The new Bible - Refuel Magazine

Sounds like another one of the World's prize winners. :-P That advice about the party "It's illegal for now" made my jaw literally drop open. First the praise alcohol's 'benefits' "it might calm your nerves and make you forget your problems", then toss a bone at parents like us by saying it's illegal so you shouldn't do it...Unbelievable. How would they respond to the issue of fornication? "Oh man, sex feels GREAT!! and it'll raise your esteem in the eyes of some of your friends...but you could end up pregnant or in other trouble so don't do it for now.[/i]

They have a top ten list of cool things God made. Number one is girls, just edging out jagged mountain peaks and soaring eagles. Nice. Also is a list of reasons to avoid pre-maritail sex. Mentionined were getting preganant and STD's. Never anything about the Holy Spirit. Never anything about obeying the Lord. We seem to be raising a generation of youth that are illiterate about the teaching of the Bible.

Well, All I could say from your post, was: DEAR GOD, HELP US.I lead a Christ Centered Recovery Support Group at my church, and I was shocked to read what that book said."But for now, drinking is illegal" ???!!!!!Then what, after you get older, get smashed???I'm an EX Alcoholic, drug addict, set free by the power of God. That junk all but ruined my life, and many others I might add.It's only by the saving Grace of God, and the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit and many prayers that I'm here today. (that was a mouthful) :-) That magazine or bible or book or whatever you call it greatly disturbs me. Our youth need a true revival today...they need the Word preached with conviction, they need to see something real for a change.Heavenly Father, please forgive us for our stupidity. Re-kindle the Fire in our hearts, and give us passion for the lost.AMEN

This sounds very similar to the girls magazine/bible that has been out since 2003, it is called Revolve and was discussed previously here on SI in the following thread;Revolve MagazineIt certainly does stir up a sadness and an anger within to see these things, we really need to intecede for this young generation.In Christ,Ron

We have two large "Christian" book stores here. They are both run by National Chains. I'm sure they have the book you mentioned. I just never pay attention to that junk. I think I will look around a little more.I usually frequent another Christian book store that is locally owned and operated by a wonderful Christian lady.I know stuff like this exists, I guess it just kinda hit me wrong. I feel like crying.This is sad.

To defend my generation -This magazine isn't a cry to the younger generation, it's a cry to parents for easy answers. I wouldn't have put my nose in this thing for very long at all without a parent's help. That and there are plenty of teen study bibles out there of various translations, and bibles are still useful on a nightstand.So, uh, bottom lines aren't the only major issue this magazine addresses. The endorsements are scary, but it might be interesting to get the picture of collateral damage attached to this sucker.

at this point I must ask, of all of you who expressed some righteous fury, how many of you have cable or satellite dishes enabled to your TV's?How many of you read Scripture with your children?How many of you pray with your children?How many of you study the Word more hours in a week, than you do parked in front of the TV?How many of you teach children the Word of God in a positive uplifting Christly environment? First, I must answer "ME!" to all of these questions. The Cable we used to get the best reception for Seasame Street. Other than that, our TV is on perhaps 3 hours A WEEKAs for the rest of your post, and the general attitude of "well it gets teens to share the gospel, etc..." I must say that is just a shame for parents of today, because the teens in 1897 DID NOT HAVE some cool imitation Bible yet they shared their faith openly with each other. They did not need a "lamp under bushel" version to hide their shame of God's Word before they'd take it to school. They took the Bible (the KJV in almost 100% of cases) very seriously and thought it was "cool"Why not for teens today?Ummm...parents. I know teens...plenty of 'em in my church, who carry their Bibles to school, "cool" or not. They'll share their faith at the drop of a hat and don't need any fancy dressing up to do it.FIE FOR SHAME ON THE PARENTS, I SAY and again, I say SHAME on the parents and yea, even on the older teens themselves for feeling they need the Word of God watered down before it will be acceptable to their social peers.Yes, it's encouraging some to get out and share, but as I said elswhere on this message board, God gets His glory despite the evil that some men do...that doesn't make it, (this so-called 'bible'), right.

Refuel and Revolve (the girls version) then there is the Book of James by it's self. they have a mag-bible for Young Adults (20-somethings) that is coming out soon. I work around this stuff all day. I've seen every side of it and heard all the different sides of this one.Let me just say this. Look at the thing, I mean go and take a look at it. I work with youth and have for the past 5 years. When you look at it, where are the heavy girls at? The boys with acne? The plain looking girls that where regular clothes, not designer stuff? Cool or not, I think that we as Children of the Most Hight have enough to contend against from the image driven an sex saturated ads and junk that the world rubs in the face of out teens without giving them a Bible full of what one of my teens deems "the beautiful people" You can win them with something like this but what do win them to? I don't have a youth group full of models. They are all beautiful! Fat skinny, acne, awkward builds, lower or higher intellignce, all of them have been beautified with salvation. They want to be differnt not to blend in. Why not carry a Giant Black Bible to school?? Those that are lost make no bones about carrying thier Wicca or Yoga books nor do they have a problem carrying secular trash books. Why shoould we give our kids the impression that a little comprmise is o.k., again we may win one but to what?Sorry if i seem a little animated about this subject, I'm only 26 and have been working with teens since i was 21. they are all good kids but they get so concerned about thier appreance ans what other people think about them at school that they need affirmation through scripture,, thier pastors, and thier leaders. They DO NOT need to be handed an "undercover" Bible that says it IS right to be concerned with what people think of you (please understand I know we are living epislte.)--so carry this "cool" bible full of "beautiful people"--full of articles about "who to date" and "how to be cool". These are in the midst of the scriptures--"lest by any means satan beguile you as he did eve and corrupt your minds from the simplicity or purtiy that is in Jesus-- by any means even something that looks Godly. I've said it once and I'll say it again, we must be a counter culture and alternitive not a subculture subject to the whims of worldly popularity. What ever happened to reading your Bible because you loved Jesus? It didn't take a trip to Kings Island or an Ice cream social to get me saved OR to keep me saved (do stuff with your youth, I'm not railing against those things) the point is this---We'll never win this "no fear shirt wearing, no esacape pants wearing, I know what you did Last summer watching,bungie jumping, fear factor loving, i love being rebelious" generation with a comprimised Gospel that looks so much like them they can;t tell the difference. Nelson can keep thier Gospel According to Cosmo.

