Has your Church helped a protective parent pay for legal services?

Today is an anniversary of note: Despite opposition against including parents in custody disputes under a law mandating mental health evaluations--even for those who have never exhibited mental health problems-- HB 439 Mental Health Services in the Criminal Justice System passed into Florida law on 3/25/2016 (open link and read lines 115-229).  

I post this again today--four years later--because it still adversely effects children and protective mothers who attend and support our churches.  

Our family courts are horrors when one of the parents contesting custody is an abuser. And statistics show that abusive fathers are more likely to sue for custody than loving, mentally healthy, fathers. Statistics also show that when an abusive father sues for custody, he stands an 80% chance of a Family Court ruling in his favor. 

It is the belief of many, that abusive parents are the ones who primarily benefit from custody related mental health provisions included in this law. 

I am disappointed that pleas to stop HB 439 fell on deaf ears. That means it is more important than ever for churches to reach out in support of members who are protective parents battling a broken family court system (the vast majority of these are single mothers). Children are the main victims in this travesty. They often suffer unspeakably.

Do what you can to help these families. And be aware that it might take more than just prayer. It may require action. Put your money where your mouth is. I know of some churches that assist protective mothers with attorney's fees...Now, that's love.

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My 2016 letter to Governor (emailed to him as soon as I learned of this on March 15, 2016)

Dear Governor Scott,

I am all for getting mental health services to those who need them rather than overburdening the criminal justice system, but for heaven's sake why has the issue of child custody between two parents who are not criminals been sandwiched into  House Bill 439 (Senate Bill 604), Mental Health Services in the Criminal Justice System? It does not belong there! This bill will force people who have never committed a crime nor given any indication of having mental health problems into the mental health system. It will force them into "certain mental health programs" just because they are involved in a child custody dispute! That is so unfair to families. Governor Scott, please do not sign this Bill into law until the part about parents and custody disputes is removed.

Thank you

Jocelyn Andersen

http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/

Covid-19 & The Armor of God

 Our home-based church group is studying the armor of God and discovering the simple and relevant application of Ephesians 6 in this present distress when human solutions and interventions are limited.

The good news is that with God all things are possible and our Creator spoke of many things in his Word, including pandemics:

10: Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Put on the whole armor of God that you may be powerful to stand against the methods and trickery [methodeia] of diabolos For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities [ἀρχάς archas] against powers [ἐξουσίας exousia] against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth [1]

---

[1] Belt on the Truth. 

The Truth is whatever God has to say about any given situation.

Sickness? Epidemic? Pandemic? …Psalm 91:1-7: “…He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust HIS TRUTH shall be thy shield and buckler 5: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night nor for the arrow that flieth by day 6: Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday 7: A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee….(protection!)” 

Psalm 91:9-10 No plague shall come near thy dwelling….

Who will believe the report of the Lord?

Is there any sick among you? Let them call for the elders of the church...James 5: 

This is an excerpt from

Notes From My Bible

 

Review of Lydia's Song: A Child Lost A Woman Found

 . ...I did not want to read this book. I cringed at the subject matter. But I am so glad I overcame my initial reluctance and read it anyway. Katherine Blessan does not pull any punches. She dealt with the horror and tragedy of child sex trafficking head-on, yet somehow managed to craft a compelling story, that is ultimately a redemptive story of hope.

I loved it.

The book is about a tiny girl named "Song," who was kidnapped from her adoptive mother, Lydia, and sold into the sex trade at age ten.The story is told from both Song's point of view and Lydia's. It is a well written and sensitive depiction of a dark underbelly that exists in most societies, what is being done to little girls like Song, and also about the people who risk and dedicate their lives to rescuing these precious children, and, after that, spend years helping them to recover from their experiences and reintegrate back into society.

The novel is a bit graphic in places, but I believe no more than necessary, and my hat is off to Blessan for having the courage to write faithfully. I strongly recommend this book. Everyone needs to read it. I pray Lydia's Song will be read and shared and read and shared and read and...

And that eyes and hearts will be opened to the plight of girls who desperately need us to care enough to step out of our comfort zones and at least read about them. And after that, to hopefully become voices against their enslavement and for their rescue. 

Who Says Women Can't Teach Men?

    If it is true, that scripture forbids women to teach men, then men should never read an unredacted Bible. 

   All words spoken by women should be stricken from Bibles intended for men to read. 

   Ridiculous idea isn't it? 

   Almost as ludicrous as the idea that women are forbidden by God to publicly speak words that might teach and lead men in paths of righteousness. 

