I'd like to return to my response to Dan's series on homeschooling myths. I'm going to apologize in advance for the length of these responses, but Dan touched on so many significant points, so it's all his fault. :-)
In part 3 of his series, Dan addresses 3 more myths and offers his thoughts on those.
Myth #6: It is "more Christian" to homeschool
Dan: "Good Christian parents sent their kids to public school.I understand that today's public schools are a mess thanks to entrenched teachers unions and liberals who think along the lines of humanists like John Dewey. Still, there are other choices besides homeschooling, like charter schools, private schools, parochial schools and more.God has not placed His sole imprimatur on homeschooling. In fact, I sometimes doubt how concerned He is with just how are children are educated and what methods are used in that education than He is that our kids serve Him and love Him with all their hearts, souls, and minds."
I really appreciated Dan saying this. I am a homeschooling parent, but I know for a fact there ARE good education choices, outside of homeschooling. They're just not available to my family, where we are. There are pros and cons to both types of education, and Dan pointing out what is ULTIMATELY more important, the spiritual education of our children. While I do strongly believe that kids in Christian homes will get a (better) Christ-centered education with homeschooling, I don't for a moment believe that public or private school Christian parents are to be villified for their choices. They love their kids as much as I love mine, and they are just as concerned with their kid's spiritual growth - we just approach it from different angles.
Dan addresses Myth #7: Homeschooling protects our children
"Would God have us build bunkers? Or is our light intended to shine in the midst of darkness? How long can we shelter our children before they must go out into a dark world and live as salt and light?We miss chances to strengthen our children to stand up in the midst of a fallen world if we try to shelter them from the reality of wickedness this side of heaven. Better for us to teach them in the middle of the fray than to send them out untested with the hope that we covered every chink in their armor.I'm not convinced a bunker mentality works. That line of thinking is based in fear and not love, in worry and not faith. Good parents will work with their kids to combat bad messages."
While I agree with Dan about the bunker mentality, this is sadly one myth that non-homeschoolers buy, hook... line... and sinker.
Granted, there might be some kids out there somewhere that are introverted, social misfits that can't figure out up from down, but that certainly doesn't apply to the majority of homeschooled kids that I either know, or have known in the past. I sometimes jokingly tell people that I keep the kids locked in the cellar with text books, and toss down a roast once a week. In an almost non-exaggerated way, it seems like that's what non-homeschoolers think it's like, in a homeschooling house.
The key here is balance, I believe. While you cannot expect your children to be able to interact with other people with varying life situations, without being around them... you also cannot expect your little ones to be spiritually mature enough to handle all the puke shoved at them in the public school arena. I've written more on this, here and here.
I can only speak for my own kids when I say, they are certainly not living in a bunker-mentality home, because we homeschool. They interact with unsaved kids at church (and almost always pick up their bad habits and bring them home to be dealt with), they watch television programs that (to my surprise) that sometimes contain inappropriate material, and they see and hear the way other kids and adults (saved and unsaved) talk, and act, in various settings.
I have opportunities every single day, sometimes numerous times a day, to impart Biblically grounded moral teaching to them, as a result of the way THEY themselves act, towards each other. Someone once referred to his little ones as "vipers in diapers", which made me laugh (since it's so true of most little kids). My own kids get plenty of "exposure" to sinful things, even while homeschooling.
The one bonus to homeschooling, is that the parents are there to immediately address that conduct, or language or attitude, right when it happens - rather than hearing about it 2 days later from a letter or phone call from the school.
Dan on Myth #8: Homeschooled children are smarter than their peers
"With as many kids being homeschooled today--and the constant hype from homeschooling organizations--you'd think that test scores would be rising astronomically, but they truly aren't.Yes, the National Spelling Bee champion and the National Geographic geography savant are likely to be homeschoolers, but we seldom hear about the many homeschooled kids who are barely above jello in intelligence. I meet kids like that, so they truly do exist. As much as homeschool proponents love to shine the spotlight on the 16-year-old med student who was homeschooled, they're tightlipped on the ones who never make it to college or who tanked the SAT or ACT."
This made me laugh. First of all, I have no idea if statistically, HS kids are smarter, or not. The hype, as Dan calls it, is on both sides of this issue. I'm not one of those homeschool moms that can recite the latest stats from the major HS organizations. I have more important things to do. Like laundry, and pick up toys, again, for the 73rd time today.
Public school teachers: "every homeschooled kid enrolled in this school is decades behind his peers, and he has no manners!"
Hyper-Homeschoolers: "I have a 2 year old who is doing college level work, and all his older brothers and sisters are now running the world"
Okay, I stretched it a little, but you've all heard it on both sides, right? I once wrote about these so-called baby geniuses that are homeschooled, and I was dense enough to post it at a pro-HS forum. Suffice it to say, it was NOT well received. I never went back. I'm sure they miss me terribly, lol.
Kids are kids, and there are smart ones, difficult ones, funny ones, obnoxious ones, easy ones, and on it goes. They are like this whether they are in a homeschool, public school, a bus, or getting stuck in a tree.
I do know that with HS'ing kids that do excel in one area or another, are allowed the freedom to move ahead in their subjects, where in a public school setting, that doesn't happen. If little Bobby is in 3rd grade, it doesn't really matter if Bobby is bored to tears with 3rd grade level math and spelling, and could easily move ahead to 4th grade in those areas. Poor little Bobby is stuck in 3rd grade and that's just the way it is, in most cases.
In our house, out of the 6 who have, or are currently being HS'd, we have (academically) 2 that are/were always ahead of their public schooled peers, grade level-wise, 2 that are behind, 1 that excelled academically but socially resembled a tree stump, and 1 who is only 2 but knows more at 2 than most kids know at 8. It's a mixed bag in our house, because the kids are all different. And it would be the same if they were in public, or private school as well. I am thankful to report however, our tree stump daughter is now a social butterfly.
In part 4 of Dan's series, he concludes with his rationale for addressing this in the first place:
"In conclusion, I want to make a few points. Homeschooling is not for everyone. We need to be more accepting of those families who choose not to homeschool. In 99% of cases, they are not helmed by bad parents. In fact, those parents may be doing their children a favor by acknowledging their own weaknesses in teaching."
Agreed - 100%.
"No one educational method reigns. Frankly, I believe that anyone homeschooling to a lone methodology (e.g. - classical, unschooling, behavioral, etc.) is robbing their kids of a broad-based education. That goes for private and public schools, too. There is no magic bullet. Teaching kids to think for themselves is great, but that's not what the business world wants, quite honestly. Which world do we teach to then? That same idea extends to other realms. How we accommodate what is valued in our society today is still important. Creating a "superkid" who lacks the ability to conform what he's learned into the greater society is asking for another Todd Marinovich-type burnout. Tunnel vision here is dangerous, and there are plenty of homeschoolers who have narrowed their teaching to such a laser-like focus that I wonder how their kids will cope when their entire education winds up being the square peg in society's round hole."
Agreed - 100%.
"Don't despise the basics. In our rush to turn our kids into quantum physicists who will unite both the particle and wave models of the universe, we may well be creating children who can't feed themselves. With globalization opening up American workers to foreign competition, our children will not be able to compete on an equal playing field if money is solely the bottom line. It would be wise of us to acknowledge this truth and prepare our children for a very different work future than the one we faced at the same age. Engineers in the US are finding that they can't convince their kids to go into engineering and this is a shock to them; perhaps the kids are smarter than they are given credit, considering that many of them would rather work for less pay than face the perpetual layoff cycle they saw their parents go through. In light of this, I firmly believe that instructing our children in a locally-needed trade may be the best work prep we can offer our kids. If we subsequently add into this mix an understanding of the land, animal husbandry, and small farm techniques, we can ensure them a better future than the one that is already upon us. Remember, THAT was a biblical education in the days of Jesus. While it is true that we need the educational superstars to continue to build the next-generation medical devices and such, increasingly those superstars are not going to be Americans. Honestly, Americans may not be able to afford to send their kids to college with the rate tuition is increasing, so other avenues must be explored. We need to prepare our kids differently for a different future."
Not only do I agree with this statement 100%, Dan mentioning it the way he did, really inspired me to FINALLY borrow that rototiller and prepare the patch of lawn for the spring garden. We live on a farm (ironically) and for the last two years I've really wanted to put in a garden for the kids. We don't farm the land, we just rent the house, but the soil here is incredible. With a 2 year old here, it hasn't been easy to get a garden going, but now that she's older, it shouldn't be too much of a challenge. I want the kids to know how to plant, harvest, and prepare their own food, just like my mom taught me when I was a kid. I want them to understand as much as they can about agriculture, hard work, and reaping the blessings of both.
"God is a God of grace. If we firmly believe that He is in control, then we will entrust the care of the children He's given us--children that are not ours, but His--to Him and Him alone. How that plays out in your children's educations is something God alone can deliver. And that may NOT include homeschooling. We should not limit God on how He can work in our children's educations. Nor should we enforce our will on other parents. God deals with all of us in different ways. We should not judge people on whether they homeschool or not, especially if we are not vehicles of grace to accept their decision or help them move into a homeschooling model if the toughness of living is making it hard for them to do so. We've made homeschooling a millstone around the necks of parents and children alike, and the Lord is not in the millstone necklace business."
Yes and AMEN Dan.
"Education is not the path to salvation. Ironically, it is the very secular humanists that Christians vigorously oppose who truly believe that premise. However, as much as Christians say that is not them, George Barna recently showed otherwise. In one of his published studies, Barna showed that Evangelical parents were more interested that their kids got a good education than that their kids followed Christ. Folks, that's a devilishly misplaced priority! Homeschooling, like anything else, can become an idol. God would much prefer a non-scholar with a heart that burns for Him than a Nobel-winning scientist who claims He does not exist. That's where our focus should be, raising kids for Christ, no matter where they go to school."
And amen again.
And now for my own conclusion...
First, I need to thank Dan again for his work on this. While there will be some who cry foul because they think the statements were too broad, I'm pretty sure Dan wasn't referring to EVERY homeschooler out there - if that were the case - he'd have to include himself, since he and his wife have made the decision to homeschool. If what Dan had to say doesn't reference you, don't worry about it. But if it did, then maybe this would be a good time for a bit of self-examination instead of lashing out at Dan? Trust me when I say this, he only said what a few others have been thinking, and observing, and maybe haven't had the time or ability to write as well as he did.
What Dan has observed IS true, in many HS'ing circles. It's frustating because it's created a reputation for HS'ers that isn't fair.
To give an example:
On Monday, Samuel's nurse came to tend to his foot. When she commented about all the kids being at home, I said "we homeschool." The look on her face was the same look that I get from Christians and non-Christians alike. You who homeschool, you KNOW this look. I have sometimes wondered if self-professing serial killers get the same look, when questioned about their lifestyle choices. The look is often followed by the story. "Oh yeah, I have a sister/uncle/friend who homeschools" and then some details about that situation. I think they do that in hopes that they can connect with you on some level, so you wont hurt them. I'm not really sure.
I think in part, what contributes to this is just ignorance. Most people have no idea what it's really like to homeschool. I wrote on this here, and here.
I think a large part of this kind of reaction also comes from the very hype that Dan wrote about. Homeschooling has taken on this almost dogmatic, militant type of reputation, because there ARE dogmatic, militant people out there, who homeschool. They're the loudest ones, they're the most published ones. This is of course NOT to say that the passionate homeschooling moms & dads who are published, or well-known in HS circles are all dogmatic or militant - so please don't anyone read that wrongly.
Believe it or not, I actually had even MORE to say, but I think this will suffice.
SOLI DEO GLORIA,
Carla
September 30, 2005
Hmm..
Because Rebecca was yellow:
| Your Blog Should Be Purple |
 |
Oh boy, this was too funny
Friday Funny Bone
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine! Prov. 17:22
COUNTRY WISDOM:
Don't name a pig you plan to eat.
Country fences need to be horse high, pig tight, and bull strong.
Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.
Keep skunks and lawyers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.
A bumble bee is faster than a John Deere tractor.
Trouble with a milk cow is she won't stay milked.
Don't skinny dip with snapping turtles.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
Meanness don't happen overnight.
To know how country folks are doing, look at their barns, not their houses.
Never lay an angry hand on a kid or an animal, it just ain't helpful.
Teachers, Moms, and hoot owls sleep with one eye open.
Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.
Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
Two can live as cheap as one if one don't eat.
Don't corner something meaner than you.
You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar, assuming you want to catchflies.
Man is the only critter who feels the need to label things as flowers or weeds.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
Don't go huntin' with a fellow named Chug-A-Lug.
You can't unsay a cruel thing.
Every path has some puddles.
Don't wrestle with pigs: You'll get all muddy and the pigs will love it.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about never happens.
COUNTRY WISDOM:
Don't name a pig you plan to eat.
Country fences need to be horse high, pig tight, and bull strong.
Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.
Keep skunks and lawyers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.
A bumble bee is faster than a John Deere tractor.
Trouble with a milk cow is she won't stay milked.
Don't skinny dip with snapping turtles.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
Meanness don't happen overnight.
To know how country folks are doing, look at their barns, not their houses.
Never lay an angry hand on a kid or an animal, it just ain't helpful.
Teachers, Moms, and hoot owls sleep with one eye open.
Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.
Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
Two can live as cheap as one if one don't eat.
Don't corner something meaner than you.
You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar, assuming you want to catchflies.
Man is the only critter who feels the need to label things as flowers or weeds.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
Don't go huntin' with a fellow named Chug-A-Lug.
You can't unsay a cruel thing.
Every path has some puddles.
Don't wrestle with pigs: You'll get all muddy and the pigs will love it.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about never happens.
Guarding the Trust – Long for the Word
This is part 4 of an ongoing series. You can read part 3 here.
Guarding the Trust – Long for the Word
Long for the Word Psalm 119:20, 40, 131 (September 30, 2005)
20: My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
40: Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
131: I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Before I address the message of today's entry, longing for the word, I want to just make a simple point. I am not an educated Bible scholar. When I read a verse, or a passage, I simply chew it over a few ways;
1. what is the context?
2. do I really understand it?
3. how can, or how does this apply in my life?
I say this for the simple reason that I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking I'm some kind of authority on the text of Scripture. I can only address it as it pertains to my life, my heart, and my understanding.
________________________
I have to admit, I had a little bit of difficulty with this one. Not with the concept of longing for the word, but with how I can describe what this is like for me.
For me, no matter what I read, or what I hear, when it comes to some sort of Biblical concept, or doctrine, somewhere in the back of my head I hear this little voice that says "is that what the Bible actually says, or is that what someone else thinks it says?".
At the risk of sounding like I might be boasting of a false-humility, I long for the word, to be taught by the word, to be conformed by the word, to be changed, by the word. When I first decided to tackle this list that Campi had included in his own blog entry Sept. 26, I thought of it this way 'being diligent to submit to the written word of God, to conform every last aspect of your life'.
I know for myself, I have a tendency to get caught up in my own thoughts, my own ideas, and understanding of things. In talking with a friend last night, she was concerned about a recent controversy that so many people are getting caught up in, and she wondered where I stand on that issue. She assured me that she's doing some self introspection as well, and trying very hard to remain outside of the issue, because of what the Scripture says about what happens when we get caught up in controversies. Pride tends to take root many times, and we tend to deviate from the Biblical perscription on how to conduct ourselves.
I don't want to be caught up in me, I want to be caught up in Him. So when the thought occured to me to use this list of 34 ways we are to guard the trust, I was very excited to begin.
Reading Psalm 119:20 this morning, another thought occured to me. I don't simply want to know what the Bible teaches, I need to know what the Bible teaches. I need to know if my words are right, my thoughts are right, and my conduct is right, according to the Scripture. I know my weak points and I loathe them, and so I need to be constantly self-examining, measuring all that I am, against what the Scriptures have to say about all that we should be, in Christ. The word breaketh, in this verse means to be crushed, or to be broken. When something is crushed, or broken, it requires immediate attention, for repair, and restoration. It's not a matter of wanting to be restored, it's a matter of needful restoration.
Many times, this isn't exactly a pleasant experience, being shown from Scripture where you fall short, but it's required.
Every day when I get up, especially if there is an exceptionally stunning sunrise, my thoughts turn to creation, and I often wonder why God made sunrises so incredibly beautiful, and colorful. Technically, it doesn't really serve any purpose to have the sky painted with a brilliant array of shades of yellow, orange, red and gold. The only purpose that I can figure out is that it's lovely. He wanted it that color, so that's the color He made it.
Who is this God we serve? Why did He make the sunrise so pretty? Why does He say that we are to be holy? Why do my children's behaviors so often make me think of my own conduct before my Heavenly Father? The list of who, how, where, when and why, in my own head is endless, and there is only 1 place I'll ever get the answers to any of those questions, and that's in the word.
I can't go a day without being in the word, or I feel malnourished. I've done it before, and I don't like it at all.
One of the aspects of the HS curriculum that sold us on it years ago, was that it's Biblically based. Every subject, every text book, every workbook. In math, the children are reminded to seek God for wisdom. In spelling they are reminded to pray before their final test at the end of the week. Science is approached from a creation standpoint, and the wonders of God! Their history course begins with Eden. For the little ones, their reader this year is one the wonders of creation as a family travels to the Grand Canyon, and Jessica's studying through a course in Christian Literature.
In every subject, the kids are reminded that God, and His word, are central to all we are and all we do. They are being taught from the very beginning, to long for His word, to find answers, conduct ourselves, how to treat others, proper ways to think, and all that goes into all of the above.
Psalm 119:40 says "quicken me in thy righteousness". In this verse that word quicken means to revive, or to refresh, or cause to grow and prosper. What an amazing thought, that this is the result of longing for the word.
I did have much more to say on this, but time is short this morning so I will end this here. I do hope this blesses and encourages you in some way today.
SDG,
Carla
Guarding the Trust – Long for the Word
Long for the Word Psalm 119:20, 40, 131 (September 30, 2005)
20: My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
40: Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
131: I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Before I address the message of today's entry, longing for the word, I want to just make a simple point. I am not an educated Bible scholar. When I read a verse, or a passage, I simply chew it over a few ways;
1. what is the context?
2. do I really understand it?
3. how can, or how does this apply in my life?
I say this for the simple reason that I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking I'm some kind of authority on the text of Scripture. I can only address it as it pertains to my life, my heart, and my understanding.
________________________
I have to admit, I had a little bit of difficulty with this one. Not with the concept of longing for the word, but with how I can describe what this is like for me.
For me, no matter what I read, or what I hear, when it comes to some sort of Biblical concept, or doctrine, somewhere in the back of my head I hear this little voice that says "is that what the Bible actually says, or is that what someone else thinks it says?".
At the risk of sounding like I might be boasting of a false-humility, I long for the word, to be taught by the word, to be conformed by the word, to be changed, by the word. When I first decided to tackle this list that Campi had included in his own blog entry Sept. 26, I thought of it this way 'being diligent to submit to the written word of God, to conform every last aspect of your life'.
I know for myself, I have a tendency to get caught up in my own thoughts, my own ideas, and understanding of things. In talking with a friend last night, she was concerned about a recent controversy that so many people are getting caught up in, and she wondered where I stand on that issue. She assured me that she's doing some self introspection as well, and trying very hard to remain outside of the issue, because of what the Scripture says about what happens when we get caught up in controversies. Pride tends to take root many times, and we tend to deviate from the Biblical perscription on how to conduct ourselves.
I don't want to be caught up in me, I want to be caught up in Him. So when the thought occured to me to use this list of 34 ways we are to guard the trust, I was very excited to begin.
Reading Psalm 119:20 this morning, another thought occured to me. I don't simply want to know what the Bible teaches, I need to know what the Bible teaches. I need to know if my words are right, my thoughts are right, and my conduct is right, according to the Scripture. I know my weak points and I loathe them, and so I need to be constantly self-examining, measuring all that I am, against what the Scriptures have to say about all that we should be, in Christ. The word breaketh, in this verse means to be crushed, or to be broken. When something is crushed, or broken, it requires immediate attention, for repair, and restoration. It's not a matter of wanting to be restored, it's a matter of needful restoration.
Many times, this isn't exactly a pleasant experience, being shown from Scripture where you fall short, but it's required.
Every day when I get up, especially if there is an exceptionally stunning sunrise, my thoughts turn to creation, and I often wonder why God made sunrises so incredibly beautiful, and colorful. Technically, it doesn't really serve any purpose to have the sky painted with a brilliant array of shades of yellow, orange, red and gold. The only purpose that I can figure out is that it's lovely. He wanted it that color, so that's the color He made it.
Who is this God we serve? Why did He make the sunrise so pretty? Why does He say that we are to be holy? Why do my children's behaviors so often make me think of my own conduct before my Heavenly Father? The list of who, how, where, when and why, in my own head is endless, and there is only 1 place I'll ever get the answers to any of those questions, and that's in the word.
I can't go a day without being in the word, or I feel malnourished. I've done it before, and I don't like it at all.
One of the aspects of the HS curriculum that sold us on it years ago, was that it's Biblically based. Every subject, every text book, every workbook. In math, the children are reminded to seek God for wisdom. In spelling they are reminded to pray before their final test at the end of the week. Science is approached from a creation standpoint, and the wonders of God! Their history course begins with Eden. For the little ones, their reader this year is one the wonders of creation as a family travels to the Grand Canyon, and Jessica's studying through a course in Christian Literature.
In every subject, the kids are reminded that God, and His word, are central to all we are and all we do. They are being taught from the very beginning, to long for His word, to find answers, conduct ourselves, how to treat others, proper ways to think, and all that goes into all of the above.
Psalm 119:40 says "quicken me in thy righteousness". In this verse that word quicken means to revive, or to refresh, or cause to grow and prosper. What an amazing thought, that this is the result of longing for the word.
I did have much more to say on this, but time is short this morning so I will end this here. I do hope this blesses and encourages you in some way today.
SDG,
Carla
September 29, 2005
Continuing my thoughts on Dan’s recent series about the myths of homeschooling…
Myth #4: The ________________ method is by far the best way to homeschool kids
Dan:
“Fill-in that blank with "biblical," "classical," "constructivist" or whatever the hottest trend in homeschooling is and I'll bet dollars to donuts that it misses the point most of the time.How so? Here's a simple question, "What education is sufficient to ensure your child can eat in the future?" Truthfully, the education most of us received is wholly inadequate to ensure anything so basic as survival. Whenever I hear someone saying that they are giving their children a biblical education, I ask if they're teaching crop rotation and animal husbandry. That's what people in Bible times knew, right? We've romanticized education to the point that it can provide little to people today. We think of ourselves as educated, but if push came to shove, could we feed ourselves without having to rely on others to provide food for us? Probably not. The farmer in Afghanistan may not know Java, quadratic equations, or the Suzuki method, but he can grow enough food to put on the family table.”
I loved this observation. Partly because I’m such a practical, down-to earth kind of teacher. Partly because I recall well, thinking to myself at 16, “someone tell me exactly why I need to know algebraic equations?”. I knew I would never need to know such things – and if I ever DID need to know them, I’d either get a calculator or call someone who did know them, and understand them better than me. I knew even then, I needed to know more practical things, life application things, life-coping things. So reading Dan’s observation on this really clicked with me.
He goes on to say:
“When we look at what the people of Bible times were learning, much of it doesn't progress further than a fifth grade education. The problem is that a fifth grader today is never instructed in the things an agrarian society like that of Palestine 1000 BC taught as basic knowledge. They knew how to raise livestock and crops to feed themselves, but we place no merit on that today. To them, we would be fools running around spouting about American history and the value of Latin, but we'd die of starvation, our heads filled with spurious "knowledge."What was true for people of Biblical or classical times is a whole 'nother set of realities that we have devalued. Do we teach our kids how to slaughter animals, manage crops, interpret the weather and all those other highly valuable bits if wisdom that people long ago used daily to live? Why not? What value is there in knowing that a particular mushroom's Latin genus name translates to "pretty maid of the forest" if we can't tell whether it's edible or not?”
I simply cannot agree more. I guess maybe I need to hear a logical argument for practically abandoning the more practical life skills? And embracing what certainly appear to be impressive but rather impractical things?
Dan lists:
Myth #5: A parent is a child's best teacher
Dan:
“Baloney. That may have been true when the sum total of knowledge could be put into a three volume encyclopedia, but it doesn’t work today. We live in a time when knowledge is increasing almost exponentially and no parent, no matter how wise, can stay on top of it all. This is true of both general knowledge and specific knowledge. A doctor graduating fifty years ago was required to know far less than a second-year med student today. And with the changes in medicine that occur almost daily, keeping up with the latest medical wisdom is a non-stop job for doctors. For those opening the newspaper, it's also easy to see how general knowledge builds and builds. Expecting any individual human to keep up with it on even a basic level is wishful.”
I had to laugh here. Baloney is correct. A parent CAN be a child’s best teacher, but to make such a sweeping statement is pretty intimidating to a parent who isn’t real convinced that they are qualified to teach. It lays a burden on them that didn’t need to be there to begin with. For a real practical example, Kev is far more qualified to teach history, than I am, since it’s his passion. I’m far more qualified to teach phonics to the little kids, because it’s a love of mine, and I understand how each of them responds a little differently, so I work with that, with them. If Kev were not there to teach history, or cool stuff like weather, and Old Testament, I’d be at a loss, fumbling my way through it. Likewise him, with phonics and reading.
Dan goes on:
“I hear Christian parents also talking about how they can best teach their child the Bible, but I want to say upfront that Biblical wisdom, even in homes that seem like bastions of Christian thought, is disturbingly lacking. Generally, a fully developed Christian worldview simply does not exist, even in Christian households. (Nancy Pearcey repeatedly laments this reality in her book Total Truth; I would challenge everyone reading this today to ensure they read her book. It's an ugly truth, but it's truth nonetheless.) That's shameful, but it's better to admit our own lacks here than to persist in believing we're theologians and rob our kids of the best knowledge of the Bible they can have.”
I agree with this wholeheartedly. As adults we have teachers among us, beause we know as discerning adults that we can learn from great insights these men and women have to share. We can’t expect less for our kids, can we?
In responding to Dan’s series on this, it’s my hope that others might be inclined to explain to me where I might be wrong, where Dan might be wrong, or even where things need to improve. I don’t pretend to know it all when it comes to homeschooling, but some things just don’t seem to add up for me.
What say ye?
Myth #4: The ________________ method is by far the best way to homeschool kids
Dan:
“Fill-in that blank with "biblical," "classical," "constructivist" or whatever the hottest trend in homeschooling is and I'll bet dollars to donuts that it misses the point most of the time.How so? Here's a simple question, "What education is sufficient to ensure your child can eat in the future?" Truthfully, the education most of us received is wholly inadequate to ensure anything so basic as survival. Whenever I hear someone saying that they are giving their children a biblical education, I ask if they're teaching crop rotation and animal husbandry. That's what people in Bible times knew, right? We've romanticized education to the point that it can provide little to people today. We think of ourselves as educated, but if push came to shove, could we feed ourselves without having to rely on others to provide food for us? Probably not. The farmer in Afghanistan may not know Java, quadratic equations, or the Suzuki method, but he can grow enough food to put on the family table.”
I loved this observation. Partly because I’m such a practical, down-to earth kind of teacher. Partly because I recall well, thinking to myself at 16, “someone tell me exactly why I need to know algebraic equations?”. I knew I would never need to know such things – and if I ever DID need to know them, I’d either get a calculator or call someone who did know them, and understand them better than me. I knew even then, I needed to know more practical things, life application things, life-coping things. So reading Dan’s observation on this really clicked with me.
He goes on to say:
“When we look at what the people of Bible times were learning, much of it doesn't progress further than a fifth grade education. The problem is that a fifth grader today is never instructed in the things an agrarian society like that of Palestine 1000 BC taught as basic knowledge. They knew how to raise livestock and crops to feed themselves, but we place no merit on that today. To them, we would be fools running around spouting about American history and the value of Latin, but we'd die of starvation, our heads filled with spurious "knowledge."What was true for people of Biblical or classical times is a whole 'nother set of realities that we have devalued. Do we teach our kids how to slaughter animals, manage crops, interpret the weather and all those other highly valuable bits if wisdom that people long ago used daily to live? Why not? What value is there in knowing that a particular mushroom's Latin genus name translates to "pretty maid of the forest" if we can't tell whether it's edible or not?”
I simply cannot agree more. I guess maybe I need to hear a logical argument for practically abandoning the more practical life skills? And embracing what certainly appear to be impressive but rather impractical things?
Dan lists:
Myth #5: A parent is a child's best teacher
Dan:
“Baloney. That may have been true when the sum total of knowledge could be put into a three volume encyclopedia, but it doesn’t work today. We live in a time when knowledge is increasing almost exponentially and no parent, no matter how wise, can stay on top of it all. This is true of both general knowledge and specific knowledge. A doctor graduating fifty years ago was required to know far less than a second-year med student today. And with the changes in medicine that occur almost daily, keeping up with the latest medical wisdom is a non-stop job for doctors. For those opening the newspaper, it's also easy to see how general knowledge builds and builds. Expecting any individual human to keep up with it on even a basic level is wishful.”
I had to laugh here. Baloney is correct. A parent CAN be a child’s best teacher, but to make such a sweeping statement is pretty intimidating to a parent who isn’t real convinced that they are qualified to teach. It lays a burden on them that didn’t need to be there to begin with. For a real practical example, Kev is far more qualified to teach history, than I am, since it’s his passion. I’m far more qualified to teach phonics to the little kids, because it’s a love of mine, and I understand how each of them responds a little differently, so I work with that, with them. If Kev were not there to teach history, or cool stuff like weather, and Old Testament, I’d be at a loss, fumbling my way through it. Likewise him, with phonics and reading.
Dan goes on:
“I hear Christian parents also talking about how they can best teach their child the Bible, but I want to say upfront that Biblical wisdom, even in homes that seem like bastions of Christian thought, is disturbingly lacking. Generally, a fully developed Christian worldview simply does not exist, even in Christian households. (Nancy Pearcey repeatedly laments this reality in her book Total Truth; I would challenge everyone reading this today to ensure they read her book. It's an ugly truth, but it's truth nonetheless.) That's shameful, but it's better to admit our own lacks here than to persist in believing we're theologians and rob our kids of the best knowledge of the Bible they can have.”
I agree with this wholeheartedly. As adults we have teachers among us, beause we know as discerning adults that we can learn from great insights these men and women have to share. We can’t expect less for our kids, can we?
In responding to Dan’s series on this, it’s my hope that others might be inclined to explain to me where I might be wrong, where Dan might be wrong, or even where things need to improve. I don’t pretend to know it all when it comes to homeschooling, but some things just don’t seem to add up for me.
What say ye?
Guarding the Trust - Love the Word
This is part 3 of an ongoing series. You can read part 2 here.
Guarding the Trust - Love the Word
Love the Word Psalm 119:97, 127-28 (September 29, 2005)
97: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
When I first looked up theses verses, I looked up Psalm 119:27 by mistake. Here is v.27: Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. This was a very interesting mistake, because it addresses exactly what I was going to say about this.
When I was newly converted, I had so many larger than life issues going on, in my life, that I was literally on a giant rollercoaster of emotions.
Ben was dying of cancer, and dealing with all that goes along with that.
I was involved in a federal investigation (as a victim, not a suspect) and had to carefully document everything that happened in the course of each day, and speak with either my local, state or federal investigator working the case.
And if both of those weren't enough, we knew that very soon we'd be signing over custody of Ben's son, to his son's maternal grandmother in California. His son had massive amounts of behavioral issues that Ben knew I wouldn't be able to handle alone, or handle financially, once he was gone. We knew (but didn't like it) the best place for him would be where he had family who could provide for his needs, on every level.
After Ben died, and for the next 2 years, life was still a mess, and got worse, if it seems possible.
It was because of all that, that while I really did love the Lord, and believed His word, I was so distracted by circumstances, and day to day life, that I never seemed to have the time to really focus on studying His word.
I wrote part 1 of this series, about how my love for word studies was born, but it would still be another 6-7 months of studying, and dealing with incredibly painful life events, before I really began to understand what it means to love the word.
I had just gone through a very difficult time, and was so wracked with guilt about being a sinner, when I was supposed to be saved, that I was questioning my salvation, and spending night after night searching the Scriptures, crying, praying, and searching some more. I found hundreds of verses that told me I was forgiven, loved, not alone, and all sorts of other comforting and reassuring words of hope, but in my head I didn't really believe it, or wasn't sure I believed it, at the very least. Bear in mind at this time I was newly departed from a church where the teaching was, you can sin and lose your salvation. I don't recall it ever being taught word for word, but it was also a church where at the very least, it was implied that if you continue to sin, after a profession of Christ, you're probably not even saved.
After almost 4 months, of daily grieving over my sin, and never "feeling" forgivin, one night things changed. I was doing the same thing I did every night - studying, looking up cross-references, crying, praying, meditating, and taking notes. Although the verses I was looking for, were verses that refer to forgiveness, it was in prayer that night, that from somewhere in my heart, the authoritative declaration came down, YOU ARE FORGIVIN, ACCORDING TO THE WRITTEN WORD.
It wasn't as if it were a James Earl Jones voice, booming out of the closet with an angelic chorus of alleluia's behind it. It was a still, small voice - with power and authority and finality.
Suddenly every verse I'd studied on this became like fine gold, of the most priceless variety. It was no longer an issue of whether I was "feeling" forgivin, it was simply a matter of knowing I am forgivin. Suddenly, that Bible that layed open sitting on my bed, was the most valuable possession I had.
You've heard stories about how the Lord in some cases just instantly transforms a person? Maybe a drug user, or angry person, who literally overnight, is changed by the power God? Well, that was me.
Gone was the doubt, the grief, the guilt, the pain, anxiety, and all that I had become over the last 4 months. Instantly (literally like the flip of a switch) there was peace, gratitude, comfort, assurance, and joy. It all came as a result of having it revealed deep inside my soul, that His word is final on these things, and there is no room for question.
Tears still came, but they were tears of relief. Those verses in in Psalm 119 at the beginning of this entry, wouldn't have meant alot to me, during that dry, difficult, doubtful spell. Intellectually I would have known that they were true, but inwardly they just didn't feel like they applied to me. Afterwards however, I understood them in a way I would have never believed possible, for myself.
This explains why I thought it ironic, that I mistakenly looked up Psalm 119:27 instead of 97, at first.
Look at it again:
Make me to understand (to cause to understand) the way (the manner) of thy precepts: so shall I talk (sing, speak, meditate, communicate, write) of thy wondrous (extraordinary) works.
I didn't realize it at the time, but this was the prayer I had been praying all along. I knew I didn't understand to a depth I needed to understand, and I knew it was going to have to be a work of the Holy Spirit to cause me to understand, to reveal this depth of knowing, to me. And that is exactly what He did.
Even though I was filled with doubt during this time, I still knew that the only real answer, the only real solution, would be found in my Bible. Every night I did the same thing, the same way. I persevered into the word, searching, digging, praying, meditating on it. Not that I want to give myself any credit for any of this, so I hope that isn't taken the wrong way. It's only by His grace that we understand in the first place, that the answers we seek, and truth we should love, is found written there.
I hope this blesses you in some way today.
SDG,
Carla
Guarding the Trust - Love the Word
Love the Word Psalm 119:97, 127-28 (September 29, 2005)
97: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
When I first looked up theses verses, I looked up Psalm 119:27 by mistake. Here is v.27: Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. This was a very interesting mistake, because it addresses exactly what I was going to say about this.
When I was newly converted, I had so many larger than life issues going on, in my life, that I was literally on a giant rollercoaster of emotions.
Ben was dying of cancer, and dealing with all that goes along with that.
I was involved in a federal investigation (as a victim, not a suspect) and had to carefully document everything that happened in the course of each day, and speak with either my local, state or federal investigator working the case.
And if both of those weren't enough, we knew that very soon we'd be signing over custody of Ben's son, to his son's maternal grandmother in California. His son had massive amounts of behavioral issues that Ben knew I wouldn't be able to handle alone, or handle financially, once he was gone. We knew (but didn't like it) the best place for him would be where he had family who could provide for his needs, on every level.
After Ben died, and for the next 2 years, life was still a mess, and got worse, if it seems possible.
It was because of all that, that while I really did love the Lord, and believed His word, I was so distracted by circumstances, and day to day life, that I never seemed to have the time to really focus on studying His word.
I wrote part 1 of this series, about how my love for word studies was born, but it would still be another 6-7 months of studying, and dealing with incredibly painful life events, before I really began to understand what it means to love the word.
I had just gone through a very difficult time, and was so wracked with guilt about being a sinner, when I was supposed to be saved, that I was questioning my salvation, and spending night after night searching the Scriptures, crying, praying, and searching some more. I found hundreds of verses that told me I was forgiven, loved, not alone, and all sorts of other comforting and reassuring words of hope, but in my head I didn't really believe it, or wasn't sure I believed it, at the very least. Bear in mind at this time I was newly departed from a church where the teaching was, you can sin and lose your salvation. I don't recall it ever being taught word for word, but it was also a church where at the very least, it was implied that if you continue to sin, after a profession of Christ, you're probably not even saved.
After almost 4 months, of daily grieving over my sin, and never "feeling" forgivin, one night things changed. I was doing the same thing I did every night - studying, looking up cross-references, crying, praying, meditating, and taking notes. Although the verses I was looking for, were verses that refer to forgiveness, it was in prayer that night, that from somewhere in my heart, the authoritative declaration came down, YOU ARE FORGIVIN, ACCORDING TO THE WRITTEN WORD.
It wasn't as if it were a James Earl Jones voice, booming out of the closet with an angelic chorus of alleluia's behind it. It was a still, small voice - with power and authority and finality.
Suddenly every verse I'd studied on this became like fine gold, of the most priceless variety. It was no longer an issue of whether I was "feeling" forgivin, it was simply a matter of knowing I am forgivin. Suddenly, that Bible that layed open sitting on my bed, was the most valuable possession I had.
You've heard stories about how the Lord in some cases just instantly transforms a person? Maybe a drug user, or angry person, who literally overnight, is changed by the power God? Well, that was me.
Gone was the doubt, the grief, the guilt, the pain, anxiety, and all that I had become over the last 4 months. Instantly (literally like the flip of a switch) there was peace, gratitude, comfort, assurance, and joy. It all came as a result of having it revealed deep inside my soul, that His word is final on these things, and there is no room for question.
Tears still came, but they were tears of relief. Those verses in in Psalm 119 at the beginning of this entry, wouldn't have meant alot to me, during that dry, difficult, doubtful spell. Intellectually I would have known that they were true, but inwardly they just didn't feel like they applied to me. Afterwards however, I understood them in a way I would have never believed possible, for myself.
This explains why I thought it ironic, that I mistakenly looked up Psalm 119:27 instead of 97, at first.
Look at it again:
Make me to understand (to cause to understand) the way (the manner) of thy precepts: so shall I talk (sing, speak, meditate, communicate, write) of thy wondrous (extraordinary) works.
I didn't realize it at the time, but this was the prayer I had been praying all along. I knew I didn't understand to a depth I needed to understand, and I knew it was going to have to be a work of the Holy Spirit to cause me to understand, to reveal this depth of knowing, to me. And that is exactly what He did.
Even though I was filled with doubt during this time, I still knew that the only real answer, the only real solution, would be found in my Bible. Every night I did the same thing, the same way. I persevered into the word, searching, digging, praying, meditating on it. Not that I want to give myself any credit for any of this, so I hope that isn't taken the wrong way. It's only by His grace that we understand in the first place, that the answers we seek, and truth we should love, is found written there.
I hope this blesses you in some way today.
SDG,
Carla
September 28, 2005
Blasting thru the Hype... Confessions of an ex-legalistic homeschooler... The Effigy of Dan, by Genius 3 Year olds Who Know Latin... The Blogger formerly known as Dan, now under the federal witness protection program...Why Christian Homeschooling will make you laugh, and live longer, and have shiney hair
I couldn’t think of a an appropriate title for this, so I used them all. You’ll understand why, by the time you’re done, and yes, there will be a test, and no, you may not use your book to cheat.
I love comedy. I mean I really, really love comedy. I grew up in the late 60’s early 70’s, when variety shows were a big deal, and several times a week, one of them was on the tv in our house – a skit, a song and dance, a stand up routine, etc. The Carol Burnette show was, and still is, one of my favorite shows. How can anyone watch Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Carol Burnette do a kitchen scene, or my all time favorite, the game of Sorry (“it was a SEVEN!”) and not bust up? Maybe it comes easier for those of us that are actually IN, Mama’s family. Now there's a thought.
The Dick Van Dyke show, is my all time favorite from my childhood, even though I think it was already in re-runs by the time I discovered it. Later on I discovered the Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), then SNL and SCTV. It was sometime around that age (early teens I think) I saw Steven Wright for the first time. Mom and I watched him, and were nearly crying, we laughed so hard. Okay fine, we WERE crying.
What makes that kind of comedy so infectiously funny, is that it’s only slightly exaggerated, but it’s all true. Things that we all deal with in various aspects of life, but maybe never really thought of “like that” or only had private thoughts “like that”… like the comedian delivers that just make you howl with laughter.
I really like to read people like this too. They are just funny, witty, sharp people, that make me sit here in my chair and snort with laughter. Yes, I snort. Don’t tell anyone, it’ll just be between you and I.
I read someone like this today – although I have a hunch he wasn’t trying to leave that impression at all. I have a hunch he was trying to be far more serious than lighthearted (and he did make his serious points well), but it was because his points were so true, and so well described, that it was funny.
That person is Dan Edelen of Cerulean Sanctum, and of all the not-funny topics he wrote on, it was the Myths of Christian Homeschooling. Now be careful not to assume anything here – most people reading that might think Dan wrote on the classic myths that homeschoolers are always trying to so hard to debunk – but that’s NOT what Dan wrote on.
This was a 4 part series, but I only discovered it today, so I read the whole thing, and all the comments, in one sitting (and 2 cups of coffee). For reference, here are the direct links to all 4:
The Myths of Homeschooling #1, The Myths of Homeschooling #2, The Myths of Homeschooling #3, The Myths of Homeschooling #4 (Conclusion)
I’m taking the liberty of repsonding to this here, instead of blogjamming (did I just make that up?) his comment section, since I have so much to say on this. It was only after I took on part 1, that I realized just HOW much to say on this!
I’ll start with part 1 and work my way through. It’ll be long, so go make a sandwich. Grab some chips, too. I'll put up my response to the other parts, in later entries, Lord willing.
Dan starts part 1 by saying:
“Google "the myths of homeschooling" and invariably you get a page defending homeschooling. What you never get is an analysis of the hype that surrounds this most divisive of topics. At the risk of being shunned, scolded, and potentially stoned to death by an angry mob of Basic Youth Conflicts graduates, I want to talk about the homeschooling craze and the tsunami of myths it's creating. Anyone who desires to cut through the hype surrounding homeschooling is subject to punishment, as if the very act of homeschooling itself cannot be questioned. But all sorts of learning exist; we must understand that homeschooling is just one option in a sea of possibilities.”
