Jesus’ Treasure Box
By Christina Quick | August 7, 2008
I’ve always made a point of telling my kids how special and loved they are. When my daughter was 3 years old, I was reminding her of these things when she looked at me and confidently said, “Yes, I know. Jesus took me out of His treasure box and gave me to you.”
I don’t know where she got the idea of Jesus having a treasure box, but it’s made an impact on me. Somehow I can picture Jesus reaching into this gold-encrusted chest and drawing out a baby. I can see Him gently cradling that child before extending His creation to the world, a precious treasure fashioned in His image.
“Jesus took you out of His treasure box and gave you to me,” I recently told my daughter, kissing the top of her head.
“Aw mom,” she groaned, feigning embarrassment. Now that she’s a sophisticated 9-year-old, she doesn’t like me to mention things she said when she was so young. Still, a hint of a smile told me she still likes the thought as much as I do.
It’s easy to view my own children as treasures. Such sentiments naturally flow from the heart of a mom. But as I look around, I need the Holy Spirit to remind me I’m surrounded by God’s treasure.
We live in a world that constantly devalues people. We measure an individual’s worth on superficial scales of wealth, physical appearance, accomplishments, intellect and influence. Even Christians are sometimes guilty of viewing others — and themselves — as hopeless or insignificant.
But God is not like that. In His sight, every human being on this planet is a precious individual created in His image, designed and chosen to enjoy a relationship with Him. Everyone — from the greatest to the least — is a person for whom Jesus died.
It took the insight of a 3-year-old to remind me Jesus took us all out of His treasure box and placed us together in this world. I can’t help but think how sad He must feel when He finds His treasure rejected, trampled down, tossed aside and marred by sin. I believe He is looking for treasure hunters to help him pick up the scattered, tarnished pieces so He can make them beautiful again.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Topics: Faith | 1 Comment »
Steven Curtis Chapman speaks out about his personal tragedy
By Christina Quick | August 5, 2008
Watch for Steven Curtis Chapman and family tomorrow morning (Aug. 6) at 8 EST on Good Morning America.
The Chapmans will talk about the loss of their 5-year-old daughter Maria, who died May 21 in a backover accident at the family home. The Chapmans will also be featured guests on Larry King Live Thursday, Aug. 7.
“Initially Steven talked about never doing any concerts or media ever again,” says Jim Houser, Chapman’s manager. “But quickly God began to show Steven that if he ever believed the songs he was writing, singing and recording before May 21 and Maria’s loss, that they must still be true now. It’s the family’s hope that these appearances will serve as a chance to proclaim to a watching world what they know and are deeply convinced of even in these difficult days: the gospel is true and faith in Christ is our hope.”
Since Maria’s death, Chapman added a new verse to his song “Yours” from his current project, “This Moment.”
I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
In this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you
In recent live performances, Chapman also changed the last line of “Cinderella,” a song he wrote about Maria and her sisters.
Instead of singing “she’ll be gone” Chapman substitutes the words: “But the truth is, the dance goes on.”
What a remarkable testimony of the hope we have in Christ.
Topics: In the news | No Comments »
Phthalates Banned From Toys
By Christina Quick | July 29, 2008
Good news for parents concerned about the safety of children’s products. Congress moved this week to ban certain phthalates from toys. The ban is scheduled to take effect in six months. The legislation also phases in a near-ban on lead in children’s products. Read the Washington Post story here.
Some researchers claim phthalates can cause reproductive problems and other serious health issues in children. The chemicals are often added to plastics to produce a soft, rubbery feel. Think rubber ducks.
It’s encouraging to see these issues finally getting some legislative attention. However, there’s still more to be done to decrease children’s exposure to questionable chemicals. Phthalates alone are added to many other products, such as shampoo and lotion (including some brands made specifically for babies and children).
Lead can be found in a host of consumer products, like imported dishes and home décor.
In my opinion, we need to take a closer look at all the products that make up a child’s home environment. Too much is at stake to ignore these important safety issues.
Read my previous blog post on this topic, Consumer Products and Other Scary Things.
Topics: Health | No Comments »
ISPs Move to Shut Down Child Porn Sites
By Christina Quick | July 24, 2008
Liberty Counsel today sent out the following press release. I’m glad to see the corporate world taking a stand against those who perpetrate such evil against children. The fact that there is such a vast market for this kind of material should serve as a reminder to parents about the need for vigilance when it comes to protecting their children.
