I don't want a boyfriend

Almost every night for the past 3 years or so, my 16 yr old musical genius has had the same routine. When I go to the kitchen to make dinner, she retreats to her bedroom (which is directly above the kitchen) to sing. She wants to sing for a living, so this is what she does every day to perfect her gift.

We live in a very old farm house, where they used to have an old woodstove in the kitchen. There is a round hole in the kitchen ceiling where the old stovepipe used to go up, then out the north wall in the room above. The stove and the pipe are long gone and there is a round grate that covers the hole, but because the hole is there, I can hear Jessica pretty clearly when she sings. It helps that she uses a microphone, and sings as loudly as she wants to.

Due in large part I'm sure, to the fact that this poor child's parents are both 70's "classic rock" fans (the musical genre in general, not necessarily the lyrics), and due also to the fact that we're also Christians, Jessica has a pretty wide variety of music she listens to, and sings to. She likes to stretch herself and sing a variety of styles, both male and female, from many different genres. Classic rock, opera, southern rock, southern gospel, CCM, etc. so forth and so on. She likes to rotate quite a bit so in one night she might be singing Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama followed by Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take the Wheel, then finish it off with something from the 80's or 90's era of CCM.

I quite enjoy listening to her sing, and she's improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years. We used to tease her when she first started, and said it sounded like she was killing yaks up there. She no longer kills yaks.

The other night she was listening & singing to a 90's CCM artist's version of a sentimental type of Jesus is my Boyfriend song. She doesn't technically like that style of music, but she does like the singers voice range and that's why she chose that particular cd. As she sang, I really listened to the words for the first time in a very long time. Someone bought the cd for me thinking I'd like it because I was a Christian (you know what I mean, you get those gifts too!), and it's probably been 10 years or more since I last heard it.

What struck me about this particular song, was the compelling message given out as to why you should trust God. Now, before anyone gets their CCM bloomers in a bunch, let me just say that YES I was glad trusting Him was even mentioned in this song. There are countless so-called Christian songs that never even mention Him, and leave you wondering how in the world that particular song ever became classified as Christian. Be that as it may, even if He is mentioned, it's interesting to really listen to the words:

Do you feel you've been disowned,
Left outside in the cold and without a home?
Do you think that no one cares
That you're lost and alone and without a prayer?
Don't give into the lie that there's no one you can turn to.
Don't lose heart, there is hope,
There is someone who will never desert you, oh.

If this world is a lonely place for you,
Fall into the arms of love.
If this world is a lonely place for you,
There's a God who you can trust,
Who'll comfort you and lift you up.

Are you looking for a friend
Who will stand by your side to the very end?
Someone who is always true to His word,
Be assured He won't turn from you.
Put your faith in the One who will never let you down.
He has proven His love.
Open up to all He has for you now, oh.

If this world is a lonely place for you,
Fall into the arms of love.
If this world is a lonely place for you,
There's a God who you can trust,
Who'll comfort you and lift you up.

He hears your cry, He sees your tears,
He knows your pain and all your fears.
He waits for you with open arms,
He longs to live inside your heart.
You'll never be alone again.

Now many of you will recognize this as the Jaci Velasquez song If This World. My advance apologies for those who just adore this song/artist. I don't mean to offend anyone but the thing is, this is one of those songs that just annoys me to no end, and what's worse is, it's a very catchy tune and the singer is very pleasant to listen to. YES, there is a Biblical promise in here that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. That part is good, and a good reminder to us all - because there are times when even the most faithful among us, feel like we're alone. Feelings will mess with our minds that way.

I realize Ms. Velasquez didn't write this song, but someone did and seemed to forget to mention that coming to Jesus isn't all about looking for a friend who won't walk out on you. YES that is part of our life with Christ, but that's not why we come. Is it? We come to Christ because we're lonely, feel left out, like no one cares and because He's a good friend? Honestly, to me that almost sounds like a concept that a dating service might use to create a catchy advertising slogan. Maybe one of them already did, and I've heard it somewhere along the way and that's why I thought of it? I dunno.

Isn't that just screaming out IT'S ALL ABOUT ME and MY feelings?

Okay fine, I'm nitpicking. I don't expect popular Christian contemporary music to ever mention that we come to Christ with a broken heart filled with grief over our sin against Him. I don't expect these kinds of songs to say that we come to Christ seeking forgiveness for our wicked ways and humbled on our faces before His great mercy. I don't expect these songs to remind us that it's purely by His grace that we ever realized that we're rotten sinners in the first place.

I guess I have come to expect them to say "try Jesus, you'll be glad you did". And to me, that's what this one says. The most annoying thing of all, for me, is that for the last couple of days this song has been stuck in my head because it's such a catchy tune. I didn't come to Jesus because I was lonely (I wasn't, but I was miserable) looking for a friend (I had lots of friends), I came to Christ because He first loved me, showed me my desperate need for forgiveness, and by His irresistable grace I wanted nothing more than to be on my face seeking God's mercy. Ironic thing is, that's when I lost friends! Black leather-clad headbangers aren't interested in hanging around someone who's new lifestyle messes with their agenda.

Fine, I'm nitpicking.

I'm going to haul in some firewood. I think I'll sing O For A Thousand Tongues while I do it.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Image This

Yesterday I took advantage of being immobile and started a book I received for my birthday. Now I know many of my readers have already read John MacArthur's Twelve Extraordinary Women, so this will probably be redunant posting for you until I'm through with the book. I'll apologize in advance for that, but I'd like to hammer out some thoughts as I go through it.

Reading chapter 1 yesterday, something JM wrote about women and a woman's image, really struck a chord with me. In referencing that Eve, the mother of all living was never really physically described in Scripture, but was known more by her character, JM contrasted that with modern women who are concerned (even obsessed) with body image, cosmetics, jewelry and the like. The point is, we're to be known by our character, not what we look like. I think we all knew that's the important thing anyway, right?

So I sat there for a few minutes and wondered why us women are so overly concerned about what we look like, as opposed to what's inside. I'm fairly convinced a lot of that is media-fed hoopla, which of course feeds the pride inside a woman's heart. Be thin/blonde/wear this/go here/shop there/eat these/clean with this/drive that. If we say & do all that junk the media tells us to say and do, then we'll convince ourselves we're the drop-dead gorgeous model in the ads, right? It's amazing just how easily we're led by our pride, but advertisers know it, and take full advantage of it at every opportunity.

I'm also pretty sure that much of it falls at the feet of men in our society, and what they're saying and doing. By design, women are "pleasers". We want to do what we think is going to help or please our husbands, or boyfriends. Here's the problem though:

Because we are so easily led around by our pride, and because we know that the men are busy watching the thin/blonde/wear this/go here model in tv commercials or magazine ads, we're doubly convinced that she's the ideal - since she's the one catching his eye. I mean, he doesn't look the same way at the portly gal with the Plain Jane hairdo in those cleaning supply ads, now does he? Let's be honest folks. A glossy 8x10 of your neighbor Irene, wouldn't have the same impact on men or women, as a glossy 8x10 of Skinny Minny with the pouty red lips and bleached blonde hair.

Obviously I'm broadbrushing here and as I hope we all know, all men do not slobber over all the pretty women in magazines and on tv. And not all women are so consumed with body image that they sit around and think about this all day. However, this is a real issue in our society and as much as we try to be above it or not let it affect us, it does affect us. It affects the way we dress, it affects our daughters and the way they think of themselves and dress, and it affects our husbands and our sons. I'm not a man (I hope we all knew that) but I've read and heard men discuss how it affects them too, and it's heartwrenching to hear how this kind of thing really affects Godly men.

I'm not going to pretend to have all the answers here but this is just one of those issues that bothers me from time to time and sort of leaves me frustrated. I mean you can tell yourself (or others) all day long that it's character that matters most (and it's true) but you're battling against a slew of media geniuses with an unlimited (or so it seems) amount of resources, that send the opposite message 24 hours a day. This message is hammered on at you, your husband, your daughters and your sons. So in turn, you have to hammer back with the contrary message, the message of Scripture and of a Godly woman's character. It's a daily thing we all have to deal with, in one way or another.

Just a few rambling thoughts this morning...

Have a great Monday!

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

So, you think this is Christianity, eh?

You know, I wasn't going to blog today. I had no intention of doing anything at all today, except blow my nose 700 times and read my book. I didn't even go to church today, since I'm messed-up-sick. :-(

I did decide to read a few blogs though, and I probably shouldn't have because the 1 reply I was going to leave turned into a blog post of it's own. I'm posting this here because it's just bad form to hi-jack friend's blog posts by mile-long comments in their comment section.

The following is my reply to what Campi posted here. You have to read what he wrote first, for this to really make sense. Essentially, Steve wrote about how truly messed up modern Christianity is - but go read the whole post first, then come back here and read this, if you like:

Steve,

wow, what more can be said? A casual reader might come across that and walk away left feeling despondant or discouraged - since what you write simply nails modern "Christianity" straight to the wall - and I think we all know it.

What you've posted here is vitally important. I would like to add just one thing though (and I think this is equally important), and that's this:

Philippians 4:
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

I could have just posted the reference for those two verses, but even after all these years of walking with Jesus, I'm still blessed and encouraged every time I read those words. I hope others are too. The reason I think of this passage is simply a matter of asking a few questions:

Do we even know what truth is? How about honesty? Do we have a good handle on justice, purity, and that which is virtuous and praiseworthy? I mean, according to the Bible (not according to the latest self-help-wishy-washy-warm-fuzzy Christian author), do we stand on solid ground in these areas??

The problem with being deceived by false Christianity, is that if you have nothing to compare it to, or a lack of solid foundation to go by, you're just blindly led along with false teaching - sometimes for years, sometimes at the cost of your very own soul. Jesus's words were very clear and should be carefully considered to this very day, when He said there will be many in the last day who express complete surprise that they aren't really Christians after all (Matthew 7:21-23). I'm pretty sure we all know people who were professing Christians right until the moment they died, but the fruit of their lives never bore that out. This is an especially painful circumstance when the person is someone we know and loved dearly.

Charles Spurgeon once said

"IT IS A GREAT THING to begin the Christian life by believing good solid doctrine. Some people have received twenty different "gospels" in as many years; how many more they will accept before they get to their journey's end, it would be difficult to predict. I thank God that He early taught me the gospel, and I have been so perfectly satisfied with it, that I do not want to know any other. Constant change of creed is sure loss. If a tree has to be taken up two or three times a year, you will not need to build a very large loft in which to store the apples. When people are always shifting their doctrinal principles, they are not likely to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God. It is good for young believers to begin with a firm hold upon those great fundamental doctrines which the Lord has taught in His Word. Why, if I believed what some preach about the temporary, trumpery salvation which only lasts for a time, I would scarcely be at all grateful for it; but when I know that those whom God saves He saves with an everlasting salvation, when I know that He gives to them an everlasting righteousness, when I know that He settles them on an everlasting foundation of everlasting love, and that He will bring them to His everlasting kingdom, oh, then I do wonder, and I am astonished that such a blessing as this should ever have been given to me!" - Charles Spurgeon - A Defense of Calvinism.

I'll never forget how it hit me between the eyes the first time I read that, several years ago. Not all of us begin our life with Christ under such solid teaching. Many of us were under all sorts of doctrinal horrors, and by His grace were called out from that, and into solid teaching under solid pastors.

