Here birdy birdy birdy!

Daugher to mom: mom, how many pictures of cardinals do you need?

Mom to daughter: well, how many cardinals are there?

I think that was a valid answer, don't you?

In any case, this little guy was standing outside my kitchen window about an hour ago when I went to get my first cup of coffee this morning. I said (to no one in the room) "oh mister cardinalis!" and grabbed my camera off the kitchen desk. Un-coffeed and in bad lighting, snapped his picture. I love cardinals!

I didn't even realize it until today, but yesterday's last post was my 900th blog entry at this blog. Whew, I guess I have a lot to say, eh?

Now, you see that fun little graphic over there with the fingers counting down? Here's what you do, YOU click on that and vote for my t-shirt. It's a way to advertise your T's for free, and the more votes you get the higher your shirt goes on the ranking list. Now I want to warn you, this is just a "general" t-shirt site, it's not a Christian site. Some of the other t-shirt designs you see (if you browse around) may contain offensive pictures or wording. Just vote for my t-shirt and you've done your civic duty for the day. Nevermind this, the link wont link directly to my shirt, and I don't want to make anyone scroll through any offensive graphics to locate it. Carry on... :o)

Oh and 1 more thing to mention - please feel welcome to join us today at 4:30pm Eastern time for Pastor John MacArthur's Discernment series, part 2. If you already go to his church, you've already heard it :o) but come join us anyway. We had a real nice time yesterday and the room stayed open for another 4 hours after that! My hat is off to Denise for helping me admin the room and keep all you silly chatters in line. ;o)

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Monday's notes

A couple of things to tell you about.

1. I'll be opening my chat room on PalTalk today and re-broadcasting John MacArthur's series on discernment from last week. There are 5 shows, each roughly 30 minutes long. We're hoping to re-broadcast one each day this week, at this same time. I don't open my room there very often anymore but I thought this would be a good reason to do it. The room name is Sovereign Grace Bible Fellowship (in the Christianity section), and will open at roughly 4:30pm eastern time. You're welcome to join us there & listen to the message and have a time of discussion on the topic.

2. The new project I've been working on is now live. It's an extension of my store Reflections, and you can read all the details about it, at the store's blog. There's also a little button at the end of each post, and another in the side bar. "CARLA'ZAZZLE"

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Do you Hebrews 10:25?

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

This is the verse universally known as the "go to church" verse. Everyone I've ever known, when explaining what the Bible says about being in a local church, uses this verse. I suppose there are other verses that one could use, and maybe even other verses that say it more clear, but for some reason this is the one that's used most often.

And I agree with the message - 100%.

The reason I want to write about this today, is because I'm guessing most of you were in church today. It's Sunday. Sunday is the day we gather in fellowship with other believers and listen to the pastor preach the word, sing hymns, pray, and worship the Lord, together. For the believer, it really should be the highlight of your week. It should bring joy to your heart to be in a local church every Sunday.

Unfortunately (or maybe providentially?) this does not describe the Sunday morning situation for all believers. There are many reasons for this but the one reason I don't really want to go into is the case of Spiritual Lone-Rangerhood. Those who believe themselves to be "just fine thanks" without a local church. I'll leave that for another post, maybe. I will say that if this describes you or someone you know, this is dangerous ground and will only serve to render such a believer a genuine spiritual midget.

Another reason I felt compelled to write about this today is because of a conversation I had last night with a dear friend. We discussed some of the reasons believers are not in a local church and it really hits close to home for me. Kev and I have been without a home church more often in our married life, than we have had one. Currently, we are the "transition process" of finding a new church to call home - for a wide variety of reasons. We already know where we are going (it's a church we attended before we moved 4 years ago), but it's still not an easy process to leave one church and begin going to another.

I'd like to point out what may or may not be the obvious. Reasons believers are not in a church, and some realistic remedies to that. While this in no way should be considered a comprehensive list, or the be-all & end-all of solutions, I do hope it serves to help someone, in some way.

Realistic Reasons

Newly Saved

I love being around brand new beleivers in Christ. The way they express themselves through new eyes, and new understanding, is just a joy to listen to. Oftentimes, a new believer isn't sure which local church to attend. In our times there are so many churches all claiming to be Christian, and we all know just how untrue that really is. Not all new converts have the benefit of knowing local believers, so invitations to churches just don't come. Being unsure, it's not uncommon for a new believer to avoid church alltogether.

Doctrinal Growth

This category defines all of us at one time or another. I can't count how many people I've known that have left a church for this reason. As they grow in their faith & understanding of the Scriptures they realize the church they've been in does not rightly divide the word - to put it mildly. That, combined with more and more churches so eager to jump on the Christianese Trend of the Year (be it PDL, Alpha, Emergent, etc.), there are many believers that truly have no voice in their church. The choices for many are to sit back and quietly accept what's being taught - or - stay and make every effort to affect what's being taught - or leave and find a new church. For those who leave, it's never an easy decision or an easy transition. Often, for those who stay in hopes of being used of the Lord to make positive changes, it's even harder than if they left.

Between Churches

This also defines many of us at one time or another. For those who have moved, or been part of a church that fell apart (yep, it happens far too often) or left a church for any number of reasons, and still haven't found a local church to call home.

While there are certainly all sorts of other reasons fellow Christians are not currently in a local church, these are just the ones that come to mind right now. They are common reasons, according to the people I've spoken to over the years. They're even common in my family's own situation.

Realistic Remedies

Visiting different churches/Using Online Church Searches

When I left the AoG in the fall of 1997 my friend Kathy told me something that has proven to be far too true, in my own life. Her family had left the same church not too long before I did, and what she said to me was this:

DO NOT get out of the habit of going to church - it's easy to do - and hard to get back into the discipline of going to church on Sunday.

I had no idea at the time, just how true that was. In fact, because I loved being with other believers every Sunday and wanted to so much to find another church, I honestly didn't think it would apply to me. I couldn't have been more wrong. Once I did get out of the habit of making sure the girls clothes were ready Saturday night, and getting up in time for all of us to shower & dress - and just having the mindset of "Sunday worship", it didn't take long at all for it to become normal for us to treat Sunday morning just like Saturday morning.

Kathy suggested that even if we spend the week scoping out new churches to visit, to pick one and make sure we at least go on Sunday morning. This was excellent advice that I didn't apply to myself for several months. I still wish I would have listened to her!

In almost any community, there are scores of local churches you can visit. Look in your phone book, or look in your local paper under the classifieds on Saturday. Locate churches that you'd like to visit and if they have a website, go read their statement of faith & check out their pastor's page or who they link to & are associated with. If they don't have a website, call the pastor & make an appointment to go visit him and ask questions. If you're a married woman, it's best if your husband does this.

Another very good option is to locate a church using an online church directory. One of the better ones I would suggest is The Reformed Reader's directory. If you search the directory for your area and still cannot find a church, call or email the church closest to you and ask if they know of a church closer to you. Oftentimes they will know of a church that isn't listed in a directory, that might be closer to where you are. Always make sure to leave your name & number and/or email address with whoever you contact with the message that you're looking for a local church for you and your family.

Home Bible studies/prayer meetings

This is something that we've done many times, when we didn't have a local, home church. At one time Kev was leading one Bible study a week across town, and we had another Bible study during the week in our house. On Sundays when we didn't have a church, we had church in our living room. Everyone was expected to be dressed for church :o) and we'd pray, sing hymns, and Kev would preach a message for us. We'd close in a hymn, and a prayer. If nothing else, we devoted that time each Sunday morning to worshipping the Lord, and remaining in the habit of Sunday morning worship.

There are a number of ways to find out where Bible studies are being held. You can ask around at work, or look on your local grocery store bulletin board. Check the daily paper for classified ads (yep, quite often they're listed there), or ask your neighbors if they know of one. If you can't find one, another way is to hold a Bible study yourself. Drop an ad in the local paper to tell your community about it, or stick an index card up at the grocery store bulletin board (or community center or whatever local merchant that has one of these). You might be surprised to see who calls or shows up. You might even be surprised to learn about local churches that you weren't aware of. At the very least, you're meeting with other believers and getting the word out that you're looking for a local church. You might even get folks to come that are unbelievers - and what a wonderful opportunity that would be.

Moving

This remedy is one that most people stick their noses up in the air about. Listen - I'm not going to candy coat this in the least. I've heard every excuse under the sun why people can't be a part of a local church - and why they can't move. As a pastor friend of mine says, there's a Hebrew word for that and it's BALONEY, and the Greek word is HOGWASH.

People move for all kinds of reasons. People move to a better neighborhood, better job, better schools - out to the country or into the city. For economical, academic & social reasons, people move every day. While these are obviously legitimate reasons to move, one had better do some serious re-examining of their priorities if they refuse to move to find a good church.

I realize that moving is expensive, and can be quite difficult. There is packing and hauling and landlords or mortgages, utitlity notices, paperwork and more paperwork. Saying goodbye to friends and leaving things or selling things. Since I moved out of my mom's house at 18 years old, I have moved 15 times. From across town, to a different state, and even another country. Homes in the country, apartments in the city, and even living with relatives with 95% of our belongings in storage. Moving stinks, and most of us hate it, but when we have to do it, we pull up our socks and DO IT.

I believe with all my heart that if a believer's priority is finding and being a part of a local church, and the closest one is too far away - God will make a way for them to move. IF that is genuinely the desire of their heart. What more legitimate reason is there to move, if you're a believer without a local church to be a part of? I can't think of a better reason to move.

Unrealistic Demands/Expectations

One of the things that used to frustrate me more than anything else, was the comment that I (meaning Kev and I) just needed to lower our standards, find the closest church and GO. The reason we were told, for doing this, is to be able to say "yes, we're in a local church". In other words, there were well meaning, concerned believers that wanted us to be a part of a local church so badly, their good sense was stifled by their "helpful" advice.

YES we are instructed by Scripture to be in fellowship with other believers, so this isn't debatable. At the same time however, if the only churches in your area are churches that you know to be unbiblical (women pastors, pastors preaching arminian doctrine, etc.), I would certainly never advise anyone to set aside their convictions regarding sound doctrine, and just go to a church like this to be able to save face, so to speak.

I realize there are all sorts of variables within what you've just read, and things I haven't even touched on. I also realize that there are some reading that might not agree with me on certain points and that's okay too. This is what's on my heart tonight, and I wanted to share it in hopes that it might bless someone else.

First and foremost, if you're in a situation I've described here - the first step for you is prayer. Diligent prayer for the Lord's direction, wisdom and guidance. If it is your heart's desire to be in a local church, I believe He will lead you to the very place He wants you. It might not be this week, and it might not even be this year - but He will direct your steps, to be sure. Remain in prayer about it, keep looking, visit churches, attend or hold Bible studies, and just remain diligent. You'll be blessed by that, as you wait on the Lord to lead you to a local church.

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

I have too many questions

(This is my cat Wishbone, and this is Wishbone's chair. He sometimes moves out of it for me to sit in it. If I ask him nicely and give him potato chips.)

Yep, I'm too curious. That annoys people. Here are some of my questions:

What constitutes a local church?
Why do old farmers know when snow is coming?
Why don't potato chip makers make a line of burnt chips?
Why do cats sleep so much?
Why is prune juice considered an old people beverage?
Why do people use a tv/dvd/vcr remote when they're less than 4 feet from the tv?
Why do some people always win contests and others almost never?
Why is my house always a mess when I'm always cleaning it?
What is a non-dairy cream?

I have more, but those are just a few that came to mind this evening.

I've spent the better part of today inside, as it snows like crazy outside. Since I didn't go out, I spent a good portion of time today working on a new project for my online store. I won't say what the project entails just yet, but it's cool and I'm pretty sure folks will like it. I know I do. Someday I'd love to have a real shop, that'd be nice.

I'd sell my graphics/photography gifts, plus candles (the kind that smell so good you'd consider eating them), fresh baked pastries, and coffee/tea/hot cocoa. One wall would be filled with some of the most ornate and unique waterglobes you've ever seen, and we'd gift wrap every purchase, and ship worldwide for free.

Yep, that's what I'd do if I had my own [real] shop. Until then, I'll just keep asking questions, I guess.



Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Dream On

Dreams are weird. The Re-telling of dreams is even weirder. More weird? In any case...

For as long as I can remember, I've had pretty wild dreams. Some say it's because I'm an artsy type. Some say creative people have wild, vivid dreams. I have no idea if that's true or not, I just know I have wild and vivid dreams. I also know that 9 outta 10, people do not want to hear other people's dreams. I've never really understood why, since dreams are so cool! Maybe it has more to do with people's story-telling skills than anything else. Even a great story can be dull and boring if told by someone that leaves out the great details.

When I was a little girl, the most vividly frightening dream I had was the Kingdom of the Spiders dream. (Yes, I name my dreams, doesn't everyone?). In my awake time that day I had stepped on a spider on the sidewalk and felt no mercy or care at all, about squishing him flat as a pancake. As I walked away however, I began to feel like a big creepy monster for doing it in the first place. That night in dream-world, the centurions of the Spider Kingdom came to arrest me. (I know I've told this story before, so just bear with me). I'll spare the details but suffice it to say after a time of captivity and a trial I was found guilty and sentenced. My sentence was "an eye for an eye" so to speak, and they called in the Giant Spider to carry out my sentence. I would suffer the same death as the spider I killed earlier in the day. I woke up with blood-curdling screams, just as my sentence was being carried out. I know I woke up my mom too, and likely half the neighborhood.

Not so oddly enough, I still think of that dream every now and then when I have to kill a bug. I was probably about 7 or 8 years old when I had that dream.

Since then, I've had so many other dreams that if I wrote them all out, it might fill a small book. Or maybe a large book? They're the kind of dreams where later in life I've been watching a sci-fi or a pychological thriller and went "WHOA! that's a scene from such and such dream I had!" It happens quite often. Like the Wrought Iron Fence recurring dream, or the Abandoned Loading Dock dream or the Naked in the Ice Store dream. (For the record, I was not nekkid in the ice store, the customers were. I waited in the car, disgusted).

Last summer I had a dream like this, that I actually posted here. If you'd like, you can read that here. I named that one Corn Cob Man.

The reason this came to mind is due to another dream I recently had that left me breathless when I woke up. I wont go into all the details but in that dream my children were being attacked by thousands of flying demons. Or so I thought...

In the dream, I lived in a house that I had babysat in, as a teenager. All of my 7 kids lived at home, and someone (for some sick reason) decided to play a prank on me. Minus all the details, what frightened the life nearly out of me turned out to be holograms, models & mirrors. Elaborately set up in my house to convince me (and anyone else) that it was all real.

When I woke up and caught my breath, I immediately thought "now what in the world was the reason for that dream?". The ones that don't make any sense really annoy me. Like the one when I was a kid and I was actually the Chef Boyardee boy from the tv commercials, and instead of running throught he rain soaked streets of a little Italian village, I was flying over it. That never made sense to me. I didn't even like Chef Boyardee canned pasta products.

So here's the really funny part. Okay I laughed, Kev clutched his chest and said "do DO that to me!". He laughed later though:

This morning I opened the basement door to go downstairs to the basement to get something. As soon as I opened the door a small, winged thing screeched at me and flew off the coffee can it was sitting on, on the ledge, and flew away down the stairs. I screamed, but then laughed at the same time, as I immediately thought of my hologram-demon dream. Kev lost it, yelling "what! what! what is it, what happened!". It took me a few seconds to get it together and stop laughing, when I finally told him it was a bird, I thought. A bat maybe? A hologram? I was still laughing but Kevin didn't see the humor in it. He doesn't do "sudden screaming" well at all.

So, guess which one of us went to the basement to see what it really was? If you guessed Kev, you'd be wrong. Not in a zillion years! I went down and found a little starling sitting on the table down there, his feet covered in cob webs. I have no idea how he got in, but there he was all the same. Kev (being ever so helpful, lol) went OUTSIDE and opened the basement door so the bird could fly out. I shoo'd him toward the door and he went up the stairs, then flew away outside.

So why did I decide to write about all that tonight? Well, because it's the stuff dreams are made of. Next week or next year, or 10 years from now, I'm going to have a dream about some part of this. It's just the way it works with me. It would just be really cool if it had a point, or a great lesson in it, like Corn Cob Man.

Sweet dreams...
;o)

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Here's what I did this morning.
:o)

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

New Stuff & Old Stuff

I normally reserve the weekend for creating new graphics & working on my store, but I was so inspired by the pretty carnations Kev got me for Valentine's Day, that I just didn't want to wait. I created this last night and have opened a brand new Pink Carnation line at my store. You can see the full line here.

One other thing to mention. At least twice a week I get visitors from Matt Slick's "misrepresentation" page. Problem is, Matt didn't link his article to any of the relevant posts here about that whole issue. For the record, I never "misrepresented" Matt Slick and the 30 or so people present during the confrontation in live audio chat were witnesses to that. In any case, if you're coming here from Slick's page about this, I've encapsulated the issue here, in one post, with links. Since you've obviously already read his side, now you can read mine, and discern accordingly on this issue.

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue By David F. Wells
Total Truth By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Reading, praying, listening

I've posted on a couple of topics lately that have generated a bit of interest with the readers here. Namely, practical Christian living and the topic of spanking (is it Biblical?). I wish to make a disclaimer of sorts. It's a simple one that is pretty much summed up in one sentence:

I don't have all the answers. (I know, no one's shocked, lol)

In fact, I don't have a good majority of the answers. What I do have is a bizarre tendency to observe, and ask a lot of questions. Maybe my gift is stirring the pot to make other people with the right answers, come forward? ;o)

With the spanking issue, I do believe it's a Biblical mode of physical discipline for an unruly child, and I don't believe it means for one minute to take a heavy club and literally beat your kid. I also believe there is a distinctive line between abuse of a child, and physical correction and/or discipline. What I don't believe in, is getting into huge debates about it online, or offline for that matter. I do appreciate those who took the time to share their perspectives and studies, and I hope it has served to give us all some food for thought (it certainly has for me).

As for the topic of practical Christian living and how it's dealt with (or not) in local churches...

Oh how I wish I had the answers to solve that one! If I did, I'd write it all out in an easy to read & follow format then send it to every believer I know.