From his very opening comment, I knew this would be good. He accurately describes what happens many times when anyone dares say anything negative about homeschooling. I’ve never witnessed a literal stoning, but I’ve seen more than my fair share of verbal stonings. It can be brutal. Now bear in mind, this is all coming from a mom who homeschools (I was going to say a homeschooling mom of 7, until I read Dan’s comment, later in the series, about us weak-minded HS’ers that use that title – so I’m not going to give him the satisfaction, so HA!)
Dan is also quite accurate when he mentions the hype surrounding Christian homeschooling. There is TONS of it out there, and a lot of it is seriously overwhelming, and intidimating. Even to people like me, who have been doing it for many years (I’m not a veteran yet, I think I need to go another 10 years, or at least have 1 HS graduate, from k-12, and I don’t have one yet, I’m really not sure, I haven’t read the Christian HS’ers Guideline Book on this yet, but I’m sure Amazon has one for sale right now for 23% off if you purchase before October 10th.).
Dan states his credentials then says:
“My hope for this mini-series is to slice through the rhetoric that surrounds homeschooling and to honestly examine its strengths and weaknesses. I understand that this is a touchy subject loaded with potential landmines, but many of the issues wrapped up in homeschooling are bothersome and few Christians are examining them honestly. Instead, many Christian families are swept along by the homeschooling tsunami unable to clearly consider all the issues at stake.”
I still agreed, so I kept reading. Had I disagreed, I would have kept reading anyway, since this is clearly an issue close to my heart, as everyone who knows me, realizes. I continued to read, partially poised in my chair ready to strike out at Dan with a thought or two along the lines of “no way, you don’t know what you’re talking about, pal!”. Sort of a mother-bear syndrome, I guess.
Dan begins to list the myths (and for the sake of space I won’t quote everything, just the parts that are significant):
Myth #1: If you don't homeschool your kids, you're not a good parent
Dan:
"We say it's all about the children, but hasn't homeschooling become a criterium for weeding out the good parents from the bad? Have we not made it a source of pride for those who do homeschool, using homeschooling as a litmus test for labeling others? No myth does more to generate a class structure within churches than this one."
Bingo on myth #1. When I first began to reasearch homeschooling, 3 full years before I ever made the decision to do it, as soon as the word was out that I was looking into it, homeschooling mothers came out of the woodwork, to disciple me. They crawled out from under my car, hid in the produce aisle at the grocery store, and suddenly had jobs as bank tellers, gas pumpers, video store clerks, and oddly became my new best friends at church.
Now don’t get me wrong, I was and still am, very grateful for the offers of information and advice, but these ladies, almost unanimously, were Hyper-Homeschoolers, and honestly, they scared me. Suddenly it was if my spiritual condition itself was on the line, and there was simply NO question as to the decision I was GOING to make, it was just a matter of when. Some of them were very convincing, and honestly made me cry, privately, questioning my own salvation if I dared make the choice to leave my girls in public school. Some of them got a little annoyed with me that I didn’t immediately make the move to pull the kids from school and go buy a denim jumper. (I’m kidding about the jumper).
In all that time of being undecisional, one lady stands out as being balanced, and a great source of encouragement and advice. She never made it MY spiritual issue, but did encourage me to pray about it, and read everything I could get my hands on – and NOT make a decision until I was comfortable one way or the other. When I shared my doubts with her about my ability to teach my girls, she reminded me that while parents ARE a lot more capable than we sometimes realize, that not ALL parents are good teachers, or even the best (academically) teachers for their kids. She was a rare gem. She was the only person to assure me that there are many good education choices, and homeschooling is just ONE of them. One that her family believed suited THEM the best, but one that just does not work for every family, for a wide variety of reasons.
I’ve often wondered since then, if her local HS support group heard her say that, if they would have lit the torches and got some rope. It seemed to me she was preaching HS Heresy of the first order, based on everything else I’d heard up until that point.
Dan goes on about myth #1 by addressing the in-home dynamics in our day, for homeschoolers. He says:
“On a basic level, our 21st century societal structures don't support homeschooling. The work lives of the majority of Americans are dramatically different than in the days of the founding of this country when most children received their educations at home... By all standards, particularly a biblical one, the idea of having only one parent involved in the schooling of children is a defective method at its core, yet it is held out as the ideal today. The stress of forcing all schooling onto one parent is too much for most people to handle, yet many homeschooling parents labor under the pressure to conform to that defective standard, forced to grin and bear the responsibility like a good soldier. But homeschooling is not meant to be a lesson in endurance. I suspect that many homeschooling moms--if allowed to vent their true feelings on the issue apart from the pressure they feel to conform to a homeschooling ideal--would say that they are stressed out by having to teach and run a household without the aid of a spouse at home most of the day. Trying to jam the responsibility of two adults into one is more than many can bear, yet they shuffle on lest someone accuse them of not being a good parent because they no longer homeschool.”
As soon as I read this, I got up, and searched the room for the hidden cam that was broadcasting into Dan’s house. Surely it had to be here somewhere? Surely Dan watched that clip of me a couple of years ago when I hollered at Kev one day after work “I hate homeschooling, it was a mistake, I’m a failure and it’s not working!”. Of course I didn’t mean it, but I was SO frustrated that day (and have been many days) for various reasons. Some of which Dan mentioned. It is true that it certainly IS very VERY stressful to try to be an effective homeschooling teacher, and juggle all the other household responsibilities as well. In fact, it’s not even possible. Not even with the best columbian grown coffee beans. Not alone, anyway, and not with as many kids as I have.
When Kev and I made the decision to homeschool, we did so with the express purpose that WE would homeschool. Not me, all by myself, but the both of us. He has a work schedule that affords him 2 days off one week, and 3 days off the next. It was agreed that on his days off, he’d teach, and on his days on, I’d be the teacher.
It’s been a struggle sometimes with this (just because days off, with only 1 car, make for a tight schedule and some amount of frustration) but this is what we STILL do. In fact, he was off today, and he was the teacher and I was the grocery shopper.
There are many homeschooling homes where this does NOT go on. The burden of teaching falls on the mother, and privately, many of them do vent exactly the way Dan describes, but you will never read about this, on most of the big HS sites, or the magazines.
Dan:
“Homeschooling is harder than most people think. Curiously, the very Christian organizations that are hardcore supporters of homeschooling provide no coping methods or assistance for Christian families who are trying to find ways to have both parents at home--the ideal homeschooling environment--rather than just the one. Little is said about the work environments that exist today that take one of the parents out of the home for most of the day while the other struggles to manage all the requirements of keeping a household running while homeschooling.”
I do have to take exception to this JUST a little. I do know for certain that a lot of homeschoolers themselves ( I can’t say for sure about the big organizations) do share work at home, self-employment ideas and advice, to meet this end. It’s the ones who actually sell this information, that get on my nerves. Sure, everyone’s got to make a living, but I’m of the opinion Christian homeschoolers who have uncovered a successful way to work from home or have a home employment situation, that allows both parents to be IN the home, to be teachers – ought to be giving that away for free, and encouraging other HS families in this. But hey, that’s just me.
Dan goes on to: Myth #2: Homeschooling more actively involves parents in their children's educations
“We all know homeschooling parents who brag about the fact that their kids don't watch TV or that they don't even have a TV in the house. Yet how curious it is that so many of these same parents see no problem with setting a child in front of a computer for hours on end doing computerized homeschool curricula. Many parents can't draw a disctinction between three hours of spurious TV viewing and the three hours their kids spend each day glued to some video-driven homeschool curricula, either. From my perspective, a kid wedded to a computer or TV for hours on end is not getting a more parent-driven education than a child who sits in a public school classroom. We're deceiving ourselves if we believe this myth. Worse yet, the very parents who howl about public school content rarely take the time to review the homeschool computer or video content their kid is inhaling for hours on end."
Well… I’m a dinosaur, and don’t even believe it’s beneficial to stick junior on the pc until he can properly master his penmanship skills. Of course this leaves some men of 40 years old, out, but we do the best we can. :-)
I can’t really speak to this because all of our basic work is done from books, at the table, with me right there, or Kev right there, one on one. We have a classroom of 4, and this is the way we’ve always done things.
Moving right along to:
Myth #3: The educational methodology behind most homeschooling curriculum is superior to the methodology used in public schools
Dan:
“Anyone know who B.F. Skinner is? He's the psychological theorist behind Behaviorism and operant conditioning; you know, training rats to press a lever to receive a reward of food or electrical brain stimulation. Behaviorism has been soundly roasted by the Christian public ever since Skinner debuted his educational theories in the 40s and 50s. Firmly rooted in a naturalistic, Darwinian worldview, reviled as anti-God, pro-Communist, and secular humanism at work, behaviorism is one educational methodology that most Christians oppose. Ironically, the majority of Christian homeschool curricula are based on behavioristic teaching methods. Even more ironic is the fact that public schools have moved away from behaviorism while Christians have castigated them for doing so, all without realizing what they are are tacitly endorsing a methodology that opposes a Christian worldview.”
Hmm… I guess I’m out of the loop on this one. We have never approached teaching based on these kinds of behavioristic methods, that we are aware of. Unless we’re actually doing it and we don’t realize it? We have 2 kids who learn well by hearing instruction and following it. We have 2 who learn better by seeing instruction (for example, using pennies for doing elementary math problems, or looking at maps when discussing geography, rather than just hearing about different countries). Other than that, and I’m not even sure that falls into the the behavioristic category, I know literally zip about this topic.
So there's the end of my thoughts on part 1. I'm REALLY glad Dan put this series up - it's something that has been troubling me for a long time, and I never really knew how to put my finger on it. Maybe drawing attention to it, and talking about it, might help to change it?
I hope so.
SDG,
Carla
I couldn’t think of a an appropriate title for this, so I used them all. You’ll understand why, by the time you’re done, and yes, there will be a test, and no, you may not use your book to cheat.
I love comedy. I mean I really, really love comedy. I grew up in the late 60’s early 70’s, when variety shows were a big deal, and several times a week, one of them was on the tv in our house – a skit, a song and dance, a stand up routine, etc. The Carol Burnette show was, and still is, one of my favorite shows. How can anyone watch Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Carol Burnette do a kitchen scene, or my all time favorite, the game of Sorry (“it was a SEVEN!”) and not bust up? Maybe it comes easier for those of us that are actually IN, Mama’s family. Now there's a thought.
The Dick Van Dyke show, is my all time favorite from my childhood, even though I think it was already in re-runs by the time I discovered it. Later on I discovered the Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), then SNL and SCTV. It was sometime around that age (early teens I think) I saw Steven Wright for the first time. Mom and I watched him, and were nearly crying, we laughed so hard. Okay fine, we WERE crying.
What makes that kind of comedy so infectiously funny, is that it’s only slightly exaggerated, but it’s all true. Things that we all deal with in various aspects of life, but maybe never really thought of “like that” or only had private thoughts “like that”… like the comedian delivers that just make you howl with laughter.
I really like to read people like this too. They are just funny, witty, sharp people, that make me sit here in my chair and snort with laughter. Yes, I snort. Don’t tell anyone, it’ll just be between you and I.
I read someone like this today – although I have a hunch he wasn’t trying to leave that impression at all. I have a hunch he was trying to be far more serious than lighthearted (and he did make his serious points well), but it was because his points were so true, and so well described, that it was funny.
That person is Dan Edelen of Cerulean Sanctum, and of all the not-funny topics he wrote on, it was the Myths of Christian Homeschooling. Now be careful not to assume anything here – most people reading that might think Dan wrote on the classic myths that homeschoolers are always trying to so hard to debunk – but that’s NOT what Dan wrote on.
This was a 4 part series, but I only discovered it today, so I read the whole thing, and all the comments, in one sitting (and 2 cups of coffee). For reference, here are the direct links to all 4:
The Myths of Homeschooling #1, The Myths of Homeschooling #2, The Myths of Homeschooling #3, The Myths of Homeschooling #4 (Conclusion)
I’m taking the liberty of repsonding to this here, instead of blogjamming (did I just make that up?) his comment section, since I have so much to say on this. It was only after I took on part 1, that I realized just HOW much to say on this!
I’ll start with part 1 and work my way through. It’ll be long, so go make a sandwich. Grab some chips, too. I'll put up my response to the other parts, in later entries, Lord willing.
Dan starts part 1 by saying:
“Google "the myths of homeschooling" and invariably you get a page defending homeschooling. What you never get is an analysis of the hype that surrounds this most divisive of topics. At the risk of being shunned, scolded, and potentially stoned to death by an angry mob of Basic Youth Conflicts graduates, I want to talk about the homeschooling craze and the tsunami of myths it's creating. Anyone who desires to cut through the hype surrounding homeschooling is subject to punishment, as if the very act of homeschooling itself cannot be questioned. But all sorts of learning exist; we must understand that homeschooling is just one option in a sea of possibilities.”
From his very opening comment, I knew this would be good. He accurately describes what happens many times when anyone dares say anything negative about homeschooling. I’ve never witnessed a literal stoning, but I’ve seen more than my fair share of verbal stonings. It can be brutal. Now bear in mind, this is all coming from a mom who homeschools (I was going to say a homeschooling mom of 7, until I read Dan’s comment, later in the series, about us weak-minded HS’ers that use that title – so I’m not going to give him the satisfaction, so HA!)
Dan is also quite accurate when he mentions the hype surrounding Christian homeschooling. There is TONS of it out there, and a lot of it is seriously overwhelming, and intidimating. Even to people like me, who have been doing it for many years (I’m not a veteran yet, I think I need to go another 10 years, or at least have 1 HS graduate, from k-12, and I don’t have one yet, I’m really not sure, I haven’t read the Christian HS’ers Guideline Book on this yet, but I’m sure Amazon has one for sale right now for 23% off if you purchase before October 10th.).
Dan states his credentials then says:
“My hope for this mini-series is to slice through the rhetoric that surrounds homeschooling and to honestly examine its strengths and weaknesses. I understand that this is a touchy subject loaded with potential landmines, but many of the issues wrapped up in homeschooling are bothersome and few Christians are examining them honestly. Instead, many Christian families are swept along by the homeschooling tsunami unable to clearly consider all the issues at stake.”
I still agreed, so I kept reading. Had I disagreed, I would have kept reading anyway, since this is clearly an issue close to my heart, as everyone who knows me, realizes. I continued to read, partially poised in my chair ready to strike out at Dan with a thought or two along the lines of “no way, you don’t know what you’re talking about, pal!”. Sort of a mother-bear syndrome, I guess.
Dan begins to list the myths (and for the sake of space I won’t quote everything, just the parts that are significant):
Myth #1: If you don't homeschool your kids, you're not a good parent
Dan:
"We say it's all about the children, but hasn't homeschooling become a criterium for weeding out the good parents from the bad? Have we not made it a source of pride for those who do homeschool, using homeschooling as a litmus test for labeling others? No myth does more to generate a class structure within churches than this one."
Bingo on myth #1. When I first began to reasearch homeschooling, 3 full years before I ever made the decision to do it, as soon as the word was out that I was looking into it, homeschooling mothers came out of the woodwork, to disciple me. They crawled out from under my car, hid in the produce aisle at the grocery store, and suddenly had jobs as bank tellers, gas pumpers, video store clerks, and oddly became my new best friends at church.
Now don’t get me wrong, I was and still am, very grateful for the offers of information and advice, but these ladies, almost unanimously, were Hyper-Homeschoolers, and honestly, they scared me. Suddenly it was if my spiritual condition itself was on the line, and there was simply NO question as to the decision I was GOING to make, it was just a matter of when. Some of them were very convincing, and honestly made me cry, privately, questioning my own salvation if I dared make the choice to leave my girls in public school. Some of them got a little annoyed with me that I didn’t immediately make the move to pull the kids from school and go buy a denim jumper. (I’m kidding about the jumper).
In all that time of being undecisional, one lady stands out as being balanced, and a great source of encouragement and advice. She never made it MY spiritual issue, but did encourage me to pray about it, and read everything I could get my hands on – and NOT make a decision until I was comfortable one way or the other. When I shared my doubts with her about my ability to teach my girls, she reminded me that while parents ARE a lot more capable than we sometimes realize, that not ALL parents are good teachers, or even the best (academically) teachers for their kids. She was a rare gem. She was the only person to assure me that there are many good education choices, and homeschooling is just ONE of them. One that her family believed suited THEM the best, but one that just does not work for every family, for a wide variety of reasons.
I’ve often wondered since then, if her local HS support group heard her say that, if they would have lit the torches and got some rope. It seemed to me she was preaching HS Heresy of the first order, based on everything else I’d heard up until that point.
Dan goes on about myth #1 by addressing the in-home dynamics in our day, for homeschoolers. He says:
“On a basic level, our 21st century societal structures don't support homeschooling. The work lives of the majority of Americans are dramatically different than in the days of the founding of this country when most children received their educations at home... By all standards, particularly a biblical one, the idea of having only one parent involved in the schooling of children is a defective method at its core, yet it is held out as the ideal today. The stress of forcing all schooling onto one parent is too much for most people to handle, yet many homeschooling parents labor under the pressure to conform to that defective standard, forced to grin and bear the responsibility like a good soldier. But homeschooling is not meant to be a lesson in endurance. I suspect that many homeschooling moms--if allowed to vent their true feelings on the issue apart from the pressure they feel to conform to a homeschooling ideal--would say that they are stressed out by having to teach and run a household without the aid of a spouse at home most of the day. Trying to jam the responsibility of two adults into one is more than many can bear, yet they shuffle on lest someone accuse them of not being a good parent because they no longer homeschool.”
As soon as I read this, I got up, and searched the room for the hidden cam that was broadcasting into Dan’s house. Surely it had to be here somewhere? Surely Dan watched that clip of me a couple of years ago when I hollered at Kev one day after work “I hate homeschooling, it was a mistake, I’m a failure and it’s not working!”. Of course I didn’t mean it, but I was SO frustrated that day (and have been many days) for various reasons. Some of which Dan mentioned. It is true that it certainly IS very VERY stressful to try to be an effective homeschooling teacher, and juggle all the other household responsibilities as well. In fact, it’s not even possible. Not even with the best columbian grown coffee beans. Not alone, anyway, and not with as many kids as I have.
When Kev and I made the decision to homeschool, we did so with the express purpose that WE would homeschool. Not me, all by myself, but the both of us. He has a work schedule that affords him 2 days off one week, and 3 days off the next. It was agreed that on his days off, he’d teach, and on his days on, I’d be the teacher.
It’s been a struggle sometimes with this (just because days off, with only 1 car, make for a tight schedule and some amount of frustration) but this is what we STILL do. In fact, he was off today, and he was the teacher and I was the grocery shopper.
There are many homeschooling homes where this does NOT go on. The burden of teaching falls on the mother, and privately, many of them do vent exactly the way Dan describes, but you will never read about this, on most of the big HS sites, or the magazines.
Dan:
“Homeschooling is harder than most people think. Curiously, the very Christian organizations that are hardcore supporters of homeschooling provide no coping methods or assistance for Christian families who are trying to find ways to have both parents at home--the ideal homeschooling environment--rather than just the one. Little is said about the work environments that exist today that take one of the parents out of the home for most of the day while the other struggles to manage all the requirements of keeping a household running while homeschooling.”
I do have to take exception to this JUST a little. I do know for certain that a lot of homeschoolers themselves ( I can’t say for sure about the big organizations) do share work at home, self-employment ideas and advice, to meet this end. It’s the ones who actually sell this information, that get on my nerves. Sure, everyone’s got to make a living, but I’m of the opinion Christian homeschoolers who have uncovered a successful way to work from home or have a home employment situation, that allows both parents to be IN the home, to be teachers – ought to be giving that away for free, and encouraging other HS families in this. But hey, that’s just me.
Dan goes on to: Myth #2: Homeschooling more actively involves parents in their children's educations
“We all know homeschooling parents who brag about the fact that their kids don't watch TV or that they don't even have a TV in the house. Yet how curious it is that so many of these same parents see no problem with setting a child in front of a computer for hours on end doing computerized homeschool curricula. Many parents can't draw a disctinction between three hours of spurious TV viewing and the three hours their kids spend each day glued to some video-driven homeschool curricula, either. From my perspective, a kid wedded to a computer or TV for hours on end is not getting a more parent-driven education than a child who sits in a public school classroom. We're deceiving ourselves if we believe this myth. Worse yet, the very parents who howl about public school content rarely take the time to review the homeschool computer or video content their kid is inhaling for hours on end."
Well… I’m a dinosaur, and don’t even believe it’s beneficial to stick junior on the pc until he can properly master his penmanship skills. Of course this leaves some men of 40 years old, out, but we do the best we can. :-)
I can’t really speak to this because all of our basic work is done from books, at the table, with me right there, or Kev right there, one on one. We have a classroom of 4, and this is the way we’ve always done things.
Moving right along to:
Myth #3: The educational methodology behind most homeschooling curriculum is superior to the methodology used in public schools
Dan:
“Anyone know who B.F. Skinner is? He's the psychological theorist behind Behaviorism and operant conditioning; you know, training rats to press a lever to receive a reward of food or electrical brain stimulation. Behaviorism has been soundly roasted by the Christian public ever since Skinner debuted his educational theories in the 40s and 50s. Firmly rooted in a naturalistic, Darwinian worldview, reviled as anti-God, pro-Communist, and secular humanism at work, behaviorism is one educational methodology that most Christians oppose. Ironically, the majority of Christian homeschool curricula are based on behavioristic teaching methods. Even more ironic is the fact that public schools have moved away from behaviorism while Christians have castigated them for doing so, all without realizing what they are are tacitly endorsing a methodology that opposes a Christian worldview.”
Hmm… I guess I’m out of the loop on this one. We have never approached teaching based on these kinds of behavioristic methods, that we are aware of. Unless we’re actually doing it and we don’t realize it? We have 2 kids who learn well by hearing instruction and following it. We have 2 who learn better by seeing instruction (for example, using pennies for doing elementary math problems, or looking at maps when discussing geography, rather than just hearing about different countries). Other than that, and I’m not even sure that falls into the the behavioristic category, I know literally zip about this topic.
So there's the end of my thoughts on part 1. I'm REALLY glad Dan put this series up - it's something that has been troubling me for a long time, and I never really knew how to put my finger on it. Maybe drawing attention to it, and talking about it, might help to change it?
I hope so.
SDG,
Carla
Parakaleo R Us
I posted this last night at the community blog in challieland. I'm reposting it here for two reasons.
1. It might help explain where I'm taking this blog (and my thoughts, and my attitude, and all that other good stuff).
2. I desire your prayers and encouragement.
With that said:
Today has been one of "those" days. Not in a bad way at all, but in a truly remarkable way.
I've known for the last 6 months, that the Lord has been leading me into something else, somewhere else, from where I've been. I know that might sound somewhat charismatic, but I assure you it's not. When your heart is grieved doing (writing, discussing, reading) the same things you've always done, and the motive becomes less than pure, and you begin to become bitter, you know something is going on.
More in the last month or so, it's been the desire of my heart to just move away from what may be considered "negative" toward the positive. While I believe there is certainly a place among the household of faith, to publicly speak out against false teaching, exposing them from the Word - I also believe there must be a balance, with exhortation and edification.
A few months ago, a friend of mine said he was driving in his car, listening to Christian radio. The sermon was on tearing down one doctrine or another. He was discouraged, so he turned the channel to another Christian station. (Clearly he's not in Southern Ontario, he had the option of more than 1 station). On the next station, was the same kind of preaching, so he turned it again, to another one. Same thing - so he finally just turned it off. He said he thought to himself, "I'm sick of hearing about what you're AGAINST, somebody preach the word and tell me what you're FOR!".
When he shared this with me, it confirmed in many ways something that had already been taking up residency in my thoughts.
Recently I began reading a book about humility. I won't say too much about it yet, since it's a book I'm supposed to review on my own blog when I'm done. (I'm not a reviewer, but it's Tim's fault I'm reading it, he posted the link for the free books for bloggers and I had to click on it). It's very hard for me to read books online (in fact I've always given up, I hate it), but this is one that keeps drawing me back, daily. From the very beginning of the book, I began to be convicted.
Today, I was reading again, and so much of what I read just really spoke to this new direction I want to go, or this crossroads, or whatever it might be called, that I started to cry. I can't recall the order it happened in, but by noon I had read 4 different things (email, blogs, this book and the Scriptures) that just lept out at me and confirmed over and over again, this new direction toward the edifying.
Later I logged into chat and my friend Chuck asked me (completely out of the blue) "do you ever feel sick of hearing about what the gospel ISN'T, and just so badly want to hear what the gospel IS?". I nearly fell off my chair. The 5th confirmation in one day.
Chuck believes there ought to be a rule in all Christian chats that it be illegal to discuss anything other than practical Christian living. Encouragment, edification, and practical insights and exposition of the word, to build one another up. That would be a nice change. Maybe a few 5 pointers would find out there really are thousands of other topics to address, than the 5 points?
So with all that said, I'm looking forward to this shift in focus, for myself. This doesn't mean I won't still write on things that are contrary to His word, but it does mean my main focus will be that which exhorts. I hope, anyway.
In this vein I've begun a series, inspired by Steve Camp, on "guarding the trust" at my own blog. What is meant by guarding the trust, is simply being diligent to submit to the written word of God, to conform every last aspect of your life.
Part of the reason I'm putting this here, is because I truly covet your prayers. It's TOO easy to target the negative things, and by-pass the wonderful things. This is a shame, when there are so many wonderful things to be discussed, and so many wonderful things that should be discussed, to build one another up.
Another reason I'm putting this here... more traffic + more readers = more accountability. I'd like to be reminded from time to time, by my brothers and sisters, that I desire to go this direction, if you see me veering off the path. A nice little note like "hey dummy, edification, remember?" would suffice, if the need arises.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks in advance for your support and encouragement, and prayer.
SDG,
Carla
(p.s., in case you were wondering about the word parakaleo, it means exhorting.)
1. It might help explain where I'm taking this blog (and my thoughts, and my attitude, and all that other good stuff).
2. I desire your prayers and encouragement.
With that said:
Today has been one of "those" days. Not in a bad way at all, but in a truly remarkable way.
I've known for the last 6 months, that the Lord has been leading me into something else, somewhere else, from where I've been. I know that might sound somewhat charismatic, but I assure you it's not. When your heart is grieved doing (writing, discussing, reading) the same things you've always done, and the motive becomes less than pure, and you begin to become bitter, you know something is going on.
More in the last month or so, it's been the desire of my heart to just move away from what may be considered "negative" toward the positive. While I believe there is certainly a place among the household of faith, to publicly speak out against false teaching, exposing them from the Word - I also believe there must be a balance, with exhortation and edification.
A few months ago, a friend of mine said he was driving in his car, listening to Christian radio. The sermon was on tearing down one doctrine or another. He was discouraged, so he turned the channel to another Christian station. (Clearly he's not in Southern Ontario, he had the option of more than 1 station). On the next station, was the same kind of preaching, so he turned it again, to another one. Same thing - so he finally just turned it off. He said he thought to himself, "I'm sick of hearing about what you're AGAINST, somebody preach the word and tell me what you're FOR!".
When he shared this with me, it confirmed in many ways something that had already been taking up residency in my thoughts.
Recently I began reading a book about humility. I won't say too much about it yet, since it's a book I'm supposed to review on my own blog when I'm done. (I'm not a reviewer, but it's Tim's fault I'm reading it, he posted the link for the free books for bloggers and I had to click on it). It's very hard for me to read books online (in fact I've always given up, I hate it), but this is one that keeps drawing me back, daily. From the very beginning of the book, I began to be convicted.
Today, I was reading again, and so much of what I read just really spoke to this new direction I want to go, or this crossroads, or whatever it might be called, that I started to cry. I can't recall the order it happened in, but by noon I had read 4 different things (email, blogs, this book and the Scriptures) that just lept out at me and confirmed over and over again, this new direction toward the edifying.
Later I logged into chat and my friend Chuck asked me (completely out of the blue) "do you ever feel sick of hearing about what the gospel ISN'T, and just so badly want to hear what the gospel IS?". I nearly fell off my chair. The 5th confirmation in one day.
Chuck believes there ought to be a rule in all Christian chats that it be illegal to discuss anything other than practical Christian living. Encouragment, edification, and practical insights and exposition of the word, to build one another up. That would be a nice change. Maybe a few 5 pointers would find out there really are thousands of other topics to address, than the 5 points?
So with all that said, I'm looking forward to this shift in focus, for myself. This doesn't mean I won't still write on things that are contrary to His word, but it does mean my main focus will be that which exhorts. I hope, anyway.
In this vein I've begun a series, inspired by Steve Camp, on "guarding the trust" at my own blog. What is meant by guarding the trust, is simply being diligent to submit to the written word of God, to conform every last aspect of your life.
Part of the reason I'm putting this here, is because I truly covet your prayers. It's TOO easy to target the negative things, and by-pass the wonderful things. This is a shame, when there are so many wonderful things to be discussed, and so many wonderful things that should be discussed, to build one another up.
Another reason I'm putting this here... more traffic + more readers = more accountability. I'd like to be reminded from time to time, by my brothers and sisters, that I desire to go this direction, if you see me veering off the path. A nice little note like "hey dummy, edification, remember?" would suffice, if the need arises.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks in advance for your support and encouragement, and prayer.
SDG,
Carla
(p.s., in case you were wondering about the word parakaleo, it means exhorting.)
Guarding the Trust - Believe the Word
This is part 2 of an ongoing series. You can read part 1 here.
Guarding the Trust - Believe the Word - John 2:22 (September 28, 2005)
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
I recently read a blog entry somewhere (I cannot recall who’s blog, so if it was you, please share that link, it was a great blog entry) that Christianity is a religion of remembering. I can’t say it the way this article said it, so I won’t even try. I do find it interesting though how this verse speaks to the disciples remembering, and believing, after Jesus was risen from the dead.
I’ve experienced this same kind of deeper belief, in a sense. Too many times to count, I have gone through something, either good, or difficult, and later saw the very hand of God on the entire situation. Sometimes in a lesson (for myself or someone close to me), sometimes by providence.
While I certainly do believe, there is something about us humans, and maybe it’s a symptom of the fall, I can’t say for sure, but there is something about us that seems to require, proof, or evidence, or seeing it for ourselves. Maybe it’s just me?
It was only after I was widowed at a very young age, that I later began to be surprised at how many young widows seemed to cross my path. I had never before met a young widow, until I became one myself. All of a sudden, for the next couple of years, God sent many my way.
It was only in seeing this, and being blessed to be able to minister to them from the Word, and pray for them, cry with them and be a practical help to them in whatever way I could, that I began to notice how true it was that God will providentially orchestrate your life, to deepen your faith, be a blessing to others, and ultimately bring Himself glory.
See these verses on this:
Isaiah 46:10,11; Daniel 4:35; Acts 4:28; Eph.1:11; Romans 5:1-5.
Some of these verses, I had read before, and believed, but it was only after I began to see for myself, that I really remembered them, and really began to believe them in a deeper way. I already knew these truths to be true, already believed, but there is something to be said for having it right in your own home, or your own life, to really make you remember the verses, and understand them better.
I experienced another very good example of this recently. I’d like to believe I’m more spiritually mature than this, or consider myself past this, but the truth is, it still happens.
Here is what I wrote in regards to being around people who stir up strife:
James 1: 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I believe, as James says, that in these times, it just becomes more and more who we are, to truly believe the written word, and to find comfort, assurance, and hope, in these truths.
I hope this has blessed you in some way today.
Please feel welcome to share your thoughts on this.
SDG,
Carla
Guarding the Trust - Believe the Word - John 2:22 (September 28, 2005)
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
I recently read a blog entry somewhere (I cannot recall who’s blog, so if it was you, please share that link, it was a great blog entry) that Christianity is a religion of remembering. I can’t say it the way this article said it, so I won’t even try. I do find it interesting though how this verse speaks to the disciples remembering, and believing, after Jesus was risen from the dead.
I’ve experienced this same kind of deeper belief, in a sense. Too many times to count, I have gone through something, either good, or difficult, and later saw the very hand of God on the entire situation. Sometimes in a lesson (for myself or someone close to me), sometimes by providence.
While I certainly do believe, there is something about us humans, and maybe it’s a symptom of the fall, I can’t say for sure, but there is something about us that seems to require, proof, or evidence, or seeing it for ourselves. Maybe it’s just me?
It was only after I was widowed at a very young age, that I later began to be surprised at how many young widows seemed to cross my path. I had never before met a young widow, until I became one myself. All of a sudden, for the next couple of years, God sent many my way.
It was only in seeing this, and being blessed to be able to minister to them from the Word, and pray for them, cry with them and be a practical help to them in whatever way I could, that I began to notice how true it was that God will providentially orchestrate your life, to deepen your faith, be a blessing to others, and ultimately bring Himself glory.
See these verses on this:
Isaiah 46:10,11; Daniel 4:35; Acts 4:28; Eph.1:11; Romans 5:1-5.
Some of these verses, I had read before, and believed, but it was only after I began to see for myself, that I really remembered them, and really began to believe them in a deeper way. I already knew these truths to be true, already believed, but there is something to be said for having it right in your own home, or your own life, to really make you remember the verses, and understand them better.
I experienced another very good example of this recently. I’d like to believe I’m more spiritually mature than this, or consider myself past this, but the truth is, it still happens.
Here is what I wrote in regards to being around people who stir up strife:
I know that as each believer matures in their faith, that faith deepens.“Pr 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Pr 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger
appeaseth strife.
Pr 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pr 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
In looking further at these verses yesterday, it struck me how easily persuaded we really are. Scripture says that if we are around people who are angry, we WILL be come like them. Not "we might" or "it's possible", but we WILL become, just like them. See here:
Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
And here:
Psalm 106:34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
And here: 1Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Many years ago, when my oldest daughter was 5, I was so very excited to see her off to school for the very first time. That was September. By Christmas break just 3 months later, she was a different child, in many ways. She learned bad words, picked up bad habits (like tattling and some amount of back-talking) and had "learned their works". It was frustrating for me, to unlearn her of these things, and a struggle that went on for many years. I'm not so sure I ever did "unlearn" her of these works - to be completely honest.
The Bible says, we are just like that. We might not be 5, but we are still prone to being persuaded, and influenced, and taught, by those who conduct themselves in ways the Scripture speaks against. I find it interesting that 1Cor. 15:33 begins with "be not deceived", as if to say "don't think this cannot happen to you, because it can, and it will, if you are surrounding yourself with such conduct".
I also find it interesting that the word snare used in both of the other references, Proverbs and Psalms, is the Hebrew word for bait, or lure.Looking at the passage in Proverbs, the phrase "make no friendship" can reasonably be translated to "have no association with".
Now looking back at yesterday, I have the perfect example of a literal application of this teaching. I associated myself with someone who stirs up strife, and just like the Scripture says, I was lured in by the bait, and likewise, duplicated the conduct by responding in anger myself.”
James 1: 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I believe, as James says, that in these times, it just becomes more and more who we are, to truly believe the written word, and to find comfort, assurance, and hope, in these truths.
I hope this has blessed you in some way today.
Please feel welcome to share your thoughts on this.
SDG,
Carla
September 27, 2005
Guarding the Trust - Crave the Word
This series is in an effort to exhort, encourage, and edify, through the Word, with the Word, and because of the Word. I pray you will be blessed by what you find here. I begin this series somewhat hesitantly. There is so much I still do not know, and do not understand. I am certainly not an authority on this subject, so I will only share what I can, and look forward to your replies (just be nice, if you notice I've stated something out of context, or application).
A very special thanks to Steve Camp, who posted this list in a blog entry dated Sept. 26, 2005, and inspired me to do this study.
________________________
Crave the Word – 1 Peter 2:2 (September 27, 2005)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
I can't begin to count how many times, over the years, I've heard people disagree on where this desire comes from. Some say it comes from a regenerated heart, and is just a natural by-product of faith. Others disagree, and say that specific hunger for the basic truths of Scripture, has to be placed there by the Holy Spirit (not a by-product at all, but something extra only He grants).
I do find it interesting that the Greek word used for desire there is the word epipotheo and it simply means "to persue with love". I think I have to lean more toward the argument that this desire really does come from a regenerated heart.
With that said, however, the question begs "then why do some believers have it, and some appear not to?"
I can't answer for anyone but myself, and confess that when I didn't have it, it was for no other reason than pure laziness.
When I was first converted to Christ, I was in a church setting that set the stage, so to speak, for my own use of spiritual disciplines for the next couple of years. In that church, searching the Scriptures for yourself, was not something that was ever emphatically stated. It might have been suggested, from time to time, or someone might have said "this would be good to do", but to the best of my recollection, it wasn't something that was stressed.
What was stressed, was taking notes during the sermon, and then reflecting on the notes later on. If a certain verse mentioned happened to really impact you, you were encouraged to jot it down and look at it later. I do remember clearly the pastor saying (before he'd begin to read from the Bible) "if you have your Bibles (insert ha ha ha from the pulpit) go ahead and turn to this passage, but if not, don't worry about it". Being a serious student of the word, having your Bible with you, and following along from the text of Scripture, was not stressed at all. Using the King James Version was more or less like wearing a sign that said "mock me, I'm a dolt". It seemed with most of the ladies (and don't get me wrong, they were some of the friendliest, compassionate women I've ever known), having the most fashionable Bible cover, was more important than the contents of the cover. (yes, I bought a lovely cover that looked like a tapestry - later to have it and my Bible that was inside - stolen out of my car).
After I had been in this church for almost 3 years, and after having gone through the most difficult year of my life, I was beginning to feel like a fraud. I knew I wasn't a fraud, it just felt like that. I had great admiration for people who could spout of Scripture at the drop of a hat, on any given subject. I wanted to be able to do that - not for any other reason than to be confident that I knew His word in my heart well enough to share it with others without having to say "hang on, give me an hour while I get out my Strong's, then find the verse".
One Wednesday night, the message preached was about the harvest being many, and the workers being so few.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
The preacher that night was a very young, very inexperienced public speaker - our church's youth group leader. Young, but truly moved to compel those listening, to pray that the Lord might show us where He would have us, in service to Him.
He mentioned how the Lord does not call the equipped, but equips the called. He reminded those there, that it's the Lord that gives us courage, wisdom, and discernment. That the Lord Himself puts His very word, in our mouths.
That sermon hit me like a baseball bat. I began to cry, and pray. He was describing me. I wanted to be used in some way that might bring glory to God, but I felt useless. My life was a mess, my knowledge of the word was pathetic, and although I had been saved for almost 3 years, I felt more like a week old newborn, than anything else.
What convicted me more than anything else, was how lazy I had become with the Bible. I almost never took notes, and almost never meditated on the text of Scripture preached on, after service on Sunday. I more or less took every word my pastor spoke, as the unquestionable truth, and left it at that. This is what contributed to my being so ignorant of the milk of the word, and I knew it.
That night, everything changed. I asked the Lord in prayer to give me wisdom, and renew that zeal for Him that I had in the beginning, to help me be disciplined and really begin to BE a student of the word. I had no idea just how He would honor that prayer, but He did.
That night when I went home, I got out every version I had, and my Strong's. I layed them all on the floor, and I sat down in the middle of them, and thought "okay, now what?". I prayed, and then I took my notes from the sermon, and started looking up that passage in Matthew, about the harvest and the laborers. I checked it in every version, then began to check what the Greek words meant, and noticing that in some versions I had, the passage was so different that it actually took on a new meaning - using a really strange translation of the Greek words. Until that night, I had no idea different versions were THAT different.
I don't know how long I sat there, but it was until the wee hours in the morning, and I was stunned. My love for word studies was born that night, and my desire, my epipotheo for the truths of Scripture, came bursting out. Of course I did love the Lord, and I loved His word, but I had become lazy, and I was not actively persuing these truths on my own. I was content for too long to be spoon fed someone else's version of these truths. After that night, I was no longer content with that. I began to persue with love, the sincere (pure) milk (basic Christian truths) of the word.
I've talked to many people who have at some time in their Christian life, gone through "dry spells", where they also (later) confess that they got lazy - or worse - arrogant. During those times, for whatever reason or another, they neglected the study of the word. And they began to become severely spiritually malnourished. Every single person who has ever shared this part of their Christian life with me, did so with a heavy heart, and shamed look on their faces. It's never a good thing, to wander away from that persuit of love, for His word. No matter if you're a brand new believer, or someone who has been walking with Him for years.
I hope this has blessed you in some way, and encouraged you to remain diligently, in the word.
SDG,
Carla
A very special thanks to Steve Camp, who posted this list in a blog entry dated Sept. 26, 2005, and inspired me to do this study.
________________________
Crave the Word – 1 Peter 2:2 (September 27, 2005)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
I can't begin to count how many times, over the years, I've heard people disagree on where this desire comes from. Some say it comes from a regenerated heart, and is just a natural by-product of faith. Others disagree, and say that specific hunger for the basic truths of Scripture, has to be placed there by the Holy Spirit (not a by-product at all, but something extra only He grants).
I do find it interesting that the Greek word used for desire there is the word epipotheo and it simply means "to persue with love". I think I have to lean more toward the argument that this desire really does come from a regenerated heart.
With that said, however, the question begs "then why do some believers have it, and some appear not to?"
I can't answer for anyone but myself, and confess that when I didn't have it, it was for no other reason than pure laziness.
When I was first converted to Christ, I was in a church setting that set the stage, so to speak, for my own use of spiritual disciplines for the next couple of years. In that church, searching the Scriptures for yourself, was not something that was ever emphatically stated. It might have been suggested, from time to time, or someone might have said "this would be good to do", but to the best of my recollection, it wasn't something that was stressed.
What was stressed, was taking notes during the sermon, and then reflecting on the notes later on. If a certain verse mentioned happened to really impact you, you were encouraged to jot it down and look at it later. I do remember clearly the pastor saying (before he'd begin to read from the Bible) "if you have your Bibles (insert ha ha ha from the pulpit) go ahead and turn to this passage, but if not, don't worry about it". Being a serious student of the word, having your Bible with you, and following along from the text of Scripture, was not stressed at all. Using the King James Version was more or less like wearing a sign that said "mock me, I'm a dolt". It seemed with most of the ladies (and don't get me wrong, they were some of the friendliest, compassionate women I've ever known), having the most fashionable Bible cover, was more important than the contents of the cover. (yes, I bought a lovely cover that looked like a tapestry - later to have it and my Bible that was inside - stolen out of my car).
After I had been in this church for almost 3 years, and after having gone through the most difficult year of my life, I was beginning to feel like a fraud. I knew I wasn't a fraud, it just felt like that. I had great admiration for people who could spout of Scripture at the drop of a hat, on any given subject. I wanted to be able to do that - not for any other reason than to be confident that I knew His word in my heart well enough to share it with others without having to say "hang on, give me an hour while I get out my Strong's, then find the verse".