Last week, Internet Service Providers AT&T and AOL-Time Warner joined Time Warner, Sprint, and Verizon in shutting down child pornography Web sites from their servers.
The announcement came through New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Time Warner, Sprint, and Verizon have donated $1.1 million to Cuomo’s ongoing child pornography investigations. The decision to shut down the Web sites comes as another victory to advocates of protecting the innocence of children.
Officials initiated an eight-month investigation into child pornography on the Internet and found 88 different news groups that were devoted to child porn. All 88 of these news groups are being shut down by the aforementioned cable/Internet providers.
Child pornographers and pedophiles have been dealt two major defeats in the past six months, as the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a federal ban on child pornography, and now, as cable providers have begun removing such sites from servers. In the past, ISPs have inexplicably refused to take action against blatant purveyors of child pornography, and neither federal nor state prosecutors have tried to force ISPs to act.
The New York Attorney General’s office has created a Web site, which provides details on which ISPs have signed agreements with his office to eradicate access to child porn on their servers.
“This is an encouraging initial step, spearheaded by some of the world’s leading ISPs,” says Matt Barber, Liberty Counsel’s director of cultural affairs . “They are to be commended for moving in the right direction. Hopefully, other ISPs will follow suit and take similar measures to protect children. Still, much more needs to be done. ISPs must take the logical next step and begin blocking the very adult obscenity which, through the law of diminishing returns, often leads to consumption of child pornography. Research has established that, like a gateway drug, adult obscenity can ultimately lead to child abuse. Internet obscenity, at every level and every stage of production, destroys those it touches. Men, women, children, families and larger society are demonstrably harmed by such smut.”
Topics: Internet | No Comments »
Can Cell Phones Harm Kids?
By Christina Quick | July 24, 2008
A prominent cancer researcher says cell phones may be hazardous for kids.
Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, says kids should only be allowed to use cell phones in emergencies because the radiation may pose a cancer risk.
Herberman says children are of particular concern since their brains are still developing.
In a memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, the doctor said even adults should be wary of cell phones.
Herberman advises using a speakerphone setting or headset rather than placing the phone to the head. However, he says even standing near a cell phone that is in use could expose a person to electromagnetic radiation.
So far, studies haven’t shown a positive link between cell phones and brain tumors. But Herberman says “we should err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later.”
Devra Lee Davis, director of the university’s Center for Environmental Oncology, agrees.
“The question is do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain,” Davis asks.
This certainly gives me pause as I consider the number of times I’ve passed a cell phone to my kids so they could chat with a family member.
I applaud these researchers for going out on a limb to warn consumers about a potential health hazard. No doubt their concerns will be pooh-poohed by the cell phone industry, which has aggressively marketed their devices to teens and even introduced special models for young children.
In a society that’s grown dependent on iPhones and techno-devices, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that convenience isn’t always innocuous. As a parent, being safe rather than sorry seems like a good policy to me.
Topics: Health | No Comments »
Exercise Declines As Kids Grow Older
By Christina Quick | July 17, 2008
A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association offers new clues as to why so many youngsters are overweight.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota found kids become more sedentary after they leave elementary school, with daily physical activity dropping between the ages of 9 and 15, from an average of three hours to less than one hour.
Researchers collected the data from approximately 1,000 children and youth who wore accelerometers. The devices measured any kind of movement, including walking.
On Saturdays and Sundays, 15-year-olds moved only about 35 minutes a day, the study found.
The most rapid decline in activity occurred at around 13 for girls and between 14 and 15 for boys.
In a related study published earlier this year in the journal Pediatrics, it was reported the amount of leisure time spent on the computer increases dramatically between the ages of 11 and 18.
When walking to the kitchen for a soda and bag of chips is the only exercise many kids get, should we be surprised that so many are obese?
Topics: Health | No Comments »
Father-Daughter Summer Reading
By Christina Quick | July 14, 2008
My husband, Wade, recently finished reading “The 101 Dalmatians,” the classic Dodie Smith novel that inspired the Disney movie. It’s not typical reading material for a grown man. But when you happen to be a dad, it never hurts to be culturally well-rounded.
You see, our son has discovered a popular series of western novels and is steadily progressing through them this summer. Since Wade also enjoyed these books when he was growing up, the two of them have had quite a few cowboy discussions around the dinner table.