What I do know, is that holy living is central to this subject. Living according to the mandate of Scripture because our hearts are changed and we want to live that way. In the post about practical Christian living I mentioned a teacher/pastor that comes to mind in this field, and that was John MacArthur. While I'm sure there are others (and if you know of some with teachings online, please do feel welcome to share links in the comment section, it would surely be a blessing to everyone reading), he was the first to come to mind.

This week pastor MacArthur has a series on discernment, that I believe is critical in our day. You can go here and listen to the archives for this week, and tune in for the rest of the series.

When I think of or hear the phrase "practical Christian living", the first things that come to mind are these:

1. Studying my Bible to know for myself what it says about any given topic.

This is the starting place for me. In the almost 12 years that I've been a Christian, I've yet to come across any subject, or issue, trial or struggle, question or controversy, that isn't addressed somewhere in the Bible. Not only is it addressed, it teaches us how we're to respond to these things, and why.

2. Prayer.

Anyone can read the Bible. We have to take the time (and should want to) to come humbly before the Lord in prayer and seek His wisdom and guidance. Where we are weak, seek His strength. Where we are confused, seek clarity. The more we pray about the things we're dealing with, and the Scriptures we've read about them, the more these things are in the forefront of our mind and the more we're prepared to be discerning about them. We can't just file something away in the backs of our minds and make a mental not to deal with it later. Growth doesn't happen that way, we have to be willing to deal with it as it comes up, and continue dealing with it as He teaches us how to deal with it, whatever it happens to be.

3. Listen.

Most importantly is to listen to the Lord in prayer. Now I don't mean audibly, but if you're praying for example, about your kids who acted like regular delinquents today, and how you dealt with it - listen when your heart is convicted about the way you handled it. If you lost your temper with them, and that's what is troubling your heart, you're being convicted. Listen to that, and be mindful of that the next time the situation comes up. Don't do the thing you did last time, but instead listen to them, think carefully before you respond to what they're saying or doing, and remember you're the adult, in whos care they have been entrusted. You're the one that is the example for them in godly living. That's a HUGE responsibility and one parents have to take very seriously. This is just one example, there are tens of thousands (if not more) situations and occaisions to listen.

My grandpa, who many of my long time readers will know as the man I believe to have been one of the smartest men I've ever known in my life, had few words to say, but when he said them people payed attention. One of the things he had to say that was 100% Biblical advice, was to speak less and listen more. The more you do that, the more you learn. Those with their tounges clicking so often, can't hear anyone else over their own words. I don't know about you, but for me this is hard. Sometimes VERY hard, because I so want to say what I want to say, and I don't always want to listen to what someone else has to say. I know how selfish and self-absorbed that sounds, but it's true for me, and likely true for others as well. Asking the Lord to shut my mouth so that I can actually hear what someone has to say, and deal with what they have to say, is something I find myself doing more and more as the years roll by. Still not as much as I would like, but it does happen more.

And you know what? I really do learn a lot more when I listen. I learn more about my kids, about Kev, about my friends, about doctrine, you name it. I don't mean just not speaking but letting your mind assemble the thought-troops and be busy mentally preparing the ammo for a rebuttal, either. I mean really stopping myself from gearing up to "get my side in" and listening to what others have to say. This also is not easy, but it's crucial if we want to become better listeners.

One of the reasons this became so important to me was due to something my oldest daughter said to me about 10 years ago. She was a young teenager and a very opinionated one at that. During some kind of a heated discussion we were having, in complete exasperration she said to me, "you never listen to me!". I can't describe in words what that statement did to my heart.

What she really meant when she said that was "you very rarely agree with my point". She assumed because I didn't see things her way, that I wasn't hearing what she was saying. However, it was also true that I often did not take the time to really listen to what she was saying, and try to address the issue from where she was thinking. That takes work, and I overlooked that.

There's a lady by the name of Marla that is more commonly known as The FlyLady. She helps people organize their homes, lives, schedules and that sort of thing. I recently read her website to see if she had some wisdom to help me get my scattered house in order, and I really liked a lot of what she had to say. One of the things she says a lot is "baby steps". Meaning, take little steps at a time, but take the steps. The very same idea is applicable to practical Christian living. If I want to understand it better, it has to begin with me. How do I live? Where do I start? How do I speak, dress, react, think, respond? It has to begin with me, and I have to go to the Scriptures & prayer for the answers.

I actually had a lot more to say on this this morning, but it's getting late so I'll end here.

I hope this has blessed you in some way today.


Currently reading:

Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells

Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Practical Christian Living

What do people mean when they say that? Well, these days it's hard to say for sure. We seem to live in a time where it's perfectly normal for just about anyone to redefine anything, at any given time. At any rate, I know what I mean when I say it, and I know what I hope others mean when they say it.

Practical, applicable advise or teachings on how to live as a Christian. Now this might sound odd to some people, since the Bible is filled with teachings on every subject that will ever come up, as to how we're to react, respond and live. It only sounds odd if you've had good teachers in your life since your conversion. Solid Biblical teachers that have been available to you any time you had a question or an issue that you struggled with. People who lead you, prayed with you, and have encouraged you to study. It won't sound odd at all to those folks who once converted, were left floundering, as it were, on how to really live according to the Scriptures. I know there are a lot of people that fit into this category. Unfortunately, there are many churches that don't have any kind of discipleship programs, or new believers classes, or anything like that at all.

I realize that being "online" in the company of Christians for the last 13 years doesn't account for much. The online world of believers is sort of a strange thing, since many who profess Christ are later (and sometimes sooner) revealed to not have a clue who Christ is to begin with. However, with that said, I have still been in the company of professing believers online, nearly every day, for the past 13 years. This desire to learn about "practical Christian living" is indeed a worldwide issue. Believers from every part of the world speak of it. Believers from every part of the world need it.

If I had to guess at the number of professing Christians I've come in contact with over the years it would likely be a number right around a quarter of a million. Roughly estimated taking into consideration online chats, forums, websites and blogs. That's a conservative estimate based on roughly 50 people a day (in chats it can often be far more than that in a 2 hour chat time frame), for 13 years. If there is one thing that stands out in my mind regarding this contact, it's the consistant kinds of questions and statements that believers make. They question the every day conduct, relationships, "how-to" do this, respond to that, deal with the other.

Most people will say (and I would agree) that these are questions they should be posing to their pastors. Or Sunday school teachers, or someone else in their local church that can be there for them one on one, face to face. I certainly agree with that, but the problem for many people is that this isn't available to them. For a wide variety of reasons they don't have a pastor that is approachable this way (that's a whole different talk show alltogether) or their Sunday school teachers don't have the answers. Or the questions that they have are not encouraged in their churches. If it's a female-sensitive issue, there are possibly no elder women in the church that they can approach with it. That may sound strange to you, but it's quite a common thing, from all I've heard and read over the years.

Just a few months ago my pastor's wife confided to me that in all their years of ministering in different churches, the one common thing she's noticed that is the most difficult to deal with, is the "club-mentality" in churches when it comes to new members. While a few people in the local congregation might go out of their way to be friendly and welcoming to the new members, the majority of the local assembly does not, and the new person or the new family remains an outsider of sorts. This only adds to the brick walls that seem to be in place in a local assembly, that prohibit the one on one relationships in local churches where questions about "practical Christian living should be welcome.

If none of this describes your church, be grateful. Be thankful that you're surrounded by humble men and women of God that understand how important it is to be approachable, willing to listen, and willing to help a new believer in his or her walk with the Lord. I don't know if you're really in the minority here, but based solely on what I have observed over the years, I think it's a pretty good bet that you are.

There are believers out there that are struggling right now with so many issues it's probably impossible to list them all. Struggling because they don't have anyone to discuss them with, or they don't know who to ask. I would venture to guess this is part of the reason the top selling books in Christian bookstores are ones that deal with self-esteem, becoming wealthy, and the like. Books that center on "self" rather than on Christ. These authors know what people are looking for and they deliver it. They sell well, because even among professing believers, there is a horrible lack of understanding, and guidance.

There are so many areas I could go into but I'll just list the ones that come to my own mind as a Christian woman, wife and mother. In that role (or those roles) are many hats, and many sub-hats that I wear. There is no area at all that goes unaffected by my Christianity, so each area is just as important as the others.

Woman, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Teacher, Homemaker, Sister. For all of you Christian women reading this, you know full well how many sub-categories go into each of these roles. For you creative types, authors, painters, writers, etc., there is another role you have that is also affected by your Christianity. For those that work outside the home, or work in a volunteer capacity or are involved in some kind of outreach ministry, there's another role, or roles.

The central question that people seem to have, is this one right here:

"How do I (fill in the blank) for the glory of God and to be a good example?"

The filling in of the blank is the missing piece. How do I respond, react, teach, not lose my patience, listen better, pray, study, dress, speak, write, lose a bad habit, take care of my home better, be a better mom, wife, etc. If I actually sat here and listed the kinds of questions I've heard people ask in this capacity, and even listed the ones I have myself, the list would be HUGE.

These are the questions people have about practical Christian living, that seem to go unanswered in so many local assemblies. Some pastors are very well aware of how critical this area is, and spend a great deal of time preaching, teaching, lecturing and ministering in these very areas. (John MacArthur comes to mind here). But I have to say, based on my own very limited experience and observations, that these pastors are the exception to the rule.

So why am I writing about all this today? Partly because it's been on my mind a lot lately. Partly because I notice others mention it a lot. The lack of "practical helps" for believers. Partly because it bothers me (and should) that this issue is not addressed in so many local churches. Partly because as a Christian woman blogger, if I can use my ability to write about things that will HELP, then that's what I want to do.

In the grand scheme, this blog is less than a half of a blip on a blip on the God blogosphere radar. While stats can be fun and entertaining, they also show me that this site gets about 100 unique visitors each day. Most stay for less than a minute, according to the stat count. Some stay a little longer. Each of them (read: you) is looking for something, or they wouldn't have come by here.

If, as a Christian woman blogger I can write about things that will edify you, make sense to you, give you encouragment and direction, then that blesses me. If I can direct you back to your local church, your pastor, your Sunday school teacher, that lady in the church that has offered to have you over for coffee, then that's a good thing. If I can recommend books, blogs, and other resources that will help you in your walk with Christ and maybe with answers to some of those questions you have, then I'm so glad to be able to do that. With that said however, blogs cannot replace church, and while online fellowship is great, it cannot replace that face to face conversation, or the hug when you need it.

There is an area in the Christian life, in the year 2006 that is in desperate need of attention. That area can be addressed online, but it can't be remedied online. That area can be discussed online, but it's not going to change for the individual believer unless it begins to be addressed and discussed in the local church. That area, is practical Christian living. The how-to's of how to be a good and godly husband, an effective listener, a good teacher. The ways to study Scripture, the Biblical teaching on how to pray, and the affects of prayer. The hows and whys of being submissive, and obedient. How a stay at home mom is supposed to deal with ungodly attitudes in her children without losing her cool and finding herself in a pile of tears in her room. The list is truly longer than most of us ever give thought to on a daily basis.

It truly grieves me that so many people are coming online to find the answers to these questions. It's worse that they're finding an answer in the absolute rubbish being peddled by so-called Christian bookstores and Christian television programming. I'm a big advocate for these kinds of matters to be addressed first and foremost in the local, physical assembly of believers. I'm also a big advocate of Titus 2 type women's programs in churches, and men's groups, where such things like this can be addressed among the household of faith, in person.

So I write about this today with a desire to "up" the standard so to speak. I can't change anything anywhere else, but I can change what goes on here at this blog. It is my desire to write more about those things which edify, and point the reader to solid answers. I've been convicted lately that I haven't been doing that, and for that I apologize to my readers. I'll still write about whatever is on my mind or heart, but I hope to maintain a higher standard here that will serve to bless.


Currently reading:

Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells

Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

I won a prize!

My readers here might remember that Rebecca had a really nice Canadian Blogger's Showcase last month. Not only did Rebecca host the showcase that highlighted some really great Canadian blogs, but she also had a draw for prizes among the entrants. Oddity of oddities, I actually won one of the draws! I'm one of those people that never win anything, so it's weird. I also won a giveaway draw last fall at Sallie's place, so I must be on a roll or something.

In any case, I received my prize today, a beautiful Canadian scenery calendar for 2006. Rebecca was kind enough to also include several Yukon post cards for the kids. I was going to have Kev take a picture of me holding it, but it's the end of a long, hard day and that's just not gonna happen. So here's the calendar, sans the winner. The cover picture shown here is the shot for February. This is Banff Springs Hotel, Banff National Park, Alberta.

So a great big thank you to Rebecca!

Currently reading:

Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells

Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Because we love books, and you should too :o)

See that fine looking logo right there? :o)
Well, just this morning I added 8 more books to the shelves, to bring the grand total of books on the shelves to 110. The books here fall into a few different categories.

1. Books we've read and have on our own shelves.
2. Books we're currently reading.
3. Books on our wish list(s).
4. Books that have come highly recommended to us by those we know who've already read them.

The standard disclaimer(s) apply to all of these books of course. While we may not endorse every word in every book (who can?), these are books that we believe will bless you, challenge you, encourage you and inspire you into a deeper, more everyday-applicable, "practical-Christianity" walk with our Lord.

And yes, for those of you wondering, I do receive a percentage (a very small percentage) of every book purchased through this link. I'm a CBD affiliate and happy to be one, so that I can promote the BEST of what they've got to offer. We shop at CBD and we like the way they do business.

I have a theory about that, you see. I believe (hope) that if more people like me do promote the GOOD stuff they have, and the sales increase on that stuff, that they'll take notice and stop gearing their promotions toward the more "mainstream-evangeli-fluff" that they offer. Okay fine, maybe I don't know a thing about retail marketing, but a girl can dream, can't she?

At any rate, here are todays newest additions:

• God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams By David F. Wells

  No Place for Truth: Or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? By David F. Wells

  Above All Earthly Pow'rs: Christ in the Postmodern World By David F. Wells

  Think Biblically By John MacArthur

  Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Expanded Edition By Mark Dever

  The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel By Mark Dever & Paul Alexander

  Hard To Believe-Book & Workbook By John MacArthur

  Fallacy Detective: Thirty-six Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning, Second Edition By Nathaniel & Hans Bluedorn
  

  
  Currently reading:
  Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
  Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey
  
  tags: Biblical Christianity
  
  

lol'ing merrily along...

Have you ever been all alone - maybe driving down the road, or in a place of business somewhere, when suddenly a most hilarious thought or joke crosses your mind? This is a rather peculiar predicament. You have to laugh, you really can't not laugh. But if you do laugh, all by yourself (especially where people can see you or hear you) you run the risk of causing people to assume you to be a lunatic.

I don't really know why any of us think this way (worry about what other people will say or think) since it happens to everyone anyway! They know why you're standing there all by yourself laughing, it's happened to them too. They're just faking like it's never happened, and giving you that somber-than-thou look.

This actually happens to me a lot. I live with some very funny people. They constantly say things that I think about later, and have to laugh. Like the time Samuel told us the lady on tv looked like the Flat Grandma. "The who?!" Kev asked? Samuel repeated it "the flat grandma" (looking at Kev like he was the idiot for asking such a ludicrous question). As if we were supposed to know which of his grandma's is flat? That might not sound funny to you, but it nearly killed Kev and I at the time, and even later when it would come up. Or, driving down the road all by myself trying to figure out who the flat grandma is. I still don't know, and as far as that goes, neither does Kev. I'm not even sure Samuel knows.

Another time this happened that really stands out in my mind was many years (and lifetimes) ago. The time Ben and I stopped at the store for dinner. He was going to wait in the car with the girls, and I was just going to run in for a few things. I have no idea what we were talking about just prior to stopping, but somehow the conversation turned to renaming the 7 dwarfs. I don't even remember all the names he came up with but I was killing myself laughing, and so was he. It was that kind of laugh where you have to hold your face, hold your breath or get someone to slap you so you can stop laughing. Then as soon as you stop laughing you think about it again and start laughing all over again. That's what I was doing as I got out of the car.

I headed across the parking lot still laughing, trying to pretend I wasn't laughing. I made my way through the store, got what I needed and went to the check out line, still laughing & still trying to pretend I wasn't. I coughed, faked a sneeze or two, looked down a lot, and I think I even faked at one point that I was crying. ANYTHING to hide the fact that I was all alone in the grocery store laughing my fool head off. The more I thought about how ridiculous I must have looked, and why I was laughing in the first place, I started laughing all over again.

The cashier actually asked me if I was okay. I tried to explain to her my husband said something horribly funny in the car just before I came into the store. She gave me "the look" as if to say "yeah, I'm so above that, that never happens to me". She just nodded and said "oh okay".

I finally got out of the store and headed across the parking lot, still laughing. I saw the car, looked in and saw Ben sitting there laughing too. At that point I just lost it. I was laughing so hard I couldn't even open the car door, which made us both laugh all the more. Then the girls started laughing at both of us, which only generated more laughter. For some reason it's just extra funny when you're doubled over in laughter and someone else starts laughing too, and they don't even know why they're laughing! That'll just make it worse.

Somehow I got the groceries in the car and got in. I don't know how long we sat there and laughed, but it seemed like a long time. Over the next couple of years, every once in a while Ben would rattle off the names of the 7 dwarfs (he'd change them every time) and the same thing would happen all over again. I have no idea why it was so funny, it just was.

Kevin is the same way, but with him it's even worse. He's got one of those laughs that is absolutely infectious, with anyone who hears him. Add to that, he's so funny, that it's a given if you're around him for a while, he's going to make you laugh (usually without even trying).

Kevin and I used to go grocery shopping together, while one of the older girls watched the younger ones. When both of the older girls moved out, and there were so many little ones (plus a baby) in the house, we didn't feel comfortable leaving all those kids here with Jessica, so I started doing the shopping by myself. I told Kev last week that the only thing I missed about doing the shopping with him, was laughing in the store. That's the only thing, because Kev is like a tourist at a roadside attraction, in a grocery store. He tends to wander the aisles like a little kid at Disneyland for the first time, with his eyes brightly lit up in wonder. He does it on purpose, I'm sure of it.

One of the things that he used to do that messed me up every time, was stop at every sample booth. Pizza, cookies, sausages... he didn't care, he's Sample Guy! Not only did he stop and sample the goodies, he'd go BACK and sample them again. I'd leave him there and keep shopping and then find him at another sample booth 2 aisles over. I'd start to laugh, then he'd laugh and come walking after me telling me how tasty the samples were. That of course would just make me laugh more, then he'd laugh, then my eyes would water up and I'd go blind. It was actually pretty funny. It was during those blind-teary-eyed-laughing moments he'd slip things in the cart that would make me laugh even more. He actually thought he could get away with it. Like the time he put a broom in there. We didn't even need a broom!

