The Preacher's Wife 

"Survival" Skills

One of the biggest deceptions out there is the myth that children need to stay away from stressful situations that might impose on their having fun! Afterall, kids are kids and they should have fun, do school, clean their rooms and .....that's it, right?

My personal philosophy is that children need to experience real-life situations and taught how to handle them or else you will end up with children that have no preparation in real-life skills.

For example, children that grow up playing computer games, watching sit-coms all day, being indulged in their whims (spending too much time 'shopping', talking on the phone, not given any real responsibility....)will unfortunately grow up to be young adults that have no way to pull on their own resources to handle danger or make decisions in stressful situations.

There is a difference between sheltering your child as they grow, opening the door a bit as they mature and giving them a little less restraint as they learn the rules you have mapped out and NEVER opening the door until your baby turns 18 and you push them out of it!

My husband has done a wonderful job with our children. He started taking them to work with him when they were still at a very early age. My son was barely three when dad would take him out to cut grass and do landscaping. He made it fun for him by purchasing a play mower for him to bring to ‘work’ and having him do some menial chores like weeding, picking up sticks, etc. He didn’t go every day, just a couple of days a week until he got older. My son is now 16, knows the business like the back of his hand and even though he doesn’t have fun with it all the time like when he used to bring his “Bubble Mower” years ago, he has learned with experience how to run equipment, do his own repairs and how to deal with customers. Many of those people have watched my son grow up and turn into a young man.
My daughters also have gone out with their father to work and have spent hours of quality time with him learning the meaning of working hard. It’s good for them!

The girls also are taught to do the daily at-home chores. Right now the teens shy away from it and need to be coerced or forced to follow through at times but they know how to do at least light cooking, cleaning, laundering and child care.

Without a TV to rob them of their brainpower, they can find other, more creative things to do when they are not helping with family work. I have tried to encourage them to find ways to keep themselves busy by NEVER allowing the words “mom….I’m bored” to pass from their lips UNLESS they want chores! It’s amazing how quickly they can find things to do with that as an incentive.

As a home schooling mom, survival skills have been at the top of the curriculum in the past. One of the best things we ever did was to obtain a copy of the Army Survival Handbook and experiment with some of the skills taught there. We had the kids in the woods at one point, finding brush and branches to build a temporary shelter, they learned how to make cookers for meals and talked about poisonous and edible plants. These things are fun but also useful and are skills that build confidence.

My husband and I are not ‘anti-fun’ but we do believe that the less idle time the better. The few times that we let that rule slip, the more opportunity we had for problems to develop.

You have to ask yourself as a parent, who do you want influencing your children?
Is it Hillary Duff? The latest flavor of celebrity and godlessness? Where do you want your children to go when they leave you? Is it the movie theater where sodomy on screen is becoming a common theme? The mall where materialism reigns? Do you REALLY
want your children to worry about fashions and nail jobs above being good parents and godly men and women?

It's all in our hands.

The Madness of Formula Feeding

As usual, this blog entry is aimed toward the Christian mother, although, ANY mother and child can benefit. However, if you are a woman that loves the Lord and wants to raise her child(ren) in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, this information is especially important.

All Christian mothers can agree that God created the heaven and the earth. We know he created man and then from Adam's rib, created Adam's helpmeet-Eve. Both were given bodies that were perfect. They were strong, functioning properly and were not supposed to be tampered with in any way with the exception of their Creator. As plants and animal life was to reproduce itself, God also gave Adam and Eve that ability in the garden. Eve became pregnant, bore children and nursed each one for as long as was needed. This pattern reproduced itself for thousands of years ....until.....greed took over.

The race to come up with as 'good as breastmilk' substitutes became the way to go when countries became more and more industrialized and then during wartime when mothers found themselves leaving their nest to work in factories while their men went off to fight. Professional wet nurses were also in demand at this time, but as feeding formulas became more and more popular, the wet nurses dissappeared and were replaced by glass bottles with rubber nipples that anyone could use to feed an infant with.

Early infant formulas were not successful at feeding babies healthfully. They lacked amino acids, enzymes and nutrients that were crucial to proper development of an infant. Babies became ill, sometimes they died and mothers became desperate to find the right formula since after feeding their babies with artificial mother's milk, their children did not remember how to nurse and the mother's milk would dry up. Women were not aware of the ability to relactate or how to deal with nipple confused infants so....they gave up and tried one new hope of just the right formula after another so they could continue working.

