should be allowed to compete against women.”    [The Women’s Tennis Association needs to get prepared for this, as well as women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, etc.]    Since the Creator has endowed men with superior strength, an average male professional in a sport could be a superstar if he were to compete against women.  

In fact this has already happened:

    The UFC women's bantamweight champion was cornered this week [9/19/14] by TMZ and asked about controversial transgender women's fighter Fallon Fox, who recently won a fight on the independent circuit by TKO. Fox was born a man, but had gender reassignment surgery eight years ago at age 30.    

    "In Fallon Fox's case, I think that she has an unfair advantage," Rousey said in the video interview. "It's outside of her control, but it's unfortunately her scenario. It's unfortunate, especially for her competition as well."

    Tamikka Brents, Fox's opponent at Capital City Cage Wars in Illinois last week, said she suffered a broken orbital bone, a concussion and needed seven staples in her head following the bout. Brents, an Invicta FC veteran, was stunned by Fox's strength and power.
    
    “I’ve fought a lot of women and have never felt the strength that I felt in a fight as I did that night," Brents said in a Whoa TV interview. "I can’t answer whether it’s because she was born a man or not because I’m not a doctor. I can only say, I’ve never felt so overpowered ever in my life and I am an abnormally strong female in my own right."
Other absurd examples could be added.  When people choose not to operate in the realm of reality, there is no end to where this could go.  For example, “Today I self-identify as Bill Gates. I’m Bill Gates trapped in the body of a pauper. I’m planning on going to the bank to withdraw millions from my savings account.”

Here’s what seems to be an inconsistency with the LGBT doctrine:

They teach that if you are born gay then you are gay and this cannot be changed. It is part of one’s physical, genetic make-up [in their view].   [And they are especially outraged if a gay person gets saved and abandons his gay lifestyle.]

But they also teach that if you are born male (or female) then this can be changed even though it is part of your physical, genetic make-up.

So they believe being born gay is irreversible, but being born male (or female) is reversible.  To them, gender genetics can be reversed but gay genetics cannot be reversed.  Seems very inconsistent.

The Christian position is the opposite: Being gay is reversible (by God’s grace) but being born male or female is not reversible. God can transform sinners, but God made people male and female and this is immutable.

It's Not Business, It's Personal

One thing that I have not liked at all is the name calling done in the name of politics.  Once someone gets their way, they then basically say, "I was just kidding!"  There's an old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."  Really?  Have you ever been called a name?  I was called a name when I was a kid that stuck with me for many years!  I was called a "four-eyed freak" because I wore glasses.  Glasses were not so glamorous back then, and most kids did not wear them.  I had them from the time I was 4 yrs. old.  It wasn't until I was an adult that I was able to go to contacts.

I remember a movie called, "You've Got Mail" that stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.  There was a scene in which Tom Hanks, or "Joe Fox" told Meg's character that him putting her out of business wasn't personal, it was just business.  She protested, saying that it might have been just business to him, but it was personal to her.  And shouldn't everything start by being personal?

I wrote a song based on the truths from the book of Proverbs in the Bible called, "It's Not Business, It's Personal."  I hope this song will minister to your soul, and show the importance of watching what we say and how we treat people, even and especially in our business relationships.

Listen to "It's Not Business, It's Personal"

We Need to Educate on America's Original Ideals That Made Her Great

Some of the things that made America great was entrepreneurism (being able to come to this country and work hard to make your own living rather than being under socialism or communism where you are told what you have to do for work and/or having to give the majority of your pay to the big government), personal responsibility in our conduct (treating others with respect, not slandering others, and this includes journalism), honesty and integrity in business, religious freedom and freedom of conscience, valuing life (esp. human life) as sacred in which ending life on purpose is unacceptable, upholding the law and respecting law enforcement, etc. One of the main things immigrants cherished was the freedom to choose their work and make a good living on their own with hard work and determinism. It wasn't a culture of what our government could do for them, but how they could contribute to this great country to make it greater by using their skills and talents, everyone doing what they can to improve the world around them. This was done with a biblical world view, fearing God, teaching their children to love God and respect others, taking care of their bodies and spirits by promoting good health, and being good in general. There was a quote: America is great because she is good. When she ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.

On the topic of our 1st amendment rights, that is one of the things that makes America great is the freedom of speech! Where we have gone off the beaten path is that people are afraid to discuss issues anymore for fear of persecution. Our culture in general has become immature, in which we cannot have lively, intelligent debate, but rather attack each other personally. People are afraid of being wrong, so they cease to use rational arguments and instead lash out, get violent, insult, call names, and make fools of themselves. It is much more appropriate and mature to tease out issues respectfully and intelligently, do the research and be able to defend yourself. I have learned much by shutting my mouth and listening to the other side. That has molded me even better than I could do myself, because there have been areas in which I was wrong or misinformed, or things I simply hadn't thought of, and I learned from the opposite side. Or sometimes I get the opportunity to hear the other side, and now I know where they are coming from and can even better defend why I think I am right.

On the topic of freedom of religion, freedom of religion means that everyone has the freedom to practice their religion, or choose not to practice any religion. The public square was not meant to be devoid of religion, but to welcome all religion, to practice your faith peacefully, but to practice it openly. That was very important to our founding fathers, who were persecuted for their beliefs. We used to have state religions, and that isn't right, that's what they were escaping from. No one should be required, but all should be allowed without threat of persecution.  Separation of church and state was not made to protect the government, but rather to protect the people so that the government could not interfere with their conscience and faith.  Now, if religion breaches other laws, such as murders people or breaches the peace, then certainly the law can get involved.  