Yep... that was weekly shopping with Kev. The other thing I miss is my celebrity look-alike spotting. I still do it, I always have, but now I don't have anyone to tell or compete with, because he's home with the kids.

For some goofy reason, whenever I'm out in public I always see people that look like celebrities. For example, last Monday, Billy Bob Thornton and Woody Allen were both at the grocery store. The thing with the Billy Bob look alike was even weirder because when I heard him talk he even sounded like him. It's not that I go out of my way to look for celebrity look-alikes, I just have this weird habit of noticing it in people. Kev's the same way, and he's the only other person I've ever known that notices it as much as I do. So grocery shopping was always fun for that reason. I always thought it was pretty weird though that Alphonse D'Amato was always at the store when Kev was with me.

Kev is just a really funny person. Our wedding day was no exception, I assure you. He's not at all comfortable being "dressed up" but he had a nice suit on that day, of course. He kept pulling and tugging on his clothes like a little kid, and made some sort of comment about being the guy from ZZ Top, that just had me holding my sides in laughter. That sort of set the stage when the minister arrived. It was cold and raining, and he approached the building with his overcoat on and an umbrella. We had actually never met him face to face, we hired him through an ad in the local paper. We had no idea what he looked like until that moment.

Kev didn't waste one second, in pretending he was the voice over guy for television documentary on Father Karis from the Excorcist. The minister looked just like him. Kev even did sound affects, which had everyone just losing it. He then made inferences to what kind of marriage this would be if THAT was the man marrying us. I don't remember what he said, but it was so funny we were all laughing. Thankfully the pastor was a very nice man and didn't feel compelled to exorcise any of us. He did give Kev a few funny looks, though. Then again, I think we all did, that day.

That day, was eight years ago (2-21) tomorrow. This was our wedding day. I have no idea why I was holding my arm like that - probably trying to stop laughing. It seems hard to believe it's been 8 years already, until I really think about it, and look around at our lives together. Eight years filled with more laughter than I can even remember. We've had our share of hard times as well, but sooner or later we end up laughing. I can't think of a single time where we were going through a difficult time, that we couldn't find something to laugh about.

He'll be home from work in a few minutes, grab his dinner & settle in to watch 24 on the west coast satellite feed. He'll make some funny remark about Jack Bauer being "the man". I'll usually respond with a Chloe-ism, which will make him laugh. (If you don't watch 24 you have no idea what I'm talking about but I assure you, it's funny).

We're getting a load of firewood delivered tomorrow, and I told him the other day "happy anniversary, this year you get wood!". He thanked me and tipped me off that my anniversary gift from him was to help him haul it into the furnace room. We thanked each other for the thoughtfulness. :o) We we're very astute that way, when shopping for each other.



Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

The world has gone insane

And here is proof:

"THE Scottish TV presenter and journalist Dominik Diamond is considering undergoing physical crucifixion as part of a controversial television documentary about Christianity. Diamond, once a committed Christian, will try to rediscover his faith in a journey from Scotland, via the Vatican and Italy, to the Philippines, where Christians celebrate Easter by re-enacting Christ's ordeal on the Cross. Diamond said; "I'm in my mid-30s, I've got three kids and it's about time I did something that didn't involve cheap gags. You might as well aim high so I thought I'd try to find God." (source)

Incredible. And incredibly demented.

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Is Spanking Biblical?

Recently I wrote on the horrific religious pactices a Muslim sect engages in where they flagellate themselves. After reading that post, another blogger agreed with what I wrote and added her own thoughts on the abuse of children by including spanking in the same category.

She wrote

"Carla did not discuss other crimes, but her post made me think about common religious and cultural rituals that WE have. Things like circumcision (Old Testament sacrament), spanking (loosely based on a few Old Testament verses), and abortion (sacrifice to the god of convenience)." Then added "I would include more things that intentionally hurt children. Things like spanking. And neglect." (you can read her entire post here)

For the record, I don't agree that spanking should ever be included in such heinous crimes agains children like slicing open their scalp in devotion to the Shia holy day of Ashura. There is a great gulf fixed, in my mind anyway, between abuse and discipline. Opinions being what they are however, I'd much rather allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves. Below are some of the more common verses I've seen used to explain why spanking a child is a Biblical application of correction in a child:

• Pr 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
• Pr 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
• Pr 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
• Pr 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
• Pr 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
• Pr 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
• Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

I know there are a lot of people that would vehemently disagree that these verses were ever meant to be taken literally. So the question begs, if they're not to be taken literally, how are they to be taken? If the part that refers to the rod is symbolic, then is the result (correction) symbolic as well? Can you interpret Scripture this way? Can you take a part of a verse and say "this is not literal, but this part is"?

Several years ago I was driving to the store and had the radio tuned to the Christian radio station we get here. A man I'd never heard of before was on the radio speaking about Biblical parenting. He was making some of the most profound, Biblical points I'd ever heard a pastor make, about raising kids. I only caught the last half the program but it was hands down, the best teaching I'd ever heard on this subject. At the end of the program the DJ said this man was pastor John MacArthur. I'd never heard of John MacArthur before, but I knew right then that this was a pastor who had much insight into the Biblical pattern for raising kids. I really wish I knew which sermon or teaching that was, but doing a quick google search yields a few results of sermons/teachings he gave in the mid-90's that reflect what he was talking about that day on the radio. Specifically, what the Bible has to say about spanking your children according to Biblical teaching.

As I'm sure you've guessed, I have much to say on this topic. Rather than doing that, I'd like to hear what you have to say. If someone out there believes that the Bible does not teach parents to spank their kids, I'd like to see the Scriptural support for that. This is an important topic and one that all of us parents could learn a few things from.

I look forward to the responses to this.

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Dresses, Cakes & Pegboards

Well, with my thoughts turning to spring, I'm thinking more and more about sewing new dresses for the girls. I looked through my patterns and unfortunately none of them are the right sizes now. I have a ton of patterns for size 6 and under, but Jordan and Rachel are becoming quite the little ladies, and outgrowing all my patterns!

So, I went to one of my favorite sewing patterns sites to get some ideas. I never buy anything there, I just get ideas then go to my local fabric store and hope they have the same patterns in stock. Imagine my surprise when I found this pattern (pictured left) that makes this dress, and also makes a top & pants, for $1.99. One dollar and 99 cents US, and FREE shipping. Even with the exchange rate, that was far less expensive than what I'd spend in gas, purchase & tax here in Ontario at my local fabric store. So it was a steal. Click the picture for a direct link to the site if you'd like to purchase this pattern as well. I'm really looking forward now to the next fabric sale so I can pick out some nice material for a mix & match spring/summer wardrobe for both girls.

Today was a hectic birthday-day here at RolfeLand. Kev's sister turns 40 tomorrow, so we had her out for a family birthday celebration. Jen came over, and as usual there was a lot of laughs, a lot of picture taking, and ohhs & ahhs at my cake design. I created a sort of black-forest type cake with a chocolate raspberry filling, drizzled with raspberry sauce. I'm really glad I was blessed with a creative flair like that. It saves a ton of money on store bought cakes! Once, I etched the profile of a wolf in the frosting of my mother in law's cake, then filled it in with blue food coloring. It came out SO cool! It's not every day you have a blue wolf emerging from your spice cake, eh? :o)

It was a busy day, and I didn't get any of my Sunday-night-prepare-for-school-tomorrow stuff done. I'm tired and don't feel like doing it now, so I'll have to do it in the morning. Clean the gameroom/schoolroom, clean the chalkboard, straighten the school shelf, sharpen pencils & make print outs of spelling & handwriting assignments for the new week.

OH, and by the way... KIM, those math pegboards are a HUGE hit. When Kim & co. came over last weekend she brought peg-boards similar to these, for the kids to use for math. On Friday we used them for all 3 kids and they loved them. Instead of using their workbooks I gave them each peg boards & pegs and gave them all math problems to do using them. All of them got every problem correct, using the boards. So they're a tremendous help, lots of fun, and Kim is a Homeschooling Angel. :o) (I only have 1 kid that struggles with math but I wanted all of them to enjoy the break from workbook time, so they all had fun with these, including Jordan who struggles with math facts).

So the weekend winds down to a close. It was a good weekend, all in all. For pics of today you can go here, if you'd like to see that yummy cake I mentioned earlier.

Currently reading:

Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Dr. Carla?

Based on a few comments (public and private) it has struck me that I haven't been as clear as I could have been, regarding something I've posted about. That something is my medical condition concerning my stomach issues. Several people have become concerned (and I appreciate that) that I have not been to see a doctor about it.

Rest assured, I have indeed been to the doctor. The only problem is, he doesn't know what's causing it. Tests were run, everything looked "normal". The initial diagnosis (diagnosises?) went from gallstones, to acid reflux to IBS. Gallstones and reflux were both ruled out, but there is no real criteria (except common symtoms) to diagnose IBS since they don't even know what causes it, and tests will show "nothing out of order". No known cause, and no known cure - just a handful of remedies that alleviate the symptoms. Remedies that are fickle, and work for some and not for others.

Since seeing the doctor I have spent a lot of time researching this, and I am currently trying a variety of natural remedies that are known to alleviate the symptoms. So far, nothing has worked for me, but I'm still trying. :o) Giving up coffee would be a great benefit, but I haven't had the courage to do that, just yet.

Interestingly enough, since my symptoms began 2 years ago this month, I have met more and more people that have also been diagnosed with this. Symptoms vary, and treatment varies with each of them. Personally, I think it has more to do with the way our food is being prepared and packaged (preservatives, dyes, pesticides, etc.) than anything else. Our bodies weren't made to process unnatural ingredients, so it only stands to reason that after 40 years of doing it (the common onset age according to many studies I've read), for some of us, our bodies will start to rebel.

Other studies suggest as many as 1 in 5 Americans actually have this. Further, it apparently affects women 3 times more than it does men. Hormonal changes in women during the month can also make women more sympomatic. While I do have some of the more common symptoms associated with making this diagnosis in the first place, I do not have some of the more extreme symptoms that would prompt more probative testing. Which is why my doctor didn't see the need to run those tests.

Another common symptom with this is the unusual occurences of the symtpoms themselves. Since the onset of the symptoms in February of 2004, both that year and last year I went nearly all spring and summer without a single symptom. In 2004 it was from April to August without any symptoms, and in 2005 it was from May until September. The more people I talk to about this, the more common I find that this is normal for them as well. Fall & winter tend to see more episodes of symptoms. It makes me wonder why. Different foods (heavier, cold weather type "comfort foods")? Climate changes? Less outdoor physical activity? Less water consumption? It wouldn't surprise me to learn it's likely a combo of all of the above.

For me, the only thing that's really made any difference, 100% of the time, was a drug called Buscopan. I took it for about 6 months in 2004, and the perscription expired. I chose not to get it refilled for a variety of personal reasons. I have since then reconsidered getting it refilled, but I'm not entirely convinced I want to be on this drug or be dependant on this drug, for the rest of my life. Other studies suggest that enteric coated peppermint oil capsules do the same thing that Buscopan does. I haven't found any place local yet to buy those and try them, but I'd feel a lot better about a natural remedy than a pharmacutical one, if it actually works.

So for those of you that wonder if I'm neglecting medical attention, you can rest assured that I am not. :o) I'm just not putting all my symptomatic eggs into one basket, as it were.

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Waiting on Wisdom

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

That's the verse that kept coming to mind today. Today did not go the way I had hoped. You could say I devised a plan for today, that was obviously not what the Lord had in mind.

First, we had to postpone a trip today. That was disappointing, but the friend I was going to visit was sick, and all sorts of other factors figured into the postponing.

Then, I figured since that changed my plans, I'd prepare my lasagna & birthday cake for Kev's sister a day early. I was going to get to the store early this morning and come home & bake. However, the Lord directed my steps straight upstairs to suffer through 2 hours of stomach cramps, even before breakfast.

It might sound odd, but I learn more about myself every time I have one of these episodes. One of the things I have learned is that prayer and concerted focus on the Lord allows me to deal with it far better than anything else. That can be applied to literally any issue in life, can't it?

I did eventually get out today, got the lasagna made & then made and decorated the cake. I made a black forest type of cake, with raspberry filling. It looks & smells fantastic.

At one point this morning while waiting for the cramping to stop, I found myself sitting on my bedroom floor, literally waiting for wisdom. Wisdom to know for sure if the episode had passed, and I could get on with my day. Wisdom to know if I should stay right where I was and continue to pray. Wisdom in dealing with Ruth, who kept coming in the room to tell me her toy cell phone needed new batteries. Two year olds don't understand that mama is feeling like a burning spear is sticking out of her side. Two year olds expect new batteries for their toy cell phones, no matter what's going on. I decided I would remain sitting on my bedroom floor for a little longer, and send Ruth to papa to deal with the cell phone issues.

Of all the verses in Scripture on wisdom, this one always stands out to me:

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

I think part of the reason that stands out so much, is because of the setting the first time I read it. I should say, the first time I read it again, for the first time. I'd read it before, but it didn't have the same impact on me as the next time I read it.

Many years ago, Kev and I would take the kids up to his dad's cabin up north, one weekend a month. It was a 4 hour drive, and worth every minute of it. The cabin sat on a hill overlooking a lake, in the woods. The lake was home to a family of loons every year, and they always made their presence known with that haunting call. The perfect setting, as far as I'm concerned.

One summer morning when we were there, I woke up before the sun came up. I grabbed my coffee and went outside with my Bible. Sitting there on the porch I watched the sun rise, then started reading the book of James. I don't even know why I picked James, but I did. When I came across that verse, I had to stop and really think about what it was saying.

If any of you lack wisdom... who doesn't that describe? It certainly describes me, but even admitting that is difficult. I know I lack wisdom in many areas. Parenting, teaching, being a good wife, a good daughter, a good listener, and a good responder. Those are just the areas off the top of my head. I know if I really took the time to examine my life I would be able to come up with a much longer list of all the areas where I lack wisdom.

Even knowing all of that, I still find myself relying on my own wisdom so much of the time. My own ideas, or experiences. My own thoughts, or plans. This isn't always a bad thing, except when it's a time when I would be much further ahead to take time out to pray and simply confess to the Lord that I don't have an answer and seek HIS wisdom and direction.

Those were just some of the thoughts that came to mind that summer morning sitting on the porch at the lake. I continued reading..."let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally... "

It's not as if you're going to seek God's wisdom and He's going to ignore that plea. Not at all.

In our time, I would venture to guess nearly every house in western culture has a Bible in it. If it doesn't, it wouldn't take more than a quick trip to a thrift store or used book store to get one, for just a few dollars. The access we have to the wisdom of God, is incredible. It's right there, literally at our fingertips. This is the first place we find the wisdom we need. We can read the Scriptures and then pray about this wisdom, humbling ourselves before the Lord and bringing our weakness to Him.

Then I think of other places Christians find wisdom. Not worldly wisdom, but Godly wisdom.

Believers that have come and gone before us, and wrote down the wisdom He gave them. In commentaries, devotionals, studies and sermons. I always think of Spurgeon when I think of this, but there are so many more.

Fellow believers that have been gifted to teach, and/or have been walking with the Lord much longer than yourself. These are brothers and sisters (pastors, teachers, etc.) with so much to teach us, and we'd do well to pay very close attention. Ephesians 4:12 tells us that these people were gifted this way and placed in positions in our local assemblies for this very reason:

"perfecting (equipping) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"

In our day we also have access to such wisdom right here online. Pastors, teachers, speakers, writers, and even bloggers. There's much wisdom out there from Godly people. Obviously discernment is the order of the day due to much false teaching being put forth under the guise of Christianity, but every blogger reading this right now has a list or a blogroll, or a favorites folder, filled with people's sites that they consider Godly people that they learn from.

As I sat on the porch that morning I thought about all the people I consider Godly, and wise, and those that I learn from. Some of the names have changed over the years, but there are still so many sources in my life of Godly wisdom.

The last part of that verse gives us such great assurance. It shall be given him.

Do we really believe that? I can't speak for you, but I can sure speak for me. Of course I believe it, but I sadly often forget it. I forget that God's word gives me this promise that if I lack wisdom, I can seek Him for it, and it will be given to me. I know I forget it because it comes back to me over and over again, that I did or thought or said something that I wouldn't have done, had I stopped and sought His wisdom first. It happens when I'm teaching my kids, in conversations I have with others, and often times the way I react to difficult situations. I'm so very grateful that it doesn't happen as much as it used to, but the fact remains that it still happens. I'm reminded how often I forget the promise of this verse.

When I sat down here tonight, I never intended to write about this. Somehow though, it just all spilled out. Seeking and applying the wisdom available to us from the Lord is something I strive to do every day of my life. It's but one of my many weak points, as a believer.

Since I didn't intend to write about this tonight, I suppose this brings me full circle to the verse I started out with:

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow.


Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Birthday People

Yesterday when the guys came over to put oil in the tank, they forgot to bleed the line. So, when the wood fire went out, even though the oil reset button had been pushed, the oil didn't catch because there was air in the line. Of course I didn't realize this until 6:20 am, when I got up and it was 42 degrees in the house. That's cold, lol. That's all been remedied now though, so that's good.

It's truly amazing to me how odors can trigger memories. The smell of oil heating the house always transports me back to our little white house on the corner, where I grew up. Our furnace was under the house, in a crawl space about 3 or 4 foot high. When we'd run out of oil, mom would usually send one of us kids under there to push the reset button. It's funny how it was one thing to play under there with my brother in the middle of the day, but to go under there alone, with just a flashlight in the dark, it was a whole different matter. The spiders were twice as large at night, and for a while I was fairly convinced that's where the boogy man lived. But only at night - he was never there during the day.

Well, it's Saturday and I have 19 billion things to do today. It's Kev's sister's birthday (on Monday) so we're having her birthday here tomorrow afternoon. I'm the designated cake baker for birthdays, so I have to decide what kind of cake I'm making for her, and go get what I need from the store. Lately I've really been enjoying making things from scratch, so I'll likely go that route again.