One Wednesday night, the message preached was about the harvest being many, and the workers being so few.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
The preacher that night was a very young, very inexperienced public speaker - our church's youth group leader. Young, but truly moved to compel those listening, to pray that the Lord might show us where He would have us, in service to Him.
He mentioned how the Lord does not call the equipped, but equips the called. He reminded those there, that it's the Lord that gives us courage, wisdom, and discernment. That the Lord Himself puts His very word, in our mouths.
That sermon hit me like a baseball bat. I began to cry, and pray. He was describing me. I wanted to be used in some way that might bring glory to God, but I felt useless. My life was a mess, my knowledge of the word was pathetic, and although I had been saved for almost 3 years, I felt more like a week old newborn, than anything else.
What convicted me more than anything else, was how lazy I had become with the Bible. I almost never took notes, and almost never meditated on the text of Scripture preached on, after service on Sunday. I more or less took every word my pastor spoke, as the unquestionable truth, and left it at that. This is what contributed to my being so ignorant of the milk of the word, and I knew it.
That night, everything changed. I asked the Lord in prayer to give me wisdom, and renew that zeal for Him that I had in the beginning, to help me be disciplined and really begin to BE a student of the word. I had no idea just how He would honor that prayer, but He did.
That night when I went home, I got out every version I had, and my Strong's. I layed them all on the floor, and I sat down in the middle of them, and thought "okay, now what?". I prayed, and then I took my notes from the sermon, and started looking up that passage in Matthew, about the harvest and the laborers. I checked it in every version, then began to check what the Greek words meant, and noticing that in some versions I had, the passage was so different that it actually took on a new meaning - using a really strange translation of the Greek words. Until that night, I had no idea different versions were THAT different.
I don't know how long I sat there, but it was until the wee hours in the morning, and I was stunned. My love for word studies was born that night, and my desire, my epipotheo for the truths of Scripture, came bursting out. Of course I did love the Lord, and I loved His word, but I had become lazy, and I was not actively persuing these truths on my own. I was content for too long to be spoon fed someone else's version of these truths. After that night, I was no longer content with that. I began to persue with love, the sincere (pure) milk (basic Christian truths) of the word.
I've talked to many people who have at some time in their Christian life, gone through "dry spells", where they also (later) confess that they got lazy - or worse - arrogant. During those times, for whatever reason or another, they neglected the study of the word. And they began to become severely spiritually malnourished. Every single person who has ever shared this part of their Christian life with me, did so with a heavy heart, and shamed look on their faces. It's never a good thing, to wander away from that persuit of love, for His word. No matter if you're a brand new believer, or someone who has been walking with Him for years.
I hope this has blessed you in some way, and encouraged you to remain diligently, in the word.
SDG,
Carla
Loving The Truth
Sunny, with a high of 66 today.Perfect day for a light jacket, and a walk, with camera in hand.
In going over Philippians 4:8 this morning, I wanted to focus on a few things, specifically. In the first part of the verse we read "whatsoever things are true (alethes)"
In other words, those things that are, or reflect speaking the truth, or loving the truth.
You know how when, you're online, and you follow a link, to a link, to a link? Well, my brain tends to hyperlink all over the place too.
When I read that this morning I thought of an article Campi put up on his blog yesterday, called "Guard The Trust... every Christian's duty: defend the sufficiency & authority of God's Word".
Like most all his blog entries, it's more of a small booklet than a blog entry, but it's also very good, and rich with Scripture and exhortation. If you don't have Campi on your blogroll yet, why not?
Anyway, the word true, "alethes" in Phil. 4:8 made me think of Campi's article yesterday where he wrote:
"The church should not be the place where sin is entertained, scandals abound and disobedience is tolerated, but the church should be what Paul had declared that it is, "the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15) This is the purpose of all theology, of all ecclesiology, of all music and of all history to preserve, promote, protect and preach the Word! But since Lucifer is a subtle and twisted foe, he will try to pervert all sound doctrine into damning apostasy. "[He, the devil]...does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him" (John 8:44). "
This statement led me further (hyper-brain-link) to consider a comment made to me by a sister yesterday, when she said "be not weary in well doing". Or put another way, don't become exhausted with doing that which is upright.
I have to say, for me, it's pretty difficult to not become exhausted when among the household of professing believers there is "sin entertained, scandals abounding and disobedience tolerated" as Campi put it.
Thankfully, I don't have this problem in my church (that I am aware of). But this problem certainly does exist in many churches, and in many circles of Christian fellowship. I know for many, it's very hard not to become weary, in well doing, when it seems like sin, scandal, and disobedience is swept under the rug, left unchecked, left undisciplined, and treated by most as "not that big of a deal".
This is why we're to focus on the great things, like Phil. 4:8 mentions. Also why verse 9 reminds us if we do these things, the God of peace shall be with us.
In that vein, I'll re-post here a nice list from Campi's article:
FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF GOD’S WORD ARE TO:
1. Crave the Word – 1 Peter 2:2
2. Believe the Word – John 2:22
3. Love the Word – Psalm 119:97, 127-128
4. Long for the Word – Psalm 119:20, 40, 131
5. Delight in the Word – Psalm 1:2, 119:35, 143
6. Rejoice in the Word – Jeremiah 15:16, Psalm 119:111,162
7. Treasure the Word – Job 23:12, Psalm 19:10-11
8. Esteem the Word – Psalm 138:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:13
9. Reverence the Word – Psalm 119:161
10. Honor the Word – 2 Thessalonians 3:1
11. Trust in the Word – Psalm 119:42
12. Sing the Word – Psalm 119:54,172, Colossians 3:16
13. Meditate on the Word – Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8
14. Memorize the Word – Psalm 119:11, 16, 61, 128-129, 176 (yesterday's entry)
15. Abide in the Word – John 15:7, 1 John 2:23-25
16. Obey the Word – Deuteronomy 17:19-20, Joshua 22:5, Psalm 119:67, Luke 8:21, John 14:15, 17:6, 1 John 2:3-5, 5:2-3
17. Be Conformed by the Word – Psalm 119: 133, 1 Timothy 6:3, Titus 1:1
18. Not to be ashamed of the Word – Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:8
19. Contend for the Word – Jude 3, Titus 1:9
20. Defend the Word – Philippians 1:7
21. Suffer for the Word – 2 Timothy 1:8
22. Do not neglect the Word – 1 Corinthians 9:16
23. Be empowered with the Word – 1 Thessalonians 1:5
24. Hope in the Word – Romans 15:4
25. Live the Word – Ezra 7:10, Philippians 1:27, James 1:22-25
26. Take heed to the Word – 1 Timothy 4:16
27. Rightly divide the Word – 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8
28. Retain the standard of the Word – 2 Timothy 2:13-14
29. Read the Word – 1 Timothy 4:13; Colossians 4:16
30. Share the Word – 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:1
31. Teach the Word – 2 Timothy 4:1-5
32. Exhort with the Word – 1 Timothy 4:13
33. Preach the Word – 2 Timothy 4:2
34. Tremble at His Word – Isaiah 66:2
I don't know about anyone else, but to me, this looks like a great daily study/devotional. I am incredibly moved to do this study, then share my own reflections. If that sounds boring to you, please ignore this blog for the next 34 days.
Thanks Campi, this was an excellent resource for me, at just the right time.
SDG,
Carla
September 26, 2005
Scripture Memory Work
This week's Scripture Memory Work:
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
I just thought I'd take a minute to explain just how easy it really is, to memorize the Word.
This is something we've done with the kids for years, and it works so well, Ruth, our 2 year old, can recite most of John 1:1-3.
The trick is, daily repetition.
Each Monday we start with a new verse. Shorter verses get 1 week, longer ones, or passages, get 2 weeks.
At the beginning of our table-time (lessons done at the table) we recite the verse together. We do this for a couple of days, then I start having each one say it individually. We do the same thing in the evening before family devotion.
That's pretty much it. Sounds almost too easy, doesn't it?
On Sunday evening I sit down and plan out the lessons for the week, for Jessica and the younger 3. When I do that, I also print out the verse in large, easy to read letters, for the kids. We use that sheet and read the verse together, in the morning.
If you want to learn to memorize Scripture, this is one method that really does work (as long as you stay disciplined and go over it at least twice a day).
We use a different approach each year, sometimes we stick with Psalms and Proverbs, sometimes we do strictly OT, or strictly NT. This year we're going with John and Romans. Two years ago we worked from Psalms, and even Samuel (who just turned 3 at the time) memorized Psalm 1.
Just because it's such great wisdom, I'll share that here:
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Samuel's nurse comes today to determine if he's done with home-care. His foot seems to be healing up pretty good, so I suspect she'll recommend that the visits end.
It's also pouring down rain again - so it'll be a day of school, chores, then occupying ourselves, inside. I think it's a good day to bake lemon sugar cookies.
SDG,
me
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
I just thought I'd take a minute to explain just how easy it really is, to memorize the Word.
This is something we've done with the kids for years, and it works so well, Ruth, our 2 year old, can recite most of John 1:1-3.
The trick is, daily repetition.
Each Monday we start with a new verse. Shorter verses get 1 week, longer ones, or passages, get 2 weeks.
At the beginning of our table-time (lessons done at the table) we recite the verse together. We do this for a couple of days, then I start having each one say it individually. We do the same thing in the evening before family devotion.
That's pretty much it. Sounds almost too easy, doesn't it?
On Sunday evening I sit down and plan out the lessons for the week, for Jessica and the younger 3. When I do that, I also print out the verse in large, easy to read letters, for the kids. We use that sheet and read the verse together, in the morning.
If you want to learn to memorize Scripture, this is one method that really does work (as long as you stay disciplined and go over it at least twice a day).
We use a different approach each year, sometimes we stick with Psalms and Proverbs, sometimes we do strictly OT, or strictly NT. This year we're going with John and Romans. Two years ago we worked from Psalms, and even Samuel (who just turned 3 at the time) memorized Psalm 1.
Just because it's such great wisdom, I'll share that here:
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Samuel's nurse comes today to determine if he's done with home-care. His foot seems to be healing up pretty good, so I suspect she'll recommend that the visits end.
It's also pouring down rain again - so it'll be a day of school, chores, then occupying ourselves, inside. I think it's a good day to bake lemon sugar cookies.
SDG,
me
September 25, 2005
Haloscan has eaten your comments!
Well, I went ahead and did it. I've been meaning to for a long time, but never got around it until now.
The only bummer about adding haloscan is that all the old comments are now gone. (insert whiney font there).
Oh well... maybe it's time for a new start anyway?
SDG,
me
The only bummer about adding haloscan is that all the old comments are now gone. (insert whiney font there).
Oh well... maybe it's time for a new start anyway?
SDG,
me
Another lesson in how not to respond...
Yesterday, in some amount of haste, some amount of anger, and alot of frustration, I put up a post here that I have since pulled. It's a rare thing that I pull anything off this blog once it's up, but later reflection showed much wisdom in removing it.
The only thing from this post that I would like to repost today, are the verses of Scripture and my thoughts on those - in the hope that it will edify someone:
Regarding those who stir up strife:
Pr 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Pr 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pr 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pr 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Look at the character defined by Scripture, of the man or woman who stirs up strife:
Hatred, wrathful, proud hearted, and angry. It's reasonable to think this is the kind of character one might find in an unregenerate person - those without the hope, peace, and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's cause for concern (and prayer) for those who meet this criteria, and also profess faith in the Lord.
Someone once said that being converted to Christ, doesn't automatically mean being given a new personality. I can't speak for anyone else, but I sure know for me, that this is true. I think maybe the personality becomes more fine tuned, having the rough edges smoothed over, over the years as we mature spiritually, but we're still the same person, whether funny, academic, compassionate or quirky. It's sad but at least appears to be true, for those people with a "meddling" personality. Those who seem to have to always have their interests in other people's business - and worse - if there is no business to have it in, make something up, for the attention it brings.
Like all sin, this is rooted in pride. Self. Self-concern, self-centered, self-conscious, etc.
It's really not that far of a stretch to understand why a person might be angry, hateful, or wrathful. Or even proud hearted, for that matter. Even a person who truly is regenerate. The thought occured to me "what makes a person like that?", and the answer was way too simple:
"Things did not go the way I wanted them to". (notice the ME centered motivation there)
My actions sometimes reflect this real well, when in anger I say or write something that is better left unsaid. It's a reaction of the flesh, and I'm pretty sure we all do it, to one degree or another.
In looking further at these verses yesterday, it struck me how easily persuaded we really are. Scripture says that if we are around people who are angry, we WILL be come like them. Not "we might" or "it's possible", but we WILL become, just like them. See here:
Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
And here:
Psalm 106:
34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
And here:
1Cor. 15:
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Many years ago, when my oldest daughter was 5, I was so very excited to see her off to school for the very first time. That was September. By Christmas break just 3 months later, she was a different child, in many ways. She learned bad words, picked up bad habits (like tattling and some amount of back-talking) and had "learned their works". It was frustrating for me, to unlearn her of these things, and a struggle that went on for many years. I'm not so sure I ever did "unlearn" her of these works - to be completely honest.
The Bible says, we are just like that. We might not be 5, but we are still prone to being persuaded, and influenced, and taught, by those who conduct themselves in ways the Scripture speaks against. I find it interesting that 1Cor. 15:33 begins with "be not deceived", as if to say "don't think this cannot happen to you, because it can, and it will, if you are surrounding yourself with such conduct".
I also find it interesting that the word snare used in both of the other references, Proverbs and Psalms, is the Hebrew word for bait, or lure.
Looking at the passage in Proverbs, the phrase "make no friendship" can reasonably be translated to "have no association with".
Now looking back at yesterday, I have the perfect example of a literal application of this teaching. I associated myself with someone who stirs up strife, and just like the Scripture says, I was lured in by the bait, and likewise, duplicated the conduct by responding in anger myself.
UGH.
There is good news.
I wrote yesterday about my personal goal. "This is MY personal goal (even though I sometimes digress from it, it’s still my goal)" and then I posted Philippians 4:8-9.
Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there be any virtue, or any praise, think on THESE things. Do these things, and the God of peace shall be with you.
So why is it so much easier (or why does it at least seem that way) to zero in on the negative things or the unpleasant things? Maybe it's because there are more of those things in this world, than the good things? Maybe it's because we don't (I don't) focus on those things, like I ought to?
I am hopeful though. I've noticed in myself over the last year or so, that it's becoming more "me" to be less critical (in some areas) and more encouraging, than I used to be. Offering more praise, and less expression of disappointment. Nevertheless, I still have a long way to go. And yesterday proved it.
We won't be going to church today, 3 of the 5 kids are sick, and so am I. Kev went to bed early feeling sore and out of sorts. Kev's sitting on the couch now, preparing a message for Living Room Church. I haven't asked him what the message is, and he hasn't offered to tell me, but it will certainly not surprise me if it touches on exactly what I just wrote about. That seems to happen quite frequently. God is so good and so faithful to us, to confirm the lessons in His word, over and over again, JUST when we need to hear them the most.
And... it's pouring down rain so hard, I think we'll be building an ark, after church.
SDG,
me
The only thing from this post that I would like to repost today, are the verses of Scripture and my thoughts on those - in the hope that it will edify someone:
Regarding those who stir up strife:
Pr 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Pr 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pr 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pr 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Look at the character defined by Scripture, of the man or woman who stirs up strife:
Hatred, wrathful, proud hearted, and angry. It's reasonable to think this is the kind of character one might find in an unregenerate person - those without the hope, peace, and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's cause for concern (and prayer) for those who meet this criteria, and also profess faith in the Lord.
Someone once said that being converted to Christ, doesn't automatically mean being given a new personality. I can't speak for anyone else, but I sure know for me, that this is true. I think maybe the personality becomes more fine tuned, having the rough edges smoothed over, over the years as we mature spiritually, but we're still the same person, whether funny, academic, compassionate or quirky. It's sad but at least appears to be true, for those people with a "meddling" personality. Those who seem to have to always have their interests in other people's business - and worse - if there is no business to have it in, make something up, for the attention it brings.
Like all sin, this is rooted in pride. Self. Self-concern, self-centered, self-conscious, etc.
It's really not that far of a stretch to understand why a person might be angry, hateful, or wrathful. Or even proud hearted, for that matter. Even a person who truly is regenerate. The thought occured to me "what makes a person like that?", and the answer was way too simple:
"Things did not go the way I wanted them to". (notice the ME centered motivation there)
My actions sometimes reflect this real well, when in anger I say or write something that is better left unsaid. It's a reaction of the flesh, and I'm pretty sure we all do it, to one degree or another.
In looking further at these verses yesterday, it struck me how easily persuaded we really are. Scripture says that if we are around people who are angry, we WILL be come like them. Not "we might" or "it's possible", but we WILL become, just like them. See here:
Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
And here:
Psalm 106:
34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
And here:
1Cor. 15:
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Many years ago, when my oldest daughter was 5, I was so very excited to see her off to school for the very first time. That was September. By Christmas break just 3 months later, she was a different child, in many ways. She learned bad words, picked up bad habits (like tattling and some amount of back-talking) and had "learned their works". It was frustrating for me, to unlearn her of these things, and a struggle that went on for many years. I'm not so sure I ever did "unlearn" her of these works - to be completely honest.
The Bible says, we are just like that. We might not be 5, but we are still prone to being persuaded, and influenced, and taught, by those who conduct themselves in ways the Scripture speaks against. I find it interesting that 1Cor. 15:33 begins with "be not deceived", as if to say "don't think this cannot happen to you, because it can, and it will, if you are surrounding yourself with such conduct".
I also find it interesting that the word snare used in both of the other references, Proverbs and Psalms, is the Hebrew word for bait, or lure.
Looking at the passage in Proverbs, the phrase "make no friendship" can reasonably be translated to "have no association with".
Now looking back at yesterday, I have the perfect example of a literal application of this teaching. I associated myself with someone who stirs up strife, and just like the Scripture says, I was lured in by the bait, and likewise, duplicated the conduct by responding in anger myself.
UGH.
There is good news.
I wrote yesterday about my personal goal. "This is MY personal goal (even though I sometimes digress from it, it’s still my goal)" and then I posted Philippians 4:8-9.
Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there be any virtue, or any praise, think on THESE things. Do these things, and the God of peace shall be with you.
So why is it so much easier (or why does it at least seem that way) to zero in on the negative things or the unpleasant things? Maybe it's because there are more of those things in this world, than the good things? Maybe it's because we don't (I don't) focus on those things, like I ought to?
I am hopeful though. I've noticed in myself over the last year or so, that it's becoming more "me" to be less critical (in some areas) and more encouraging, than I used to be. Offering more praise, and less expression of disappointment. Nevertheless, I still have a long way to go. And yesterday proved it.
We won't be going to church today, 3 of the 5 kids are sick, and so am I. Kev went to bed early feeling sore and out of sorts. Kev's sitting on the couch now, preparing a message for Living Room Church. I haven't asked him what the message is, and he hasn't offered to tell me, but it will certainly not surprise me if it touches on exactly what I just wrote about. That seems to happen quite frequently. God is so good and so faithful to us, to confirm the lessons in His word, over and over again, JUST when we need to hear them the most.
And... it's pouring down rain so hard, I think we'll be building an ark, after church.
SDG,
me
September 24, 2005
Bright Clothing or Vile Raiment?
Probably not the smartest thing in the world to do, posting here when I'm sick...
Oh well. I have never been accused of being overly-intelligent.
The other night, a friend and I had a conversation about favoritism. Giving preferential treatment, and/or being a respector of persons. Then later the same night, I had another conversation with another friend, about cliques, and clique-like mentality.
It all reminded me that I am a nobody, and will likely always remain a nobody.
Which is fine.
People like me get along just fine blending into the woodwork.
We also get the last piece of pie, since no one notices us anyway.
:-)
I would like to address a few things about this however, since some very good points were made in these conversations (mostly by my 2 friends)
The favoritism topic came up as a result of what seems to be a tendency in the blog world, for some bloggers to completely ignore certain blogs, and give kudos to other blogs that are saying the same thing the first blog said. Confusing enough for you yet? Let me give an example:
Joe Blogger opens his blog 2 years ago, and starts writing about the atonement. It's the topic most dear to his heart and so much of what he writes is just stunning, powerhouse stuff. His readership is very small, but they are enormously blessed by what Joe writes. Joe spends a large part of his day, devoted to research and study, prayer and writing - it's his heart's desire to share with the 'sphere what God has impressed on his heart about the atonement.
Enter, into the blogospher, Ernie Blogger. Ernie's brand new to blogging but he's a pretty smart guy. Ernie starts to write about the atonement and suddenly the sun rises and sets on Ernie. Ernie even posts some of the same things Joe's been posting for 2 years, and Joe's work is ignored in favor of Ernie's.
Now let me just throw this in right here - this is not about any 1 blogger at all, it's a general observation that several have noticed in the sphere that seems to be a regular occurance.
Now Joe didn't fall off the turnip truck last week - he's a pretty astute guy. The preferential treatment Newcomer Ernie is getting, doesn't escape Joe's attention. So Joe begins to wonder about these things...
Why is what Ernie writes, more worthy of readership?
Why do people link to Ernie's blog in droves, while relatively few link to Joe's?
Why does Ernie (for the most part) himself, ignore Joe's work, even after someone tells him "hey, there's another guy writing about the same thing, check him out, he's been a real help"?
Then Joe wonders to himself "why do I care? this was never about me to begin with, this was about the topic". Joe never started blogging for the attention or to have large linkage status. Joe began blogging because it was on his heart to write, period.
Then someone comes along and says "but Joe, it does seem pretty low, for people to play favorites this way - I mean look brother - you devote alot of time, and just get ignored in favor of Ernie... when you pipe up with a comment, or a great blog piece, it's just plain rude for people to ignore it".
So Joe's left in a quandry on how he really ought to deal with all the "cliquish" type behavior in the 'sphere. And Joe either keeps writing - or in many cases - Joe just decides the "in crowd cult" isn't worth dealing with and he closes his blog. What wasn't even an issue for Joe to deal with a few months ago, now has become an issue for Joe to grapple with. Where does respect fit in? Where does pride fit in? Why is this suddenly an issue since the motivation that compelled Joe to write in the first place, is still the same motivation? Joe begins a self-exam of his own heart now, and asks himself "has this issue in any way, begun to affect my motivation?". In some ways, Joe becomes roadkill on the 'sphere highway.
I've seen this happen many times since I started blogging in June of 2004. I'm not sure why it happens, it just does. I'd be dishonest to say it's not an issue I've had to deal with, myself, in some ways. It's not comfortable, I don't like it, and I do my best to "ignore it and it will go away" when it does come up.
Which leads me to the thoughts I had about this conversation, later. Thoughts about why people do this, if they even realize they're doing it, if they care, and what the Bible says about giving preferential treatment to some, while ignoring others. The thought also of "do I do this myself?".
Maybe it's just the optimist in me, but I really don't think people sit around contemplating how they can slight someone, and pat someone else on the back. I think, if those people who are doing this, even unwittingly, were told that this was the impression they give, they'd immediately split into 2 camps. One camp would feel convicted of their actions and apologize, and the other camp (the larger camp) would go on the defensive and give all kinds of reasons and justification for their actions, for example "get over yourself man, I link to who I like, what business is that of yours!?".
This leads me to the other conversation about cliques, and clique-like mentality. That word leaves a bad taste in most people's mouths, but in reality it's not such a bad word.
The meaning of the word is simply this: "A small exclusive group of friends or associates." Or "an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose".
Now, in and of itself, this is not a bad thing, it's a normal thing. We all naturally gravitate toward others who share our same likes, dislikes, interests and passions. It's just normal to do this.
At this point, I have a confession to make (shhh, don't tell anyone how dense I really am)...
I honestly don't know, at what point, common interest among a group of people turns into a clique, that makes others not part of the clique, feel worthless, unimportant and invisible. I've never been in a clique, to my knowledge, so I don't know the dynamics of one. Maybe there's a clique-guideline manual somewhere?
Is it when potential clique-members contribute something that is overlooked for some shallow, lame reason like "who cares what you have to say, you're not wearing the right designer shoes" or "I'm sorry, your opinion doesn't interest me, you don't measure up to my standard of who is qualified to sound off on this issue". ?? I honestly don't know, I'm guessing on this.
If you were reading all this hoping to find a fantastic "conclusion" from my perspective, you're going to be disappointed. Well, only in part, since I'll share a few verses of Scripture on it. Myself, I don't have the answers, it's just one of those things that happens, that others have also noticed, and has come up in conversation. Here is some of what the Scripture says about this:
Acts 10:
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
De 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Ro 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Looking solely at the context of James 2:9:
1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons (partiality).
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect (have higher regard for) to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial (to discriminate) in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons (discriminating), ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
The word 'respect' there in the Greek is pretty convicting.
It seems so simple to me, we're not supposed to do this sort of thing. But we do, and we make all kinds of excuses for it, justify it, and defend ourselves when called on it.
Hmmm... there's something to consider.
SDG,
me
Oh well. I have never been accused of being overly-intelligent.
The other night, a friend and I had a conversation about favoritism. Giving preferential treatment, and/or being a respector of persons. Then later the same night, I had another conversation with another friend, about cliques, and clique-like mentality.
It all reminded me that I am a nobody, and will likely always remain a nobody.
Which is fine.
People like me get along just fine blending into the woodwork.
We also get the last piece of pie, since no one notices us anyway.
:-)
I would like to address a few things about this however, since some very good points were made in these conversations (mostly by my 2 friends)
The favoritism topic came up as a result of what seems to be a tendency in the blog world, for some bloggers to completely ignore certain blogs, and give kudos to other blogs that are saying the same thing the first blog said. Confusing enough for you yet? Let me give an example:
Joe Blogger opens his blog 2 years ago, and starts writing about the atonement. It's the topic most dear to his heart and so much of what he writes is just stunning, powerhouse stuff. His readership is very small, but they are enormously blessed by what Joe writes. Joe spends a large part of his day, devoted to research and study, prayer and writing - it's his heart's desire to share with the 'sphere what God has impressed on his heart about the atonement.
Enter, into the blogospher, Ernie Blogger. Ernie's brand new to blogging but he's a pretty smart guy. Ernie starts to write about the atonement and suddenly the sun rises and sets on Ernie. Ernie even posts some of the same things Joe's been posting for 2 years, and Joe's work is ignored in favor of Ernie's.
Now let me just throw this in right here - this is not about any 1 blogger at all, it's a general observation that several have noticed in the sphere that seems to be a regular occurance.
Now Joe didn't fall off the turnip truck last week - he's a pretty astute guy. The preferential treatment Newcomer Ernie is getting, doesn't escape Joe's attention. So Joe begins to wonder about these things...
Why is what Ernie writes, more worthy of readership?
Why do people link to Ernie's blog in droves, while relatively few link to Joe's?
Why does Ernie (for the most part) himself, ignore Joe's work, even after someone tells him "hey, there's another guy writing about the same thing, check him out, he's been a real help"?
Then Joe wonders to himself "why do I care? this was never about me to begin with, this was about the topic". Joe never started blogging for the attention or to have large linkage status. Joe began blogging because it was on his heart to write, period.
Then someone comes along and says "but Joe, it does seem pretty low, for people to play favorites this way - I mean look brother - you devote alot of time, and just get ignored in favor of Ernie... when you pipe up with a comment, or a great blog piece, it's just plain rude for people to ignore it".
So Joe's left in a quandry on how he really ought to deal with all the "cliquish" type behavior in the 'sphere. And Joe either keeps writing - or in many cases - Joe just decides the "in crowd cult" isn't worth dealing with and he closes his blog. What wasn't even an issue for Joe to deal with a few months ago, now has become an issue for Joe to grapple with. Where does respect fit in? Where does pride fit in? Why is this suddenly an issue since the motivation that compelled Joe to write in the first place, is still the same motivation? Joe begins a self-exam of his own heart now, and asks himself "has this issue in any way, begun to affect my motivation?". In some ways, Joe becomes roadkill on the 'sphere highway.
I've seen this happen many times since I started blogging in June of 2004. I'm not sure why it happens, it just does. I'd be dishonest to say it's not an issue I've had to deal with, myself, in some ways. It's not comfortable, I don't like it, and I do my best to "ignore it and it will go away" when it does come up.
Which leads me to the thoughts I had about this conversation, later. Thoughts about why people do this, if they even realize they're doing it, if they care, and what the Bible says about giving preferential treatment to some, while ignoring others. The thought also of "do I do this myself?".
Maybe it's just the optimist in me, but I really don't think people sit around contemplating how they can slight someone, and pat someone else on the back. I think, if those people who are doing this, even unwittingly, were told that this was the impression they give, they'd immediately split into 2 camps. One camp would feel convicted of their actions and apologize, and the other camp (the larger camp) would go on the defensive and give all kinds of reasons and justification for their actions, for example "get over yourself man, I link to who I like, what business is that of yours!?".
This leads me to the other conversation about cliques, and clique-like mentality. That word leaves a bad taste in most people's mouths, but in reality it's not such a bad word.
The meaning of the word is simply this: "A small exclusive group of friends or associates." Or "an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose".
Now, in and of itself, this is not a bad thing, it's a normal thing. We all naturally gravitate toward others who share our same likes, dislikes, interests and passions. It's just normal to do this.
At this point, I have a confession to make (shhh, don't tell anyone how dense I really am)...
I honestly don't know, at what point, common interest among a group of people turns into a clique, that makes others not part of the clique, feel worthless, unimportant and invisible. I've never been in a clique, to my knowledge, so I don't know the dynamics of one. Maybe there's a clique-guideline manual somewhere?
Is it when potential clique-members contribute something that is overlooked for some shallow, lame reason like "who cares what you have to say, you're not wearing the right designer shoes" or "I'm sorry, your opinion doesn't interest me, you don't measure up to my standard of who is qualified to sound off on this issue". ?? I honestly don't know, I'm guessing on this.
If you were reading all this hoping to find a fantastic "conclusion" from my perspective, you're going to be disappointed. Well, only in part, since I'll share a few verses of Scripture on it. Myself, I don't have the answers, it's just one of those things that happens, that others have also noticed, and has come up in conversation. Here is some of what the Scripture says about this:
Acts 10:
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
De 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Ro 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Looking solely at the context of James 2:9:
1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons (partiality).
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect (have higher regard for) to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial (to discriminate) in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons (discriminating), ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
The word 'respect' there in the Greek is pretty convicting.
It seems so simple to me, we're not supposed to do this sort of thing. But we do, and we make all kinds of excuses for it, justify it, and defend ourselves when called on it.
Hmmm... there's something to consider.
SDG,
me
September 23, 2005
Field Trip Friday
Even though I have a photoblog, today I would like to photoblog my day. I woke up this morning to a pretty astounding sight... a flock of bluejays in my faerie garden!
We had a short school day that consisted of music class (concert practice for the family - we're singing Hark The Herald Angels Sing, and Joy to the World), a math lesson, a phonics lesson, and spelling tests. Jordan and Rachel have much harder spelling words this fall, so they struggle. Samuel did very well for a 5 year old first grader - he got 14 out of 20 words correct. Go Sam!
After school, we were off to the Apple Farm! As always, to be greeted by the farm dog. We never remember to ask the dog's name.
We make this trip every fall, and just enjoy it so much. The apple farm is less than 5 minutes down the highway, but we make a big deal out of it for the kids. They get to pick out pumpkins, apples, cider and (within limits) whatever they like. This year, they picked a pie pumpkin, for me to make pie!, a large bag of cortlands, for me to make pie!, a jug of cider and a jar of apple butter. I also picked out a butternut squash (not for pie), because I'm determined to try it at least once.
Jordan took along her birthday money, determined to buy Jennifer her own bag of apples, since Jennifer couldn't come with us. Jen is staying with us for a couple of weeks and our van only seats 6 passengers. Jordan walked right into the barn, informed the lady that she brought her own money to buy her sister a bag of apples, and asked the nice lady to help her get the best apples. She had a dollar, and came out with 3 very large cortlands, for Jennifer. 
I have no idea if she was supposed to get change (not that she would have known how to make change anyway) but that shiney birthday loonie was magically transformed for 3 lovely apples.
Carla's Apple People:
Later on, Kev and I went to run some errands, and I stopped at one my most favorite places, one sideroad over from our house.
Friday Funny Bone
A Little Off Course
This is the actual radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio conversation released by the chief of naval operations, 10-10-95.
CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
CANADIANS: No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.
AMERICANS: This is the Aircraft Carrier US LINCOLN, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied with three Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that's one-five degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
CANADIANS: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
September 22, 2005
On Being Hated
After I posted this article - alot of issues came up in discussion, as a result. Discussions online in chat, offline with Kev, and thoughts running through my head.
In the comment section, Bret asked some of these same questions that have come up in discussion (and my thoughts), so I want to address those here, from my perspective.
Is the USA next? Well... it occured to me today, that in many ways, the USA is already there. Here in Canada, fall and winter are the most drastic season changes. During the fall, my favorite time of year, the sugar maples begin to change color and day after day, the trees look like they're dancing with fire. I love this time of year, and today it caused me to think about the religious climate in North America.
It hasn't been drastic, or sudden, but the Biblical foundations our country began with, have surely eroded over the last 200 years to such an extent, that I've often said if our founding fathers could see where this nation is now, politically, morally, socially... they'd all keel over in shock and trauma. My grandmother doesn't even take it back that far - she says of her mother, who was a very godly woman, that if she could see the way society had changed in her own daughter's lifetime, her heart wouldn't be able to bear it.
Not that people, in and of themselves, were any more righteous 50, 100 or 200 years ago, but the moral climate of our country was far more geared toward the standard of Scripture. The season has been changing over time, and I don't think the USA is all that far behind Canada, in these things.
Bret goes on to say:
I completely agree that the law itself is indeed a persecution against Christ. I would also point out that it wasn't that long ago that the new law here, would have also been at one time, a violation of the Canadian charter of human rights. This makes me think of this verse:
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
When Christian people are under ungodly authority, the way the country is run, and continues to be run, is certainly a cause of mourning for His people. Changes in the law, and what becomes more and more socially acceptable, are those things which are not in favor of a godly, moral, righteous lifestyle.
"Having said that however, while it doesn't mean we should ask for such persecution, isn't that what we Christians are to expect??? As one article I read recently said (Campi's site I believe), democracies have a tendency to not last too long. Even in the USA with all that the founding fathers tried to do with a "Democratic Republic" etc., depraved hearts will eventually corrupt it. They hate Christ, so they will hate His people. My two cents worth..."
And a valuable 2 cents indeed.
Yes, I do believe we should not only expect it, but be spiritually, and emotionally ready for it. Expecting it is one thing, but how we (individually and collectively as a church body) conduct ourselves (with words, either spoken or written, or actions) is something that certainly shouldn't be overlooked. Being grounded in the Word I believe is the best place to start. With that, comes spiritual maturity (and I'm sure not saying I'm there, but I'm pressing in toward it), and with that comes a Biblical, rational, Godly response. We've all seen the difference between a Christian who responds out of emotion, and one who responds after prayer, and seeking Godly wisdom. The difference is night and day, and the result is also.
Being hated for Christ's sake is something every believer will deal with, to one degree or another, in this life. There is simply no getting around it.
How we receive it however, will either bring glory to Him, or shame to us.
I think the answer is pretty clear on the direction we ought to be persuing.
SDG,
Carla
In the comment section, Bret asked some of these same questions that have come up in discussion (and my thoughts), so I want to address those here, from my perspective.
"Carla, since I am the one that pointed you to the original article, I figured I would comment.I know I am not in Canada. But as the one person where I got the article from said, is the USA next?I appreciate you digging and getting the context of the letter. He defintely seems to be going about it the wrong way."
Is the USA next? Well... it occured to me today, that in many ways, the USA is already there. Here in Canada, fall and winter are the most drastic season changes. During the fall, my favorite time of year, the sugar maples begin to change color and day after day, the trees look like they're dancing with fire. I love this time of year, and today it caused me to think about the religious climate in North America.
It hasn't been drastic, or sudden, but the Biblical foundations our country began with, have surely eroded over the last 200 years to such an extent, that I've often said if our founding fathers could see where this nation is now, politically, morally, socially... they'd all keel over in shock and trauma. My grandmother doesn't even take it back that far - she says of her mother, who was a very godly woman, that if she could see the way society had changed in her own daughter's lifetime, her heart wouldn't be able to bear it.
Not that people, in and of themselves, were any more righteous 50, 100 or 200 years ago, but the moral climate of our country was far more geared toward the standard of Scripture. The season has been changing over time, and I don't think the USA is all that far behind Canada, in these things.
Bret goes on to say:
"And it is sad that it is this situation that will be putting the revised Canadian law to the test. But that still doesn't take away from the fact that the Canadian law is persecution against Christ, and if/when in the USA, would be a violation of the Constitution."
I completely agree that the law itself is indeed a persecution against Christ. I would also point out that it wasn't that long ago that the new law here, would have also been at one time, a violation of the Canadian charter of human rights. This makes me think of this verse:
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
When Christian people are under ungodly authority, the way the country is run, and continues to be run, is certainly a cause of mourning for His people. Changes in the law, and what becomes more and more socially acceptable, are those things which are not in favor of a godly, moral, righteous lifestyle.
"Having said that however, while it doesn't mean we should ask for such persecution, isn't that what we Christians are to expect??? As one article I read recently said (Campi's site I believe), democracies have a tendency to not last too long. Even in the USA with all that the founding fathers tried to do with a "Democratic Republic" etc., depraved hearts will eventually corrupt it. They hate Christ, so they will hate His people. My two cents worth..."
And a valuable 2 cents indeed.
Yes, I do believe we should not only expect it, but be spiritually, and emotionally ready for it. Expecting it is one thing, but how we (individually and collectively as a church body) conduct ourselves (with words, either spoken or written, or actions) is something that certainly shouldn't be overlooked. Being grounded in the Word I believe is the best place to start. With that, comes spiritual maturity (and I'm sure not saying I'm there, but I'm pressing in toward it), and with that comes a Biblical, rational, Godly response. We've all seen the difference between a Christian who responds out of emotion, and one who responds after prayer, and seeking Godly wisdom. The difference is night and day, and the result is also.
Being hated for Christ's sake is something every believer will deal with, to one degree or another, in this life. There is simply no getting around it.
How we receive it however, will either bring glory to Him, or shame to us.
I think the answer is pretty clear on the direction we ought to be persuing.
SDG,
Carla
Just some stuff
I've been working on some new products for my store, and working on my store, as well. I re-did the store front, so it's a little less "klunky", and took those same leaves from the earlier graphic, tossed them in the air, and this is where they landed. You can see the other shirt styles with this graphic, here.
By the way, does anyone know how to get that annoying blue line OFF of the images I put in the entries? If you do, please let me know, I'm having blue line issues.
SDG,
me
What Isn't
I love this time of year - I always have.
Some of the most memorable times in my life, happened in the fall, and that just makes it even better.
One of the things I used to celebrate in the fall, was Ben's birthday. Every year it was pretty much the same thing. I'd bake a german chocolate cake with that almond/coconut frosting, and buy him all sorts of cheap halloween make up & liquid latex. Odd gift idea, yes, but Ben was an artist, so that was right up his alley - and it was all on sale - which was right up my alley.
1994 was the last time I celebrated his birthday, since he went home to Jesus, just 5 weeks before his 33rd birthday, the following year. We didn't have much of a celebration that year, since he had just had brain surgery on the 9th of the month. I only remember the date because September 9th is my grandma's birthday, and I spent it at the U. of WA hospital waiting to hear good news of a successful surgery. It was successful, and when he woke up in recovery, he played a practical joke on the nurse and asked how the nose job came out - with the most serious look he could muster. I finally had to let the nurse off the hook, since she thought he was delirious.
I had to count back, to figure out which birthday this would have been, and that was sort of a bittersweet thing to have to do.
Ben would have been 43, tomorrow.
A bittersweet feeling that I didn't know that off the top of my head - because it tells me life has moved on - like life always does - but at the same time that I've forgotten some things about him, that once were as much a part of me, as my own birthday. That part really feels awkward.
So much of Ben is still here, though. I see him in Caryn's art, Jennifer's quirky sense of humor, and Jessica's singing. All three of them share his mannerisms and facial expressions, and once in a while, it's almost uncanny how much like him, they really are.
His last year on this earth, he came to know Christ, and that is the legacy he most wanted to leave for his girls. I remember countless conversations we had about his urgency to see them take Christianity seriously, even though they were so young. He knew... He knew he was going Home, and he knew faith in Christ was required, to be there.
He talked alot about what he thought they might be like when they grew up - knowing he wasn't going to be able to watch that happen. Caryn was going to take the world by storm, in some artistic or legal field, Jennifer was going to get married and have 12 kids and be a supermom, and Jessica, in his vision, was going to stay little with a giant mop of curly hair, and be his princess forever. Jessica is still little, and still has a wild head of curly hair. Jennifer doesn't have 12 kids yet, but oddly enough she's great with kids, and Caryn is still working on taking the world by storm. As much as he had such high hopes for his girls, the hope he had in Christ was the one thing he so much wanted them to have also. It grieved him to the point of tears, many nights.
He was so immature in his faith, and he knew it. He didn't know how to say things the way he wanted to say them, so he'd often say things like "help me find that verse in the Bible that says..... (whatever was on his heart)". Funny thing was, him thinking I could help him find it, since I was just as new to the faith as he was. But more often than not, we found it.
It's weird to think he would have been 43 tomorrow. He'll forever be 32, to me.
I did make a german chocolate cake on his birthday that year that he went home. The girls and I ate it, and cried. I've never made another one, and I probably never will.
I have no reason to think birthdays are celebrated in heaven, but my heart says
"Happy Birthday Benny"
SDG,
me
Some of the most memorable times in my life, happened in the fall, and that just makes it even better.
One of the things I used to celebrate in the fall, was Ben's birthday. Every year it was pretty much the same thing. I'd bake a german chocolate cake with that almond/coconut frosting, and buy him all sorts of cheap halloween make up & liquid latex. Odd gift idea, yes, but Ben was an artist, so that was right up his alley - and it was all on sale - which was right up my alley.
1994 was the last time I celebrated his birthday, since he went home to Jesus, just 5 weeks before his 33rd birthday, the following year. We didn't have much of a celebration that year, since he had just had brain surgery on the 9th of the month. I only remember the date because September 9th is my grandma's birthday, and I spent it at the U. of WA hospital waiting to hear good news of a successful surgery. It was successful, and when he woke up in recovery, he played a practical joke on the nurse and asked how the nose job came out - with the most serious look he could muster. I finally had to let the nurse off the hook, since she thought he was delirious.
I had to count back, to figure out which birthday this would have been, and that was sort of a bittersweet thing to have to do.
Ben would have been 43, tomorrow.
A bittersweet feeling that I didn't know that off the top of my head - because it tells me life has moved on - like life always does - but at the same time that I've forgotten some things about him, that once were as much a part of me, as my own birthday. That part really feels awkward.