In the meantime, the corporate world was catching on to this new opportunity of a manufactured milk product that they could push on these mothers and so they took the formulas already produced and tried to 'improve' on them in order to reap their financial benefits. Companies like Nestle would dress their sales women up in nurses' uniforms and go hunting for new mothers, especially in the poor third world countries, and get the mothers to try samples of their formula that was to be 'just as good' as mother's milk . Once the baby had artificial milk a few times, became nipple confused and the mother was brain-washed into thinking that her milk was really 'too thin' to be the best for baby, they now had a repeat customer.

In America, mother's were always given formula packets prenatally 'just in case' and were showered with many free gifts in the hospital after the birth. Goody baskets with formula, bottles, 'binkys', nipples and coupons for more formula products were freely supplied. WIC, who is touted to be a benefit for women and children under six by supplying food coupons for nutritious foods as bread, milk, eggs, cheese, cereal and such, is also one of the biggest perpetraters of formula pushing today. They will tell mothers how healthy it is to breastfeed but they will continuously give away samples of formula and provide food coupons for free formula as well. Why?
Because formula companies have a financial foothold on these so-called benefit providers. Perks are offered for those that push the formulas in the way of trips, contests to win, etc. and if you are half as greedy as the formula corporations are, you will go for the bait every time!

Sadly, most healthcare workers are very reluctant to try to push a mom into the right direction. Most, do not get a lot of information about the specific benefits to the baby and mother when it comes to breastfeeding. Many are duped by the literature produced by formula companies that artificial milk is a 'safe' alternative. I found this out first hand when I was a childbirth educator and La Leche League leader.
The problem also lies in the ignorance of friends and family. Many of whom have never breastfed nor have been breastfed themselves.

Why is this such a big issue? Mainly, for the Christian, it is one more way that Satan has influenced this world. He has managed to put the doubt into the heads of even the most devout mothers that their milk isn't good enough or that they need to follow the world and their sick traditions. Young women are very concious of peer pressure to follow suit where their friends or pediatricians have led them. Some feel completely powerless to argue or question and they have very little faith in the milk that God has provided for their little ones.

I can encourage these women to research! research! RESEARCH! Before I resigned as a La Leche League leader, I would receive many phone calls asking questions that quite frankly, should have been easily answered by their mothers or their doctors. There is a real desert of knowledge out there for these young women and the older women of the church really should be there for them to answer their questions and guide them along.
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
It is unfortunate but these ministries within the Body of Christ are just not there.

Important aspects of breastfeeding:

Mothers, your body was created for the purpose of nourishing your baby with the milk God created for you to use. Even the most malnourished mothers have something healthful to offer an infant in their breastmilk! The exception would be HIV/Aids as studies have shown it can be transmitted from mother to baby via breastmilk.

Your milk for your baby is different than anybody elses. It is custom made for your child and your child alone.
It contains enzymes, amino acids, nutrients and protective antibodies that simply cannot be duplicated in a laboratory.
Babies that are breastfed have a lessened chance of food allergies, cancers and digestive problems. They are smarter as there are certain amino acids that feed your baby's brain to insure the best possible brain development.
Babies who nurse also have more skin-to-skin contact with their mothers. This helps them to learn love early on and it also helps a very young baby to regulate it's respiration and body temperature.
Breastfed babies have less problems with their teeth and palate as they have to 'exercise' by sucking firmly in order to get milk. Bottles just flow with very little effort.

Mothers who nurse, have a lessened incidence of reproductive cancers as well as breast cancers.
They also will stall ovulation by feeding their babies often and on demand, thereby allowing your body time to recover until your cycle begins once again. Many women experience no menstruation until a year or more into nursing.
Mothers that nurse their babies also are better mothers. They release a hormone that only nursing mothers have which makes them feel more 'motherly' toward their babies.
Breastfeeding forces you to take a break and bond with your baby.

There are different support groups available as well that are specifically for the nursing mom. La Leche League International provides local, mother-to mother support and even if you never become a member, they can still be helped with discussion groups and literature. I really loved being a leader but when I found they had ties with the United Nations, I no longer felt that I could support them with membership dues nor did I want to be associated with an NGO. However, as a 'quick fix' for questions to be answered and some real hands-on support, they truly are the most knowledgable.