At some point, Wade realized our daughter felt left out of these conversations. Hoping to encourage her reading habits as well, he asked to borrow one of her favorite books.
Tickled pink, she carefully scanned all the titles in her library before choosing the rollicking canine tale. The fact that no one else in our house had read it made the shared experience even more special.
“Wait until you see what happens next!” she would say, peering over his shoulder to check his reading progress. “It’s so great.”
And it has been. The father-daughter conversations that book has sparked have been priceless.
Promoting literacy is wonderful. But taking time to enter a child’s world is a gift even Cruella Devil can’t snatch away.
Topics: Family fun | No Comments »
Jamie Lynn Spears Story Glamorizes Teen Pregnancy
By Christina Quick | July 9, 2008
Jamie Lynn Spears, who became pregnant at 16 and recently gave birth to a daughter at 17, says being a teen mom is “so much fun.”
“I love taking care of her,” Spears told OK! magazine, sounding like a little girl with a new doll. “It is so much fun. I just want to hug her and kiss her, and I’m happy all the time.”
The magazine reportedly paid $1 million for exclusive coverage of the birth, including photos of Spears’ infant.
Meanwhile, Spears — sister of pop star Britney Spears and star of the Nickelodeon show “Zoey 101″ — gushes that she looks forward to being a soccer mom.
I’m glad Spears didn’t decide to have an abortion as many girls her age have done. If she’s willing to accept responsibility for the life she helped create, that’s a positive thing.
On the other hand, it seems irresponsible for OK! — which has a large following among adolescent girls — to glamorize teen pregnancy. Immature readers may not realize having a baby is about more than hugs and kisses and dress-up time. They may not consider that, unlike Spears, most teen moms live in poverty. The idealistic image of trendy soccer moms living in gated communities and driving SUVs seldom applies to young, high school drop-outs struggling to raise children alone.
I hope parents of teen girls will explain these realities to their daughters and talk to them about God’s plan for sexuality and marriage.
I can agree with Jamie Lynn Spears about one thing: parenting is a joy. But, like sex, it’s best reserved for the right time in life.
Topics: In the news | 1 Comment »
Max Your Cash At the Pump
By Christina Quick | July 9, 2008
Looking to save money on gas? Here are two interesting tips I came across recently.
1. Pump early in the morning when the underground tanks are coolest. As gas heats, it becomes less dense and you get less for your buck.
2. Use the slow mode for pumping. The faster you pump, the more gasoline you lose in the form of vapors.
I’m not making this stuff up. We must be getting desperate when we’re resorting to tricks like this.
How are you dealing with high gas prices?
Topics: Money | No Comments »
Are You Healthier Than a Fifth-Grader?
By Christina Quick | July 7, 2008
As alarm bells ring over high childhood obesity rates, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending cholesterol medications for kids as young as 8.
At least a third of children today are said to be overweight, and 17 percent are obese. Experts say this is the first generation in modern times that is expected to suffer more health problems than their parents.
“If we are more aggressive about this in childhood, I think we can have an impact on what happens later in life … and avoid some of these heart attacks and strokes in adulthood,” says Dr. Stephen Daniels, a member of the academy’s nutrition committee.
Daniels says the recommendation stems, in part, from recent research showing cholesterol medications are generally safe for kids.
Does that mean we should start passing out pills like candy and see what happens? To me, long-term medication seems like a drastic step. Though high cholesterol is a serious concern, I question whether kids really need more chemicals in their bodies. There has to be a better way.
For starters, parents need to take responsibility for trimming the trans fats and high fructose corn syrup from their children’s diets. It’s a fact that most of the food products aggressively marketed to kids are patently unhealthy. I can’t recall ever seeing an ad for carrot sticks during Saturday morning programming. Kids are being encouraged to eat things that are not good for them. It’s up to responsible adults to decide Pop Tarts, McMuchies and Pepsi are not acceptable food choices.
The American Heart Association’s recommendation for improving cholesterol includes eating a diet rich in produce and whole grains and low in saturated fats, and exercising at least 30 minutes a day.
Instead of treating kids like miniature geriatric patients, why not pry the Doritos and TV remote controls from their hands and send them outside for some old fashioned, cholesterol-lowering activities?
Topics: Health | 1 Comment »