So much of Ben is still here, though. I see him in Caryn's art, Jennifer's quirky sense of humor, and Jessica's singing. All three of them share his mannerisms and facial expressions, and once in a while, it's almost uncanny how much like him, they really are.
His last year on this earth, he came to know Christ, and that is the legacy he most wanted to leave for his girls. I remember countless conversations we had about his urgency to see them take Christianity seriously, even though they were so young. He knew... He knew he was going Home, and he knew faith in Christ was required, to be there.
He talked alot about what he thought they might be like when they grew up - knowing he wasn't going to be able to watch that happen. Caryn was going to take the world by storm, in some artistic or legal field, Jennifer was going to get married and have 12 kids and be a supermom, and Jessica, in his vision, was going to stay little with a giant mop of curly hair, and be his princess forever. Jessica is still little, and still has a wild head of curly hair. Jennifer doesn't have 12 kids yet, but oddly enough she's great with kids, and Caryn is still working on taking the world by storm. As much as he had such high hopes for his girls, the hope he had in Christ was the one thing he so much wanted them to have also. It grieved him to the point of tears, many nights.
He was so immature in his faith, and he knew it. He didn't know how to say things the way he wanted to say them, so he'd often say things like "help me find that verse in the Bible that says..... (whatever was on his heart)". Funny thing was, him thinking I could help him find it, since I was just as new to the faith as he was. But more often than not, we found it.
It's weird to think he would have been 43 tomorrow. He'll forever be 32, to me.
I did make a german chocolate cake on his birthday that year that he went home. The girls and I ate it, and cried. I've never made another one, and I probably never will.
I have no reason to think birthdays are celebrated in heaven, but my heart says
"Happy Birthday Benny"
SDG,
me
September 21, 2005
Phil on The Essentials of The Christian Faith
If nothing else, Phil will make you think. Take the time to look over what he has to say about the essentials of the Christian faith
(here, here, here, here and here.)
A topic that should be dear to the heart of every believer – and judging from the poll in the sidebar, the majority of the readers here, agree.
Thanks Phil – I for one, appreciate the time you put into this.
SDG -
Carla
(here, here, here, here and here.)
A topic that should be dear to the heart of every believer – and judging from the poll in the sidebar, the majority of the readers here, agree.
Thanks Phil – I for one, appreciate the time you put into this.
SDG -
Carla
When do we stop?
Yesterday I posted about some good questions asked on a forum I read.
These are the specific questions that speak directly to a few situations I've found myself in, over the last few months:
• When has a discussion become unfruitful?
• When exactly is that magic moment in which we have reached the end of any possibility of something benificial coming from a discussion?
• At what point do we simply end conversations pertaining to scripture?
This is something I've been thinking about and praying about for a while now, and I've finally come to a place that I'm certain of the answers to all 3.
The simple answer is "when the other person stops listening". It would be too easy to leave it there, so I'm not going to.
That only applies in some situations. In those situations the Bible gives us a good place to start considering this:
Matthew 10:
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
I have a dear friend online, that uses the screen name DUSTY FOOTSHAKER. He uses it for the very reason stated in this passage. His real name is Chuck, and Chuck's simple philosophy is that if a person makes it clear they are not listening, are not receiving what you have to say, just END the conversation, and leave it at that. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It's not always that simple to put into practice, for alot of people (myself included).
In these situations where it becomes clear a person has stopped listening - it's also not always that easy to tell when they stopped listening. If you're having an ongoing conversation with them, it may be days, weeks, or months before it's made clear that the positions you've both taken are only being recycled, and rehashed - and that they are no longer open to your position (I'm referring to discussions of a Biblical or doctrinal nature). I believe this is where sharp discernment comes into play - and seeking God always for wisdom in dealing with other people. If we are consistantly going before God in prayer before participating in these kinds of discussions - seeking Him for guidance, wisdom, and disernment (James 1:5) - I believe He will bless us with just that - and show us when it's time to bow out.
I think anyone who has rebellious teenagers in their home, might have a pretty good handle on this kind of conversation. It's often easy to tell with rebellious teenagers, when your point is being reiterated so much, you know they're no longer listening.
It's not always so easy to tell with others.
There is another passage that really shines some light on these questions as well.
Titus 3:
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Starting in verse 8, we see that we ought to;
be careful (give thought to)
to maintain (to set above, or make it a priority over all else)
good works (beneficial deeds, profitable words or actions)
v.9 reminds us to;
avoid (shun)
foolish (impious, godless)
questions (inquiry, debate, controversies)
and genealogies (lines of descent)
and contentions (strife, wrangling)
and strivings about the law (Mosaic laws)
for they are unprofitable (useless)
and vain (devoid of truth or success, being of no purpose)
Before I go on to verse 10, I want to stress a point here. The application in this one verse, can be used in many ways. There are all sorts of arguments that come up, over all sorts of different doctrines - some may fall into this category and some may not. This is where it's critical to have godly wisdom, seeking His discernment to know what IS profitable to continue on with, in conversation (Jude 1:3), and when it is no longer profitable, but simply foolish, vain, and controversial.
Verse 10 is important to really get ahold of, due to the use of the word heretick. Why? Simply because the word is tossed around like a beach ball on a sunny day - in many circles. The liberal use of this word can (and does) demote it's meaning to simply be "someone who doesn't agree with me".
v.10
A man that is an heretick (schismatic, factious, a follower of a false doctrine)
after the first and second admonition (exhortation)
reject (shun, avoid)
In a particular situation that I am aware of, there are several people who seek to be controversial, and stir up strife, being schismatic and who really seem to enjoy dividing fellowship. I don't know why they do it. I could speculate, but at the end of the day, it's only speculation and since I cannot read their hearts, and do not want to, speculation is pointless. Are they heretics in the manner of following a false doctrine? Or are they heretics in the manner of being schismatic and factious? The latter is certainly true - and the passage here says we are to exhort them to TRUTH, and if they remain in their position after the second time, to avoid them.
That seems so simple, and yet so hard to follow (at least for me).
Verse 11 gives us more insight on this:
Knowing that he that is such (schismatic, factious, a follower of a false doctrine)
is subverted (twisted, perverted, corrupt)
and sinneth (being in error, missing the mark, wandering from the path of righteousness)
being condemned of himself (that which is self-condemned)
If a person in your circle of fellowship falls into a category like the above, and after twice being exhorted to truth from the Scripture, and remains in their mission to be a person of strife, division, always seeking to be schismatic and controversial - this passage says they are twisted, inwardly perverted, being in error and by their very own words and actions condemn themselves.
These are harsh words - but this is what the Bible says.
Earlier I said the answer to ending conversation was "when they stop listening", was the easy answer, and that it only applies in some situations.
I said that for the simple reason that there are some people who were never listening to begin with. There are some who, under the guise of seeking answers to specific questions or understanding a different view point, really have no desire to "hear" at all, and only engage you in conversation to get something started. I call these people controversy-hounds. They like the heated debates, arguments, and attention it all brings with it.
When I was a little girl, my older sister had a friend named Victoria* (name has been changed for privacy). Almost every night, just after supper time, the phone would ring. My sister would often say "mom, can I talk on the phone in your room, Victoria really needs to talk to me, it's important!". A few minutes later my sister would hang up the phone and say "mom, can I walk up to Victoria's house, there's something going on, she's really upset, and she needs someone there to talk to". Mom would sarcastically refer to the situation by the family's last name and say "oh my, another crisis at the Smith* house, well, you better rush up there, this could be a big one". Off my sister would go, to be drawn into yet another crisis at the Smith house. Which was more often than not, no crisis at all.
Victoria was an attention seeker. She was the kind of person that never seemed to be happy unless there was some kind of crisis (real or imagined) going on in her life - and it seemed she always had plenty of people to draw into her world, even long after my sister married and moved away, and they lost touch. I ran into Victoria after I'd grown up, and she hadn't changed at all, except to get worse.
There are Victorias in Christian circles. You know who I mean, you likely have at least one, in your church, or Bible study, or maybe even in your circle of online Christian fellowship. People who seek to stir up strife, ask leading questions, make suggestions or imply ideas, for no other apparent reason than to get attention, and get some kind of controversy brewing.
Like my sister with her friend, it's not always so easy to tell when it's a legitimate, worthwhile issue to get drawn into. We might want to be gracious and give the person the benefit of the doubt, and that's a good thing, an honorable thing. It's when it becomes an obvious pattern (and it might even be obvious to others before it's obvious to you, or me), that I believe shaking the dust off our feet, becomes the order of the day.
For these reasons, I am withdrawing myself from a few situations that the above described "controversy hounds" are to be found in. I hope it serves to free up my time and my thoughts, toward better things - those things which bring glory and honor to my King.
SOLI DEO GLORIA,
Carla
These are the specific questions that speak directly to a few situations I've found myself in, over the last few months:
• When has a discussion become unfruitful?
• When exactly is that magic moment in which we have reached the end of any possibility of something benificial coming from a discussion?
• At what point do we simply end conversations pertaining to scripture?
This is something I've been thinking about and praying about for a while now, and I've finally come to a place that I'm certain of the answers to all 3.
The simple answer is "when the other person stops listening". It would be too easy to leave it there, so I'm not going to.
That only applies in some situations. In those situations the Bible gives us a good place to start considering this:
Matthew 10:
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
I have a dear friend online, that uses the screen name DUSTY FOOTSHAKER. He uses it for the very reason stated in this passage. His real name is Chuck, and Chuck's simple philosophy is that if a person makes it clear they are not listening, are not receiving what you have to say, just END the conversation, and leave it at that. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It's not always that simple to put into practice, for alot of people (myself included).
In these situations where it becomes clear a person has stopped listening - it's also not always that easy to tell when they stopped listening. If you're having an ongoing conversation with them, it may be days, weeks, or months before it's made clear that the positions you've both taken are only being recycled, and rehashed - and that they are no longer open to your position (I'm referring to discussions of a Biblical or doctrinal nature). I believe this is where sharp discernment comes into play - and seeking God always for wisdom in dealing with other people. If we are consistantly going before God in prayer before participating in these kinds of discussions - seeking Him for guidance, wisdom, and disernment (James 1:5) - I believe He will bless us with just that - and show us when it's time to bow out.
I think anyone who has rebellious teenagers in their home, might have a pretty good handle on this kind of conversation. It's often easy to tell with rebellious teenagers, when your point is being reiterated so much, you know they're no longer listening.
It's not always so easy to tell with others.
There is another passage that really shines some light on these questions as well.
Titus 3:
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Starting in verse 8, we see that we ought to;
be careful (give thought to)
to maintain (to set above, or make it a priority over all else)
good works (beneficial deeds, profitable words or actions)
v.9 reminds us to;
avoid (shun)
foolish (impious, godless)
questions (inquiry, debate, controversies)
and genealogies (lines of descent)
and contentions (strife, wrangling)
and strivings about the law (Mosaic laws)
for they are unprofitable (useless)
and vain (devoid of truth or success, being of no purpose)
Before I go on to verse 10, I want to stress a point here. The application in this one verse, can be used in many ways. There are all sorts of arguments that come up, over all sorts of different doctrines - some may fall into this category and some may not. This is where it's critical to have godly wisdom, seeking His discernment to know what IS profitable to continue on with, in conversation (Jude 1:3), and when it is no longer profitable, but simply foolish, vain, and controversial.
Verse 10 is important to really get ahold of, due to the use of the word heretick. Why? Simply because the word is tossed around like a beach ball on a sunny day - in many circles. The liberal use of this word can (and does) demote it's meaning to simply be "someone who doesn't agree with me".
v.10
A man that is an heretick (schismatic, factious, a follower of a false doctrine)
after the first and second admonition (exhortation)
reject (shun, avoid)
In a particular situation that I am aware of, there are several people who seek to be controversial, and stir up strife, being schismatic and who really seem to enjoy dividing fellowship. I don't know why they do it. I could speculate, but at the end of the day, it's only speculation and since I cannot read their hearts, and do not want to, speculation is pointless. Are they heretics in the manner of following a false doctrine? Or are they heretics in the manner of being schismatic and factious? The latter is certainly true - and the passage here says we are to exhort them to TRUTH, and if they remain in their position after the second time, to avoid them.
That seems so simple, and yet so hard to follow (at least for me).
Verse 11 gives us more insight on this:
Knowing that he that is such (schismatic, factious, a follower of a false doctrine)
is subverted (twisted, perverted, corrupt)
and sinneth (being in error, missing the mark, wandering from the path of righteousness)
being condemned of himself (that which is self-condemned)
If a person in your circle of fellowship falls into a category like the above, and after twice being exhorted to truth from the Scripture, and remains in their mission to be a person of strife, division, always seeking to be schismatic and controversial - this passage says they are twisted, inwardly perverted, being in error and by their very own words and actions condemn themselves.
These are harsh words - but this is what the Bible says.
Earlier I said the answer to ending conversation was "when they stop listening", was the easy answer, and that it only applies in some situations.
I said that for the simple reason that there are some people who were never listening to begin with. There are some who, under the guise of seeking answers to specific questions or understanding a different view point, really have no desire to "hear" at all, and only engage you in conversation to get something started. I call these people controversy-hounds. They like the heated debates, arguments, and attention it all brings with it.
When I was a little girl, my older sister had a friend named Victoria* (name has been changed for privacy). Almost every night, just after supper time, the phone would ring. My sister would often say "mom, can I talk on the phone in your room, Victoria really needs to talk to me, it's important!". A few minutes later my sister would hang up the phone and say "mom, can I walk up to Victoria's house, there's something going on, she's really upset, and she needs someone there to talk to". Mom would sarcastically refer to the situation by the family's last name and say "oh my, another crisis at the Smith* house, well, you better rush up there, this could be a big one". Off my sister would go, to be drawn into yet another crisis at the Smith house. Which was more often than not, no crisis at all.
Victoria was an attention seeker. She was the kind of person that never seemed to be happy unless there was some kind of crisis (real or imagined) going on in her life - and it seemed she always had plenty of people to draw into her world, even long after my sister married and moved away, and they lost touch. I ran into Victoria after I'd grown up, and she hadn't changed at all, except to get worse.
There are Victorias in Christian circles. You know who I mean, you likely have at least one, in your church, or Bible study, or maybe even in your circle of online Christian fellowship. People who seek to stir up strife, ask leading questions, make suggestions or imply ideas, for no other apparent reason than to get attention, and get some kind of controversy brewing.
Like my sister with her friend, it's not always so easy to tell when it's a legitimate, worthwhile issue to get drawn into. We might want to be gracious and give the person the benefit of the doubt, and that's a good thing, an honorable thing. It's when it becomes an obvious pattern (and it might even be obvious to others before it's obvious to you, or me), that I believe shaking the dust off our feet, becomes the order of the day.
For these reasons, I am withdrawing myself from a few situations that the above described "controversy hounds" are to be found in. I hope it serves to free up my time and my thoughts, toward better things - those things which bring glory and honor to my King.
SOLI DEO GLORIA,
Carla
September 20, 2005
Bloggerview with Pastor Bret Lovitz
I'd like you to meet brother Bret. Also known as proginowsko, Frosty, kaleo1, or PesterBrat (depending on which chat server he's on, either PalTalk or #prosapologian) There are some readers here that might know him under one of these nicknames from either place.
Brother Bret is Pastor Lovitz, of Grace Fellowship Church, Mountain Home Idaho , and he's also the ponderer and muser behind Ponderings and Musings.
I first met Bret 2 years ago, online. Even though we have never had the opportunity to meet face to face, we've shared some wonderful fellowship online. I've also had the opportunity to hear Pastor Bret teach, during weekly online (audio) Bible studies. If you've never had a chance to interact with brother Bret, you've really missed a blessing. He's a voice of reason, with a great sense of humor, and a great big heart. Without further delay, meet Bret (pictured here with his lovely wife Nola)
:
Carla:
If you could only name 3 people who have inspired you the most, in your Christian walk, who would they be, and why?
Bret:
Well, if you are including both the living and the dead, I would say my first pastor James Sasser who is still alive, Charles Spurgeon, who went to be with the Lord over 100 years ago, and Pastor-Teacher John MacArthur Jr. These three men, are all credobaptist and sovereign grace, but that is not the only reason why it is these three. Of course James Sasser as my first pastor discipled me in the Lord. He loves the Lord and His word, and is a Christian man of integrity. Some would probably accuse him of being legalistic because he has some very high standards that didn't change just because he embraced the doctrines of sovereign grace. Charles Spurgeon, because he did not let his 'theology' as a Calvinistic Baptist Christian keep him from passionately proclaiming the word of God and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He took a stand against false teaching and liberalism that was increasing during his day that we know of as the Downgrade Controversy. I often tease and tell people that make a big deal about calling me a "Calvinist" that if they insist on calling me something after a mere man's name, then call me a "Spurgeonite."While John MacArthur and I would not agree on everything (tithing and the Pre-Trib Rapture comes to mind right now), I respect him for how he loves and proclaims the word God despite the size of the church God has given him to pastor, and the media attention he has received especially through Larry King Live. I believe John MacArthur is the most and part of just a handful of biblically solid nationally and internationally known Pastor Teachers alive today.
Carla:
Those that know you from the internet know that you've been around a while, ministering the gospel in forums and chats. We both know that there is much to be discouraged about in online ministry. Has there been one incident that stands out in your mind, over and above all others, that has taken place on the web, that blessed and encouraged you?
Bret:
That is a hard question to answer. In my earlier times on Paltalk, it was a real blessing getting to know and fellowship with fellow "sovereign gracers"at a time when I didn't have hardly any fellowship, pastoral or otherwise, when I was put out of the Free Will Baptist Association. The blessings have been many for me, the fellowship, growth, and opportunities to minister to people through the Discussion Boards, E-mail lists and chat rooms. Since I have not been formally trained through a bible college or seminary, the internet, with the wealth of Christian websites and articles, has been the next best thing that I believe God has used and continues to use in my life.
Carla:
You recently attended the debate between Dr. James White and Dr. John Dominic Crossan in Seattle, WA. Can you share a few thoughts on that?
Bret:
This was the first debate I attended in person involving Dr. James White. If you would have said four people instead of three that have influenced my life, it would have been Dr. White. The conference and debate was excellent. It was centered around the very heart of historic Christianity and the reformed faith: The authority and sufficiency of Scripture, Sola Scriptura. Dr. White did an excellent job in one session sealing with the subtle dangers of the DaVinci Code book because of the author's agenda while trying to hiding under the guise of "fiction" so he does not have to back up his claims. Dr. Crossan, the co-founder of the Jesus Seminar was one of Dr. White's most amiable debaters, but Dr. White did an excellent job by the grace of God exposing and dealing with his false beliefs and teachings. As an additional benefit, it was a blessing meeting a few of the Christians from Alpha and Omega's #prosapologian room in MIRC, as well as meeting Christian musician and preacher Steve Camp for the first time (Steve would be #5) :- ).
Carla:
In your blogger profile, you share that you're a Star Wars and Star Trek fan. (our condolences, lol). Tell us what your thoughts are on the growing trend among evangelicals that use the entertainment media, as a springboard for discussions of spiritual truths.
Bret:
Well, I think it is unbiblical. It is one thing to use an illustration here and there to convey a Biblical truth, but entirely something else for pastors and churches to use worldly gimmicks, events and activities to try to "draw" people in. Directly or indirectly they are saying that the word of God is not sufficient, that the gospel is not the power of God unto salvation to those who believe. Most of the time, these same pastors and churches do not really get into any indepth teaching of God's word because they are more concerned about not offending people so they can try to keep their " numbers" up for the prestige of being successful with a "mega church." If God wills for a church to be big, praise His Name! Such is the case with Grace Community Church and Pastor-Teacher John MacArthur. God was pleased to make Grace Community Church a big church as Dr. John MacArthur and his fellow Elders used biblical principles instead of worldly methods.
Carla:
You wear numerous hats; husband, father, pastor, blogger, chatter. How do you juggle it all? What's a typical day for you?
Bret:
You can add to that, working full time outside of the church as well ;- ). Well, my children are all grown. Three daughters ages 27 to 20. Two of them are out of the house, and the middle daughter lives with us. How do I juggle it all? Well you and others have probably noticed that I do not spend as much time in Paltalk and MIRC as I used to. Even when I am in there, often, especially near the end of the week, I'm listening but not participating while preparing for Sunday. My wife has some health problems, and sleeps a lot because of medication. She is not a "night owl" like I am anyway. During the week I get up between 8:00 and 8:30, work at the bank until 6:15pm, have dinner at about 6:30, relax for awhile, then get on the computer until 12:00 or 1:00am. When it is not busy at the bank, I have permission to go online, so I can deal with e-mails, Blog, do some reading etc., during the day. Working at the bank is often stressful for me and I'm not as young as I used to be, so sometimes I fall asleep after dinner for one to two hours. Our church only has one worship service per week. No Sunday School, No Sunday night service, and no mid week service. However we do have various Bible studies off and on, throughout the week. We have just begun a weekly Elders Bible Study, and Lord willing, we will be starting a mixed Bible Study once a month after worship and a fellowship meal. There are other bible studies led by others in our church. Saturday is my main preparation day, when I put into type what I have read, prayed and thought on during the week. But it is an honor and privilege to be able pastor one of God's churches. I just pray that he is pleased to use me as he sees fit, for His honor and glory.
Carla:
In light of Hurricane Katrina, can you detail a few things for us that have stood out in your mind, in regards to Christian service? For example, are we doing enough, day to day, or did we really need a crisis to wake us up?
Bret:
Things that stood out? The God glorifying testimonies of some brothers and sisters in Christ even though they thought their church and homes were destroyed; Brothers and Sisters in Christ giving of their time and resources to help; the depravity of people in their crimes, assessing of blame to the President, and making accusations of racism; seeing how attached people are to possessions, and hoping that is not the case with many Christians. Yes I think God's people also need these as wake up calls, and I don't think they are over. Hurricane Katrina is not something that slipped through God's fingers or that He was surprised about it. He was in sovereign control of that Hurricane and all other "calamities." May we learn and grow from these and all other trials in our lives.
Carla:
Please share with the readers your greatest passion in life. By this I mean, what area of ministry burdens your heart more than any other?
Bret:
My greatest passion, but also struggle, is to not only see God's people saved, but as God determines, to see God's people in solid God glorifying, Christ honoring, Bible centered churches, or for these seeker-sensitive, emergent, purpose driven, gospel compromising, entertaining, feel good churches, changed by our sovereign Lord for His glory. Yet, the Lord was patient for me while I was in a Free Will Baptist Church for over 10 years. So when I pray, I pray for God to send us the lost, unchurched, and false churched as he determines. I just want to be used by the Lord anyway He sees fit for His honor and glory, but also remember my responsibilities as a husband, father, servant, pastor, brother in Christ, and friend. Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. May God receive the glory, and His people be encouraged through this interview. I ask for your prayers as you have remembrance.
I'd like to thank brother Bret for allowing me (and you) a closer look at his heart, and what matters to him. I would encourage you to add his blog to your reader, and stop in and say hello, or stop by Pastor Bret's church site and download his current sermon "Betrayal Foretold" to hear his preaching for yourself.
SDG,
Carla
Brother Bret is Pastor Lovitz, of Grace Fellowship Church, Mountain Home Idaho , and he's also the ponderer and muser behind Ponderings and Musings.
I first met Bret 2 years ago, online. Even though we have never had the opportunity to meet face to face, we've shared some wonderful fellowship online. I've also had the opportunity to hear Pastor Bret teach, during weekly online (audio) Bible studies. If you've never had a chance to interact with brother Bret, you've really missed a blessing. He's a voice of reason, with a great sense of humor, and a great big heart. Without further delay, meet Bret (pictured here with his lovely wife Nola)
:Carla:
If you could only name 3 people who have inspired you the most, in your Christian walk, who would they be, and why?
Bret:
Well, if you are including both the living and the dead, I would say my first pastor James Sasser who is still alive, Charles Spurgeon, who went to be with the Lord over 100 years ago, and Pastor-Teacher John MacArthur Jr. These three men, are all credobaptist and sovereign grace, but that is not the only reason why it is these three. Of course James Sasser as my first pastor discipled me in the Lord. He loves the Lord and His word, and is a Christian man of integrity. Some would probably accuse him of being legalistic because he has some very high standards that didn't change just because he embraced the doctrines of sovereign grace. Charles Spurgeon, because he did not let his 'theology' as a Calvinistic Baptist Christian keep him from passionately proclaiming the word of God and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He took a stand against false teaching and liberalism that was increasing during his day that we know of as the Downgrade Controversy. I often tease and tell people that make a big deal about calling me a "Calvinist" that if they insist on calling me something after a mere man's name, then call me a "Spurgeonite."While John MacArthur and I would not agree on everything (tithing and the Pre-Trib Rapture comes to mind right now), I respect him for how he loves and proclaims the word God despite the size of the church God has given him to pastor, and the media attention he has received especially through Larry King Live. I believe John MacArthur is the most and part of just a handful of biblically solid nationally and internationally known Pastor Teachers alive today.
Carla:
Those that know you from the internet know that you've been around a while, ministering the gospel in forums and chats. We both know that there is much to be discouraged about in online ministry. Has there been one incident that stands out in your mind, over and above all others, that has taken place on the web, that blessed and encouraged you?
Bret:
That is a hard question to answer. In my earlier times on Paltalk, it was a real blessing getting to know and fellowship with fellow "sovereign gracers"at a time when I didn't have hardly any fellowship, pastoral or otherwise, when I was put out of the Free Will Baptist Association. The blessings have been many for me, the fellowship, growth, and opportunities to minister to people through the Discussion Boards, E-mail lists and chat rooms. Since I have not been formally trained through a bible college or seminary, the internet, with the wealth of Christian websites and articles, has been the next best thing that I believe God has used and continues to use in my life.
Carla:
You recently attended the debate between Dr. James White and Dr. John Dominic Crossan in Seattle, WA. Can you share a few thoughts on that?
Bret:
This was the first debate I attended in person involving Dr. James White. If you would have said four people instead of three that have influenced my life, it would have been Dr. White. The conference and debate was excellent. It was centered around the very heart of historic Christianity and the reformed faith: The authority and sufficiency of Scripture, Sola Scriptura. Dr. White did an excellent job in one session sealing with the subtle dangers of the DaVinci Code book because of the author's agenda while trying to hiding under the guise of "fiction" so he does not have to back up his claims. Dr. Crossan, the co-founder of the Jesus Seminar was one of Dr. White's most amiable debaters, but Dr. White did an excellent job by the grace of God exposing and dealing with his false beliefs and teachings. As an additional benefit, it was a blessing meeting a few of the Christians from Alpha and Omega's #prosapologian room in MIRC, as well as meeting Christian musician and preacher Steve Camp for the first time (Steve would be #5) :- ).
Carla:
In your blogger profile, you share that you're a Star Wars and Star Trek fan. (our condolences, lol). Tell us what your thoughts are on the growing trend among evangelicals that use the entertainment media, as a springboard for discussions of spiritual truths.
Bret:
Well, I think it is unbiblical. It is one thing to use an illustration here and there to convey a Biblical truth, but entirely something else for pastors and churches to use worldly gimmicks, events and activities to try to "draw" people in. Directly or indirectly they are saying that the word of God is not sufficient, that the gospel is not the power of God unto salvation to those who believe. Most of the time, these same pastors and churches do not really get into any indepth teaching of God's word because they are more concerned about not offending people so they can try to keep their " numbers" up for the prestige of being successful with a "mega church." If God wills for a church to be big, praise His Name! Such is the case with Grace Community Church and Pastor-Teacher John MacArthur. God was pleased to make Grace Community Church a big church as Dr. John MacArthur and his fellow Elders used biblical principles instead of worldly methods.
Carla:
You wear numerous hats; husband, father, pastor, blogger, chatter. How do you juggle it all? What's a typical day for you?
Bret:
You can add to that, working full time outside of the church as well ;- ). Well, my children are all grown. Three daughters ages 27 to 20. Two of them are out of the house, and the middle daughter lives with us. How do I juggle it all? Well you and others have probably noticed that I do not spend as much time in Paltalk and MIRC as I used to. Even when I am in there, often, especially near the end of the week, I'm listening but not participating while preparing for Sunday. My wife has some health problems, and sleeps a lot because of medication. She is not a "night owl" like I am anyway. During the week I get up between 8:00 and 8:30, work at the bank until 6:15pm, have dinner at about 6:30, relax for awhile, then get on the computer until 12:00 or 1:00am. When it is not busy at the bank, I have permission to go online, so I can deal with e-mails, Blog, do some reading etc., during the day. Working at the bank is often stressful for me and I'm not as young as I used to be, so sometimes I fall asleep after dinner for one to two hours. Our church only has one worship service per week. No Sunday School, No Sunday night service, and no mid week service. However we do have various Bible studies off and on, throughout the week. We have just begun a weekly Elders Bible Study, and Lord willing, we will be starting a mixed Bible Study once a month after worship and a fellowship meal. There are other bible studies led by others in our church. Saturday is my main preparation day, when I put into type what I have read, prayed and thought on during the week. But it is an honor and privilege to be able pastor one of God's churches. I just pray that he is pleased to use me as he sees fit, for His honor and glory.
Carla:
In light of Hurricane Katrina, can you detail a few things for us that have stood out in your mind, in regards to Christian service? For example, are we doing enough, day to day, or did we really need a crisis to wake us up?
Bret:
Things that stood out? The God glorifying testimonies of some brothers and sisters in Christ even though they thought their church and homes were destroyed; Brothers and Sisters in Christ giving of their time and resources to help; the depravity of people in their crimes, assessing of blame to the President, and making accusations of racism; seeing how attached people are to possessions, and hoping that is not the case with many Christians. Yes I think God's people also need these as wake up calls, and I don't think they are over. Hurricane Katrina is not something that slipped through God's fingers or that He was surprised about it. He was in sovereign control of that Hurricane and all other "calamities." May we learn and grow from these and all other trials in our lives.
Carla:
Please share with the readers your greatest passion in life. By this I mean, what area of ministry burdens your heart more than any other?
Bret:
My greatest passion, but also struggle, is to not only see God's people saved, but as God determines, to see God's people in solid God glorifying, Christ honoring, Bible centered churches, or for these seeker-sensitive, emergent, purpose driven, gospel compromising, entertaining, feel good churches, changed by our sovereign Lord for His glory. Yet, the Lord was patient for me while I was in a Free Will Baptist Church for over 10 years. So when I pray, I pray for God to send us the lost, unchurched, and false churched as he determines. I just want to be used by the Lord anyway He sees fit for His honor and glory, but also remember my responsibilities as a husband, father, servant, pastor, brother in Christ, and friend. Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. May God receive the glory, and His people be encouraged through this interview. I ask for your prayers as you have remembrance.
I'd like to thank brother Bret for allowing me (and you) a closer look at his heart, and what matters to him. I would encourage you to add his blog to your reader, and stop in and say hello, or stop by Pastor Bret's church site and download his current sermon "Betrayal Foretold" to hear his preaching for yourself.
SDG,
Carla
Autumn
This is, hands down, my favorite time of the year. For that reason, I've begun creating some new graphics (some from my own photography - others from my created graphics) for products for ScripScenes, Simply Flora.
Here's one of the finished ones:
You can see the other products with the graphic, here.
Here's one of the finished ones:
You can see the other products with the graphic, here.
Questions
Isn’t it odd to have something on your mind for a time, then coincidentally (insert loud pffff there) come across something that just makes you think about it even more?
There are at least 2, maybe 3 situations in my life right now that I’m seeking to remove myself from, in some way. Without going into too much detail, what I read tonight on a forum (completely unrelated to my own issues) asked these questions:
There are at least 2, maybe 3 situations in my life right now that I’m seeking to remove myself from, in some way. Without going into too much detail, what I read tonight on a forum (completely unrelated to my own issues) asked these questions:
When has a discussion become unfruitful? When exactly is that magic moment in which we have reached the end of any possibility of something benificial coming from a discussion? At what point do we simply end conversations pertaining to scripture?These are questions I’m asking myself. I’m pretty sure I’m satisfied with the answers, but not completely sure yet – so when I am, I’ll tackle this one and share my thoughts here.
September 19, 2005
Exhorting one another daily...
Back in March of this year, someone in challieland (probably Tim, but I don’t recall for sure) came up with a brilliant idea for the community blog contributors to do bloggerviews for the community blog. Okay, I thought it was a brilliant idea, anyway.
The concept was simple: pick a Christian blogger that encourages or inspires you, and interview them. Get their blog out there and be a blessing to others, by sharing what blesses you.
I immediately thought of several people I wanted to bloggerview – and contacted them. Most never responded, one liked the idea but was just too busy, and politely declined. I aimed too high. These were big blogging fish in the big evangelical pond, and I’m just a barnacle.
It’s rough, being a barnacle, but we do get by.
At any rate, I decided to go another route, and pick a fairly new blogger, that has been a blessing to me. Stacey, at A Declaration of Digression. You can read that interview here.
The reason I decided to write about this today, is because I’ve decided to resume the bloggerview-hat. I confess, I’ve been discouraged for a while now at the tone of a lot of what I read, and even much of what I write about myself. I’m doing my best to switch gears in the God blogosphere, and do a little more building up. I’ve thought a lot about it over the last few months, and was recently approached by someone who also liked the idea, last spring. That bloggerview is in the process – and I have a few more lined up.
Stay tuned!
SDG,
Carla
The concept was simple: pick a Christian blogger that encourages or inspires you, and interview them. Get their blog out there and be a blessing to others, by sharing what blesses you.
I immediately thought of several people I wanted to bloggerview – and contacted them. Most never responded, one liked the idea but was just too busy, and politely declined. I aimed too high. These were big blogging fish in the big evangelical pond, and I’m just a barnacle.
It’s rough, being a barnacle, but we do get by.
At any rate, I decided to go another route, and pick a fairly new blogger, that has been a blessing to me. Stacey, at A Declaration of Digression. You can read that interview here.
The reason I decided to write about this today, is because I’ve decided to resume the bloggerview-hat. I confess, I’ve been discouraged for a while now at the tone of a lot of what I read, and even much of what I write about myself. I’m doing my best to switch gears in the God blogosphere, and do a little more building up. I’ve thought a lot about it over the last few months, and was recently approached by someone who also liked the idea, last spring. That bloggerview is in the process – and I have a few more lined up.
Stay tuned!
SDG,
Carla
September 18, 2005
When is it okay to hate people?
Okay – Since I was asked in the
comment section here, I’ll list my concerns with the way
this letter was worded.
Before I do that – let me make it abundantly clear, that I in NO way, shape or form, support the homosexual lifestyle – I believe it is a destructive lifestyle physically, morally, and spiritually, and the Bible flat out condemns it as an abomination. I also want to make it clear that I actually agree with parts of this letter – the part that makes it clear that the homosexual lifestyle is wicked in the eyes of God, and the part that speaks about the increasing social acceptance of an ungodly lifestyle.
You may or may not agree with what I have to say – and that’s fine. I vehemently disagree with any government that restricts free speech - and at the same time the Scriptures dictate to believers how we're to handle such freedoms. With all freedoms come responsibility - and as believers, I think we need to be keenly aware of what we say, and how we say it.
Now that we’re clear on that, here we go:
“The following is not intended for those who are suffering from an unwanted sexual identity crisis.”
Okay, this part is good, he goes on to say
“For you, I have understanding, care, compassion and tolerance. I sympathize with you and offer you my love and fellowship. I prayerfully beseech you to seek help, and I assure you that your present enslavement to homosexuality can be remedied. Many outspoken, former homosexuals are free today.”
“Instead, this is aimed precisely at every individual that in any way supports the homosexual machine that has been mercilessly gaining ground in our society since the 1960s. I cannot pity you any longer and remain inactive. You have caused far too much damage.”
Did he really consider how broad of a brush he was using with this statement? While I’m sure he was referring to those who purposefully and actively promote the homosexual lifestyle – he does say “every individual that in any way supports the homosexual machine”. This could be describing the man who’s union at work supports the gay agenda, all the way up to the large companies that sponsor pro-gay events, and anyone or everyone in between.
He goes on to say:
“My banner has now been raised and war has been declared so as to defend the precious sanctity of our innocent children and youth, that you so eagerly toil, day and night, to consume.”
Okay this is where it gets creepy for me. I have a hard time believing that EVERY gay person toils day and night to consume the sanctity of innocence of our children. I mean come on – YES – there are some organizations out there aligned with the gay agenda that also advocate what is nothing more than pedophilia, but let’s get real. Is EVERY gay person set on consuming the sanctity of young innocence?
“With me stand the greatest weapons that you have encountered to date - God and the "Moral Majority." Know this, we will defeat you, then heal the damage that you have caused. Modern society has become dispassionate to the cause of righteousness. Many people are so apathetic and desensitized today that they cannot even accurately define the term "morality."”
And then he uses the “God agrees with me so you’re going down” argument. Doesn’t he realize (or didn’t he, when he wrote this 3 years ago) that the very people he expresses love for at the beginning of the letter, would quite likely be some of the same people he’s now declared war on? Modern society has become dispassionate to the cause of righteousness? Modern society, future society, and past society have no clue what righteousness is, outside of the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ. Why is this pastor holding society up to a standard of righteousness that they can’t attain to anyway?
“The masses have dug in and continue to excuse their failure to stand against horrendous atrocities such as the aggressive propagation of homo- and bisexuality. Inexcusable justifications such as, "I'm just not sure where the truth lies," or "If they don't affect me then I don't care what they do," abound from the lips of the quantifiable majority.”
Now I wonder, where did that understanding, care, compassion and tolerance, sympathy, love and fellowship, prayerfully beseeching to seek help (that he has for those dealing with an unwanted sexual identity crisis) go, for those who in his opinion are “excusing their failure” by taking such a position as “I'm just not sure where the truth lies”?? Imagine for a minute, a young person, or a new believer confessing to this pastor “I’m just not sure” and him answering them with the above paragraph. The fact is, there are a lot of people who really AREN’T sure about this – that doesn’t make them part of the enemy camp to be declared war on, for crying out loud. I have huge issues with such a statement.
He then goes on to quote philosopher and politician Edmund Burke's theologically bankrupt statement about the triumph of evil. I beg to differ here big time, since “good men” (which I will point out as righteous in Christ men) have been “doing something” since the days Abel, and that has not stopped the evil in the world. This is not to say that we should sit on our hind ends and do or say nothing when we see or are made aware of wickedness or injustices, but it IS to say that the idea so many have of “if we just band together, good men, we can overcome this wicked world” is a ludicrous idea. It’s also a very common Christian political (is that an oxymoron?) position, that actually contradicts Scripture. Let me ask, does the Bible teach this? Does the Bible teach that as we get closer and closer to the return of Christ, that good men will come together and overcome (as a group) the evils of this world? No, it certainly does not teach this at all. It teaches exactly the opposite. What was once considered evil will be considered good, and vice versa. The world hates Christ, therefore hates righteousness, and hates you, or me, or anyone else declaring Him, and declaring truth. And it will get worse, and worse, as the days pass. The Bible does however encourage us that you, or I, or your pastor, or any other believer might certainly be used of God to make a difference one on one, in someone’s life, by being a vessel of the gospel to them.
“From kindergarten class on, our children, your grandchildren are being strategically targeted, psychologically abused and brainwashed by homosexual and pro-homosexual educators. Our children are being victimized by repugnant and premeditated strategies, aimed at desensitizing and eventually recruiting our young into their camps. Think about it, children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights.”
Totally agree there, and this is one of the reasons we choose to educate our Children in a Christ-centered environment, and not hand them over to the government schools, then throw a fit about what the government schools are teaching them. Does anyone honestly believe they’re going to buck against the government approved curriculum and win? I mean, let’s be honest here.
Boissoin goes on to rightly say:
“Your children are being warped into believing that same-sex families are acceptable; that men kissing men is appropriate.Your teenagers are being instructed on how to perform so-called safe same gender oral and anal sex and at the same time being told that it is normal, natural and even productive. Will your child be the next victim that tests homosexuality positive?”
My answer is no – my children are not being taught this – because our family has taken the responsibility to make sure they will NOT be taught this. Please do not misunderstand that comment – it does not say public school parents are irresponsible. There are countless public school parents who’s families are also Christ-centered, that are teaching their kids the same truths, and equipping them to deal with the lies in the public school system.
Boissoin:
“Come on people, wake up! It's time to stand together and take whatever steps are necessary to reverse the wickedness that our lethargy has authorized to spawn. Where homosexuality flourishes, all manner of wickedness abounds.”
Which steps would those be? Declaring war? Broadbrushing all sorts of folks into one repugnant category, from the reprobate to the innocent ignorant, and putting them on the defensive? By being contensious with the gospel, instead of contending for the gospel? Honestly, I think Boissoin already touched on the right attitude in this, in his very first paragraph, then somehow got lost in the whole political activist thing.
“Regardless of what you hear, the militant homosexual agenda isn't rooted in protecting homosexuals from "gay bashing." The agenda is clearly about homosexual activists that include, teachers, politicians, lawyers, Supreme Court judges, and God forbid, even so-called ministers, who are all determined to gain complete equality in our nation and even worse, our world.”
I don’t know if this is true – but I suspect there may be at least some truth in it. Even if it is true, even if it’s worse than anyone realizes, I submit one very simple question:
If the righteous in Christ, do “wake up” as Boissoin insultingly suggests, and jump on this issue, by political activism, voting, or whatever it is that he has in mind – bearing in mind true conservative Christianity is RARE and in the minority – what outcome does Boissoin think there will be?
This next paragraph was the kicker for me:
“Don't allow yourself to be deceived any longer. These activists are not morally upright citizens, concerned about the best interests of our society. They are perverse, self-centered and morally deprived individuals who are spreading their psychological disease into every area of our lives. Homosexual rights activists and those that defend them, are just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities.”
First, who was Boissoin writing this to? Those that don’t already agree with his position, therefore they’re allowing themselves to be deceived?
Of these activists that are not morally upright (and yes, I agree) many of them actually ARE concerned about what they believe the best interests of society. Are they deceived about what is really for the best? Is their concern misplaced? Of course – but they’re still concerned, all the same. Keep in mind, a lot of these people being referred to here are human rights activists, teachers, coaches, doctors, emergency medical techs, the volunteers at the poison control center or the 911 dispatch operator, etc (I could go on, but I assume you get the point). People who devote their lives to benefiting the lives of other people. Misplaced concerns aside… to read this description “perverse, self-centered and morally deprived… spreading their psychological disease… just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities ” really makes these people sound like worthless, oxygen thieves, not worthy of my time, or yours, hiding behind bushes like the boogey man, waiting to jump out and eat our children.
Are these people not made in His image? Are they not worthy of hearing the gospel? Are they not worth the effort it takes to show compassion and at least TRY to remember it might not have been so long ago, that maybe you or I, were just like them?