Spiritually, you can take comfort in knowing that you are serving the Lord when you nurture your baby by breastfeeding. This was his perfect plan for mankind and every time you nurse, you can take a long look at your little one and thank the Lord for this wonderful gift!
Also, we must leave a landmark for those coming up behind us. We need to be those older women that can instruct the young ones and help them get off to a good start.

The Depression Deception
According to the website WrongDiagnoses.com, the following statistics show that ‘depression’ is a major malady in our American society today:
Prevalance of Depression: estimated 5.3% adults (USSG); 17 million people; approximately 4% of adolescents get seriously depressed (NIMH); annually 12% of women ; 7% of men; lifetime risk of an episode for women 20%. 3-4 million men USA.

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2002/Zoloft_USPI_rev4.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2005/20031s045,20936s020lbl.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2003/21434_xanax_lbl.pdf
The above links show package inserts to the most popular depression remedies used by millions of Americans, young and old, (Xanax, Zoloft and Paxil)
Mania, seizures, hallucinations, dizziness, vomiting, suicide, etc……All are just a few possible side-effects of using these anti-depressants.
The package inserts sound like a prescription for poison…basically, that is what the above named drugs are.

I read yesterday where 1 in 10 women will be ‘treated’ for depression using one of those drugs and that children as young as 3 ½ years of age have been prescribed for because of ‘extreme shyness’.
I don’t know about you but the idea of so many drugged people walking around with psychosocial disorders makes me a bit uneasy.

What is depression anyway?
According to Merriam-Webster the following is the definition for depression:
a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies
In many ways, the cure sounds as bad, if not worse, than the disease.

I must confess, there have been many times when I would have liked to stay in bed, roll over and fall into a deep , possibly everlasting sleep! However, I have always forced myself to overcome these feelings with action. What I believe is this:
As a Christian woman, Satan will oftentimes try to disrupt my service to the Lord by throwing discouragement, sadness and guilt in my face . It’s what he does best to short-circuit a Christian’s walk.
As a woman, and a weaker vessel (1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. )I know that my body and my mind can fall victim to hormonal ups and downs, PMS, menopause, pride and illness, all these can cause any woman to react with depression at least one time or another. The concern is, is that you don’t snap out of it, thus becoming ineffective and totally inactive.
Inactivity is Satan’s dream for the saved woman (or man). People don’t hear the gospel when you’re too busy licking your own wounds.
When you are totally taken in by your own worries and fears, you hole up in your house and can’t talk to anybody without your focus on your own sadness, you have lost the battle and the enemy has won.
Wallowing in depression is SIN!
God has not abandoned you (Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?) Many times, it’s money problems-we get ourselves into a hole because we didn’t trust God to provide in the first place and then things fall apart, we blame ourselves, a spouse or maybe even the Lord and we get depressed!
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Many times, it is the thought of ‘what if’ that scares you into depression.
You dwell on what might have been or what you should have done and so the opportunity for the here and now fades and is replaced by the nagging worries of the future or the inability to cope with the details of the past. Either way, depression in that case is sinful because it becomes idolatrous. It steals faith from the believer and causes him/her to become self-centered in their own despair. You become the idol to yourself as you wallow in the mire of your own faithlessness.
Truly, I am no heartless monster. I only want to point out that as a Christian, depression MUST be thwarted through a closer walk with the Lord or your whole testimony is lost!
Depression is fearfulness. Fear is not of God( 1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love)
Fear is paralyzing and that is exactly what walking around in a depressed state does to you. It paralyzes your judgment, your actions and your service to the Lord.
Now what about chemical imbalances? There is always a possibility that poor nutrition, stress and a sedentary lifestyle can magnify problems because of the body’s inability to cope with stressors and to adapt to change. God is wonderful in that he created herbs and whole foods for us to eat so that we can nourish our brains and bodies. The more we stay away from processed foods, artificial colors and flavors, white sugars, and bleached flour, the better the chance we will be healthy in mind and body.

Stay away from ‘witch doctors’ who want to put you under the spell of their medicine magic. You may think you can just use a drug for a short time and get over the ‘hump’ and be back to your old self….but don’t believe it. The antidepressants are there to get you hooked and coming off of them can be a long, slow process that has risks of it’s own. Either way, anything that plays with your brain chemistry cannot be GOOD for you!

