The Golden Compass - Anti-Christian for Kids

I have received numerous emails and warnings about this movie, although I have not seen it, the hype  alone has caused me to look into this.  Either way, our family usually skips the Harry Potter, Twitches, and other pagan type movies in the first place. 

I recommend going and renting Meet The Robinsons, a far better movie with a great plot and lesson. 

At any rate, here is the most recent email I received on 'The Golden Compass'

There will be a new children's movie out in December called 'The Golden Compass'. The movie has been described as 'atheism for kids' and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled 'His Dark Materials' that was written by Phillip Pullman.

Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the 'Chronicles of Narnia'. His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis' symbolism's of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series.

Clearly, Pullman's main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that 'my books are about killing God.' He has even stated that he wants to 'kill God in the minds of children'. It has been said of Pullman that he is 'the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed.'

While 'The Golden Compass' movie itself may seem mild and innocent, the books are a much different story. In the trilogy, a young streetwise girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle to ultimately defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as 'a very powerful and convincing mistake.' In the final book, characters representing Adam and Eve eventually kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH. Each book in the trilogy gets progressively worse regarding Pullman's hatred of Jesus Christ.

'The Golden Compass' is set to premier on December 7, during the Christmas season, and will probably be heavily advertised. Promoters hope that unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, that they will enjoy the movie, and that the children will want the books for Christmas.

Poise: The Grace Extension

Another one of the traits that we try to instill in our children is poise.  Poise not only in social situations and at meal times but also in everyday life.  Again, parents are the modelers of this trait. 

The other day I asked my daughter 5 times to brush her teeth and 4 times to get ready for bed, yet she still was messing around, playing and not listening to me.  In our home this is a spanking offense for disobedience to parents. 

I told my daughter to go to her room and wait for a spanking.  I was angry which is never a good time to spank a child so instead I went in her room and talked with her. 

I strived for grace and poise. 

I told my daughter that she was normally very obedient and this was unusual of her.  I explained that her actions was showing disrespect to me and asked her if something was wrong that was causing her to act this way.

Next came the tears, she began to explain to me that she has been having some problems in school with Math.  "All the other kids can do it so easily and it's so hard for me." I listened intently as my little sweetheart told me of her struggles in second grade math. 

Next, I explained that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and listed some of the areas she was superior in.  I also told her that her Legacy Dad, Super Hero Extroadinare failed college algebra the first time because I was so terrible in Math. 

This produced a laugh and a smile. 

The point to this story:

This was a special moment when my daughter shared with me her intimate world and her personal struggles.  If I would have went through with my original plan, I would have missed it and my daughter would have probably stuffed these struggles down for another day.

There is always two sides to every coin and many ways to handle situations in our lives.

Being a Type A person, it's often hard for me to execute poise but I hope that this example and the many more I strive to illustrate for my kids will overflow into their lives and instill in them as a character trait to emulate.

Legacy_dad_susbscribe_3

There Goes My Life

My wife and I got married young and "ran away" to get out of our smallrural town to a large city on the west coast.  It was here that I wasgoing to stake my claim and do something great.  I was going to retireyoung and live my life famous and happy. 

However within the first year of our marriage I was in Thailand and got a call from my young bride, "I'm pregnant." 

At first I didn't know what this meant but I soon learned.   Lessmoney, no personal time, babysitters, no more carefree life and runningoff when we felt like it. 

Those first few years I fell like all my dreams were over and I was now stuck in some mediocre sitcom. 

I always said that because I grew up without a father, I was going tobe a good one to my kids, up to this point I was nowhere close to thisstandard.

After some life changing events, I had a change of heart and started to learn of the great importance and task I had as a father. 

This weekend I was driving my daughter home from horseback ridinglessons, just dad and daughter hair blowing in the Jeep.  My daughterwas excited because she had had a new instructor today, a young womanwho was not married but had "her own horses and lot's of cats."

"I'm not going to have kids when I grow up so I can have horses and live free." she said. 