I said all that to say this:

We have to read our Bibles.
We have to make sure our foundation is solid.
We have to determine to do this right now, today, this minute - if need be.
We have to take the initiative to put ourselves into Religious Rehab, and get into the word, get busy about prayer, find a solid church and willingly submit to correction and sound teaching.

We have to take our Christianity seriously, because by professing faith in Christ, we better be sure that He is taking it seriously. No one's going to come along and do any of this for us. When we stand before God Almighty on that day, we wont be standing there with friends, relatives, bosses, or anyone else that we can point the finger at and say "well, I would have been a good Christian Lord, but for this person who made it hard to do that, or that person who taught me the wrong thing". Nope, it'll just be you, and Him.

Someone once said to me that the kind of Christian you really are, is the kind of Christian you are when you think no one's looking. Sure it might be cliche', but it sure makes sense, too.

If we are concerned about the false teaching and all the other garbage plaguing the modern church, we need to be about the business of being under sound teaching and building a solid foundation under our own homes & lives, so that we might be better equipped to be a blessing to others, in the same boat.

And with that, I'm off to read John MacArthur's Twelve Extraordinary Women. And blow my nose a few hundred more times. Not that anyone needed to know that part...

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Another birthday... yay, more cake!

On tap for today:

1. Make German Chocolate cake frosting, let cool.
2. Frost the cake.
3. Get all kids dressed and presentable
4. Take cough/cold/flu tablet & hope I stay awake.
5. Drive to the church for a family portrait for the church directory.
6. Come home & make a potato salad.
7. Take another cough/cold/flu tablet.
8. Drink lots of coffee
9. Welcome Caryn, Kim & Jennifer & Jocelyn as they arrive for Caryn's birthday celebration.
10. Run quickly upstairs and wrap Caryn's present that I forgot to wrap.
11. Make Sloppy Joes & serve dinner.
12. Stay awake
13. Remember to charge batteries for camera.
14. Everything else I forgot.

Time to go make frosting...

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Okay I have a plan...

UPDATED:

Already represented:

• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusettes
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania • Texas • Virginia
• Ontario Canada

My goal is to cover all of North America. Hmm... I don't see your state/province listed there...

;-)

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Friday BlogFodder 01/26

Hey kids, its Friday again so here we go:

• If you go here, you can listen in on some pretty interesting live radio communication. I used to have a real scanner, and let me just warn you - this IS live, and it's real.

• I have no idea who this guy is, or why he included me in his collage. I just know I'm there along with a bunch of other bloggers. Standard disclaimers apply.

• Go here and download James White's sermons from last week. You will be really glad you did. Or if you just don't have loads of time, go over here and download his 27 minute presentation on Why Am I a Christian? This is good stuff, kids.

• This will make you mad, sad, disgusted and wondering once again if Hollywood parents haven't sold their soul to the devil himself. Okay, nothing new there. However, there is a small amount of good news, since reportedly, no ones buying.

• Tim is pondering this thing called blogging. But I suppose you've already read it, since he's "The World's Most Famous Christian Blogger" according to this guy, who is on a teaching trip/vacation for the next couple of weeks while he puts some of the stress and frustration of high-traffic blogging on the shelf. For all of you who rarely get comments and have low traffic, there is an upside to that. It means you can keep blogging about your cat, icecicles and dessert recipes, and you'll be fine.

• If you're in the greater Phoenix area, this is enough to make you reconsider the benefits and safety of homeschooling. Or... maybe not. Safe schools, hmm???

• Libbie and her family could sure use your prayers. Libbie's husband Antony is updating their situation in the comment thread a the top post. Also, the friend of Rebecca's daughter are in need of prayers as well. Please do leave a note of encouragement at both sites, and remember these folks in prayer.

• You may or may not, be a Canadian. Who knew??

• This fine establishment has been updated with a few Valentine's gift giving ideas.

That's it for me this week - school has been cancelled, the house is a mess and my throat is still on fire. I think I might have ebola, ecoli, or egads. One of them, maybe all of them.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Now this is weird

So, I'm looking out the game room window the other day and thought to myself, 'hmm, I guess I should remind Kevin to take the hummingbird feeders down'. Hummingbirds migrate south right around the end of September, and aren't usually seen again until the end of April. Since it's nowhere near April OR September, I'm not sure why these feeders are still up, unless Kev was leaving them up intentionally for me to take this picture in Frigid January. Maybe that was it?

Speaking of odd pictures... I decided to take a few close ups of the other icecicles out there this morning. I took this one and noticed something unusual about it. I couldn't figure out what it was that seemed off, until I zoomed in on it, after I unloaded the pic card on the pc...

I'm not sure if this is Grandpa Munster, or Frank Turk, but I think it's one of them. Do you think I could sell this icecicle on eBay for zillions of dollars? (I assure you, there was no photoshopping going on here, there really is a little face in my ice!)

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Books & Blogging

Over at Hiraeth, Kim has some questions about Christian blogging & Christian reading, that she'd like to get some feedback on. Here are her questions and my answers:

Has reading Christian blogs increased your desire to tackle weighty Christian tomes?

Not really, since I had that desire long before blogs ever existed. It has however provided a fellowship of sorts with other likeminded Christians, and I enjoy that.

Have you learned of Christian authors and theologians that you might not have otherwise known or read?

Yes, although off the top of my head the only ones I can think of are Martha Peace and Nancy Pearcy. I had never heard of them before I started blogging in June of 2004.

Have you purchased or borrowed books that were recommended by bloggers?

Yes indeed - books by John MacArthur, David Wells, DA Carson, Kim Riddlebarger, Ray Yungen, James White, Nancy Pearcy, CJ Mahaney and likely many more that escape my thoughts right now. Some borrowed, some purchased, some given as gifts.

Have you read fewer "real" books as your blog reading has increased?

No, I've read fewer "real" books since homeschooling began 7 years ago. So when I do have a good book to read, it takes priority over blog reading. Besides, I do most of my blog reading in the morning before breakfast.

Has the availability/searchability of great Christian works caused you to rely upon them merely as resources?

That's a really interesting question. I'm not really sure I understand it, but it's an interesting question all the same, lol. Aren't all books resources? Seriously, I consider books as little gems of wisdom. When I hear of a book that has blessed others (I'm talking about a doctrinally solid author, not some self-help/church-growth sort of junk) I tend to think of them as insight that I may not have thought of on my own, and worth taking the time to read. Not sure if that's what Kim meant by this question, so I hope that addresses it.

Do you think reading the great Christian authors and theologians is important and/or profitable?

Absolutely. If we think we're so smart that we can't learn from the lives of other Christians (either still living or gone on before us) then we'd better think again, and find some serious prayer time about that pride issue we've got. Each of us have our strong areas, and weak areas. I tend to lean toward books that address areas I know I'm weak in.

Do you read them?

Yes I do! When I have them, and have the time, I read like mad.

If so, who do you recommend?

Right now, I'd recommend James White's Pulpit Crimes. I just finished it, and it's a timely and important book to read for any Christian, or Pastor. If you're wondering what's gone wrong in evangelical churches today (maybe even your own church?) this book addresses it, and addresses the Biblical solutions to it. It's short (168 pages) but goes right to the heart of numerous issues within evangelicism, and addresses each of them thoroughly and Biblically.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Thank you, my fellow book junkies

Okay book junkies, listen up because I've got something you're going to love. If you've ever tried to come up with a legitimate justification for your love of books (and the money you spend on them!) - I've got one, and it's real. Warm fuzzies you may or may not experience as a result of reading this post, will vary.

As most of my readers here know, I'm an affiliate with CBD. In case you don't know who/what CBD is, go on over and take a look. In case you don't know what an affiliate is, essentially it's someone who promotes their books and if a sale occurs, said promoter earns a small percentage of the sale, as a way of saying thank you for promoting the products. I love CBD's selection, service & shipping rates, and I'm more than glad to promote them. We've been ordering from them for nearly 10 years now, and have never once been disappointed. That's a pretty decent track record to have, especially in our day of lousy customer service and fly-by-night outfits that promise the moon and don't deliver.

The vast majority of my actual sales come from Sovereign Grace Books, where I promote only the best of what CBD has to offer. Let's face it, they're a Christian bookseller, so they're going to carry some stuff I'd never recommend in a zillion years. Thankfully, they've also go some great stuff and that's what I like to promote. Maybe more buyers of the GOOD stuff, would get their attention? Just a thought.

Thanks to the frighteningly detailed stats offered through various site counters & site meters, I know that the majority of buyers of CBD books, buying through Sovereign Grace Books, come directly from this blog. That's pretty cool.

So here's the good part:

For the 4th quarter of 2006, enough people purchased books directly through links at SGBooks, that earned me (said promoter) exactly enough to order 2 textbooks, 2 test keys and 2 teacher's manuals, for Jessica's curriculum. All I had to pay out of pocket, was the shipping (which wasn't much at all). Not only did I have exactly enough, it came through at exactly the right time, since Jessica finished her last Science and English books, just before Christmas break. Not only that (yep, it just keeps getting better - and this is where the warm fuzzies come in), as a direct result of your love for good books, when Jessica's new Science book arrived, she ignored everything else and dove right into it, with the comment "oh, I LOVE my new Science book!". So your love for good books has enabled a 16 yr old girl to persue her love, for creation science. How incredibly cool is that?

Now, the next time someone makes a remark to you about the amount of books you have, or the money you've spent on them - just send them to this post and tell them it's truly and genuinely for a great cause.

I signed up with CBD several years ago, hoping that any income generated through the affiliate program would help us buy our homeschool books for these 900 kids we have. While homeschooling certainly isn't expensive, it's also not free. Since I don't work outside the home, this seemed to me, to be a good route. Normally, I don't make much at all through this avenue but I still promote the books because I think they're worth it.

So thank you, from a stay at home, homeschooling mom with 900 (or 5, either way) kids at home, to all my fellow book junkies, for helping us continue our homeschooling efforts with Biblically based books, like Jessica's science book. See below for a review of the book she's now adopted as her favorite for the year:

Biology: A Search for Order in Complexity, Student Text (Second Edition) Grades 10-12

By Christian Liberty Press


Give your students a solid understanding of God's creation with this updated and improved Biology Text. Full-color photos, illustrations and charts throughout clearly display concepts discussed and help with visualization of terms and processes. From the scientific method to biochemistry to body systems and biogeography, each chapter looks at how God's plan and purposes are evidenced in creation. Scientifically accurate and true to a 6-day/young-earth creationism, Biology provides a scientific education that acknowledges God's role throughout. Review questions and suggestions for advanced study are included. Grades 9-12. 418 pages, hardcover, 2nd edition.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

For Rebecca

Yet another prayer need brought to my attention this afternoon, concerning the good friend (and baby of the friend) of the daughter, of Rebecca. Please go over and read the details and join us in prayer for this family as well.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

For Libbie

For those of you that don't read TeamPyro (I realize there might be someone that reads here that doesn't read there), there's a prayer request posted that I want to let you all know about.

Fellow convivial-blogger-sister Libbie, has been hospitalized after a fall.

:-(

Her husband sent this email to Phil at TeamPyro:

They have transferred her to [a hospital about 30 miles away] since if she was to have the baby now it would need to be in a special baby care unit which we do not have in [our town]. Today I will be travelling to see her and I will update you and the blog later. Libbie was having contractions as a result of the fall but they seem to have resided and so the likelihood of the little one coming in the next few days is slim I would guess. Please continue in your prayers for Libbie, the baby and [our three daughters, ages 5, 2, and 1]—and also me! I need God's help too. Be thankful that I was at home yesterday when this happened. I have no other explanation as to why I was there other than He was directing my steps (I was intending to be at work but did not go in).We have been holding on to the promises of scripture that His grace is sufficient all the way through this pregnancy and if God has no other purpose for me than to show me that through all this, then I have received a rich and wonderful teaching from the Word.