My conviction is this:

If you think you are depressed pray more, get into God’s Word more and ask Him to point out what it is in your life that is causing you to feel this way.
REPENT if there is sin separating you from God. There is nothing sadder than a Christian on the run from their Father! It’s a race you will NEVER win!
Feed your body with healthful foods and try soothing herbs to calm you (Chamomile, St. John’s Wort, Catnip are just a few.)
Get yourself up and OUT! Visit old folks in nursing homes, run an errand for a shut-in, go to the pound and adopt a pet to love you, do a good deed just to do it!
Whatever you do….don’t fall into the inactivity trap.
Witness to the lost, sing psalms and hymns, clean your church home…but DO…DO…DO!
Tell Satan to flee from you! Trust your Heavenly Father and thank Him out loud for all he has done that is positive!
Remember Job and count your blessings…most especially remember Christ on the cross and reckon that things in your little corner of the world could be a LOT worse!

HELPING OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO LEARN NORMAL BIRTH:

Recently, USA Today (http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/csections/news-risingcsectionrate.htm) ran an article that showed how American women's C-section rates have climbed from 25%-27% in just the past few years. More and more, the women in America are not just having the surgery for emergency situations at the time of labor and birth, but now it is becoming more and more popular to ELECT a Caesarean and bypass the whole labor altogether.

Of course, the doctors LOVE this (at least the greedy ones) because it's more expensive to cut a baby out of it's mother's womb.There is more down-time in the hospital, so the hospital makes out. You need anesthesia, so the anesthesiologist makes out. It's convenient for mom...she gets to pick when the baby will emerge.....and so everyone is just so happy! Or are they?

Let's look at the specific drawbacks about having an elective Caesarean Section:

1) Outside of an emergency situation, C-Sections deprive a baby of the normal stimulation that primes the baby's respiratory system at birth.
Normally, a baby is squeezed gently but firmly through the birth canal. It's kind of a 'massaging' action with each contraction that helps to push out mucous and amniotic fluid out of the child's respiratory system. Without this, the baby is very open to respiratory distress...especially when it is not a first time C-section for mom. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7081331&dopt=Abstract)

2) To the mother, C-sections can pause a real threat to proper early breastfeeding and childcare. Ceasarean section is MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY! It poses all the same dangers as when anybody goes under a surgeon's knife. There is risk of infection, punctures and nicks to organs outside of the general area being operated on, most importantly, there is the possibility that the mother will not be able to 'bond' with her little one properly due to pain in healing (MORE DRUGS!) and exhaustion. Also the natural process is bypassed and so the whole set of hormones that trigger lactation and feelings of 'motherliness' are not switched-on in the normal manner if at all, which causes stress on baby and mom.

3) Another reason to shy away from elective C-sections is the anesthetic. An average baby that weighs about 7 lbs. within the mother's womb at delivery time is exposed to enough anesthesia to deaden his mother's pain sensors during the operation. That means that this tiny person will experience close to the same amount of drug that his average 140+ lb. mom is given. What does this mean? A newborn can be born with RDS due to depression of the respiratory system from the drug mom was given, it also may be unable to wake easily to eat and that can put a real damper on early nursing and cause mom to become very discouraged with the whole process and give up!

These are simply a VERY few reasons why physically, elective Ceasarean sections are not the best way to bring a new life into the world.

What about the spiritual aspects of normal birth?

As a Christian mother, I have to always be on my guard on how I perceive the world around me and how my reactions will affect my children. If I viewed labor and birth as abnormally dangerous, something that only a "doctor" can manage and do for me, my children would have every right to fear God's gift of procreation as something scary and dark.
So first off, it is important to establish in a mother's heart and mind that children are valuable and a gift from God so that she may instill this ideology into the young ones left in her care.
Secondly, a Christian mother needs to be open to God's planning for her family and not Planned Parenthood or the U.N. If God blesses you with 1 or 10, each one has a purpose that the Lord has already infused into that child if he/she accepts Christ one day.
Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Third, as children get older and ask questions about birth (especially as they see mama's belly swell) they need to know that the day approaches when they will be able to see, touch and hear their baby brother or sister. That is also a good time to begin explaining what it may be like for mama to give birth. Keep it simple, especially if your children are young but don't lie to them. If they are going to have a realistic but positive outlook on the normal process of birth, they need to be told more than "It hurts!" or worse yet...."You don't need to worry about that dear!" and leave their little minds open to every imaginable fear they can muster.