Again with the “it’s all your fault” approach:
“The homosexual agenda is not gaining ground because it is morally backed. It is gaining ground simply because you, Mr. and Mrs. Heterosexual, do nothing to stop it. It is only a matter of time before some of these morally bankrupt individuals such as those involved with NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Lovers Association, will achieve their goal to have sexual relations with children and assert that it is a matter of free choice and claim that we are intolerant bigots not to accept it.”
It’s clear this pastor really believes Mr. and Mrs. Hetero can stop it. I’d like to hear his point by point proven solution to stop it. That would be enlightening.
The letter concludes with this:
“If you are reading this and think that this is alarmist, then I simply ask you this: how bad do things have to become before you will get involved? It's time to start taking back what the enemy has taken from you. The safety and future of our children is at stake.”
Alarmist? How about insulting toward believers and non-believers alike? How about assuming man’s good works and good intentions will have any affect on what could very well be God’s plan to allow the consequences of this sin sick world, to flourish, for a time? How about highly presumptious that other believers reading this aren’t already involved in taking a stand against these things, in other ways NOT public, where the Holy Spirit is leading them?
And I conclude with this:
For all I know, this man is a wonderful, loving, compassionate pastor, husband and father. I didn’t see it in this letter, however. I saw a lot of hate, a lot of anger, and a lot of broad-brushing, and assumption. Maybe I’m the one who’s wrong? Maybe I’m way off base here – but this is the way the letter read to me.
Fire at will.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Carla
comment section here, I’ll list my concerns with the way
this letter was worded.
Before I do that – let me make it abundantly clear, that I in NO way, shape or form, support the homosexual lifestyle – I believe it is a destructive lifestyle physically, morally, and spiritually, and the Bible flat out condemns it as an abomination. I also want to make it clear that I actually agree with parts of this letter – the part that makes it clear that the homosexual lifestyle is wicked in the eyes of God, and the part that speaks about the increasing social acceptance of an ungodly lifestyle.
You may or may not agree with what I have to say – and that’s fine. I vehemently disagree with any government that restricts free speech - and at the same time the Scriptures dictate to believers how we're to handle such freedoms. With all freedoms come responsibility - and as believers, I think we need to be keenly aware of what we say, and how we say it.
Now that we’re clear on that, here we go:
“The following is not intended for those who are suffering from an unwanted sexual identity crisis.”
Okay, this part is good, he goes on to say
“For you, I have understanding, care, compassion and tolerance. I sympathize with you and offer you my love and fellowship. I prayerfully beseech you to seek help, and I assure you that your present enslavement to homosexuality can be remedied. Many outspoken, former homosexuals are free today.”
“Instead, this is aimed precisely at every individual that in any way supports the homosexual machine that has been mercilessly gaining ground in our society since the 1960s. I cannot pity you any longer and remain inactive. You have caused far too much damage.”
Did he really consider how broad of a brush he was using with this statement? While I’m sure he was referring to those who purposefully and actively promote the homosexual lifestyle – he does say “every individual that in any way supports the homosexual machine”. This could be describing the man who’s union at work supports the gay agenda, all the way up to the large companies that sponsor pro-gay events, and anyone or everyone in between.
He goes on to say:
“My banner has now been raised and war has been declared so as to defend the precious sanctity of our innocent children and youth, that you so eagerly toil, day and night, to consume.”
Okay this is where it gets creepy for me. I have a hard time believing that EVERY gay person toils day and night to consume the sanctity of innocence of our children. I mean come on – YES – there are some organizations out there aligned with the gay agenda that also advocate what is nothing more than pedophilia, but let’s get real. Is EVERY gay person set on consuming the sanctity of young innocence?
“With me stand the greatest weapons that you have encountered to date - God and the "Moral Majority." Know this, we will defeat you, then heal the damage that you have caused. Modern society has become dispassionate to the cause of righteousness. Many people are so apathetic and desensitized today that they cannot even accurately define the term "morality."”
And then he uses the “God agrees with me so you’re going down” argument. Doesn’t he realize (or didn’t he, when he wrote this 3 years ago) that the very people he expresses love for at the beginning of the letter, would quite likely be some of the same people he’s now declared war on? Modern society has become dispassionate to the cause of righteousness? Modern society, future society, and past society have no clue what righteousness is, outside of the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ. Why is this pastor holding society up to a standard of righteousness that they can’t attain to anyway?
“The masses have dug in and continue to excuse their failure to stand against horrendous atrocities such as the aggressive propagation of homo- and bisexuality. Inexcusable justifications such as, "I'm just not sure where the truth lies," or "If they don't affect me then I don't care what they do," abound from the lips of the quantifiable majority.”
Now I wonder, where did that understanding, care, compassion and tolerance, sympathy, love and fellowship, prayerfully beseeching to seek help (that he has for those dealing with an unwanted sexual identity crisis) go, for those who in his opinion are “excusing their failure” by taking such a position as “I'm just not sure where the truth lies”?? Imagine for a minute, a young person, or a new believer confessing to this pastor “I’m just not sure” and him answering them with the above paragraph. The fact is, there are a lot of people who really AREN’T sure about this – that doesn’t make them part of the enemy camp to be declared war on, for crying out loud. I have huge issues with such a statement.
He then goes on to quote philosopher and politician Edmund Burke's theologically bankrupt statement about the triumph of evil. I beg to differ here big time, since “good men” (which I will point out as righteous in Christ men) have been “doing something” since the days Abel, and that has not stopped the evil in the world. This is not to say that we should sit on our hind ends and do or say nothing when we see or are made aware of wickedness or injustices, but it IS to say that the idea so many have of “if we just band together, good men, we can overcome this wicked world” is a ludicrous idea. It’s also a very common Christian political (is that an oxymoron?) position, that actually contradicts Scripture. Let me ask, does the Bible teach this? Does the Bible teach that as we get closer and closer to the return of Christ, that good men will come together and overcome (as a group) the evils of this world? No, it certainly does not teach this at all. It teaches exactly the opposite. What was once considered evil will be considered good, and vice versa. The world hates Christ, therefore hates righteousness, and hates you, or me, or anyone else declaring Him, and declaring truth. And it will get worse, and worse, as the days pass. The Bible does however encourage us that you, or I, or your pastor, or any other believer might certainly be used of God to make a difference one on one, in someone’s life, by being a vessel of the gospel to them.
“From kindergarten class on, our children, your grandchildren are being strategically targeted, psychologically abused and brainwashed by homosexual and pro-homosexual educators. Our children are being victimized by repugnant and premeditated strategies, aimed at desensitizing and eventually recruiting our young into their camps. Think about it, children as young as five and six years of age are being subjected to psychologically and physiologically damaging pro-homosexual literature and guidance in the public school system; all under the fraudulent guise of equal rights.”
Totally agree there, and this is one of the reasons we choose to educate our Children in a Christ-centered environment, and not hand them over to the government schools, then throw a fit about what the government schools are teaching them. Does anyone honestly believe they’re going to buck against the government approved curriculum and win? I mean, let’s be honest here.
Boissoin goes on to rightly say:
“Your children are being warped into believing that same-sex families are acceptable; that men kissing men is appropriate.Your teenagers are being instructed on how to perform so-called safe same gender oral and anal sex and at the same time being told that it is normal, natural and even productive. Will your child be the next victim that tests homosexuality positive?”
My answer is no – my children are not being taught this – because our family has taken the responsibility to make sure they will NOT be taught this. Please do not misunderstand that comment – it does not say public school parents are irresponsible. There are countless public school parents who’s families are also Christ-centered, that are teaching their kids the same truths, and equipping them to deal with the lies in the public school system.
Boissoin:
“Come on people, wake up! It's time to stand together and take whatever steps are necessary to reverse the wickedness that our lethargy has authorized to spawn. Where homosexuality flourishes, all manner of wickedness abounds.”
Which steps would those be? Declaring war? Broadbrushing all sorts of folks into one repugnant category, from the reprobate to the innocent ignorant, and putting them on the defensive? By being contensious with the gospel, instead of contending for the gospel? Honestly, I think Boissoin already touched on the right attitude in this, in his very first paragraph, then somehow got lost in the whole political activist thing.
“Regardless of what you hear, the militant homosexual agenda isn't rooted in protecting homosexuals from "gay bashing." The agenda is clearly about homosexual activists that include, teachers, politicians, lawyers, Supreme Court judges, and God forbid, even so-called ministers, who are all determined to gain complete equality in our nation and even worse, our world.”
I don’t know if this is true – but I suspect there may be at least some truth in it. Even if it is true, even if it’s worse than anyone realizes, I submit one very simple question:
If the righteous in Christ, do “wake up” as Boissoin insultingly suggests, and jump on this issue, by political activism, voting, or whatever it is that he has in mind – bearing in mind true conservative Christianity is RARE and in the minority – what outcome does Boissoin think there will be?
This next paragraph was the kicker for me:
“Don't allow yourself to be deceived any longer. These activists are not morally upright citizens, concerned about the best interests of our society. They are perverse, self-centered and morally deprived individuals who are spreading their psychological disease into every area of our lives. Homosexual rights activists and those that defend them, are just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities.”
First, who was Boissoin writing this to? Those that don’t already agree with his position, therefore they’re allowing themselves to be deceived?
Of these activists that are not morally upright (and yes, I agree) many of them actually ARE concerned about what they believe the best interests of society. Are they deceived about what is really for the best? Is their concern misplaced? Of course – but they’re still concerned, all the same. Keep in mind, a lot of these people being referred to here are human rights activists, teachers, coaches, doctors, emergency medical techs, the volunteers at the poison control center or the 911 dispatch operator, etc (I could go on, but I assume you get the point). People who devote their lives to benefiting the lives of other people. Misplaced concerns aside… to read this description “perverse, self-centered and morally deprived… spreading their psychological disease… just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities ” really makes these people sound like worthless, oxygen thieves, not worthy of my time, or yours, hiding behind bushes like the boogey man, waiting to jump out and eat our children.
Are these people not made in His image? Are they not worthy of hearing the gospel? Are they not worth the effort it takes to show compassion and at least TRY to remember it might not have been so long ago, that maybe you or I, were just like them?
Again with the “it’s all your fault” approach:
“The homosexual agenda is not gaining ground because it is morally backed. It is gaining ground simply because you, Mr. and Mrs. Heterosexual, do nothing to stop it. It is only a matter of time before some of these morally bankrupt individuals such as those involved with NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Lovers Association, will achieve their goal to have sexual relations with children and assert that it is a matter of free choice and claim that we are intolerant bigots not to accept it.”
It’s clear this pastor really believes Mr. and Mrs. Hetero can stop it. I’d like to hear his point by point proven solution to stop it. That would be enlightening.
The letter concludes with this:
“If you are reading this and think that this is alarmist, then I simply ask you this: how bad do things have to become before you will get involved? It's time to start taking back what the enemy has taken from you. The safety and future of our children is at stake.”
Alarmist? How about insulting toward believers and non-believers alike? How about assuming man’s good works and good intentions will have any affect on what could very well be God’s plan to allow the consequences of this sin sick world, to flourish, for a time? How about highly presumptious that other believers reading this aren’t already involved in taking a stand against these things, in other ways NOT public, where the Holy Spirit is leading them?
And I conclude with this:
For all I know, this man is a wonderful, loving, compassionate pastor, husband and father. I didn’t see it in this letter, however. I saw a lot of hate, a lot of anger, and a lot of broad-brushing, and assumption. Maybe I’m the one who’s wrong? Maybe I’m way off base here – but this is the way the letter read to me.
Fire at will.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Carla
Canadian Pastor Faces Charges
Last night, a news item was brought to my attention. That news item being "Stephen Boissoin, a pastor in Alberta, Canada has been called before the Human Rights Commission because he has spoken out on the dangers of homosexuality."
At first, reading this small article from an email list, which originates here, the reader might be inclined to wonder if this might be the first case pressed against an innocent pastor, since the new law went into affect about hate speech.
After a little digging however, the reader might still think "wow", but for different reasons.
The small article at wayoflife.org does not go into the full text of what this pastor wrote.
In a nutshell - 3 years ago, this pastor wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper, condemning homosexual influence on children. Someone complained. It went before the Human Rights Commission. It was dropped. The complainant appealed the decision. It was reviewed again. They didn't drop it this time. (obviously I've omitted a few details, but this is the gist of it)
Now it's in the offbeat news sources. As of last night, I didn't see any references in the MSM.
Here's the kicker...
The language used in the letter to the editor was more than just "this is wrong and here is why". It was reminescent of Fred Phelps, and his clan. If you don't know who Phelps is, you're blessed. I won't even give a link to his web page, he's that revolting, in my opinion.
While reading the first article, the smaller one, I really wanted to show my support for this pastor. However, after reading the details, I found it a little hard to come to his defense, even in my thoughts. While I certainly agree with what the Bible says on this subject, to me, this letter, and Boissoin's stand on the issue, seems so... what's the word I'm looking for? inflammatory? hateful? devoid of tact?
I dunno... maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm right? Maybe it's a little of both?
Here's the breakdown of the case - you can read it for yourself:
Human Rights Commission
ATTACKS CCC and Rev. Stephen Boissoin
At first, reading this small article from an email list, which originates here, the reader might be inclined to wonder if this might be the first case pressed against an innocent pastor, since the new law went into affect about hate speech.
After a little digging however, the reader might still think "wow", but for different reasons.
The small article at wayoflife.org does not go into the full text of what this pastor wrote.
In a nutshell - 3 years ago, this pastor wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper, condemning homosexual influence on children. Someone complained. It went before the Human Rights Commission. It was dropped. The complainant appealed the decision. It was reviewed again. They didn't drop it this time. (obviously I've omitted a few details, but this is the gist of it)
Now it's in the offbeat news sources. As of last night, I didn't see any references in the MSM.
Here's the kicker...
The language used in the letter to the editor was more than just "this is wrong and here is why". It was reminescent of Fred Phelps, and his clan. If you don't know who Phelps is, you're blessed. I won't even give a link to his web page, he's that revolting, in my opinion.
While reading the first article, the smaller one, I really wanted to show my support for this pastor. However, after reading the details, I found it a little hard to come to his defense, even in my thoughts. While I certainly agree with what the Bible says on this subject, to me, this letter, and Boissoin's stand on the issue, seems so... what's the word I'm looking for? inflammatory? hateful? devoid of tact?
I dunno... maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm right? Maybe it's a little of both?
Here's the breakdown of the case - you can read it for yourself:
Human Rights Commission
ATTACKS CCC and Rev. Stephen Boissoin
September 17, 2005
The Essentials
You might have already noticed there's a new poll over in the left sidebar. A few different factors went into this poll, and the answer options. One being an ongoing conversation I've had for the last month with various people on this topic (I've addressed one aspect of this here) - and another being the Pyro's recent address of the same topic here, here, and here.
Now I'm curious to see what you think. You're welcome to take the poll and leave a comment here as well, if you'd like. If none of the answers accurately define your position, tell us why - and tell us here how you'd answer.
SDG - me
Now I'm curious to see what you think. You're welcome to take the poll and leave a comment here as well, if you'd like. If none of the answers accurately define your position, tell us why - and tell us here how you'd answer.
SDG - me
September 16, 2005
I wonder..
Did you buy my book? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Did you line your birdcage with it?
The only place I've talked about it really, is here at this blog - so I'm guessing it was from the readership here, that the copies that were sold so far, sold.
If you've bought it, and read it, would you mind posting a review here: http://www.lulu.com/content/158470
Please be kind - if you really hated it - say so - but say it nicely, lol.
The only place I've talked about it really, is here at this blog - so I'm guessing it was from the readership here, that the copies that were sold so far, sold.
If you've bought it, and read it, would you mind posting a review here: http://www.lulu.com/content/158470
Please be kind - if you really hated it - say so - but say it nicely, lol.
One Last Hurrah
This morning as I sat here having my coffee, reading, and enjoying the quiet, I heard a sound. The more closely I listened, I realized it was the girls, talking. Their voices sounded muffled, so my first thought was "they're in the garage, down stairs". I went to the garage to see, and it was empty. When I came back upstairs, I saw them. Outside... at their play area. Only little girls 6 and 8 can get away with this. Still in their jammies, but with their winter coats on, in the rain, on their swings, singing and swinging, fast and furious, at 8 am. They're really going to miss the summer.
I think I'm going to miss it too.
Friday Funny Bone
I've been thinking about doing this for a while now. This might be a good time to start it, since it seems lately there's alot of tension in the God blogosphere that could use a good break.
With that said - here's the way this will work. Every Friday (if there's an interest) I'll be posting a good, clean funny, from my Funny Papers site. Things that made me laugh - things that made me think, then laugh. Hopefully to do the same for you, and let you pass it on to others who need a good, clean laugh.
So here is today's FFB:
TEXAS WISDOM
1. Never slap a man who's chewin' tobacco.
2. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
3. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in.
4. If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
5. If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
6. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
7. There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works.
8. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
9. Don't squat with your spurs on.
10. It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
11. Always drink upstream from the herd.
12. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
13. There are three kinds of people: The ones that learn by reading, The few who learn by observation, and the rest of them who have to touch the fire to see for themselves if it's really hot.
Friday's Feast September 16
Appetizer
Do your closer friends tend to be male or female? Why do you think that is?
It's pretty much an even split - and has been this way my whole life. As a kid I hung around my older brother and his friends (to some degree), and learned how to get along with boys (even though they were gross and had cooties). As an adult, especially an adult who loves to discuss theology, primarily (but certainly not exclusively - shout out to Kim, Nina and Denise) those discussions and ensuing friendships have been with men.
Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would it be?
Well I don't like this question. The first thing that came to mind was "be able to fly, and be invisible". Why? I have no idea...
Salad
Name a household cleaning item that you would recommend to others.
Getting off your hind end and using elbow grease? Other than that, the last cleaning item I was impressed with was Lime Away. It actually works like the bottle says it does. With very little elbow grease.
Main Course
What do you strive for in life?
Being more like Jesus every day.
Dessert
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how funny do you consider yourself?
Ugh - this is a trick question. If I rank myself low, those who think I'm funnier than that, will say "no way, you're FUNNY!" and if I rank myself high, those who think I'm a dolt will say "please, get over yourself". Therefore I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I'm a waffler and don't care to say "look at me, I'm funny".
Do your closer friends tend to be male or female? Why do you think that is?
It's pretty much an even split - and has been this way my whole life. As a kid I hung around my older brother and his friends (to some degree), and learned how to get along with boys (even though they were gross and had cooties). As an adult, especially an adult who loves to discuss theology, primarily (but certainly not exclusively - shout out to Kim, Nina and Denise) those discussions and ensuing friendships have been with men.
Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would it be?
Well I don't like this question. The first thing that came to mind was "be able to fly, and be invisible". Why? I have no idea...
Salad
Name a household cleaning item that you would recommend to others.
Getting off your hind end and using elbow grease? Other than that, the last cleaning item I was impressed with was Lime Away. It actually works like the bottle says it does. With very little elbow grease.
Main Course
What do you strive for in life?
Being more like Jesus every day.
Dessert
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how funny do you consider yourself?
Ugh - this is a trick question. If I rank myself low, those who think I'm funnier than that, will say "no way, you're FUNNY!" and if I rank myself high, those who think I'm a dolt will say "please, get over yourself". Therefore I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I'm a waffler and don't care to say "look at me, I'm funny".
On being a SAHM
Are you a stay at home mom? Do you want to be?
Here's a good article, one to surely encourage. "The Role I Want to Fill".
(HT: Albert Mohler)
Here's a good article, one to surely encourage. "The Role I Want to Fill".
(HT: Albert Mohler)
September 15, 2005
Happy Birthday George the George
On my children's birthdays, I like to go back in time to the day they were born. If such trips down someone else's memory lane, bore you to tears - just click on by.
The events in my life at the time Jordan was born, were (and still are, to some degree) quite complicated and difficult. Theologically I had been struggling in a very painful way, with my church, and was prepared to leave it. Which I did, only 2 months after Jordan was born. Personally, I was struggling with my own walk with Christ in ways I never thought I would. Sometimes it's very hard to look back at that period of time - but the birth of my angel-face girlie, is a bright spot in that time frame.
The pregnancy went very well, even though I was a toothpick and didn't gain the weight the doctor wanted me to. Other than that, it was quite uneventful, and filled with cookies. :-)
The last 3 weeks, we had a heatwave, and I became the waddling-miserable. What had been an uneventful pregnancy turned into great pain, just to move. Suddenly, literally overnight, I thought my hips were going to explode if I sneezed, or breathed too deeply. We lived in a little 3 bedroom apartment back then, and it took me about 20 minutes to walk from my room, down the hall, and into the living room. I had to hold the wall, and walk very very slowly, it hurt so badly. The doctor said this was quite normal - just happened to be the way I was carrying her.
We already knew she was a she, since the ultrasound at 4 months. Her name was settled, she would be named Jordan, after the waters our Lord was baptised in, and her middle name was to be Amy, after the little sister of my grandpa. Amy had what they called back then, "sleeping sickness" and died as a child. Grandpa said she looked like an angel, nearly white hair, very fair skinned and just a whisper of a child. The only time I ever heard my grandpa talk about her, was over 70 years after she had died, and there was a catch in his voice, even then.
My due date came and went, and still no sign this little baby was interested in the least, of meeting her new family. She wanted to be left alone.
Finally the doctor said, if I didn't show any signs of going into labor, about a week after the due date, that he would induce. So that's what we did.
My friend Kathy drove me to the hospital that morning, and then went to the school to pick up Caryn. It had already been arrainged with the school that she would be excused, to be there to witness the delivery, and welcome her baby sister into the world! :-)
Mom came and stayed to help out with Jen & Jessica - they were so excited!
I was supposed to have an epidural, but once the pitocin kicked in, it kicked in so quickly, there was no time for the anesthesiologist to do anything. He was actually there in the room, prepping my back for the injection, when the first enormous labor pain kicked in, and the urge to PUSH overcame me like a ton of bricks. I remember someone saying "no, you can't push yet" and me responding with "I HAVE to!!" And I did. And I screamed.
Seconds later, another contraction - on the way into delivery. More screaming, more pushing, more urging me "not yet!". The delivery room wasn't even prepped for me, and on the third contraction, and one more scream, there she was!!!! Caryn cut the cord, called the time, and then the doctor walked in, lol. His first words to me were "well hey there supermom, you didn't even need me here today, did you?".
It was all over so fast, it still seems surreal to me.
Caryn was 7.2, Jennifer was 7.2, and Jessica 8.15. Jordan was 6.9 and she seemed so tiny, compared to her sisters. And she was quiet - not a fussy newborn at all. I held her, and I cried tears of joy. I kissed her teenie little face, and thanked the Lord for a healthy, beautiful little girl.
Oddly enough, as she grows up (I cannot believe she's 8 years old today!) she looks more and more all the time, like the way my grandpa described his little sister Amy.
You might be wondering "George the George?" Like all of our kids, Jordan has an endless supply of nicknames. One of the more common is "Crum". Kev mispoke one day when she was about 8 months old, and instead of calling her Creamy Plum, which I called her at the time, he accidentally called her Crispy Crum. It was funny, and for some strange reason, Crum stuck. To this day, she is often called Crum. Another name often used is George. One day when she was about 2, I asked her what her name was, and she said "George Mercer". I have no idea where she came up with that one, but she became George... later it morphed to George THE George. Yeah I know, we're strange.
But we sure do have cute kids. :-)
Happy Birthday Jordan - mamma loves you with all the love in her heart.
Just a few thoughts about today...
Today I've been completely inspired, encouraged and painfully convicted, all at the same time.
2 reasons for this.
1. Phil's post here, and the ensuing commentary-conversation.
Phil says " "I am looking for writers who actually grapple with the biblical basis for making a distinction between primary and secondary issues."
Well, I'm a writer. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the kind of writer Phil is looking for. I also grapple with the Biblical basis for making such a distinction on these foundational and secondary issues. I've grappled with it for a long time, and studied hard, and prayed, and had countless conversations about this very pivotal topic, with many godly people.
I used to think those who were well educated, well read, and could give a Biblical defense for the sovereignty of God, were the kind of people I could be comfortable around. I said used to. Over the last year or so I've noticed more and more that some of these people seem more lost than the wild boar spotted in Toronto last year.
Yes, I know that sounds harsh and judgemental, but I don't mean it to, at all. All I mean by this, is that simply because a man or woman has a degree, and some amount of intellect, and can quote all the right verses and passages, certainly doesn't mean they're going to be solid in certain other areas - such as the atonement, or justification. In some areas, that I consider to be of the utmost importance to Biblical Christianity, these people hold to some of the most unbiblical things I've ever heard since leaving the AoG. Not just secondary issues, or in-house debates, but pivotal issues on the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I guess I got lazy - because once I studied and prayed through my leaving the charismatic church in the late 90's, I really didn't revisit this topic of the essentials of the gospel, until years later. I should have stayed on it, really.
But recently it's come up (a lot!) again, and it's causing me to re-examine what I think I knew, what I know I knew, and what I didn't know that I didn't know.
So it's good that people like Phil are asking these kinds of questions. It's good that it's a topic for discussion and an encouragement to study it out from the Scripture - to know what we believe - to give an answer, and to come to know our most merciful God, even better.
Phil asked for resources, and I emailed him with a few. I'm too chicken to get torn apart on his comment section to share there, what I write here. I'm not a 47 syllable Bible scholar, and I probably wouldn't even understand half the insults if I did get them. Which might not be a bad thing?
Anyway, one of the resources I shared with Phil privately was this entry on the gospel essentials. I don't pretend to know it all about this topic - and I'm looking forward to learning much more.
The other thing I wanted to mention...
Tim Challies recently posted a promo for free books for bloggers. The first 50 responders got a free pdf file book for review. Being a penny pincher, I was all over it. The book is called Humility, True Greatness by CJ Mahaney. The promo is over already - but I was blessed to get in on it, before the first 50 responders deal, was met.
I'm into the 4th chapter - and while I don't really want to do a review on it yet - I can say this...
On the very first page, my heart was gripped with a truth I didn't really think applied to me, and I had a stinging in my eyes. After a few more pages, I didn't want to even stop reading to make dinner. I'm in alot of trouble with this book.
I don't even know who CJ Mahaney is. How's that, for well-read? Oh sure I've seen his name a thousand times, I've just never read anything from him. That I can remember, anyway. That's to my shame, I think. I'm just busy with kids, school, and studying the Scripture, I miss so much other good stuff out there.
Anyway, I'll post a full review when I'm done.
SDG
me
(update 09/15: Somehow, an entire section of the first topic was deleted before I posted this. I had much more to say last night on the first topic - but it escapes me now. I suspect I will be writing on this issue a lot more in the days to come).
2 reasons for this.
1. Phil's post here, and the ensuing commentary-conversation.
Phil says " "I am looking for writers who actually grapple with the biblical basis for making a distinction between primary and secondary issues."
Well, I'm a writer. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the kind of writer Phil is looking for. I also grapple with the Biblical basis for making such a distinction on these foundational and secondary issues. I've grappled with it for a long time, and studied hard, and prayed, and had countless conversations about this very pivotal topic, with many godly people.
I used to think those who were well educated, well read, and could give a Biblical defense for the sovereignty of God, were the kind of people I could be comfortable around. I said used to. Over the last year or so I've noticed more and more that some of these people seem more lost than the wild boar spotted in Toronto last year.
Yes, I know that sounds harsh and judgemental, but I don't mean it to, at all. All I mean by this, is that simply because a man or woman has a degree, and some amount of intellect, and can quote all the right verses and passages, certainly doesn't mean they're going to be solid in certain other areas - such as the atonement, or justification. In some areas, that I consider to be of the utmost importance to Biblical Christianity, these people hold to some of the most unbiblical things I've ever heard since leaving the AoG. Not just secondary issues, or in-house debates, but pivotal issues on the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I guess I got lazy - because once I studied and prayed through my leaving the charismatic church in the late 90's, I really didn't revisit this topic of the essentials of the gospel, until years later. I should have stayed on it, really.
But recently it's come up (a lot!) again, and it's causing me to re-examine what I think I knew, what I know I knew, and what I didn't know that I didn't know.
So it's good that people like Phil are asking these kinds of questions. It's good that it's a topic for discussion and an encouragement to study it out from the Scripture - to know what we believe - to give an answer, and to come to know our most merciful God, even better.
Phil asked for resources, and I emailed him with a few. I'm too chicken to get torn apart on his comment section to share there, what I write here. I'm not a 47 syllable Bible scholar, and I probably wouldn't even understand half the insults if I did get them. Which might not be a bad thing?
Anyway, one of the resources I shared with Phil privately was this entry on the gospel essentials. I don't pretend to know it all about this topic - and I'm looking forward to learning much more.
The other thing I wanted to mention...
Tim Challies recently posted a promo for free books for bloggers. The first 50 responders got a free pdf file book for review. Being a penny pincher, I was all over it. The book is called Humility, True Greatness by CJ Mahaney. The promo is over already - but I was blessed to get in on it, before the first 50 responders deal, was met.
I'm into the 4th chapter - and while I don't really want to do a review on it yet - I can say this...
On the very first page, my heart was gripped with a truth I didn't really think applied to me, and I had a stinging in my eyes. After a few more pages, I didn't want to even stop reading to make dinner. I'm in alot of trouble with this book.
I don't even know who CJ Mahaney is. How's that, for well-read? Oh sure I've seen his name a thousand times, I've just never read anything from him. That I can remember, anyway. That's to my shame, I think. I'm just busy with kids, school, and studying the Scripture, I miss so much other good stuff out there.
Anyway, I'll post a full review when I'm done.
SDG
me
(update 09/15: Somehow, an entire section of the first topic was deleted before I posted this. I had much more to say last night on the first topic - but it escapes me now. I suspect I will be writing on this issue a lot more in the days to come).
September 14, 2005
It made me laugh
I missed the second half of the DL yesterday (had to take a nap, you know, priorities) so I opened it this morning to listen to the rest of it. James made mention of how so many influential Christian leaders like to tear down Calvinism, but oddly enough they won't agree to debate it.
He said they give every excuse out there, incuding
"I'm sorry, I have to floss my cat that weekend".
I lol'd, for real. Then I laughed again. Then I told Kev what he said, and he laughed too.
Yes, I'm easily entertained.
Thanks James. :-)
He said they give every excuse out there, incuding
"I'm sorry, I have to floss my cat that weekend".
I lol'd, for real. Then I laughed again. Then I told Kev what he said, and he laughed too.
Yes, I'm easily entertained.
Thanks James. :-)
September 13, 2005
On being a peacemaker
My regular readers will recognize the name Dennis Gunderson. Many of you will also recognize Grace and Truth Books. Some of you might not know that Dennis also blogs here.
On September 1, Dennis posted something that just jumped off the screen at me. He admits that what he fears the most, is yet another division in the church. He says it this way:
On September 1, Dennis posted something that just jumped off the screen at me. He admits that what he fears the most, is yet another division in the church. He says it this way:
“I am utterly sick and tired of it. I cannot stomach another moment of it. I will be 53 years old on Saturday, and am not sure at all how I would bear a single more instance in my life of seeing this abomination in the sight of God. And let none call it overstatement to label it "abomination", when Prov 6:19 says that, among the "things which the Lord hates", which "are an abomination to Him", according to the Proverb, is "one who spreads strife among brothers.”
There are a few reasons this stands out to me. First and foremost, Christian living. Genuine, Biblical, God-honoring conduct. This is critical to me. Especially because I know I fall so short, in so many areas.
Secondly, I’ve have quite a few conversations lately with friends who are pastors, who practically echo brother Dennis’ statements word for word. Due to their positions in the local churches they minister in, they have a perspective on these things that many of us, simply do not have. I listen intently to them. Other than my own pastor, I have 5 other pastors in my life that I regularly question, and learn from.
Listed in his article are several things that can set off “strife”, and in Dennis’ words, “Search your own heart with the list below, and may God use these meditations to form in you the heart of a peacemaker, one who is diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
I’m going to repost the list here, along with my commentary. I hope this serves to bless you.
• Taking offense at offensive remarks about ourselves, that we could ignore
This is a tough one for me. It’s my natural reaction to answer back, to these sort of remarks, and defend myself. The thing is, to do that, only adds more fuel to the fire, especially if that’s what the offender had hoped for, an ensuing argument.
My friend Audey recently spoke with me about this and reminded me that we don’t have to take a personal defensive position – especially if the attack comes as a result of a firm stand on the written word. Letting the word speak for itself and sometimes just remaining silent, is the best approach. He said “learning how, and when to retreat, certainly isn’t admitting defeat”. That was good advice for me.
• Spreading malicious words about someone which we could bring to a stop
Oh boy. This isn't easy to admit, but yes, I've done this. I do need to make a clarification though. Before I was saved, I was a pro at this. I was known for my verbal assaults. I'm not proud of it, it's just the way I was.
After I was converted to Christ, this was one of the biggest changes in my life. However, even now, every once in a while, I can get caustic, especially when I fail to realize when to retreat (see point #1) and return a defense to an offense.
• Treating our personal preferences as though they were issues to "take a stand" on
The most ironic thing about reading this - was the conversation Kev and I had about 2 hours ago. He heard me make a comment to someone else, about "drawing a line" on entertainment, and he misunderstood and thought I was going on a bandwagon about a certain movie. LOL, he knows me well. He remembers the flak I took for my stand against The Passion. He also remembers well how legalistic he and I both used to be. It's an easy line to cross, and even now I still sometimes feel rather legalistic at times. I'm constantly asking myself "is this merely my opinion, or is this clear in Scripture?".
• Insisting on getting our own way, "or else"
I had to really think about this one for a minute, because at first it didn't sound like an issue I deal with. Parts of this statement is true about me, and part isn't. I'm an organizational freak - I don't operate well in a mess, or when things aren't scheduled or planned. It's just the way I am. The part that isn't true about me is the "or else" part. Fact is, I always get my way, so I've never had to deal with the or else. Of course I'm kidding, things do not go my way, or the way I would prefer, much of the time, and I just deal with it. Usually learning a lesson in it.
• Regarding the correction of friends as hatred, accusation, or gossip
This is a tricky one for me. I think it all depends on the one doing the correcting, and the motive for it. I've said it before and I believe it to be true, that some people just like to be doctrinal bulldozers. That, or they just enjoy controversy, or have large pride issues and can't stand it when someone disagrees with them.
I had the opportunity recently to hear a sister in the Lord corrected by someone. It was done with love, with gentleness, and kindness - for her own benefit, to learn from it, and become more sure of her position of the word, on a certain teaching.
I've also been present when this same sister was corrected with anger, and ugly words, accusations and outright slander. Later, the person who corrected her used vulgar language to describe her, to a large group of other people, when she was not present.
It blessed me for her, when the first person corrected her. It hurt me for her when the second person did it. Motives were clear, in both cases. Motives are often, but not always clear. Learning how to take criticism, even the ugliest kind, even with the most malicious motives, is not easy. A word of advice from another pastor I know, once said "take what is true, ignore all the rest, and learn from it".
• Becoming annoyed that our work, our office, or ourselves, are not respected, admired, or noticed more
Ouch. I confess, this does bother me. Just today I said to my friend Debi "I do not fit in, never have, never will, and I'm tired of trying only to be reminded that I'm the oddball". Part of that was true, part was frustration. I don't like it that it bothers me, and I don't want it to bother me. I hope that's progress?
• Arrogantly judging the motives of others, as though we knew what was in their heart
Yes, I've done it. Yet another subject that was brought up just a few days ago by yet another pastor. He presented the scenario of 2 women at church. One woman, for whatever reason, is convinced that the other woman doesn't like her, and he doesn't know why. It bothers her, but she never asks - just assumes. One day the first woman finds out the second woman has admired and respected her for years - she's just struggling with all sorts of personal trials and other issues, and hasn't reached out to make any kind of contact with the other sister. The one sister now feels convicted that she ever assumed any ill will to begin with.
Of course this is just one scenario - and there are countless others. Again, sometimes motives are clear, and other times they are not. Sometimes motives are mistaken - I know this first hand since it's happened to me, and I've had to explain what I thought would be obvious. We would all do well to not assume anything, ever. And remember we cannot see inside another man's heart.
• Choosing to let feelings of being "snubbed" by others ("he wasn't friendly to me!") get under our skin.
This is in some ways like what I just addressed, but it goes beyond that. Once something gets under our skin, as Dennis puts it, it becomes a stumbling block. I'm not the kind of person to hold a grudge, but I sure have been in situations where I was highly uncomfortable around certain people, because of the way they have snubbed or disregarded me. It's not a pleasant feeling. It's not easy to shrug that off. In fact, I'm currently dealing with this very thing, in 2 different settings, and it's been bothering me quite a bit. I honestly don't know how to be around certain people without those feelings coming up - so I just try hard to avoid them (which isn't always possible).
This was actually a very uncomfortable list to go through. I'll close with quoting Dennis again, since it's so very appropriate:
"Search your own heart with the list... and may God use these meditations to form in you the heart of a peacemaker, one who is diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
SOLI DEO GLORIA...
God's Grace in Slidell
Before I express what's in my head & heart today, I just want to say we had a really good time of study today. All the kids did well with their lessons, and Ruth was even a good girl today. Bible, Math, Phonics, Spelling and Reading took us about 2 hours to complete, and Ruth never fussed or acted out once. We were going to include History today but I didn't want to push it after 2 hours. I am of a very grateful heart right now.
________________
When Katrina hit - those of us who know people down south, immediately thought of their safety and protection. Those who don't know anyone down there personally, also immediately began to reach out with cash donations, sending work crews, and various other ways.
For whatever reasons only God knows, there was one particular church family that the Lord immediately brought to my attention, and heavily burdened my heart for. I've never met any of these people face to face, and only know 1 of the members of this church family by chatting with him online over the last couple of years. Even then, it's only been a casual aquaintance sort of thing. Other close friends online, however, do know this church, and many of it's members, and have shared with me just how precious and wonderful these people are. I'm referring to this church family here, Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Slidell, LA.
It struck me today that they are just like me - even though they don't know me. We are just like them, even though we don't know them.
Today I was reading Gail's blog update. Gail is the church secretary, and wouldn't know me from Adam. But I know Gail, and Gail actually does know me.
Gail is a wife, a mother, a teacher, and has a heart for the Lord. Gail is a homeschooling mom, who loves to dance, sing, and laugh. A few weeks ago Gail was shopping for school supplies - and in thinking about how something as simple as color coded folders, was reminded of the Biblical principle of submission and authority. In a bittersweet entry dated August 9, Gail wrote with enthusiasm on how they had planned to do an in-depth study this year on the great state of Louisiana - to know more about the state that the travel brochure writers.
I read Gail's blog this morning and I saw myself. I saw my kids, my home, my world. My heart ached for her, when she wrote of spending days in the car trying to find refuge. These are her words:
As I read that, I turned and looked around me. My table, my bookcase, my books, my supplies. As a homeschooling mother - this is my world - my central hub - and the center of my kid's world, as well. It is not only our home, it's the center of learning in their young lives. It's all we have, and we have taken great strides to make sure we're as stocked as we can be, to afford them all the blessings and benefits they need for a solid, Christ centered education.
I wondered, how would I react, if I lost it all? If I were homeless with these kids for the next several months? Where would we go? Who would take us in? Would I be an example of His grace and handle it with dignity? I don't dare answer that last question.
I know this has to be so incredibly difficult for the people down south. I honestly don't know how the unbelievers are handling it - but I do know the believers are being given the opportunity to trust the Lord more now, than they might have ever had to, before (if that makes sense?). Some of the blog updates that are coming out of the south, from believers, have just gripped my heart with encouragment like nothing else has in a very long time. Over and over again, they testify of His grace, providence, mercy, blessing, and strength. When they've lost everything they've ever worked for, when they've lost jobs, when they've recovered drowned pets in their flooded homes, while cutting trees off roofs and going without beds to sleep in, they maintain an attitude of thankfulness, and praise.
And they also cry. They also keep asking for prayer. They also keep asking for us to not only pray for them, but the lost, who are in the same situation, but don't have the same hope and ultimate peace that they have.
I decided immediately after Katrina hit, that I was not going to focus on the sensational headlines or stories, but instead focus on finding God's grace in the chaos. I didn't know then that what I would be hearing and reading each and every day, was more and more testimonies of His providence, even from those who have literally lost everything.
They have blessed me more than they could possibly understand. They have been a sterling witness for Christ, and by their fruits, we do indeed know them. I do not know if I could be so encouraged, were I in their shoes. I would hope that I could be, and I would hope that I would be blessed with such strength and mercy, to walk with my head high, when all in this world were lost to me.
This entry is for no other reason than to thank Eddie, Laura, Gail, and all the other folks from SGF in Slidell, and all the others who have come forward to help them, work with them, pray with them, and cry with them. In your hour of need, your words of hope and your service to the household of faith have impacted me - and many others I'm sure.
Know that our entire church here in Ontario Canada is praying for you, as are many other brothers and sisters near and far - some you're aware of, and some you'll never even know about.
SDG,
Carla
________________
When Katrina hit - those of us who know people down south, immediately thought of their safety and protection. Those who don't know anyone down there personally, also immediately began to reach out with cash donations, sending work crews, and various other ways.
For whatever reasons only God knows, there was one particular church family that the Lord immediately brought to my attention, and heavily burdened my heart for. I've never met any of these people face to face, and only know 1 of the members of this church family by chatting with him online over the last couple of years. Even then, it's only been a casual aquaintance sort of thing. Other close friends online, however, do know this church, and many of it's members, and have shared with me just how precious and wonderful these people are. I'm referring to this church family here, Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Slidell, LA.
It struck me today that they are just like me - even though they don't know me. We are just like them, even though we don't know them.
Today I was reading Gail's blog update. Gail is the church secretary, and wouldn't know me from Adam. But I know Gail, and Gail actually does know me.
Gail is a wife, a mother, a teacher, and has a heart for the Lord. Gail is a homeschooling mom, who loves to dance, sing, and laugh. A few weeks ago Gail was shopping for school supplies - and in thinking about how something as simple as color coded folders, was reminded of the Biblical principle of submission and authority. In a bittersweet entry dated August 9, Gail wrote with enthusiasm on how they had planned to do an in-depth study this year on the great state of Louisiana - to know more about the state that the travel brochure writers.
I read Gail's blog this morning and I saw myself. I saw my kids, my home, my world. My heart ached for her, when she wrote of spending days in the car trying to find refuge. These are her words:
" I am homeless...I have five children...and I have been driving for days to get to a place I thought would be a sort of refuge.It wasn't a refuge.I won't go into the particulars...I will say that...a duck quacks...and a lost person can not show the compassion of Christ...no matter how pure they wish their motives were.I did not lose it. I remained calm. I am deeply hurt.I know that THIS too shall pass...and so I drive...from hotel to hotel...from place to place...truly living day by day by the mercies of God."
