single young christian woman apr 2012

8/2/2019 Single Young Christian Woman Apr 2012

1/18

singleYoung Christian Wom

GET MORE DONE ONLINE

25 Free and Useful Cybertools

Large and In ChargeBeing a Leader Worth Following

These Are Our Choices?

Facing Our Election Fears

Does God Really Caref I k

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2/18

Center RingDoes God Really Care if

I Drink Pepsi?by Donna Lee Schillinger

.3Straight Talk from the ProverbsLarge and In Charge: Being a LeaderWorth Followingby Donna Lee Schillinger

Reby RayGreen Clean this Spring

.6

.14.16

in this

issue...

An Election YearThese Are Our Choices?

Facing Our Election Fears

by J.L.Williams .9Spare Change

Shopping for Auto InsuranceDriving You Crazy?by Julie Ann

Single!Young Christian WomanApr 2012, Vol. 4

On My Own Now Ministries, Inc.,

Publisher

Donna Lee Schillinger, Editor

Donna Lee Schillinger

with Daniela Bermudez,

Page Design

Kimberly M. Schluterman

Editorial Support

Contributors

Dr. J. L. Williams

Jerey Bridgman, Julie Ann

Except where noted, content is copy-

right 2012 On My Own Now Ministries.

Articles may be reprinted with credit

to author, Single!and www.OnMyOwn-

Now.com.

On My Own Now Ministries, Inc. is a

nonproft organization with a 501 (c)

(3) determination. Your donations

aid in our mission to encourage aith,

wise lie choices and Christ-likeness in

young adults during their transition to

living on their own.

We welcome submissions o original

or repurposed articles that arecontributed without expectation o

compensation. May God repay you.

Visit us at www.OnMyOwnNow.com.

The RecapNot Another Dating Book

Review by Julie Ann

.12

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3/18

straight talk

Love and faithfulness

keep a leader safe;

through love her

authority is made secure.Proverbs 20:28

Large and In ChargeBeing a Leader Worth Following

By Donna Lee Schillin

Have you ever held a supervisory position?Even if you havent, I bet you know a lotabout being a good supervisor. Your whole life has

been under constant supervision parents, teach-

ers, pastors, youth leaders, work supervisors and

even the police. Have you thought about what it is

that causes you to like and respect some authorityfigures and dislike others?

Being cool and having a good sense of humor

help to make parents, teachers and work supervi-

sors likable, but if you also respect those persons it

is probably because they are really good at their job

and they treat you with respect.

Anyone can be assigned a position of authority, or

in the case of a parent, obtain it through childbirth,

but its something different to actually have au-

thority. Youve been looking at this issue from the

subordinate side, but soon, if you havent already,

you will be in authority over others. Before you get

there, you should make some promises to yourself

about what kind of authority figure youll be. Dont

you owe it to yourself to be the kind of person you

admire? You dont want to end up as one of those

bosses people are mocking in the break room, doyou?

Especially if youre on the college track, you may

eventually find yourself in a position of authority

over someone older and much more experienced

than you. Imagine being supervised by a 12-year-

old. Seems absurd, doesnt it? But that must come

close to the bewilderment a 45-year old feels at tak-

ing direction from a 22-year old. Even if age isnt a

factor, taking direction from a new supervisor must

feel akin to taking driving instruction from a British


4/18

straight talk

teenager who just got her drivers license a month

ago and has never actually driven on American

roads. What can she possibly know about it?

Besides young age and inexperience, there may be

other unknown obstacles to being accepted as a new

supervisor. Maybe everyone really liked the formersupervisor and still feels quite loyal to that person.

Maybe the people you are supervising were vying

for the job you just got and were passed over because

they dont have the necessary education. Maybe the

company you work for really bites and people cant

stand their jobs! Even in the best case scenario, as

a new supervisor, you are likely to meet with initial

resistance.

In almost every job Ive held since my sophomore

year of college, Ive been in a position of authority

over at least a couple of people and usually someone

older than me. I didnt go in expecting resistance

from my employees, and at times I was largely

oblivious to it, but it was there. I know this because

time and time again, my employees confessed to me

later on that when I first came on the job, they didnt

like me. Was it me? Id like to think its that people

dont like change and a new boss represents change.

Thats not to say that Ive always been the ideal

boss. Through trial and error (emphasis on the error),

Ive learned a few things about being in the positionof authority. I have a few suggestions I hope youll

keep in mind when you get your first position of

authority.

