Go Fish Ministries will periodically post new tracts on this site. Tracts may be reproduced with all contact, author, and copyright information.
Go Fish Tract Ministry
Friday, October 17, 2003
Australian Shepherds
©2003 Kimberly Hartfield
The Australian Shepherds of North America are believed to have come from a mix between several strands of Collie cattle dogs and the wild dingo in Australia. When the British came to Australia to raise cattle and sheep, they brought with them common herding dogs such as the black border collie, and the Lassie type collie which is primarily red in color. They bred with the wild dingo of the local territories, which were grayish to buff in color. Hence we have the Australian Shepherd, which ranges in color from solid black with white markings to red with white markings, and from blue merle, which is black mixed with grey giving it a bluish tint to red merles, which are a mixture of red and buff colors. Merles should not be bred together due to probable genetic abnormalties. There are also tri-colors, which have the deeper colors with tan and white markings.
Aussies came to North America with sheepherders sometime around 1800 and have remained pretty close to the original breed brought over from Australia. Aussies usually have medium to long hair with a slight wave to it, males generally having slightly longer hair than females. Occasionally a more short-haired animal will appear in litters, probably deriving from the dingo ancestry. Eye colors range from blue to hazel to brown, sometimes with different color eyes on the same animal. Aussies are medium to large dogs with females ranging from about 40 to 50 lbs and approximately 20” in height, while males range from about 50-60 lbs and are about 22” high.
Australian Shepherds are generally healthy animals and may live 10-12 years with proper care. Aussies are highly active dogs, which have been bred for working dogs. They will naturally “herd” chickens, children, vehicles, or anything else if they are not properly trained to bridle their natural instincts. They do not necessarily need a large yard to run in, but it is preferable to have ample space for an energetic animal. As long as they are adequately given time and attention from their owners, they do fine most anywhere. They love to play ball and Frisbee, and they love water play. Any regularly structured activity will bridle that natural instinct and energy.
Aussies are very intelligent as well as active. They were bred for the intelligence to out think their herds and have been known to outsmart their owners on many occasions. Aussies are also very social animals and need to be included in family activities as much as possible. They are both quick learners and very loyal animals that love to please their owners, so they can be trained quite easily. When properly trained, a commanding voice is usually all the discipline needed. They have very good guarding instincts, naturally territorial and possessive, so they are very good watchdogs also. They are generally good-natured with children and are naturally protective over them, but they may try to herd running children and may even nip at their heels if left unattended and untrained. As with any dog, very small children should never be left unattended with them.
Good full-blooded pet quality Aussies sell for between $150 to $300 with or without papers. Full-blooded breeding quality puppies sell for between $300- $1000 with papers. The initial expense of buying a puppy is soon repaid by a loyal family companion for years to come. All puppies should be regularly wormed, vaccinated, properly sheltered, and fed with an appropriate diet for longevity. The needs of Australian Shepherds are intellectual, emotional, and physical, so Aussie puppies should be given lots of love and attention, as well as ample physical needs.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God. 6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . . 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. Abuse in the Marital Relationship
2. Adolescence
3. Anger and the Golden Rule
4. The Behavioral Change of People
5. The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. Childhood Sexual Abuse
7. Contraception and Birth-control
8. Discipline
9. Incest, the Family, and the Church
10. Obedience and Submission of Women
11. Precepts and Principles Concerning Women
12. Exploring Sexuality
13. Sexuality and Pornography
14. Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
15. Working Mothers
16. A Co-sleeping Arrangement: Sharing the Family Bed
17. A Woman’s Role in the Church
$1.00 donation per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25 Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and any donation. $1 per $10 will be donated to the Joshua Mikel Memorial Fund for victims of childhood sexual abuse or violent sexual assault. Make Checks Payable to: Go Fish. Books 4 Jesus
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time senior student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2004. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion and Psychology. Kim’s hobbies include writing, reading, gardening, raising and breeding Australian Shepherds, and maintaining a goldfish pond. Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through diverse tribulations during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, incarceration, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. She believes that God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts. Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His mercy and grace. Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Australian Shepherds
©2003
Full Blooded (No papers)
AUSTRALIAN SHEPARD PUPPIES
Blacks & Red Chocolates
Males $125
Females $100 OBO
CALL KIM AT 544-0500
or contact me at
gofishbooks@
jesuslovesu2.every1.net
For Ordering information contact:
gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
God Bless You!
Are You SAD?
(Sexually Abused Dependent)
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
Sexual abuse of a child is any inappropriate exposing of a child to any sexual purpose by anyone who has influence on the child, without concern for the child’s well-being. Young children need to be aware of the difference between good and bad touching. Hugs and kisses are fine if you want them, but you never have to do everything an adult or another child tells you to do if they are trying to get you to do something that makes you feel “funny” or strange. You can and must say “no” to any touching or behavior that makes you feel uncomfortable; and you should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible if something like this happens to you.
You should never be forced or coerced against your will into sexual activities by anyone. When you say no, then your no should be respected. If you are abused or assaulted in any way, the abuser has committed a crime and should be turned over to the proper authorities (police). The first step in recovery is for the victim to understand that the abuser betrayed her and to tell the secret to a trusted adult. When victims keep the secret, it makes it possible for the abuser to repeat the crime against her or others. In order to stop the abusive behavior, victims must be willing to speak out and reveal the identity of their abusers to someone they trust in authority.
Children also need to understand that sexual abuse or assault is not always carried out by a stranger or by an adult. Sometimes family members, close friends of the family, step parents, babysitters, and other children close to the same age, can be sexually abusive. Sometimes it is those we should be able to trust the most who are abusive. Whether you are at home or at a spend-the-night, you should always be properly supervised to ensure safety. Never secretly go into a room alone with someone, or secretly go away from those who are responsible for you.
Sexual abuse is a violation of trust, especially when the abuser is known to you. Sometimes when children are sexually abused by someone they know, the abuse may happen more than once. Other times the abuse may occur only once, such as a sexual assault (rape). Sometimes it may happen to young girls while going out with someone (date rape). If you are being abused, you must tell someone you trust. You can go to a parent, teacher, doctor, pastor, youth director, Sunday School teacher, or any other adult that you trust. You should know as well that even though you can usually trust these people, sometimes even these adults, may be abusers. Just because someone is in a position of authority does not mean he or she can not be an abuser. If that is the case, then find someone else who will listen and believe what you are telling them.