Yesterday was my own sister's birthday. Isn't she pretty? This picture was taken at the photography studio I worked at once upon a time. For a Mother's day gift for my mom one year, my sister, brother and me got together and did a photoshoot for mom. It seems so long ago, and seems like yesterday, all at once. I think this was actually 1993. The thing is, Lora has always looked like this to me. She never seems to change.

She's 6 years older than me, and when I was growing up, that was a big deal. Now that I'm past 40, she doesn't seem so much older than me anymore. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Well, it's time for apple-cinnamon pancakes. Have a great Saturday folks.

:o)

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Wood, Taxes and Snowsqualls, Oh My!

PLEASE SEE THE UPDATE BELOW...

I had an interesting phone call yesterday morning. One of our firewood suppliers that we've used a few times over the past few years called to see if we needed firewood. I said "YES!" since in fact yesterday was the last of our wood. When we called them back in December, they were on back order until February, so we were blessed to find another supplier that could deliver half of a load, plus we had about 2 cords given to us for free. Both were huge blessings. We figured we would be able to make it last until right about now. And we figured correctly.

So we had just enough wood down in the furnace room to get one more fire going for yesterday and the other wood supplier called. Did we need wood? Yes, we need wood. One snag though - we wont have the $$ to pay for it until the tax refund comes in 2 weeks. I told the nice lady I was actually doing my taxes yesterday and was going to telefile, and could guarantee payment by March 1st. How did she respond to that? "No money? Oh, too bad so sad" click. Okay she didn't really say that, she said "I'll talk to my husband and see what he says, it'll probably be okay since you're completely OUT of wood". She said she'd call back. She never did.

So that was interesting. No wood, 5 kids in the house, temps today are minus 27 (yes, you read that correctly, and yes, that's farenheit) and the temp tomorrow is supposed to be about the same.

I can't help but wonder what those nice folks think while they're sitting in their warm home today. "No way, can't deliver any wood to that place with 5 kids, they can't pay for 2 weeks. Why, we don't trust them, they might stuff 15 cords of slab wood into their pockets and run away and never pay us!".

I wonder, if you were a firewood supplier, and knew someone with 5 kids was OUT of wood with the temps at minus 27 degrees, and couldn't pay you until 2 weeks from now... would you deliver the wood anyway?

I would. And if they never did pay me, at least I'd sleep good at night knowing their kids weren't cold and their pipes didn't freeze.

Ironically, we're supposed to be going to pick some up tomorrow, so tomorrow we'll have wood, Lord willing, but today is going to awfully cold here at RofleLand. Good thing a few of the rooms have baseboard heating. The other good thing, is that in 2 weeks when I call these folks back to order wood, we'll have a jump on next winter, since there's no way we'll use all the wood from one load before this winter is over.

And in other homestead news...

I did our tax return last night. A few changes this year in the forms took me by surprise. One of the changes is the "provincial health care premium". Over and above what we already pay through taxes for "free health care", our tax refund this year is exactly $600.00 less than what it would have been, due to the provincial health care premium. Now while I am certainly grateful that we're getting anything back at all, I just thought I'd mention to folks that this so-called free health care in Canada that you've heard about, is anything but free.

However... there are some things that are still free. Like enjoying this very cool woodpecker that landed in my birch tree yesterday afternoon. Funny, but they don't really sound much like Woody. They also don't pay through the beak for free health care.

Oh well. Have a good Friday.
:o)

UPDATE:

A few pretty incredible things happened today. Before I tell about them however, I want to thank the folks who left some kind words in the comments, and in email. You're a blessing to my heart. I also want to clarify that I wasn't really complaining, as much as I was observing. You see, I know beyond all doubt, that God will provide for us no matter what. He always, always provides us with exactly what we need, when we need it. Sometimes it's reminding me we have a bag of sweaters upstairs, on cold days. Other times it's by someone donating a stack of blankets or a box of clothes they no longer need or use. Even though my plan was "get wood now to stay warm", God provides in other ways. His way is always the best way.

When I wrote this morning about the wood situation, I was struck by the attitude of the whole deal. People's attitudes these days are sadly a reflection of the times we live in. The wood supplier likely assumed he'd get ripped off and chose not to deliver on an IOU. While that's certainly his perogative, and while I certainly do understand "cash on delivery", I still find it a sad reflection of the times we live in. I know if it were me, there is no way I could get through the day without a huge amount of guilt, knowing someone's house was cold, and I had the wood they needed. It would have eaten away at me, but that's me. In any case...

We have THE best landlord ever. We rent this old farmhouse from the guy across the highway. His name is Jim, and his family has lived out here forever. His dad was a farmer, he's a farmer and his brother is a farmer. They're country folk. Have you ever seen those signs that say "if you ate today, thank a farmer" ? Well, you can thank Jim for those pork chops, he's a pig farmer. I digress...

We had 3 great big pieces of wood in the basement. Way too big to fit into the furnace, so for all intents and purposes we were literally out of wood. It's been sitting there since before Christmas, but we couldn't use it. We don't have an axe or a chainsaw, so I called Jim today to see if he had one we could borrow. He said of course he did, and he'd just leave it inside the shop door for Kev to pick up whenever he could get over there. Well, when Kev went over, Jim asked if we were out of oil too. (It's a combo wood/oil furnace). Kev told him yes, we didn't order any this winter due to the cost. It was going to be a fortune with the price of oil, so we never ordered any & hoped to get by on wood heat only. So, Jim said "well, we've got a reserve tank, you can have it". Yep, just have it. No strings attached. So he told Kev he'd send his brother & a worker over to fill the tank & reset the furnace. That's exactly what he did, later on this afternoon. So now there's about 1/4 of a tank of oil, which should last about 2 weeks, if we use it very conservatively.

In the meantime, Kev came home and chopped those 3 big pieces of wood that gave us enough for a nice fire today, and one more tomorrow.

Then, someone else blessed our socks clean off & gave us the opportunity to order 1/2 a load of wood NOW, rather than waiting the 2 weeks we thought we'd have to wait. When I called to put the order in, the nice lady with the Swedish accent said they'd be here Tuesday morning, earliest they could get here. I told her Tuesday would be just fine.

So this family was extremely blessed today, in many ways, by many people. Here's another observation:

Every person that blessed us today, is a Christian. Imagine that. People who love the Lord and desire to love and serve Him, by serving others. Now there's a wonderful reflection of the times we live in, to contrast the earlier one I wrote about. Amen? Amen!

:o)

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Modesty

Several years ago, long before blogging came along for me, Kev and I had a web page that we'd try to update at least once a month (or more). Various articles, links & resources that were a blessing to us, we liked to share with others.

One of the pages there, was on an issue that is very close to my heart. Modesty in our dress, as Christian women. Once I started a web page on that, a lot of ladies expressed what a blessing it was to them. I've since removed the page (since no one ever visits it anymore, all my regular readers were whisked away to LAF, lol), but I wanted to save this one article I had up there for a long time. Edited and updated to reflect "where I am now", as it were. ;o)
*********************

An issue that I have been struggling with for a long time, is modesty in our dress, as Christian women and mothers. Let's be honest here, it is not easy nor affordable, for most of us to pay top dollar in department stores for modest clothing. Sadly, modest clothing isn't what you will find in your local Wal-mart, K-Mart, or Zellers, where the prices are within our budget. If you have the means, you can go to the department store and pay $50 for a nice blouse, or $100 for a modest dress, but most of us dont have that kind of money to spend on 1 article of clothing.

My husband recently shared his thought with me on this subject, that the reason modest clothing was so much more expensive is because it is no longer what sells well so the prices are higher. Those items that sell daily, the low-cut, high-hems, can be priced lower because they sell extremely well.

Supply and Demand.
Little demand, smaller supply, higher prices.

It is not only us women and mothers who struggle with this for ourselves, but for our daughters as well. Maybe even more so.

For little girls up to size 4, you can find a lot of real cute, modest clothing but watch out when she grows into a size 5. Your choices are limited to novelty screen prints with often lewd words, obnoxious phrases & pictures plastered all over the clothes. Usually right across the chest area of t-shirts, and right across the rear-end of sweatpants & shorts. The other choices you have are clothing styles that might remind you of a sterotype of a prostitute. You mothers know exactly what I'm talking about. Silky, sparkly, trendy, high-hemmed, tight fitting dresses, for five, six and seven year old girls.

There are a million and one reasons not to allow your girls (or yourself, for that matter) to dress this way. Modesty for Christian women is so very important, and teaching modesty to our children is equally important. This is what pleases the LORD, and He ought to be our first concern.

One of the most disturbing studies I've ever read, was a study on childrens clothing and the effects it has on adult men. I cannot quote the source since I read this back in 1986, when my oldest daughter was only 3 years old.

The study polled adult men, gay and straight, and asked key questions on how certain types of children's clothing made them feel. When asked about trendy, fashion clothing, on little boys and girls (under 5), the answers the gay men gave were not nearly as shocking as the answers the straight men gave. The gay men openly stated that trendy clothing on little boys, clothing that made them appear older, was a sexual turn on for them. They really enjoyed seeing little boys dressed in these fashionable styles, cut down to size for their ages. (Numerous reports have been published about the connection between homosexuality and pedophilia, so this really didn't surprise me. The homosexual community consistantly denies the connection, however).

What the straight men said, about the little girls, was almost word for word what the gay men said, and the percentages in the poll almost identical in numbers. Adult, straight men, were turned on sexually by seeing little girls (this is under 5) dressed in older style clothing, trendy, fashionable clothes. I do not know the margin of error in that poll, but even with a high margin of error, this is quite a frightening thought. Obviously, not all adult men react this way to seeing children in trendy clothing - but the percentages were high enough for me at the time, to consider it VERY carefully.

If mens thought life is affected this way by our CHILDREN (which is a considerably disturbing thought all on it's own), how much more is it affected by adult men and women who dress this way?

So many of us stick our heads in the sand on this topic. It's offensive because it suggests there might be something wrong with the way we dress, and the way we dress our children. Anything that suggests we might be doing something wrong, most of us instantly get defensive, and start making excuses.

There are so many extremes when it comes to this issue, as well. There are some who believe pants or slacks on women is completely satanic, and then there are others who believe dressing as drab as you can get, is the only true godly dress. With all due respect to those opinions on attire, for myself personally I have no issue with slacks on a woman, nor do I have any less respect for those who dress plainly.

With all of that said, I have to wonder how many of us ever really give this serious thought? When our teenaged daughter wants that pair of casual pants that says ATTITUDE, BAD GIRL or PRINCESS across the rear end, do we buy them for her? Do we realize that everyone that sees her wearing them will be compelled to focus their eyes on her hiney and read those words? Do we want people staring at the hiney of our girls? Likewise, do we wear clothes like this, ourselves?

When I wrote this article many years ago, I wasn't yet designing novelty t-shirts. I like novelty prints, and so do my girls. The problem was for me, the kind of novelty wear out there. So when I began to design my own, I took special care to be particular about the content, as well as the location of graphics on women's and girl's T's & hoodies. The ongoing battle with the way the huge clothing designers position their obnoxious phrases & graphics has been a sticking point for me, to be sure.

I've also since learned how to sew. It's not as hard as I thought it was, and I've made some really cute spring/summer dresses, skirts and pants for the girls. I've even made myself a pair of capris and a summer dress. The selection of patterns out there is astounding, and when you find one you really like, you can make an endless supply of dresses with all kinds of different fabrics & prints.

Ladies, you don't have to dress in a gunny sack to be modest. Nor do you have to dress your girls in mini-gunny sacks. There are options, and there are ways to dress modestly, be a wonderful example to your little girls, and have fun with it as well.

The summer dresses I made for the girls 2 years ago are finally too small for them. (Rachel is modelling one of the dresses in the picture at the top). While Ruth now has quite a lovely wardrobe of summer wear, Jordan and Rachel will need some new ones this year, so I'm looking forward to making them. I'm rather a novice at sewing a dress from a pattern, but even I can sew one dress in just one afternoon. Costwise, it's about the same as buying a summer dress at WalMart. The difference is, the hemline is lower (it's as low as you want to make it!) and the neckline is higher. No little girl has any reason to wear a spaghetti-strapped low neckline sundress.

I hope this has benefitted someone, in some way. :o)

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

I'm moving... I hope.

You know how they say, you should learn to laugh at yourself? Well, first of all I'm not really sure who "they" are, but it's a good bet they're laughing at you right now, since they're so keen on the whole thing. Secondly, it really doesn't take much to "learn" how to laugh at yourself, especially if you're me.

Today I decided to leave my hair down, rather than pull it back in a pony tail like I almost always do. I have this weird hair you see, that is the hair-version of a shape-shifter. If I pull it back, the part that was pulled back goes straight. If I leave it down, it curls up real tight like a Shirley Temple Do.

So today, I left it down and put a little bit of pomade in it so it wouldn't get all static'd out & frizzy. An hour later it's dry, and I looked at myself in the mirror, and it was Sayid (sp?) from LOST looking back at me! Oh I so had to laugh. I'd post a pic but I don't want to scare anyone.

I ended up pulling it back afterall. I don't want my kids calling me Sayid.

Okay now that the petty stuff is out of the way. I'm moving. Yep, I'm tired of blogspot and I want something else.

I want a clean, 3 column layout, with a header pic I can change whenever I want. I want a blog format that doesn't take a degree in comp tech to figure out, and I want it free (do they come in the color free?). Oh, and I want smileys. I love smileys. And I want to be able to import all my old blog posts from this blog. And I want bon-bons, and a trampoline, and... well you get the idea. Basically, I want to be Tim Challies, but as we all know, the role of Tim is already being played by Tim.

I need help here. One very nice reader has already offered help (he recently switched from blogspot to a very cool looking blog and assured me it's a lot easier than I think), so I'm just going to ask for your suggestions.

After looking around, I see that with a lot of the options out there you need to have 2 seperate acounts. I'm not really sure I understand how that works, either.

So, should you chose to accept it, here is your misison:

Pretend you're explaining all this to a 5 year old. A 5 year old that wants a clean, 3 column blog, with the ability to import posts, use smileys (that's optional but I really want smileys), a template that's EASY to edit, and one that I can change the header pic whenever I want, without twisting myself into a css pretzel. Surely there's a package out there just for me?

I'll be looking forward to your replies.



Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Announcing.....FREE STUFF!

Okay kids, here's your chance to win something cool, and something FREE!

Reflections (my store) is having a Winter Blahs Blowout Giveaway.
All you have to do, is enter. Boom, you're done.

So go here, check out the fine print, and then enter.
:o)


Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Chocolates & Simon The Mean

Just as soon as I finished the previous entry here last night, my stomach started acting up, so I went straight to bed, to pray. When my stomach does this I have 2 options.

1. panic and give in to the pain by groaning and crying (which I've done on occaision)
2. stay calm and pray through it

Hands down, option #2 is the way to go every time. It takes a lot more focus and determination, since I'm likely the biggest wimp in the universe when it comes to pain - but - it's so worth it. Generally these episodes last about 2 hours, but God was gracious last night and stopped it after only about 20 minutes.

So, since I was in bed long before Kev got home from work, I didn't see this until I got up this morning. I don't know where he got these (since he doesn't get off work until 11pm) but it sure was a nice surprise to see them sitting on the kitchen table when I got up at 6am.

Just as soon as I have some breakfast, I'm opening that box of pralines and Olympic Calibre chocolate eating will commence. Just kidding, I'll prolly do what I always do and share them with the kids and then pick at what's left for a few days. Wasn't that nice of Kev to do that though? I thought it was.

Off to get my day started... have a great Wednesday.

OH, and 1 more thing. I am NOT at all happy about the twins staying on American Idol. They are obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, and they're NOT even very good singers. So there. I like the guy with gray hair (although I can't remember his name) and the little blond girl named Kelly. They should stay, but the twins need to go home, AND they need to go home on tonight's show. Maybe that's why Simon invited them back, JUST so he could send them home tomorrow? I dunno, but I like Simon. He says the exact same things Kev and I say, from our judges couch. Pffft... folks think Simon is mean? They should be glad Kev and I aren't judges.
:o)

NOW I'm off to get my day started...

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Reclaiming our Virtue

Right around Christmas time last year I was told about a family that was in a pretty desperate condition. They needed some help, and were in no position to really help themselves. I can't really go into details so that will have to suffice.

A person who knew this family decided to make every effort to get them the help they needed, by writing to a local newspaper editor, to explain the sitution of the family in need. The friend did this in hopes that the local paper might run some kind of a story that would compel the local community to pitch in and help this family. I suppose there are all sorts of people that would criticise this method, but the person's heart was in the right place.

I recently learned that the local newspaper never did anything beyond call the family friend to get more information. For whatever reason, they didn't feel the family's need was newsworthy, so it never made it to the papers.

This made me think today about a time when I was a little girl, and my mom was layed off from her job in the shipyard. Mom was divorced when I was 3 and went to work to support her three little kids. I'm not exactly clear on all the details but to the best of my recollection, the government had implemented some kind of politically correct racial hiring policy, and my mom's job was given to someone else. Mom was sent home and that was that. I think she was out of work for about a year. I have no idea to this day how she put food on the table that year, but she did.

During Christmastime that year, the church across the street from us, left a large (and I do mean large!) box of food on our front porch. I don't even know how they knew we needed it, but they did, and they did something about it. We weren't members of that church, and didn't even know anyone that attended there.

That was just the way things worked in the late 1960's in Smalltown USA.

When a family in the community was in need, people heard about it, and they helped. Maybe a box of clothes from one family, or a car repair for free from the local mechanic. Maybe the local baker would send over a box of bread & rolls, and the church would organize a benevolence fund to pay the light bill for the month. The family's needs were met, because local communities pitched in and saw to it that they were. Anyway, that's the kind of small town community I grew up in. If you're over 40 and came from a small town, or farm country, maybe you remember life being like that too?

Fast-forward 40 years later, and this is almost unheard of. Once in a while when something monumental happens (maybe a house fire or something else large-scale) community members pitch in - but that's about it. If folks hear about a family in the community they really don't do anything to help out. Oh they make comments like "well isn't that sad!?" and then they go back to their lives, their homes and their families.

When Katrina hit the gulf last fall, it really woke a lot of people up. Generosity poured in from literally all around the world. Small town generosity became a global. It was a real blessing to hear reports over and over about all the donations that poured in, and still come in to this very day. Work crews, clean-up crews, food, water, clothing, heavy equiptment donations - you name it. Whatever the material need was, and even the spiritual needs, they were being met with gracious hearts willing to step up to the plate and give.