You can check the comment-thread at Libbie's blog for updates on her condition.

Join me in praying for Libbie, and her family.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

For the love of a good book

Here's a go figure:

Very early on in my homeschooling endeavor, I had a conversation with someone who thought it was a really good idea to introduce computer usage in homeschooling curriculum, to very young kids - 5 and 6 yrs old. I hadn't really thought about it up to that point, and my kids weren't using the computer anyway so it wasn't something that had any reason to come up yet.

The more I thought about it though, the more it didn't sound like such a great idea. Not that I don't find the pc a handy tool (it is) and not that I don't love having access to the world's biggest library (hello, can you say information junkie?). Both of those things are good and beneficial resources for kids and adults alike.

But the more I thought about it, the more it just seemed like a really bad idea, especially for younger kids.

- If they're busy learning how to use a keyboard, how will that affect their handwriting skills?
- If they're introduced to these glaring screens at such a young age, will it affect their eyes?
- If they become used to researching online, will they ever crack open an encyclopedia or dictionary - or even know how to use one?

Those were just some of the initial thoughts I had. When you're a little kid learning all of these things for the first time, consistancy is key, and throwing in alternative resources only serves to distract from the goal, rather than help it. So my conclusion was pretty basic:

Once they had learned the basics (reading, handwriting, using resources in books off shelves, etc.) then maybe introducing the computer to them might not be such a bad thing. In our day of high tech everything, most kids will need to know at least the basics of computers & internet use, anyway.

However...

I'm beginning to take a second look at this. Over the last year or so I've read more and more reports that kids can't write to save their lives, and cursive handwriting is on a steep decline. Why learn cursive if you can just type everything?

More and more reports coming in that computer screens DO cause serious eye strain and are the direct cause (in many cases) of vision loss, headaches and perscription glasses. Let's not forget carpal tunnel & horrid back posture. I suppose with advancing technology that might change. I can only hope so.

And now, according to The Washington Post:

Conventional wisdom has it that teenagers don't read because they're too busy. Only after high school, sometime midway through college, do young adults reconnect with their childhood love of reading and make books their partners for life. I don't think so anymore. The 2004 Reading at Risk report by the National Endowment for the Arts concluded that literary reading was in serious decline on all fronts, especially among the youngest adults, ages 18 to 24, whose rate of decrease was 55 percent greater than that of the total adult population.

Albert Mohler adds:

Other reports indicate similar patterns. Young people are adept at using the Internet and they are avid consumers and users of electronic media in all forms. They will watch a DVD rather than read a book -- even the book upon which the film is based.

This certainly leaves me with much to reconsider about this whole issue of kids & computers. While it is certainly a responsible parent that teaches kids how to use a computer, and use it sparingly, it's still somewhat disturbing to read the stats for young adults that simply do not read.

I don't know... I said several years ago there's something just not right about young kids and computers. I think this homeschooling mother's intuition just might have been pointing me in the right direction: toward the book shelf.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Little of this, and a pinch of that

When I was a little girl and I'd get the flu, or one of those other childhood illnesses that to this day prevent me from drinking 7-UP, I used to get this feeling that wasn't inside of myself. In a sense, it would feel like I was next to myself, or behind myself. That's the way I tried to describe it when I was little. I know, I know... it didn't make sense then either. Mom would look at me with that mom-look that basically means "you make no sense, child". It's that one-eyebrow-arched-head-cocked-to-the-side, manuever. You moms (and dads too) know what I mean.

Then, the first time I recall hearing someone say "I was just beside myself!" I clearly remember thinking "YES, someone else knows what I mean, finally!" I'm not exactly sure where that saying really came from, or why, but I'm going to tell myself it came from someone who had the flu and couldn't figure out a way to describe how they felt outside of themselves - lest folks think they had finally snapped, and find themselves locked up at the Happy Basket Farm, chatting with trees and wearing clothes without zippers.

In any event, this is how I've been feeling off and on since Sunday morning. I went to church anyway (and hope I didn't give it to anyone!) because I hate missing church. We even did school yesterday and today, although today was cut short because I felt like a bus filled with Elvis-obsessed, screaming fans on a tour to Graceland had run back and forth over my throat, and then ran over my head. Bible, phonics and reading aloud from a children's detective story. The kids loved it, and I'll admit it sounds like the beginning of a pretty good story. There's even a pesky 6 yr old brother in the story, so the girls got a kick out of that. I asked if they knew anyone with a pesky 6 yr old brother and while the girls nodded, Samuel piped up "hey, I'm 6 and I'm THEIR brother!" He was so proud of himself for making that connection . Academically, he's a whip. He just didn't get the point behind the whole "pesky" thing.

I've been working on our church's website and the evidence of my lack of clarity/brain cells functioning properly was made obvious to me when my friend proofread the work so far, and found mistakes so fast I couldn't keep up with her. I was glad she has such a sharp editors eye, as I was able to fix the boo-boos before the site technically goes live. Wouldn't want to give anyone the impression that English at our church isn't our first language.

I wanted to write yesterday about it being my oldest daughter's birthday. A Baby Story - 1983, if you will. The more I thought about it the more I remembered coming home from the hospital without her the following day, and just crying my eyes out. The way I saw it, those people at that hospital might be trained to take care of other people's kids, but they weren't my baby's mother, and she needed to be home with me. I went home and I held her teenie-tiny little clothes, and cried. She had some sort of irregular breathing that they wanted to monitor, so they were going to keep her an extra day, but sent me home. As it turned out, it was nothing at all and she was fine - but that whole going home thing without my beautiful baby muffin-pie, was not the way it was supposed to work!

I think (if memory serves) I slept for a while, then went straight back to the hospital to make sure those alleged-nurse-people were taking proper care of my baby. It wasn't until the next day, January 24, 1983, that I was allowed to take the cutest baby girl in the entire universe, home with me. Of course it was then that she cried at all the wrong times, threw up in my hair and all that other good reality stuff that newborns do, and the seriousness of being a mommy kicked into full gear. Baby harf or not, that little ball of pink had my heart. Having her, changed something in me almost overnight.

I can say without question that after 24 years of doing this mother thing, I've made a ton of mistakes. Only a phoney-baloney would ever pretend otherwise. I can also say that after 24 years of this mother thing, and having 6 more since that day, that each one of my kids is an absolute blessing from God. I never dreamed it were possible to split your heart into so many pieces and have each piece of it walking around in another person. There is something about my kids that makes me want to grab them and hold them close to me, at any given time. Even when they're getting on my last nerve (which they've taken courses in, and have all passed at the top of their class). Only Ruth still lets me do that, though. Maybe there's a potion I can give her to keep her small? I tried to trick Caryn once and tell her she wasn't allowed to get any bigger after the age of 4, but she didn't believe me, and just grew right on up. She's got some nerve, eh?

Caryn may be 24, but she is still my baby girl, tootie-fruitie muffin-cake. She told me tonight that she's not getting any younger. Something about her saying that made me twinge a little inside, and I'm not really sure why. I guess it means I'm really not getting any younger either, even though I really hadn't thought about it that way before.

Well, I'm rambling... but I wanted to write tonight about that.

Thanks for coming out. Now, where are those fondue recipes? I see a few of you were all over it right off the bat - but SURELY there are more of you with Grandma's favorite fondue recipe in a box somewhere? Okay, maybe not. Oh well, thanks for the ones you did submit, I sure appreciate it.

Kim (of Kim and Buggy fame) is sick with (likely) the same thing I have, so our pizza/gossip/fellowship/fondue shindig for Friday has been postponed, so we wont being doing and fonduing this week anyway.

And with that... I'm out. The tour bus has returned and I think it caught fire in my throat.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Well pfft.

I have numerous things I'd like to write about, and numerous tasks & projects to work on, offline right now. I also have a shortage of hours in the day and a shortage of energy and I can't seem to get to all of them.

Somehow I think I also swallowed a giant wool sock, and it got stuck in my throat.

I do not recommend it.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Sarcastic Christians?

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately.

I have someone close to me that doesn't ever seem to know when to cut the sarcasm and just have a normal conversation. Sometimes the sarcasm is funny, but this character has about as much comedic timing as the Pope is a Baptist.

So I really wonder, how much is too much? Are there certain topics where sarcasm should just never enter into the conversation? Is sarcasm really just a subtle form of condescencion? i.e. "you're a moron, so I'm going to speak down to you in a somewhat humorous, witty fashion and we'll all have a big laugh at your expense".

I grew up around some very witty people. Generally speaking, sarcasm wasn't used to make someone feel like a dummy, it was just the way most of my family members spoke (and still do). Kev's family is the same way, so I really feel right at home around them. The kinds of conversations we have are never malicious in trying to really "zing" the other person or anything like that, it's just good natured poking fun at ourselves and others. I mean really, when you think about it, people do and say some pretty funny things, at times. (if you need an example, read back a few days about the thumb-tack stuck in the bottom of my slipper). Another great example is the classic "where are my glasses!?" from the person ranting and raving, tearing the house apart for their specs, only to find they were located on top of their head, the whole time.

In our family we have a type of unspoken motto:

"You line 'em up, we'll mow 'em down"

In other words, if someone says or does something we all find funny, you can bet several of us will attempt to outdo each other in the witty remark department. I think that's more of a competative thing we all have with each other, more than anything else. It's just the way it works here, and it's actually pretty funny. Like the time I said to Kev's dad "okay, we'll see you in 3 days" and for some reason held up 4 fingers. At least 5 or 6 family members were all over that in a heartbeat. Or like last night when Kev was telling my mom happy birthday over the phone and he said "how are you". For some reason he sounded like a person just learning English, and it just sounded so funny I had to repeat it exactly the way he said it (okay maybe I embellished when I repeated it, just a wee bit for affect). All three of us laughed, because it was just so funny sounding.

I wonder now if what that form of conversation is really called, since according to the book, it surely can't be sarcasm.

If you look up the word sarcasm here are the words used to define it:

bitterness, scorn, mockery, ridicule, derision, taunting, sneering, cutting, contempt

Not very encouraging is it?

This particular definition from The American Heritage Dictionary really bothered me:

"A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule."

So, I have to wonder if when we use sarcasm as a response, we're really trying to cover something up? Maybe we really DO want to be snotty toward the person we're addressing, but we don't want to be outwardly guilty of doing that so we dress it up a little with some sort of witty sarcasm?

As you can see, I'm rambling. I'm sick today, and just brought in 4 loads of wood, after using the ax to dig it out of the snow covered wood pile. So yes, I'm whining & not all that clear-headed today.

I'd like to read your thoughts on sarcasm though. Is it ever good? Is it supposed to make people feel stupid or like they're being laughed at? Are we as Christians supposed to speak like that to anyone? Ever?

Feel free to share your wisdom on this one. I'm pretty sure it's important.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Croakish

It's a good thing this isn't an audio blog, or this entry would sound like a cross between Brenda Vacarro with a cold, and Froggy from Our Gang.

