The lives of many people have been touched this past week ever since learning that singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s daughter was killed in an accident at home. The family’s SUV being driven by her brother, ran over five year old Maria Sue while backing down the driveway, fatally injuring her.

Chapman, a Christian artist whose singing has pointed people to a deeper walk with Jesus Christ, is best known for his songs which paint vivid word pictures to encourage people to draw closer to God. It is this same closeness the Chapman family must now rely on to see them through.

The accident was horrible is so many ways, not the least being the loss of a young life. Her brother’s involvement is particularly devastating, the guilt he must be feeling has to be overwhelming. Psalm 55:5 — Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

As Christians, we know that God is quick to forgive and He will heal the broken-hearted. Maria Sue is with her Father in heaven, at peace and feeling no pain. Her surviving family members will have much to work through and the prayers of the saints will ease much of that burden.

Maria Sue was the youngest of the six Chapman children, one of three young girls adopted from China. The Chapmans’ burden for international adoption is evident in Shaohannah’s Hope, a ministry to aid families who want to adopt but don’t have the funds to pursue this option. I’ve been told that more than 1700 families have been helped so far, with the average grant being about $3000.

Visit House Mix to read about the Maria Sue memorial service and please remember to pray for the Chapman family.

Malachi 4:2 — But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

The following Steven Curtis Chapman music video, Cinderella, is a wonderful expression of a man’s love for God and for the children entrusted to him:

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As a young Christian, one of the first books put in my hand was Mere Christianity, a wonderful defense of the Christian faith penned by C.S. Lewis. The book went very far to help me personally grasp the importance of what I believe, but most importantly of why Jesus Christ is my sure foundation.

Since then, I’ve picked up a handful of Lewis’ books including The Screwtape Letters and have enjoyed the BBC production of Shadowlands, a story that recounts some of Lewis’ later years including his relationship with Joy Davidman. As far as his seven-part The Chronicles of Narnia series, I haven’t read those books yet, but I have seen both of the Disney productions released thus far including Prince Caspian, a movie my wife and I enjoyed this week.

Disney won the right to produce the Narnia series and evidently is planning to release a new movie about every other year until the series has been completed. Production for the third movie, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, has started and is expected to be released in 2010. Douglas Gresham, who is Joy Davidman’s son, is representing the C.S. Lewis foundation to ensure that the stories hold true to Lewis’ story line. So far, both movies have been quite close, at least that is what my wife says who is reading the entire Narnia series to our children.

I don’t plan on spoiling the story line, but I will share some observations about the movie. First of all, it is extremely well done, pulling viewers quickly into the story line as it brings the characters to life. Second of all, director Andrew Adamson (son of Adam?) manages to flesh out the characters without getting silly. Talking mice, squirrels, bear, and badger are retained for the storyline, but their importance, I am told, fades to the background compared to the book. The Pevensie sisters take part in the battle, as do many of the other female characters. Narnia purists may object to this change, but it doesn’t detract from the story line.

Aslan, who is a type of Jesus, is presented wonderfully. Majestic and merciful, the movie took great pains to show how Aslan treats his enemies — sparing the lives of soldiers and forgiving traitors. On a personal level, I connected with Aslan as a figure for Christ, seeing fully how God is quick to forgive and to strengthen those who will believe.

Prince Caspian is rated PG and for good reason — there is plenty of violence in the battle scenes, though there isn’t any of the usual Hollywood, “up close and let me show you a dagger piercing his heart and leaving a gory mess” scenes in the movie. In addition, young children are likely to be disturbed by the demonic encounter at the White Witch’s revelation, a scene that can be embedded in a young child’s mind and come to life in the middle of the night.

Some critics have said that the movie, at 2 hours and 20 minutes, is too long and that the storyline is plodding. The long part for me was the six or seven movie previews which delayed the movie’s start by at least ten minutes. Thankfully, Adamson and Gresham didn’t trim the story to the usual, manageable 100 minute Hollywood flick, retaining virtually all of the storyline as written by Lewis.

When the movie does come out on DVD we will, just like the first one, buy it. One advantage of watching it at home is fast forwarding through the scary parts to allow young children to enjoy the movie without paying for it later in the form of nightmares.

From a production standpoint, Prince Caspian is a raging success, having pulled in $56 million during its first weekend alone. Most importantly, the movie retains Lewis’ message which is a wonderful allegory of the life and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NIV)

These are perilous times for the church of Jesus Christ, then again there have always been perilous times since the church was founded.

Throughout church history various false creeds, cultists, and legalists have crept in, seeking to overthrow the faith of those who are weak, ignorant, or otherwise vulnerable. In various places in the New Testament followers of Jesus Christ are warned about false workers, people who can lead the unwary astray.

People who know me very well are familiar with my spiritual journey, with some learning that I was in a Bible cult many years ago. I say “Bible cult” because though many of the tenets of the Christian faith were espoused and we used the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, the condemnation and hostility shown to people outside of our group as well as to errant followers contradicted scripture.

Thankfully, my stay in this group was short-lived — just eight months — but the damage was already done. When I left, I left the Lord as well and lived a rebellious life for the next 7 1/2 years. When I returned, I eventually got sucked into a legalistic fellowship where I remained for just over five years. After church hopping for two or three years, I finally found a fellowship that taught the word and encouraged people to read the word on their own.

In retrospect, I realize that God protected me even during the most difficult times of long ago. Through personal Bible reading I saw that I was choosing the wrong path and prayerfully asked God to redirect my ways. Many years later I am able to look at God’s intervention with thankfulness and am now better equipped to clearly separate truth from error almost immediately.

False teachers are many and I see them on the scene today. Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin are some of the “easier” to see leaders who are leading people astray today, but there are other visible (mostly televangelist) preachers who I avoid as well.

Beyond naming names there are two hallmarks of a false teacher which can be identified by those seeking the truth.

1. Listen to what they say and what they teach.
2. Watch what they eat. They eat sheep!

False teachers aren’t content with spreading their lies, they want to consume you in the process.

I have great sympathy for people ensnared by those who would lead them astray, able to understand why some people remain — misplaced devotion. Cultists, legalists, and other disciples are usually the most devoted to their beliefs, but devotion is no substitute for the truth: lots of people around the world are devoted to their religion or god, but our devotion should only be to Jesus Christ, not to a religion, church, or personality.

If you know of someone who is ensnared, your words may not do much good. However, your intercessory prayers can help move mountains and I cannot think of any bigger mountain than one put up by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

God is in the habit of calling people out, and those that are His will be able to separate His voice from the false teacher. For the rest of us, remaining diligent is important as the next wave of false workers is certain to appear as sure as the tide rolls in.

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