Democracy

A townhall article by Michael Barone got me thinking... Although the change in power to the Democrats leaves me feeling a bit queasy, and I know it leaves others feeling much worse, we're not in the streets demonstrating and Pelosi didn't have to point a gun at anyone to get that gavel. What a truly wonderful country America is!

Here's the column, BTW:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/MichaelBarone/2007/01/08/storm_approaching_on_the_hill

Dumb cat!

Have you ever noticed how well those two words go together?

Here's what happened... I am blessed with a wonderful husband who wakes me up every morning with a cup of coffee. So, I usually sit partway up in bed, and take sips of coffee until my eyes can stay open.

However, this CAT we acquired a few months ago is one those who demands pets by ramming her head into peoples' hands. Visualize: semi-prone position in bed, hot cup of coffee held in hand resting on upper abdomen, cat approaches half-awake person looking for love....

AAARGH!

Goals for 2007

Like my skeptical daughter, I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions. One reason is that for myself, in most areas at least, I feel like I'm already doing the best I can. A better reason has a somewhat scriptural basis. In Romans 9:16, these words referring to salvation can be applied to most 'self-improvement' plans, I think: "It does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

With that in mind, I have the following four goals for myself this year. (I also have the word 'grace' written all over the page in a manner reminiscent of falling rain, just to make sure I remember the source!)

1. Live a life of sacrifice, service, and self-denial instead of ease and self-indulgence.
2. Work more on non-academics (e.g. character, spiritual life) in our homeschool.
3. Finish Faithful unto Death, the sequel to Free Indeed.
4. Work on finding a publisher.

I'd also say that they are more or less listed in order of importance.

The Innocence of Children

In the mornings I listen to an AM radio show called Quinn and Rose. Rose is a Christian, but surprised me this morning with a comment along the lines of 'All that is best in adults is the child which still lives inside them.' She may have been reading someone else's words rather than her own at that point, and I'm sure I butchered the exact wording, but nonetheless she expressed the sentiment with no qualifications and in seeming agreement.

Biblically, the idea is absolute nonsense. It's the humanist worldview that holds that children are naturally innocent and good and are only corrupt by the evil of society, because humanism rejects the concept of original sin. The Biblical worldview, as expressed in Proverbs 22:13 is that "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." Biblically, our adorable infants are steeped in sin, and though they may not have facility to make sinful choices yet, as soon as they are able to start making choices, the choices will be sinful and selfish.

The whole notion is nonsense even without a biblical worldview. Just by observing reality, how can anyone say that the best in us is our leftover child, especially around Christmas. Sure, kids love Christmas, and if you love your children, the joy they receive from Christmas brings you joy, too. But WHY do they love Christmas? Mostly because they're getting toys and candy and presents, etc. etc. etc. How can anyone watch a family, in which the children are primarily interested in self, and the parents sacrifice on a daily basis for the good of their children, and not see the truth? Of course, I'm referring to functional families. In fact, 'disfunctional families' are probably those headed by adults who still haven't left childhood behind.

Okay, enough. I've made my point, but boy, she should have known better.

Come out from them....

I was reading in 2nd Corinthians 6 today, and was struck by the end of the chapter. Just after the admonition not to be 'yoked together with unbelievers,' which is generally applied primarily to marriage, comes the following:

"What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" (M note: Belial signifies the devil.) "What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God... 'Therefore, come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord."

I don't disagree with applying this to marriage, but I think it has much wider application than that. It makes me long for believers who send, or intend to send, their precious, impressionable children off to be trained, discipled, taught, and schooled by those referred to here by Paul 'unbelievers,' 'wicknedness,' 'darkness,' 'Belial,' and the 'temple of idols' to read and seriously consider this scripture in light of their children's education.

Final comment, 'temple of idols' really does seem an apt description for government schools these days.

Stuck in thorns

We had uncommonly warm weather here early last week, so one afternoon the kids and I happened to take a ramble in the woods near our home. (I actually intended it to be a walk the the lovely, paved path through the woods, but with my daughter Becky along, that was unlikely.

Thus is was that I found myself standing with Becky in front of me calling me forward, and Tim standing impatiently behind, while I had approximately half a dozen thorns attached to various parts of my clothing and anatomy. (On a side note, did you know that a thorn can pierce your fingernail and cause a little spot of blood to well up in the middle of it?)

So, this morning I read the following in Proverbs 15:19:

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.

I can quite relate, especially as my daughter had offered to take a big stick and smash down all the thorns for me, but I didn't want to take the time. (After all, she'd slipped through it all quite easily, but that's another topic!)

Global Warming?

This is the 4th day in a row that's been warm enough to take my walk outside instead of on the treadmill in the basement... I've heard that some are saying that instead of global warming, we're actually headed for another ice age. I'd much prefer the warming, thank you. Bring it on!