In other words, what Kim said. It's going to be a long day.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Politics Schmolitics

Once upon a time, yours truly was heavily involved in politics. When I say heavily, I mean flying across country to do talk show circuits, being up at strange hours to do live or recorded radio interviews, and owning an address book with names & addresses of some of the most influential conservative politicians, journalists & law enforcement agencies all across the US & Canada.

Getting phone calls from friends, family & complete strangers saying things like "um, was that you on CNN?" were normal. (Yes, it was me). Getting phone calls from "famous" people was also normal. Although it sure did seem surreal, at best.

For various reasons, folks thought I was a good rep for the average American citizen that cared about her kids, her family, community and country. In a very strange way, it was because I was a nobody, that I (for a very short time) became a face and a voice for Average Jane American Mom.

It's funny now to think about that life because it really does feel like I'm talking about someone else, instead of myself. I suppose in many ways I am, because even though I considered myself a "conservative" and probably if asked, a "Christian", I wasn't saved (at first). I did what I did believing in the political system our country (yes, I am an American! lol) was built on, and that every vote matters. (And yes, I hated the attention but I was so focused on my agenda, I guess I just didn't let it affect me too much, except the time I saw myself on CNN and realized my shirt was ill-fitting. That was bad, very bad).

Well, I had a hard & fast course in the way the political system really works, and by 1996 I bailed out of my politically active life, real quick. I'm no good at playing petty politics and juggling alliances, let alone running with the big dogs and playing the game for real. In many ways, it just reminded me of junior high where so many kids lied at the drop of a hat, you were never sure you could believe anyone. However, I still believe our votes do count, and do matter. The political process I was personally involved in was the catalyst that has actually changed the federal communications laws (US and Canadian both) so that bad guys on the internet now have a whole lot more to worry about when they engage in electronic crimes. I'm glad I was able to be a part of that & don't regret the efforts I went to, to see it happen.

But all that was a trillion years ago, and I don't get involved in politics anymore. The Lord put a housefull of kids in my house and burdened my heart for homeschooling, and that's a full time position I'm grateful to have.

Although...

When I read the news yesterday, I felt sick. Here is my response. I have a hunch there are millions of Americans that feel exactly the same way I do, about this utter nonsense.

While I may not be flying around the country anymore to gain public support for a much needed bill & re-written laws to protect citizens - I sure can enable YOU to spread the message from sea to shining sea.

So stand up and be counted! There's a lot at stake here, and our voices really do matter, in more ways than one.

Oh... and one more thought:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Due Ewe Fondue?

In keeping with Rebecca's January List Month, here's a fun way to contribute!

Okay, first of all, I honestly had no idea fondue parties (or fondue pots, for that matter) made it out of the early 70's. That is, until I moved to Canada. Apparently, fondue is still a huge deal here. Cheese fondue, chocolate fondue - and if there's another kind, I am not aware of it.

At any rate, for Christmas Kev's sister bought us this really nifty chocolate fondue kit. I've never used (never even seen one) a fondue kit, so I thought this was pretty neat-o. Groovy, even.

But here's the problem:

It didn't come with any kind of recipe book or suggestions (other than the pictures on the box) and so I guess the manufacturers just figure if you're buying one, you best know what to do with it!

I mentioned this to Kim yesterday, and since her and Buggy are coming for pizza and blogosphere gossip fellowship next week, I wondered if she would like me to bring out the fondue dealie. Of course, Kim is a genuine Canadian and said YES, and even gave me a recipe and suggestions for various items for dipping. Her recipe sounds amazingly yummy.

I got to thinking this morning though, and I wondered if anyone else has an amazing fondue recipe? That, or some really tasty items for dipping, that most folks might not think of? Or... if you're like me and didn't even know fondue pots survived the go-go boots & polyester leisure suit era of the early 70's?

It would be easier than falling off a log (who does that, anyway?) to google up some fine fondue ideas, but I don't want anonymous google people's ideas - I want yours. So, fire away!

:-)

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Store news...

Just a reminder - the Happy New Year Giveaway at the store, officially closes at midnight tonight. Winner will be selected by random drawing sometime tomorrow (likely after church) and notified via email.

So... if you'd like to enter your name to win, this is the last day for that. Oh, and did I mention the actual goodies you get to pick from?

• Sweatshirts: over 75 different styles to choose from, in either white or ash gray!

• Dark T's: with over 70 different styles, and 4 dark colors to choose from (dark red, military green, navy blue or basic black), you're sure to find your favorite here!

Kids Hoodies: Kids love these! Over 50 styles for boys and girls, our kids hoodie comes in ash gray, in sizes small (6-8), medium (10-12) and large (14-16)

This is our little way of saying thank you to all the shoppers at Reflections. If it weren't for you, we couldn't do this - so we'd like to give back at least a little & give someone a freebie!

And in other store news...

Be watching the newsletter (either email for subscribers or the web version) for these announcements:

• New merchandise in great new colors! (Coming very soon)

• Brand new designs

• Our next giveaway (we're thinking Mother's Day!)

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Friday BlogFodder 01/19

Well kids, if it's Friday it must mean it's time for Friday Blog Fodder. Sure I've shirked for a couple of weeks, but who's counting? Here's what caught my attention this week:

• Denise reports a love fest at the Crystal Cathedral. You'd have to read it to believe it. Even then I'm not sure you will, or will even want to.

• David's got a new toy - and apparently so do a few others, since his posting. I may or may not get it too, it's kinda nifty.

• Brian posts Phil Johnson's interview with Pastor John MacArthur on the doctrine of election.

• Kim talks about something that someone didn't want her to talk about.

• JD nails emotions to the wall.

• Get ready for summer, in one of these. (Tim Challies mentioned this one as well)

• Take a Sermon Hearing Test, over at fide-o.

• Don't even click this, if you've just eaten. Or if you haven't eaten yet. Or if you've considered eating at all, in the next week.

• Joel posts the testimony of a brother who's come out of the ECM.

There were more topics & blogs that had my attention this week, but time (and good sense) prevents me from listing more than these right now.

Have a great Friday!

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Your legacy - what matters most?

You know, it's often interesting how you can have parallel conversations with numerous people, all at different times and the same topic comes up in each conversation. If that wasn't confusing enough, let me give an example:

• You're at church on Sunday and your friend mentions humility & you have a short discussion on it.
• Sunday night you get an email from a friend that mentions a book she's reading about humility.
• Monday morning you read a blog post about humility.

None of these people even know each other - yet this is the prevailing topic on their hearts. It's hard to miss the significance of this and to ignore how it applies to your own life might be a mistake. It's entirely possible this is the Lord's way of getting your attention onto this very topic.

This has been happening for me quite a bit lately with the subject of leaving your legacy & what matters most. What I mean by leaving a legacy is what others think of you after you're gone, based on who you are, how lived, how you treated others - while you were here. In essence, what testimony do we really have, while here?

Obviously (to me anyway) this has been a prevelant thought for me because I recently had to say goodbye to a fellow Christian brother. Many who knew him have gathered online to remember him, and share some thoughts & stories about his life and his testimony. Now while not everyone that knew him, would have good things to say about him - those that really did know him, and knew his heart (as much as you can really know someone else's heart), all seem to have the same memory of him: the gospel of Christ was his #1 passion and priority. That's a mighty fine legacy to leave, amen?

This subject has come up also via telephone conversations, email conversations, and in a smaller degree by reading blogs.

Over at Kim's this occured to me again as I read this:

"I don't aspire to ecclesastical heights; I just want to learn more. But there are people out there who are ambitious in Christian circles the way actors and musical artists are ambitious in worldly circles. I can't imagine myself sitting down one day and saying, "Hmmm... I want to be a famous Christian. How can I do that?" Don't people who become well-known for their preaching and writing have it happen as a matter of course?"

Over at TeamPyro it came to mind as I was looking over their blogroll and was once again sort of surprised to still see my name under the convivial category.

It came up again this morning as school was officially cancelled so that Kev and I could have a 3 hour impromptu discussion with our 16 year old on everything from Christian life, music unbecoming a Christian's witness, strict parents and open teenagers.

It's come up again in my thoughts as I seem to be reading more and more sarcastic mockery in the blogosphere that just hurts my feelings. None of it is actually directed to me personally I'm sure, but because it's being done in the first place, it hurts to see it. I couldn't help but think "do I do that? Should I do that? Does this please the Lord?". Now I sure don't say this to sound any kind of holier than thou, because we all know I'm not. I say it only because it convicts me when I see others do the very things I've done, and feel bad for it. The bottom line question for me on that aspect is simply 'do I want to be known for this?'. No way Jose, I assure you I do not want to be known for that - I want nothing to do with it.

So then, because it's come up so much for me (and maybe it's just me noticing it more because it's been more prevelant in my own thoughts - either way), the one thought I have is then this:

WHAT DO I WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR?

That's sort of a tricky question actually, because (for those that know me, and know me well) I really don't want to be "known" at all. I'm not comfortable being the center of attention, and that's going to be something I have to get over before we join our church as official members. Those doing so have to give a verbal testimony before the congregation, and I've been mentally preparing myself for that for the last couple of months. I love to talk about what the Lord has done in my life, I just don't like a lot of people LOOKING at me, when I do it. I've done public speaking things before - even did live television - and I can do it, I just don't like doing it.

So while I really don't have any aspirations to "be known", I already am known, by many people. My family, my church family, offline friends, online friends, blog readers and blog lurkers. That's not really a lot of people in the grand scheme of things, but it's enough for me to be concerned about the impression I not only give now, but the legacy I leave when I am gone.

We've all been to funerals where the deceased was a pure heathen and we hear people say grand and glorious things about them. Inwardly we're thinking "huh!?" but out of respect we don't say anything (anyway I hope we don't, or if we do, it's said with compassion and tact??). We've also been to funerals where the deceased really was a decent person who loved life, loved people, and served with a true servant's heart - and would probably be bothered to hear anyone going on and on about them. They'd probably rather hear people (if they could) going on and on about the grace of God in that person's life.

I'm sure that the reason I'm thinking about this lately is because of the recent passing of my friend Michael, and how folks have been talking about him since. The thing is, it really shouldn't take a death of a loved one to get us to think this way - this is the way we ought to be thinking every day. With every word that comes out of our mouths, every word we write, and every thought we think the criteria ought to be "does this minister grace and truth, or does this tear down?". I can say for me personally, that while I might have a passion for truth and hold the grace of God near and dear to my heart - I'm not always an example of either. I'm certainly not proud of that, but it's the truth and I'd be a phoney baloney to pretend it isn't.

The thing is, I know the legacy I want to leave, and I really want to be busy about leaving that legacy long before I'm gone. If I am known, and for those that I am known by, "convivial" is just the start of what I want to come to people's minds when they hear my name. If I am convivial I want it to be because it comes from a heart changed by grace. When I speak the truth I want it to come from a heart with compassion instead of frustration that someone doesn't 'get it'. When I joke around and sometimes get sarcastic I never want it to be at the expense of someone who will be offended or insulted by it.

To wrap this up? This is my hope, for the legacy I might leave, and be busy about it NOW:

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

It seems so simple, doesn't it?

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Potpourri

"Your new version of Blogger is ready!" Yeah, sure it is. Then how come every time I click the "switch now" link, it says:

"No dummy, it's ready for people without group blogs - you group bloggers just have to wait a bit longer until we get around to deeming you worthy of the new blogger format".