1. Avoid instituting change within the first

month of your new job and if you have the flexibil-

ity to wait longer, wait at least three months. There

are two main reasons for this. First, change is what

your employees most fear and for you to begin to in-

stitute change immediately, you confirm their worst

fear and they will likely resist the changes, even ifthey are good ones. Second, how can you change for

the better something you really dont understand?

You may have been told in an interview what needs

to change, but if you have the liberty, take the first

months on the job to learn how everything is done

and to understand the rationale behind it. The real

reason employees do what they do could be hard to

articulate and may need to be experienced. Try work-

ing one or more shifts (or days) in the capacity of the

position you think needs change. You can learn a lot

about rationale by walking in someone elses shoes.

2. Expect the best out of your employees. Even

if you feel their resentment, dont acknowledge it.

I recall once holding a staff meeting and having todish out some hard pills to swallow. At the end of

the meeting, I tried to make light of the situation

and said something like, Okay, Im leaving now so

you can talk bad about me. Later, I learned that my

parting remark had incited more discontent than any

of the meetings agenda items. These conscientious

employees were insulted by my assumption that they

were nasty backbiters. Such a misunderstanding! If

only I had left the meeting with this remark: Thanks

for your time and I know that you will all do your

best to implement these practices, because Ive come

to expect only the best from you.

3. Last on this short list, but certainly not

least, is to respect what you dont know about your

employees. When you come on the job as the new

supervisor, youll be acutely aware that your em-

ployees have no idea how capable you are and you

will look forward to them discovering it as time goes

by. Well, guess what, they are highly capable too. If

youre supervising a 45-year-old, youre in charge ofa person who has lived more than twice the life you

have. Dont you think that person has accumulated

some valuable knowledge and understanding in that

other lifetime?

Just as we should in every interaction with friends,

family and total strangers, we must take mutual

respect to the workplace. Your respect of others will

garner their respect for you.

People dont respect you for your title or what you

can do to them if they are insubordinate. If they careabout their job, they have to revere the position, but

they dont have to respect the person in it. They can

fully comply with all directives and still resent the

heck out of you. The operation may run like clock-

work, but youll be able to cut the hostility in the air

with a knife.

Make the air easier to breathe with the only tool

that really works to neutralize hostility, resentment

and resistance to authority. Shower the people under


5/18

Hold this thought:My employees will

respect me because Irespect them.

from the proverbs

you with respect. That doesnt mean you need to bring

donuts every morning. People can tell the difference

between gifts and respect. Respect is a feeling and a

knowledge that you relate to each other as people firstand supervisor/employee second. It is the natural out-

come of a relationship based in Christs love. And like

any other relationship, it takes time to develop.

The Message puts it this way: The mark of a good

leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without

a following (Proverbs 20:28).

Photo byFrank Wouters
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6/18

An ElEction YEAr

I LoveAmerica

(Maybe a LittleToo Much)

Facing our Fear

These Are Our Choice

Ihave to coness, Im a news junkie! Much to my wieschagrin, all I want to do when I am home and have any Vtime is to watch news reports and political talk shows. Tese

are only occasionally interrupted by something nonpolitical on

National Geographic or Animal Planet. But these days, even

nature and animals have been politicized by the right and le!More than usual, I am especially addicted to politics during

election years.

Perceptions of America

When I am overseas, I am always ascinated by the opportunity

to view America through the lenses o other countries and

cultures most o which view us very dierently than we view

ourselves. Depending upon what country I am in, America

is variously portrayed as: a Christian nation; a city set on a

hill; the land o opportunity; the pot o gold at the end o the

rainbow; a military bully; a capitalist exploiter; a colonialist

country; or the Great Satan.

It seems every American traveling abroad is seen through

dierent eyes than they see themselves. Tats why political

conict and culture shock are very real issues to whichAmerican tourists, military personnel, businessmen and

missionaries need to be sensitive. Sadly, most are not, and

thus, the concept o the ugly American is unnecessarily

perpetrated.

Obviously, presidential election years in America are

watched increasingly closely especially in this media age o

cell phones, computers, iPods and Vs. While most envy our

reedoms and democratic process, most only have a supercial

understanding o our political process.

by Dr. J.L. WiLLiams
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7/18

Faith and the Public Forum

Tis political year is especially signicant because it is

supercharged by the aith actor. In addition to the economy,

jobs, education, energy, oreign aairs especially the

potential o a nuclear Iran religions impact on the social

agenda has become a dominant issue. Tere is constant

debate over how a politicians personal aith impacts things

like traditional marriage, contraceptives, abortion, divorce, gay

rights, the environment, etc.