Abused children often do not trust anyone, which stops them from telling anyone about the abuse, sometimes for several years. The secret nature of childhood sexual abuse or a violent sexual assault is often the very thing that helps the abuse or assaults continue. When anything is done in secret, children sometimes believe it is something they may get in trouble for, and so they instinctively keep the secret. They often experience guilt and shame where there should be none, believing it was something that they did, too. The victim almost always feels that “I’m different,” “Something’s wrong with me,” or that the abuse is somehow “my fault.” If you are a victim, please understand that the abuse may continue and you will likely never completely heal if you continue to keep the abuse secret.
Because sexually abused children sometimes feel they can’t tell any one, they often “forget” the abuse, withdrawing from a conscious awareness of it. The abuse may be vaguely remembered by the victim, but certain experiences may trigger very unplesant feelings and snapshot memories of the abusive situation. Sexual abuse is not something a child can face alone and be completely healthy mentally. Even if they have good parental, community, and spiritual resources, if they keep the abuse to themselves, then they may still have difficulty relating to others in a healthy way.
Telling the secret is the most important part of a victim’s healing process. The Bible tells us that the truth will set us free. Once the victim shares her story with someone she trusts, then that person can see to it that she gets help and that the abuser is not in a position to hurt others.
Responses to an account of childhood sexual abuse will vary depending on who the abuser is and who the victim tells. The hoped for response is one of understanding and support, but victims need to understand that this does not always occur. The shock sometimes causes people to respond in inappropriate ways. Some people simply may not believe your story if it is someone close to them. Even if they believe the abuse happened, some may tell the child to “keep the secret” if it is someone in or close to the family. Some responses will make light of the abuse as child’s play or sexual exploration if the abuser is not of adult age. Children who are exposed to pornography or sexual abuse themselves, often repeat the behaviors they see with other children. Another response is to blame the victim for being unacceptably dressed or behaving inappropriately. Victims should understand that it is not any fault of their own. If you are a victim and someone tells you not to tell anyone or tries to place blame on you, then keep going to someone else until somebody listens. Even if it has been several years, you should seek help in dealing with any issues you may still be facing. You should never stay in the abuse or remain in close contact with the abuser. Victims can find healing; but this usually happens only after several years in safe conditions.
Many victims display an outwardly happy-go-lucky character, while others display clear signals of distress. Those who know a victim should not assume that they are “over it”, just because the victim appears to be moving on with her life. Most victims feel sexual guilt, though they are not responsible for the actions of the abuser. With sexuality being an important part of the whole person, abuse or assault affects one’s total self-concept. The victim often develops upsetting emotions, beliefs, and conduct. The effects of sexual abuse or assault include low self-esteem, unexplained fear of certain people and places, anger, delinquent acting out, depression, suicidal behaviors, promiscuous sexual behavior, sexual disorders, substance or alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and difficulty in close relationships. These may accompany feelings of mistrust, indifference, and/or hatred. If you are a victim and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek help immediately.
If you are a sexually abused dependent of an abusive parent, step parent, or other relative, then you need to immediately seek help. You can contact any rape crisis center listed in your local telephone directory, or tell someone you trust to help get you out of the abusive situation. You may also contact Go Fish Ministries, as well, and we will try to get you the help that you need through referrals to appropriate sources. You may visit our website at ichthus.biz for further information or call 544-0500 to talk to someone who will refer you to appropriate persons or organizations.
Are You SAD?
(Sexually Abused Dependent)
A response to
Childhood Sexual Abuse
and
Violent Sexual Assault
For more information
contact:
Gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Ministries
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiring
Serving Hands
God Bless You!
Get Hooked and Go Fish!
A Christian Response to
Childhood Sexual Abuse and Violent Sexual Assault
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
The secrecy surrounding childhood sexual abuse and violent sexual assault is most often the perpetuating factor in these types of events. When victims keep the secret, it enables the abuser to repeat the crime sometimes against the original victim, as well as against numerous other victims. In order to stop the abusive behavior, victims must be willing to speak out and reveal the identity of their abusers. Telling the secret is the most vital aspect in a victim’s healing process. Scripture tells us that the truth will set us free. Once this ground is broken, the seeds of restoration can emerge from every survivor of C.S.A. or V.S.A. Another integral part of the healing process is taking the victim’s self-blame and placing that blame on the abuser where it truthfully belongs. Finding forgiveness for that abuser through the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is also a key point in that process.
The first step in recovery is for the abused person to discern the violation and to tell the secret. The response to the divulgence of sexual abuse or assault is critical to the victim’s ability to recover from the ordeal. A compassionate response is vital to re-establishing trust and getting help for the victim. Christians must never minimize abuse, blame the victim, or tell a child to “keep the secret”. It is imperative that victims receive the assurance that it is not any fault of their own. Counsel should be sought for the victim, and often for the victim’s family members as well. The emotional damage of sexual abuse or assault can be devastating to the victim and to the whole family. Many victims display an outward happy-go-lucky disposition, while others display clear signals of distress. We should not assume that victims are “over it”, just because they appear to be moving on with their life. Most victims commonly experience sexual guilt and with sexuality being integral to the total person, abuse or assault inevitably affects one’s total self-concept. C.S.A. and V.S.A. often interferes with the development of attitudes toward self, sexuality, and relationships. The victim often develops distressing emotions, ideologies, and demeanors. The effects of sexual abuse and assault include low self-esteem, fear, depression, anger, suicidal behaviors, promiscuous sexual behavior, sexual disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and difficulty in relationships with a tendency toward involvement with relationships reminiscent of the abusive situation. These are usually characterized by feelings of mistrust, indifference, and/or hatred.
Sexual abuse of a child is considered to be any inappropriate exposing of a child to sexual stimuli by anyone who has influence on the child, in order to erotically arouse that person, without concern for its effects on the child. The abuser must always be held accountable when abuse occurs, because of his or her obvious awareness of sexuality. Even a child who is too young to know that the abuse is wrong will likely develop problems from the inability to cope with this type of stimulation. The secret nature of childhood sexual abuse is often the very thing that perpetuates that abuse. When anything is done in secret, children often believe it is something they would get in trouble for, and so they experience guilt and shame where there should be none, and they instinctively keep the secret, often believing it is their own fault. The victim almost always feels that “I’m different,” “Something’s wrong with me,” or that the abuse is somehow “my fault.” No child can emotionally contend with this kind of abuse alone. As a result, sexually abused children often mentally withdraw from a conscious awareness of the abuse. The victim may have unclear memories, but certain experiences may trigger intensely distressing feelings. Sexual abuse is clearly a betrayal of the child’s trust, especially when the abuser is known to the child. The child often develops a pronounced inability to trust anyone, which prohibits revealing the abuse, sometimes for years. In a child’s eyes, the exposure and consequences of telling may be worse than the abuse itself.