Okay, it doesn't really say it that way, but that's the way I read it. I'd like to switch for no other reason than to use categories, but it wont let me, just yet. ENo is a group blog and it's holding up the show over here. (Grumble, snort, grumble).

Anyway...

For those of you that haven't yet added Simply Great Deals to your favorites (and I'm sure you all have) I'm updating the page today (Lord willing) with MANY more merchants. I've purposely chosen online merchants that are a good mix of US & Canadian or at the very least (in most cases) ship to Canada. It's rough finding trusted merchants that DO ship to Canada, so I've intentionally searched for that aspect and have found quite a few for us folks that live here. If you're anything like me and really do hate shopping - this is your site.

In other news...

I've sure been blessed this week with stuff I've seen at various blogs. I'm looking forward to highlighting those in tomorrow's edition of Friday BlogFodder. Watch for that, and prepare to be blessed too!

:-)

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Store stuff, free stuff, 24 stuff

Something went hookie in the tech department of our newsletter subscription service for the store, so I'm going to post on that here. Since I'm just going to assume that the majority of our 390+ subscribers came from reading this blog - I'm going a step further and will assume you want to know what the newsletter says. The last two did not go out, so here's the latest:

THIS week:

In This Issue: Our Last Newsletter - TOP SELLER

Our Last Newsletter

We had a glitch in the system and last week's newsletter never made it out! Please be sure though to check the store's site right here, where the newsletter is updated each week. You don't want to miss the news in that newsletter!

• Our giveaway is still on - only 1 week left to get your entry in

• New products, and new partner shops you don't want to miss

Check it out right here.

TOP SELLER

Last week we reported:

Top Sellers this month: Wild Blue & Save the Hymnals!

Well, things have changed drastically since then!

In our Just for Fun shop we've got a brand new "24" design and it's quickly becoming our top seller.

Get yours right here.

--------------------

A few other things:

• The tech dept says they know about the glitch and they're working hard to clear that up. That's good news.
• The Happy New Year Giveaway (see link above) officially ends on the 21st, so if you want a free t-shirt, go enter. (Great timing for a Valentine's Day gift for someone else, if you don't want the T for yourself!)
• Without much mention at all, the brand new 24 design is selling like mad. Apparently, there are some genuine 24 fans out there that like this design. We're glad - and we'd love to hear from you (with pics!) if you're one of them.
• FREE shipping promo is on. Here's the fine print: January 15 – February 14, 2007 - Free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $50* (before tax and shipping) Coupon: VDAYSHIP - Use that coupon code at checkout, and shipping is free. Here's the finer print: Excludes Custom Postage. (Reflections doesn't offer custom postage anyway - yet) Only applies to orders with a United States shipping destination, totaling $50 or more before shipping. Cannot be combined with any other coupons or bulk order discounts. Valid through February 14, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. (PST)

And one last thing...

There are a few of our t-shirt designs that actually come as a result of suggestions of readers right here at this blog. Save the Hymnals was one of them (HT: Lisa), and this design is a top seller! Lots of you actually like Christian t-shirts, t-shirts & trinkets with witty sayings on them, and the like. If you have a suggestion for a t-shirt, please feel welcome to send your suggestion, and our panel of esteemed experts (Kev, myself, and the kids) will be glad to consider them for the store.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

brr

Today, I took my camera and ran away from home. Here's Baby Ruth waving to me as I was leaving. Just kidding, I took that yesterday.

I didn't really run away from home either, but I did take my camera with me on my way out the door to the grocery store. I like to take the back roads on the way home. I have a thing for dirt roads in the country. They're the road less travelled, and usually quiet and conducive to stopping and smelling the roses (or snowflakes, as it were).

As you all know, winter has finally arrived in Ontario Canada. There's a lot about winter that can make life miserable and even dangerous - no question about it. But there's also something about a frozen, silent landscape that really makes you pause for thought, and just admire God's creation.

I didn't take many pics (didn't get out of the van, it was too cold!) but the ones I took are here.

Related Tags: sovereign grace, baptist, the 5 solas, Christian homeschooling, Christian t-shirts and gifts

Home Sweet Home

This past week for me has been filled with some extreme situations that fall outside my normal routine. In part, as a result of that and in part because most of these situations have been highly charged/emotional types of things, the past week has sort of left me befuddled & unable to even express myself at times with much clarity. I've had numerous things cross my mind that I'd like to explore further by writing on them, but nothing really seems to stick long enough to be useful.

Until last night.

Our dear sister Kim over at The Upward Call managed to touch on something that hits so close to home. She does this a lot at her blog, and I'm so glad she does it, because it often says the very thing that I wanted to say.

I'm specifically referring to her post titled If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. To sum it up, she goes into detail about how the mood of the mother will set the tone for the whole house - in either blessed & peaceful ways - or destructive and discouraging ways. Don't take my word for it though, please do read it for yourself.

As I was reading her post I couldn't help but remember a conversation I had many years ago with someone who was telling me about his childhood, and how caustic his step-mom was to him and his sister. One of the things I recalled him saying was how she'd be busy saying mean things to them, threatening them and/or hitting them and then when the phone would ring and it would be one of her friends, her tone would instantaneously change to this bright and perky buddy. She'd be smiling and laughing with her friend on the phone, while just seconds prior she was scowling and being unusually cruel.

Her mood absolutely set the tone for that entire household. In that household, both the man I referred to and his sister left and set out on their own at 16 yrs old, and never went back. It took them both many many years to get past their painful childhood memories.

As I continued to read Kim's post, referring to the tone we set in the home, the next thing that stood out to me was this:

"Do we contribute to an environment that is peaceful, loving and nurturing?"

This question brought tears to my eyes, because I know what the tone in my home is like much of the time. It's not as if this is War Central or anything, but we do have a lot to deal with here, and striking a balance is not the easiest thing in the world to do. We have 7 people that live here, and 6 of us are home and interacting with each other more than we're away from each other. Figuring into this are a wide variety of temperment levels, personalities and so forth, and it's a literal juggling act to strike a balance between us all.

A practical application of this is when one of the kids is upset about something. Often, rather than simply explain themselves they react in less than stellar ways - generally towards one of the other kids. Then that kid reacts as well, and like a domino affect, the tone in the house begins a quick downhill slide. Due in part to all of us being at home during the day (except for Kev), this same scenario plays out multiple times a day. It's the easy road for me to respond with a reaction of my own of short temperedness and exasperration with the whole lot of them - but it's the smarter road to be gentle, patient, kind, and an example of grace to them all, and respond that way. That's the part that takes a great deal of work for me (at times) and a concerted effort and goal to strive toward.

Often by the end of the day I really do feel like I've put in a full day's work. I'm not complaining about it, as I believe this is my calling, but I'm convinced that this is this is an ongoing effort that must be made daily - and sometimes even moment by moment.

Not long ago I read something (and I honestly wish I could recall where it was I read this) that asked a point blank question:

"is your home a refuge, a loving place filled with peace?" I'm paraphrasing because I don't recall the exact wording, but that was the question. It's essentially the same question Kim posted at her blog. In all honesty my answer would be "sometimes it is, but often it is not". I don't like the latter part of that answer at all, so it is my goal and my prayer to be used of the Lord to do something about it.

If there is one thing I've learned over the years as I walk with Christ, is that we learn so much more when instead of reacting, we process what we hear and pause before we respond. Pray if need be, season our words with grace, compassion and truth. Now just because I know this to be true, doesn't mean I always follow through on it myself - to my own shame. Again, another matter for prayer for me to be continually transformed to be more like Him, and less like me.

Only then will my own answer to that question of the mood in my own home, be a consistant and grateful YES. That's the goal, by His grace.

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A recipe for you :-)

On Saturday we celebrated Rachel's 8th birthday. Normally I blog nostalgic when one of my babies has a birthday, but this past week was pretty overwhelming with so many other emotional issues, I never got to it.

Rachel spent Saturday celebrating, then Sunday in the ER. The Lord is so so good to us, and she is now on medication to treat her illness so we just hope and pray she'll be her own little convivial self, real soon.

As promised though, to more than a few who asked, here is the cake I made for her birthday:

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake

2 baked, round cake layers (I used french vanilla)
2 c. boiling water
1 sm. pkg. strawberry jello
frosting (I used chocolate fudge)
2 cups sliced strawberries

After cake layers are done baking, let cool completely on wire racks. Once cooled, pierce both layers with a fork at about 1/2 inch spaces. Stir the boiling water into the jello powder until completely dissolved. Pour completely over both cake layers and refridgerate at least 3 hours.

Dip one cake pan in warm water for about 10 seconds, then gently invert onto a cake plate. Lightly frost the bottom layer then add a layer of sliced strawberries.

Repeat the process with the second layer, omitting the layer of strawberries on the very top of the cake if you're going to write a birthday message there. If not, go wild and layer the rest of the strawberries on top!

Here's the finished product. I was going to write on the top of her cake but I completely forgot until JUST before it was time to cut it. Next time I make this I'll probably add the strawberries to the top.

You can easily experiment with this and use whipped topping instead of frosting (I use that exclusively for summer birthday cakes), any flavor of jello or fruit, plus any flavor cake mix.

It's a little more time consuming that just baking and frosting a cake, but it's SO amazingly yummy, it's worth it.

If you decide to make this and do experiment with different flavors, let me know how it turned out for you?

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Not driving in this storm, eh?

Funny how the Lord will sometimes make you eat your words. We just got home a little bit ago from the ER. Rachel has this brutal virus that so many others here in southern Ontario have, and hers just got a bit worse today.

She has double ear infections and a cough that wont quit. We got some meds for her but she's going to be out of sorts for a few days. It's been a weird weekend, to say the least.

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Just stuff

Here's something to make you laugh:

The other day, I noticed a poking sensation in my foot, while wearing my slippers. It wasn't anything significant or really painful at all, and it was only once in a while I felt it. I didn't really pay it much mind. Busy mom stuff & all that.

The next day I noticed it again, and briefly thought "I wonder if it's a tack?" Then thought "no, only a complete idiot could have a tack stick through the bottom of their slipper and not know it". So I took my slipper off and turned it over. Sure enough, a shiney gold tack, sticking through the bottom of my slipper.

So, that clears things right up for us, doesn't it?

Now this one isn't so funny:

I just let the dog out, and noticed it's raining ice. It's not freezing rain, and it's not snowing... it's raining ICE. You can hear it hitting the ground and the deck. It sounds like what you might think it would sound like, if you poured out tiny little pebbles on a wooden deck. So I checked the weather forecast and it had a big ole red warning box on the front page - screaming out MAJOR WINTER STORM WATCH! If they had audio on that page, it would be hollering.

This is our first major winter storm, and sure enough it's beginning on a Sunday morning and expected to get worse as the day progresses, snarling up tomorrow morning's commute. They say to expect 15 centimeters of mixed snow & ice accumulation by the time it's done. I drove in freezing rain once. ONCE. It was enough to age me 10 years (at least) and teach me to never ever ever get in a moving vehicle in freezing rain. Even if I were in labor with quintuplets.

I suspect a lot of southern Ontarians will be missing church today, and at the very least getting into work late, tomorrow. If I worked outside the home, I wouldn't be bothered too much by being late or missing work, but I sure don't like missing church. :-(

So, I think we'll pull up Dr. John MacArthur's "Hard to Believe". Folks say it's a great sermon.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

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It really is well

I'd like to take a few minutes, and tell you a little bit about my friend Michael.