In the past, our concept o separation o Church and

State has built a rewall between private belie and public

perormance a concept that is completely abhorred in

Islam. But in this current election process, the issue o aith is

being constantly brought to the oreront. How does private

character impact public conduct?

Republican Religion

A popular maxim says: Politics and religion make strange

bed-bellows! One things or sure, they are in bed together

during this election year as never beore especially in the

Republican caucuses and primaries. Te on-going Republican

presidential debates have now surpassed the 19 mark and

counting. While it is an opportunity or the candidates to be

vetted, or thoroughly examined down to the moral, marital

and monetary minutia, there is a lot o mud-slinging in the

process. o date it has been a very negative campaign ueled

by millions o dollars o Super Pac money. Sadly, all o these

negative ads have dirtied all o the candidates involved since it

is impossible to sling mud without getting morally muddy in

the process!

As is usually the case, these on-going campaign debates are

generating a bit more heat than light. Tis vetting process has

become something o a political demolition derby with each

candidate ghting to lead the pack and cross the nish line

with their party nomination in hand by winning the necessary

1,144 delegates.

The Final Four

Already the Republican candidates have been cut in hal

rom an original pack o 8 major contenders. Te rst ourpolitical atalities were: Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann,

Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry. Like the NCAA, the Final Four

who are still battling it out are Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich,

Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. While Romney is the presumed

ront-runner, he has not yet galvanized and energized the

political and religious conservatives. Tis is seen by the

act that a majority o the voters are still in the undecided

category.

Evangelicals, Mormons and Catholics, Oh My!

Regardless o their past political records, present nancial

status or uture campaign stumping, conservative groups like

the ea Party and Evangelical Christians will play a deciding

role in who wins rst place on the Republican ticket. So like it

or not and liberals dont like it Christians and politicians

are in bed together! Republicans, in general, and evangelical

Christians in particular, have to decide between:

Mitt Romney: a proud and professing Mormon elder

Newt Gingrich: a recent convert to Catholicism

Rick Santorum: a life-long Catholic of deep conviction

Ron Paul: a libertarian who plays his religious cards close

to his chest

Since Mormons are the 4th largest denomination in

America, they represent one o the largest conservative voting

blocks. Tey are generally very pro-amily, pro-lie, pro-ree

enterprise, pro-military, pro-America. Politically, then, a goodMormon can be a good governor or president. Certainly a

potential government ofcial should not be totally judged by

his aith, or lack thereo.

But, on the other hand, neither can a political candidate be

totally separated rom their religious belies. Tese elections

remind us again that we are voting or a president, not a

preacher, priest or prophet to occupy the White House.

My Political Cup of Tea

However, both political conservatives and evangelical

Christians have to decide which candidate best deserves to

claim and carry the mantles o conservative and Christian.

Right now, Mitt, Newt and Rick are vying or both o those

titles with Ron claiming to be the only true conservative.

Te political wars continue. So do the cultural wars. And

beneath both o them, the religious wars uel the other battles.

Questions like these continue to be catalytic in peoples

thinking and voting:

Are we a Judeo-Christian nation?

Are we an Islamic-Christian nation?

Do the Bible and 10 Commandments have an historical

connection with our Constitution and Bill o Rights?

What does separation of Church and

State really mean?

Are we now a secular nation void of a religious

oundation?

Does a politicians faith matter in governance?

Is private morality irrelevant to public performance?

Can a Catholic, Mormon, atheist or born-again Christian

make an equally good President?

While most European nations have answered these
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8/18

An ElEction YEAr

questions with a resounding NO, they keep being recycled

in America during election years. And this year, Romneys

Mormon Faith, Santorum and Gingrichs Catholic Faith and Pauls

Libertarian aith continue to be a actor at the polling booth and

ballot box. And many, i not most, evangelical Christians, havea great concern about the strong Mormon aith o Mitt Romney.

Te question persists: Does Mormonism represent mainline

Christianity? Or more pointedly: Is Mormonism a cult? However

we answer these, it will be oensive to one side or the other.

Pro or Protest Vote?

o date, most political pundits keep saying that Romney has not

really captured the minds and hearts o the political conservatives

and evangelical Christians. As a result, we have seen the so-

called Santorum surge and Gingrich gain in recent weeks.

Te nagging question is whether their persistent presence andpopularity is really a positive vote or them or a protest vote

against Romney? Only time will tell. And Governor Romneys

Mormon aith will be a deciding actor in that debate.