I then pulled the Jeep over and told my daughter that having childrenwas the most exciting and rewarding thing that I have ever done in mylife.  I have done things and gone places that I would never have gotto if I wasn't a parent to her.   I then began to tell her that becauseof her and her brother, I have become a better person and closer toGod.  All because of her and her brother in my life. 

It's times like these when the real life lessons come into clear focus,we just have to be aware when they do and be able to act on them. 

This incident reminded me of a great song and video by Kenny Chesney, watch this and see if you can relate in your own life.  There Goes My Life

Parenting: The Character Profession Part III

Today will finish up our discussion on Character, however this is a core pillar of Legacy Dad and this is something that takes years to refine and develop. 

First and foremost we have to expect our children to have Character in all things they do no matter how large or small. 

My wife was writing a paper on parenting this week for a course she is taking and she wrote this "We do not tolerate any lying or any kind of hurtful or violent behavior."

We need to stop and take time to ensure that we are using everyday examples to teach Character. 

Always tell the truth.
Never cheat others.
Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
Stand up for your beliefs.
Share when their is abundance.

These are just a few examples but our children also need to see us living these truths and also see what is important in our lives.  I often tell people there are three things I would never negotiate on : My Faith, My Family and My Country. 

I would lay it all on the line for these three beliefs and sometimes I actually do.

We also try to cultivate an environment of Character in our house. If a movie we are watching illustrates Character, we stop to discuss it.  We read books like Character is Destiny that illustrate examples of Character in history.

I think it really comes down to letting our children see and hear through our personal example, our home environment and our life decisions that there are certain core beliefs and rules that are not crossed. 

It all starts with us as parents putting the majority of our efforts into developing the inner traits of our children rather than the outer. 

I see a lot of parents who focus a majority of their time on controlling the external environment of their children: 

The school they go to
The movies they watch
The friends they have
The words they say
The appearance they have

Yet what happens when this environment is no longer present?   The child often has nothing to fall back on and becomes lost.

Focusing however on their inner traits gives our children a baseline and no matter what the environment is, they will act with Character.

We also need to admit to our children when we are wrong and our children need to see us in moral situations where we make the right decision. 

We often get compliments that are children are very secure, very honestand very courteous. This is by design and not chance because that isthe example we strive to set and as my wife wrote, "we expect it as thestandard not the exception."

Set the moral example, create an environment of character in the home, make Character the standard not the exception and I guarantee you will see the fruits just as we have.

 
      

 

Legacy_dad_susbscribe_3

Parenting: The Character Profession Part II

Imagine this guys...

You have been married a few years now, you have some kids, you have a mortgage, you have responsibilities and stress.  You and your wife can never seem to find time to go on a date and sex is but once a month. 

You have a business trip to go to alone in Tellurude, CO.  The day you arrive you notice a young, beautiful woman from another company somewhere on the East Coast.  That night you have to work on your presentation so you go down to the hotel lounge, after a few hours of work and a few drinks you here "Hello."  It is her.  She sits down and asks about you, your life, your job.  She seems a lot more interested in you than your wife normally is, she compliments you on your hard work and position. This goes on for another hour, more drinks and more feeding your ego.  Then it happens.  She asks you to come up to her room for some more drinks. 

No one will know, No one from your company is here,  You are leaving tomorrow. 

Unfortunately, a lot of men make the wrong decision here.

Ask yourself this.

How many times have you driven without a seatbelt?
How many times have you exceeded the speed limit?
How many times have you had a few drinks and then driven home?

Now, if your child was to do any of these things, should you be able to reprimand them? 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Elr5K2Vuo&rel=1&w=425&h=355]

Our children learn more by watching our actions and decisions than by anything we say to them. 

Even the littlest of character issues can set the example from our children.

Talking about someone from church or spreading rumors.
Speaking badly about the police after getting a ticket.
Not admitting to our children that we were wrong and made a mistake. 

I saw a great quote driving to work today and it further personifies the idea of Character and Integrity.

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."

Our final post will discuss some ways to further instill Character in our children.

Cart (0)