The Worst Cuss Words

Since I consider myself a “serious student,” I imme­diately began reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzenitsyn[the assigned book from last issue’s C & L], but I only got about twenty pages into the book before I had to stop reading it. They used some of the worst cuss words very often. I realize that may be realistic, but Christ­ians should still not be filling their minds with such words. I do not feel this book lines up with the standards for Christians given in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, what­ever is right, whatever is love­ly, whatever is admirable—if any is excellent or praisewor­thy, think about such things.”

    Just because a book is a classic or recommended by someone, doesn’t necessarily mean that we should read it.

    I would just like to request that you would be more care­ful of the books that you rec­ommend in the future.

Tessi Muskrat—Eldridge, MO

Thanks, Tessi. From now on we’ll make sure to warn our readers if there is any objec­tionable content in the books Jeff recommends. We don’t see this happening very often. In this case we felt the value of this great work out weighed the salty language.

Casual Dating is Okay

I recently received a compli­mentary copy of New Attitude. I enjoyed your magazine and expect to sub­scribe to it soon.

    In the Interaction section, “You Don’t Date!?,” many people had written in telling why they don’t date. True, it isn’t good to get heavily involved with anyone you aren’t going to marry, but 15-16 years old is not too early to get to know someone that you might spend the rest of your life with (by casual dat­ing).

    I also do not believe that your parents should choose whom you marry. You should definitely talk extensively with your parents about your choice, but the ultimate choice should be yours to make (with God’s help, of course) because you are the one who is going to live with your choice.

Kennon Ballou—Houston, TX

Thanks for your letter, Kennon. For the sake of those reading, I need to explain why I must disagree with a one of your state­ments. The idea that getting to know the person you might spend the rest of your life with when you’re 15-16 may look all right at first glance, but the statement is fundamentally flawed. Your use of the word “might” betrays it. There are hun­dreds, maybe even thou­sands, of people whom any one person “might” marry. Is shopping around for this person at a time when you’re not prepared to make the commitment of marriage the best use of this important time in your life? Next, getting to know someone when they’re 16 isn’t going to tell you very much about them. Most people neither have a life’s calling nor have even com­pletely developed their per­sonality at this age. I’m 19 and totally different than I was at 16. Just because someone is a great 16-year-old boyfriend doesn’t mean he would make a great hus­band. That’s why the criteria so often seen in high school dating has to do with looks, popularity, the car they drive, or athletic ability, none of which has anything to do with the success of a marriage.

    I hope this issue’s cover story will explain more of where we’re coming from. Thanks for your input.

Sheza Jo King

I am 13 years old. My sisters and I truly enjoy reading your publication. We were particularly encouraged by your latest Profile. [Vol. 2 No. 1] More than a dozen of my sisters and I have committed ourselves to hardcore betrothal. Sometimes we feel as though there aren’t any others out there. So it was very reassuring to read about the Massely family.

    I have never attended any of Trevor’s seminars, but would be interested in a copy of his itinerary if you have one available. Also, I would be interested to know when his book is expected to be pub­lished. I am in the process of writing a book entitled “Swept Clean (a Guide to More Biblical Housecleaning Techniques)”, and I would like to read another author’s per­spective on the subject. It will probably be a few years before I can complete my book, as my main focus is now on composing my sec­ond concerto, and complet­ing my masters in music.

    P.S. My grandmother would greatly appreciate Trevor’s address.

Ima Jo King—Rolling Hills, IA

Now I Get It!

I found Interaction to be especially helpful this time around. I had never thought dating was such a good idea, but I had never known of any other alterna­tive. Even after reading the ‘Dating Problems; Courtship Solutions’ article in the Vol. 1, No. 2 issue, I still didn’t have a very clear picture of what courtship really was. The let­ters in Interaction made most of it very clear to me, and I am now convinced that courtship is the only way to go!

Michelle Elgersma—CM. Ct, NJ

C’mon People!

hank you for having the short story fiction con­test. Even though my story didn’t place in the top five, I enjoyed the feeling of entering, of doing it.