Tereore, to help you make that decision so that you can vote

more intelligently, I have updated and reprinted my book on

Mormonism. I wrote it back in the early 1970s. For those of you

who want to dig more deeply into this subject as you decide how

the doctrines o Mormonism should impact your voting, click

here or a ree copy o my book in PDF ormat.

Democrat Demographics

Tis issue o religion and politics is not just a Republican issue.

Democrats ace their own version o this politico-religious

dynamic. Tere is still an uncertain religious aura hanging over

President Obama. While he has tried, he still has never been able

to ully distance himsel rom Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his ery

spiritual-political-racial-cultural rhetoric that oen had strong

anti-American overtones.

Couple his liberal leist Christian inuence with president

Obamas early up-bringing under a Muslim ather and subsequent

education in Koranic schools and there is a lingering dark cloud

o spiritual suspicion about the reality or sincerity o his proessed

Christian aith. At this years annual National Prayer Breakast

on February 2nd (which I have attended many times), President

Obama again spoke openly o my Christian aith and how it

has impacted his political positions.

But ormal and inormal polls continue to show that many

Americans still ear that he is really a closet Muslim who has

not ully come clean about his Islamic sympathies. He has made

many statements and speeches negating our American and Judeo-

Christian heritage. President Obama has made some very positive

statements about Islam. In many o his speeches, he praises Islam

and enumerates its virtues and the debt civilization owes that

religion. He speaks o Islam as a revealed religion rom God.

He reveres Mohammed as an authentic prophet rom God. Healways reers to the Holy Koran when he speaks o the writings

o Mohammed. He calls the morning Muslim call to prayer one

o the most beautiul sounds in the world and can recite it in

perect Arabic.

But does this make him a secret Muslim? Not necessarily. Only

God knows his heart. However, we do need to careully look at the

religious ruit o his lie (a topic or a uture article which can be

read on my journal blog).

Conclusion

I began this political op-ed with the popular maxim: Politicsand Religion make strange bed-ellows. Let me end this brie

excursion through the current political mineeld with another

maxim: Let your conscience be your guide. In the nal

analysis, each o us as Americans and Christians must vote our

conscience.

However, i our conscience is going to be a trustworthy guide

in the voting booth, it must not be driven by blind passion to any

person or party. Our conscience can only be a trustworthy guide

when it is historically educated and politically inormed. But most

o all, it needs to have been educated by the Word o God and

sensitized by the Spirit o God. o that end, I trust that e-book onMormonism will be a helpul resource in your voting.

Dr. J. L. Williams is primarily an evangelist and teacher who travels

around the world in apostolic ministry as God leads and enables

through the nonprot ministryJL, Patt & Friends (JLPF), which he

co-ounded with his wie, Patt. JLPF is dedicated to evangelism and

edication through the love o Jesus Christ. Teir mission statement

is: Leadership Trough Partnership. Williams says o the ministry,

For our decades we have partnered with strategic national leaders

with whom God has sovereignly networked us. Our purpose is to

do all we can to encourage, equip and empower them to be as

inuential, catalytic and efective as possible as they lead their

indigenous churches and ministries. Our special passion is to help

reach the unreached, under-reached and out-o-reach people groups

o the world, especially in the wo-Tirds World, where there is the

highest density o spiritual and physical poverty.
http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=515http://www.jlwilliams.org/images/uploads/books/Mormonism_Book.pdfhttp://www.jlwilliams.org/images/uploads/books/Mormonism_Book.pdfhttp://www.jlwilliams.org/journal/JL/http://www.jlwilliams.org/home/http://www.jlwilliams.org/home/http://www.jlwilliams.org/journal/JL/http://www.jlwilliams.org/images/uploads/books/Mormonism_Book.pdfhttp://www.jlwilliams.org/images/uploads/books/Mormonism_Book.pdf


9/18

feature article

What could be wrong with Pepsi? Sugar,caffeine, caramel coloring? In case youhavent come across it yet on Facebook or e-

mail, the conservative Christian community is

intermittently flaming about the fact that Pepsidevelops products with the aid of a company

called Senomyx (thats pronounced, ironically,

sin-o-mix), which is using a controversial

human-derived cell in developing food flavor-

ings and additives. It seems, though Snopes.

com has only gone so far as to call it undeter-

mined, that Senomyx uses human embryonic

kidney (HEK) 293 cultured cells (meaning

they are made in a lab) that came originally

from the kidneys of an aborted fetus. If youre

reading about this for the first time, youre

probably thinking this is so absurd that it cant

be true; at least, thats what I thought. After

some digging, I have now concluded that its

so absurd that it must be true. Even so, its

just the next slip down on the slope of using

embryonic stem cells for research of any kind.

