Typical Alcoholics?

In the winter volume of New Attitude Magazine there was an article written by Joshua Harris titled “Peer Pressure”. In the beginning of the article there was a short paragraph about Darren Roberts and his addiction to alcohol and smoking. The last sentence in this paragraph said this: “He’s your typical home schooler.” Although you did state in an earlier sentence that he is a nice kid, etc., it still puzzled me to have you classify his life as typical.

If his parents, as mine are, were home-school support group leaders, what kind of relationship did he have with them that he, in his parents’ eyes, was “goody-two-shoes” while leading an immoral life? What quality of family life released him to the party life? If he was typical, then does that mean that I’m supposed to live that kind of life, too?

As I continued through the article, I was relieved to see that in the end God was glori­fied, not Darren. Please con­sider carefully your choice of words in the future, and for the record, why did you call him typical?

Isaac Green field—Lewiston, ID

I used the word typical to describe Darreri’s circum­stances and the back­ground that he shares with NA readers—not his fall into alcohol. His story high-lights the incredible influence peers can have on any person.

We are all susceptible. 1 Corinthians 10:12 gives us the same warning, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

Hang In There!

I really enjoyed the article on peer pressure. It helped me to continue to stand strong against those whose stan­dards are wrong. To those of you who might be going through peer pressure and may not have any close friends: Hang in there. God will bless you in the long run, and you will be the true win­ners.

Rachel Jones—Ft. Worth, TX

The Price of Freedom

The article “Experiencing Freedom” inspired some reaction out of me. I felt trapped in my home life when I was a teenager. I left home when I was a fresh seventeen-year old. I attended college and lived in a co-ed dorm. I quit college when I was eigh­teen-years old. I wanted “total freedom”.

What price did I pay for my “freedom”? To make a long story short, I was a single parent for ten years who ended up supporting mysetf and my son with no outside help or encouragement.

The lesson I am learning is that being able to do what we want to do is not always the most productive or happiest way to go. I think real happi­ness and freedom is found inside our hearts and minds when we do what God wants us to do and when we have loving and caring family and friends. You have found this out at a young age. You are fortunate.

Jane Sirignano—Bantam, CT

Other-Centeredness

Bravo for your article in last issue about college and single life. You expressed my sentiments exactly. I really believe that if I, as a woman, embraced either of those lifestyles, I would become wrongly inde­pendent and self-centered, let alone very lonely. In today’s culture a woman on her own pursuing her own fulfillment is praised. Her independent spirit is viewed as some kind of character quality. I believe God’s Word teaches the opposite. I have learned that as a young woman I need to be under the guidance and protection of my father until I marry, when that role will transfer to my husband (Eph. 6:13; 5:31 & 5:22-24.) And concerning self-centeredness, if I were living the “single life” or living on a college campus, who would I look out for except “number one”?

What better preparation is there for marriage, parent­hood and the future than liv­ing at home with our parents and siblings? We learn flexibil­ity, mercy and other-cen­teredness. These are the things that bring true joy and fulfillment.

Lori Hainline—Camas, WA

Constructive Criticism

My mother likes the way you write. However, there is one thing about your maga­zine that really bothers her. She would like for you to to title your last feature “Where I Am” She admires your use of good grammar, and it hurts her to see your fine magazine end with an incorrect, albeit, commonly used, grammar construction. She says this can be your constructive crit­icism for the day.

Kassie Meeks—Ogden Dunes, IN

Second Only to Horse Magazines

My mom sub­scribed to your magazine for one of my brothers who thinks most home schoolers (except us) are liv­ing in the Dark Ages. So I’m really glad he’s reading New Attitude.

Your magazine is my all-time favorite! (Except for maybe my horse maga­zines—but that’s a totally dif­ferent category!) Seriously though, I’ve tried different publications for Christian teens, but always get so dis­gusted with them because they all come on like you’re this fallen away from God, whimpy Christian who’d rather spend 2 hours fixing your face and hair than 2 minutes praying. I’m like, “Yah, so shove a hat on your head and get on with your life!” Of course, that’s easy for me to say when I’m going out to the barn instead of spending the day walking the “great halls of learning” trying to impress my boyfriend—but you get my point.

