In these last hours of 2009

By Monica Brand, 31 December, 2009, 3 Comments

I’m writing down my goals for the new year.

Goals are good. I like goals. No, not soccer goals, although those are nifty too. I speak of those promises we make to ourselves, sending them out into the universe, like I am right now with this lofty blog post, or hold them close, like a secret.

Without an end in mind we are destined to stumble throughout life without purpose or direction. Unless you are great at last minute decisions (I’m not), have enormous luck (don’t believe in it), or could care less about how your life turns out (are you dead or lazy?), you need goals.

My goals for the year 2010:

1. In reading:

More books, magazines and newspapers of good quality that can stretch me, get me thinking. Thinking is always good too. I happen to be a big fan of thinking. I’m joining a few online book challenges this year (more about that in the next few days.)

I’d like to start reading news magazines again – I used to absorb news magazines. This was before I had babies, otherwise known as When I Had Free Time. It’s taken me a long time to realize I miss those magazines. I won’t be subscribing, just reading what I can online or at the library or what I can beg, borrow or steal from friends. That might be another good goal for the coming year: find friends without kids that have free time to subscribe to news magazines.

2. In home education:

I’d like to see both boys flourish in their reading confidence. Actually, I’m sure this is the year both boys – 10 and fast approaching 8 – will come into their own with reading skills. (Please, Lord, make it so!) Adding to our home school reference library is another desire. Music, audio books, more how-to-manuals.

3. For spiritual life:

To attend our church’s womens’ retreat in June. Can you believe I’ve only attended one retreat in my entire adult life? My husband has attended at least 5,000 five. To memorize more scripture. To not let anything else crowd out that hunger for the things of God. To not view prayer or Bible reading as a chore required to make me a better believer; I never want to make studying just another item on my to-do list.

4. Of personal nature:

This is going to be tough – less Twitter, Facebook, and message boards. If I’m going read more books and news, I’ve got to make time for it. Blogging will continue when I have something of interest to share. I had a nice exercise routine of three times a week last summer; I need to resume that schedule. Still working on the patience. Could use more of that attribute. What mother can’t?

This is the part when I try to convince myself this list is easy. On January 1 all these grand ideas look easy, but by February or March. . . old habits, old self wants to win the day. I’ve made a few of these goals before 2010.

Perhaps this is the year, this is the time to make it happen.

By God’s grace.

Twilight: Final thoughts and links

By Monica Brand, 30 December, 2009, 7 Comments

Remember those two questions I posed at the beginning of my reading the Twilight books? With this final Twilight post, I’d like to answer both of those questions:

What does the Twilight series teach young people about sex and purity?

Bella calls Edward “old fashioned” because he resists her advances. Bella’s father, Charlie, tells her “times have changed” and to “be careful” when he suspects the teens have become intimate. I was so disappointed in this exchange between father and daughter. I hoped Charlie would be the one voice of reason for a girl lost in so many ways.

Moms (and any dads reading this), there is nothing wrong with telling your daughters (and sons) to wait for sexual intimacy. Purity is not old fashioned, out-of-style, or only for the eternally 17 year old vampires concerned for their eternal soul.

Purity is for today’s teen too.

And if you don’t want to play the No-Sex-Because-the-Bible-Says-So card, think about this:

AIDS. STDs. Unwanted pregnancy. All real issues any sexually active teen needs to think about. Purity for the teen just makes sense.

I’ve read articles in which the books are praised for being pro-marriage. Unfortunately, that’s a bit misleading. Bella isn’t enthusiastic about marrying Edward. Marriage for Bella is just a way for her to get what she wants: transformation into an immortal, and forever-beautiful vampire, protection for the wolf-pack, her friends and family in Forks, Washington.

Sounds more like Bella is looking to escape her problems. That’s no way to enter a marriage.

Do the books promote godly behavior?

The books have snippets of things that I like, but it’s not enough for me to say the series truly encourages how I want my sons and daughters to behave in relation to the opposite sex, especially when dating.

Like I said, I wish Charlie gave Bella different advice regarding her boyfriend vampire.

Edward refuses Bella because he wants to protect his eternal soul. Throughout the first three books, he’s committed to his decision, but at the end of Eclipse, Edward agrees to do whatever Bella wants – including sex – before she becomes a Cullen vampire.