I first met him in a Christian chat room, right about this time of year, about 6 years ago. Over the years, as you communicate electronically with fellow believers online (in very much the same way as us bloggers do) you get to know folks, and you forge friendships with them. Some of those friendships are closer than others, some are merely casual aquaintances, and others are the kinds of friends that become near and dear to your heart, and remain that way for life.

Last night I thought quite a bit about the last six years, and recalled quite a few things about my friend that I hadn't thought about in a long time. Like the time Michael's grandma died, and it just broke his heart clean in two. He just adored his grandma. Those that know Michael know that it didn't disrupt his masculinity one little bit, to put on his grandma's pink bathrobe and chat with his friends in the morning, with his coffee flavored with hazlenut cream. I know that might sound funny or odd to some folks, but it was just one of those little things we all do, to hold close the ones we love - no matter how goofy it might sound to others.

I thought about the time when baby Ruth was born, and how Michael was one of the first people to know about it, and get pictures. Michael and his dear momma Joanne loved to receive updated pictures of baby Ruth, and Michael declared her "the world's first non-depraved baby". Sure, he didn't have to get up at 3 am with her and change poopy diapers & get harfed on.

I thought also about the time we had this cat named Otis. Hands down, Otis was the embodiment of evil itself. Michael and I used to joke about sending Otis down to Texas for his cat Kitty to line him out. Michael was convinced Otis would be walking the line after just one day with Kitty.

I thought also about the time last summer when Michael called and Rachel answered the phone. She was just beside herself when she came running to me to tell me a "real live cowboy is on the phone!" She'd never spoken to him before on the phone, she'd only heard him speak in voice chat (from the time she was about 2 years old). Folks sound a little different on the phone than they do in voice chat, so she didn't recognize the telephone cowboy.

I thought also about that stupid stuffed Tazmanian Devil that I bought for him for his birthday 2 years ago, and completely forgot to send to him. We agreed that when I sent back his David Wells book that he loaned to me, that I'd stuff Taz in the box. I never got around to sending the book back, as he was in no hurry to have it (he'd already devoured it) and I'm a horrible procrastinator.

Back in the day when I still had my own voice chat, Michael was among the many brothers and sisters that helped me keep it open as much as possible, and to keep the peace. Together with brothers Joey and Paddy seen here, we had a great team of sheriffs & deputies, keeping folks in line and the streets cleared of heretics & gamers. This picture was on the admin guidelines link for the voice chat, for quite some time.

I could sit here quite easily for the next several hours and recall quite a bit of history with Michael. Truth be told, it hasn't been all good - just like any friendship. We've had a few rocky times, and we sure didn't agree on everything 100%. Michael was gracious enough to inform me that it was okay for me to be wrong, he'd still be my friend. The beautiful thing about this is though, is that we found a way to disagree respectfully and remain friends - like real friends should.

The more I write, the harder this gets. I suppose you've already guessed by now, that my brother, my friend and my fellow Baptist 5 pointer that hated being called a Calvinist (and made no bones about telling you why - and could quote the Scripture and church history faster than just about anyone I've ever known), has gone home to be with our precious Lord.

Michael leaves behind a group of people that knew him well, and loved him a great deal. Everyone that knew him either really really loved him, or really really didn't. He was that kind of person, and I stand among those grateful that I got to know him, and spend time being part of his life, and that he was part of mine (and my family's as well).

As Michael's friends and family begin today grieving that he's gone, Michael begins day 1 of eternity with Jesus. It is so true (words cannot express how true this is) that our grief is not like that of the world. We truly do rejoice, knowing where he is. While we will sure miss him, we're so happy for him, all at the same time.

The gospel that we proclaim, the Jesus that we talk about, the doctrines we sometimes wrestle with and even argue about - it all matters! It matters because last night when Michael went to sleep, and then woke up in Glory - he did so because by God's grace alone, through faith alone, he placed his trust in Christ alone - and it's all for the glory of God alone. Michael was also the first person to tell you that this truth will be found in the Scriptures alone, and this is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion man can come up with.

Michael gave the appearance to some, as being a gruff, grumbly ignorant old coot. He laughed about that because it's not who Michael was at all. Michael had a tender heart for God that blessed everyone that took the time to get to know him. Quite often we'd play or sing hymns together in our voice chats (Michael had his own room too for quite a while), and the one that moved Michael the most, was It Is Well. One of his fellow church members shared last night that when this hymn was sung at church, Michael would always sing with tears streaming down his face.

Today we celebrate Rachel's 8th birthday. It will be sort of strange to have a party on this day, but as we celebrate her birth and the day she came into our lives - Kev and I and everyone else that knew Michael and loved him dearly, will also be having a bittersweet rejoicing that the brother we love, is now cancer free and experiencing joy unspeakable, forever.

I wont say goodbye to Michael, I will simply say "I will see you again, brother". Until that day:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Courtesy cyberhymnal.org

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Saying goodbye

This morning, January 12, 2007...

People are headed off to work or school, or running errands. Some are huddled on couches nursing a cold, some are doing laundry or taking their car to the mechanic. Some are embroiled in the latest news story, or blog-controversy. Every day life, every day stuff. For me, time has slowed to a painful crawl, and the every day routine that would normally consume my thoughts is something that's "over there" somewhere in the distance, pestering me to resume it.

Me? I'm preparing my head and my heart for the news that one of my closest and dearest friends, has gone to be with Jesus. I'm being very selfish and not wanting to say goodbye. I'm not ready. I don't think you can ever be ready, no matter how much prior warning you have.

Death hurts, and it hurts more than anything else. I want to say so much more, but I can't. Not yet. I can hardly type this much as it is.

So with a lump in my throat that will not go away, and at the verge of tears I will do my best to answer the knock of "every day life" and do what I need to do today, while I wait for the news. At which point I will be of no use to anyone, for a time.

Please pray today, should the Lord bring this situation to your heart? Another dear friend advised last night that I immerse myself in the Psalms. Beautiful advice, and that's exactly where I'm headed.

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This matters more than anything else

Have you ever had a heart so heavy, that you just wish it would either break in two already and let it be done with, or that some good news would lift the burden completely? Have you ever been so overcome with emotional pain that no matter how hard you try to put it aside and focus on menial tasks at hand, you know you're about to break down in tears at any moment? Have you ever been in that situation where you know at any moment the bad news is coming, and at that point, you will indeed lose your composure... the tears will flow, the heart will break, and your only consolotion in this world, will be the grace of God.

I know many reading this know this kind of pain & grief all too well, and might have even recently experienced it themselves.

Over the last couple of days I've had ample opportunity to discuss the gospel message with fellow believers. Without question, every single person I've discussed this with agrees that the Biblical gospel is not just important, but critically and eternally important. There is and cannot be any edit room, anything left out, anything added. This is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation. This is the gospel that must be faithfully declared from the lips of every believer.

I could list all the Biblical reasons why (cite book, chapter and verse, I mean) but instead of doing that I want to simply ask for prayer for a dear sibling in Christ. For various reasons that I am not at liberty to go into, I cannot even identify this sibling in any way. I can tell you however, that they (and the family) are in dire need of your prayers right this very moment.

I will tell you that one of the reasons why the gospel matters, a true and accurate proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, is because when the bad news comes - the news of the disease, or the car accident, or the shooting, or the prognosis, or the fall - whatever it may be, the only consolation you will have at all, is the gratefulness you feel deep in your heart that even though you're about to lose someone very special in this world, you know where they are going.

You know that in a very short time, they will see our Lord Jesus face to face, and finally after all the years they themselves faithfully proclaimed Him to others, they will hear Him welcoming them into His eternal rest. You know that they will finally be home, and for all eternity they will be filled with great joy in praising our Savior.

You know this, and you find comfort in this because somewhere along the way, beautiful were the feet of someone who was faithful to His word, and proclaimed to them the only words that a man can ever speak, that have the power to change hearts. The death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for sinners. Someone told them this, by His grace they believed and confessed Him as Lord, and from that moment on in the center of their heart they desired nothing more but to live and breathe to glorify His holy name.

This is the gospel that matters, because as a result of it, when that special person in your life takes their very last breath in this world, they enter Glory, and you knowing that this is where they are, will be your only comfort and assurance.

This was all written through tears, so if it's choppy and doesn't make much sense, that's why. An accurate, Biblical gospel is the most important thing you or I will ever speak, or ever write. We can't mess it up. We can't change it, make it less offensive, dodge the hard parts, or magnify one of God's attributes above another, to make anyone feel better about their lives.

To say just how much it matters, is beyond my ability to find words for.

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The Video & My Thoughts

Well, after a lengthy upgrade to software that hadn't been updated since the HD crash, and after waiting forever for it to load, I finally had a chance this morning to watch the video that has caused such unfortunate controversy and side-taking. I'm not going to link to any of it, I'll just presume you know what I mean, and leave it at that.

Before I even get to the content of the video, I do want to make an important mention of something that always seems to come up against "Calvinists" whenever one of us 5 pointers takes exception to something be promoted as "Christian". We seem to have a reputation of being skeptical, or critical, and at the same time being less evangelistic than our non-reformed brothers & sisters. I honestly don't know if the latter is true, since in my subjective experience, every Calvinist I've ever known is overjoyed to share the gospel with everyone around him, and takes every opportunity (or creates them) to do so. So the less evangelistic part of the stereotype certainly doesn't apply to any Calvinists I know. However, I am sure that they exist, somewhere, right alongside the less than evangelistic non-reformed believers.

The critical or skeptical part however does apply, and I believe there's a very good reason for that. To me it's simply a matter of weighing every message, every book, tape, sermon, teaching, etc., against the written word of God. See, we don't just proclaim Sola Scriptura, we don't just write about it and talk about it, we genuinely believe it and believe it to be an integral part of our faith. To us, literally being a Berean is something we take very seriously, and should take very seriously in this age of isms where any kind of nutcase teaching is lumped into "Christianity". If you're not a Berean, you'd better ask yourself why.

To better understand what I mean when I say that, what I am saying is that if it (the message, in whatever form it takes) does not line up with Scripture, or deviates (or worse, contradicts Scripture) in any form, from the written word, then it (the message) is not what the Bible actually says, and will lead us into false teaching. This is not something to take lightly, at all. This is something that we need to be paying very close attention to and not shine it on like it's an acceptable thing to do because "well, God knows our hearts, He knows we love Him". Yes, God does know our hearts, and because He is gracious and merciful and our wonderful provider, He has been pleased to make sure we have a Bible, in our own language, that we can read and study daily to learn what He expects from us, and how we are to proclaim His message of hope to a lost and dying world.

Another thing that flows from the accusation that Calvinists are overly-critical, is the idea that if we ever find something amiss in a message or method of someone else, then it is presumed that we're sitting on our Lazy-Boys being armchair theologians and not actually doing anything to promote the gospel of Jesus.

"Rather than sit around being so critical, why aren't you out there doing this, that or the other?!"

This is a rather silly accusation, on several levels. First, the reason for the critique is lost in favor of the controversy that the critique happened in the first place. The focus is immediately shifted from the issue at hand, and placed on the person who raised the issue. Dodge & weave. It's almost impossible at that point to direct the focus back to the issue because let's be honest, people LIKE controversy.

Another reason this accusation is silly, is simply because the ones usually making it have absolutely no idea what kind of evangelistic efforts others are involved in. They simply assume the the critical person isn't doing all they can do, and once again using a dodge and weave tactic. No longer is the reason for the critique the focus, but the person's supposed lack of evangelistic efforts is under question.