I could say alot about this, having children, but all I feel like saying is LORD JESUS PLEASE COME AND SAVE MY CHILDREN FROM THIS WORLD. But in the mean time I will teach my children the Bible and that God is living and watching and that shame is not something you have to have if you keep the Lord God in mind before you do something. To remember that they invited a Holy person in to there hearts and that that guest is not comfortible with the things of this world. :-?

at this point I must ask, of all of you who expressed some righteous fury, how many of you have cable or satellite dishes enabled to your TV's?How many of you read Scripture with your children?How many of you pray with your children?How many of you study the Word more hours in a week, than you do parked in front of the TV?How many of you teach children the Word of God in a positive uplifting Christly environment?I have no TV period, I cut cable off.Christian Music is played around the clock.I have a 20 year old and a 15 year old.They complained at first when the TV went away, but have adjusted fine, (us too) :-) We try to read the Word of God with the younger son. I hardly ever see the 20 yr. old...with girlfriend and job. :-D I guess I just don't see why we have to change the packaging or worse yet, the package, to get the Gospel out.We had a Revival some years ago at our Church.The Evangelist preached "Holy Ghost and Fire" and didn't hold back.This Revival went on for 21 days straight, and the youth were flocking to the place...among adults also.When there is a fire, people come from miles around to see what's going on.People want the truth, they want something REAL.Anyway, you won't find a copy in my house...but that's just my two cents worth.I will, however, give it another look when I return to the bookstore, I'm just curious about what I'll find.

at this point I must ask, of all of you who expressed some righteous fury, how many of you have cable or satellite dishes enabled to your TV's?How many of you read Scripture with your children?How many of you pray with your children?How many of you study the Word more hours in a week, than you do parked in front of the TV?How many of you teach children the Word of God in a positive uplifting Christly environment?I believe I felt some anger with this magazine so I will answer your questions. I can tell you that we have no cable or broadcast TV at my home, what tapes or DVD's my children do watch are closely monitored and only on weekends.I watch no TV myself other than what I may catch of the kids stuff. My family spends time together in the Bible first thing each morning and we pray together daily.Also, I think I will let the words of one of our younger SI members (chosen7stone) speak here. She was 18 years old in '03 when she wrote the following comments on the Revolve magazine.I was completely appalled when I read this for the first time. Disgusted, dismayed, shocked, disappointed, upset…the list can go on. I wasn’t happy, and it’s because I just know that this is going to appeal to some Christian girls who aren’t strong in their faith and it’s going to just put a cap on their growth. They’re not going to get fed at all through this magazine, they’re going to be hindered in their walk, and that’s incredibly angering...Without a doubt, it detracts from the message; it takes the focus off of God, and that should NEVER be done by anyone or anything claiming to be Christian. He deserves the glory, not our physical appearance, celebrities, boyfriends, etc. How DARE they call it Biblical yet draw attention to worldly things that obviously drag us down? Satan's laughing so hard right now, and it's disgusting...There is a difference between rash anger and righteous anger. There is a difference between feeling it and acting upon it. When Jesus fashioned a whip and drove those people out of the temple, He wasn't smiling. In the instance of this magazine, I am angry and upset. Really. Am I going to go and burn down the building where they print these magazines? lol No. But they're blaspheming my God, my Savior, the Love of my life. And I'm angry, and I think I have every right to be.You can read her complete comments and others if you click on the link I offered in my previous post in this thread.In Christ,Ron

(Note: I have edited this post to take alittle of my edge off while leaving the point intact.)Christianity in America has produced it's share of pop culture. Now we come to these "teen" bibles. Perhaps the most compelling point against these bibles is made by inotof. Cool or not, I think that we as Children of the Most Hight have enough to contend against from the image driven an sex saturated ads and junk that the world rubs in the face of out teens without giving them a Bible full of what one of my teens deems "the beautiful people"This is a really good reason for me to not buy this bible for my little girl. However, I do not doubt that the Lord could make use of this product for someone else. For instance, I've used Lord of the Rings to help my 11 year old better understand lessons found in the bible. I've even used SpongeBob Squarepants. (Spongebob isn't just absorbent, or selfish, he is also pourus, or giving. Forgive me Oswald Chambers...)Do I think that Jonathan Edwards or Charles Wesley would like my contemporary life style? The clothing I wear? The music I listen to? I am reminded of a line from the movie My Brother Where Art Thou: "Jr. it's a good thing your mamma died givin' birth to ya, or else she woulda died of shame." :-( MC