While that was a blessing to see, it was also sort of a bittersweet thing. Once the news media reports began to die down, the requests for help were being heard less and less, and the donations began to dwindle. Perfectly normal, I guess. The needs were still there, it just wasn't in front of people's newspapers, and television screens.

In reading Losing our Virtue by David Wells, I came across this quote that really stood out to me:

"The overwhelming majority of Americans believe that our society is slipping ever deeper into a moral decline. This is no longer a case that has to be argued. It is the place from which our conversation starts. Many people have the sense that the moral eclipse we are experiencing is somewhat new. The "good ole days" they recognize, may become idealized with the passage of time, but they nevertheless think that from a moral angle, the past must have been better. They have the sense that we are slipping away from a world that was more wholesome than ours is. What probably accounts for this, is not a particularly detailed knowledge of the past, which would make such a comparison possible, but the eerie sense within our own memory of a significant disintegration of the moral fabric of life as we have known it." (Chapter 2 pg. 53-54)

I read that, then read it again, then read it outloud to Kev. He nodded, I nodded, then I read it again. Wells is dead on with this. There is an eerie sense in my own limited memory, of a very significant change of morality, sense of community, sense of right and wrong, from the way things were when I was a little girl.

I don't believe people themselves have changed, since people are the same in every generation. But I do believe culture has changed, and cultural standards and a sense of community responsibility has certainly changed. In 1966 in Farm Country Canada, if a local farming family was in need, the local farmers got together, and their wives, and their kids, and took up the slack for this family, in whatever ways they could. It's just the way things worked. In 2006 in Farm Country Canada, if you're a local farming family down on your luck (as the saying goes), you better not wait too long for help from the neighbors, or your pipes will freeze, your kids will go hungry and your hydro will be shut off. Better get down to the local aid office and see if they can help you out.

Now while I say this I know that there are people and small communities out there that this doesn't begin to describe at all. Genuinely giving people that would step up in a heartbeat, and give all the help they can. But these people and these communities are no longer the rule, they are the exception to the rule. They are rare, and I think we all know that.

Jesus said in Matthew 35:34-36 that whatever we have done for the least of these (those in physical need in varying ways) we have done it unto Him. Likewise in v.41-46 He said of those that have NOT done for the least of these, we have not done unto Him. I realize that this passage can be taken several different ways, but what it says to me is that the attitude of being a servant to those in need, is not culturally dependant in any way, shape or form. It's a timeless attribute that a believer in any age, in any culture, should be persuing - as if we are serving the Lord Himself.

The culture may be changing, and this time we live in now might be considered to be more self-centered and self-absorbed (by some) than previous generations, but we have a Biblical standard to uphold no matter what era we're living in.

It is my heart's desire and something that I try very hard to instill in the kids, to be a servant. To give. Whether it be sharing toys, or giving an ear, or time, or something physical. I can't turn the clock back and share with my kids the kind of community I grew up in, but I certainly can open my Bible and show them how Jesus said we're supposed to live. Even when others around them ignore it, and even when it's not the "normal" thing to do.


Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue:
Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
Total Truth:
Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

School, clocks & hearts

Okay so the whole cuisinaire-rod-worksheet-thing I had planned yesterday didn't quite pan out. I did find a site that lets you print out free graph paper though, so that was a start. I also found a site that sells flash-card type activity cards for the bars. Not big on the price tag, but they do look useful.

My issue today is clock-work. Do your kids know how to tell time on an analog clock? I don't know what it is about kids & analog clocks, but I recall quite vividly my time in gradeschool when telling time, was being taught. There were only 2 kinds of kids in the class: 1. the ones that got it, and 2. the ones that didn't, no matter what. The teacher always had to keep the learning level geared toward the slowest kids in the class, so the kids who already had it figured out, usually just worked ahead. I confess, I was one of the slower kids when it came to analog clock learning.

Eventually, I figured it out. I've been trying and trying and trying with these kids, and they're just like me when I was a little girl. Well, except for Rachel. She's the "got it figured out mom" kid in my class. You put an analog clock in front of Jordan and you see her eyes glaze over and suddenly she's drifted off into LoopyLand. Getting that child back from LoopyLand is like getting Kev to turn off a hockey game. 'Nuff said.

Last night as I was preparing dinner, I had this overwhelming desire to just sit down and write. The thought occured to me that I just want to write and write and write about the glory of God, the grace of God, the peace that only comes from God, and the joy there is in being in fellowship with God. Words flooded my thoughts and expressions came to mind that I wouldn't normally use. In fact, it was one of the better things I've ever written to express what it really means to be a Christian. Then the gravy was done and the oven timer went off. It was the blog post that never made it to the blog. I'm sure you know what I mean, you've probably fired off a few of those yourself, in your thoughts. Maybe driving down the road, or while mowing the lawn? I've written some of my best stuff, that way. Too bad there isn't some kind of tech-tool that would allow you to just download your thoughts no matter where you are, or what you're doing. That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it?

Today is a strange sort of day for me. It didn't really occur to me until right this minute, that today would have been my 20th wedding anniversary. Would have been, but Ben went home to the Lord after we'd been married just shy of 10 years.

I suppose it's the dream of many young ladies to marry their highschool sweetheart on Valentine's Day. Well, that's what I did. I'm pretty sure that it's not everyone's dream to be told on their 5th wedding anniversary that thier spouse had terminal cancer and had less than 2 months to live. But that's what happened. That changed (for many years) how I celebrated Valentine's Day. In fact, for many many years after that, I did not celebrate it at all. Once, Ben and I exchanged gifts, but only because it was our 6th anniversary and we were glad he'd made it that far. That was the year we bought each other wedding rings. We couldn't afford them when we got married, so it had to wait.

So here we are many years later, and many lifetimes removed from those painful days. Someone once said to me "Valentine's Day is what you make of it, you can either be a depressing slob and throw a wet blanket on it for everyone around you, or you can have fun with it and bless the people you love". That someone was me. I opted for the having fun with it, part.

So today, I'm going to go to the grocery store and buy heart shaped boxes of chocolates for my kids, for Kev, and even one for me! Nothing says "I love you" better than a pretty box of chocolates. Samuel's will have to be car-shaped or something or he'll have issues, but that's fine.

And with that, I need to finish my grocery list then go make breakfast a bit early, so I can get out of here early. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day celebration today. And if you don't celebrate it, just go buy yourself a candy bar and enjoy that.



Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

New in store

My newest creation, because I love pansies:

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Currently reading:

Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Monday Stuff

I stand corrected. The proper term for those joining the FLYLady's site/program is FLYbaby. I'm not sure I like this label, since I am a CSI wannabe, and as we all know on any given episode of any of the CSI's, there are "fly babies" at a crime scene. We won't go into the proper name for those.

In any event, I am flying. That lingo sounds so silly, so I'll just tell you that I am following the steps she recommends, and it's a lot easier than I thought it would be. Likely because it's how I used to do things anyway. So it's more like going back to an old routine, than starting something new. It's good, and I'm going to be better of for it.

I thought a lot about this program last night and how it actually does (or should) fit with the Biblical definition of a good wife/mother. Industrious, organized, the keeper of a good home, etc. This is the way things are supposed to work, Biblically, and I'm embarassed to admit I've neglected this area. It's true, all the same. Bad habits tend to creep in and it's sure hard to shake them once they find a good foothold.

Week one of Kev's new schedule is now in the history books of the Rolfe Adventures, and I think we're going to be good with this. At least for the next seven weeks until the powers that be at his workplace put him in the rotation shift. Oh well, at least we'll have seven more weeks to prepare for a new schedule.

We were supposed to go to our new church yesterday, but then Jessica woke up hacking, sneezing, and making strange elephant-like noises when she blew her nose. I know, I know, more info than you needed. Well, our family policy is to stay home from church if someone is sick, so we stayed home. No one was happy about that, but it's the rule. Hopefully next Sunday no one wakes up making elephant noises.

When the Shay clan came over this weekend, Kim brought me this teaching tool that she said she once used for her kids. They're numbered peg boards, with brightly colored, oversized pegs, for counting. I'm looking forward to using this with Ruth to get her familiarized with numbers and groups. Kim also brought some colored blocks for use with math with older kids, like these rods shown here. Each block represents a number (the smallest being 1cm, next larger being 2cm, and so on) and from all I've read, these are very helpful for kids that struggle with math concepts. Some time ago I found a website with free printable worksheets for these rods, but I've spent over an hour this morning looking for that site, and I cannot find it. GRR. So, I'll make some worksheets myself. Not quite sure how I'm going to do that yet, but I'll wing it and we'll get it figured out.

It's now late and I have a date with a bowl of oatmeal. Have a great Monday!

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

I'm about to fly...

Men, you may want to skip by this post. It's about clutter, more or less. It's a mom-thing, a wife-thing, a homemaker thing.

About a week ago, Kev and I were talking and for some reason, it came up how we both "used to be". By that I mean how we both used to do things differently than we do now. More specifically, how we both used to get up and shower first thing every day. Yes, even before that first cup of coffee. It's been bugging me off & on for the last few weeks that I'm not like that anymore, and haven't been for several years. I'm not sure why it changed, but it did. Now, the first thing I do after locating my insulated slippers in the morning, is head straight to the coffee pot. This is probably the worst thing I could do, but it's become a habit.

I determined a few days ago to stop doing that. I haven't stopped yet, though.

I started thinking about how my life (and my home) was, when my oldest daughter was little. My routine was the same every morning, except maybe Saturday. Get up, shower, dress, clean the bathroom before I ever left it, then go in and make my bed & straighten up my room. Even before Caryn was awake, I'd head to the kitchen to make my cup of coffee & get out whatever I was making for breakfast. Same morning routine, day after day.

This same routine lasted for many years. It was only after I moved to Canada 8 year ago, that it changed. I don't know for certain why it changed, but I think it might have had something to do with Kev's work schedule. He was working midnights at the time, and by the time I was waking up, he was just getting home. By the time I was ready to get breakfast on the table, he was going to bed. My morning routines had to change, and they didn't change for the better. He worked that schedule for the first 1.5 years we lived here, and by then the bad habits had taken root and it's been sort of a mess ever since.

While eight years ago we had 4 kids and a clean house (more or less), now we have 7 kids and a messy house all the time. Or so it seems. Okay yes, it's messy all the time and it doesn't matter what I say, how often I say it, what I threaten to take away, or if I stood on the kitchen table with a bullhorn ordering kids around. It's still a mess every day. And I hate it.

Yesterday when Kim and her family came over I told Kev before they got here "you know, we really don't have a good house for entertaining company, I hate the way this place looks all the time". Kev did what he always does when I say something like that. He assured me it looks fine. Kev needs glasses, I'm telling you right now. It does not look fine, to me.

Now some of you reading, knowing I'm a homeschooling mom, at home all day, might wonder to yourselves "well, you're the parent, you're in charge and you're home all day, so who's fault is it that the place is a mess?". Well, that's a good question.

I am home all day, that much is true. I am also the parent, that part is true as well. Unfortunately, I think it's the clutter that's in charge, and we're just strategically navigating through it, past it, over it and around it. It drives me nuts to see a clutter, and it's in literally every room, every day.

This is a very big house. Back in the day, when they knew how to build real homes, they built them big, to hold big families (and extended families and farm hands quarters, and walk in pantries, etc.). We once lived in a 3 bedroom rambler with a full eat in kitchen, dining room and laundry room, I thought that was a pretty roomy house. When I think about that house, I realize it only had 8 rooms. The house we live in now, has 13 rooms. Most of them, very large rooms. Big difference.

With that much room, that just means more clutter, and more mess, and truly does contribute to an overwhelming defeatest attitude of "I give up, the house is a dump and it'll never get clean no matter what I do". Add to that, four kids under eight years old that all have the classic-kid affliction of "I can take it out but I have no clue how to put it back" syndrome.

One day a couple of weeks ago, I actually called a school-cancellation day so we could clean the house. We started upstairs and cleaned every room then made our way downstairs. Three hours later the place looked pretty nice. The next day, you'd never know anyone ever cleaned around here, or ever put shoes under the bench on the porch, or ever hung their coats up, or ever had a place for 8 million legos & k'nex.

So here's where this actually gets funny (it doesn't feel funny, I'm an organizational freak, so living this way is like Felix Unger being forced to live with 6 Oscar Madisons. If that happened, Felix would slowly notice himself turning into an Oscar, and he would likely snap). But it does get funny, I assure you.

This morning, my mom emailed me and told me she's de-cluttering. Now, if you knew my mom, you'd appreciate how profound that statement really is. Mom doesn't de-clutter, mom is the princess of Amassing Clutter. Mom is the lady who shopped at K-mart when I was kid and brought home things like grapefruit spoons, novelty shaped ice trays, corn on the cob pokers, and all sorts of other things we hardly ever (if ever) used. Mom is the Mother of Stuff. Our house always had "stuff" everywhere. We had so much stuff, that when we tried to clean up, and couldn't figure out where to put this stuff, we'd take it to mom's room and pile it up on top of other stuff she had in her room. I vowed when I grew up and had my own house, it would not contain nooks and crannies filled with stuff. For many years it didn't, but now I have become the Daughter of Stuff. My house is 10 billion times worse than my mom's house ever was - and now she's de-cluttering! Oh, the blistering irony.

So why is mom de-cluttering? Because she's been influenced by the FlyLady! Yep, that's right, the very same FlyLady that I've read about on so many stay-at-home/homeschool mom blogs & websites. My mom... is becoming a de-cluttered FlyLady person.

So, the only reasonable thing to do was for me to go to this FlyLady site today, and find out who this gal is that brainwashed my mom. I have to say, I like the way this lady thinks. Oddly enough, the way she describes a typical morning routine, is exactly the way I used to live. Even more ironic, is that the way she describes how uncluttered your life and home can be by living this way, is TRUE. When I lived that way and had my daily routines down (just like she describes) my house and my life were uncluttered, and shiney. I even smiled more. Go figure. The lady knows what she's talking about.

So... I've determined I'm going to FLY. I haven't read the whole site yet, but from what I've seen, it makes a lot of common, practical sense. I need this organization back in my life, and my home. I need to de-clutter (that's the understatement of the year), and I need my kids to become more accustomed to these kinds of daily routines to help them not become procrastinating clutter-bugs.

Here's where you can help. If you follow this FlyLady's advice, I want to hear from you. How has it helped you, or did you give up? Did it make a difference with your kids, or are you the one still doing all the cleaning & de-cluttering? What really helps, and what doesn't work? It's going to take some real determination on my part to get started on this, without going overboard and doing too much at once (I almost always do that).

I really want to hear your thoughts on this, so what do you say?

And mom... you're still the coolest mom in the universe, and now you'll be a less cluttered cool mom!
:o)

I'm actually going to the kitchen right now to shine my kitchen sink. As Frank Turk would say...

BOOYAH!

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Two Great Lights

Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.


One benefit of sleeping poorly, is waking up extremely early. When I do that, it gives me time to think, time to read, and time to appreciate God's absolutely incredible creation. This was the scene waiting for me when I got up. I have no idea how many pictures I took of the setting moon, to finally get this shot, but it was worth it. (click to see the full size).

Another benefit of getting up early is that it also gives me the time and the quiet, to listen to online sermons, lectures, etc. I wasn't really looking for it, but I came across this audio teaching from Mark Raines of Reformed Baptist Church of Holland (Michigan), on A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Emergent Church. It was the kind of teaching that I'd like to hear more of. It was a basic intro, followed by questions & answers. Although it's not exactly comprehensive, it will allow you to get a basic understanding of what the ECM is about. The speaker mentioned that he was going to go into the theological distinctives of the ECM, at a later time. So I look forward to that & will post a link here when it becomes available.

Here's another benefit of waking up really early. I get to watch the sun come up. Sunrises are just incredible. While the sun comes up every morning, like human fingerprints there are never 2 sunrises exactly the same. It's a brand new scene every single day. (click to enlarge)

I was so tired last night when I blogged about our family's visit with the Shay Clan yesterday, I noticed I didn't include the usual links. Bad bad blogger! So my apologies to Kim, Neil, Track-a-Pip and Carrot, for forgetting to link them. And while I'm on the subject... do you know, that Kim can eat an entire bag of sea salt & pepper chips, at one sitting? This woman is amazing. The thing is, I never even saw her put her hand in the bag. It was almost as if, the open bag in presence just evaporated. Spontaneous implosion, maybe. Not sure. I don't know how she does it, but that's some trick, let me tell you. What's more amazing, is that this woman is a teeny tiny little thing. I've said before that Kim is my homeschool hero, but now add Chip Eatin Champion Hero to the list. (I wrote all of that just to tease her about eating all the chips, lol).

Anyhoo, it's late and my presence is requested in the kitchen. We were supposed to be going to church this morning but Jessica is sick, and I'm coming down with it too. Ugh. Here we go again.

Have a wonderful Lord's Day.


Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Just a good day

I love really good days. I love them even more when they come at the end of a string of pretty good days. That's the way this week has gone. Ironically enough, with Kev switching over to the new schedule this week, I was really anticipating some pretty bad days. I've been pleasantly surprised with just the opposite. Sure I've been a little scatterbrained & having a bit of a rough go adapting to his schedule, but over all the days have gone pretty well.

Today was no exception. This morning I was really blessed with having a male cardinal show up at my kitchen window. My camera batteries kept telling me they were low, but I didn't listen. I don't know how many pics I took of him, until I got a good one. Suffice it to say, I completely drained my batteries. I took a lot of pictures this morning, actually. Kev (in his Grumpy pants) with Ruth, feeding the birds, icicles, tree sparrows, and just a bunch of other things. The sun was out, the sky was a brilliant blue, and it was just an ideal photo-op.

Around noon-ish, Kim, Neil and their boys came over, and we spent the next 4 hours in the kitchen talking about Frank Turk. I'm just kidding, we didn't really talk about Frank. We did hang out in the kitchen for 4 hours though, while the kids played in the game room and then (who's brilliant idea this was, I'm still not sure) started daring each other to run around the outside of the house, in the snow, barefoot. I won't name names but only one kid ##coughPatrickcough## didn't take the dare. Everyone else tried, and most of them actually did it. Welcome to Canada!

We had a real nice visit with Kim & Neil but my camera batteries were charging the whole time they were here so no pics. :o( And now, I am completely exhausted after a real good day. So here's a shot I took of the sunset, after the batteries in my camera were finally charged. Perfect scene to the end of a day like today.





Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

I'm a monkey

You Should Get a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts)

You're a blooming artistic talent, even if you aren't quite convinced. You'd make an incredible artist, photographer, or film maker.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

This is all Kim's fault. I'm a deranged, fingerpainting monkey! I knew I shouldn't have taken this quiz...


Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

A year ago...

It's hard to believe it's been a year already, but it has.

A year ago today, my step-dad Jasper passed away. I have a million and one thoughts about this, and it's hard to decide where to start writing first.

It occured to me as I was drifting off to sleep last night, the old adage "time heals all wounds". Well, no it doesn't. God heals all wounds, time just puts a nice buffer between the painfully raw memories of the event, and the present.

Anniversaries like this one are hard for a lot of people (for a lot of different reasons). A very common practice for people is to remember the day detail by detail, playing out the way things happened, in the memories, like playing a video tape of the day. I'm not really sure why people do that, but they do.

I do it myself every year on August 15th. That was the day I became a widow, in 1995. Every year on August 15th, I notice when the clock strikes 7:19 am. That's when the phone call came from the hospital to "you'd better come, and come right now". Four minutes later I was walking through the doors of the hospital. For some reason, I made a mental note of everything that happened that day, according to what time it happened. Just as it's hard to believe it's been a year since Jasper left, it is equally hard for me to realize it's going to be 11 years this year that I was left a widow.

If it's any consolation to anyone reading, time & distance from the day, really does provide a nice "erasure" of sorts, for the pain, sorrow, and sadness of the event itself. Now when I think back to August 15th, it's about the order of events, who was there, what had to be done and the minute details, rather than the reality that "Ben is gone now". In fact, there is one thing I remember quite clearly that actually brings a smile to my face. He'd asked me to announce to everyone (after he was gone) that there was good news. That the good news was that he was now cancer free. So that morning when I called Mitch, the associate pastor at my church, I said "oh yeah, Ben wanted me to make sure I told you that he's now cancer free". Mitch sort of chuckled and said "praise God Carla, he is indeed cancer free now".

I remember last February 11th quite well. I didn't sleep well at all the night before (I didn't know at the time we were all coming down with a violent stomach virus), and when I got up at 5am, the first thing I wanted to do was call my mom. I knew, somehow, that this was going to be the day. Later that morning, the phone call came.

This past year has been a hard one for mom. Emotionally, financially, and in all the ways you would expect it would be. It's been hard for me too being so far away and not actually being there to help her out in any tangible way. Mom was there for me in every way possible when I went through this, and my inability to be there for her was really difficult.

By His grace, mom has come through this year, and the really good news is, in just under 2 months she's flying out here for a 10 day visit! This is huge, mom HATES flying, but I'm so glad she decided to come anyway. :o) It's been 5 years since I saw her last, and that's just WAY too long as far as I'm concerned. It's the longest I've ever gone without seeing my mommy, in my 41 years on this earth. Even after I grew up and her and Jasper were moving from WA, OR and CA and back, and forth, and I was moving between WA & CA back and forth, we still saw each other at the very least, once a year.

Our road trip with all the kids in 2001 was the last time we were able to get out to the west coast, though. It was also the last time the kids saw grandpa. He did what he always did, teased them, hollered at them (then gave them too much pop to drink), joked with them, and laughed with them. He was the same old grandpa they all knew, and it was a great visit. This was the way they remember him. I took this picture in my grandma's backyard during our time out there. This was grandpa, taking the time to stop, and smell the roses. :o)

Well, it's getting to be about that time. Pancake time. Then clean the kitchen-time, do some laundry time, make a loaf of banana bread time, then welcome a visitor for lunch time. Kim & Neil (of Upward Call & Chez Kneel fame) are coming over for lunch today, and that'll be fun.

Have a great Saturday!

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Our Children

DISCLAIMER: what you are about to read is brutal, graphic and contains a picture that might offend you. Please scroll down with caution.

I sat down here to write about something precious to every parent's heart. Their children.

My motivation and frustration to write about it was due to the breaking news that Neil Entwistle will be extradited to the US to face charges of murder. Who's Neil Entwistle, you ask? Well, in a nutshell, he's the guy who has been charged with brutally and deliberately shooting his lovely young wife in the head, as she cuddled their 9 month old baby girl in her bed. Then he shot the baby too.

In a telephone conversation early this morning, on a completely unrelated topic, I mentioned to my friend that those of us without the criminal mind, cannot get our heads around the reasons and the motivations for the mindless, senseless things that criminals do. That certainly applies in the case of a man that takes a gun to his wife and his infant daughter.

I've purposely avoided reading about this case until today, because it only makes me angry. If there is one thing in this world I will never understand in any fashion, is the idea of a grown man or woman, purposefully and intentionally hurting a child. Especially their own child. Considering the fact that a child looks to his mom or dad to be the one person in all the world that would protect them from harm. For the parent to turn into the monster that the child fears, is something I cannot begin to imagine. This touches the heart of every parent, and it should.

I suppose a typical Calvinistic response might be "total depravity". Sin reigns in the hearts of men who are spiritually dead, and live only to serve the flesh. This goes far deeper than being spiritually dead though. All of us were spiritually dead before He regenerated us and caused us to desire Christ. Not all of us committed the kinds of heinous crimes against children that we read about in the papers, over and over again. The only thing that makes any sense whatsoever, is that those of us that didn't do such things, were restrained by God from doing them. Those that do, are allowed to do them. Those that do, are who we would be, were it not for God's grace and mercy in preventing us from going there. That's a sobering thought, and should make us all humbly grateful for such grace.

As I prepared to write on this, I sauntered over to James White's blog. His post today completely drove this point home.

I'm trying desperately to segue into why I want to show you these pictures. The only words that come to me right now is to affirm the fact that false religion and false piety, can actually feed this depraved nature in men's hearts.

As horrible as this picture is, I want you to look at it closely. Notice the expression on the baby's face, and then notice the expression on the father's face. Process this scene in your mind:

In the name of religion, namely Islam, this man just sliced open his baby's head as the blood rolls down his face onto his shirt. The baby is clearly in pain, and likely frightened out of his mind that his daddy just did this to him. He is too little to even begin to understand any religious meaning to this act, all he knows is that his daddy just hurt him very badly. The baby is hurt, scared and clearly in need of comforting.

Now look at the father's face. Is he smiling, or crying along with his little boy? Sometimes it's hard to tell just from a picture, but it does appear that this man is actually smiling. He doesn't look the least bit upset, or in any way concerned by the expression on his son's face.

In this picture, a father slices his son's scalp open with a large knife. Why are they doing this? James White describes it this way "Shia holy day of Ashura. Devotees self-flagellate with whips, chains, and knives, seeking to cover themselves in their own blood, an act called tatbir." James mentions that the pictures come from a gallery at the Daily Mail newspaper in England. You can see these and more pictures of this ritual, here.

According to this newspaper:

"The act is meant to signify the suffering of Mohammed's grandson, Hussein, who died in battle at Karbala, and the pain it caused the whole Muslim world."

The caption to another picture (you can see them at the newspaper's site, these 2 are bad enough) says "In Pakistan, participants chant as they beat and whip themselves and each other, in many cases achieving a trance-like ecstasy".

These men, who have trained these boys to participate in this bloody, painfilled ritual, do so to display their faith and prove their devotion? How do the horrified cries of a terrified baby boy, display faith?

This is yet another monumental contrast between Islam and Christianity. In Christianity, how are we instructed to live according to faith? Here's just one example:

1Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

We are to love. Live peaceably with all men, as much as is possible, love fellow believers, stand for truth, and be honorable people in all ways. Not once are we called of God to painfully mutilate our children, or ourselves to prove anything to Him, or others.

So how does all this tie in with the man in England charged with purposefully killing his innocent baby girl? Well, a more brilliant mind than my own can surely make more connections than I can, but as I saw the smile on the face of the Muslim man with his horrified baby covered in blood, and as I read the account of what police believe happened the day that young wife and her baby died, the connection I made was a simple one.

Without the restraining hand of God in our lives, literally, neither you, nor I, are any different than these people. To use any reason or rationale to intentionally hurt your own child, whether it be a selfish reason or a religious reason, is to be a man (or woman) without the grace of God in your life. It's to be a person deceived, and being led by some other god.

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

End of the Week Thoughts

Remember these? I knew you did... Well, I suspect yours didn't quite look exactly like this one. Several things have factored into this.

1. Kev's new work schedule has me all messed up. I suspected this would happen, since anytime your schedule changes it takes a short time of adjusting and adapting. I don't adjust well. I do it if I have to, but I don't do it well. So with his new work schedule I'm sleeping less, drinking more coffee (which likely contributes to the sleeping less), reading less, writing less, and vacuuming more. Not sure how that last one fits in to all the others, but it's true.

2. Several topics I really want to get into, but don't seem to have the motivation or the energy to really take on right now. Likely the result of #1 and all the variables there.

3. The Februaries. Never heard of them? Well, they are more or less those increasing, anxious moments of I WANT SPRING TO ARRIVE AND I WANT IT NOW, feelings. This year, the Februaries are sort of delayed, because we haven't really had the kind of winter this year (so far) where we're cooped up inside for weeks at a time. Two weeks ago I was outside doing some work and could have easily been without a coat. Then we got hit with a storm on Friday of last week, and it's just been snowing like mad ever since. We did get a break 2 days ago, but overall it's been a mild winter and the Februaries aren't so bad this year.

Maybe it's just me, but sitting around inside doing basically nothing, tends to drive me a little batty. Once housework is done and school is done, then I have a tendency to get bored. I need to be doing something, and that's part of the reason I write, I think. It feels productive. It's also part of the reason I create graphics, draw, bake, and anything else creative I do. It's accomplishing something, rather than sitting around doing nothing.

I can't sew without any yardage (that would be fabric for you modern thinkers), I can't photograph if there's no photo op (the 135th picture of snow just loses something, eh?), and I can't really write anything useful with my brain being a Magic 8 Ball.

So instead of giving you something really meaty to chew on (that will come later when/if I ever finish my article on contemplative prayer), I'll just rattle on about the good points of yesterday, and why I'm so glad I've had 2 really good days.

In spite of Kev's new work schedule, the kids are adapting pretty well. In fact, I think I may have them out of a bad habit they were in. They used to come downstairs every night, after bedtime, with some urgent news report to tell Papa. Always earthshattering, of course. Always another excuse to get out of bed. Early this week, I reminded them that there's a new sherrif in town. Deputy Mom. New law includes NO getting out of bed 900 times a night for no reason at all. Serious reasons yes, made-up reasons, no way Jose. The last 4 nights, not one of them has come downstairs at night. I like this part of being a deputy.

Jordan (8) and Rachel (7) are learning cursive writing. Now for you Canadians, that's what us Americans call handwriting. I'm not sure if this is a local Ontario thing, or a Canadian thing in general, but whatever. It's cursive. Cursive is hard, if you'll all remember. Well, something clicked with both of them this week and they have the most awesome lowercase b's the world has ever seen. Okay fine, they're not that astounding, but they are very good. I'm very proud of both of them.

Speaking of school, the last 2 days of school have been excellent, for 3 out of 5 kids. Jordan, Rachel and Samuel have all done very well, in every subject. That just doesn't happen very often, with 3 levels of learning, strengths, weaknesses, attention spans, etc. But it happened twice in a row this week, and that's a cause for celebration right there. Now Kev's doing school with them today, while I brave the 2 feet of snow out there and run errands, so hopefully the trend will continue and I wont arrive home to find him tied up in the closet and the kids playing outside in the snow.

Last night after I put the kids to bed, I took my camera and tripod outside in the snow. We have a floodlight in the back, so it lit up the falling snow real well. I have huge issues with nighttime photography, and my camera isn't the most powerful thing in the world. So it's been a real challenge to capture a nighttime scene the way I'd like. I even got desperate yesterday and took out my 35mm just to learn its batteries are dead. I don't think I've used that camera in over a year, and it still has film in it. At any rate, I clicked several shots of the falling snow last night and this was the best one. Sort of grainy, but you get the idea (click to enlarge). No wind at all, all day yesterday, so everything that fell, piled up. It literally looks like a winter wonderland out there now.

And one last thought before all the kids get up.

As part of our ongoing effort to teach the kids the old hymns, I picked a new song this week for us to learn. How Great Thou Art.

We've been doing this for about 6 years now, and it's quite possibly one of the smartest things we've ever done as parents. It's pretty simple. Every night at the close of devotion we sing the hymn of choice, together as a family. We do it until everyone knows the words, and can sing it by themselves. Sometimes that's a week, sometimes it's two weeks. Then we pick a new song.

Sometimes, I add a little choreography to the song. Now before anyone gets all weird on me, no it's not like interpretative dance or anything. Although once last summer I did provide fodder for much snorting and laughter as I pretended to say the books of the Bible via interpretive dance. I think I got up to Amos before everyone was laughing and crying so hard I had to stop.

Anyway, like we did with Onward Christian Soldier (lots of marching, hand gestures for key words, elevated volume levels for lyrics like "blend with us your voices", etc.), I did the same thing with this hymn. For whatever reason, this works well for kids, to get them to remember the song better, and it's just fun. It's sort of like a cross between mime and sign language. Yes, we all know mimes are evil, but not when they're miming How Great Thou Art.

Kev hasn't heard them yet, so tomorrow night when he's home for devotion, he'll get a special treat.

So, it's been a good few days, and I'm always grateful for that.

And now... I'm officially lamenting my decision to get up SO early. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm sleepy. Ugh.

Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

AiG urgent prayer alert: Dr. Henry Morris

Answers in Genesis reports: Dr. Henry Morris, founder and president emeritus of the Institute for Creation Research and the “father” of the modern creationist movement (especially with The Genesis Flood, which he co-authored in the early 1960s), has suffered a mild stroke. Please pray for Dr. Morris, 87, as he receives care in a San Diego area hospital. At last report, he is alert and able to speak, but unable to walk. We will keep you posted on his condition. Thank you for praying for him and his family, including his son John, ICR president.

(source)






Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

A Meme

Kim rarely tags people with meme's she's been tagged on. I like it that she leaves it open. I'm playing along with this one:

10 Years ago:

Very difficult time in my life. I was dealing with 3 very serious and very life-altering issues, and not handling any of them very well at all. Only by His grace I made it through.

5 Years ago:

2001 was a packed year. The highlight of the year was a 3 week road trip with 6 kids. We drove through 13 states & provinces out to the west coast to visit my mom & step dad, then down to Oregon to the Sea Lion Caves (Kev had never been there, so that was fun) and The House of Mystery! My mom had taken us kids there when we were little so it was fun going back as an adult. We also took him to Mt. St. Helens - which was also very cool. We had an absolute blast. Tons of wildlife, beautiful scenery (even the prairie provinces on the Trans-Canada!) and at least 20 rolls of film (maybe more, it's a blurr).

The low point would be finding out at Christmas time we had until March of the next year to move, as our rental house was being sold.

1 Year ago:

Hmmm... exactly what I'm doing now! Schooling, chasing kids around, blogging, taking pictures, creating graphics, etc.


Yesterday:

Yesterday was a good day. Did school with the kids until about 11:45 and they all did really well, in all subjects. They were focused and tried hard to do well, and it payed off for all of us. Other things I did yesterday... made a batch of donuts (from scratch), fried fish (yuck!!), had a nap, read a lot, blogged a bit, watched AI, then LOST & talked with Kev for a bit when he got home from work.

5 Songs I know all the words to:

(gotta copy Kim on this one)
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Abide With Me - Hymn
It Is Well - Hymn
Lady Starlight - Scorpions (yeah yeah, but it was a power ballad)
tons more... I'm a 70's classic rock junkie, but don't tell anyone! shhhh


5 Things I'd do with a million dollars:

1. Pay all my debts
2. Set up a savings fund for each kid
3. Buy a huge trampoline for the kids
4. start my OWN shop for all my graphics
5. a super-duper all-in-one vacuum/steam cleaner

5 Things I'd never wear:

1. spandex pants
2. real fur
3. stilleto heels (I'd fall and kill myself!)
4. turtlenecks
5. all of the above in 1 ensemble, unless I wanted to really scare someone

5 Favorite toys:

1. my camera
2. my citrus juicer
3. my graphics editor
4. my sewing machine
5. my other camera :o)


5 Favorite books or TV shows:

1. 24 (show)
2. The Sovereignty of God (book)
3. CSI Miami (show)
4. don't know
5. don't know

5 Greatest Joys:

1. my salvation
2. a godly husband
3. when the kids do well in school
4. looking forwar to Ruth being potty trained
5. being able to pray

Well that was all rather blase' wasn't it?

I wont tag anyone either, but if you want to play along, feel free.
:o)

PS - I did have to laugh at myself trying to hypertext Kim's link from memory. For the record, her blog addy is not www.theupwardcall.clogspit.com. I don't recommend that blog.


Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

Emerging, Stalking & Birthday Girl

Several diverse thoughts this morning:

I had the pleasure of spending the morning listening a lecture given by Dr. Richard Mayhue, at The Master's Seminary. Mayhue was speaking on the topic of "the ecclesia" mindset of the emerging church movement. This is part 4 of a lecture series at TMS, on the emerging church. I've heard all 4 lectures so far, and look forward to #5. I would highly recommend this lecture series to anyone really interested in what the ECM is all about.

1. The Emerging Church - Dr. John MacArthur Download
2. The Emerging Church Paradigm - Dr. Larry Pettegrew Download
3. The Doctrine of Salvation - Dr. Trevor Craigen Download
4. The Emerging Church - Dr. Richard Mayhue Download

On this same topic...

Back in December of 2004, R. Scott Smith, professor at Biola, gave me permission to post 2 chapters from his yet to be published book, on this very subject. The book is now available, and you can read more about that and/or purchase it here.

And on a completely different topic...

The unnamed blogger I referred to in Online Predators part II contacted me this morning to ask me to pray. The stalking in this case has gone offline, and law enforcement is now involved. My thanks go to Tim for his a la carte link to these articles - I sincerely hope parents and teens alike will read this and learn how to protect themselves online, and/or arm themselves with very important information should they ever find themselves in this kind of a situation.

And lastly...