Where prevention of C.S.A. is concerned, parents should talk to their children on several occassions about the difference between good and bad touching, while telling them that they can and must say “no” to any touching or behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable; and that they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible if this occurs. Parents should never tell a child to do everything an adult tells them to do, while explaining that showing respect does not always mean doing whatever a person in authority says to do. Parents should also be aware that C.S.A. is not invariably perpetrated by a stranger or an adult. Sometimes close friends of the family, family members and other children close to the same age, can be sexually abusive. Children sleeping at home, either alone or with others, and spend-the-nights should always be properly supervised, but even this cannot ensure a child’s safety. Providing a safe, caring, and open environment, so children feel able to talk freely, is vital in both the prevention and the resolution of C.S.A. While children often do not seek help at the time of the abuse, until it is properly dealt with, its damaging effects will likely continue to assault the victim in many areas of the personality and lifestyle.
Christians must be made aware of the extent of C.S.A. and V.S.A. and that many of our sisters and brothers need help in dealing with the conflicts of its aftermath, sometimes even years after the abuse or assault occurred. Christians can help victims find the seeds of healing by encouraging them to use godly means of overcoming the abuse and helping them to grow into the tree of life that God intended them to be. Those Christians who have experienced C.S.A. or V.S.A. themselves and found hope in Jesus, if they are sufficiently healed to be stable enough, should try to comfort others with the consolations they have been comforted with of God. Christian survivors can make other victims aware, not only that they are survivors of the ordeal, but that they can be over-comers in Christ Jesus. Christian comforters can tell other victims that they can be clean from any defilement that they may be feeling as a result of their victimization, and that they too can become a new creation if they have not yet begun that process.
Christians who comfort should pray for victims, while also encouraging them to seek help in dealing with any unresolved issues. Christians should also pray for abusers, because many of them were victims themselves. It is believed that approximately 1/3 of all victims become abusers. The abusers can be told that God’s judgment is sure for the unrepentant and be shown how to seek forgiveness in God’s mercy. Though statistics say that most abusers never stop abusing, some Christians believe that all things are possible with God and that abusers can heal if they are truly repentant, while also seeking professional help. Keeping the abusive patterns secret only perpetuates those patterns. An abuser must be willing to seek help and be held accountable for the misdeeds. Victims should never be coerced into staying in a situation of abuse or in near proximity to the abuser in the hope that the abuser will change. The abuser may change with the help and healing of Jesus, and the victim may forgive the abuser by the grace of God, but the victim must not be compelled to prove forgiveness by remaining in an atmosphere of repeated exposure to abuse or exposure to the abuser. Victims can find true forgiveness for their abusers and experience the grace and healing that goes with it; but this usually happens only after years of a healing process that begins with a safe atmosphere of self-discovery. This environment, along with therapeutic and spiritual counseling with a knowledgeable and compassionate comforter, whether that person be a professional Christian counselor, pastoral counselor, or a lay person survivor, can facilitate the metamorphosis of the new creation in Christ Jesus that every Christian sexual abuse or assault survivor can become.
A
Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
And
Violent Sexual Assault
For Ordering information contact:
Gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Ministries
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiring
Serving Hands
God Bless You!
Get Hooked and Go Fish!
A Christian Perspective on
Adolescence
©2002Kimberly Hartfield
Adolescence is a tumultuous time in most teenagers’ lives. Almost every teen faces some degree of adolescent insecurity. How a teen perceives the way peers view him/her as a person can be a critical factor in determining that youth’s self-image. An adolescent’s self-worth is determined by both how the teen views him/herself and how that youth believes others see or do not see him/her. If the teen believes he/she is valued by those closest to that youth, he/she will likely have a positive self-image. On the other hand, if the teen is criticized frequently by the significant people in his/her life, the youth may have a poor self-image. The most significant fact a teen needs to know is that he/she is valued and loved. If an adolescent feels despised or undervalued by those who are important to the teen, that young person may become depressed and possibly suicidal unless there is some other significant positive influence in the teen’s life. An adolescent never takes it for granted that he/she is loved.
The young person needs to have some positive verbal feedback from the significant others in his/her life in order to feel personally adequate. There also needs to be some positive physical touching in the form of familial hugs, kisses, and pats of approval from the teens closest loved ones. Without this coveted feedback from the parental-child relationship, the adolescent will often seek emotional and physical needs in a peer relationship, which may lead to early exploration of sexuality and otherwise risky behavior.
This strong desire by the teen to feel appreciated and loved must be fulfilled by the parents or other significant authority figures or the adolescent will inevitably seek approval in his/her peer and/or dating relationships, sometimes in unwelcome ways. A teen’s desire to fit in with peers may be a factor in current behavior trends and parental rebellion, but if the adolescent has a positive and loving relationship with his/her parents, then the teen will ultimately feel secure in his/her individuality and will not easily cave in to unsolicited peer pressure.
Adolescents from Christian homes are often as much at risk as other children in problem areas, including but not limited to rebellion, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, depression, and suicidal behaviors. Split families, dysfunctional families, single parent, and stepfamilies all contribute to the problems that adolescents must overcome to be adequately functioning adults. These types of homes are not foreign to the Christian community. Ideally the parental-child relationship should model God’s unconditional love and acceptance for His children, as well as His discipline and justice. But realistically, worldly influences and sin on both sides of the relationship distort many of these. When this primary relationship is distorted by dysfunctional parents, the children in that family are sometimes left with a void of love in their lives, which they will inevitably attempt to fill with other secondary relationships. The cycle often repeats itself when dysfunctional adolescents become dysfunctional adults.
It is the local churches' responsibility along with the parents to provide ample resources for the teen’s physical and emotional well being along with his/her mental and spiritual well fare and continued Christian growth. The teen must ultimately know that the love of Christ is the only love that can give him/her the unconditional love and acceptance that he/she seeks. Troubled youth need to know that they are not in their world alone and they need not try to walk through it alone. The Church, who are the hands and heart of God, can step in with positive influences and role models. Sunday school teachers, Youth directors, Christian mentors, and plenty of Christian related activities can supplant worldly influences that bide for their time and loyalty.