As I read that, I turned and looked around me. My table, my bookcase, my books, my supplies. As a homeschooling mother - this is my world - my central hub - and the center of my kid's world, as well. It is not only our home, it's the center of learning in their young lives. It's all we have, and we have taken great strides to make sure we're as stocked as we can be, to afford them all the blessings and benefits they need for a solid, Christ centered education.
I wondered, how would I react, if I lost it all? If I were homeless with these kids for the next several months? Where would we go? Who would take us in? Would I be an example of His grace and handle it with dignity? I don't dare answer that last question.
I know this has to be so incredibly difficult for the people down south. I honestly don't know how the unbelievers are handling it - but I do know the believers are being given the opportunity to trust the Lord more now, than they might have ever had to, before (if that makes sense?). Some of the blog updates that are coming out of the south, from believers, have just gripped my heart with encouragment like nothing else has in a very long time. Over and over again, they testify of His grace, providence, mercy, blessing, and strength. When they've lost everything they've ever worked for, when they've lost jobs, when they've recovered drowned pets in their flooded homes, while cutting trees off roofs and going without beds to sleep in, they maintain an attitude of thankfulness, and praise.
And they also cry. They also keep asking for prayer. They also keep asking for us to not only pray for them, but the lost, who are in the same situation, but don't have the same hope and ultimate peace that they have.
I decided immediately after Katrina hit, that I was not going to focus on the sensational headlines or stories, but instead focus on finding God's grace in the chaos. I didn't know then that what I would be hearing and reading each and every day, was more and more testimonies of His providence, even from those who have literally lost everything.
They have blessed me more than they could possibly understand. They have been a sterling witness for Christ, and by their fruits, we do indeed know them. I do not know if I could be so encouraged, were I in their shoes. I would hope that I could be, and I would hope that I would be blessed with such strength and mercy, to walk with my head high, when all in this world were lost to me.
This entry is for no other reason than to thank Eddie, Laura, Gail, and all the other folks from SGF in Slidell, and all the others who have come forward to help them, work with them, pray with them, and cry with them. In your hour of need, your words of hope and your service to the household of faith have impacted me - and many others I'm sure.
Know that our entire church here in Ontario Canada is praying for you, as are many other brothers and sisters near and far - some you're aware of, and some you'll never even know about.
SDG,
Carla
Today on the chalkboard...
Yesterday, for some reason, was "let's challenge mom at every turn" day, with all 4 of the youngest kids, during school.
During Bible, they all did well, and it was a good lesson. After that, it was me repeating myself numerous times, with each direction, with each kid, in math, spelling & phonics. During science and reading, it did go well, however.
By the time lessons were over at 12:15, I was more than ready for lessons to be over. It was just one of "those" days.
We have a chalkboard in the schoolroom, and each night after the kids go to bed I erase the date, and write in tomorrow's date. Each morning I have one of the kids read the board outloud to me. For example, today it says:
Today is Tuesday, September 13, 2005. It sounds so... so... not that big of a deal, but it sure is. I did this all through the summer, and just by doing this 1 little thing each night, Samuel has begun to get a grasp of yesterday/tomorrow. By reading the board every morning, the kids have all really made progress on getting a better perspective of time. So it's helped quite a bit.
When Kev came home last night, he asked how the day went. I told him. He looked sort of bummed out, and had a talk with the kids about staying focused during school and listening to directions the first time.
When I got up this morning, I found this message on the chalkboard.
Kev's at work today, so this was nice of him to leave for the kids, and also an encouragment for me.
I just cannot stress enough how important it is, if you're going to make the decision to homeschool your children, that it ought to be a joint decision between both parents. Both supporting each other, teaching, encouraging, and presenting a united front, for the children. It's been my own personal experience, and also in observation, that even though it's generally the mother who does the bulk of the teaching (and planning), that the father in the home that supports homeschooling - sure makes it alot easier on days like yesterday.
Kev's work schedule, combined with us only having 1 vehicle, makes for a situation that allows me only twice a week to get out and run errands. On those days, I go over the lesson plan for the day with him, then I'm outta here, and he's Mr. Teacher. He has his own teaching style - and his own strong suits in certain subjects, just as I have mine. I've privately told him, if he were my substitute teacher when I was a kid, he'd be the guy getting paper airplanes thrown at his back when he was at the chalkboard. :-) (we dont allow paper airplanes in our class though)
I know there are alot of homeschooling moms that don't have this kind of support. I also know there are alot of dads that wish their wives would be open to it - but they're not, and this creates a tension in families that just should not be there. With 5 kids still at home, and Ruth (2) being in the classroom this year, we have plenty of tension around here, I'm just grateful that this kind of conflict about homeschooling is not one of those things that cause it.
SDG,
me
During Bible, they all did well, and it was a good lesson. After that, it was me repeating myself numerous times, with each direction, with each kid, in math, spelling & phonics. During science and reading, it did go well, however.
By the time lessons were over at 12:15, I was more than ready for lessons to be over. It was just one of "those" days.
We have a chalkboard in the schoolroom, and each night after the kids go to bed I erase the date, and write in tomorrow's date. Each morning I have one of the kids read the board outloud to me. For example, today it says:
Today is Tuesday, September 13, 2005. It sounds so... so... not that big of a deal, but it sure is. I did this all through the summer, and just by doing this 1 little thing each night, Samuel has begun to get a grasp of yesterday/tomorrow. By reading the board every morning, the kids have all really made progress on getting a better perspective of time. So it's helped quite a bit.
When Kev came home last night, he asked how the day went. I told him. He looked sort of bummed out, and had a talk with the kids about staying focused during school and listening to directions the first time.
When I got up this morning, I found this message on the chalkboard.
Kev's at work today, so this was nice of him to leave for the kids, and also an encouragment for me.
I just cannot stress enough how important it is, if you're going to make the decision to homeschool your children, that it ought to be a joint decision between both parents. Both supporting each other, teaching, encouraging, and presenting a united front, for the children. It's been my own personal experience, and also in observation, that even though it's generally the mother who does the bulk of the teaching (and planning), that the father in the home that supports homeschooling - sure makes it alot easier on days like yesterday.
Kev's work schedule, combined with us only having 1 vehicle, makes for a situation that allows me only twice a week to get out and run errands. On those days, I go over the lesson plan for the day with him, then I'm outta here, and he's Mr. Teacher. He has his own teaching style - and his own strong suits in certain subjects, just as I have mine. I've privately told him, if he were my substitute teacher when I was a kid, he'd be the guy getting paper airplanes thrown at his back when he was at the chalkboard. :-) (we dont allow paper airplanes in our class though)
I know there are alot of homeschooling moms that don't have this kind of support. I also know there are alot of dads that wish their wives would be open to it - but they're not, and this creates a tension in families that just should not be there. With 5 kids still at home, and Ruth (2) being in the classroom this year, we have plenty of tension around here, I'm just grateful that this kind of conflict about homeschooling is not one of those things that cause it.
SDG,
me
September 12, 2005
Do I Pass?
Yesterday, a reader at Emergent No left this comment:
I find this comment interesting, for a couple of reasons.
First, if this comment were left by a friend, it would be clear to me that it would have been coming from a genuinely (dare I say, authentic?) concerned brother or sister. I would be encouraged and challenged by the questions. However, since it comes from a man who recently failed his own test by posting blog entries that tore down a sister in Christ, I do have to question the motives for the question.
Which brings me to my second reason I find this interesting. This whole double standard thing I see going on. Basically the way it works is this: you post something about a doctrine, a church, a book, or a website that you find unBiblical, someone responds and says "you're SO mean!" then they respond on their site with a snotty personal attack and wallow in martyr mentality, fishing for the sympathy vote, and talking about being authentically Christian and loving your neighbor.
Give me a large break.
Now, back to the test. I'll ignore the source, and the likely motive, and answer the questions as honestly as I know how.
Regarding my opinions:
1. Is it truth?
Yes, it is truth as I see it. No matter what it is. Politics, family relationships, theology, social issues, etc. I do my very best to research an issue as thoroughly as possible, before I write on it - depending on what it is. Especially when it comes to doctrine.
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
No, it won't be seen as "fair" to all concerned - most especially those who disagree with what I have to say. Case in point: if I say the PDL junk, is junk, those who think Rick Warren hung the moon, will cry foul, call me unfair, and get bent out of shape. Those who've embraced the emerging church talk alot about desiring fair critique, but it seems no matter what anyone says in the way of critique, someone finds something "unfair" about it - simply because they disagree. It's just the way it is.
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
No, it (my opinion) will not always do that - nor will anyone else's opinions, unless they're a flaming liberal (in every area of life from social issues, politics, theology) who waffles on every issue to blend in with every position so as not to offend anyone. Again, it's just the way it is.
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Again, no, it will not benefit those who either can't stand my position, reject the Scripture as final authority, or couldn't care less one way or the other. Example: I'm a homeschool mom who has a million and one reasons to state my opinion that the public school system stinks. Will that opinion benefit the die-hard public school parent? Likely not - unless they take the time to do the same research I've done, and see the same things I've seen. Even then, they may or may not come away with the same opinion. This goes both ways though - someone who posts their opinion that Benny Hinn is a man of God, doesn't benefit me in the least.
Now let's look at this statement left by the commenter:
"everyone is free to express their own opinions, however, our Christian witness obligates us to express those opinions according to certain standards"
I couldn't agree more. Again, I'll ignore the likely motive behind this statement (i.e., "you're SO mean and your standards stink, unlike mine which allow me to call names then turn right around and hold you to a standard I don't even hold to for myself!"), and simply appeal to the Scripture on this.
Ga 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
In today's world of fluffy-puffy Christians, the answer to this question is a deafening YES.
While I do absolutely agree that we as believers have a standard to maintain when we express our opinions - I have watched first hand, countless times, solid, godly men and women express their opinions on a deviant movement, or a rotten doctrine, in uber-kind, compassionate, grace-filled ways, only to be met with the same "you're SO mean!" 8 year old rebellious attitude. It doesn't stop with "you're so mean", it continues on with slander-campaigns, email or blog harassment, which always includes the ever-brave, anon comments, or even fake blogs or sites put up in protest of the meanie-critique, that mimic their site or blog. It's ridiculously immature, but it happens all the time.
With all of that said - we still do have a standard to maintain, and the standard is Scripture. How are we to address believers? Unbelievers? False doctrine? Bad theology?
Do we play patty-cake and soft-peddle little suggestions here and there?
No, we don't. At the same time, we're called to contend FOR the faith, not be contensious IN the faith.
This is a lesson the Holy Spirit has been showing me for a long time. Something I'm mindful of every day, especially when I write. Something I admit I don't always measure up with.
There are 2 bottom lines here, depending on which camp you're in. If you're in the camp contending for the faith, your bottom line is basically this: am I conducting myself Biblically?
If you're in the camp receiving criticism, your bottom line ought to be this: is it true, and if any of it IS true, let me receive it and change my approach, without whining like a child and lashing out personally at those who critique me.
I'm still learning to do both.
One more interesting thing about that comment left at ENo. The commenter credits the author of the "test" to Hebert Taylor, a Christian business man who designed this test for conduct in the workplace. When I first read this, the very first thought that came to mind was "this sounds so classically ecumenical".
Reading Taylor's brief bio, on how he implemented this test in the workplace I found this:
I can assure the readers here, many of my opinions will not be well received by Roman Catholics, Christian Scientists, Jews, or Presbyterians. Or Anglicans, Emergents, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, or any number of other groups that disagree with the positions that I hold.
This is not to say that I will go out of my way to be offensive toward them, personally, because that would be inexcusable. It does mean however, that I am a Christian, and I stand firmly on Sola Scriptura, and THAT, will offend numerous groups, no matter how syrupy sweet, I present my case, on any given topic.
It seems it's all coming down to this same common denominator. Don't offend anyone. Take a position than anyone, of any faith, or no faith at all, will be able to agree with, and live with. Don't upset the apple cart. Don't stand out, don't stand up, and whatever you do, don't take a stand, one way or another.
I'm sorry kids, that is not Christianity. Yes there is a certain line between being offensive by your (our, my?) zealousness, and offending because of the Word, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's even the real issue anymore?
The thrust appears to be to simply blend, bend, and compromise - for the sake of feelings, experience, and authentic journeys. I can't blend, I won't bend, and compromise makes me no different than a liar, so that's not going to happen either.
I can be as tactful and sensitive as possible - but I don't believe that's the real issue here anyway.
Honestly, I'm disgusted for the most part, with what many call Christianity. At the same time, I'm also encouraged by those who have the convictions to stand their ground and proclaim the written word, without any compromise at all. It's getting ugly in Christendom, and I honestly don't think it's going to get any prettier.
And yet... at the end of the day, my standard is still the Scripture. Sometimes I do a pretty good job (purely by His grace) and other times I fall flat (purely by my own idiocy).
The tests I strive to pass are those layed out in His word - not those that seek to please men of all faiths - or no faith at all.
SDG,
me
"Carla, everyone is free to express their own opinions, however, our Christian witness obligates us to express those opinions according to certain standards. That is why I am applying the four way test to my opinions when I write them on my blog. 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?" Does your blogging pass this test?"
I find this comment interesting, for a couple of reasons.
First, if this comment were left by a friend, it would be clear to me that it would have been coming from a genuinely (dare I say, authentic?) concerned brother or sister. I would be encouraged and challenged by the questions. However, since it comes from a man who recently failed his own test by posting blog entries that tore down a sister in Christ, I do have to question the motives for the question.
Which brings me to my second reason I find this interesting. This whole double standard thing I see going on. Basically the way it works is this: you post something about a doctrine, a church, a book, or a website that you find unBiblical, someone responds and says "you're SO mean!" then they respond on their site with a snotty personal attack and wallow in martyr mentality, fishing for the sympathy vote, and talking about being authentically Christian and loving your neighbor.
Give me a large break.
Now, back to the test. I'll ignore the source, and the likely motive, and answer the questions as honestly as I know how.
Regarding my opinions:
1. Is it truth?
Yes, it is truth as I see it. No matter what it is. Politics, family relationships, theology, social issues, etc. I do my very best to research an issue as thoroughly as possible, before I write on it - depending on what it is. Especially when it comes to doctrine.
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
No, it won't be seen as "fair" to all concerned - most especially those who disagree with what I have to say. Case in point: if I say the PDL junk, is junk, those who think Rick Warren hung the moon, will cry foul, call me unfair, and get bent out of shape. Those who've embraced the emerging church talk alot about desiring fair critique, but it seems no matter what anyone says in the way of critique, someone finds something "unfair" about it - simply because they disagree. It's just the way it is.
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
No, it (my opinion) will not always do that - nor will anyone else's opinions, unless they're a flaming liberal (in every area of life from social issues, politics, theology) who waffles on every issue to blend in with every position so as not to offend anyone. Again, it's just the way it is.
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Again, no, it will not benefit those who either can't stand my position, reject the Scripture as final authority, or couldn't care less one way or the other. Example: I'm a homeschool mom who has a million and one reasons to state my opinion that the public school system stinks. Will that opinion benefit the die-hard public school parent? Likely not - unless they take the time to do the same research I've done, and see the same things I've seen. Even then, they may or may not come away with the same opinion. This goes both ways though - someone who posts their opinion that Benny Hinn is a man of God, doesn't benefit me in the least.
Now let's look at this statement left by the commenter:
"everyone is free to express their own opinions, however, our Christian witness obligates us to express those opinions according to certain standards"
I couldn't agree more. Again, I'll ignore the likely motive behind this statement (i.e., "you're SO mean and your standards stink, unlike mine which allow me to call names then turn right around and hold you to a standard I don't even hold to for myself!"), and simply appeal to the Scripture on this.
Ga 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
In today's world of fluffy-puffy Christians, the answer to this question is a deafening YES.
While I do absolutely agree that we as believers have a standard to maintain when we express our opinions - I have watched first hand, countless times, solid, godly men and women express their opinions on a deviant movement, or a rotten doctrine, in uber-kind, compassionate, grace-filled ways, only to be met with the same "you're SO mean!" 8 year old rebellious attitude. It doesn't stop with "you're so mean", it continues on with slander-campaigns, email or blog harassment, which always includes the ever-brave, anon comments, or even fake blogs or sites put up in protest of the meanie-critique, that mimic their site or blog. It's ridiculously immature, but it happens all the time.
With all of that said - we still do have a standard to maintain, and the standard is Scripture. How are we to address believers? Unbelievers? False doctrine? Bad theology?
Do we play patty-cake and soft-peddle little suggestions here and there?
No, we don't. At the same time, we're called to contend FOR the faith, not be contensious IN the faith.
This is a lesson the Holy Spirit has been showing me for a long time. Something I'm mindful of every day, especially when I write. Something I admit I don't always measure up with.
There are 2 bottom lines here, depending on which camp you're in. If you're in the camp contending for the faith, your bottom line is basically this: am I conducting myself Biblically?
If you're in the camp receiving criticism, your bottom line ought to be this: is it true, and if any of it IS true, let me receive it and change my approach, without whining like a child and lashing out personally at those who critique me.
I'm still learning to do both.
One more interesting thing about that comment left at ENo. The commenter credits the author of the "test" to Hebert Taylor, a Christian business man who designed this test for conduct in the workplace. When I first read this, the very first thought that came to mind was "this sounds so classically ecumenical".
Reading Taylor's brief bio, on how he implemented this test in the workplace I found this:
"For several months he applied the new test to various problems such as the company's misleading advertising. In those cases where company practice failed the test he made the necessary changes. That process convinced him that he had discovered the ethical decision-making guide he felt was critical to the company's recovery. But there was one more test which the Four-Way Test had to pass. It had to be acceptable to persons of different religious beliefs. And so he discussed this issue with his four department heads - one a Roman Catholic, another a Christian Scientist, the third a Jew and the fourth a Presbyterian. They convinced Herbert Taylor that the test would be consistent with the beliefs of all employees. And so it was made a highly visible company policy" (source)
I can assure the readers here, many of my opinions will not be well received by Roman Catholics, Christian Scientists, Jews, or Presbyterians. Or Anglicans, Emergents, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, or any number of other groups that disagree with the positions that I hold.
This is not to say that I will go out of my way to be offensive toward them, personally, because that would be inexcusable. It does mean however, that I am a Christian, and I stand firmly on Sola Scriptura, and THAT, will offend numerous groups, no matter how syrupy sweet, I present my case, on any given topic.
It seems it's all coming down to this same common denominator. Don't offend anyone. Take a position than anyone, of any faith, or no faith at all, will be able to agree with, and live with. Don't upset the apple cart. Don't stand out, don't stand up, and whatever you do, don't take a stand, one way or another.
I'm sorry kids, that is not Christianity. Yes there is a certain line between being offensive by your (our, my?) zealousness, and offending because of the Word, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's even the real issue anymore?
The thrust appears to be to simply blend, bend, and compromise - for the sake of feelings, experience, and authentic journeys. I can't blend, I won't bend, and compromise makes me no different than a liar, so that's not going to happen either.
I can be as tactful and sensitive as possible - but I don't believe that's the real issue here anyway.
Honestly, I'm disgusted for the most part, with what many call Christianity. At the same time, I'm also encouraged by those who have the convictions to stand their ground and proclaim the written word, without any compromise at all. It's getting ugly in Christendom, and I honestly don't think it's going to get any prettier.
And yet... at the end of the day, my standard is still the Scripture. Sometimes I do a pretty good job (purely by His grace) and other times I fall flat (purely by my own idiocy).
The tests I strive to pass are those layed out in His word - not those that seek to please men of all faiths - or no faith at all.
SDG,
me
We now return you...
To your regularly scheduled life.
Kev's vacation is over (he was off all last week) and today begins our first full week of school.
As I sat at the table here in the schoolroom last night, planning lessons, I said to Kev "excuse me, but exactly where did our summer go?". He didn't know.
Summer vacation always seemed way too short as a kid, but as a mom who is also a teacher, I think someone came in and shortened it even more.
For the most part, we follow the same pattern the public schools do - the same pattern I grew up with. School starts here the day after Labor Day and we go full time until mid-December. Breaking for Canadian Thanksgiving, and American Thanksgiving, tossing in the occaisional field trip.
Field trips were something I haven't gotten around to planning yet for this year. Most of the time they are to places that are 1. free admission, 2.) highly educational and 3.) not too far from the house.
I know what you're thinking... "no such place exists for kids!". Oh ye of little imagination!
One of the most enjoyable field trips, especially in the fall, is to a local stream, park, or beach. You can plan it ahead of time and have kids collect certain things to bring home and study, or you can just wing it, and let them play, chase geese, and get a good day of getting dirty and having fun, away from the house, doing something that isn't a "required".
Jessica already has her first field trip planned for day after tomorrow. Her and Kev will be driving 3 hours north to collect some furniture that was given to us. I know, you're thinking "wow, now that sounds both educational and fantastically exciting!". Truth be told, it's right up Jessica's alley. She's an odd teenager, she actually enjoys spending time with her parents, and rarely gets to spend time alone with either of us, without interruption.
Maybe I'll give her a photography assignment and have her make a pictorial documentary of the trip.
Samuel's nurse should be here any minute - so I'm outta here - then it's time for oatmeal.
Never a dull moment in this house, eh?
:-)
Have a great Monday!
SDG,
me
Kev's vacation is over (he was off all last week) and today begins our first full week of school.
As I sat at the table here in the schoolroom last night, planning lessons, I said to Kev "excuse me, but exactly where did our summer go?". He didn't know.
Summer vacation always seemed way too short as a kid, but as a mom who is also a teacher, I think someone came in and shortened it even more.
For the most part, we follow the same pattern the public schools do - the same pattern I grew up with. School starts here the day after Labor Day and we go full time until mid-December. Breaking for Canadian Thanksgiving, and American Thanksgiving, tossing in the occaisional field trip.
Field trips were something I haven't gotten around to planning yet for this year. Most of the time they are to places that are 1. free admission, 2.) highly educational and 3.) not too far from the house.
I know what you're thinking... "no such place exists for kids!". Oh ye of little imagination!
One of the most enjoyable field trips, especially in the fall, is to a local stream, park, or beach. You can plan it ahead of time and have kids collect certain things to bring home and study, or you can just wing it, and let them play, chase geese, and get a good day of getting dirty and having fun, away from the house, doing something that isn't a "required".
Jessica already has her first field trip planned for day after tomorrow. Her and Kev will be driving 3 hours north to collect some furniture that was given to us. I know, you're thinking "wow, now that sounds both educational and fantastically exciting!". Truth be told, it's right up Jessica's alley. She's an odd teenager, she actually enjoys spending time with her parents, and rarely gets to spend time alone with either of us, without interruption.
Maybe I'll give her a photography assignment and have her make a pictorial documentary of the trip.
Samuel's nurse should be here any minute - so I'm outta here - then it's time for oatmeal.
Never a dull moment in this house, eh?
:-)
Have a great Monday!
SDG,
me
September 11, 2005
People in My World
Well, today was the day. Sunday School Rally, at church. Samuel was invited to take the podium and recite the 66 books of the Bible before the congregation - but since his foot makes it hard to stand, Rachel filled in for him.
She did a great job - didn't fidget - didn't flub up - didn't bat an eye. I recorded it, but the sound quality is so awful, the video looks like an old fashioned silent movie. I was sort of upset about that, but Rachel did such a great job, and blessed us all - so that's the important part.
On another note...
Last night I was blessed to hear some really good advice. This may not be news to anyone in the apologetics field, but it sure made sense to me, and it was the first time I'd heard it. Or heard it worded the way it was, I should say.
The topic was presenting your case (in any given topic) from the Scripture. To effectively argue your case, you need to anticipate any verse that the opponent may have lined up. Regardless of the fact that you may be right, you need to know how those who resist the clear teaching of Scripture, will attempt to make their own case. Sort of like thinking like a lawyer and being ready for any rebuttal that might come up.
It was great advice. Given by none other than this funny guy, right here. And the most astounding thing was, I understood it.
Now here's the cool thing...
If you clicked that link, you'll know that the Advice Giver was none other than Eddie. Some of you know him as RUCEP, some of you know him as "oh THAT guy". Some of you don't know him at all, but should.
Eddie's church is in Slidell LoozieAnna, and was right in the thick of things when Katrina blew through. I've mentioned the church family's needs here at this blog, and Eddie's updating the situation there at his blog. I don't really know Eddie all that well, but he's incredibly funny (even though he does eat creepy food) and he was first introduced to me by a mutual friend Nina.
Here's where things get twisty-fun. Follow close and keep your hands inside the car. No food or drinks on the ride. Must be over 4 foot tall. Pregnant women or people with heart conditions are welcome.
I first met Nina online 2 years ago. Not long after that, one day I was looking for a solid online bookseller than sold family devotional material. I came upon Grace and Truth Books (which I link to here quite often). I went YES, I love this site. Later, talking about it with Nina, she said "oh, I have a wonderful resource for you, it's called Grace and Truth Books". The coincidence was funny, and it's gone on many times since then. Like the day we sent each other a link to The Sacred Sandwich at the same time, because we both thought the other would get a kick out of it.
I don't remember how it happened but Dennis Gunderson and I have exchanged emails quite a bit over the last couple of years. The most recent was me helping him do some tech stuff for his blog (that he NEVER updates, hello Dennis???). I'm not a techie, I only play one on the internet.
I later learned that Nina and I had alot in common, and we started calling each other "twin". It didn't matter that there is 10 years in age difference, and that she's of Norweigan descent, and I'm French/Indian/Scottish/Heinz 57, and that we have different parents. We shared the same childhood of melting our older brother's little green army guys, causing trouble, climbing trees, and both being converted the Christ in the same year. I also learned that Nina moderates in the very same online chat room that was my first chat experience on the irc, back in 1998. None other than #prosapologian. I thought, "now how cool is that?" So I revisited and of course not a soul there remembered me, lol. Oh well, I still pop in from time to time, and there are some pretty nice folks in there. Nina is also artsy-fartsy like me. Inks, oils, charcoals, photography, etc. See her photography here.
Still with me? Good, it's gonna get more twisty, it'll be fun, I promise. Recently, Phil Johnson went on vacationt to Tulsa. Yes, I know what you're thinking - no one vacations in Tulsa. Well, Phil does. I told him to wave to Dennis Gunderson for me if he sees him - since he's the only person I know that lives there. Phil never mentioned if he waved at Dennis. He did take a picture of a very large gold guy - but this has nothing to do with Grace and Truth Books, in any way. As far as I know. I've seen Dennis and his lovely wife in pictures, and I know he's not that tall, and definitely not gold.
Every month, Grace and Truth has a sale, and every month, I get the email notice. This month, Charnock's The Existance and Attributes of God is on sale, and guess who is listed as the reviewer? Okay fine, no guessing, it's my husband Kevin. I thought "how funny I always promote this great bookstore, and this month there's Kev's review on one the books for sale".
So last night we're talking in chat. Eddie (rucep on paltalk) logs in and I'm busy babbling away about blog stats and how obnoxiously entertaining they are - I didn't even see him come in. The conversation went from bearing a solid defense of the gospel (see above) to "how are things going down there?"
Nina says "Carla, guess who's going down to Slidell to help Eddie's folks with the clean up effort?" That would be none other than Dennis Gunderson, of yes, Grace and Truth Books.
Now this I just find simply entertaining. We are in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, California, Canada, LoozieAnna, etc., so forth and so on. Were it not for the internet, it's likely none of us would know each other at all. But because of the internet, not only do we know each other, and for some of us have become fast friends for life, it just brings the family of God so much closer together to minister to each other, encourage one another, and even hold one another accountable - via email, blogs, sites, etc. And for those blessed enough to be able to meet face to face, even more of a blessing.
So there ya go. A sovereign grace fellowship version of 6 degrees of seperation.
And here's a go figure - the name of my discussion forum (which I admit I have neglected) is called Sovereign Grace Bible Fellowship. Eddie's church is Sovereign Grace Fellowship. I suspect that name is more common among all of us than even I know about. The great thing is, it is by His sovereign grace that any of us ever met to begin with, even if only online, and are able to have such good fellowship.
Now, wasn't that a fun little trip through "the who's who in Carla's world"?
I enjoyed it. Now I need a nap.
And by the way - the next time someone starts whining around about the snobbery or cut-throat junk you see on the internet (not like I have ever posted anything like that), think about all the very cool people you've met here, and be thankful for the friendship and the fellowship. The internet is what you make it, really.
SDG,
me
She did a great job - didn't fidget - didn't flub up - didn't bat an eye. I recorded it, but the sound quality is so awful, the video looks like an old fashioned silent movie. I was sort of upset about that, but Rachel did such a great job, and blessed us all - so that's the important part.
On another note...
Last night I was blessed to hear some really good advice. This may not be news to anyone in the apologetics field, but it sure made sense to me, and it was the first time I'd heard it. Or heard it worded the way it was, I should say.
The topic was presenting your case (in any given topic) from the Scripture. To effectively argue your case, you need to anticipate any verse that the opponent may have lined up. Regardless of the fact that you may be right, you need to know how those who resist the clear teaching of Scripture, will attempt to make their own case. Sort of like thinking like a lawyer and being ready for any rebuttal that might come up.
It was great advice. Given by none other than this funny guy, right here. And the most astounding thing was, I understood it.
Now here's the cool thing...
If you clicked that link, you'll know that the Advice Giver was none other than Eddie. Some of you know him as RUCEP, some of you know him as "oh THAT guy". Some of you don't know him at all, but should.
Eddie's church is in Slidell LoozieAnna, and was right in the thick of things when Katrina blew through. I've mentioned the church family's needs here at this blog, and Eddie's updating the situation there at his blog. I don't really know Eddie all that well, but he's incredibly funny (even though he does eat creepy food) and he was first introduced to me by a mutual friend Nina.
Here's where things get twisty-fun. Follow close and keep your hands inside the car. No food or drinks on the ride. Must be over 4 foot tall. Pregnant women or people with heart conditions are welcome.
I first met Nina online 2 years ago. Not long after that, one day I was looking for a solid online bookseller than sold family devotional material. I came upon Grace and Truth Books (which I link to here quite often). I went YES, I love this site. Later, talking about it with Nina, she said "oh, I have a wonderful resource for you, it's called Grace and Truth Books". The coincidence was funny, and it's gone on many times since then. Like the day we sent each other a link to The Sacred Sandwich at the same time, because we both thought the other would get a kick out of it.
I don't remember how it happened but Dennis Gunderson and I have exchanged emails quite a bit over the last couple of years. The most recent was me helping him do some tech stuff for his blog (that he NEVER updates, hello Dennis???). I'm not a techie, I only play one on the internet.
I later learned that Nina and I had alot in common, and we started calling each other "twin". It didn't matter that there is 10 years in age difference, and that she's of Norweigan descent, and I'm French/Indian/Scottish/Heinz 57, and that we have different parents. We shared the same childhood of melting our older brother's little green army guys, causing trouble, climbing trees, and both being converted the Christ in the same year. I also learned that Nina moderates in the very same online chat room that was my first chat experience on the irc, back in 1998. None other than #prosapologian. I thought, "now how cool is that?" So I revisited and of course not a soul there remembered me, lol. Oh well, I still pop in from time to time, and there are some pretty nice folks in there. Nina is also artsy-fartsy like me. Inks, oils, charcoals, photography, etc. See her photography here.
Still with me? Good, it's gonna get more twisty, it'll be fun, I promise. Recently, Phil Johnson went on vacationt to Tulsa. Yes, I know what you're thinking - no one vacations in Tulsa. Well, Phil does. I told him to wave to Dennis Gunderson for me if he sees him - since he's the only person I know that lives there. Phil never mentioned if he waved at Dennis. He did take a picture of a very large gold guy - but this has nothing to do with Grace and Truth Books, in any way. As far as I know. I've seen Dennis and his lovely wife in pictures, and I know he's not that tall, and definitely not gold.
Every month, Grace and Truth has a sale, and every month, I get the email notice. This month, Charnock's The Existance and Attributes of God is on sale, and guess who is listed as the reviewer? Okay fine, no guessing, it's my husband Kevin. I thought "how funny I always promote this great bookstore, and this month there's Kev's review on one the books for sale".
So last night we're talking in chat. Eddie (rucep on paltalk) logs in and I'm busy babbling away about blog stats and how obnoxiously entertaining they are - I didn't even see him come in. The conversation went from bearing a solid defense of the gospel (see above) to "how are things going down there?"
Nina says "Carla, guess who's going down to Slidell to help Eddie's folks with the clean up effort?" That would be none other than Dennis Gunderson, of yes, Grace and Truth Books.
Now this I just find simply entertaining. We are in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, California, Canada, LoozieAnna, etc., so forth and so on. Were it not for the internet, it's likely none of us would know each other at all. But because of the internet, not only do we know each other, and for some of us have become fast friends for life, it just brings the family of God so much closer together to minister to each other, encourage one another, and even hold one another accountable - via email, blogs, sites, etc. And for those blessed enough to be able to meet face to face, even more of a blessing.
So there ya go. A sovereign grace fellowship version of 6 degrees of seperation.
And here's a go figure - the name of my discussion forum (which I admit I have neglected) is called Sovereign Grace Bible Fellowship. Eddie's church is Sovereign Grace Fellowship. I suspect that name is more common among all of us than even I know about. The great thing is, it is by His sovereign grace that any of us ever met to begin with, even if only online, and are able to have such good fellowship.
Now, wasn't that a fun little trip through "the who's who in Carla's world"?
I enjoyed it. Now I need a nap.
And by the way - the next time someone starts whining around about the snobbery or cut-throat junk you see on the internet (not like I have ever posted anything like that), think about all the very cool people you've met here, and be thankful for the friendship and the fellowship. The internet is what you make it, really.
SDG,
me
I've Noticed...
I've noticed over the last little while, that some of the blogs I (used to) enjoy reading, no longer link back to me, but instead link to blogs that pretty much detest my views on certain things. It's a little disheartening - but oh well - I guess that's just the way it is, eh?
Oddly, I've also noticed that some that don't link to me, come here all the same. Why? Looking for something to argue about? Why would you visit sites owned by people you have a grudge against? Looking for more reasons to hold the grudge? I don't know, just guessing.
For this reason, I've decided to open my sitemeter stats for public viewing. Maybe if those engaging in this sort of conduct realize that anyone can now see how many times they obsessively visit this blog - they'll stop doing it? I thought about not telling anyone that I did that, but that would defeat the purpose of doing it. So I'm telling you - the sitemeter stats are now open for public viewing. Anyone can see who else visits here, where you're from, how often you come, where you link from, etc. Those who don't care, will find this funny to see their own visits. Those who think no one notices, or no one will know... well, now they will. I consider it an accountability helper, in a way.
:-)
I've also noticed sometimes when I post something, then go to someone else's blog, and see that they've posted almost the same thing (sometimes word for word, causing me to be rather suspicious), and they never give respect to the place they copied it (?) it from. It doesn't just happen with what I write, I've seen it on other people's blogs too.
I've noticed that the so-called God blogosphere isn't nearly as happy-fuzzy as it seemed to be to folks, even a year ago. Especially folks that are outspoken in their views.
I've noticed that to really "fit in", it seems like you have to be willing to link up with key blogs, especially ones that are far more liberal (theologically) than you might be, and the ones that would require a companion dictionary and thesaurus to read and understand. Forget about commenting on those blogs - they won't answer you - you'll just make a fool of yourself.
Maybe it's not new - maybe I'm just slow to catch on?
I've started to write about this before - and deleted it. I don't know why, maybe I didn't want to offend anyone? Maybe I didn't want it to look like I was being a whiner? Not sure, maybe a little of both - maybe just didn't want to get any flak?
Maybe... no one will notice at all?
Maybe... it doesn't amount to a hill of beans, and my obersvations serve no real purpose at all?
Maybe... it's an ego thing, and this is why so many people do link to key sites where they will be noticed? (and patted on the back?)
Maybe it's a clique thing?
Maybe I have a secret inner desire to be a part of a clique, and have unresolved loner issues because I've never blended well that way? (lol, I had to laugh as I typed that, it's so not me, but I can picture someone thinking that right now, and being convinced of how right they are).
Maybe... it's because I don't feel good this morning and know I have to start getting the kids ready for church in less than 8 minutes, that I'm stalling and writing all of this?
It could be.
Or maybe it just needed to be said?
Oddly, I've also noticed that some that don't link to me, come here all the same. Why? Looking for something to argue about? Why would you visit sites owned by people you have a grudge against? Looking for more reasons to hold the grudge? I don't know, just guessing.
For this reason, I've decided to open my sitemeter stats for public viewing. Maybe if those engaging in this sort of conduct realize that anyone can now see how many times they obsessively visit this blog - they'll stop doing it? I thought about not telling anyone that I did that, but that would defeat the purpose of doing it. So I'm telling you - the sitemeter stats are now open for public viewing. Anyone can see who else visits here, where you're from, how often you come, where you link from, etc. Those who don't care, will find this funny to see their own visits. Those who think no one notices, or no one will know... well, now they will. I consider it an accountability helper, in a way.
:-)
I've also noticed sometimes when I post something, then go to someone else's blog, and see that they've posted almost the same thing (sometimes word for word, causing me to be rather suspicious), and they never give respect to the place they copied it (?) it from. It doesn't just happen with what I write, I've seen it on other people's blogs too.
I've noticed that the so-called God blogosphere isn't nearly as happy-fuzzy as it seemed to be to folks, even a year ago. Especially folks that are outspoken in their views.
I've noticed that to really "fit in", it seems like you have to be willing to link up with key blogs, especially ones that are far more liberal (theologically) than you might be, and the ones that would require a companion dictionary and thesaurus to read and understand. Forget about commenting on those blogs - they won't answer you - you'll just make a fool of yourself.
Maybe it's not new - maybe I'm just slow to catch on?
I've started to write about this before - and deleted it. I don't know why, maybe I didn't want to offend anyone? Maybe I didn't want it to look like I was being a whiner? Not sure, maybe a little of both - maybe just didn't want to get any flak?
Maybe... no one will notice at all?
Maybe... it doesn't amount to a hill of beans, and my obersvations serve no real purpose at all?
Maybe... it's an ego thing, and this is why so many people do link to key sites where they will be noticed? (and patted on the back?)
Maybe it's a clique thing?
Maybe I have a secret inner desire to be a part of a clique, and have unresolved loner issues because I've never blended well that way? (lol, I had to laugh as I typed that, it's so not me, but I can picture someone thinking that right now, and being convinced of how right they are).
Maybe... it's because I don't feel good this morning and know I have to start getting the kids ready for church in less than 8 minutes, that I'm stalling and writing all of this?
It could be.
Or maybe it just needed to be said?
Where Were You
I was sitting at the kitchen table feeding my just turned 1 year old son.
Kev was off work that day, and he was helping the little girls wash up after breakfast.
The phone rang - it was aunt Kim, Kev's sister. Kev answered.
Kim: Kev, turn on the tv, turn to the news
Kev: what's going on?
Kim: I can't explain it (through tears)
Kev turned on the tv to CNN. Called me into the living room.
I stood, I watched. The second plane made impact, moments later. I fell to the floor, on my knees in shock. I began to cry. The little girls began to cry. Kev put his head down.
I don't know how many days we sat glued to the television screen, it seemed like forever. It's hard to believe it was 4 years ago today.
Days later, I walked out into my backyard, and noticed something different, somehow. To my right, in a neighbor's yard, was an American flag, flapping in the wind. To my left, another. Across the street, another. I walked further, and literally everywhere I looked, were American flags, boldly flying on flagpoles right beside Canadian flags.
We had to go out and run errands that day - and literally covering the city, were American flags, proudly flying and saying "yes we are Canadian, and yes our hearts and our support goes to our American neighbors to the south of us". One very large new car dealership took down every promotional banner on the poles surrounding the lot, and had American flags flying from every one of them. It made me cry tears of gratitude.
It was (the whole thing) a surreal experience, and from the perspective of an American living in Canada, gave me a unique insight into what the Canadian people really thought - contrary to the way the media portrayed their views.
It's hard to imagine that was 4 years ago. I remember it so well.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
me
Kev was off work that day, and he was helping the little girls wash up after breakfast.
The phone rang - it was aunt Kim, Kev's sister. Kev answered.
Kim: Kev, turn on the tv, turn to the news
Kev: what's going on?
Kim: I can't explain it (through tears)
Kev turned on the tv to CNN. Called me into the living room.
I stood, I watched. The second plane made impact, moments later. I fell to the floor, on my knees in shock. I began to cry. The little girls began to cry. Kev put his head down.
I don't know how many days we sat glued to the television screen, it seemed like forever. It's hard to believe it was 4 years ago today.
Days later, I walked out into my backyard, and noticed something different, somehow. To my right, in a neighbor's yard, was an American flag, flapping in the wind. To my left, another. Across the street, another. I walked further, and literally everywhere I looked, were American flags, boldly flying on flagpoles right beside Canadian flags.
We had to go out and run errands that day - and literally covering the city, were American flags, proudly flying and saying "yes we are Canadian, and yes our hearts and our support goes to our American neighbors to the south of us". One very large new car dealership took down every promotional banner on the poles surrounding the lot, and had American flags flying from every one of them. It made me cry tears of gratitude.
It was (the whole thing) a surreal experience, and from the perspective of an American living in Canada, gave me a unique insight into what the Canadian people really thought - contrary to the way the media portrayed their views.
It's hard to imagine that was 4 years ago. I remember it so well.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
me
September 10, 2005
Pulling Double Duty
Well, we had the double birthday here today (Jordan 8, Samuel 5) and I managed to pull it off. I even finished all my work early enough to catch a much needed 2 hour nap before everyone got here.
2 cakes to bake & frost, 2 sets of gifts to wrap, and all 7 kids were here, along with grandma, aunt Kim, and Caryn's other half, Derek. Kev barbequed burgers & dogs, and I made a pot of baked beans.
It was a good day - but very noisey, and very busy. Twice as hectic, twice as much clean up. Someone tell me it really wasn't my idea to have 2 double birthdays every year? (Caryn and Rachel do the same thing in January).
Kids are in showered and in bed, kitchen is clean, and now I have a real good feeling I'm coming down with something. Headache, stomach ache, the whole icky feel kinda thing.
I haven't even had any cake yet.
Maybe that's what I need?
Life in my house
This past week, I've had to have a long talk with my almost 8 year old, about eastern mysticism, and false religion.
I walked into the living room the other day, and there she was, sitting in what is called the lotus position. I'm not going to insert a picture here, it gives me the creeps.
I said: "what are you doing?"
She said: "If I sit like this and think real hard, I can float"
I said: "what!? where did you learn this?"
she said: "tv"
After a little more questioning, I found out she learned this from a cat food commercial. Yes, you read that correctly. This is a Fancy Feast cat food commercial. In the opening of the commercial it shows a woman sitting on her deck, on a mat, in the lotus position, and her big ole white persian cat comes up and rubs against her. The first time I saw this commercial myself, just a few weeks ago, I thought "my how subtle of them to introduce eastern mysticism into the homes of millions, via cat food".