Head on over to Taught and Stable and wish Marie a happy birthday. Marie is one of the regular chatters in #prosapologian, and just a real nice young lady. My goal in the #pros stats is to knock her out of first place as the room's #1 greeter.
:o)



Currently reading:
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity, emerging church critique, TMS faculty lecture series, R Scott Smith, online stalking & harassment, prosapologian stats

Online Predators - Part II

I want to write about something that personally, and potentially affects every person online. I want to write about it because it has affected a dear friend of mine. I want to write about it, but at the same time I don't want to write about it. I have to be vague, lest it makes matters worse for my friend.

In one sense, I touched on this topic with the post about predators online. This is in a sense, the same side of the same coin - just a different kind of predator.

These are what law enforcement call online "stalkers". People who, for whatever reasons dreamed up in their own minds, shower unwanted attention on other people, online. People who follow you around to your favorite sites, track any personal info they can get on you, and refuse to leave you alone, even after you've made it clear you want no further contact with them. People who, often take this harassment offline. Calling your home, workplace, family members, etc.

There are more sites out there than I can even recommend, on how to protect yourself from this, so I'm not going to go into all of that. Just go to google and do a search on "online stalkers". You'll have more material to read than you ever realized.

What I do want to touch on however is how blogging, especially personal blogging, might feed into this kind of conduct. Bloggers routinely speak of their kids, their health, joys, trials, likes, dislikes, etc. Favorite music, places they shop, cars they drive and more.

For stalkers, this is ammo. I know this first hand, because I was targetted by one for 2 years.

I've never written about this before on this blog, and I genuinely hesitate to do so now. I can say, that once the investigation began, it was a media circus, involved hundreds of people and the man was eventually charged in federal court with over 115 counts. He did end up spending 5 years in federal prison, but he's out now. He's been out for 5 years.

So with the advance of the 'net, and the personal nature of the blogosphere (which didn't exist ten years ago), I just wonder how many bloggers have taken this topic into consideration?

Only because I've been through this, I do think about it when I write. I've edited, re-written and nuked many (read: MANY) things, as a result of considering this very real issue. Only because I've been through this, I know what works, what doesn't, and how the law enforcement world deals with it. Which laws have been passed as a result of it, what's legal, what isn't, and just how much trouble one can really get in, if they get caught doing it. And getting caught is alot easier than it used to be, as well. There are more ways to track someone online than most people realize. Within minutes, with the right tools and right info, even a novice can track down an "anonymous" emailer or blog commenter. Law enforcement can do it a lot faster.

While there are ways to put a swift end to this, the very real and very disturbing fact is, is that it happens in the first place.

For a variety of reasons (lonliness, anger, control, etc.) there are people out there who latch onto others, and refuse to take no for an answer. Once they do this, your online experience turns into something you never signed on for, literally.

I would strongly advise folks reading this, to head over to google and spend some quality reading time, on this topic. Learn how to protect yourself, and your kids. Learn what to do (what NOT to do), if you find yourself in this situation.

Just a few thoughts on the matter. Feel free to share your thoughts as well.


Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

More miscellanies...

Well yesterday was a lesson in patience. In many ways. Downloading a huge lecture, on dialup was one test of patience.

Creating 10 new graphics for my store, just to have 8 of them red flagged by the host provider as "copyrighted!", was another frustrating lesson.

The graphics are a take off of the logos of the shows 24, and CSI. I was informed my creations looked too much like the real thing, and I had to change them. So that took up the rest of my time last night, while I began downloading a lecture that ended up taking all night. Oh how I LOVE dialup! (#insert snark font#)

So anyhoo, here's a sampling of the new products in store :

24 Addicted Black T $20.99
CTU gear! The perfect gift for your favorite "24" fan! The small print reads "do not disturb between 9pm and 10pm". Other fun items in this line are ballcap, mousepad and coffee mug. (The "24" on the shirt looks faded in the picture, and it's done that way on purpose, it's not a graphical error. It's not as faded looking on the real thing.) It took a lot of tweaking and a lot of doing, re-doing, then scrapping the whole thing, to do it all again - to get this one right. I think I probably spent the better part of 6 hours on this one. The fun thing about spending that much time on one graphic, is that I always learn something new about my software! So it was worth it.

CSI Wannabe Black T $ 20.99
Show off the CSI in you! Great gifts for any CSI wannabe. CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY? Either way, this is a great gift for any crime scene investigator. Even if you're only investigating from your couch, with your remote! Other items in this line are ballcap (in white or khaki), mousepad and coffee mug.

To see the full line of "just for fun" gear, click here.

DISCLAIMER: Now surely, someone is bound to take exception with my promotion of both of these shows. There's violence, bad language at times, and immoral lifestyles being depicted at times - on both of these shows (they're shows depicting law and order in real life - unbelieving cops & investigators investigating crimes perpetrated by unbelieving people). And I'm not in any way promoting any of those things. The shows themselves are fun to watch for the plot lines & the ultimate story of good v. evil, where good wins in the end.


And finally, the lecture I'm listening to is #1 in a series of faculty lectures on the emerging church movement. The first lecture is by Dr. John MacArthur, and there will be 4 more in the coming weeks, from various speakers. You can download this one right here, and the second one right here. I'm not sure when, or if the other 3 will be made available.

And finally, winter has arrived in Ontario. I was able to get out yesterday to run all the errands I'd been having to put off for days, due to weather. I did get everything done, and by the time I got home I was just flat out pooped. The plan was, to get all the odds & ends done yesterday, plus a few days worth of groceries and go back out Thursday for another full week of grocery shopping. So what's the forecast now for Thursday? Snowsqualls with an accumulation of 10-15cm. Yay. More snow, more white-out conditions, and more "well, let's see what it's doing out there tomorrow".

Well, that's it for this morning. Lecture is almost over (and it's very good, DO download it, do listen, and do learn), and the dog is scratching at the screen door to be let in.

Have a great Wednesday.

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

tags: 24 gifts and apparel, CSI gifts and apparel, John MacArthur & emerging church lecture

Blog reading habits blogpoll results

Latest blogpoll removed due to complaints about the ads (and they were pretty bad, I must say. My apologies if any of you were offended, I was not aware of the r-rated ads)

Your Blog Reading Habits
How many blogs do you read each day?

5-10 --------------- 33.3%
11-15 -------------- 22.2%
1-4 ---------------- 18.5%
16-20 ------------- 18.5%
I have no idea! ----- 7.4%

total votes: 27

************************

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity

Guest Blogger: Ruth

About a year ago, the kids and I did a little program I came up with, to memorize the books of the Bible. You can read about the program I came up with, here.

Of the many bonuses to homeschooling, one that stands out for me is the way the little ones learn, without being formally taught. They're just around the teaching so much, they pick up on it. For example, when Ruth was 11 months old she would stand in her playpen and in a singsong way she'd say the short vowel sounds. Just like we'd sing at the table, before our phonics lesson.

When we did the books of the Bible, it took us about 4 months to finish the whole program. Ruth was just shy of turning two, at the time. Since then, once a week we recite them so we don't forget what we've learned. Every Sunday night before family devotion, we each say them. And so does Ruth.

So without further delay, here is Ruth (as recorded tonight) with her rendition of the books of the Bible. (she usually does a better job, but she was in a hurry to go play!)

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision
By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity
By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity , Books of the Bible memory program

Online Predators

(UPDATE: Online Predators part II here)

Last Friday night, Dateline NBC ran a special called "Catch a Predator" about online perverts that zero in on 12 and 13 year old kids. This information is not new, but it is something that most parents assume will never involve their kids. Huge mistake. Monumental, mistake.

This is one of those topics that you don't want to present in a "the sky is falling!" Chicken Little-ish fashion, but at the same time want people to be informed of what is possible, and sufficiently educate themselves on the precautions. So here are the facts:

The show Dateline ran was a basic sting operation. They set up a sting house, and with undercover law enforcement, posed as 12 or 13 yr old boys and girls in teen chats. Knowing full well adult pedophiles troll those chat rooms, it was easy for the "teenagers" to be hit on with private conversations from adults. Adults looking for teen sex-chats, and willing to meet offline.

Like I said, this is not new. When I first began to use the internet in 1993, one of the very first people I met was a 25 year veteran detective with a southern California police department. He's already been doing this kind of online investigation, for a couple of years. It was more localized then, with locally run bbs systems, but it was already happening.

The Dateline program just did the same thing that undercover investigators (local, state and federal) have been doing for a long time. With the same results. Undercover agents posing as kids getting hit on by adult pedophiles, and showing up at their houses for what they think will be a sexual encounter. Only to be met by the law, and carted off to jail. Dateline had 51 men show up, and arrested & charged 50 of them. Some were career criminals with rap sheets that included violent sexual assualts, and more.

Here's why YOU need to know this. These are kids. Your kids, my kids, the kids in your church youth group, the kids your kids go to school with. One out of every five kids is targetted by an adult pedophile online. Almost always, in TEEN chats. It's not as if the kids go looking for this, it's that the predators come looking for the teens. Just like they always have.

Where it used to be (and still is) the playgrounds, the youth clubs (boy scouts, sports coaches, etc.) and other places that kids meet face to face, the hunting ground now includes the places kids meet online.

Where this gets uncomfortable for a lot of parents to deal with, is the idea that their kid would ever! respond to these perverts looking for sex-chat (and more). Let's be realistic here, shall we? Some kids would never respond to this kind of chat, in a billion years (and for a variety of reasons that may not necessarily include their spiritually maturity).

Other kids will. Even "good" kids. It's a topic that they are curious about at that age, and it's an activity (the sex-chat itself) that is dangerous, something they know they shouldn't do, and exciting. Hebrews 11:25 tells us quite clearly that sin is pleasing - for a time. If it weren't, none of us would ever be tempted to sin. That's a given. So to assume even good kids wouldn't respond to these invitations to chat (from sexual predators) is to assume your kids are stronger spiritually than most adults we all know. Big mistake. The sex predators know exactly how to strike up these conversations, and how to lure the kids in. Their methods are rather effective, and the end result is often devastating to children. And yes, 12 and 13 year olds are children, no matter how "grown up" many of them think themselves to be.

Last summer I posted at the challies.com community blog, a post about Kids Online. Since I have many kids myself, and know more than I ever wanted to about what & who's out there online, this is a topic that is quite important to me, as a parent.

As graphic and as revolting as it is, I would strongly encourage you, as a parent (and even if you're a teen) to read the entire transcript of the Dateline show that aired last Friday night. It is in fact quite disturbing, and Dateline offers this disclaimer before the transcript:

"This report aired Dateline Friday, Feb. 3, 9 p.m. We want to warn you some of what you'll read is explicit. But parents need to know what their kids can confront when they sit down at the computer."

It's long, and there is much additional information at the site. Please don't assume your kids are immune to this, and ingore it. Please do take the time to arm yourself and your kids with important information that will keep them safe online, and give you a peace of mind.

Watch the videos, and be sure to also read these resources:

• Why are kids still surfing in the bedroom?
• Discussion guide: After the show, talk to your kids
• For parents: Tips for kids of different ages
• Online safety contracts for parents and kids
• What you don't know can hurt your kids

MORE RESOURCES

• Wiredsafety.org
• ISafe.org
• Safekids.com
• iKeepSafe.org

***********************************

Currently reading:
• Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision By David F. Wells
•Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity By Nancy Pearcey

tags: Biblical Christianity , online safety , Dateline NBC

Monday Misc.

Not a lot of time this morning to post what I had intended - maybe later on today, Lord willing.

So, you're going to get a challie-esque a la carte:

• Phil's Monday allotment of Spurgeon speaks volumes toward the state of modern Christianity. Since almost half of my readers come from Pyromaniacs, you've likely already read it. For the other half, you really ought to go have a look at what Spurgeon had to say.

• ENeilson, casually known as "EN" in #pros, really does have a blog, contrary to modern legend. You should stop by there this week and see what he's got to say about being a member of a local church body.

• Kim has an interesting perspective on balancing her role as mom, with her role as Kim. I think she speaks for a lot of mothers, in that she sometimes wonders if she spends too much (or not enough) time on the one, and not the other.

And today begins a whole new lifestyle for us at the Rolfe house. After 8 years of being on continental shift, Kev goes to a straight 5 day a week shift. It doesn't just end there, however. For the next 2 months he's on one shift, then after that he'll rotate. 2 weeks of one, then 2 weeks of another, then 2 weeks of another, then back to 2 weeks of the first one. And that's the new schedule. Days, afternoons, and midnight shifts, rotating every 2 weeks. NOT a normal schedule for anyone to keep, let alone someone with 1 vehicle and 800 kids at home. But this is the new schedule, and we're all going to have to get used to it.

For those who were wondering, they never did get paid for the 2 days they were offered as vacation pay back in December, and they likley never will. Last week the company filed for some kind of legal debt protection (just one step below bankruptcy) and went on the "for sale" market. Word around the plant is, the sale will go fairly quick, it's a hot, in demand company. It's just been run into the ground by the corporation that took it over and tried so hard to make it a "world class facility" and stomped all over the little guy in the process.

So, this will be weird adjusting to the new, ever-shifting shifts.

I needed to get out and run errands today, but I doubt that's going to happen. We didn't get nearly as much snow as they forecasted, but the plow was doing it's business in our driveway at 7am. More snowqualls & whiteout conditions forecast again for today, and I don't drive in that.

So, it's off to set up the school books & print out worksheets for the new school week. I hope this week is injury-free, accident-free, and bad-mood free. Last week I think everyone around here was PMS'ing, and that never bodes well for a good learning environment.

tags: Biblical Christianity, Spurgeon, Pyromaniacs, ENeilson's Blog-o-riffic Blogarama, prosapologian, Kim Shay

O Christmas Tree?

Every year after Christmas, we take our tree and put it on the deck. The kids collect pine cones from around the property, and we make "natural" bird feeders. We tie a string to the cones, then roll them in peanut butter. Then we roll them in bird seed, and hang them on the tree. The kids call this "the birdies Christmas tree".

The snowsqualls are still blowing hard and fierce, and here is a shot of my deck about 15 minutes ago. Should be interesting to see how much we really do get, by morning.

As treacherous as these storms can be, it sure does make things look pretty out there. (Click the pic for a full view).

tags: Biblical Christianity, Ontario storm

It took a snowstorm...

STORM UPDATE BELOW

A couple of weeks ago I had decided that I was going to begin spending a significant portion of my time in the evenings, doing some offline reading. The "grab your book and your coffee and curl up in the fluffy recliner" type of reading. Well, for various reasons I haven't been doing that. Last night, it took a snowstorm to get me into that big comfy recliner.

I knew the storm was coming, but I didn't know how powerful it was really going to be. They said we'd get rain first, then later it would turn to heavy, wet snow, with temps dropping overnight and bringing in more snow. They, as it turns out that they usually are, were wrong.

We never did get rain, it started as LOTS of wet snow, blowing in from an easterly direction. Easterly storms never leave us without damage, and this one was no exception. It started around 1pm, and by 4pm we'd already lost at least 2 very large branches on the juniper tree just outside the kitchen window, and at least another large pine tree branch in the driveway. How many more are down now, will have to wait to be determined when the sun comes up.

By 6:30, the power started to flicker, and I warned the kids "we're going to lose power, so when we do, just stay where you are until I get the oil lamps lit". I should have just lit them then, but I was washing dishes and trying to hurry. When we lose power, we lose water too. The water pump in the well is electric. Two dirty forks shy of being done, the lights went out. I quickly filled a pitcher full of water in the pitch black kitchen, then the water went off too.

So, we lit the candles on the kitchen wall (I have very old wrought iron candle holders on the wall, they're very cool and very midieval looking) and found the 2 oil lamps. We sat in the kitchen and talked & the kids goofed around. We watched transformers blow all up and down the highway, as the evening sky turned a very cool shade of pale turquoise. Five or six times that happened, and Rachel pipe up with "okay, NOW I'm just a little more than freaked out". Who is this child and how did she get in my house?

Jessica was on her way home from a girl's conference, and Kev was on his way home from work. I was trying hard not to worry, knowing how dangerous the roads are here when we get a storm like this.

Jessica arrived home about a half hour later, with tales of 1. how many wrecks they saw on the highway, and how glad she was they were stuck behind a salter most of the way home and 2. how incredibly cool the conference was, what the best speaker spoke on (anti-abortion, true love waiting, and staying away from drugs), and the girl singing group she got to SING FOR! She was very jazzed about that. Even more so she was jazzed about the fact they told her she was really good, and should follow where the Lord leads her in her singing. She sang Amazing Grace for them, and she said she was so nervous singing for professional singers, that she almost thought she'd faint. They were kind and reassured her even professionals get really nervous sometimes.

So we did devotion early (we always do it after Kev gets home), and I tucked the kids into bed with extra comforters. No power around here means no lights, no water, and no heat. The furnace that we burn wood in, that propels the heat into the house, is powered by electricity.

Kev did arrive home safely, about 20 minutes later than he usually does. When I stuck my head out the window over the driveway to say "hey, guess what, it's snowing and we have no power" he laughed and said "I'll tell YOU it's snowing!". He said the roads were just treacherous, and with the snow coming down sideways, it was like driving through an optical illusion the entire 40 miles home.

So, with no lights, no water, no heat, and no distractions, Kev and Jessica and I settled into the living room with the 2 oil lamps. We talked for a half hour or so when Jessica decided she'd just go to bed.

Kev had his Francis Shaeffer book, and I had my David Wells book. For the next 3 hours, we'd read a bit, then one of us would pause to read outloud to the other one something that struck us on that page. Which lead to further thoughts & brief discussion about the early first and second century philosophers that read by candlelight, and spent inordinate amounts of time thinking, without distractions. We both concluded that shadows cast on walls by the flicker of the candles, (or in our case oil lamps) was sufficient to cause deep thought. Kev then concluded it was actually John Owen that invented the couch table with legs that tuck under the edge of the couch. Handy for holding a book, pen, paper, candle and bowl of chips. Somehow I seriously doubt John Owen ate Lays Potato Chips while writing his 800 volumes on Hebrews. But, you never know.

By 11pm it was cold enough in the living room that my nose was cold, and I was sniffling. The wind was just howling outside, and every few minutes we'd hear a rumble and a series of thumps. Still not sure what that was, but we're assuming it was more branches coming down. The big ole trees here never fare well when we get these powerhouse easterly storms.

I dug some extra blankets out of the linen closet upstairs (including the afghan my mom made for me 28 years ago - which is still in perfect condition!), and called it a night.