   Remember the ancient rabbi who said he would rather the Torah be burned than taught by a woman? He said this despite the fact that the scriptures he taught, are filled with the inspired and authoritative words of women speaking the Word of God, and unless those words are stricken from the record, men who read them cannot help but be taught (whether they learn or not is another question altogether).  
   What happy news it is, that when rightly discerned, the Word of God is clear, that our Creator has always used his daughters as well as his sons to teach and preach his awesome WORD?

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy

 Joel 2:28

Your sons and your daughters shall preach

Acts 2:17

And on my male servants and on my female servants I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesy

Acts 2:18

5 Stars for "Melissa's Fate" Awesome Story Concept! Riveting Plot!

Shattered expectations and tragic mistakes drag a couple through the trial of their lives. 

When Beth discovers that Phil, the man she loves, is not who he says he is, she flees New York without telling him she’s pregnant. 

A year after their daughter, Melissa, is born and given up for adoption, Beth learns an awful truth that forces her to return to New York and face the father of her child. 

Phil is moving on with his life, striving to forget his love for Beth, when she suddenly reappears with shocking news. He will do anything to rescue the daughter he did not know existed, but can he ever forgive Beth for what she’s done? 

Can Beth and Phil rediscover the love they once shared, while Melissa’s Fate hangs in the balance?

Awesome story concept!

Riveting plot!

I was thrilled and privileged to be given an advance review copy of Melissa's Fate as a beta reader. I loved the well rounded characters with strong clear voices, so realistic I could see and hear them. I was intensely interested in how things turned out for Beth, Phil, and Melissa, so much so, that I read the book in one day. I literally could not put it down!

I whole-heartedly recommend this exciting read by Diane Yates.  It is an edgy, gritty but wholesome, contemporary and inspirational romance that will satisfy both plot driven and character driven book lovers. 

 Diane Yates, a Christian-Fiction writer, is the author of two biography/memoirs, Pathways of the Heart and All That Matters. She has served two terms as President of Ozarks Writers League and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild. She and her husband, Rick, work in youth and adult ministries in their church, where she writes plays and skits as well as Sunday School curriculum and Bible studies. She has three children and eight grandchildren who are the crown of her life.

Israeli Election 2019 Round Three: The Main Issue -Vs- the REAL Issue

Netanyahu is committed to rebuilding the Temple

Israel has reached a prophetic tipping point, with the main issue in the 2019 Israeli elections being the great divide between the secular -Vs- religious. 

“This time the agenda was different,” he said. “Israelis voted more on religion and state..."

Times of Israel (Sept 21, 2019)

But those who know their Bibles understand the real issue is about building the Third Temple in Jerusalem [Ezekiel's Temple -Ezekiel 43:1-4, 10-12, Revelation 11:1-3], the temple THE LORD will enter when He comes as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to establish His Kingdom on earth. 

Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to rebuilding that Temple. He has also made no secret about where it will be built. 

“The fact is,” the Israeli PM told world leaders at the United Nations, “a Jewish Temple used to stand right where the Al Aqsa mosque plaza now sits"

The Mideast Beast 

Netanyahu declares it will be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 43:10-12, Revelation 11:1-3

Since the biblical prophets are batting a thousand, we know the temple will be built. They said it will. And if I was a betting woman [which I'm not], regarding Israel's third round of elections in 2019, my money would be on the Temple advocate, Netanyahu, to win. 

Details HERE

Christian Book Reviews

No bad reviews. How great is that!? I maintain my commitment to promoting good Christian books rather than criticizing the creative efforts of authors as they hone their crafts. 

That being said, I will read every book I receive but will only review those I can give stellar reviews for (the only exception to this being books received from Book Crash. They require a fair review for every book received--good, bad, or ugly). 

When I receive a book, I assume the above conditions have been read and agreed to before the book was mailed, so I ask that authors refrain from contacting me to ask if/when a review is forthcoming.

I will only respond to inquiries as to whether or not a book was received. If I post a review, I will contact the author or publisher with a link to the review[s]. 

Both Fiction and Non-Fiction will be accepted for review. No review does not mean a book is poorly written or a bad book, it simply means I was likely the wrong audience for the book.

Inspirational/Christian fiction books considered for review, include, but are not limited to: Mainstream fiction (both historical and contemporary), dystopian, mystery, suspense, thrillers, romantic suspense, and historical romance. Regardless of genre, I am interested in reading/reviewing character or plot-driven stories with strong clearly defined characters who challenge stereotypes.  

If a novel is well-written from a Christian world view, I want to read and review it!
 

I do not accept e-books for review. If you have a book you would like me to read and review, mail a paper back copy to:

One Way Press
Christian Book Review
113 Cotton Ct., Auburndale, FL 33823

Happy writing!