Can you imagine the outcry if instead, this was the commercial opener:
A modestly dressed woman, sits in her lazyboy near a crackling fire, reading her Bible. A big ole scruffy cat comes up to her and starts to rub against her leg...
NEVER happen! Folks would be screaming left, right and center, about that commercial.
But it's perfectly okay to promote eastern mysticism, right?
At any rate, I had to have a talk with my daughter and explain what that was, that she was doing. That in her ignorance of what it was, she wasn't doing anything wrong, but that she needed to understand what it is, and not do it again. She was a little upset with me that I wouldn't let her float, but what can you do, eh? I'm not sure where she got the idea that assuming an eastern meditative sitting position would allow her to float, but whatever.
The whole idea of desensitizing truly irks me.
It's ironic... one of the most important reasons we homeschool, is to keep the kids away from ungodly influences, when they're too young to handle them properly. Then my child watches tv and and I have to stop her from floating.
On a happier note - we're having a double-birthday here today, and I didn't prepare well. I'm slacking in my older age. Five years ago I would have had the cakes made 2 days ago, and had the balloons blown up last night.
Not so today - I don't even have 1 cake, let alone 2. I have to run up to the local grocery this morning as soon as they open, and get what I need, dash home and make them, then go out again while they cool, and finish my grocery shopping. Then come home, frost the cakes, decorate, then try to catch a little bit of a rest before everyone gets here. Yeah... that's the plan. We'll see how I pull this one off. The store opens in 35 minutes.
Game on!
I walked into the living room the other day, and there she was, sitting in what is called the lotus position. I'm not going to insert a picture here, it gives me the creeps.
I said: "what are you doing?"
She said: "If I sit like this and think real hard, I can float"
I said: "what!? where did you learn this?"
she said: "tv"
After a little more questioning, I found out she learned this from a cat food commercial. Yes, you read that correctly. This is a Fancy Feast cat food commercial. In the opening of the commercial it shows a woman sitting on her deck, on a mat, in the lotus position, and her big ole white persian cat comes up and rubs against her. The first time I saw this commercial myself, just a few weeks ago, I thought "my how subtle of them to introduce eastern mysticism into the homes of millions, via cat food".
Can you imagine the outcry if instead, this was the commercial opener:
A modestly dressed woman, sits in her lazyboy near a crackling fire, reading her Bible. A big ole scruffy cat comes up to her and starts to rub against her leg...
NEVER happen! Folks would be screaming left, right and center, about that commercial.
But it's perfectly okay to promote eastern mysticism, right?
At any rate, I had to have a talk with my daughter and explain what that was, that she was doing. That in her ignorance of what it was, she wasn't doing anything wrong, but that she needed to understand what it is, and not do it again. She was a little upset with me that I wouldn't let her float, but what can you do, eh? I'm not sure where she got the idea that assuming an eastern meditative sitting position would allow her to float, but whatever.
The whole idea of desensitizing truly irks me.
It's ironic... one of the most important reasons we homeschool, is to keep the kids away from ungodly influences, when they're too young to handle them properly. Then my child watches tv and and I have to stop her from floating.
On a happier note - we're having a double-birthday here today, and I didn't prepare well. I'm slacking in my older age. Five years ago I would have had the cakes made 2 days ago, and had the balloons blown up last night.
Not so today - I don't even have 1 cake, let alone 2. I have to run up to the local grocery this morning as soon as they open, and get what I need, dash home and make them, then go out again while they cool, and finish my grocery shopping. Then come home, frost the cakes, decorate, then try to catch a little bit of a rest before everyone gets here. Yeah... that's the plan. We'll see how I pull this one off. The store opens in 35 minutes.
Game on!
September 09, 2005
I’m notta ‘fraida YOU!
Today when I was pushing my basket of groceries through the grocery store parking lot. I had a helper.I don’t know why, but this time of year they are especially obnoxious. They’re everywhere. In the house, in the car, helping you push your grocery cart, etc. Last year 2 of the kids were stung twice, IN the house, and just 2 days ago Samuel was stung on the hand. The day Samuel went to the hospital for his foot, Jessica was stung in her foot, standing on the inside porch. It’s rather annoying.
I have a phobia, of sorts, of things that fly, with daggers protruding from their hind end. I don’t like it that I have this phobia, but I suppose there is a good reason for it. When I was 3, my brother, sister, mom and myself, were swarmed by their first cousins. My sister accidentally tripped over a root on a path, and fell headlong into a hornet’s nest. Mom later told us they said at the hospital that between the 4 of us, there were possibly up to 2,000 stings. I remember it well. Eyelids, ears, under clothes, lips, toes, and everywhere inbetween, sting after sting, after sting. I remember all of us crying, and mom stipping us down to our drawers, to get them out from under our clothes. I don’t think it worked. I remember arms flailing, running, crying, and it being hard to breathe, or see. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of, and I confess I did have a few, after the fact.
Anytime I’ve ever been stung since then (only 5 times since, and once was being in the path of yet another, but much smaller swarm) I’ve pretty much lost every ounce of self-composure, or self-control. It’s been almost 20 years since the last time I was stung.
Today when this little minion from gehenna was trying to help me load my strawberries in the van, I thought of the intensity of this fear I had as a kid.
I was about 8 years old, playing on the monkey bars, at recess time. I was crossing the bars when I saw a hornet, or yellow jacket, I don’t recall which. Out of sheer reflex I swatted at it, and jumped off the monkey bars, thinking I was safe. It flew away, then flew right back, landed on my left cheek just under my eye, and stung me. I snapped. I didn’t know what to do, except scream, and run, with this thing still stuck to my face. I tried to swat it off but it didn’t move, so I screamed more, and ran harder. I don’t think I even know where I was running to. All the kids on the playground must have thought I had lost my mind, seeing such a sight.
I finally made it to the school, and the first door I came to was locked. I began to panic, and beat on the door, screaming HELP ME!. By then, the stinging creature was gone, but my face was swelling up to the size of a beach ball, and I felt like I was going to throw up. It hurt so bad my mind was reeling, and I had no idea what to do, but stand there and beat on the door, cry, and keep saying help me, help me, help me. No one heard me at first, and before long I was sitting on the ground, sort of sitting, sort of half laying, crying. At the time, I thought I was dying. I thought I would lay there at the door of this classroom, staring into the grate in front of the door, and the last thing I’d see before I died, were the pencils and girl’s barrettes, that had fallen through the grate. I noticed, but just barely, that there were kids gathering around me, some of them crying, but all at some distance away.
Eventually, a grown up showed up, and carried me to the nurses office. She had something in a big silver box, for really bad bee stings. It smelled bad, and burned when she put it on, but she assured me it would only burn for a few seconds, then the pain would go away. She called me things like sweetheart, and darling, and baby girl. She was the nicest school nurse in the whole world. I think she was about 150 years old.
She was right, within just a short time, the pain was gone. Eventually I got it together, and was sent home. I think my grandpa came and picked me up, and I probably went to grandma & grandpa’s house – but I don’t remember for sure.
That memory came flooding back to me today, all because of that yellow jacket in the parking lot.
As soon as I thought of that, I thought of this verse:
2Tim.1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I have seen this verse used in some of the weirdest ways. I thought for a moment today though, what IS a spirit of fear? Is it what I had (have) about bees? Is it what my mom has about spiders, or what my mother in law has about snakes? When someone has an irrational, hysterical fear of something, is that a spirit of fear? Or… is that simply an emotional reaction to a really horrid experience?
I’ve heard people use this verse to address phobias like this – but I’m not so sure it applies. I honestly think it applies more to spiritual matters. Faith matters.
Looking at the word fear used there “deilia” meaning timidity, fearfulness or cowardice, it’s being used in a spiritual sense (context). In a way, it could be said that having such a spirit of fear, would be a display of lack of faith, lack of taking God at His word, that God WILL be your strength in weakness. I think all of us do this to one degree or another. I know I do.
But what about those phobias like I mentioned above? In some people – they can be so larger than life, that they are literally life-disrupting. I don’t know of a Biblical application for those, and I’d like one. I hate being so afraid of bees, that I lose my cool when one gets too close.
What say ye? Is there a Biblical application to something like this?
The Purity of His Word
Do you ever find yourself in a situation - where for some bizarre reason - song lyrics from years ago just pop into your head? That happened to me yesterday. Here was the line:
"And although my eyes were open... They might have just as well’ve been closed" (you figure out the band & name of that song, and you'll win a prize - prize to be announced later)
I found myself among professing believers yesterday, that overwhelmingly affirmed that God can and does work in different ways in His people, when it comes to the gospel. On the surface that statement sounds pretty good.
Where it falls apart, is when one of those people was adamant that a man can hear a gospel devoid of the resurrection, and still be saved. Those present listening to him - supported him. Recently this same man said he didn't even know Jesus was a true, historical person for the first 6 months after he was born again. That alone boggles the mind - since the question begs, if He wasn't believed on as a historical person, what was the man placing his faith in, to begin with? What Jesus was that?
I've already written on how and why the resurrection cannot be omitted from the gospel. Others, much more knowledgable than myself, have already addressed it too. I guess what blows me away is the fact that so many seemingly learned people would accept this position. The position that God can or does save, with a message that is contrary to what the Scriptures say. I guess the reason it blows me away, is because these are people that overwhelmingly affirm sola Scriptura.
"I didn't know it, but I believed it"
That was the argument, at one point. One lady said "you believed before you knew you believed?" Another man said "you believed something you had no knowledge of?"
The whole conversation left me shaking my head in shock, really. I've been talking with these people for nearly 2 years, almost every day. This is what some of them have always believed. (This is where the yesteryear song lyric comes in).
Yesterday morning I emailed someone alot smarter than me and I asked:
"My question is basically this - in light of Romans 10:9 - is a man truly saved, if he doesn't believe (or doesn't know, to believe, which in my eyes says if you don't know, you certainly can't believe it in your heart) that Christ rose from the dead?"
The person I asked, responded with this:
This is exactly the same understanding I have. And yet, when I presented my position to this group of people, and expressed that I'm "not getting it", in terms of how anyone can say they heard a gospel devoid of the resurrection, yet believed the resurrection, without knowing the resurrection happened - because they never HEARD of it - I was met with "you're not getting it because you're only reading what you want to read".
Unreal. Sola Scriptura? Not hardly, not even close.
The argument put forth again and again was "what about babies and the retarded!?" and "what about the early Christians in Acts!?"
The former, I'm convinced, is an emotional appeal that almost always leads down a rabbit trail, detracting from the point at hand, that being "what does the Bible say to those of us who CAN read it and understand it?". One friend said "babies who are of the elect, are saved by grace, just like anyone else".
In regards to the first Christians in Acts, another friend said "this was a transitional time, and cannot hardly be compared to what we now know, and what we know the Scriptures to teach". Another friend pointed out the very first sermon preached, the very first gospel call to come after the resurrection, was all about, the resurrection.
For me, what this seems to come down to, is how people get defensive when their conversion experience is questioned. I think it's perfectly normal to feel defensive in that manner - since it might be implied that you're lying, or misunderstood, or just wrong. It's a normal reaction. However, are we not to line up every experience, with Scripture, to see if it does line up? Doesn't this seem even more appropriate for those of us that consistantly preach and proclaim sola Scriptura?
I do find a glaring double standard here. Among this group of people, if a charismatic or free willer were to testify of their conversion experienced, many of these same people will scrutinize every word, every experience, every feeling. In more than a few cases I've seen these people chewed up, and spit out with - "you didn't REALLY trust in Christ alone for your salvation, therefore you weren't saved when you say you were". However, when it comes to one of their own, conveying a conversion testimony where the resurrection is missing, or the fact of Jesus' historical personhood, there's a different response? Why is that?
Why is a conversion testimony from a "reformer" unquestionable - even where there are glaring inconsistancies with Scripture - when a conversion testimony from a free willer, seems to be more than fair game? I really did have my eyes opened yesterday. I witnessed conduct that the free willers have been seeing for ages. Blatant arrogance, and "don't you DARE question me!".
I find this a dangerous position, really. If a man can relate his conversion experience, and that experience deviates from what the Bible says one must believe, and all his "reformed" brothers and sisters just pat him on the back and say "praise God brother" - is this what they all believe the gospel to be, as well? Is this something that ought to be tolerated among the fellowship of believers?
If yes, how do they witness to the lost?
If no, why is it not approached Biblically, with those who do believe it?
In talking with Kev about this today, he said "if this is the "gospel" they believed, where is the assurance? If there was no hearing about a resurrected Christ, where is the victory?" I thought the same thing last night as I was falling asleep. If a man hears "the gospel" that omits the resurrection, what exactly does he hear? I tried and tried to come up with a possible gospel message that leaves that out, and I couldn't think of a single way to present it, without the resurrection. I cannot imagine a gospel message that leaves that out.
__________
I wrote all of the above, about 3 hours ago. I was called away to errands & such, and as I was doing other things, I had alot of time to think about these things, and whether or not it would even be beneficial to address this, again. I have come to the conclusion that yes, it is most beneficial to address this again - even though I have already written on it. This is of critical importance in the gospel message. If this benefits just 1 person reading, it's worth it to me.
Sadly, there are at least a few people that were present last night that seem to have a personal grudge against me, for whatever reason - so that muddies the waters just a bit. I know from the sitemeter stats that they come to this blog to see what I have to say (and at least a couple of them show up here upwards of 6 times a day, somedays, which I find rather bizarre).
Let me just say this - this issue is not about me, or my opinion, or view. This is about what the Bible says, period. What is true, what is right, and what isn't. Not my interpretation, but the Bible's clear teaching on what the gospel IS, and what it is NOT.
Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Is this still true?
SOLI DEO GLORIA,
Carla
"And although my eyes were open... They might have just as well’ve been closed" (you figure out the band & name of that song, and you'll win a prize - prize to be announced later)
I found myself among professing believers yesterday, that overwhelmingly affirmed that God can and does work in different ways in His people, when it comes to the gospel. On the surface that statement sounds pretty good.
Where it falls apart, is when one of those people was adamant that a man can hear a gospel devoid of the resurrection, and still be saved. Those present listening to him - supported him. Recently this same man said he didn't even know Jesus was a true, historical person for the first 6 months after he was born again. That alone boggles the mind - since the question begs, if He wasn't believed on as a historical person, what was the man placing his faith in, to begin with? What Jesus was that?
I've already written on how and why the resurrection cannot be omitted from the gospel. Others, much more knowledgable than myself, have already addressed it too. I guess what blows me away is the fact that so many seemingly learned people would accept this position. The position that God can or does save, with a message that is contrary to what the Scriptures say. I guess the reason it blows me away, is because these are people that overwhelmingly affirm sola Scriptura.
"I didn't know it, but I believed it"
That was the argument, at one point. One lady said "you believed before you knew you believed?" Another man said "you believed something you had no knowledge of?"
The whole conversation left me shaking my head in shock, really. I've been talking with these people for nearly 2 years, almost every day. This is what some of them have always believed. (This is where the yesteryear song lyric comes in).
Yesterday morning I emailed someone alot smarter than me and I asked:
"My question is basically this - in light of Romans 10:9 - is a man truly saved, if he doesn't believe (or doesn't know, to believe, which in my eyes says if you don't know, you certainly can't believe it in your heart) that Christ rose from the dead?"
The person I asked, responded with this:
"Certain aspects of the Christian faith one must believe in to be considered a true Christian. Some of those things we learn about as we grow in our walk with the Lord (the doctrine of the Trinity; election; the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, etc.) but are not necessary for salvation.
Other aspects of the Christian faith are necessary for salvation...one of them being the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. Paul expresses this in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, “ 1Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on
the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
To not have knowledge of the bodily resurrection of our Lord is not to have a complete gospel to believe in. I am a bit surprised at the responses you received from these two gentlemen. What the apostle Paul expresses above is the gospel at its most basic elements. We should not require anything less than this for what others need to believe in to be saved...amen?"
This is exactly the same understanding I have. And yet, when I presented my position to this group of people, and expressed that I'm "not getting it", in terms of how anyone can say they heard a gospel devoid of the resurrection, yet believed the resurrection, without knowing the resurrection happened - because they never HEARD of it - I was met with "you're not getting it because you're only reading what you want to read".
Unreal. Sola Scriptura? Not hardly, not even close.
The argument put forth again and again was "what about babies and the retarded!?" and "what about the early Christians in Acts!?"
The former, I'm convinced, is an emotional appeal that almost always leads down a rabbit trail, detracting from the point at hand, that being "what does the Bible say to those of us who CAN read it and understand it?". One friend said "babies who are of the elect, are saved by grace, just like anyone else".
In regards to the first Christians in Acts, another friend said "this was a transitional time, and cannot hardly be compared to what we now know, and what we know the Scriptures to teach". Another friend pointed out the very first sermon preached, the very first gospel call to come after the resurrection, was all about, the resurrection.
For me, what this seems to come down to, is how people get defensive when their conversion experience is questioned. I think it's perfectly normal to feel defensive in that manner - since it might be implied that you're lying, or misunderstood, or just wrong. It's a normal reaction. However, are we not to line up every experience, with Scripture, to see if it does line up? Doesn't this seem even more appropriate for those of us that consistantly preach and proclaim sola Scriptura?
I do find a glaring double standard here. Among this group of people, if a charismatic or free willer were to testify of their conversion experienced, many of these same people will scrutinize every word, every experience, every feeling. In more than a few cases I've seen these people chewed up, and spit out with - "you didn't REALLY trust in Christ alone for your salvation, therefore you weren't saved when you say you were". However, when it comes to one of their own, conveying a conversion testimony where the resurrection is missing, or the fact of Jesus' historical personhood, there's a different response? Why is that?
Why is a conversion testimony from a "reformer" unquestionable - even where there are glaring inconsistancies with Scripture - when a conversion testimony from a free willer, seems to be more than fair game? I really did have my eyes opened yesterday. I witnessed conduct that the free willers have been seeing for ages. Blatant arrogance, and "don't you DARE question me!".
I find this a dangerous position, really. If a man can relate his conversion experience, and that experience deviates from what the Bible says one must believe, and all his "reformed" brothers and sisters just pat him on the back and say "praise God brother" - is this what they all believe the gospel to be, as well? Is this something that ought to be tolerated among the fellowship of believers?
If yes, how do they witness to the lost?
If no, why is it not approached Biblically, with those who do believe it?
In talking with Kev about this today, he said "if this is the "gospel" they believed, where is the assurance? If there was no hearing about a resurrected Christ, where is the victory?" I thought the same thing last night as I was falling asleep. If a man hears "the gospel" that omits the resurrection, what exactly does he hear? I tried and tried to come up with a possible gospel message that leaves that out, and I couldn't think of a single way to present it, without the resurrection. I cannot imagine a gospel message that leaves that out.
__________
I wrote all of the above, about 3 hours ago. I was called away to errands & such, and as I was doing other things, I had alot of time to think about these things, and whether or not it would even be beneficial to address this, again. I have come to the conclusion that yes, it is most beneficial to address this again - even though I have already written on it. This is of critical importance in the gospel message. If this benefits just 1 person reading, it's worth it to me.
Sadly, there are at least a few people that were present last night that seem to have a personal grudge against me, for whatever reason - so that muddies the waters just a bit. I know from the sitemeter stats that they come to this blog to see what I have to say (and at least a couple of them show up here upwards of 6 times a day, somedays, which I find rather bizarre).
Let me just say this - this issue is not about me, or my opinion, or view. This is about what the Bible says, period. What is true, what is right, and what isn't. Not my interpretation, but the Bible's clear teaching on what the gospel IS, and what it is NOT.
Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Is this still true?
SOLI DEO GLORIA,
Carla
September 07, 2005
Borrowing a Line
James White responded to Michael Spencer's recent post at BHT (and I'm too lazy to do any links here), and I felt this so appropriate:
I wanted to steal that line and apply it to a situation in my own life. This is one of those "wow, I wish I would have said that!" times.
Thanks James. :-)
SDG
"Let me uncomplicate your life: stop thinking about me. Move on. Far more important things in life, don't you think? The next generation is stewing in a cesspool of humanism and hopelessness...shouldn't you be more concerned about such things than about disliking me? I'm not worth your effort, I assure you. Please, move on. I do not wish to see you unhappy. -- James R. White"
I wanted to steal that line and apply it to a situation in my own life. This is one of those "wow, I wish I would have said that!" times.
Thanks James. :-)
SDG
Thoughts on a Wednesday
Well, today... our first day back at the lessons, went absolutely fantastic. Bible, math, phonics, reading, story time - etc., so forth and so on. It just went really well, for all the kids, and for Kev and I as well. It was the picturebook day for homeschooling. Kev even wore a denim jumper. (Just kidding, his was in the wash)
Even though fall isn't for 2 more weeks, for all intents and purposes, it's fall. Once school starts, it's time to start preparing for winter, more or less.
Around here, that means the pool comes down, the lawn needs one last mow, get all the toys rounded up, so on and so on. It also means leveling out the area where we put up the ice rink. It'll be another 3 months before we get our first real snow - but putting the rink up now while the weather is mild, is the optimum plan.
It was a beautiful day, the temp was about 82 degrees, and a slight breeze all day. Great for sitting on the deck with an iced tea - but almost too hot to be working in the sun, which I did, and probably did too much of. Oh well, like Kev always says, a little hard work never killed anyone, eh? I'm just glad my arm is pretty much back to normal, and I can work. I'm not good at sitting around doing nothing.
:-)
I went for a walk after dinner. Grabbed my camera, slipped on my clog-tennis shoes, or whatever they are, and headed across the field, toward the corn. I was a little nervous I might spook a skunk, since we've had so many around here lately, but I was blessed to avoid that. Funny thing is, my only real thought about that was "how would I get the skunk juice off my camera?".
As I walked, I thought about alot of the conversations & issues I've had the opportunity to be a part of lately. I thought about how some people have responded, or reacted, and how diverse some of that conduct has been. Even in myself, at times, how diverse my own conduct has been. I confess, at times I am not the nicest person in the world - my zeal for getting to the bottom line and cutting through all the headgames and wordplay, makes me come across as mean. I don't mean it to, but I loathe these kinds of gymnastics in conversations. One person tells me I think like a man - lol - I find that especially humorous, since lately it's been men more than women who've engaged in these kinds of wordplay games. It's maddening.
One of the things I'm referring to, probably has a fancy-shmancy label, but I don't know. The tactic is basically this: one person makes a point, the next person is offended/insulted/challenged that the first person didn't agree with them, so rather than responding by addressing the point, they respond with personal attacks on the first person's character - usually veiled in innuendo and/or implication.
If the first person responds to the personal junk, the point is lost in the ensuing debate of "yes you are/no I'm not".
If the first person just walks away, many will go "ah HA, the second person was right!" and the original issue is lost.
If the first person ignores the personal junk, and responds again, it's almost redundant since the points they made in the first place were already made.
It seems like a lose/lose situation. I'm also not very good at dealing with those kinds of things, because quite honestly, I avoid people who do that sort of thing. They bring out the worst in me, and I don't like the worst in me. No one else would either, I'm sure of that.
The other thing I thought about today, was how tolerant so many Christians have become. I don't mean tolerant in a longsuffering, Biblical way. I mean tolerant of flat out heresy. Tolerant of vulgarity, profanity, crude behavior, gossip, backbiting, and more. It blows me away to see it. I question myself also and wonder if I'm being way too narrowminded, judgemental, or overly critical. Then I line up what I see and hear with Scripture and go "nope, this is defintely not of God".
This is certainly not to say that I am this angelic little critter that floats around sinless. Not even close - and those of you who know me, you know that real well. I have my own battles with certain things, and I fall short too. I'm just really grateful to have solid, godly people in my life who aren't afraid to "hey Carla, don't say that, do that, or write that" and then remind me from Scripture, why. I have friends who have guts, and put my spiritual health, on a higher priority than my feelings. Those are the kind of friends we all need. Those are the kind of friends I wished I had when I was first converted to Christ, and had no idea what I was doing or saying, half the time.
One friend suggested the other day, that based on what I've been seeing and hearing lately, it's a good idea to simply pray about it, and let it go. I agree it's a good idea - and I'm trying hard to do that. I wont pretend it doesn't grieve me, however, because it does. I think it's supposed to.
Anyway - don't look for some explosively insightful conclusion to this post - because there isn't one. This is just what was on my mind today, while I took pics of weeds, pine cones, and feed corn - while keeping an eye out for skunks.
I'm really glad we've started school again - I prefer schedules over free time. I didn't get all my summer projects done, but I came really close. I still have a loveseat cover to sew for my oldest daughter. I can't believe I've put it off for almost a year already. I'm afraid to cut the fabric in case I mess it up. I did promise her I would do it (sew it, not mess it up) so that's the very next project on my list, as soon as the rink is up. I hope I don't mess it up.
SDG,
me
Even though fall isn't for 2 more weeks, for all intents and purposes, it's fall. Once school starts, it's time to start preparing for winter, more or less.
Around here, that means the pool comes down, the lawn needs one last mow, get all the toys rounded up, so on and so on. It also means leveling out the area where we put up the ice rink. It'll be another 3 months before we get our first real snow - but putting the rink up now while the weather is mild, is the optimum plan.
It was a beautiful day, the temp was about 82 degrees, and a slight breeze all day. Great for sitting on the deck with an iced tea - but almost too hot to be working in the sun, which I did, and probably did too much of. Oh well, like Kev always says, a little hard work never killed anyone, eh? I'm just glad my arm is pretty much back to normal, and I can work. I'm not good at sitting around doing nothing.
:-)
I went for a walk after dinner. Grabbed my camera, slipped on my clog-tennis shoes, or whatever they are, and headed across the field, toward the corn. I was a little nervous I might spook a skunk, since we've had so many around here lately, but I was blessed to avoid that. Funny thing is, my only real thought about that was "how would I get the skunk juice off my camera?".
As I walked, I thought about alot of the conversations & issues I've had the opportunity to be a part of lately. I thought about how some people have responded, or reacted, and how diverse some of that conduct has been. Even in myself, at times, how diverse my own conduct has been. I confess, at times I am not the nicest person in the world - my zeal for getting to the bottom line and cutting through all the headgames and wordplay, makes me come across as mean. I don't mean it to, but I loathe these kinds of gymnastics in conversations. One person tells me I think like a man - lol - I find that especially humorous, since lately it's been men more than women who've engaged in these kinds of wordplay games. It's maddening.
One of the things I'm referring to, probably has a fancy-shmancy label, but I don't know. The tactic is basically this: one person makes a point, the next person is offended/insulted/challenged that the first person didn't agree with them, so rather than responding by addressing the point, they respond with personal attacks on the first person's character - usually veiled in innuendo and/or implication.
If the first person responds to the personal junk, the point is lost in the ensuing debate of "yes you are/no I'm not".
If the first person just walks away, many will go "ah HA, the second person was right!" and the original issue is lost.
If the first person ignores the personal junk, and responds again, it's almost redundant since the points they made in the first place were already made.
It seems like a lose/lose situation. I'm also not very good at dealing with those kinds of things, because quite honestly, I avoid people who do that sort of thing. They bring out the worst in me, and I don't like the worst in me. No one else would either, I'm sure of that.
The other thing I thought about today, was how tolerant so many Christians have become. I don't mean tolerant in a longsuffering, Biblical way. I mean tolerant of flat out heresy. Tolerant of vulgarity, profanity, crude behavior, gossip, backbiting, and more. It blows me away to see it. I question myself also and wonder if I'm being way too narrowminded, judgemental, or overly critical. Then I line up what I see and hear with Scripture and go "nope, this is defintely not of God".
This is certainly not to say that I am this angelic little critter that floats around sinless. Not even close - and those of you who know me, you know that real well. I have my own battles with certain things, and I fall short too. I'm just really grateful to have solid, godly people in my life who aren't afraid to "hey Carla, don't say that, do that, or write that" and then remind me from Scripture, why. I have friends who have guts, and put my spiritual health, on a higher priority than my feelings. Those are the kind of friends we all need. Those are the kind of friends I wished I had when I was first converted to Christ, and had no idea what I was doing or saying, half the time.
One friend suggested the other day, that based on what I've been seeing and hearing lately, it's a good idea to simply pray about it, and let it go. I agree it's a good idea - and I'm trying hard to do that. I wont pretend it doesn't grieve me, however, because it does. I think it's supposed to.
Anyway - don't look for some explosively insightful conclusion to this post - because there isn't one. This is just what was on my mind today, while I took pics of weeds, pine cones, and feed corn - while keeping an eye out for skunks.
I'm really glad we've started school again - I prefer schedules over free time. I didn't get all my summer projects done, but I came really close. I still have a loveseat cover to sew for my oldest daughter. I can't believe I've put it off for almost a year already. I'm afraid to cut the fabric in case I mess it up. I did promise her I would do it (sew it, not mess it up) so that's the very next project on my list, as soon as the rink is up. I hope I don't mess it up.
SDG,
me
Back to Homeschool
Well, today's it - summer is over and it's back to the books!
And I woke up 90 minutes late.
I've been looking forward to this for a few weeks now. My kids don't do well without a daily routine - the whole summer long. Maybe next summer I'll remember that, and begin easing them back into a school routine at the first of August.
Samuel, who just turned 5, will be doing a combo of kindergarten and grade 1 curriculum.
Rachel, at 6.5 will be doing a combo of grade 1/grade 2
Jordan, almost 8, will also be doing grade 1/grade 2
And Jessica at 15 is doing a combo of grade 8/grade 9
As you can see from ages & grade levels, we have 2 who are ahead of the game, and 2 who are behind a bit. Just the way it is - and it would be alot worse for them if they were in public school.
One of the great things about learning at home, is that kids can excel where they excel, and move ahead. Where they struggle, they plug away at it until they know the material, then we let them move on - rather than just pushing them ahead to the next thing. Education, oddly enough, is all about being educated. It's not about time lines, or deadlines. It's not about determining what grade level they ought to be in, based on age. And it's not about humiliating them among their peers if they're smarter, or not as smart, as the next kid.
Each of my kids have strengths, and weaknesses. Learning at home provides them the atmosphere to be who they are, without being made to feel something they ought not.
All the pencils are sharpened, all the books and workbooks are ready, and the table is cleared off.
I love the first day of school.
And I woke up 90 minutes late.
I've been looking forward to this for a few weeks now. My kids don't do well without a daily routine - the whole summer long. Maybe next summer I'll remember that, and begin easing them back into a school routine at the first of August.
Samuel, who just turned 5, will be doing a combo of kindergarten and grade 1 curriculum.
Rachel, at 6.5 will be doing a combo of grade 1/grade 2
Jordan, almost 8, will also be doing grade 1/grade 2
And Jessica at 15 is doing a combo of grade 8/grade 9
As you can see from ages & grade levels, we have 2 who are ahead of the game, and 2 who are behind a bit. Just the way it is - and it would be alot worse for them if they were in public school.
One of the great things about learning at home, is that kids can excel where they excel, and move ahead. Where they struggle, they plug away at it until they know the material, then we let them move on - rather than just pushing them ahead to the next thing. Education, oddly enough, is all about being educated. It's not about time lines, or deadlines. It's not about determining what grade level they ought to be in, based on age. And it's not about humiliating them among their peers if they're smarter, or not as smart, as the next kid.
Each of my kids have strengths, and weaknesses. Learning at home provides them the atmosphere to be who they are, without being made to feel something they ought not.
All the pencils are sharpened, all the books and workbooks are ready, and the table is cleared off.
I love the first day of school.
September 06, 2005
Where I'm Going
Kim wrote this morning that she'd been thinking about packing it in, in the blog world. She didn't leave it open for comments, so I'll just share my thoughts here.
I confess, in the last week I've thought alot about it too. For many reasons.
I'm a list person. You know, those people who make lists for things to do, projects to finish, grocery lists, lists of lists, etc. I could make a list of pros and cons of blogging, and see which side of the list is longer, but I'm afraid if I do, the negative would outweigh the positive and I'd get discouraged.
The tone of alot of blogs lately has taken a turn I don't like. A ME turn, or a SNARKY turn. In some cases both. I've done it too, right here on this blog.
While I certainly have no issue reading someone's thoughts about themselves (I do it too) I do have issues when those thoughts turn to "this is how this makes me feel, so watch me as I obliterate the reputation of someone who made me feel icky - so that I can then feel better about me". Those are the things I can't stand, and hope to never be guilty of myself. Although I'm sure I have done it.
I had a good talk the other day with a friend who encouraged me to keep writing, but to be careful with a certain aspect of it. He's a pastor, and shared with me a certain way pastors have to be considerably "general" when they address certain issues with thier churches, so that the issue is addressed, but the people who may be involved, are not exposed and left feeling humiliated and/or defensive and/or even having a confidence betrayed. It was very good advice, and presented to me in a way I had just not thought of before.
I've deleted some blogs from my regular reads - and fyi - none of them are yours. I know who reads here, for the most part, and I assure you I have not deleted your blog. The ones I deleted are the ones on a seperate list from the list I have here in the sidebar.
I thought about packing my own blog in, as well. I mulled over the thoughts "well, you just don't fit in anywhere really, most people just get mad at you, you're boring, your grammar is awful, you're annoying, you're not nearly as funny as you think you are, etc., so on and so forth".
And then the reason I write in the first place came back to me. I do not write to get people's opinions, most of the time. In most cases, writing for me is a way to get out what's in there, come back later and read it, and either remind myself of something I don't want to forget (like how Samuel blessed my heart Sunday), or to just get out on paper (or keyboard in this case) something that I can't keep bottled up. In many cases those things are key doctrinal issues that have been the core of recent conversations.
I don't like the way the lack of comments, or negative comments, has influenced, even in a small way, my writing. I guess I'm not as immune to other people's opinions, or lack of them, as I wish I were.
In a nutshell, I just can't NOT write. I know I've said that before here, but it's just the way it is. I'll keep blogging for now I suppose, and when it's prudent to write elsewhere, that's likely where I'll go.
Now - back to why I wanted to comment on Kim's statement, in the first place. For those of you that do not read Kim's blog, you need to. In fact, I insist it be required reading for all my readers. All 4 of you.
Kim has a gift. While she may put up a post about how she is frustrated with this, or discouraged about that, from time to time (and we all do it), she has this wonderful way of turning it around and with Scripture, reminding herself (and her readers) what the Bible has to say about it, and where we're to adjust our thoughts, our attitudes, our responses. In my humble opinion, Kim has one of the best blogs out there, as far as Biblical encouragement goes. So when I read that she had considered yesterday the idea of disappearing from the blogdom, I thought "noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
(insert audio memory: "come back Auntie Em, commmmmmmmme back!")
It's easy to get discouraged in this medium. I've seen some great blogs fall by the wayside, for various reasons, and I'm always just a bit sad to see them go.
Maybe it's not such a bad idea to be blessings to each other via the comment section - and when you read a post rather than sitting there nodding your head thinking "yeah, I agree", leave a short note and say "thank you for saying that, you've helped me in some way today"??? (no, I am not fishing for comments, I'm thinking about those who might get discouraged and trying to think of a way to circumvent that, and be the kind of building up people that we're called to be).
Scattered thoughts this morning - I hope some of that at least, made some amount of sense.
SDG - me
I confess, in the last week I've thought alot about it too. For many reasons.
I'm a list person. You know, those people who make lists for things to do, projects to finish, grocery lists, lists of lists, etc. I could make a list of pros and cons of blogging, and see which side of the list is longer, but I'm afraid if I do, the negative would outweigh the positive and I'd get discouraged.
The tone of alot of blogs lately has taken a turn I don't like. A ME turn, or a SNARKY turn. In some cases both. I've done it too, right here on this blog.
While I certainly have no issue reading someone's thoughts about themselves (I do it too) I do have issues when those thoughts turn to "this is how this makes me feel, so watch me as I obliterate the reputation of someone who made me feel icky - so that I can then feel better about me". Those are the things I can't stand, and hope to never be guilty of myself. Although I'm sure I have done it.
I had a good talk the other day with a friend who encouraged me to keep writing, but to be careful with a certain aspect of it. He's a pastor, and shared with me a certain way pastors have to be considerably "general" when they address certain issues with thier churches, so that the issue is addressed, but the people who may be involved, are not exposed and left feeling humiliated and/or defensive and/or even having a confidence betrayed. It was very good advice, and presented to me in a way I had just not thought of before.
I've deleted some blogs from my regular reads - and fyi - none of them are yours. I know who reads here, for the most part, and I assure you I have not deleted your blog. The ones I deleted are the ones on a seperate list from the list I have here in the sidebar.
I thought about packing my own blog in, as well. I mulled over the thoughts "well, you just don't fit in anywhere really, most people just get mad at you, you're boring, your grammar is awful, you're annoying, you're not nearly as funny as you think you are, etc., so on and so forth".
And then the reason I write in the first place came back to me. I do not write to get people's opinions, most of the time. In most cases, writing for me is a way to get out what's in there, come back later and read it, and either remind myself of something I don't want to forget (like how Samuel blessed my heart Sunday), or to just get out on paper (or keyboard in this case) something that I can't keep bottled up. In many cases those things are key doctrinal issues that have been the core of recent conversations.
I don't like the way the lack of comments, or negative comments, has influenced, even in a small way, my writing. I guess I'm not as immune to other people's opinions, or lack of them, as I wish I were.
In a nutshell, I just can't NOT write. I know I've said that before here, but it's just the way it is. I'll keep blogging for now I suppose, and when it's prudent to write elsewhere, that's likely where I'll go.
Now - back to why I wanted to comment on Kim's statement, in the first place. For those of you that do not read Kim's blog, you need to. In fact, I insist it be required reading for all my readers. All 4 of you.
Kim has a gift. While she may put up a post about how she is frustrated with this, or discouraged about that, from time to time (and we all do it), she has this wonderful way of turning it around and with Scripture, reminding herself (and her readers) what the Bible has to say about it, and where we're to adjust our thoughts, our attitudes, our responses. In my humble opinion, Kim has one of the best blogs out there, as far as Biblical encouragement goes. So when I read that she had considered yesterday the idea of disappearing from the blogdom, I thought "noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
(insert audio memory: "come back Auntie Em, commmmmmmmme back!")
It's easy to get discouraged in this medium. I've seen some great blogs fall by the wayside, for various reasons, and I'm always just a bit sad to see them go.
Maybe it's not such a bad idea to be blessings to each other via the comment section - and when you read a post rather than sitting there nodding your head thinking "yeah, I agree", leave a short note and say "thank you for saying that, you've helped me in some way today"??? (no, I am not fishing for comments, I'm thinking about those who might get discouraged and trying to think of a way to circumvent that, and be the kind of building up people that we're called to be).
Scattered thoughts this morning - I hope some of that at least, made some amount of sense.
SDG - me
September 05, 2005
Like a child
I’m not exactly sure I can word this the way it’s swirling in my head, to accurately describe it. But I’m going to try anyway. Maybe you’ll recognize what I’m talking about. Maybe you won’t.
I had to go out today – even though we can’t afford the gas to make quick trips. I had to make the choice to either pay for gas at 1.35 a liter (that’s roughly $5.11 a gallon), or be late on the rent. I had no choice, I had banking to do, which had to be done at my own branch, 20 minutes away. Everything but the grocery store was closed (I used the ATM at my branch), and there were very few cars on the road. Not sure if that’s because it’s Labor Day, or if that’s because most people around here can’t afford to drive anywhere unless it’s vital to living. Maybe both.
While out, driving in silence, my thoughts turned to the news in the south. Several different aspects of the news, such as those who still need help, those who didn’t make it, and the mention this morning of those who did make it, but couldn’t handle the trauma of what they were seeing, and committed suicide. It is literally impossible for me to understand the depth of tragedy and despair down there.
When I got to the store it struck me how much of a different world it is here. People were laughing, talking, and just doing what anyone does in the grocery store. I wondered to myself “are they thinking about what a blessing it really is, to be able to buy fresh fruit?”. Then I had to ask myself the same question.
I left the store and drove home. One the way I saw one amputee, walking in her driveway, and one severely crippled lady, trying to get her electric scooter out of her van. I compared my own chronic pain to what they must be dealing with. I felt selfish, knowing so many others have it so much worse, than me.
I got home, and just as I parked, my pastor and his wife came by. I wasn’t able to attend church yesterday, due to Samuel’s nurse visit, so I had written up a little letter about the needs of a church in Slidell, LA, and sent it along with Jessica to church. Pastor Liew said all the copies of the letter were gone before he got a chance to get one for himself, so he came by for another copy. We stood in the driveway and discussed the situation in the south, and they expressed the same concerns I’m feeling. Notably, the “blame game” going on, and how much that seems to be distracting so many people’s thoughts from the most urgent needs at hand – helping.
So then I sit down here at the pc later, and read my bloglines. Overwhelmingly, the subscriptions I have, seem to be engaging in an internet battle over who’s right, who’s a heretic, who’s a liar, who needs to repent – over this issue or that issue. The issues themselves are important indeed, but it’s the way it’s being addressed, that blew me away. In many cases it’s being addressed from a “I have to defend ME” position. It’s all about self, you see. Protecting one’s reputation, writing about self, (kinda like I’m doing right now), examing one’s feelings, one’s journey, one’s faith.
Me, me, me memememememe.
It’s sickening, and I’m sitting here doing the very same thing.
How ironic.
It didn’t stop there. I logged into email and had 3 emails from folks noticing the same thing, but saying it in a different way.
And then I remembered what Samuel did yesterday.
Since he and I (and Ruth) missed church yesterday, after his nurse left we went on a servanthood-mission. We began going through dresser drawers, boxes, baskets, etc., looking for clothes to pack for a family in LA. I had the list of ages and sizes with me, and I told Samuel there is only one boy on the list, and he’s the same size as Samuel. I didn’t have any boy’s clothes in my room, the right size, so Samuel was getting antsy waiting for me to hurry up there, so we could get to his room. He was eager to give.
When we finally got to his room, we started with the top drawer. As we worked our way down through the drawers, suddenly he had the most panic-stricken look on his face. He said “oh no, mom, WAIT!” I said, “wait for what, what’s wrong?” He looked me straight in the eye and said “mom, does this boy have a GOOD church shirt?” I said “probably not Samuel”. He then opened his shirt drawer, and took out his very best church shirt. He handed it to me and said “then he needs this one”. I said “are you sure, Samuel, that’s your very best one”. He said “yes, I’m sure, he NEEDS this”.
I almost started bawling right there sitting on the edge of Samuel’s bed. My son, who missed church because his foot is grostesquely burnt, who doesn’t even complain about the pain, who has never even met this little boy, and likely never will, was more concerned that this little boy have a nice shirt to wear to church, than the fact that he was giving away his best.
A few minutes later Samuel and Ruth were sent up to the game room to wait for me to make lunch. As I was dishing up their lunch – I heard Samuel singing from the game room:
“I’ve got joy like a river in my soul!”
I nearly lost it again.