Activities should be diverse so that they might attract a wide range of teen-agers. Programs should not be primarily musical, study, or activity oriented, but should have a combined emphasis so as not to isolate those who are not inclined in a certain direction. Nor should the activities always be costly, or the youth along with their parents, may feel like outsiders when they can’t afford expensive youth excursions, even though these may be partially funded by the church. It is a wonderful thing when the church gracefully helps those who cannot afford these expenses otherwise, but no one wants to be the one who always needs financial help. Youth gatherings can be done in the church fellowship hall or local homes without the added expense of eating out. When outside activities are warranted, donations and fund raisers should be collected in advance and pooled, with the Church supplementing any additionally needed funds. All the funds should be consolidated, so that no teen feels they have not contributed enough and stays away from church related activities. Many of these activities can be free or relatively inexpensive, such as visiting a local swimming hole, public parks and zoos, appropriate dollar shows, museums, mission trips, Christian concerts and other Church sponsored events, or donation only events.
These adolescent activities and relationships can never replace the parental-child relationship, but they may go a long way in keeping young people occupied in Christian relationships and activities that will likely supplement and hopefully supplant those worldly influences that tend to distract from a Christian lifestyle. As Christian parents, we must be in active spiritual warfare and constant prayer for our youth in today’s culture or we will lose them in a lost and dying world full of satanic influences. They must be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually prepared to battle for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our youth are our greatest asset in the great commission.
It can not be stressed enough that showing our children we love them is the most important factor in a healthy parental-child relationship. Christian parents have the added responsibility of showing our children God’s unfailing love in spite of the circumstances they find themselves in. We must guide them in righteousness and admonish them to flee from evil influences. Love and forgiveness must be applied in the parental-child relationship for it to be healthy. We must set an example for our children, but know that we are human and that we will err. We must recognize that even the most perfect of all Fathers had his children rebel against Him, too.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go Fish.
A
Christian Perspective
on Adolescence
For Ordering information contact:
gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
A Christian Approach to
A Kids’Anger and the Golden Rule
©2003
Often kids miss the meaning of the golden rule, “You should do to others as you want others to do to you.” It does not say to do to others as they do to you, but as you would like them to do to you. We should treat others, as we want to be treated, with love and respect for our feelings and body. One of the first things we learn in life is that we cannot strike back at everyone who hurts us. We all get our feelings hurt from time to time. Sometimes others may treat us harshly when they say angry words to us or call us hurtful names. Sometimes, no matter what we do, some people will be angry. Often their anger is just looking for someone to strike at. Sometimes even our bodies are hurt when someone hits or hurts us in other ways. We all get angry at times and this is OK. But what is not OK, is when we let ours or someone else’s uncontrolled anger hurt other people or ourselves. This is the bad kind of anger. There are times when others may be rightfully angry at us. If we call someone a hurtful name or use other abusive words or actions toward them, then they may become angry at us for a right reason. When we tell someone we are angry at them without using hurtful words and behaviors, we are protecting their feelings and our own. We can use statements like “I am angry at you because I don’t like it when you. . . ” or “I feel mad because I need you to. . .” It is good to tell others about our anger this way. How would you finish these statements? If we learn to tell others about our anger in this way, rather than in a wrong way then we can understand what makes us angry and help others to see that too. Then we can try to fix the problem that caused our anger. If we keep our anger hidden from others, then sooner or later all that stored up anger will explode like a volcano in uncontrolled angry outbursts. This will hurt others and us. It takes a lot of energy to keep hiding anger, so our minds and bodies get tired of holding it in. We may have nightmares, wet the bed, soil our underpants, get stomachaches, throw up, and get sick in other ways a lot. We may feel afraid, worried, and angry inside. We may even do things to ourselves like pulling our own hair out or trying to hurt ourselves in other ways. If we find someone we can trust with our anger, then we can help our mind and body to feel better. We can go to our parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, pastors, school teachers, doctors, nurses, or any one else we feel we can trust. Sometimes it may feel hard to trust anyone, but we can usually trust others to do what is best for us. Most people want to help us, even if some people do hurt us. If one person doesn’t help or is hurting us, then we can find someone else who will help us. We should never let our anger hurt others, nor should we let another person’s anger hurt us. If we don’t want to be hurt by others angry words and actions, then we should try not to hurt others with our angry words and actions. God’s words in the Bible tells us that we should love God and love others just as we love ourselves. We love God partly by showing our love for others. We show others we love them, by not letting our words and actions be hurtful, but by being helpful instead. And we can show others that we love ourselves enough to not let their anger hurt us. We can do this by telling others when they are hurting us and by telling someone else if they won’t stop hurting us. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another and forgive each other as God in Christ forgives each of us. Eph. 4:32
For Salvation in Christ
John 3:16 God loved the world so much that he gave his only true Son that whoever believes on Him shall be saved.
Romans1:16 Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to bring Salvation to every one who believes . . .
10:9 If you admit that Jesus is the Lord with your mouth, and believe that God raised him from the dead in your heart, you shall be saved. Authors Version
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
2. A Christian Perspective on The Behavioral Change of People
3. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
6. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
7. A Christian Perspective on Incest, the Family, and the Church
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
10. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
12. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to: Go Fish. Books 4 Jesus
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a mom of eight children and a student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She has studied mostly in the areas of Religion and Psychology, giving her talents in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Kim has felt the healing hand of God in facing many of the things talked about in this series of tracts. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been hurtful to her, she has come through these hardships. She believes that God has blessed her with the ability to explain these topics in a Christ-like way in these tracts. Kim has been called to the mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of God and for comforting His people with His truths. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our trials, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing, she hopes to be able to bring peace to others with His message. Kim’s love for the Lord and her love for writing has drawn her to look at these common occurrences in the hope that she may bring a tender understanding to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own. They should not under any circumstance be unquestioned. She believes that the Christian’s highest authority is the human heart and the Word of God.
A Christian Approach to
A Kids’Anger
and
The Golden Rule
(A tract for adults to share with kids)
©2003
For Ordering information contact:
gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
A Christian Perspective on
The Behavioral Change of People
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
Human beings are creatures of many intricacies. No one fully understands how we are wired, nor the complications involved in discovering the inner man. Some authorities suggest man is mere animal and can effect change only through his environmental stimulation. Others believe man is a bit more complicated than animals, with the mental processes influenced by emotions that other mammals do not have. Most Christians believe in a three-part man; that is, the physical man, the mental man, and the spiritual man. How each of these components shape man’s behavior may never be completely known, but some would agree that a change in man’s mental processes must precede change in man’s behavior patterns. But something must ultimately spark that change in man’s thought process, before he can change the way he behaves. Christians believe that spark is the spiritual influence within the soul of man.