    I was surprised to read that there were only 25 entries. Come on, people, enter! What do you have to lose?

    Please continue holding the contest. I plan on partici­pating for the next eight years. Keep up the good work. We love New Attitude!!

Sarah Boogay—Cardiff, NJ

Keep Your Version to Yourself

I have noticed that many of your writers use versions of the Bible in their articles other than the King James Version, which is my prefer­ence. It is not my purpose to tell them what version to use but, I was wondering if you could have them just put the references in their articles and let the readers look them up in their own Bibles.

Jodi Guiley—Richmond, KY

College Concerns

As a home-schooling mom of three teens, I want to thank you so much for your magazine. None of them thought this magazine was going to be worth the subscription price, but I ordered it anyway. It has been a great source of stimulating discussion, many laughs, inspiration to achieve, and encouragement that there are other teens out there. I do have one question for you and some background and comment on the same topic. Question: Are you taking a non-posi­tion on whether college-bound Christian home-school students should choose a Christian college?

    I was concerned several issues ago when you ran a special on the Summit Ministries. (Vol. 1 No. 3) This ministry was opposed to the home-schooling movement before they actually encoun­tered home-schooled stu­dents. On what basis did they reject it? Certainly not a Biblical base, for the Bible’s teachings brought many of us conviction, leading and perseverance to begin home schooling in the first place. For the past ten years we have home schooled in faith, not ever feeling like we knew what we were doing, but knowing God had us in tow. Scripture is clear about feed­ing our minds truth in every area of life, and for children up to 20 years of age, par­ents are given oversight for this feeding. This whole process has been a great blessing to all of us. All three teens are a testimony to a gracious, loving, faithful Lord. Our oldest just finished her first year at BJU. Like the several hundred other home-school students on campus, she stood out in her acade­mics, leadership, emotional stability and direction in life.

    Both my husband and I. graduated from secular uni­versities over twenty years ago, before we became Christians. I was saved in graduate school, and one of my first thoughts after becoming a Christian was, “Nearly everything I have learned is untrue!” For histo­ry I had a professor who flunked anyone who believed this country was founded for religious reasons; for science I was fed evolution; for art courses I was shown the most perverse works there are; for home economics I witnessed the dean of the college standing on her desk in a pantsuit screaming that she had been liberated from dresses. As the president of the College of Home Economics, I was invited to sit in on faculty meetings as the feminist professors vent­ed their hatred for the word “Home” and changed the name of the college to the College of Human Ecology.

    My husband and I have been thrilled to be receiving a Christian education along with our children. I never heard of missionaries, many of the great Christians of his­tory, creation theology, Christian artists through the ages, or read any Christian books. We have invested our lives and our children’s lives in pursuing a Christian world view in every area. Of course, we are always learn­ing, but we have found cer­tain basic fundamentals never change, and give us a guideline to evaluate what is happening around us. We informed our children when the oldest reached junior high that their Christian training should extend beyond high school, whether college or apprenticeship. The same Biblical reasons we launched out into Christian home school still stand as the reasons for Christian training. Why would Christian parents advocate a secular college or apprentice­ship for their children?