Hmmm. That’s not exactly biblical virtue. Poor, Edward! He almost had it right.

Lust, obsession, low self-worth – these are the attributes taught to our girls when they read Twilight.

Methinks we can do better by our daughters.

Twilight elsewhere

For more commentary on the Twilight series:

Christ and Pop Culture, “Twilight: a positive or negative influence for teens?”

Her.meneutics, “Consider the vampire.”

Visionary Daughters: How Twilight is re-vamping romance

5 Minutes for Books: Touched by a Vampire (book review)

That’s it. . . for now

I shall put Twilight to rest for now. Yet one never knows when the opportunity will present for another post. I hope you found this series helpful in your understanding of Twilight and it’s message to our young readers.

O Holy Night

By Monica Brand, 24 December, 2009, No Comment

Merry Christmas, friends. May you enjoy a blessed holiday as you remember why He became God in flesh.

Oh Holy Night (Full Version) – Click here for the most popular videos

Twilight, sex and the tween

By Monica Brand, 22 December, 2009, 9 Comments

And now we come to what I believe is the most grievous problem with the Twilight series: the tween Twilight reader. The following is a real conversation I had with my 11 year old recently:

Susan: One of the girls in my class at church read Twilight.
Me: Hmmm. I see.
{Pause for dramatic affect}
Me: And how old is this girl?
Susan: I’m not sure. I think she’s ten.

Friends, Twilight is a YA novel. As in: Young Adult. Emphasis on the adult. The pre-teen reader is too young for the complex relationships, love triangles, make-out bedroom scenes, and Bella’s hot and heavy pursuit to bed her vampire boyfriend. Twilight is not for young kids.

I suspect my opinion is not the majority. Unfortunately, I think a lot of parents mistakenly believe that as long as their child is reading something, anything at all, then it’s better than nothing. We all want our kids to read. I get that. Remember how excited I was when Susan discovered the world of a page-turning novel? I love it that she loves to read.

But no way do I want her reading Twilight – or any other fiction with a heavy emphasis of sexual passion and pursuit – no matter how G-rated it is for a YA novel. And Twilight certainly is mild when it comes to those bedroom scenes. Twilight has nothing graphic that I can point to as evidence to say, “Ah-ha! See! Bella and Edward in bed with detailed description of fornication!!” No, there isn’t anything like that in the series.

And yet . . .

The problem isn’t so much what’s IN the book, it’s more who’s READING the book.

This is the problem with American culture; we expose our children too early to adult ideas, concepts they are not mature enough to handle. It’s in the music, television, movies, advertising, Internet, and books. Human anatomy and biology is fine, I’ve no problem with teaching our children how their bodies work, babies made. My concern is for the young reader being exposed to sexual desire, sexual passion. These are concepts our tweens need to hold off on until more mature.

Answer me this question: Why the rush to end childhood innocence?

Think about what the tween – the 9, 10, 11 and 12 year olds – are reading, and thinking about, if they read the Twilight series.

Bella’s continuous attempts to bed Edward – what does that teach the tween about dating relationships and sex?

What about Bella’s poor self-esteem?

And I shudder at the tween reading these books without any parental input. Bella is a horrible example for an impressionable tween girl.

What say you? Do you agree with my conclusions or am I way off the mark? Let’s discuss.

Up next: Final Twilight thoughts

Now it’s your turn: win a Kindle

By Monica Brand, 15 December, 2009, No Comment

Hurry, hurry. Contest is over soon. Follow the simple rules and maybe you will have your own e-reader for Christmas. This is a Kindle, people! Hope one of us wins.

I won! I won! Ok, I’m calm now

By Monica Brand, 15 December, 2009, 4 Comments

I won!

O, happy day! A Sony Pocket Reader! I’ve been fantasizing of how awesome a Kindle would be, but at the price tag of almost $300, it’s a not happening right now. I had to read the post at 5 Minutes for Books twice to make sure I wasn’t dreaming – I was that shocked and excited. A Sony Pocket Reader! I can’t wait to try it out. Woohoo!

Have you won anything lately from a blog, Twitter or other another place in the online world? Let’s jump up and down together.

Paper Bridges