The most important point would be to surround yourself with those that see birth in a normal, scriptural way. I don't believe that God wants a woman's nakedness to be uncovered by another man besides her husband. For this reason, I think if a Christian woman opts to have a 'doctor' oversee her pregnancy, then that doctor needs to be a woman. The best selection though is someone who truly believes in and respects the God-driven process of labor and birth. I don't think a doctor can truly do that nowadays with the rare exception of a very few. They all seem to have protocals that want to 'rush' a baby out of the womb for one silly reason or another and these ideas are all based on fear.
Midwifery is biblical and shows how God has honored midwives even in the days of Moses: Ex 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Midwife is a word that simply means 'with woman'. Any woman can be a midwife and help a friend or relative bring a baby in. Of course it helps to have training and know how to deal in an emergency but these are skills that can be easily taught to any woman who has the desire. The main thing is that whoever is going to help you birth needs to know the Lord personally and be in prayer for you and your child.
Another important point about using a midwife is that a midwife, especially an experienced one can help you in ways that are more natural (herbal tinctures, homeopathy, position changes,etc.) and know many little tricks of the trade that can keep you from the hospital and give you a healthy outcome.

Putting into practice the will of God will make you a better parent and instill true values into your child that hopefully, they themselves will put into use someday.

I love the look people get on their face when they ask me "are all these yours?" when they see us all together....I usually reply ,"most of them...there are 2 more that have grown (a total of 8) ". They usually say something ignorant like "Oh, you poor woman!" to which I reply "why?" Most of the time, they don't know what to say after that question and try to back peddle..."well.I guess that's great if that is what you want!" I always use that opportunity then to witness and tell folks what a Blessing my children are and how the Lord blessed me with all of them. Usually at that point, they really feel kind of embarrassed....but I understand. They are merely reacting as the world has programmed them. I hope I made a dent in their way of thinking.

Teaching Our Children (and Ourselves) Faith Not Fear:


1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth
is not made perfect in love.

I recently had a conversation with one of my teenage daughters. We discussed some of the 'scary' things her dad and I learn about when we see certain presentations about the state of the world and corruption in our own government.
Since her father and I try to stay on top of the local as well as national political scene (you have to chop your way through so much propaganda!) and attempt to educate Christians on issues of sovereignty , constitutional issues and how the Devil's crowd is pushing for one-worldism, you can imagine she gets a lot of information by simply living here. This would seem like a good thing most of the time but there is a flip side . My daughter expressed her anxiety about some of the things she has seen us watch or heard us talk about. Some of the information has caused her to be fearful and upset, something I had not counted on.

This incident also brought to mind people we have met along the way, who also were saved, Born-again folks but the whole counsel of God was 'too much truth'. Some can only handle the Sunday service and that's it.....dealing with the rest of the biblical application on their day-to-day lives is just more than they can chew. Now I'm not saying these folks are worse Christians then I am...believe me, I have more of my own downfalls than I care to number, BUT it points to out and out fearfulness which is a symptom of faithlesness in God's abilities.

I am no stranger to anxiety. Before I knew the Lord, my mental health was clearly lacking. At 21, I experienced such severe anxiety attacks and agoraphobia that it took at least a year for me to realize that I could deal with life at all. A few years later, right before my salvation, I was popping anti-depressants and seeing a therapist once a week. What helped? The Lord healed me...plain and simple. When I was saved and the Holy Spirit came into my heart and quickened me out of a certain death, He shoved out the fear, the anxiety and horrible memories that kept my mind hostage and replaced them with contentment, love and joy!

Of course, since then, there were many times when I walked off the path and allowed the enemy to take advantage but I never felt that God had deserted me-if anything, I had left his side myself. That was when I could feel the old feelings of fear and anxiety trying to take hold.

I have met many 'baby' Christians that have not allowed the Holy Spirit's healing to take place. They are fearful, pill-popping men and women who see life as a dangerous, scary place and want to will it all to just go away.
Then, I have met matured Christians who see the battle lines and come in full armour prepared for the battle. They see this life as a corridor to the everlasting one and are not anxious to meet the enemy but expect it and have their swords drawn when needed. These are the men and women we need to emulate.