Last June, CBS News reported that HEK

293 cells are widely used in pharmaceutical

research, and confirmed that the cells trace

their origins to a single fetal kidney. How-ever, these cells are not being used in food and

beverage products if you drink Pepsi, youre

not going to be ingesting aborted fetal kid-

ney, like some of these inflammatory e-mails

would have us believe. Instead, Senomyx uses

the cells to mimic taste receptors, in a way un-

derstood only by lab geeks, to predict whether

or not a given flavor will satisfy our human

craving for sweet and salty. An upcoming

Pepsi product may be the first to benefit from

HEK 293 cell-based taste research results,and in turn, Senomyx will likely reap product

royalties.

Curious to try that new Pepsi product? Per-

sonally, knowing this much, Id order water

over Pepsi anytime. Its the ewww factor,

says Debi Vinnedge , executive director of

Children of God for Life, self-proclaimed

world leaders for ethical vaccines, medicines

Does GodReallyCare ifI DrinkPepsi?

Photo by Xurble

byDonna Lee schiLLinger
http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/pepsi.asphttp://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=366http://www.everystockphoto.com/photographer.php?photographer_id=366http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/pepsi.asp


10/180

center ring

and consumer products.

Ewww. Yeah, Im feelin it, but I didnt need

slanderously hyped up headlines to make me feel

it the truth is enough. However much I appreciate

the work of these prolife watchdogs, it aggravatesme to no end when conservative Christians (lets be

real, they seem to be the only Christians doing this)

hype the truth (which, hmm, last time I checked

made it into a lie) in efforts to rally Christians to

action. The press release Children of God for Life

issued on March 5, 2012, for a fine example, an-

nounced, Obama agency rules PepsiCo cannibaliz-

ing aborted fetus is ordinary business. The Se-

curity Exchange Commission ruled that this matter

was not one in which

shareholders should be

involving themselves

but why not take a

sucker punch at Obama,

after all, he appointed

the chair of the SEC,

didnt he? And can-

nibalizing is simply

inaccurate.

Clearly, using aborted

fetal remains to doanything is despicable

and a sign of our de-

generate times, but it

does not give Christians cause or justification to

sensationalize the truth and report on par with the

National Inquirer. This rampant sensationalism in

reporting and sharing news about politics, science

and certain Christians not preaching the right brand

of good news is hurting the cause of Christ as much

as anything today. These loud and unreasonable

voices garner the attention they are seeking, but isthis the kind of attention Christ wants to bring to His

bride? Where, oh Church of Christ, is your humility,

meekness, mercy, purity and peace-seeking? In our

hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are starving

all of these other, equally important qualities, and

even undermining the righteousness we crave.

And yet the sin of overreacting is minor compared

to the sin of not reacting at all. The greater danger

here is to say Ewww, and in the next unconscio-

nable breath, order a Pepsi. I dont mean to say that

the correct response is to give up Pepsi, but I do

mean to clearly say that this information should give

us pause and cause to reflect and it is precisely this

reflection and discussion that seems distressinglymissing from Facebook and the blogosphere. Stop to

consider that Pepsi, as well as Kraft, Coca-Cola and

Nestle (also associated with Senomyx), may profit

from research that would not be possible without

the remains of an aborted child. If you call yourself

prolife, this should matter to you. If you consider

yourself morally superior to a cannibal, this should

matter to you.

So what reaction is Christ-like, if spreading hyper-

bole over the Internet is

not? However disturbing,

all this is actually just

more of the same con-

tamination of body and

spirit that is part of living

in a sinful world, and

should simply strengthen

our resolve to live a life

set apart, as the Bible

urges in II Cor. 7:1, Let

us purify ourselves fromeverything that con-

taminates body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out of

reverence for God.

If you are a follower of Christ, you should already

be well on your way to coming out and being sepa-

rate (II Cor. 6:17). This new information just ups the

ante on a commitment you have already made. Are

you in, or not? (If I may borrow a gambling analogy

to talk about living holy.)

There are a number of ways this purifying canlive itself out, including the boycott of Pepsi prod-

ucts that Children of God for Life and other organi-

zations are calling for. However, is it enough to boy-

cott Pepsi, when Kraft, Coca-Cola and Nestle also

do business with Senomyx? Arent we just drawing

a line in the sand to single out Pepsi? Do I not bring

as much guilt on myself by eating Kraft mac and

cheese as I do by drinking a Pepsi? Or am I misun-

derstanding this whole boycott strategy? Maybe its

Clearly, using aborted fetalremains to do anything is

despicable and a sign of ourdegenerate times, but it doesnot give Christians cause or

justification to sensationalize the

truth and report on par with theNational Inquirer.