Leigh Ann Sytsma—Friendship, WI

Another Loser

I just want to offer some encouragement and sup­port for the family and campaign staff of Mike Farris. There was another man who lost an election; actually he lost in almost everything. He failed in busi­ness in 1831, was defeated for the legislature in 1832, failed in business in 1833.His sweetheart died in 1835. He had a nervous breakdown in 1836, was defeated for speaker in 1838, was defeated for land officer in 1843. After that he lost a bid for Congress in 1846, lost reelection in 1848, was defeated for the Senate in 1855, and again in 1858. But he didn’t quit. Instead, he was elected presi­dent in 1860. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

So don’t give up. Abe Lincoln was a truly great president, but it took many defeats before he got there. And I think he was a better president for those losses. I don’t know why Mike Farris lost the election, but I do know it’s all in God’s plan.

Anthony WiIIiams—Anchorage, AK

I really enjoyed Jayme’s col­umn. Living here in Virginia, I did a lot of work and campaigning for Mr. Mike Farris, Governor George Allen, and Attorney General Jim Gilmore during the race last year. It’s nice to know that the Farris family hasn’t given up. We really need someone like Mr. Farris in office, and he still has tots of supporters.

Angela Potter—Manassas, VA

Not A Wasted Afternoon

I would like to thank you for doing the New Attitude Conference in Houston, TX. When we got your brochure in the mail, I thought that you would be boring and that the confer­ence would be a wasted afternoon. I soon found out exactly how wrong I was! I had a wonderful time! I never have been to school before, so I never fully appreciated home schooling until I attended the conference.

My mom has been talk­ing about courtship for a long time, and I thought she was crazy. (Especially since I had been interested in boys.) But by the end of your speech, I had changed my mind and now am convinced that courtship is the right thing. Thank you so much. Now I only have an interest in friendship with guys.

When I was eleven, my friends and I made fun of your father because we thought he was too strict. All we knew about him was the little bits & pieces our moth­ers brought home from his conferences. I don’t feel the same about your father now.  I mean, it looks like you turned out just fine.

Sarah Harger—Houston, 7

How Many Readers?

I was just wondering, how many subscribers does New Attitude have?

Rebecca Feaker—Topeka, KS

After one year of publication New Attituc approximately subscribers. With advertising budget the credit goes to our subscribers spreading the word. (And to God, of course!)

Ditto-Head

I loved Kara McHugh’s article Filtering Rush. It was right on the bull’s eye.  Ditto on that one!

Charity Dotten—Sonora, CA

Overlooking the Lost

I‘d like to make a suggestion. It seems that you are overlooking a very important principle. It involves all Christians: adults, children, teens, home schoolers or “schoolers” living in world. What I’m refering to is outreach and witnessing. I think that is even more vital to stress this in homeschooling. First of all, many homeschooling families are more reserved than most people and they can tend to stay by themselves more than the usual family. This has its advantages and worthwhile results, but sometimes it’s easy to lose our focus as Christian home schoolers. We get so caught up in being “focused on the family” that we forget that we should be FAMILIES WITH FOCUS. Although it’s wonderful to be shel­tered from a lot of the peer pressure in public school, to have strong family relationships, and to have the freedom to develop our own particular interests and God-given talents, we have to remember that this is not an end in itself. We need to realize that these things are ours to enable us to be more effective in serving Christ. Jesus said that we are a light to be set out where all can see, not hidden in a bas­ket.

Michelle Elgersma—Cape May Court House, NJ

Thanks, Michelle, for reminding us alt of our responsibility to reach out and touch those around us with the love of Jesus. I had originally planned to do a cover story on reaching the lost in our winter issue but decided peer pressure needed to be addressed first. Look for an arti­cle on this topic next issue.