Fearfulness affects ones' mind and ones' body but it is just a symptom of a relationship that lacks faith. This is what I tried to explain to my teenage daughter when she expressed her fears to me.
I tried to tell her how you need to have knowledge of the enemy you are fighting so that you can be aware of how he is undermining your efforts. I also told her that a Christian needs to be ready to fight and that faith is what will get you ready for that battle should it come into view (we all know it will eventually). The one thing I wanted to make clear to her was that inactivity is also the enemy. You have to be pro-active and care enough about lost people and scared Christians to physically do something about it. Pray,talk,write,study.....do something to call attention to God's strength and love. Point out the sin and the remedy and make time to gather up your own resources through prayer and thinking on those things which the Lord emphasizes:

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

A healthy spirit nurtured in God's Word, growing in His love and sharing that with those in need, is the balm that heals an anxious soul.

What is Wholistic (Holistic)?

I recently had a comment about my labeling the word 'Wholistic' as being a 'new age term'.
I felt that to be a valid point and since it is used quite a bit in our language today, it may be a good idea to address just what it all means...at least to me.

I don't see Wholism as being negative in it's philosophy at all. As a matter of fact, I think that in it's very definition, it is indeed a correct term for the way that God deals with us and how we are to live our Christian walk on this earth.
For instance, in looking at the laws that God provided in the first five books of the Bible, we can definetly label them as being Wholistic in nature:
a) a law is established for the purpose of teaching obedience (i.e. dietary laws) to the God who has created you. You can choose to obey or disobey.(Mind)
b) the law has health implications (i.e. things you put in your body can be deemed clean or unclean)(Body)
c) Obedience brings you into a state of blessing.....or disobedience can bring about a curse, shame, negative consequences (Spirit)

In reading a lot of literature on health issues, especially that which I had to study in the course of learning to midwife, the "wholistic" term came up a lot. Much of the literature I read was written from the standpoint of unsaved midwives and anthropologists who although were correct on many issues, believed on the evolutionary theory (Atheism), allowed many paganistic/Wiccan ideas and language terms to permeate their literature. Yet, they would take the ideology of Body/Mind/Spirit as truth. However, what differs here between the Christian model of Wholism and theirs is the Spiritual part of the equation.

When a Christian thinks of things spiritual, we think of the salvation process...the Heavenly Father....our destiny to someday be with Christ....that our citizenship is already in heaven.....that we who our sinful creatures by the first birth can be made anew with the second-sinless...due to Christ's work on the cross. We can turn that spirituality into something palpable by our demeanor day to day in this evil world, that: Ro 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ...day to day, that we can show Christ in us, His lordship over us in what we say and do and it should reach the very essence of all we are especially when we are in the presence of unbelievers.

To the New Ager, the spiritual side of Wholism turns inward, for in their estimation, God is what you are or can become when all your Body/Mind/Spirit are in harmony or 'balance'. God is He/She, God/Godess, and Yin/Yang where there are no absolutes only situation ethics. Self-esteem is the only real virtue.

This is where the New Age Wholistic view and that which is a Biblical view must part. We can agree on the issues of body (things to eat, exercise, supplementation, etc.) We can even agree on many of the 'mind' concepts: having a positive attitude,
continuing in education, altruism, but the bottom line will always be the spiritual end. Who is Christ? What is salvation? Who are we in relationship to our Father? Most importantly who is our Father?

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
We cannot be double-minded in our Christianity and this is why I suppose it is so important to distinguish between the New Age Wholism and the Christian ideology.

This is where I believe there can be a danger when using the term "wholistic". Used around the anti-Christian, it can become another catch-phrase meaning you believe in Far Eastern philosphy, are a vegan and use yoga for mind and body to reach your 'higher consciencousness....or in Christian circles, it can mean that you believe in eating a well-balanced diet, working hard and honoring your Heavenly Father through prayer and singing psalms and hymns that lift him up. No matter how we cut it, the duality is there. Perhaps we need to label our beliefs as Christian Wholistic so we can understand which direction we are coming from. After all, God is not the author of confusion so our ideas must be clear as well.