11/18

feature article

not about personal accountability and living ac-

cording to our espoused principles. Maybe its just

exercising market pressure to get the company to

sever its ties with Senomyx. Would that make us

all happy; so that then we can go back to guilt-freeindulgence in a branded mixture of sugar, caffeine

and caramel coloring?

Regardless of the motive, I believe a boycott

would be effective and that Christians should use

their purchasing power to ethical ends. Campbells

Soup Company was also associated with Senomyx

and expediently severed ties with the company.

Mmm, Mmm Good for them! Recently, as a result

of consumer outrage, Starbucks announced that

it will likely cease using beetle extract to give its

Strawberry and Crme Frappuccino that pretty pink

color. Really? Beetle extract? Who cares! Thats

a gourmet meal in parts of Indonesia! May the

general populations discombobulation over beetle

extract in frappuccino not shame us! If they can get

Starbucks to remove the beetle juice, surely Chris-

tian consumers can move Pepsi, Kraft, Coca-Cola

and Nestle to adopt ethical research and develop-

ment standards. So, yes, at a bare minimum, use

your consumer power to make the world a better

place. But dont limit yourself to this issue only!Feel free to bring your conscience to all your future

purchasing decisions which, Ill just jump to the

logical conclusion here may mean you never

again purchase new jewelry and only shop the pe-

rimeter of the grocery store for organic, free-trade

products.

Uh oh, living this set apart life is starting to

sound complicated, isnt it? It really isnt so much

complicated as it is countercultural, and if youre

not sure whether youve been called to a counter-

cultural lifestyle search the scriptures for the an-

swer.

Pepsi/Senomyx is todays flashpoint, but recall,

the cells in question were developed in the early

1970s, and have been in continuous, undisputed use

in the development of pharmaceuticals ever since.

Likely, groups like Children of God for Life were

counting on a comestible product development to

become something of a foothold on this slippery

slope. However, their outrage campaign doesnt

seem to be spreading past conservative Christian

circles. Possibly the disdainful tactics are to blame,

but 40 years of continuous HEK 293 cells supports

the more likely conclusion: people just dont care

enough certainly not enough to jump on a Boy-cott Pepsi bandwagon.

Soylent Green, a 1973 sci-fi movie, depicted

a time in the future when food was so scarce that

everyone subsisted on Soylent Green, a high-energy

plankton cracker made by Soylent Corporation. The

movie ends with the protagonist Robert Thorn, a

police detective, discovering that the oceans are ac-

tually barren of plankton and that Soylent Green is

made from human corpses. As I reflect on how in-

consequential the news of the Pepsi/Senomyx con-

nection has been, I find myself wondering beyond

the ending of that movie to what sort of a response

there might have been to Thorns pronouncement

that Soylent Green was made from human remains.

If the month since the Pepsi/Senomyx headlines are

any indication, I suspect there might have been a

quite a stir at dinner that evening, but no one would

have gone hungry.


12/182

Spare Change

by Julie Ann

Shopping for Auto Insurance

Driving You Crazy?

Acouple of months ago I had to embark on ajourney that I really wasnt looking forwardto taking. I had to find new auto insurance. Itseemed like during almost every television commer-

cial break there was a little green reptile, a gal in awhite apron or a scruffy man in a suit named May-hem telling me that their insurance company is thebest and would save me thousands in mere minutes.How was I supposed to know which company wasreally for me with all this noise coming at me?

If you find yourself in the same boat, shoppingfor the best and most cost-effective auto insurancepolicy is daunting. Here are some tips to help youcut through the hype and get started.

Understand Options and Your NeedsThe first thing you should do when starting toshop for car insurance is to figure out what yourinsurance needs actually are and gain a clear un-derstanding of the vocabulary you will encounter.For example, you will probably need to consider ifyou need comprehensive or collision coverage and,by state law you will definitely need liability cover-age. Comprehensive covers everything from ani-mal collisions (1.5 million deer are hit by vehicleseach year), to vandalism, to natural disaster dam-

age. Collision coverage is exactly what it sounds

like as well. If your car collides with another caror stationary object your insurance will cover thedamage. Liability coverage does not cover yourcar, but will cover the damage caused to another in

the event of an accident. Liability is the minimumcoverage needed to legally drive your automobile.There are other types of supplemental coverage aswell, including uninsured motorist coverage (moststates require this), medical payment coverage andpersonal injury protection coverage.