Thirdly, this is an accusation that you simply cannot answer. If you say nothing, passive admittance of your guilt as a lazy evangelical is implied. If you make any effort to defend yourself against such an accusation and try to explain what areas of evangelistic ministry you are involved in, you're accused of boasting in your efforts. It's a impossible situation, brought on by an accusation that diverts the focus off the original issue, which usually gets lost in all the controversy.

Now, as to this video. I'm not about to say anything that hasn't already been said, so don't expect any kind of bombshell review here. In a word, I was disappointed - and hoped for so much more. Yes, the scenery and the music and the passion were all there, as noted by others who've watched it. Very emotional plea, and I'm sure that was also by design.

In the 15 minutes that these folks had to create this piece of film, the gospel of Christ could have been presented, and I don't believe it was. I have been fortunate to hear the gospel preached in 30 seconds or less at times, surely the producers of this film could have found a way to proclaim the death (and why), burial and resurrection (and why this is crucial) of our Lord, in 15 minutes of film.

The one thing that stood out in this video to me was the idea that God is begging people to come to Him. The only time I have ever heard anyone say that God begs for anyone to do anything, is when I was in a 100% Arminian church. God doesn't beg anyone to do anything, He commands all men everywhere to repent.

It was my goal to try and watch this video with the mindset I had when I was a non-believer. Also, because I am a woman, and more easily prone to giving into emotion - I tried to recall how as an unbelieving, emotional woman that constantly asked herself "what is my purpose in this life???" I would have received this message. Well, I know how I received it, because it was very similar to the ones I heard, before I was actually converted. It was emotional, and appealed to my emotions. It didn't make me feel like a guilty sinner in need of a Savior, it didn't expose my sin to me and cause me to feel sick, or that His forgiveness and mercy was what I critically needed, right then, right there.

This was the kind of message that made me feel (contrary to what Pastor Chan said in the video) like I wasn't really that bad, and that God loved me and didn't want to punish me, no matter what I did. It was as if it was an "out" of sorts, an excuse that I could keep living the way I was, and God would still love me. And that is exactly what I did.

There are brothers and sisters out there in our little Christian blogging community that have seen this video and really liked it, and have asked me to watch it. With all due respect and Christian love, I simply disagree with them, that it was a good and useful gospel presentation. We can do better. Much better.

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4 more days, kids :-)

not that I actually like this show, or watch this show... or anything...

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The Grrrs have it

Well haloscan is messed up for me and I don't know how to fix it. I'm going to assume it's a bug on their end and they're still working on it. Until it's fixed, the 'recent comments' over in the sidebar are not going to show up. Nor can I log in to do any administration tasks behind the scenes. Grrr... technology.

It's funny, two friends recently asked me what program I use to create my graphics for the store, and when I told them they both had fits and insisted I get Photoshop. Yeah, like that's going to happen on a budget that demands store brand products over name brand, due to cost. So, both of them sent me GIMP on cd. I got one last week, one this week. I installed it, and opened it up, and realized I have no idea how to use the dumb thing. All I want to do is open a BLANK canvas and create - but it wont let me do it the way I want to do it. I tell it I want the text centered - is it centered? NO it is not centered. I try to move it - will it let me move it? NO it will not let me move the text to another area on the canvas. I've decided I do not like GIMP, but that's only after less than 2 hours of fiddling with it. I might like it later, or I might dislike it even more. Grrr... technology.

Blogger was sporadically down yesterday, and while I had a really long post in mind I wasn't about to start it only to find I wasn't able to post it. Then, as the day progressed I got so busy and had second thoughts about writing it anyway. Grrr... yay... technology.

I have 2 friends who are in a rather important disagreement over an issue and I don't like it when friends disagree. If it's over trivial things that don't matter in the long run anyway, then it's fine and not really anything to fret over. But when it's over something monumentally huge and of eternal significance, THEN it's something to be troubled over. Grrr... disagreements.

Other than the above venting & lamenting, I don't have much to say this morning.

:-/

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Thinking outloud on a Monday night and looking so forward to next week at this time when part 2 of the season premier of "24" is on...

How's that for a decisive blog post title? And for my fellow 24 fans, these items are flying off the shelves, I assume in anticipation of next weekend. Just fyi - the profits from this store go straight toward books & supplies for our homeschool - so I do appreciate your patronage & hope your 24 t-shirts & mugs are working out quite well for you. :-) I have this one and I love it.

Speaking of school, it was back to school today after 3 weeks off, and it turned out real well. We got a bit of a late start, but once we got on schedule it went smooth as glass. :-) I love schedules, they keep me from turning into one of those spooky people that wear jammies all day and immerse themselves in their art, hobby or what have you - living on coffee and junk food.

Now, I have a lot on my mind so this is yet another mish-mash of various and sundry (a phrase stolen from this guy who says it all the time) topics.

Jesus Wept - I sure appreciate all the insight & feedback on that one. It's given me even more to think about and I like that.

Blog commenting & emails - I have determined (for several reasons) that I am going to combat the procrastination monster that resides within me, and make a huge change here. I am going to make a concerted effort to comment more on other people's blogs even if it's just to say thank you, fer cryin' out loud, some folks put A LOT of work into their posts and the least we readers can do is post 2 words to let them know it meant something to us. Right? I'm also going to try much harder to stay up to date on my emails. I'm a bad emailer, and I do apologize for getting behind on that, I promise it's not personal (unless you're a mean person who sent a nasty email, then it's personal and don't expect a response from me).

I had something else to post about but it's going to be long so I'll leave that for another time.

Oh, and I've added more partner merchants to the Simply Great Deals shopping portal, so now there are roughly 115 shops to choose from.

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Jesus Wept

For our family devotional time, we've been going through the gospel of John. We take turns reading sections and then we stop and discuss what we've read. It's a very good way to get the younger kids into the Scriptures, and also a great way for us older ones to be reminded of what we already knew was there. I think I could read through John at least 500 more times before I die, and I'll never tire of the message.

Something stood out to me in the text that I've never noticed before, and I wonder what others might think.

The other night, we read through chapter 11 when Lazarus became ill, died and was raised again. When Jesus first heard that Lazarus was sick, He said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:4 - emphasis mine, as this is what stood out to me).

Then later, it seems like there are 3 specific instances where Jesus was trying to explain something that those hearing, just did not get.

First, in v.8-16. Jesus explained that Lazarus was dead, and that He would raise him up again - but the disciples didn't get it. When Jesus said He would raise Lazarus from his sleep, they thought He literally meant sleep, so He had to say no, Lazarus is dead.

Then in v.21-27 Jesus told Mary that her brother would rise again, and she believed Him to be speaking of the resurrection at the last day.

Again in v.39-40 Jesus answers Martha's doubts ("Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days") by correcting her and saying "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (go back to v.4 again to see what He said about Lazarus' illness)

Twice in this same context, it says of Jesus:

• he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled (v.33) (when Mary, Lazarus' sister was crying, and also the Jews that had come with her)

• groaning in himself (when some of the Jews said "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?"

So my question is basically this:

Did Jesus weep at the grave of Lazarus solely because He loved Lazarus and His compassion came out in the form of grieving tears - or - was Jesus groaning in Himself and troubled also because He'd tried 3 times to explain that Lazarus' story was not over?

Kev and I discussed this, and he says it's the former only, that Jesus' compassion for those around Him grieving for Lazarus also caused Him to weep with them & be troubled. I'm not disagreeing with him, but I can't help but notice these 3 times in the span of this chapter that Jesus explained something and those listening, just didn't get it, and didn't seem to believe what He was saying. I can't help but wonder if He wasn't as troubled by the lack of understanding/faith of those around Him, as we was that they were heartbroken over Lazarus' death?

So, I wonder what you think? No cheating and checking the commentaries - I still haven't looked, but I easily could. :o) I'd love to know your thoughts.

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Just a few/coupla things

A few things on tap today, that by themselves don't really qualify as real posts.

First, I'd noticed that the folks over yonder at the Shepherds Fellowship blog had updated their blogroll the other day. I confess I didn't read the post because I was just busy & forgot. Then I noticed a very small increase in traffic from there, so I went to read the updated page. It says:

Carla Rolfe – Canadian blogger Carla Rolfe maintains this widely read blog. Despite the fact that she has 7 kids she still finds time to produce well written, helpful articles.

That was really nice of them, wasn't it? They also have another of my blogs listed, and said nice things about that too. Now if I could just get ahold of who wrote that and let them know I'm not Canadian, that would be good. Maybe they'll edit it and have it say "Whiney American blogger living in Canada and really tempermental about her nationality..."? Maybe I should just leave well enough alone? In any event, that was really nice of them to list me (twice) and I appreciate the links. It's a great blog, and you should read it.

• I think I mentioned last week that I got this game for Christmas. The funny thing was, Kev and I were in Wal-Mart or Zellers or somewhere right before Christmas, and we saw it on the shelf. Kev says "now this is what I need", to which I responded "no, this is what I need". We're both great big 24 fans, and the dvd board game just looked like lots of fun.

Well, last night we were finally able to sit down and play. How much fun can 2 people have and it still be legal!? We had a great time, but I must confess we failed in our first mission and the terrorists took control of Los Angeles. I officially blame Kev, as he turned out to be the mole! (I knew there was something fishy about him, all along). On round 2, Jessica helped out and assumed the role of Agent Moray, and with 3 seconds to spare!! we saved the city from utter destruction.

I've read the reviews of the game at the link above, and I have to say, I don't know what game they played. It was fun, challenging at times, but not TOO hard. It's hilarious when Jack Bauer yells at you too, for blowing a lead. If you're a 24 fan, get the game. It's fun.

• The Reflections current newsletter is up at the store. If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, you oughta.

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Getting it together, more or less

Well...

No Friday BlogFodder today, as I've been busy (all week, actually) trying to do a bit of organizing my bazillions of different sites/links. The goal was to get most of them all in one place. I almost met the goal!

See the new graphic down yonder? Well, if you click that, it's as close as I've ever been able to get so far, to having my own country store. I'm pretty picky about who/what I'll list, but there are over 80 shops in there to browse & shop from.

And we have bare, pinewood floors just like a country store is supposed to have.

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Global Warming, Anyone?

I couldn't believe the weather forecast when I checked it last night. For the 5th of January, a high of 55 farenheit is just unbelievable. Why, that's almost like forecasting snow in July (and I'm only slightly exagerrating). I've lived here for almost 9 years and it's certainly never been 55 in January in the last 9 years.

So, I decided to run away from home today and take my camera. It was so nice outside I could have gotten away with being out, without a coat - but I grabbed one anyway.

I went down the dirt road to one of my favorite spots. I did the same thing last January (New Year's day, in fact and took this picture which is featured as the January pic on my Year In Proverbs Calendar at the store.

I don't remember how cold it was that day last January, but I do remember I wasn't able to stand there on the bridge very long & took several rapid-fire shots of the creek, hoping to get the "perfect" shot among them, and then hopped back in the warm van!

But when I went down there today, almost a year to the day, it sure didn't look like it did last year. Last night we had some very heavy rain, and it sogged everything - including our basement which floods like crazy, when it rains like that. Today at the creek, standing in the exact same spot on the bridge that I always stand, and stood last year to take the snowy pic - is the flooded/muddy pic.