The Spirit of God communicates with the spirit of man in order to bring reconciliation between God and man. Col. 1:21 admits “And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.” The spirit of man is a peculiar thing. It makes some people strive against every obstacle, and others for lack of spirit give up at the least provocation. The more wicked works a person commits, the less his spirit may communicate with God, therefore, his spirit dies within him. But even so, God’s Spirit reaches down to man’s spirit by sheer grace and reconciles him to Himself. Phil. 12:13 states “For it is God that works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.
The driving force in man’s spirit is God’s spirit. This is what effects a change of mind in man, which effects a change of behavior in man. But mankind does have free will that he may reject the Spirit of God. God does not force change on any one. If man continually rejects the Holy Spirit, killing the spirit within himself, and continuing in his wicked works, his behavior will continually worsen. If man chooses to listen to his conscience, which is the voice of his spirit, being led of the Holy Spirit, then it effects a change of heart and mind, which in turn effects a change in his behavior patterns.
Yes, man can be conditioned to change some behaviors much like an animal responds to environmental stimuli. But to effect real change, whether it be for good or evil, man has to choose how he will respond to his environmental conditions. His mind may accept the training of his environment, but his environment cannot overpower his spirit unless he chooses to let it do so. The strength of his spirit is the true test of a human being.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
12. A Christian Perspective on The Behavioral Change of People
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go fish.
A
Christian Perspective
on
The Behavioral Change of People
For Ordering information contact:
gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
A Christian Woman’s Response to
The Breast or Bottle Issue
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
The “Breast or Bottle” issue has been discussed and re-discussed for many years. It is still unresolved to many mothers who are burdened with questions and guilt over the right thing to do concerning themselves and their babies. Women, rather than coming together for our mutual benefit, are thoroughly divided on this issue. Christian Women should seek common ground and learn to be non-judgmental of those with differing opinions.
As with any other thing in this world, the bottle and the breast have been seen as both good and evil. The bottle has saved many children’s lives when their mothers have been unable to breast-feed for one reason or another. It has also been used unwisely as a tool for convenience. The breast has been symbolic of the nurturing element of motherhood as well as being a sex symbol for an unrestricted generation. Women who choose to bottle-feed have been made to feel guilty, while women who choose to breast-feed have been made to feel dirty.
When our Creator God made Womankind, he had a unique design in mind for her that would carryout and benefit His plan for procreation. When it is interrupted, whether for convenience or for the sake of medical emergencies, something is lost in God’s great design. Though women for several generations had been told by their doctors that breast-feeding was not best for their babies, the medical community has commonly acknowledged the benefits of breast-feeding to mothers and their infants for several years now. Breast-fed babies have been shown to have a complete nutritional diet, in addition to the immunological benefits they receive; as well as the benefits of a possible higher IQ than their counterparts who were bottle-fed with artificial formula.
More recent is the evidence for medical and nutritional problems when women and infants do not breast-feed. The Baby Blues, otherwise known as Post-partum depression, is more often discovered in women who do not breast-feed and infants who are not breast-fed pose a greater risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Infants who are not breast-fed do not receive the benefits of the mother’s immune system that they would have otherwise received had they been breast-fed. This makes infants more prone to illnesses of many kinds.
When a Christian woman is faced with the decision of whether or not to breast-feed, she should ask herself her reasons behind her possible choice of bottle-feeding. Would her motives be purely for convenience, or will her choice benefit either or both herself and her infant for a greater purpose? A Christian woman should always consider God’s design as the best possible plan, but must also recognize that we live in a fallen world where God’s best is not always possible. In today’s world where single mothers must go to school or work, it may not be possible to breast-feed. While it should be noted that breast-feeding, though difficult for the working mother, is not impossible with the options of pumping and supplementing available today.
All Christian mothers want what is best for their babies, but are sometimes pulled between choices that are not optimal. They may have to choose a method of feeding that is not their preferred method of nurturing. Some mothers who would like to breast-feed cannot, while others who would rather have the convenience of bottle-feeding, are willing to sacrifice their time and effort to do what they believe is best for their babies. Christian women should always prayerfully consider their options and make the choice, which benefits their baby’s, their own, and their family’s welfare.
While recognizing that most mothers do what they believe is best for their family, Christian women must not be overly judgmental of others who happen to have made a different choice than them. Whether breast-fed or bottle-fed, infants need lots of love, close contact, and almost constant supervision by their caretakers. We must respect the decision of each mother to choose what is right for her family and let God do the convicting one way or the other.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For Ordering information contact:
gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration Second Hand Books
A
Christian Woman’s Response to
The
Breast or Bottle Issue
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Exploring Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go Fish.
A Christian Woman’s Perspective on
Contraception and Birth-Control
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
Birth control is a subject that every sexually active fertile woman is faced with regardless of her marital status. Christian women ideally should be married before it is necessitated; though birth-control options should be considered by both of the prospective partners at some point before the ceremony. They should look at and study each of the available methods and decide which are consistent with their particular belief system. Each partner should be comfortable with the method decided on, so that it will be consistently used. The partners should also agree on the probable number of offspring that they would like to have so that there will not be any great disparity later in the marriage. At the very least, it should be decided on whether to have a small family (3 children or less) or a large family (4 or more), though this may later change depending on the circumstances, if both parties are in agreement on the matter.
The word contraception means “before conception”, while birth control can mean anything from contraception to sterilization to abortion. There are some forms of birth control that are contraceptive in nature and there are others that are clearly not. There are others that are at best questionable. Some common forms of contraception are the barrier methods, which consist of condoms, spermicides, and diaphragms, while common forms of birth control are the various IUD’s, the hormone based pills, and also the hormone based implants, shots, etc. The morning after pill and abortion are extreme birth control measures that some Christians have embraced at some time in their life, but the majority of Christians do not adhere to the habitual use of these methods. Most Christians agree that life begins at conception, which may rule out many of the modern forms of birth control.
What the majority of Christian women and their spouses do not understand, is that all of the hormone-based products are potentially abortifactant in nature. The progesterone that they each contain, changes the consistency of the uterine lining so that it will not retain a fertilized egg that would otherwise be implanted and form a healthy God-given new baby. Some forms of these methods also contain estrogen, which is believed to hamper ovulation, but most of the hormonal methods contain both of these ingredients. IUD’s also change the uterine lining to make it uninhabitable to fertilized eggs. Since the hormonal methods and IUD’s potentially destroy fertilized eggs on a monthly basis, these should be avoided by those couples who believe life begins at conception. Contraception options that are consistent with most Christian beliefs are those methods that do not interfere with a pregnancy after a conception has taken place. Some of these forms of contraception are the rhythm methods, which utilizes a period of abstinence during the most fertile part of the female monthly cycle; the barrier methods, which keep the sperm cell from reaching and fertilizing the egg cell; and also sterilization, which is usually a permanent option.