   I take exception to the statement that Summit Ministries found only two colleges in the U.S. with a Christian world view. On our search, we found several here on the east coast. Our greatest reservation, howev­er, was the testimony of stu­dents living in the dorms. After leaving most Christian campuses, our family came to the conclusion that one would have to heavily invest in earplugs to make it through! Rap, rock, you name it, filtered through the dorms, making one feel quite oppressed. Our oldest chose BJU, with our blessing. Their faculty have been responsi­ble for writing the great text­books many home schoolers use and from which we have enjoyed learning a Christian world view. Of course, it is not a perfect school, but we found the faculty falling all over themselves to help home schoolers (we attend their home-school confer­ence every year), and greatly desiring to have home-school students on their campus. I might add here that the Dean of Students informed us parents that, although the home-school students stand head and shoulders above the other students in nearly every way, many of them have become arrogant. Shame on us home schoolers! As our students move out onto college cam­puses and into the world, they will stand out as lead­ers. But God cannot and will not use prideful leaders. We tell our children constantly that their achievements are the result of much prayer and a very merciful God, and personal pride has no place in a Christian’s life. I exhort you to perhaps have a written forum on this question of Christian versus secular training. Francis Schaeffer used to counsel students to go to secular uni­versities to openly challenge the worldly philosophers of the day. He changed his mind after a few years. Formerly enthusiastic Christians were coming back to him burned out with the experience. Students do not attend as colleagues; they are under the thumb of professors, many of whom are well trained in debate and student manipulation. They hold a grade and recommen­dation over the students’ heads. To openly challenge these professors, one must study the Christian answer to everything they present, practice presenting it and be prepared for unexpected twists in secular logic. Having the time just to complete the assignments is a monumen­tal task. Most seventeen to twenty-year-olds simply are not ready for that kind of “education”. Of course, many campuses have great ministries that reach students for Christ. We live near a uni­versity, and many college students attend our church. The focus is getting these students saved and growing in the Lord. But nearly all these new Christians struggle with the question of switching to a Christian college. They pray fervently for one another, understanding the anti-Christian battering they all take in the classroom every day. True discipleship lets Christ be Lord of all, including training for a voca­tion.

    My prayer for our children as they stand on the threshold of receiving further training beyond the high school years is that God would bring Christians into their lives that would have the same heart and mind that we do to assist in their training. It is up to us parents to CHECK OUT these people, institutions, books, etc., for we will be called into account by God for what we let them venture into. We are equipping them with a Biblical basis to think through things, and every phase of training should do no less.

Fran Ludlum—WeyersCave, VA

I really appreciate what you had to say. That’s why I printed your whole letter. In answer to your question, it’s not that we’ve taken a “non-position” on secular vs. Christian colleges; we just haven’t had an oppor­tunity to discuss it in an in-depth way. I know we will be in the near future. Next, you commented on the Summit and its prior oppo­sition to home schooling. I don’t think you need to worry about this too much. Like many people who are now home-school advo­cates, they didn’t under-stand what home schooling was all about. Now they do and are in total support.

More Soul-Searching, Please

I really like the poem, “A Woman’s Question,” that you printed in the last ‘issue of NA. I always enjoy reading the magazine, but I would like to see a few more articles dealing with the Christian home-schooler’s personal walk with the Lord. I like to read “soul-searching” articles that really get into the meat of the Word, as well as entertaining and informative articles.

Angela Wiley-Vancouver, WA

Living Up To the Name

Thank you for living up to your name: New Attitude. The positive, we-can-do-it, let’s-be-sold-out-for-Christ attitude that is consistent in your magazine is so uplifting. It’s SO easy to become discouraged by things around me; thank you for shining like a star (Phil. 2:14-16) and reminding me of the truth: I’m on the winning team—God’s team.

Judy Russell—Somerset, CA

The fervor generated over last issue’s Profile Parody will definitely go down in New Attitude history. For the most part, the story of an imaginary home schooler who wakes at 3 a.m. to milk the cows and play his violin solicited wild, uncontrollable laughter. We’ve come far enough to laugh at ourselves and our sometimes ridiculous imaginings of perfec­tion.

To date, more home-school newsletters have request­ed to reprint tile story than any other article. One lady actu­ally called to thank us after reading it. She was laughing so hard she was almost in tears.

Not everyone was as enthusi­astic. One amused, but concerned, dad pointed out that the story could be interpreted to mock study and memorization of scripture, something that regular readers of New Attitude know we would never intentionally do. He correctly stated that a love for God’s Word was nothing to make fun of.

The only other serious problem came from those who failed to realize that Trevor Massely was a fictitious character. The Teaching Home Magazine informs us they received a call from a reader who wanted to order tile two issues on which Trevor’s family of 24 appeared! Thankfully, most of you got the joke. One reader using tile alias of “Ima Jo King” even played along in this issue’s Mail.