It was so quiet & still & mild, I could have stood there for an hour, without a coat. The only sound at first, was the sound of the rushing water. Then off in the distance I could hear a woodpecker. And then, I saw something in the water. Something coming upstream. Now I've never been accused of being overly intelligent, but even I know when something is coming upstream, it's generally assumed to be living, as opposed to a tree branch or infamous Tim Horton's litter, that pretty much covers the landscape of Southern Ontario.

I snapped several shots of this little guy, but he was so fast I'm surprised I even got one that turned out. Not only was he fast in the water, but once he jumped up into the muddy/grassy shore, he took off like a shot! I tried to get him out of the water too, but the one pic I did get turned out pretty grainy, so this is the best I can do. At first I thought it was a beaver, but the more I looked at it the more I wondered if it was an otter. Kev looked at it when I got home, and he's 99.99% sure it's an otter.

No matter what it is, it was cool & I'm sure glad I was able to run away from home today with my camera. We've still got 3 more months of winter to get through, so it's entirely possible we could be walloped with a ton of snow before we see spring. I'm enjoying this mild winter while it lasts.

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I think, therefore I wear a helmut

A mother's advice. In some cases, it's hilarious and in other cases it's more valuable than pure gold. (see Kim's growing list of things parents say)

One of the things my mom said to me once when I was young (and not paying attention, I'm sure), was how important it was to really observe people. Listen to what they say, observe the way they react, and note how they conduct themselves on a regular basis. The reason she advised me on this, is because my mom is a "show me, don't tell me" person. Mom believes that actions speak louder than words, and a person's overall lifestyle is more accurate of who they really are, rather than what they simply say. Yes, my mom is a sharp judge of character, and is almost never wrong, in case you were wondering.

Even though I didn't pay much attention to that advice when I was young (pfft, I already knew everything, why did I need her advice??), it's come back to me quite often as I began to get older. I still don't have mom's sharp observation skills when it comes to people, but when I do put them into practice, it's very helpful.

I've done that recently, and I have concluded something quite profound.

PEOPLE ARE STRANGE!

Yes I know, this may come as a shock to most of you, but it's true. People are just strange. You know how I know this? It's simple, there's one little word (actually its a hyphenated word, well... it's not really a word at all, but who's counting?) that has the really odd ability to send a large group of people into two distinct, seriously divided, passionate camps. That word?

Wal-Mart

See? I just lost half my readers and gained 15 more. Just by posting that word. Either you loathe this store with every fiber of your being, or you'd be a mess if the local Wal-Mart closed up shop and left town. Oh sure there are some folks that aren't affected by this word either one way or the other, but you're the normal ones. Pat yourself on the back, you're normal! :o)

The funny thing is, there are lots of words/phrases/names like this, that have the exact same affect. In evangelical Christian circles, here are a few more (put your helmuts on, the shelling is about to commence):

Calvinism, Free Will, Pat Robertson (ugh), Mark Driscoll (I think there are MD spiders that routinely notify bloggers when this name is mentioned so the next round of battle can break out on that blog), Rick Warren, Roman Catholicism, Emergent and SBC.

Now, these are just off the top of my head, and I'm sure there are more I haven't thought of just now. I think you get the idea, right?

The idea is, that we (us, the strange people) tend to have these "die on a hill" issues with certain things, and we like to make our opinions about them, known. Make no mistake, many of these opinions are important to hear, and should be heard - but often times it seems with a passionate opinion can come a bit of overzealousness, even a rather harsh overconfidence that sends a message (even if not intentional) that says "I'm right, you're wrong and that's ALL there is too it - now shut up!". Well, sometimes one person is right and another is wrong, but that's certainly not all there is to it, is it?

Last night I sat in an audio chat room that shall remain nameless and linkless, and while I did some work I listened to the conversations taking place. As the topics shifted from one to another, I heard more than a few of these die on a hill issues come up, and that very same obnoxious "in your face" delivery of opinion. I even heard someone say "shut up" and mean it. In all honesty, it made me cringe.

Not because I sat here all smug & holier than them, but because I know at times I come across that way, and I really don't mean to. How easy is it for passion to be mistaken for rudeness or obnoxiousness? It's very easy, and I've even been guilty in the past of assuming the same of others, much to their hurt and my shame.

So I guess my real point in writing all of this is pretty much this:

Think before you blog. Think before you speak. If you have a die on the hill issue, no matter what it might be, consider your words carefully before you share them, because you just may end up being a stumbling block for a weaker believer, when the opposite was the actual goal you had in mind. Don't shoot yourself in the foot with your passion.

And for the record, I like Wal-Mart, and shop there every Tuesday night. In fact, I like them so much I'm a Wal-Mart affiliate advertiser. So neener.

:o)

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It's Not Funny

God's timing will never cease to stop me in my tracks.

Very recently, I was talking with a friend who was quite upset about something. The idea that professing Christians can make jokes about their depravity and make it out to be a laughing matter, really bothered my friend. Likewise, it bothers me as well when I hear or read someone speak irreverantly about the grace of God and the mercy He showered on us, when He brought us from spiritual death, to spiritual life. Those that know me (and read this blog) know I have a pretty good sense of humor - some might even say a rather twisted sense of humor - and I enjoy a witty comment or good joke as much as the next person. However... I'm just convinced that there are certain lines you cannot cross when it comes to humor. Joking about the depth of your depravity, to me, is one of those lines.

For my birthday, a friend sent me Pulpit Crimes, by James White. I started reading it in the evenings and last night I collected my bowl of chips and headed for the comfy chair in the living room to read, and I came across this:

"Our testimony is to be solemn, serious, and befitting the subject of proclamation. There is something unnatural about speaking of eternal judgement, redemption, forgiveness, lordship and life in the context of light-hearted entertainment and Hawaiian shirt informality". Chapter 3, page 44

To be clear, the context in which he wrote that was the context of preaching, aimed especially at pastors in the pulpit, and the character they are supposed to have according to Scripture (expounding on Acts 10:42). The odd thing is, as I read that I couldn't help but go back and read it again, and then a few more times. That may be odd to some but its actually something I do quite a bit when reading, especially when a line just leaps off the page and addresses something that was just recently discussed.

While I would certainly agree that it applies to pastors called to minister the word of truth, I would have to wonder if anyone would dare suggest that this same solemnity would not apply to individual believers as well? Would we even attempt to slip out of that one and say "well now, that whole context is about pastors, not ME"? I sure hope not. I know that for myself, the mercy of God in my life and the lives of so many that I know, is never, ever, in a trillion years, something to joke around about in the context of "light-hearted entertainment and Hawaiian shirt informality". Not around the lost, not in private, not among fellow Christians.

Things you joke about or find humor in are things that are trivial, petty, witty, cute or silly. Is there in any way, shape or form that Christ's brutal and excruciating death on the cross for my sin, falls into any of those categories that I just mentioned? Is my depravity or my redemption or sanctification really something to laugh about, considering the price my Lord and Savior willingly paid, for me? No way, no how. Not in a million lifetimes, were it possible.

I can't help but think of this passage:

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:42-44 - emphasis mine)

And then wonder again, if what Jesus went through for me, is something to ever take lightly or joke around about?

Just a few thoughts. I hope to share some more gems from this book as I read through it. It's a great book (I had the opportunity to read parts of it before it was actually finished) and I highly recommend it to anyone.

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Pat Robertson - ENOUGH already

"There comes a time and place when we have to do something other than complain about stuff like this in our blogs." - Frank Turk

I couldn't agree more. Frank has started an online petition for us to sign re: Pat Robertson's latest nonsense. If you're as tired of this as most Christians are, go read Frank's post - then go sign the petition. Like Frank says "Stand up and be counted."

DIRECT LINK to the petition.

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Blah

Not much to post about here today. Several family members are sick now, and this current virus is just horrible. 'Tis the season for one person to catch it and then have it spread like wildfire through the rest of the family. All the kids wanted to do a Happy New Year video for the blog but that'll have to wait.

Anyway...

Go to Libbie's and leave here a comment of encouragment. She doesn't have a virus, but she's pretty miserable and could sure use a hug & a kind word.

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Societa is Us

Once upon a time in a land called Societa, lived a community of people much like the one you and I live in now. In this placed called Societa, certain and particular common courtesies, manners & lifestyles were something that were simply a "given" among the people. Like in any other community, there were socially acceptable behaviors, and then there was everything else.

In Societa, from time to time there was a phenomena that would take place that really only affected two specific kinds of people groups. This particular phenomenon, as odd as it sounds, was to find people (almost exclusively female) wearing their nightclothes in public places.

The first group of people to be found doing this:

The extreme elderly. In this class of people it was almost always the very very old, who's minds had begun to malfunction and were often incapable of distinguishing reality from thought or reason from fantasy. These were the people that if you were a gentleman in Societa, you would see them from time to time in public places and feel only pity for them, but secretly feel thankful that your own mother, dear sister or beloved wife was not suffering from such a disturbing thing. If a younger, female resident of Societa would see them, her maternal graces would immediately kick in and she might come to the aid of the elderly resident in their nightclothes, and assist them back to their homes.

Most of the time, the elderly that suffered this way in Societa had family members to care for them, but sometimes they were alone, and suffered alone.

The second group of people:

Those of any age, that might be suffering from some form of physical illness or injury. Almost always, this group would be defined as those who might be burning up from fever, or driven to borderline madness as a result of some type of physical pain or injury. To see a member of this class of people in public in Societa, dressed in their nightclothes, was something that was immediately understandable. Generally, these would be people en route to a medical facility for immediate treatment - so seeing them in their nightclothes in such a state, wasn't uncommon.

In both groups of people, it was commonly understood that lack of mental sharpness, or lack of clarity of thought was always connected to the reason the citizens of Societa might be seen in public in their nightclothes.

Obviously this little story is manufactured from the inner-regions of my imagination, but it's still true. There was a time in our society when the only time you'd EVER see anyone in public in their pajamas, was if they were mentally messed up, or physically messed up.

Now? It's become quite common where I live, to see young women in public, in pajama pants. Now don't get me wrong, I love my pajama pants. I have numerous pairs, and for the most part they're all I wear when I'm at home, and going to be inside all day. They're comfy, functional, and just enjoyable to wear. However, when I go out in public, I don't want to be mistaken for someone who's mind is slipping, or has some sort of illness that prevents me from remembering to PUT MY CLOTHES ON.

There, I feel much better now.

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sssslap

My friend Sandi sent me this in an email tonight, and it made me lol for real. I've seen it before, but I laughed again all the same. I'm thinking about making it my profile pic.

:o)

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The Rolfe Academy Christmas Choir - Almost Live!

I wasn't going to do this until later today, as we had company coming today. Unfortunately, Kev woke up sick as a dog and we've had to cancel our plans for the day. :o( He's currently medicated and resting.

Our oldest daughter Caryn took this video Christmas Eve, and I doctored it up a little bit. For some reason, I can't embed videos on my blog like other people do without completely messing up the template. I'm going to try it anyway, but if you'd like, you can watch this video here.

OR... you can upload a video to youtube & then have it tell you it's still being processed - an hour later. UGH. I'm going to fold laundry, either it will work later, or I'll just try it again.

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These Things

I actually had a really good topic to write about this morning, and then I read this. Brother James has been writing on this topic a bit, and yesterday morning in Sunday School he taught on it as well. You can hear that lesson here.

I can't think of a better way to start your Monday, your day off, the first day of a brand new year.

Think on these things...

And now, I have to go clean my house, as I have company coming today. Happy New Year!

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