At some point in the marriage, Christians must decide when they will end the growth of their family. The popular belief that the world is overpopulated keeps many Christian couples from having as many children as they would otherwise like to have. But it is now common knowledge that many industrialized countries’ birthrates, including the United State’s, are below replenishing level and that these countries must immigrate foreigners in order to keep the population stable.
American Christians have consistently limited their own offspring with the abundance of easily accessible birth control and abortions, while other faiths, like the Hindus and Muslims continue to procreate without interference in many areas of the world. Other countries, like China, where the expression of faith is limited, force sterilization and abortion on women against their will. This is especially true for those women whose offspring are viewed by some as undesirable, whether the reason is for the child’s sex, race, physical or mental impairment, or number of siblings. The Islamic world, in particular, plans to overwhelm Christianity simply by out-birthing us into a minority, which we certainly have helped them to do.
The Holy Word of God teaches us that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Christian families should prayerfully consider the limitations they place on the size of their families, while deciding whether limiting the number of children is due to selfish motives or godly purposes. Some Christian Missionary couples have limited the size of their families, because they felt they could better serve the Lord without the additional burden of their own children. When a woman’s health is at risk, she may choose to discontinue the growth of her family so that she might be healthy enough to nurture those children she has already brought into the world. Sterilization is usually the preferred choice in this circumstance. Both of these situations would be considered godly purposes by most of the Christian Community.
But Christians should never discontinue the growth of their family for reasons like being able to live in a higher financial position. Deciding on the true needs of a family and what ultimately are pleasurable pursuits can be helpful in deciding on the number of children a family can feasibly maintain. But it should be said that no matter how much we plan, unforeseen circumstances do come; and even if we think we can afford a child, situations may arise that put a family in financial distress. On the opposite end of the spectrum, families sometimes believe they cannot afford a child, but when they revisit their priorities, they then find the financial means for the addition to the family.
Some people of the secular persuasion have even suggested that families should not have children they cannot afford, but that would inevitably rule out all people with low incomes. Are they not as entitled to have families as higher income families if they so choose? Depending on what your priorities are, you might not ever have a child if you wait till you believe you can afford one. Christian families may wait for a time that is more suitable, though they should never be coerced or forced into not having children simply because they are poor. Many large families, both in the past and in the present day, have been rich in love, if they are not in wealth.
In Christian families, on matters of importance such as the size of one’s family and birth control measures, prayer and conviction of conscience should be the ultimate deciding factors. We should never let the secular materialistic society that we live in guide our decision of whether or not to bring another child into the world. Only God knows how many Billy Grahams or Mother Theresas would be here today had it not been for abortifactant measures of modern birth control. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the Christian family’s ultimate authority and we should never take for granted what the world seems to be telling us is the truth. God is the author of truth and His word says that He knew us before we were formed in the womb and that He sanctifies and ordains us to be His instruments. (Jeremiah 1:5).
The truth is that any form of birth control that destroys a child in the womb, whether that child is one-celled or many-celled, is an abortifactant. Christians, who ignore this fact, will have the blood of innocent children on their hands and must face God’s judgement along with the consequences that it brings. That is not to say, that when a Christian participates in these practices out of ignorance, that they cannot be forgiven and reconciled in their relationship with God. God will and does forgive those who repent. Every Christian who is faced with these decisions must ultimately follow their own conscience where birth control is concerned. We must not be judgmental of those who do not agree with this view, neither should they be judgmental of those of us who hold this view. God in His own time will convict His people that life is always the best choice.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go Fish.
A
Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and
Birth-Control
For Ordering information contact:
Gofishbooks@jesus
lovesu2.every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
A Christian Perspective on
Discipline
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
The subject of discipline is one of conflict in many families today. Clear guidelines need to be agreed on and implemented for peace to reign between the family members and especially between the two parents in a family. Mothers, more often than not, have a nurturing, but sometimes too lenient attitude toward discipline, while fathers all too often are procrastinating and authoritarian disciplinarians. Fathers and Mothers often see things from different perspectives, but God designed us that way to balance the scales of discipline in a just and fair manner. Discipline should be swift, just, and sure, but not without mercy. To be effective discipline should be implemented as soon as possible after the violation of a clear house rule. The violation must always justify the punishment, or in an old cliché, " let the punishment fit the crime", while it should also be consistently implemented. Christian parents may agree on the type and amount of discipline, but more often than not, they will have disagreements where discipline is concerned. Dads, please, if mama grounds a child and tells him he's not going to that ballgame if he doesn't clean his room, don't take him to that ballgame. Moms, Don't say to your child, "You can't go to that ballgame . . . ", if you know dad is going to take him anyway. Christian parents should come to a fair agreement that both can concur to and implement in a consistent and sure way. Christian parents should never hold their children out of Church related activities, school activities, or other important family outings, but rather should withhold such activities as TV and computer time, time spent with friends, and other free time activities.
Harsh punishments must not be doled out without discretion for simple child-like behaviors such as the inevitable spilled milk or playful noisiness. If a child accidentally knocks over a cup at suppertime, he should be taught how to clean it up, but not yelled at or spanked rashly for normal childhood clumsiness. On the other hand, if the child turns her sippy cup upside down and watches it pour out all over the floor after she has been cautioned a light spanking may be in order. Corporal punishment may not be necessary; the cup may simply be taken away. Discretion should be used in any case. Likewise, accidentally hitting a baseball through a window should not meet with the same punishment as throwing a rock through one, when the child has been previously cautioned not to throw rocks. Playful noisiness is often a problem in homes where the need for quiet is a priority. When any two or three children are put together, they will inevitably get a little too loud in their play. They should not be punished suddenly and harshly for playful noisiness, but rather they should be cautioned to keep the noise at an acceptable level. If they do not do so after being warned, they should be offered an alternate activity that will momentarily calm things down. For instance, if they are playing a game, you might switch them to a movie after giving them the opportunity to play the game more quietly. They loose out on playing the game that instigated the noise, but are not disciplined too harshly for a normal childhood behavior.