As is the norm around here, when the power came back on at 4 am, every light in the house was on. An hour later, the fire is burning well in the furnace, the coffee is done brewing, and I'm still half asleep/half awake. At least most of the lights are off now, though.

So some closing thoughts about last night. I'm quite thankful Kev and Jessica both made it home safely. I'm equally thankful we have so many extra blankets around here. David Wells is a prophetic genius and he likely doesn't even know it, and my friend Michael who loaned me the book, is a dear and precious friend. I would have read it sooner, but Kev absconded with it and read it first. Just like he did with the Nancy Pearcey book I got for my birthday. Someone should really speak to this man about his book stealing habit.

And... it's still snowing. A lot. And I need more coffee.

Oh, and one more thought. My comment from yesterday about reconsidering my time in the 'sphere wasn't to imply I'm leaving it. Not yet, anyway. I meant I am reconsidering the fruitfulness of sounding off on things that send up red flags for me, in evangelicism. Many closed ears out there, and much too much eagerness to rail against the messenger. Interestingly enough, David Wells said exactly the same thing, many years ago when he wrote Losing Our Virtue (the book I'm reading). That likely won't stop me from speaking out, but it does give me pause for thought on the way I do it. Much to consider there.

5:16 am... off to the warm, lit kitchen, for fresh, hot coffee.


tags: Biblical Christianity, David Wells, Francis Shaeffer, Ontario snow storms

STORM UPDATE:

The damage was a lot worse than I thought. At least 10 large limbs downed on both sides of the driveway, and at least 7 of them off the juniper tree. Eek, we have a lot of cleaning up to do when this storm is gone.

It's still snowing, and the forecast is another 15cm today, 15 more tonight, and 15 more tomorrow. Add that to the (roughly) 6-8 inches we got last night, and we're looking at approximately 23.5 inches of snow. It's really hard to measure it though, since we live in open field country. The wind blows most of it into gigantic drifts in most places. In storms like this, the drifts in the driveway are usually about 3-4 feet deep. Which makes for rather entertaining driving, I must say.

Woops, scratch all that, they just updated the storm watch, and now it says "Total storm snowfall amounts will reach 40 to locally 50 cm by tonight in the hardest hit areas to the east of Lake Huron." And that's just for tonight. We're about an hour due east of the southern section of Lake Huron. Right in the snowsquall belt. Ohhhkay, this should be fun.

I tried to upload pics here, but blogger's picture uploader doesn't like me. So, you can go over HERE and see them if you like.

I suspect the storm damage and accident reports will be in tomorrow's papers. So far, all I've seen is the one report from the TO area of a fatal accident of a young mother and her 4 yr old son, when their SUV skidded off the road into an icy canal. :-(

Kev suspects there will be more reports like that, since the roads & visibility last night were just brutal. They'll be worse tonight, I'm sure.

Reconsidering Things

Two weeks ago I posted here about a well known pastor's book endorsement on what I believe to be a very unBiblical book. That post here generated 3 comments.

A few days ago I reposted that same entry (it's here) in another entry at ENo, along with further information, and at last count there are 106 comments. Some, are the ugliest things I've ever read coming from professing believers. Post and comments, here.

Many commenters took extreme issues with what I had to say, so after another long talk with Kev last night about this, I've attempted to clarify at least one of the things that has caused so many angry responses.

That update/clarification is here.

I've been accused of all sorts of things as a result of this post, including slander, malice, spreading fire, being an idiot, and all sorts of other things I don't even care to repeat.

I'm reconsidering my time in the 'sphere, after this.

Having an opinion is only acceptable if you tote the party line, I guess.



tags: Biblical Christianity

Fractured Farm Tales

Once upon a time there was a frog.
And then he was dead.
In my basement.

If the story ended there it would be fine. But it didn't end there at all. This will be gross, so if gross isn't your bag, just skip right on by this one.

I opened the basement door to go down and build a fire in the furnace about 4pm today. As soon as I opened the door, this smell hit me like a ton of bricks. It was that "oh man, there's something dead" smell.

I looked all around at the top of the stairs, hoping to find nothing but knowing there was something there. And then I saw him. A flat Kermie, resting quite still on top of a coffee can.

Okay. I had 2 options. Run screaming and shut the door behind me, or pick him up (ewww! he had frog-goo!!) and throw him outside so I could go down and get a fire going. The whole running/screaming thing was sounding real good, but logic prevailed and I had to pick up the coffee can and toss it, and Kermie, off the side of the deck into the flower bed. I'll deal with him more appropriately, at a later time. Hopefully it'll snow and cover him up for a while, first.

So the question remains: how did a frog get in my basement? I'm glad you asked.

He was in the pond yesterday. The kids saw him in there. Next thing I know, he's in the basement. No one has confessed at this point, and no explaination as to why he was flat & semi-gooey.

So, no happily ever after for this froggy-tale. Just more adventures on the farm! (I hope tomorrow is far less adventurous, that was truly sick)

tags: Biblical Christianity

Thoughts about Angry Christians

It has struck me today as it has before, just how different the comments are here, than on my other blog ENo.

I am the same person here, that I am there.
Same passion for truth.
Same writing style.
Same (at times) offbeat humor.

While the focus there is more refined into research and critique of the ECM, here it's a much wider life-scope. Nevertheless, I am still me, still the same.

If I didn't know this Carla person from ENo, and only read the comments there about her, I would think her a seriously awful person.

I asked a friend today "am I really that hard to understand?". He said no, not at all.

That friend also genuinely believes that Scripture is our final authority, and from that foundation we measure all we believe and participate in, when it comes to faith and worship. That really does make a big difference.

Kev said about all this last night:

It's as if you're all in a house, with 2 big rooms. There are those of you who adhere to Sola Scriptura in the most literal sense, in the one room. You all understand each other, and you all affirm that all things must be lined up with Scripture.

Then there's the folks in the other room. They're a mix of people who, on the one extreme flat out deny Sola Scriptura, and on the other extreme kinda-sorta-believe it, but take huge liberties with what certain things mean. They understand each other, more or less, but in each room, while you're all addressing the same issue, you're talking right past each other.

You'll never come to a mutually agreed on conclusion because you're not going to give in on Sola Scriptura, and they're not going to affirm it and change their position.

It makes a lot of sense. I married a very smart guy. If the foundational position isn't the same, the solution or the answer to the questions that arise, will certainly not be the same. They can't be, the foundation isn't even close to the same.

Kev's right about something else. I do not understand professing Christians who deny Sola Scriptura. I don't understand how they can deny it in the first place, or what they're basing their final authority on, on any given issue. Tradition? Feelings? Experience? What the pastor says? None of that makes sense to me. It's speaking a language I'm not familiar with, and can't understand. If holy writ is not your final authority, who is? Man? Considering man's infallibility and depravity, that's a rather disturbing thought.

In a comment at ENo today, I was chastised for not handling my views & opinions in a Biblical manner, according to one commenter. He thought my views, opinions & questions to be slanderous, tragic, flippant, and accused me of clamoring. He continued by encouraging me to stop, and questioned whether I even prayed about what I wrote.

When I read things like that about myself, the same thought comes to mind every single time. "Did you even read what I actually wrote?". Followed by "why do people ALWAYS ignore the issue, and go for the personal attack on the writer?". Usually following in third place is "why are people so eager to shut up the voices who question things?". Every time, it reminds me of my time in the AoG when rocking the boat with questions about doctrine, was taboo. The message was very clear: sit down, shut up, accept it, and stop asking questions. Well... that doesn't work for me. I have questions about a lot of things, and until I have answers, I'll just keep questioning. I'm sorry it seems to infuriate so many people, but honestly that's their issue that they need to deal with.

Others have commented that my argumentation is faulty. Well it probably is, since I'm not formally trained in logic/reason/apologetics and that sort of thing. Odd how the issues are still ignored and folks still go for the personal jab. I guess it's easier than dealing with the issues.

When I read these kinds of criticisms about myself, I try real hard to do what my pastor friend Audey suggested a long time ago. Receive what's true, correct that in your own dealings, and ignore all the rest. Even criticism in the most ugly, venomous tone, IF TRUE, must be received and dealt with. I don't pretend to imply that this is easy, but it is still something that we as believers must be doing all the same. Receiving correction, even when it's mean, nasty and ugly.

So with all that said: could I have worded my last post at ENo in a way that would have allowed me to avoid a lot of the anger it generated? I could have worded it differently, sure. I did however take a very long time compiling the information, praying about it, proof-reading it, saving it to draft, and re-writing sections of it. It wasn't an on the fly post. I was careful, I documented the facts, and expressed my opinions. I tried hard to come across not as someone slamming Piper, Keller or Driscoll just for the sake of slamming. I made a point to express that I was not questioning their faith, their salvation or their sincerity about the gospel. I made it a point to express what the post was NOT about, and what the post was about. Many of the things I've read in the last 24 hours being attributed to me, I never said, nor implied.

Did any of that matter? To most people, no. The only thing that mattered to most of the commenters and those who started their own blog entries about it (and what a horrible person I am), was that I dared to question what appears to be off limits. Their favored theologians/pastors.

Looking back, I don't think it would have mattered how I said it. It's that I said anything at all, that caused the flurry of activity about it.

I know a few people actually did read what I wrote. I know a few people have expressed an interest into the issues I wrote about. I'm grateful for that, since that was the entire point to begin with.

The rest of the nasty comments, and the ugly, twisted motives that have been assigned to me on various blogs (no, I'm not posting links)... well, those have been dealt with in prayer. While my method could have been better, if I were a smarter person with awesome writing skills, my motive was genuinely honest, and prayerfully considered.


tags: Biblical Christianity

Perspectives?

February is a strange month for me. It wouldn't be so strange I suppose, if I wasn't someone that remembers events by date. For whatever reason God ordained, February seems to be the month that contains numerous sad events in my life. For whatever reason I don't really know, as I was drifting off to sleep last night, that thought occured to me.

I was talking with Kim yesterday, and I asked her if February was Homeschool Moms Meltdown Month (aka "HMMM"). She confirmed that yes, it is. I had a feeling it was. So it's official folks, get out your sharpie and cross out February, and underneath it write HMMM. Or not, either way.

Last night during family devotion, the Scripture reading was Psalm 108:1-5. For your reading pleasure:

1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth

I could read that every day, and never get tired of reading it. Never tire of believing it, and never tire of praising Him. Even in a HMMM month.

It didn't escape me that the next chapter in the Psalms is subtitled "The Psalm of the Slandered". Since I seem to get quite a bit of that whenever I speak out against something that doesn't sit right with me, I continued reading. Needless to say David implores the LORD to return curse for curse, onto those who slandered him. The way it's worded is pretty dire indeed.

David is referring to unbelievers who hated him for who he was, and his love for God.

So the quandry I face again today is the same quandry I've been in before. What of those who profess faith in Christ, that display hatred (even if that's not what it really is) toward you? Vile, angry, cutting remarks. Malicious slander, purposeful lies, character assaults... those sorts of things?

In my experience, any attempt to reason with people like this is in vain. Their minds are made up, the jury is in, they are right, you are wrong, and that's that. The only resolution it seems, would be if you come round to their way of thinking, admit you're the scum they've painted you out to be, and retract every word they've ever taken issue with.

And yes folks, I'm talking about professing believers here.

More and more, what I'm seeing is a wide scope of tolerance & acceptance for ungodly things, and a narrower, and narrower acceptance of the things of God, and the people of God with great conviction. It plays out this way, more or less:

"You know, if you'd just stop for a minute and lay aside your anger and hatred, and be a little more loving and kind, maybe there would be more unity in the body".

I find that sort of reasoning both bizarre and nauseating at the same time. When a believer stands on Biblical principle, and another believer comes along and cuts them off at the knees for it, while encouraging them NOT to stand on that principle in favor of some ungodly social issue, it's disheartening. In other words, they are saying "I have love and tolerance for the ungodly things but I have NO tolerance for you, who are convicted of your holier than thou higher standard".

Maybe it's been this way since the beginning of time, with professing believers. For whatever reason, I'm only just beginning to notice it being on the increase.

Speaking to a pastor friend yesterday afternoon he said it's actually a good thing this happens. In his reasoning, he explained that when this happens it's a lot easier to see who's really sold out to truth, and who's simply sold on the idea of unity, at pretty much any cost.

Maybe it's easier to see that, but it sure doesn't make it any more pleasant to deal with. Honestly, I'm not even sure what I think of all this. I know I don't like it. I know it's wrong and ungodly. Beyond that, I'm often just left with shaking my head without a lot of answers, and taking it to prayer.

Not much else to do with it, is there?

tags: Biblical Christianity

Tears for what?

Have you ever had something to say, and had no idea where to start?

Have you ever tried, and just ended up crying and saying "nevermind, no one cares anyway"?

Well yeah, I think a lot of us can understand that kind of frustration. We might not all cry, but I think most of us can understand that kind of frustration. Even frustration to the point that for a split second we entertain the idea that there is no one who cares.

Today I was told I am stupid, a moron, an idiot, "diseased", out of my league, and a waste of time to listen to. I was lied about, my words taken out of context, the recipient of hateful messages, and my words twisted into something I didn't even recognize.

Then a friend said "Carla, you know your intent, and so does God".

Yes He does.

And then I cried.

So much for a thick skin.

tags: Biblical Christianity

In case you're wondering...

if I fell off the face of the earth, the answer is no. Contrary to what some were hoping for, more than likely. I've been over here today, and will make another post, time permitting.

tags: Biblical Christianity

Kev the Patriot

Folks that know me know I take a lot of pictures. It's what I do. Sunsets, flowers, dead weasels, flies, old tennis shoes, kids, whatever. When the mood hits, I click. Many have mentioned that I really don't have that many of Kev. Today I've remedied that. Here he is. Meet Kev.
:o)

Remnant Encouragement Day: Parakaleo

Ingrid at Slice of Laodicea, is one of my modern day heroes. She doesn't know it, but it's the truth all the same. This is a lady who is compelled each day, to be the watchman on the wall. The position she takes on so many modern evangelical-trends earns her much negative attention from those who would just rather she hush up and go away. Count me among the many quite grateful she doesn't do that. I had the opportunity a couple of months ago to speak with Ingrid on the phone, and I can attest that the passion in her voice for the truth and what's right, is mirrored in her writing at Slice.

Ingrid recently decided to have Remnant Encouragement Day. In her words:

"I am planning an upcoming Renmant Encouragement Day on February 1 where the day will be dedicated to praising the Lord and sharing some audio sermons, articles and thoughts on the ultimate triumph of our Sovereign God over all of the lies of the enemy."

I would hope that all my readers today also take a trip over to Slice and see what she and her other contributors have in store today. It will surely be a blessing.

I've decided to join Ingrid and others who are blogging this way today. It's too easy to write about all that's wrong in modern evangelicism - so today I switch gears and will point to something that couldn't be more right.

Interestingly enough, just after I made a quick announcement on this last night here, I had the opportunity to chat with a sister online about something that discouraged her. She recently spoke out in a group of friends about something that truly offends her Christian sensibilities. She confided to me that among her friends she felt very alone in this area, since none of them agreed with her about it. I can understand that feeling all too well. I did my best to encourage her to continue to speak out, as she just might be speaking for others as well, that do not sense that they themselves have a voice. Speaking out in an environment of resistance is not an easy thing to do, to be sure.

After I logged off this verse came to me:

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works

I love this verse, but more than that I love the context passage of this verse:

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It may seem odd, but I have a method for remembering where certain verses of Scripture are. For this one, whenever I find myself in the discussion about being a part of a local church, I remember that to get to church on time (when service was at 11) we had to leave the house at 10:25. Hebrews 10:25. Handy, yes? :o)

How about that provoking one another unto love, and good works?

How about that exhorting one another?

I love word studies, and even though the English word used here seems obvious as to it's meaning, let's look at it anyway.

Provoke: paroxusmos = incite or incitement.

Interestingly enough this comes from the word "paroxuno" which means: to make sharp, sharpen, to stimulate, spur on, urge.

Looking at it this way, gives the word provoke a much deeper, richer meaning. Provoking one another unto love and good works is to incite others to be sharpened, to spur on a love for the word, for the lost, for sound teaching, evangelism, prayer, and all the other wonderful things that accompany the life of a believer.

Exhorting (parakaleo: comfort, admonish, beseech, console, encourage, strengthen, instruct, teach ) other believers, is what every one of us is called to do. Every one of us.

Now while every believer may not be gifted in teaching, and may at times find themselves all thumbs when it comes to comforting, exhorting can be as simple as saying "I'll pray for you, be encouraged!".

What a blessing indeed it is, to put your own troubles, trials, pain, or whatever else it is going on in your little world on hold, to reach out and provoke a brother or sister to love and good works, and exhort them. To be used by the Lord this way is so humbling, and so good.

Just a few months ago "parakaleo" (exhorting) was weighing heavy on my heart so I wrote about it at the community blog at challies, and cross-posted it here. I wrote that as I was just beginning a 5 week long study on the centrality and the authority on the written word of God. I was so incredibly blessed by that study, that it was almost a let down when it was over! I haven't done a study like that in a very long time, and I still go back over my own notes on it, rather often.

Interestingly, I was somewhat discouraged that more people didn't comment on that study. I so wanted other people to be as blessed as I was with that study! Then a friend mentioned to me that folks are more likely to quickly comment on the controversial, than the the edifying. She explained that oftentimes the edifying topics make us pause for thought, and really consider those things, where the controversial prompts us to quickly respond. I hope she's right, and these edifying topics are indeed causing others to simply reflect on them, meditate on them, and bless them. It does tend to work that way with me, so maybe my friend is right?

In any case, this is my contribution to Remnant Encouragement Day. I'm thankful to Ingrid for the idea, and I would surely encourage others if they've joined her on this, to leave a link in the comments or email me to let me know about it, and I'll add your link to the bottom of this post.

Let us be encouraged - let us remember how faithful our God truly is. Let's consider the implications of this verse today, in light of Ingrid's efforts to motivate us to focus on "the ultimate triumph of our Sovereign God" (emphasis below, mine):

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Amen!


tags: Biblical Christianity, exhortation, Hebrews 10:25, Isaiah 55:11, Biblical encourgement, Remnant Encouragement Day

UPDATE:

Denise at SurphSide has blogged on this today as well.