What a lesson I learned from my son yesterday. I couldn’t help but think of this passage:
Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And this one:
Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
I know many people will argue over what those verses mean, but if they mean anything like the heart of faith, and servanthood I saw in Samuel yesterday, then that’s the heart I want to have, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Not just when tragedy hits.
I will be deleting some of the subscriptions I have on bloglines. I’ve had my fill of the bickering and self-absorbed know-it-alls.
SDG,
me
I had to go out today – even though we can’t afford the gas to make quick trips. I had to make the choice to either pay for gas at 1.35 a liter (that’s roughly $5.11 a gallon), or be late on the rent. I had no choice, I had banking to do, which had to be done at my own branch, 20 minutes away. Everything but the grocery store was closed (I used the ATM at my branch), and there were very few cars on the road. Not sure if that’s because it’s Labor Day, or if that’s because most people around here can’t afford to drive anywhere unless it’s vital to living. Maybe both.
While out, driving in silence, my thoughts turned to the news in the south. Several different aspects of the news, such as those who still need help, those who didn’t make it, and the mention this morning of those who did make it, but couldn’t handle the trauma of what they were seeing, and committed suicide. It is literally impossible for me to understand the depth of tragedy and despair down there.
When I got to the store it struck me how much of a different world it is here. People were laughing, talking, and just doing what anyone does in the grocery store. I wondered to myself “are they thinking about what a blessing it really is, to be able to buy fresh fruit?”. Then I had to ask myself the same question.
I left the store and drove home. One the way I saw one amputee, walking in her driveway, and one severely crippled lady, trying to get her electric scooter out of her van. I compared my own chronic pain to what they must be dealing with. I felt selfish, knowing so many others have it so much worse, than me.
I got home, and just as I parked, my pastor and his wife came by. I wasn’t able to attend church yesterday, due to Samuel’s nurse visit, so I had written up a little letter about the needs of a church in Slidell, LA, and sent it along with Jessica to church. Pastor Liew said all the copies of the letter were gone before he got a chance to get one for himself, so he came by for another copy. We stood in the driveway and discussed the situation in the south, and they expressed the same concerns I’m feeling. Notably, the “blame game” going on, and how much that seems to be distracting so many people’s thoughts from the most urgent needs at hand – helping.
So then I sit down here at the pc later, and read my bloglines. Overwhelmingly, the subscriptions I have, seem to be engaging in an internet battle over who’s right, who’s a heretic, who’s a liar, who needs to repent – over this issue or that issue. The issues themselves are important indeed, but it’s the way it’s being addressed, that blew me away. In many cases it’s being addressed from a “I have to defend ME” position. It’s all about self, you see. Protecting one’s reputation, writing about self, (kinda like I’m doing right now), examing one’s feelings, one’s journey, one’s faith.
Me, me, me memememememe.
It’s sickening, and I’m sitting here doing the very same thing.
How ironic.
It didn’t stop there. I logged into email and had 3 emails from folks noticing the same thing, but saying it in a different way.
And then I remembered what Samuel did yesterday.
Since he and I (and Ruth) missed church yesterday, after his nurse left we went on a servanthood-mission. We began going through dresser drawers, boxes, baskets, etc., looking for clothes to pack for a family in LA. I had the list of ages and sizes with me, and I told Samuel there is only one boy on the list, and he’s the same size as Samuel. I didn’t have any boy’s clothes in my room, the right size, so Samuel was getting antsy waiting for me to hurry up there, so we could get to his room. He was eager to give.
When we finally got to his room, we started with the top drawer. As we worked our way down through the drawers, suddenly he had the most panic-stricken look on his face. He said “oh no, mom, WAIT!” I said, “wait for what, what’s wrong?” He looked me straight in the eye and said “mom, does this boy have a GOOD church shirt?” I said “probably not Samuel”. He then opened his shirt drawer, and took out his very best church shirt. He handed it to me and said “then he needs this one”. I said “are you sure, Samuel, that’s your very best one”. He said “yes, I’m sure, he NEEDS this”.
I almost started bawling right there sitting on the edge of Samuel’s bed. My son, who missed church because his foot is grostesquely burnt, who doesn’t even complain about the pain, who has never even met this little boy, and likely never will, was more concerned that this little boy have a nice shirt to wear to church, than the fact that he was giving away his best.
A few minutes later Samuel and Ruth were sent up to the game room to wait for me to make lunch. As I was dishing up their lunch – I heard Samuel singing from the game room:
“I’ve got joy like a river in my soul!”
I nearly lost it again.
What a lesson I learned from my son yesterday. I couldn’t help but think of this passage:
Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And this one:
Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
I know many people will argue over what those verses mean, but if they mean anything like the heart of faith, and servanthood I saw in Samuel yesterday, then that’s the heart I want to have, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Not just when tragedy hits.
I will be deleting some of the subscriptions I have on bloglines. I’ve had my fill of the bickering and self-absorbed know-it-alls.
SDG,
me
Company Policy
The other day, Kev brought home a laminated business card.
On it, is the company name, the department, cell # number, extension and so on, of his shift supervisor at work.
At the bottom, in bold, italic print, is this message:
At the bottom, in bold, italic print, is this message:
“You must call a minimum of 2 hours before the start of your shift if you are unable to come to work.”
Here’s how this works:
Kev, dialing phone at 5:00 am…
Supervisor answering: hello?
Kev: hi this is Kev, say, in about an hour and a half, I’m going to wake up late, because we lost power last night in that storm, and the alarm never went off. Upon looking out the dining room window the snow drift is about 3 feet tall, and the plow usually doesn’t make it down here until around 7:30. Best case scenario, if I leave at 7:45 I can get there at roughly 8:30, depending on the road conditions, or if the roads are even open, due to the storm. So basically the way it shakes out it this: I’m calling you 90 minutes before I wake up, to let you know I’ll be 90 minutes late this morning – due to circumstances that simply refused to adhere to company policy.
Kev, dialing phone at 5:00 am…
Supervisor answering: hello?
Kev: hi this is Kev, say, in about an hour and a half, I’m going to wake up late, because we lost power last night in that storm, and the alarm never went off. Upon looking out the dining room window the snow drift is about 3 feet tall, and the plow usually doesn’t make it down here until around 7:30. Best case scenario, if I leave at 7:45 I can get there at roughly 8:30, depending on the road conditions, or if the roads are even open, due to the storm. So basically the way it shakes out it this: I’m calling you 90 minutes before I wake up, to let you know I’ll be 90 minutes late this morning – due to circumstances that simply refused to adhere to company policy.
September 04, 2005
The Gospel Essentials?
Recently, I’ve had the blessing (some may not call it that) of participating in several different conversations, that while topically different, they’ve all sort of led me back to the same place.
It all started with a question my friend Michael asked, “what are the essentials?”. By that he meant what are the core doctrines that one absolutely must believe and confess to be a true, born again believer.
This isn’t an easy question – nor an easy answer – since no matter who you ask, you’re likely to get a pretty wide variety of answers. Also, something that can’t be avoided in this topic, will be the subject of doctrinal regeneration – the idea that correct doctrine is what saves you. Which is malarkey, but an accusation tossed around quite liberally these days, in certain circles, especially when this subject comes up.
Some approach this with the most bare, most minimum list of what you MUST believe – almost in the way of saying “how little do I need to know to squeak by?”. I admit, I have issues with this approach. It impresses on me, in a way, the way this culture thinks anymore – along the lines of being a fast-food theology course. Just the facts, ma’am, and I’ll be on my way. The conversion of a soul to Christ is far more important than a short list of 3, or 5 or 8 things.
Others go completely ballistic and include a list of Biblical doctrines that I’ve never even heard of, and condemn you to hell if you don’t meet the criteria. Honestly, I don’t even think the folks who do this, even care one way or another if anyone is saved, they just like sitting in judgement of everyone else. I could be wrong, but that sure is the impression they leave.
One position I especially appreciate, is the one that says “which teaching of Scripture falls into the category of UNessential?” Granted, there are teachings in Scripture that most Christians have no knowledge of, when newly born again. However, breaking it down to “required” and “not required” is something that doesn’t sit well with me. The smaller the list, the more red flags go up for me, and the closer I examine it.
I heard someone tell a story once, that really brings this home. He talked about meeting another young man who was a professing believer. He asked him pointed questions about God’s wrath, justification, repentance, and several more. The man answered all the questions 100% accurate, according to Scripture. He then began to ask him pointed questions about Jesus. Why He came, who He died for, etc. Again, he answered all those questions correctly. The man questioning was encouraged he had just met a genuine brother.
The man answering the questions then went to his fridge, pulled out a carrot, held it up high and said “brother look, speaking of Jesus, here he is!”
Lest anyone think that blasphemy, the point was well made, that men can repeat all sorts of Biblical teachings correctly, but if they believe Jesus to be someone (or something) contrary to who the Bible says He is, they have placed their trust in something not taught in Scripture, and therefore they are not trusting in Christ, and Christ alone, for their salvation. They have the right answers, intellectually, but they are still spiritually blind. Some will argue, they are still spiritually dead – still unregenerate. I would agree with that argument, in those cases where people make it very clear that they do not truly know Him, by professing faith in things that deviate from Scripture, as it pertains to Him.
This leads me to something someone else recently said about the wrath of God. He maintains that if a man rejects the teaching of God’s just wrath and eternal condemnation, then that man is denying one of the most fundamental teachings of Scripture. He would say that knowing this, and believing this, would certainly fall within the category of “essential” to being truly born again. I have to agree, 100%.
I’ve had several talks about this with Kev, and he made a very simple, but very profound statement last night. Okay, it was profound to me, maybe it won’t be to you. He said
In fact, it would be pointless to come to Christ. If there is no wrath – if all men are at some point reconciled to God, as some believe, it doesn’t matter if you profess Christ at all in this life, because sooner or later after death, you’re home free anyway.
On the other side of this, if you do reject the Biblical teaching of the wrath of God, what exactly is it, that you’re rejecting?
I will repeat again at this point, that I am not a Bible scholar. I know there are many who could rattle off a list of things here faster than I could even think of all the serious ramifications of just the FIRST one, but I would like to address this anyway.
The first thing that comes to mind, is justification. Let’s look at what one Bible dictionary (Easton’s) says about justification:
It all started with a question my friend Michael asked, “what are the essentials?”. By that he meant what are the core doctrines that one absolutely must believe and confess to be a true, born again believer.
This isn’t an easy question – nor an easy answer – since no matter who you ask, you’re likely to get a pretty wide variety of answers. Also, something that can’t be avoided in this topic, will be the subject of doctrinal regeneration – the idea that correct doctrine is what saves you. Which is malarkey, but an accusation tossed around quite liberally these days, in certain circles, especially when this subject comes up.
Some approach this with the most bare, most minimum list of what you MUST believe – almost in the way of saying “how little do I need to know to squeak by?”. I admit, I have issues with this approach. It impresses on me, in a way, the way this culture thinks anymore – along the lines of being a fast-food theology course. Just the facts, ma’am, and I’ll be on my way. The conversion of a soul to Christ is far more important than a short list of 3, or 5 or 8 things.
Others go completely ballistic and include a list of Biblical doctrines that I’ve never even heard of, and condemn you to hell if you don’t meet the criteria. Honestly, I don’t even think the folks who do this, even care one way or another if anyone is saved, they just like sitting in judgement of everyone else. I could be wrong, but that sure is the impression they leave.
One position I especially appreciate, is the one that says “which teaching of Scripture falls into the category of UNessential?” Granted, there are teachings in Scripture that most Christians have no knowledge of, when newly born again. However, breaking it down to “required” and “not required” is something that doesn’t sit well with me. The smaller the list, the more red flags go up for me, and the closer I examine it.
I heard someone tell a story once, that really brings this home. He talked about meeting another young man who was a professing believer. He asked him pointed questions about God’s wrath, justification, repentance, and several more. The man answered all the questions 100% accurate, according to Scripture. He then began to ask him pointed questions about Jesus. Why He came, who He died for, etc. Again, he answered all those questions correctly. The man questioning was encouraged he had just met a genuine brother.
The man answering the questions then went to his fridge, pulled out a carrot, held it up high and said “brother look, speaking of Jesus, here he is!”
Lest anyone think that blasphemy, the point was well made, that men can repeat all sorts of Biblical teachings correctly, but if they believe Jesus to be someone (or something) contrary to who the Bible says He is, they have placed their trust in something not taught in Scripture, and therefore they are not trusting in Christ, and Christ alone, for their salvation. They have the right answers, intellectually, but they are still spiritually blind. Some will argue, they are still spiritually dead – still unregenerate. I would agree with that argument, in those cases where people make it very clear that they do not truly know Him, by professing faith in things that deviate from Scripture, as it pertains to Him.
This leads me to something someone else recently said about the wrath of God. He maintains that if a man rejects the teaching of God’s just wrath and eternal condemnation, then that man is denying one of the most fundamental teachings of Scripture. He would say that knowing this, and believing this, would certainly fall within the category of “essential” to being truly born again. I have to agree, 100%.
I’ve had several talks about this with Kev, and he made a very simple, but very profound statement last night. Okay, it was profound to me, maybe it won’t be to you. He said
“if a man calls himself a Christian, and that same man flat out denies the wrath
of God, what is the need to “get saved” or “trust in Christ”?
In fact, it would be pointless to come to Christ. If there is no wrath – if all men are at some point reconciled to God, as some believe, it doesn’t matter if you profess Christ at all in this life, because sooner or later after death, you’re home free anyway.
On the other side of this, if you do reject the Biblical teaching of the wrath of God, what exactly is it, that you’re rejecting?
I will repeat again at this point, that I am not a Bible scholar. I know there are many who could rattle off a list of things here faster than I could even think of all the serious ramifications of just the FIRST one, but I would like to address this anyway.
The first thing that comes to mind, is justification. Let’s look at what one Bible dictionary (Easton’s) says about justification:
“A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law #Ro 5:1-10 It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ #Ro 10:3-9 Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ’s righteousness #2Co 5:21 Ro 4:6-8 The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness #Ro 1:17 3:25,26 4:20-22 #Php 3:8-11 Ga 2:16 The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification; and thus the doctrine of justification by faithdoes not lead to licentiousness #Ro 6:2-7 Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification #Ro 6:14 7:6”
What stands out to me in this definition of justification from Easton’s, this this “The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Remember the carrot guy? If a man says he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, yet denies the wrath of God, he rejects what the Bible says about justification, and he is therefore placing his faith in a Jesus of his own imagination, not the Jesus of Scripture. This man, while he may be religious, and while he may be very spiritual, and/or moral, is not regenerated at all. In fact he is professing UNbelief, by holding to universal salvation, and denying the very need for justification through Christ.
I’ve read a lot lately about just what “Christian universalism” is. The more I read, the more it seems unreal that anyone could even possibly affirm this.
One man says it’s possible for a Christian to be a universalist, because these are people who would acknowledge the essentials of the Christian faith, and that belief in universalism doesn’t contradict any essential.
I question how anyone could possibly hold to the essentials of the Christian faith to begin with, if they also affirm universalism.
Think a minute about what core of the gospel is.
The gospel, being the good news of Christ, right?
Why is it good news?
What is your destiny if you reject it?
Why did He come in the form of man?
Why did He go to the cross?
Why did He have to die?
Why is it important that He rose again?
Why must you believe?
Ray Comfort, a street preacher in California, once said it this way (I will paraphrase):
If a man is approached by a doctor and the doctor says “GREAT news man, I have the cure for you!” without ever telling the man what his disease is, or that the man even has a disease to begin with, let alone that the disease is fatal, the man will think the doctor completely out of his mind. However, if the doctor first takes the time to explain to the man that he indeed does have a disease, that it’s fatal, and that there is only one cure for it, THEN the good news is good news indeed.
Point being, man MUST know what he needs saved, from. Man MUST know why the only way to God, is through Christ. You cannot in any way, shape or form, separate or remove, the wrath of God from the gospel. If you do, you have no gospel at all.
Why is it, that one of the more common phrases used by many evangelists, is
“if you died tonight, where will you go?”
Why do they ask that? Simple, they ask that because the wrath of God cannot be separated from the good news of Christ!
Therefore, it is literally impossible to maintain that a universalist, can indeed hold to the essentials of the gospel at all, and still affirm universalism. The two schools of thought absolutely contradict each other, and have no consistency in any way, with each other.
Another argument I’ve seen used is basically this:
A Universalist can be a real Christian if… on their deathbed they are presented the true gospel, believe it, and confess it. Then they die before they had a chance to repent of their false ways.
At the risk of sounding flippant, this is basically a no-brainer. This applies to anyone, at any place of religious, non-religious, heathenistic, paganistic, humanistic, spiritually dead state.
But do we then call these people Heathen Christians, or Unregenerate Christians? Of course we don’t, they are no longer who they once were – just as we are no longer who we once were, before having our heart changed by God, and believing the truth of the genuine gospel.
The gospel that must include the reason for why we need Him.
Why we need forgiveness.
Why we need to repent.
Why He died for sinners.
What happens if we don’t.
This IS the true gospel, the true good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. I agree with the man who said that removing the wrath of God from the gospel, and declaring it a non-essential is the flat out rejection of one of THE most fundamental teachings in Scripture.
If a man “accepts” a “gospel message” that makes no mention of why he must be saved, he has heard a false gospel. He can call himself a Christian all day long, but this man has not heard the truth, has not confessed the truth, and doesn’t believe the truth.
Someone recently asked me why I was about to write on this.
First and foremost, it’s important that we know what it is we believe, and why. Secondly, it’s also very important that we know how to Biblically discern what we read – in books, articles, websites, etc. I was once under a considerable amount of deception in a church where experience was exalted over the written word. I do admit I have a personal motive for being as critical of these teachings as I am. I have a skeptical eye whenever I read anything concerning the gospel. I believe we all should.
When I read that a Universalist can be a Christian, or vice versa, I turned to the Scriptures.
In conclusion, the Scriptures flat out squash this argument.
While I would certainly agree that there are vast amounts of Biblical doctrines that would be foreign to a babe in Christ, the wrath of God is not, can not, will not ever be one of them, if the genuine gospel is to be proclaimed, and believed.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Have I mentioned...
That this is my favorite online bookseller?
Existence and Attributes of God - Stephen Charnock $39.99 Hardcover 1100 pages Baker Book House
EMAIL PRICE: $24.00
As good as it gets
"Other than the Scriptures, this is the most comprehensive work on the character of God that I know of. I'm on my second trip through this book and reckon that if I were to read it several more times, I would continue to discover new things wonderful and edifying.This is certainly serious reading to be done in your quiet time, no distractions, and well worth every minute.
If you would truly like an in-depth examination of the great and wonderful God (and already own a Bible), buy this book, read it slow and enjoy every word."
Reviewer: Kevin Rolfe, April 28th, 2004
(hey... I know that reviewer!)
Go here to buy this book
Existence and Attributes of God - Stephen Charnock $39.99 Hardcover 1100 pages Baker Book HouseEMAIL PRICE: $24.00
As good as it gets
"Other than the Scriptures, this is the most comprehensive work on the character of God that I know of. I'm on my second trip through this book and reckon that if I were to read it several more times, I would continue to discover new things wonderful and edifying.This is certainly serious reading to be done in your quiet time, no distractions, and well worth every minute.
If you would truly like an in-depth examination of the great and wonderful God (and already own a Bible), buy this book, read it slow and enjoy every word."
Reviewer: Kevin Rolfe, April 28th, 2004
(hey... I know that reviewer!)
Go here to buy this book
Prayer Journal
When I posted this faith meme, and answered question #9 this way:
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
Resume the prayer journal I started last year and quickly overlooked. When I did use it, it really did help me.
There were a couple of you that later asked about that. It's really as simple as it sounds.
I didn't go buy a journal that was called a prayer journal, although they do exist, and cost about 10 times as much. Those kind have Scripture verses in them, little quotes, and all sorts of other things - which I suppose is good, if that's what you're looking for.
I went to the dollar store.
I bought a 100 page, blank (lined) journal, for 1 dollar.
I keep it next to my desk on my lamp table. When I was using it regularly, what I would do was simply write down any prayer needs that were brought to my attention during the course of the day. Online, something I might see on the news, with one of the kids, a phone call, whatever.
I started writing them down because I see and hear so many things every day that I felt led to pray about, but if I didn't stop on the spot, I'd often forget some of them, and that bothered me.
Each morning when I would get up, before coffee, before anything, I would get out my journal and go over what I would have written in it the day before. Often I would have stopped the day before and prayed after I'd written in it, as well.
I'd heard of folks doing this for years, and it really does help you stay disciplined in your prayer life - something that for whatever reason - is easy to get undisciplined in, for alot of people. Myself included.
Some people keep lists on their fridge, and pray each morning for the needs on the list. Some people simply pray on the spot. Others never write anything down and just pray for whoever comes to their thoughts during prayer. Different things work better for different people.
The only reason I stopped keeping the journal was because it was misplaced (by one of the kids) and by the time I found it, I had already gotten out of the regular routine of writing in it, each day. It doesn't take long to lose a routine and for me, it's hard to get back into one.
For me, keeping the journal was a good idea. Getting out of the routine, was a bad idea. I'm going to resume this journal though, it just helps for me.
One other area it helps in, is going back to the person (when possible) and asking about their need, later. Many times you get a prayer request, but never get an update, never find out how things worked out. I like to know how things did work out, so I can also give thanks for that, too.
See? Like I said, it's really that simple.
:-)
SDG,
me
September 03, 2005
Just 1 Clarification
I was going to remove the post I just put up - but I figured since some of you read through an rss reader anyway, it would be pointless.
I thought of removing it, only because I have already said that I would not respond to whatever MS puts on his site about me - and then I went ahead and entertained the idea of responding. Ugh.
It's not easy to be blatantly misrepresented, and not respond.
For me, it's not about me. It's about what is true, what is Biblical, and what is right.
So what is the Biblical answer to false representation?
This is a hard one for me, because the Bible seems to address this from the perspective of people speaking evil or falsely about you, because you're a Christian - because of Christ. It doesn't seem to address how to deal with it when professing believers do the same thing - but for different motives.
So I will leave it alone, and move on like I said I would. Only after I clarify 1 statement Slick made. For no other reason than someone else has been named in this, and also (I believe) misrepresented by Slick. This isn't about me, this is about someone else's comments.
Over and over again, Slick cries he was misrepresented by myself. He quotes what Phil Johnson said, as a result of my email question to Phil, and makes the implication that what Phil said, was how I represented Slick, to Phil - to make his case that I am misrepresenting him. Still with me here? This is Slick setting up the scenario to prove he's been misrepresented. Problem is, it never happened the way Slick describes it.
Slick writes:
To be clear - I asked Phil the same thing I asked others: "can a person hold to universalism, and still be a real Christian?". I then gave Phil the site where Slick says yes. That is ALL I asked of Phil, and asked him to read Slick's article himself, and this article where I first put the question up here. Phil responded on his blog (which was not quoted in it's entirety by Slick):
Folks, these are Phil's words, not mine. I never, as Slick insinuates, went to Phil and said "Slick claims universalism is perfectly compatible with the fundamental truths of Christianity, what do you say, Phil?" - as Slick has falsely assumed, and falsely accused me of doing. I wouldn't have even said it that way, if I did say it. I'm not as good with words as Phil is, trust me on that one.
Phil Johnson didn't fall of the turnip truck yesterday, folks. I can only surmise that he did read the question I posed, did venture over to Slick's own article, and did read what his position on this is. And came to his own conclusion on what Slick is teaching - and/or holding to. Anything less, I would be highly disappointed in Phil for doing - as this would be responding to hearsay without first gathering the facts from the source. That's not Phil's style - he DOES go to the source, all the time.
Slick responds to this by saying Johnson couldn't possibly have read where he stands on this, and come away with that opinion - so therefore it must have been me, misreprenting him.
It seems pretty clear to me that Phil did read at least part of what Slick wrote, if you re-read his very own words:
Well, let me just conclude with this...
Numerous people, much smarter than I, have read Slick's position on this, and heard him elaborate in audio chat, and have come away with the same exact impression that Phil expressed - all without me saying 1 word to them on it. So Slick's accusation that I am misrpresenting him on this, simply falls flat. I confess, it would be kinda cool to have that kind of super-power to influence people's thinking (I could make Phil agree with me on everything, how fun would that be?!), without even ever having spoken to them - but trust me folks, I don't have that kind of influence. I can't even get the kids to make their beds, on a regular basis.
So, there ya go.
I'll let Phil and Slick duke this one out - I'm done with it. Slick says he's open to correction, so maybe an exchange between Phil and Slick on this issue would be more educational, and more edifying, than this back and forth he said/she said junk?
SDG,
me
I thought of removing it, only because I have already said that I would not respond to whatever MS puts on his site about me - and then I went ahead and entertained the idea of responding. Ugh.
It's not easy to be blatantly misrepresented, and not respond.
For me, it's not about me. It's about what is true, what is Biblical, and what is right.
So what is the Biblical answer to false representation?
This is a hard one for me, because the Bible seems to address this from the perspective of people speaking evil or falsely about you, because you're a Christian - because of Christ. It doesn't seem to address how to deal with it when professing believers do the same thing - but for different motives.
So I will leave it alone, and move on like I said I would. Only after I clarify 1 statement Slick made. For no other reason than someone else has been named in this, and also (I believe) misrepresented by Slick. This isn't about me, this is about someone else's comments.
Over and over again, Slick cries he was misrepresented by myself. He quotes what Phil Johnson said, as a result of my email question to Phil, and makes the implication that what Phil said, was how I represented Slick, to Phil - to make his case that I am misrepresenting him. Still with me here? This is Slick setting up the scenario to prove he's been misrepresented. Problem is, it never happened the way Slick describes it.
Slick writes:
"So, I can conclude that he is responding to what Carla has told him. Since I have been saying that both Carla and Surphing have been misrepresenting me, and since Phil's opinion of what I teach is not what I teach, I conclude that Carla did not represent me correctly to him. If there is another explanation for this incongruity, I am not aware of it and am open to being corrected."
To be clear - I asked Phil the same thing I asked others: "can a person hold to universalism, and still be a real Christian?". I then gave Phil the site where Slick says yes. That is ALL I asked of Phil, and asked him to read Slick's article himself, and this article where I first put the question up here. Phil responded on his blog (which was not quoted in it's entirety by Slick):
"Carla Rolfe ponders how to respond to an influential "Christian apologist" who claims universalism is perfectly compatible with the fundamental truths of Christianity.
The guy acknowledges that universalism is unbiblical. But he insists it's an error that doesn't impinge on any essential doctrine of Christianity.
Therefore, he says, it's a "difference of opinion" that ought to be tolerated within the circle of our Christian fellowship.
I agree with the concerns Carla has raised. Universalism is a denial that
God must be feared and believed by those who will be saved, and that absolutely is the most arrogant sort of repudiation of one of the first and most fundamental teachings of Scripture: "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
The error Carla has highlighted illustrates once again the folly of thinking the fundamental doctrines of Christianity can be reduced to a short list of five."
Folks, these are Phil's words, not mine. I never, as Slick insinuates, went to Phil and said "Slick claims universalism is perfectly compatible with the fundamental truths of Christianity, what do you say, Phil?" - as Slick has falsely assumed, and falsely accused me of doing. I wouldn't have even said it that way, if I did say it. I'm not as good with words as Phil is, trust me on that one.
Phil Johnson didn't fall of the turnip truck yesterday, folks. I can only surmise that he did read the question I posed, did venture over to Slick's own article, and did read what his position on this is. And came to his own conclusion on what Slick is teaching - and/or holding to. Anything less, I would be highly disappointed in Phil for doing - as this would be responding to hearsay without first gathering the facts from the source. That's not Phil's style - he DOES go to the source, all the time.
Slick responds to this by saying Johnson couldn't possibly have read where he stands on this, and come away with that opinion - so therefore it must have been me, misreprenting him.
"If, as Carla says, he read my material then he would have realized that I never say that "universalism is perfectly compatible with the fundamental truths of Christianity."
It seems pretty clear to me that Phil did read at least part of what Slick wrote, if you re-read his very own words:
"The guy acknowledges that universalism is unbiblical. But he insists it's an error that doesn't impinge on any essential doctrine of Christianity. Therefore, he says, it's a "difference of opinion" that ought to be tolerated within the circle of our Christian fellowship."
Well, let me just conclude with this...
Numerous people, much smarter than I, have read Slick's position on this, and heard him elaborate in audio chat, and have come away with the same exact impression that Phil expressed - all without me saying 1 word to them on it. So Slick's accusation that I am misrpresenting him on this, simply falls flat. I confess, it would be kinda cool to have that kind of super-power to influence people's thinking (I could make Phil agree with me on everything, how fun would that be?!), without even ever having spoken to them - but trust me folks, I don't have that kind of influence. I can't even get the kids to make their beds, on a regular basis.
So, there ya go.
I'll let Phil and Slick duke this one out - I'm done with it. Slick says he's open to correction, so maybe an exchange between Phil and Slick on this issue would be more educational, and more edifying, than this back and forth he said/she said junk?
SDG,
me
As the blogdom turns...
It came to my attention last evening that Matt Slick has responded to the questions Denise and I had asked of him several days ago. Unfortunately, contained within his response is an account of something that was more from his imagination, than fact. So much of what he had to say did not even happen the way he described it. I question whether or not it’s even worth it to ACTUALLY set the record straight? (It seems like a big soap opera to me).
There were plenty of witnesses to this chat session – I have saved the text transcript – there is ample proof and first hand accounts that much what he had to say in this article, just never happened – or is a false picture of both Denise and myself, to begin with.
Accusation, innuendo, implications and flat out fabrications.
To respond properly, it would take much time to address each statement he made that isn’t true. I couldn’t care less what Slick thinks of me personally, but I do care a lot when people make things up to make themselves look better. And tear someone else down. Not only do I care, I really hate that.
So I leave it up to my readers.
Do you really want to see a point by point rebuttal of Slick’s article? Do you want to know the truth from the actual transcript?
Or could you care less?
I’ll let you decide.
There were plenty of witnesses to this chat session – I have saved the text transcript – there is ample proof and first hand accounts that much what he had to say in this article, just never happened – or is a false picture of both Denise and myself, to begin with.
Accusation, innuendo, implications and flat out fabrications.
To respond properly, it would take much time to address each statement he made that isn’t true. I couldn’t care less what Slick thinks of me personally, but I do care a lot when people make things up to make themselves look better. And tear someone else down. Not only do I care, I really hate that.
So I leave it up to my readers.
Do you really want to see a point by point rebuttal of Slick’s article? Do you want to know the truth from the actual transcript?
Or could you care less?
I’ll let you decide.
September 02, 2005
A funny thing happened on the way to the comment box...
You stopped commenting.
I don't know if it was the hurricane in LA, or the fact that I installed word verification, or simply sheer boredom, but I have noticed a drastic reduction in the comments.
If I'm really that boring, just let me know.
If you really hate the word verification, let me know that too. I'm not big on it myself, but it sure seems to work to keep out the spam for ceiling fans and discount medicated foot powder.
What say ye?
I don't know if it was the hurricane in LA, or the fact that I installed word verification, or simply sheer boredom, but I have noticed a drastic reduction in the comments.
If I'm really that boring, just let me know.
If you really hate the word verification, let me know that too. I'm not big on it myself, but it sure seems to work to keep out the spam for ceiling fans and discount medicated foot powder.
What say ye?
Where credit is due
Yesterday, I wasn't really satisfied with the finished product of my book, so I decided to replace the cover art with my own work. I called the faeries in the garden and asked them to pose for me, and they were more than happy to do that.
So here is the new cover:
I really must give credit, where credit is due, for the source of the story behind this book.
When I was little, I saw a faerie garden. It was the kind of thing little girl's imaginations are made of. Wildflowers everywhere, a garden bench, a path, and everywhere you looked - under bushes, in flower beds, swinging from the trees... faeries! Not the ugly trolls or gnomes, not the obviously fake frogs or squirrels, but little tiny Tinkerbells.
I remember thinking to myself "when I grow up, I want a faerie garden". Well, I grew up (although some might disagree) and 3 years ago when we moved to the country, I found the spot for the garden. I began to design where the flowerbeds would be, I planted highbush cranberries, a butterfly bush (which has since been dug up by the dog, to be replaced next spring), and as many wildflowers as I could get my hands on. I found an old wooden park bench at a yard sale, and nabbed it. I installed a wrought iron arbor, then roped the whole thing off with ornamental posts and chain. The garden is smack dab in the middle of the front yard. It was ready for the faeries!
Over the last few years, I've found just the right ones (size to scale, style, etc.) and the faerie family grows by one more, ever so often. When I had just a few out there, the kids started a story about the faeries. They named the faeries after themselves (who else would they be?) and began to weave a tale about what they do, how they eat, and where they go at night. I listened intently - I wanted to know what my garden visitors were up to!
After a while I took their story, and weaved an adventure into it. I wont tell you what it is, you have to buy the book for that, lol. The first time I read the story to them, their eyes lit up, and there were "oh no!'s" and "yay!!'s" from all of them.
While the little girls named the faeries after themselves, I changed that up a little too. All the faeries in the story are named after all my kids - a mixed combination of their first and middle names. The names sort of turned out Lord of the Rings style, which they all thought was pretty neat.
Yesterday when I decided to change the cover art, I went to the publisher site to do that, and lo and behold, someone already bought a book!!! I was so excited, with my royalties I can now buy 2 loaves of bread and a pack of mints. LOL... no, I am not kidding. After printing costs, that's about how much I made.
I don't know who bought the book, but I hope whoever it was, reads this story to their little girls, and their eyes light up like my girls did. It's a great thing to encourage the imagination of a child, and it's even a better thing if you can mix fantasty with Biblical morality. This is what I attempted in this story.
Who knows... maybe the family of faeries in my garden will have another adventure soon...? (the kids have insisted on it, so we'll see).
You can buy the book here, if this is your cup of tea.
So here is the new cover:
I really must give credit, where credit is due, for the source of the story behind this book.
When I was little, I saw a faerie garden. It was the kind of thing little girl's imaginations are made of. Wildflowers everywhere, a garden bench, a path, and everywhere you looked - under bushes, in flower beds, swinging from the trees... faeries! Not the ugly trolls or gnomes, not the obviously fake frogs or squirrels, but little tiny Tinkerbells.
I remember thinking to myself "when I grow up, I want a faerie garden". Well, I grew up (although some might disagree) and 3 years ago when we moved to the country, I found the spot for the garden. I began to design where the flowerbeds would be, I planted highbush cranberries, a butterfly bush (which has since been dug up by the dog, to be replaced next spring), and as many wildflowers as I could get my hands on. I found an old wooden park bench at a yard sale, and nabbed it. I installed a wrought iron arbor, then roped the whole thing off with ornamental posts and chain. The garden is smack dab in the middle of the front yard. It was ready for the faeries!
Over the last few years, I've found just the right ones (size to scale, style, etc.) and the faerie family grows by one more, ever so often. When I had just a few out there, the kids started a story about the faeries. They named the faeries after themselves (who else would they be?) and began to weave a tale about what they do, how they eat, and where they go at night. I listened intently - I wanted to know what my garden visitors were up to!
After a while I took their story, and weaved an adventure into it. I wont tell you what it is, you have to buy the book for that, lol. The first time I read the story to them, their eyes lit up, and there were "oh no!'s" and "yay!!'s" from all of them.
While the little girls named the faeries after themselves, I changed that up a little too. All the faeries in the story are named after all my kids - a mixed combination of their first and middle names. The names sort of turned out Lord of the Rings style, which they all thought was pretty neat.
Yesterday when I decided to change the cover art, I went to the publisher site to do that, and lo and behold, someone already bought a book!!! I was so excited, with my royalties I can now buy 2 loaves of bread and a pack of mints. LOL... no, I am not kidding. After printing costs, that's about how much I made.
I don't know who bought the book, but I hope whoever it was, reads this story to their little girls, and their eyes light up like my girls did. It's a great thing to encourage the imagination of a child, and it's even a better thing if you can mix fantasty with Biblical morality. This is what I attempted in this story.
Who knows... maybe the family of faeries in my garden will have another adventure soon...? (the kids have insisted on it, so we'll see).
You can buy the book here, if this is your cup of tea.
September 01, 2005
One more to think about
And on my way to the kitchen, I tripped over the chair leg, landed back in my seat, hit the keyboard with my hand and accidentally landed at The Pardoner's Tale.
Okay none of that really happened, but I did want to point out another very good article I read this morning.
What would Jesus flood?
Read that - it's good stuff. It'll make you think.
Okay none of that really happened, but I did want to point out another very good article I read this morning.
What would Jesus flood?
Read that - it's good stuff. It'll make you think.
exposing what's in there...
Okay I have another confession to make. I bet you're really glad to read how often I do this, eh?
The confession is basically this:
I'm a self-centered, snivelling, ungrateful brat.
I didn't think I was, until yesterday.
Let me tell you why:
As my regular readers know (and thank you for asking about him privately as well), my 4 yr old son Samuel recently suffered a very bad burn to his foot. He's being treated at the hospital for the next little while. He's home at night, but has to be seen at the hospital for assessment of the foot, dressing, and bandages.
Yesterday, while waiting to be seen, the tv was on in the waiting room, and a man got up and turned it to CNN. More Katrina damage coverage, as anyone could guess. I sat and watched intently, wishing I could DO something.
The nurse came out and called for Samuel, and that began an almost 4 hour wait. His injury isn't urgent, so when urgent injuries or illnesses came in through the ER, they were handled first. Just the way it works. I understand that. If I was the guy that came in with blood all over his pants, and holding a messy-wrapped arm, I'd want to be seen NOW.
What I had a problem with, was the fact that it takes all of 15 minutes to look at the foot, clean it, dress it, and bandage it. Maybe not even 15 minutes. I could have done it myself in 10, and I was prepared to do just that, and leave, several times.
During quite a bit of that almost 4 hour wait, at various different times the nurses and the doc were chit chatting in the main office-area. They weren't even treating anyone else. How do I know they were chit-chatting? You could have heard them in Idaho - that's how I know. We were 3 rooms down.
That's all beside the point though. It did contribute to why I was frustrated, however.
He was finally seen and we left - with strict instructions to come back and do this again tomorrow. Ugh.
Later, after we were home, I was praying. Suddenly my heart filled with this perspective of what we have, and what we ought to be grateful for, especially in consideration to the folks down south.
No clean water, no means of rescue yet, no medical attention, to medical supplies, and in many places, no doctors, nurses, or hospitals at all. Likely still thousands of people, of all ages and all manner of illness and injury, some with life-threatening situations, with no means of immediate help at all. Some have already died, waiting for help. Likely many more will also.
And then there's me. Driving to the hospital in a air conditioned vehicle, then sitting in a clean, roomy exam room. My son's pain meds kicked in, and he slept peacefully on a warm, soft bed. Once properly treated in a safe, sterile atmosphere, returning home to a clean house, with food in the fridge, and a fresh pot of coffee.
Only to grumble to my sister-in-law who called while I was making dinner in a clean kitchen. The first thing out of my mouth was "well, after almost FOUR hours we finally got home".
I don't know about you, but I know for me, considering the harsh contrast in realities of my situation and thousands of situations in the south, I have no right in any way, shape or form, to complain about anything. I felt lousy that I ever let the inconviences get to me.
This morning while reading my usual list of suspects, I found a link via The Thirsty Theoligian, to an article at Centurion's blog called "It's one thing to give a lecture..."
I highly recommend you go read it. He makes a solid argument for DOING something - as if us Christians needed to be told we need to DO.
Samuel has to go back to the hospital today. I don't want to go, only because I have so much to do around here since my arm is a little better. I don't know if I'm taking him, or if Kev is, but if I do, I will not utter one complaint - either in my heart or out my mouth. I have no grounds to complain about 1 thing, no matter how trivially annoying it might be.
SDG - me
The confession is basically this:
I'm a self-centered, snivelling, ungrateful brat.
I didn't think I was, until yesterday.
Let me tell you why:
As my regular readers know (and thank you for asking about him privately as well), my 4 yr old son Samuel recently suffered a very bad burn to his foot. He's being treated at the hospital for the next little while. He's home at night, but has to be seen at the hospital for assessment of the foot, dressing, and bandages.
Yesterday, while waiting to be seen, the tv was on in the waiting room, and a man got up and turned it to CNN. More Katrina damage coverage, as anyone could guess. I sat and watched intently, wishing I could DO something.
The nurse came out and called for Samuel, and that began an almost 4 hour wait. His injury isn't urgent, so when urgent injuries or illnesses came in through the ER, they were handled first. Just the way it works. I understand that. If I was the guy that came in with blood all over his pants, and holding a messy-wrapped arm, I'd want to be seen NOW.
What I had a problem with, was the fact that it takes all of 15 minutes to look at the foot, clean it, dress it, and bandage it. Maybe not even 15 minutes. I could have done it myself in 10, and I was prepared to do just that, and leave, several times.
During quite a bit of that almost 4 hour wait, at various different times the nurses and the doc were chit chatting in the main office-area. They weren't even treating anyone else. How do I know they were chit-chatting? You could have heard them in Idaho - that's how I know. We were 3 rooms down.
That's all beside the point though. It did contribute to why I was frustrated, however.
He was finally seen and we left - with strict instructions to come back and do this again tomorrow. Ugh.
Later, after we were home, I was praying. Suddenly my heart filled with this perspective of what we have, and what we ought to be grateful for, especially in consideration to the folks down south.
No clean water, no means of rescue yet, no medical attention, to medical supplies, and in many places, no doctors, nurses, or hospitals at all. Likely still thousands of people, of all ages and all manner of illness and injury, some with life-threatening situations, with no means of immediate help at all. Some have already died, waiting for help. Likely many more will also.
And then there's me. Driving to the hospital in a air conditioned vehicle, then sitting in a clean, roomy exam room. My son's pain meds kicked in, and he slept peacefully on a warm, soft bed. Once properly treated in a safe, sterile atmosphere, returning home to a clean house, with food in the fridge, and a fresh pot of coffee.
Only to grumble to my sister-in-law who called while I was making dinner in a clean kitchen. The first thing out of my mouth was "well, after almost FOUR hours we finally got home".
I don't know about you, but I know for me, considering the harsh contrast in realities of my situation and thousands of situations in the south, I have no right in any way, shape or form, to complain about anything. I felt lousy that I ever let the inconviences get to me.
This morning while reading my usual list of suspects, I found a link via The Thirsty Theoligian, to an article at Centurion's blog called "It's one thing to give a lecture..."
I highly recommend you go read it. He makes a solid argument for DOING something - as if us Christians needed to be told we need to DO.
Samuel has to go back to the hospital today. I don't want to go, only because I have so much to do around here since my arm is a little better. I don't know if I'm taking him, or if Kev is, but if I do, I will not utter one complaint - either in my heart or out my mouth. I have no grounds to complain about 1 thing, no matter how trivially annoying it might be.
SDG - me
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