Once you have an understanding of your options,you should evaluate your needs. For example, if youare burdened with a luxury automobile, protectyour asset with comprehensive coverage. How-ever, if your car is a clunker worth about $1,000, it

wouldnt make sense to spend half that each yearcovering it with comprehensive and collision, soyou should opt for your states minimum requiredcoverage.

Often insurance companies will try to sell pro-tection rates higher than state minimum require-ments for coverage. Generally speaking, for a youngperson without many assets, state minimums arethe best option. The fear that causes people to optfor higher levels of protection is that they couldlose their house, savings and investments to pay for


13/18


14/18

the recap

Iwas highly skeptical when I began readingNotAnother Dating Book, by Renee Fisher, as Ifully expected it to be, well, another dating book.However, it didnt take me long to realize thatthe title was completely accurate: it is not an-other dating book.

Fisher takes a different approach by writingher book in a devotional format. While the 80topics are mostly standard fare for dating books such as being content in singleness, remaining

pure, handling break-ups they are presentedas short, easy-to-digest vignettes. Fisher getsstraight to the point for each topic and alwaysbrings the focus back to God and what the Biblesays about relationships, bothwith members ofthe opposite sex and with God himself.

Following each short essay, Fisher offers aprayer and then asks the reader to consider aparticular scripture and respond to the scripture

and the particular topic she has just addressed.At the end of each topic, Fisher provides quoteson relationships from singles wrestling throughthe issues.

Interspersed throughout the book are sectionswhere singles have shared their dating disasters.These comical stories add a lighthearted breakfrom the heavy subject matter. Plus, its alwaysnice to be reminded that there is always some-one out who has had worse dating experiences

than you.Fisher puts the greatest focus on our relation-

ship with God. Every topic that she addressesalways comes back around to Him. For example,in writing about crushes, she notes that havinga crush can be a huge distraction. She encour-ages the reader to wait upon Gods timing, not toforce the crush into a relationship, and to use theopportunity to draw closer to God, knowing that

Review by Julie Ann

Read All the Dating Books?Heres NOT Another Dating Book

The Recap on Not Another Dating Book

A Devotional Guide to ALL Your Relationship


15/18

He will work out His plans for you.The use of scripture through the book was

another aspect that I appreciated as theBible should be our ultimate authority in allrelationship issues. Having scripture handyfor each topic allows the reader to easilytackle tough issues and address questionsfrom Gods perspective. The interactiveshort-answer questions make the readerthink through his or her own ideas on dat-ing, what he or she is looking for in a pro-spective partner, and what God wants rela-

tionships to look like. This isnt just a bookthat you can casually read through and nda magic formula for nding a partner. Its abook that causes you to think and considerrelationships from the biblical worldview.

Not Another Dating Book is a great bookfor those just starting to wade into the wa-ters of the dating world or those who havebeen swimming in the single waters for awhile. Everyone can nd insight on thestage of his or her relationship and everyone

can use the book to draw closer to God.

Note: Between the writing and publishingof this book, the author got married, chang-ing her last name from Johnson to Fisher.Some promotional items, such as the notanother book trailer have retained hermaiden name.

Not Another Dating Book:A Devotional Guide to ALL YourRelationshipsby Renee FisherHarvest House Publishers copyright 2012176 pp. $11.99 ISBN 9780736945356
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1http://www.amazon.com/Not-Another-Dating-Book-Relationships/dp/0736945350/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1


16/186

by Reba Ray

Reba Rays

When a friend told me about making her

own laundry detergent, I thought she wasgoin granola to the extreme on me, but whenshe told me how much money she saved bydoin so, a bell went off. Sounded somethin likeCha-ching! So I nally rounded up a couple ofteenagers who work for pizza and told them tostart grating bar soap for my homemade laun-dry detergent. Twenty minutes later, they hada big ole batch of soap that I put in a empty boxfrom the last detergent I had bought at the storeThose 180-load boxes usually lasted me abouttwo months and cost about $20. This home-made detergent cost me about $30; differenceis its lasted me since last November! Yep, Imgoin on ve months now and have a third ofthe box left! Dont ask me why, but it only takesa few tablespoons of the homemade stuff to getthe clothes clean. And I even like how it smells.

Besides just savin money, I believe homemadecleaners are better for a body. Did you knowthat house wives who are exposed to cleanin

products are two times more likely to developsome types of cancer, includin breast cancer?Now thats a ne howdy-do for keepin a cleanhouse! But the fact of the matter is weve donethe same dang thing to our cleanin productssince the 1950s as we have our food: made emdern bad for us!

