It's nothing new for teenagers and young adults to flock to the newest trend, and it's hardly uncommon for these fashion choices to be self-destructive, like smoking, drugs, tattoos or homosexuality. But the latest fad — a soulless eternity of drinking blood — can't be undone with a laser treatment or rehab. Vampirism is forever.
In this week's Reflection of Light, Sarah gets honest about the dark lure that vampires pose to our youth, and she shows us exactly how to cleanse our spirits. After all, humanity has been facing temptation since the serpent charmed Eve in the garden — and we don't plan to fall for the same trick twice.
Yours in Christ,
-Steve Newlin
Detoxify Your Marriage
July 10, 2009
Steve and Sarah Newlin's Reflections of Light 3
Friends,
Lately, the liberal media has gotten up in arms about some statements the Fellowship has made about marriage between humans and vampires. As usual, their preoccupation with creating a scandal draws the spotlight away from the real issue threatening America's way of life, namely a societal lack of commitment to the institution of marriage.
In our latest Refection of Light, Sarah addresses the real, spiritual issues that we all deal with in holy matrimony, describing the hard work that goes into a healthy union. She also brings news of the joy she feels from ceding control of her body to a true soul mate — a human soul mate. After hearing her words, you'll surely understand how no sane person could put their sacred earthly vessel in the hands of a creature that sees it as no more than a tasty snack.
Yours in Christ,
-Steve Newlin
A Winding Road to Faith
July 1, 2009
Back when I was a just a teenager, performing mission work in South Texas, I met an old homeless man called Jorge who used to sing for change outside my hostel. He was skinny and toothless, and obviously had some sort of mental retardation or illness — he would often just sing and laugh to himself while hiding under a brightly colored zarape. Day after day when I'd return home from building houses or handing out food, Jorge would greet me by name — or try to. "Seeve," he'd say, "got a bocadillo?" So I'd pass him whatever leftover food I had from lunch, and he'd smile a toothless grin of gratitude.
This went on for the whole summer I was working there, and I took joy in the fact that God had given me the opportunity to care so directly for someone in need. Occasionally, I'd leave him with a parable or a bit of gospel, which he always seemed to enjoy. But one hot afternoon, when I returned from work, Jorge was nowhere to be seen. In his place, I found a group of police cars and ambulances. Immediately concerned for my oddball friend, I approached a young paramedic and asked what happened. His face looked absolutely stricken as he told me. "Some homeless guy — pretty old — abducted a little kid...and killed him. I've never seen anything like this in my life."
And then I noticed Jorge, sitting in the back of a squad car, smiling as ever and waving at me. Sickened by what had happened, all I could do was return to my hostel room and pray on it. And the more I struggled with what I initially saw as Jorge's betrayal of my faith, the more I began to realize that I was the one who'd misled myself. In my haste to be a man of God and help a lost soul,
I'd taken barely a moment to conduct my own appraisal of the situation. I was so quick to indulge my desire of helping Jorge, the harmless old codger, that I never paused long enough to see that he was a dangerous, albeit pitiable, psychopath.
We must understand that as children of God, we're predisposed to seeing good in the world. It's in our nature to be thankful rather than critical, hopeful rather than suspicious. But there is a darkness on this Earth, and as we navigate our way through it, we must take care not to blind ourselves with the very light that leads our way.