Discipline must, however, be implemented for any act of willful and deliberate disobedience. Open hostility and disrespectful contradiction are examples of a need for justifiable and immediate punishment, though in no case should punishment be implemented in an uncontrolled outburst of anger. The parent who is available, when an incident requiring discipline occurs, should administer it whenever possible. Occasionally, though, the old adage "wait till your father gets home" may become necessary. When a mother is physically unable to discipline an older child, which may be the case if she is unwell, pregnant, or nursing an infant, the father should take on much of that responsibility. If the father is physically unable to discipline due to his unavailability or physical illness, it is the mothers' primary responsibility. Physical spanking when called for should be given on the buttocks or thighs, or possibly a light tap on the hands of a toddler, but never on the upper torso, arms, or head. Physical punishment should never leave a bruise or lasting welts. A light rap on the top of the head with the fingertips probably never harmed a child, but this could easily get out of hand if used with any real force. A pop on the mouth for sassiness has been known to happen now and then, but this too could easily get out of control, if done in anger, which it usually is. It is better to be safe than sorry, so these should not be recurring forms of discipline. But Christian parents aren't perfect; so don’t be devastated if this should occur on occasion, in a heated moment. When Christian parents do find themselves out of control and too angry to discipline without punishing the child too harshly, which most parents surely will at one time or another, they must wait until they are calm and rational, or let the other parent handle the situation until the affected parent can regain control. If the other parent is not present, discipline should wait. If the parent has made the mistake of disciplining the child too harshly, the child should be shown the respect of an apology, while making it clear that his own act of disrespect and disobedience will not be tolerated. Christian parents do sometimes fail in parenting skills and they should ask their child’s forgiveness when necessary.
Any violent hitting, pushing, shaking, or tossing of a child in anger is considered abuse and should clearly not be used as a form of discipline by any parent, especially a Christian parent. Christian parents should also remember the old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is certainly not true. Words do hurt the spirit of a child, and can horribly damage his self-esteem. Name-calling should never be a form of discipline, especially harsh curse words. Verbal and mental abuse can be just as devastating as physical abuse and probably occurs much more often. Christians should never participate in any form of abuse and should not tolerate this kind of behavior from a spouse. Christian parents should always remember that physical punishment should generally be used when other methods have been previously implemented unsuccessfully. Time outs, grounding, and diversions are some good forms of discipline that when used in a fair and consistent way, have been proven effective. For example, a parent should never ground "forever", but the grounding should be dispensed in a rational state of mind and delivered as the parent has stated. If you say the child is grounded for two weeks, stick to it. If you tell a child "the next time you do that I'm going to do 'so and so'", then the next time he does that, you should do "so and so". Repeatedly warning a child and not following through with that warning will guarantee an undisciplined child.
Christian parents should also teach their children the value of a good work ethic. Every member of the family should have a designated daily chore to contribute to the family's well being, which could be rotated to prevent rebellion. When the family budget allows, an allowance may be designated for it's implementation, but if the family budget is tight, other rewards can be given in exchange for the implementation of daily chores. Extra outings such as a trip to a local park or zoo, TV or computer time, extra free time with friends, etc. can be used for these rewards. However, Christian parents should never promise something they can't follow through with because, as with punishments, rewards should be given as promised, so as not to discourage the child from obedience. Christian parents should strive together with their children to create a discipline plan that can be successfully implemented in their home. A written contract between parents and children is often valuable, especially when the children have some input as to rewards and punishments. Their insight can be an asset to the family’s well being and stability. Out of the mouth of babes sometimes comes much wisdom. Christian parents should listen to their children’s needs and wants, and decide which of these can be used to bring about the order that the family needs to be a happy and nurturing home for their children.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go Fish.
A
Christian Perspective
On
Discipline
For Ordering information contact:
Gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.
every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration
Second Hand Books
A Christian Perspective on
Exploring Sexuality
©2002 Kimberly Hartfield
Some Christians find it hard to address the issue of sexuality either for themselves and their spouses or to their children. But in order to have a healthy view of sexuality, Christians must learn to communicate on this important subject. The first thing that Christian families should know is that God created us sexual beings. Man did not create sex, God did. He designed us with a sex drive for the enjoyment and continuation of the human species. It is when man distorts our sexuality that it becomes a “dirty” thing. Sex is a good thing when it is a part of a healthy marriage enveloped in love and acceptance. Sex ideally should wait until marriage, as this is the way God intended it, but sometimes in our human nature we fail to keep God’s original plan. It is the hope of most Christians that their children will save their most intimate moments for the one that will love and cherish them the rest of their lives. Though some of us have failed and we have suffered the consequences of an ungodly sex life, God is a forgiving God, and He will help us overcome the most difficult of circumstances if we repent and pray for future guidance in our sex lives. This is not to say that Christians who have had sex before marriage cannot experience moments of true intimacy, but that many times they may be hampered in their intimacy because of their previous sexual history. When young Christians do find themselves confronted with their own sexuality, it is a wonderful and exciting discovery. But they will inevitably experience some things on their own before they meet that someone special. It is quite normal for adolescents and young adults to have sexual dreams during sleep and sexual fantasies in waking hours that will sometimes surprise and confuse them. Boys will recognize their sexuality more physically, while girls will notice this more emotionally. They tend to build sexual expectations of marriage on these early fantasies and experiences.
Masturbation may take place on some scale, but caution must be taken that this behavior is very addictive in nature and can affect the sex life later in marriage. This done on occasion is nothing to worry about or to be ashamed of, but when it becomes obsessive in nature, it can be damaging to a marital relationship. If the intimacy is interrupted, and if either partner feels neglected, the relationship will likely be hindered. But there are times when this can be necessary and intimate, depending on the circumstances. When one or the other partner is physically unable to perform, mutual masturbation can be beneficial to the intimacy of a relationship. But masturbation should never take the place of genuine sexual intercourse, if it is not absolutely necessary to do so. Some circumstances requiring this may be pregnancy, injuries, or pain. The guideline is to ask yourself, are you doing it mostly together, or in secret? When it becomes secretive and compulsive, it becomes damaging to a loving relationship. If it involves the use of pornography it can be devastating to the marital relationship.