There needs to be education in the public schools on patriotism and our nation's heritage, the various kinds of government, etc.  I'm watching interviews of people who have no idea about our rich heritage or what socialism means.  That is a burden on my heart.  I'd love to go to some schools, give out little American flags, and teach these things, quote some of our great founding fathers, and stir up patriotism, love of God, love of family, and love of country.

My Solution to the North Carolina Bathroom Bill

About North Carolina, instead of everyone attacking them and boycotting them, I think we need to help with a better solution. First of all, I would like to publicly commend North Carolina for taking a bold stand and hearing the valid concerns of their parents for their children, and actually doing something about it.  Kudos to them!  However, I can see the other side of it, how people who have had sex change operations and look very much like the opposite sex now, have perhaps looked like that for 15 years, would feel very awkward going into their birth bathroom. And people would think they are in the wrong room, which will cause more chaos and anxiety. And how would we uphold this law? Strip search?

We are in a corrupt culture, and sin has taken us down a road of no return. I think the only viable solution is reconstruction of bathrooms. They all have to be individual rooms, no more shared bathrooms. It will cost a lot of money, but that is the price for this situation we have put ourselves in. This way also, dads can go in with their daughters, moms with their sons, no problem. More room for handicapped people. Like restaurants - they usually have individual rooms, and some malls have a family room. They can have a diaper changing area in each as well. There may be a longer wait in line, but that's the cost. Put up several bathrooms in larger places like schools and malls. it won't take up more space, they will still have the toilets, they just have to build walls and doors with locks, and put a sink in each room. No more shared showers - have individual rooms that have the shower and a changing area inside the locked room.  I never liked the idea of shared showers anyway, as I'm very modest.  That's a possible solution that would work for everyone, and I think it's necessary for this culture we are in.

FINISH STRONG!

I am saddened by the many elderly who come by my table at book signings and say that their children, whom they brought up in church, no longer go to church, nor have any interest in going to church.  They have body language that says they are powerless and disappointed.  In turn, they grieve for their grandchildren who don't even go to church at all.

Are they powerless?  Do elderly parents and grandparents have the power to have a godly influence on their children?  They would argue that they can't go against their children's wishes, and can't force their children or grandchildren to go to church.  I would agree with that.

As I thought more about this, I tried to brainstorm on things they could do.  I have talked with one elderly woman who would ask if the grandchildren could sleep over night Saturday and go to church with grandma on Sunday morning, and sometimes that was acceptable to the parents.  She would read Bible stories to them, and teach them biblical values and principles when she had them over.  There were definitely positive things she could do that would not go against the parents.

I recall a pastor friend of mine who was the leader of a Senior Saints ministry at his church, and he said he encouraged them to "finish strong."  He was probably basing this on the verse from 2 Timothy 4:7 which says:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 

Finishing strong means living a genuine, godly Christian life until the very end.  Don't turn to drinking or drugs at the end.  Don't forsake church or your faith.  Don't turn on your TV before you spend time in God's Word and prayer.  Are you praying for your children?  Are you praying for your grandchildren?  I mean REALLY praying with fervency?  Are you living a life that reflects Christ?  How much do you really value the Bible and the morals it teaches?  How important do you believe going to church really is?  Do they see you going faithfully?  Do they see how important God is to your personal life, do you tell them this, and do you have a testimony to back it up?

This generation can spot a phony a mile away.  No one respects a phony.  If they can respect you and see that your faith is strong and genuine, they will want that and be attracted to it.  They don't want a bunch of do's and don'ts that have no meaning or purpose.  They will, however, be attracted to the real deal.

Are you showing them what the Christian walk looks like...in real time?  Every day are you consistent?  If you feel like you have a hard time defending the Christian faith, you are not alone.  I wrote a book to help people defend their faith, because quite frankly, even after being a Christian for almost 40 years, I needed to do some research and get it down so I could do a better job at that myself.  It used to be that people took for granted that God existed, the Bible was true and accurate and reliable, that church was important, basic morals were a virtue, truth existed, etc. but we are in a new world here in America where we have to "pre-evangelize" before we can evangelize and tell the Gospel.  There is a lot more ground work to do to convince people to listen to God's Word so their faith can grow.  Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  

The Holy Spirit can work in their hearts and souls as they come by faith, and that is the only way they can receive Christ as their Savior.  Ephesians 2:1: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."  The Holy Spirit has to quicken us, or breathe life into us in order for us to even realize we need Him, because the Bible says we are DEAD in our trespasses and sins.

Don't give up!  Start with yourself, with your own life, pray fervently because James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (in other words, MUCH will be accomplished from the prayers of a fervent prayer warrior), and then try to reach your children and grandchildren for Christ.  Their eternal souls and destination depend on it!  It's a very big responsibility, and you do not stop being their parent, even though you are older and they are grown.  If they have no interest in church, there is a good chance they never accepted Jesus as their Savior.  They just went to church because they had to, out of ritual, not out of genuine interest and love for God.  So they still need Christ after all these years.  Don't leave them to die in their sins!  Keep having that burden for them, and never give up. If you've never accepted Christ as your Savior, accept Him today!  Then FINISH STRONG!

To purchase my book, Fully Persuaded, click on this link to amazon.com for pricing and availabliity. It is an easy read, and will build your faith and give you the tools you need to make a real difference in your family.  Knowing Christ also gives people the strength to cope with all the trials in life that are sure to come along.  Don't you want that for your family?  We all do.  God bless you as you fight for your family!  You are not powerless - remember that you are in a position of great influence and God has placed you right there. Bloom where you are planted!

http://www.amazon.com/Fully-Persuaded-Dawn-Foss/dp/1632688875

One final thought: if you are not reaching your grandchildren for the Lord, and their parents aren't, either, then who will?