Lets get back to basics and save some moneywhile were at it. Here are some recipes of a dif-ferent kind: downhome healthy concoctin forone! Most of this information is from Healthy-

GREEN

CLEANThis Spring


17/18

Child.org. If I havent convinced ya to try someof these recipes, check out their article on arecent studylinking 200 household productswith asthma and hormone disturbance (hmm,

that actually explains a few things!).Get ready by buyin a few high quality spray

bottles with ounce measurements on them,some castile liquid soap (you can nd online(Amazon, Vitacost.com) or in health stores; agallon of distilled white vinegar; washin sodaand borax (found in your supermarkets laun-dry aisle) and a big box of bakin soda. For Scrubbin and Scourin, Alternative toScouring Powder: For a soft scrub, mix to-gether baking soda and liquid soap until you get

a consistency you like. The amounts dont haveto be perfect. Make only as much as you need,as it dries up quickly. Surface Disinfectants, Alternative to Lysol:Spray surfaces with vinegar and then with 3%hydrogen peroxide (available in drug stores).Keep the liquids in separate spray bottles anduse them one at a time. Glass Cleaner, Alternative to Windex: Put 3tablespoons vinegar per 1 quart water in a spray

bottle. Some recommend using half vinegar andhalf water. For extra-dirty windows try this: 1/2teaspoon liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar and2 cups of water. Shake well, spray on and wipeoff with newspaper. Alternately to the alterna-tive, try washin yur windows with club soda. Drain de-clogger, Alternative to Drano: To de-grease and deodorize sink and tub drains, pour1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinsewith hot water. You might have to repeat the

whole procedure more than once or leave thebaking soda and vinegar to cook overnight. Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Alternative to LysolToilet Bowl Cleaner: Pour 1 cup of borax and1/4 cup vinegar into the toilet before bed. In themorning, scrub and ush. Deodorizer, Alternative to Air Fresheners andFebreze: Vinegar and baking soda are greatroom fresheners. Vinegar deodorizes, whilebaking soda absorbs odors. Mix 1 teaspoon bak-ing soda, 1 teaspoon vinegar (or lemon juice)

and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle and spritzin the air to remove odors. Zeolite, a mineral,also absorbs odor, but good luck nding itin stores and if you search online, be sure to

enter zeolite odor control because its wildlypopular as a detox treatment. Zeolite productscan also replace yur Carpet Fresh and if yousprinkle some in the litter box, you can buy a lotcheaper kitty litter without smelling the differ-ence. Furniture Polish, Alternative to Pledge: Firstoff, you should know that only real wood furni-ture needs an oily polish, everything else can bedusted with a damp cloth just as well. For realwood, polish with a rag lightly coated with olive

oil. Whitenin and Sanitizin Agent, Alternative toBleach: Use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlo-rine bleach. All-purpose disinfectant, Alternative to Pine-sol or 409: 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoonsvinegar and 3 to 4 cups hot water in a spray bot-tle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoonliquid soap to the mixture.

And nally, I leave you with the concoction

thats cleanin my clothes so well.1 box borax1 large box baking soda (nd it in the laundrysection)1 box washing soda (also found in the laundrysection)1 large tub oxyclean - optional2 bars Fels Naphtha soap, grated2 bars Zote soap, grated

Mix it all together and use sparingly, about 3tablespoons for a large load. Dissolve it for a bit

in hot water, then change the temp to warm orcold, accordin to what yur washin. This soapdoesnt foam up, so dont sit there watchin it!Its doin its job, I promise.

*W.E. Morton, Further Investigation of Housewife Can-cer Mortality Risk, Women and Health, 1982, 7:43-51;

Dr. D.A. Sterling, Comparison of Risk of Chronic Condi-tions and Cancer Between Homemakers and Otherwise

Employed Women, National Center for Health StatisticsConference, Washington, DC, July 15, 1991

down-home healthy cookin for one on a budget
http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/032712_new_news_on_cleaners/http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/032712_new_news_on_cleaners/http://www.refreshinglyfree.com/Online-Catalog/Zeolite-Odor-and-Moisture-Control-Productshttp://www.refreshinglyfree.com/Online-Catalog/Zeolite-Odor-and-Moisture-Control-Productshttp://healthychild.org/blog/comments/032712_new_news_on_cleaners/http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/032712_new_news_on_cleaners/


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single young christian woman apr 2012

Documents