Pornography is a corruption of human sexuality. It makes sexual objects of the people it portrays and the partners of those who are addicted to the use of it. There are very good books and manuals for exploring healthy sexuality without having to resort to the distortions of pornography. One of the predominant views that pornography promotes is the idea of bondage. No loving relationship seeks to dominate or restrain, but rather seeks a mutual consideration and tenderness as its goal. Men are particularly susceptible to the temptations of pornography because they are very visual in their needs. That is, men are turned on by what they see. Women, on the other hand, are turned on more by what they feel than what they see. Their emotions can either turn them on or turn them off depending on their mood. Another problem that pornography can bring into a marital relationship is that wives can be greatly intimidated by the seemingly perfect bodies represented in the various forms of pornography. When they see the reality that they have very visible flaws that can never compete with the perfection of pornography’s nude manikins, wives may become quite distressed. They tend to be especially vulnerable after having children, when they realize their body will never quite be the same as before pregnancy. Men can powerfully persuade a vulnerable new mother into do things she may be uncomfortable with, when she is least capable of defining and defending her sexual boundaries. It is firmly believed by most of the Christian community that no one should be forced or coerced into doing anything they are uncomfortable with and that sex should in no way be painful or humiliating to either partner. This clearly destroys intimacy and trust.
All sexual activities should be mutually agreeable and enjoyable to both partners. Though sometimes one partner may not particularly enjoy a specific sexual act, they may learn to enjoy it somewhat for the other partner‘s sake, and may eventually find it satisfying. However, no sex act should be coerced out of selfishness by one partner or the other. The sexual relationship should not be selfish, but selfless in nature. When a sex act is done in the context of a loving relationship, it can usually be viewed as healthy sexuality. Young couples will inevitably find the need to explore their sexuality together and experiment with various sex acts and on different positions that will be mutually stimulating. Some Christians may find particular sexual positions and acts to be uncomfortable for themselves or disturbing to their partners. There are many differences in the way men and women view the sexual act within the marital relationship, but when it is in the context of a loving union, these differences can be worked out. Couples will invariably find that one position is more satisfying to one partner than to the other. Some women enjoy being stroked on the front of the clitoris either in the traditional marriage bed position or with her on top of the man in a semi-sitting straddling position. Some men may prefer to take a woman in the reverse position with the woman’s back to him. This may be helpful during pregnancy. Some couples may be uncomfortable with oral sex primarily because of two factors. It is not conducive to personal hygiene, nor is it very intimate. It is known to promote the herpes simplex virus, especially when casually done with multiple partners. This is not to say that some Christians have not participated in this particular sex act and enjoyed it, but that some do not particularly welcome it and may even find it awkward. Where anal sex is concerned, most Christians find this to be quite to the contrary of an intimate relationship. First, it is usually painful and secondly, it certainly does not promote cleanliness. Unhealthy germs and bacteria can spread to the vaginal canal causing a host of health problems. Furthermore, it is primarily practiced by homosexuals, and finally it is rarely intimate. Though some Christians admit to having participated in anal intercourse, it is usually not without some guilt feelings associated with the practice. Some Christians discover that finding their own sexuality can be an excruciatingly painful emotional experience riddled with unwarranted guilt feelings. With rape and incest so prominent as it is in this period of time, many children, as well as adults who have experienced these traumas suffer with a false sense of guilt. Some type of counseling may be necessary for those who are struggling with these kinds of emotions. This counsel may be either pastoral or psychological, or possibly even support from another survivor, depending on the severity of the circumstances.
There are many other questions, which Christians might face at one time or another in their sex lives. Most will ultimately have to assess the values they grew up with as well as the values that their spouse grew up with. The early experiences that each partner has had will greatly determine sexual preferences and aversions. Except for a few vague passages of scripture on sexuality that we must interpret for ourselves with prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit, some Christians believe they have no concrete guide from God on some of these issues. We do have verses that plainly say that God is against adultery, homosexuality, and fornication (sexual sin, particularly outside of the marital context). Other verses may give us clues, but do not necessarily give us clear boundaries. As previously stated, there are many good books that can answer questions about sexuality in much more detail than this tract has gone into. There are many with a godly perspective on sexuality in Christian Bookstores. It is highly recommend that Christians utilize these sources, as they are the best sources on healthy sexuality.
About the Author
Kimberly Marie Hartfield is a 38-year-old mother of eight children and a full time student at William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. She expects to receive her first degree within the year 2003. She has studied primarily in the areas of Religion, English, and Psychology. She began writing at a young age, both journalizing and poetry, and has continued to enjoy writing throughout her adulthood. She has dedicated her talents to the Lord Jesus Christ and believes that she can be used of God if she is willing and faithful, even in her flawed human condition.
Kim has personally experienced the healing hand of God in facing many of the issues discussed in this series of tracts. God has brought her through many trials during the course of her lifetime, including being a victim of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, a drunk driving accident, pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, being jailed, and having experienced two miscarriages and various other trials. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of her own sins and His grace given to her to forgive those who have been her stumbling block, she has overcome these adversities. God has blessed her with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community in the writing of these tracts.
Kim has been called to the homeland mission field of North America and hopes to be able to use these tracts as a tool for the ministry of witnessing to the grace of God and comforting His people with the truth of His mercy. She claims II Corinthians 3 & 4 as her calling, which states: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” As she herself has received the gift of God’s healing in mind, body, soul, and spirit, she hopes to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others in God’s Kingdom with the message of His healing mercy and grace.
Kim’s love for the Lord, along with her passion for writing has drawn her to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of her own experience in the hope that she may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. The views expressed in this series of tracts are strictly her own insights acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Her views should not under any circumstance be considered authoritative. She believes that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the texts of the Holy Scripture.
For Salvation in Christ
Romans
1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes . . .
3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God.
5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
6:4-5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection . . .
10:8-10 . . . The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Gifts Of
Faith and Inspiration Second Hand Books
($1.00 per tract, 10 for $5, 25 for $10, 50 for $15, or 100 for $25) Single tracts may be reproduced in its entirety including copyright and authorship information with permission of author and a fee of $50 for unlimited reproduction. Make Checks Payable to Kimberly Hartfield-Go Fish.
A
Christian Perspective
on
Exploring Sexuality
For Ordering information contact:
Gofishbooks@jesuslovesu2.
every1.net
Or mail inquiries to:
Go Fish Books 4 Jesus
76 Mims Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
.
Available 2002 Tracts Titles:
1. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Working Mothers
2. An Essay on Motherhood
3. A Christian Perspective on Discipline
4. A Christian Woman’s Perspective on Contraception and Birth-control
5. A Christian Woman’s Response to The Breast or Bottle Issue
6. A Christian Perspective on Adolescence
7. A Christian Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse
8. A Christian Woman’s Response to Abuse in the Marital Relationship
9. One Christian’s Response to Sexuality and Pornography
10. One Christian’s Perspective on Sexuality
11. A Christian Perspective on Understanding and Resolving Anger and Depression