Achoo!

Woke up sneezing and sniffling Saturday morning... I'm very grateful that it came when it did and not before!

Friday night. the kids and their cousins put on a Christmas play in our basement, complete with costumes, lighting, sets, etc. It's kept me quite busy for the last couple of months, so I'm glad I didn't get sick until afterward.

Took most of the weekend more or less off; now, it's time to finish Christmas preparations. After that, two more big projects (creating a 'bible study badge' program for the Keepers' group, and running a Valentine's Day party for our homeschool group) and then I coast for the spring!

Sunrise!

One of the (many) things I like better about living in Ohio than in Massachusetts is the sun factor. What I mean is that in spite of being approximately an 11 hour drive straight west, Ohio is in the same time zone as Boston, so we have more evening light and less morning light.

So, only in the shortest part of the year does Doug leave work after it's already dark, which is neat, but one drawback is that I see fewer sunrises. This morning I did, though and it's just beautiful.

Thanks, God.

I'm impressed!

I talked to my friend last night... She said that although she'd been floored by the diagnosis, she knows God isn't surprised at all, and she trusts that this is part of his plan for her... "He wants me to walk through this without complaining and with a smile on my face and that's what I'm going to do."

Praise God for his grace to us, and for his faithfulness which allows such a godly response.

Sad...

Found out yesterday that woman I respect and have great affection for has cancer. She had an operation to remove her thyroid, and they found cancer not only in the thyroid, but also elsewhere in her body. I know quite little about cancer (for which I should be grateful) and no more about her case than I've mentioned, but it sounds like she's got a tough road ahead.

Memo to self: God is still good; God is still sovereign; This family is still under his care.

Small groups

Our homeschool moms' group met last night, and instead of a more focussed agenda busy with planning events, field trips, etc., we had a time of more free-flowing discussion. I was reminded again of how encouraging and beneficial it is for women who are devoted to the Lord and their families to be able to share freely about the struggles we have in common, and as well as the wisdom the Lord had given each of us.

It's made me wish that I had time and opportunity to be in some kind of weekly bible study with like-minded women...

Sick kids

Friday was our 16th anniversary. My mother-in-law was kind enough to stay with the kids so we could celebrate. Doug used some hotel bonus points, and we checked into an Embassy Suites in exciting downtown Cleveland...

About 8 p.m., just as we were finishing dinner, the phone rang and our 11 year old was sick and throwing up with a migraine headache. So we checked out of our hotel and I spent the night watching over her...

On Saturday night we attended my husband's 25th high school reunion. We made sure that our daughter was okay before we left, but just before midnight (as we were getting ready to leave anyway) our son called.

Turns out he had a sore throat and didn't want to wake up his grandma. So, we directed him to appropriate medicine, and told him we'd be home in an hour. Hopefully, that's gonna be our quota of sick kids for a while!

Been a while...

Well, after a crazy month, I'm going to try to keep up again. Of course, with Christmas approaching, who knows.

We had a great Thanksgiving; Doug's mom and three of his brothers were here with their families. The one dark spot is that my 11 year old daughter seems to be getting frequent and severe migraines.

One of the few things more miserable than having one is surely watching your little girl have one!

Adulthood

It seems common for those in the 'baby boom' generation (even one like myself who only barely falls into it and only identifies myself as such with great reluctance) to feel as if we're somehow only pretending to be adults.

It seems like a charade, from which we're frequently in danger of being unmasked. I have noticed, however, two rites of passage which begin to turn that illusion into reality, that is, which have made me feel like a real grown-up instead of a child playing a fantastical game of dress-up.

The first, not surprisingly, was having children. I've always said that nothing made me shed childhood and approach adulthood as it has. But just lately, I've found a new impetus in the direction of becoming really and truly a 'grown-up.'

Perhaps there is nothing that makes us mature like carrying responsibilities, and no responsibility has ever made me feel older than that of caring for a parent: worrying about what she eats, and whether she exercises, making sure she takes her medicine, reminding her to check her blood pressure, etc.

NOT complaining, just musing...

Proverb of the Day

verse 21

As charcoal to embers and wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

National Archives

The kids and I are in Virginia, staying with my mom while she recovers from another heart attack. She'll be coming home with us on Monday, since we don't want her home alone while my dad's away.

About one and a half years ago, we were here with Doug, and in a visit downtown (meaning Washington, DC) we tried to go there. At that time, we had two major factors working against us: it was spring break for a lot of schools, and the movie National Treasure had been recently released. If I remember correctly, the line was about two or two and a half hours long!

Today, we waited about five minutes in line for a bag check and went right in! What a difference timing makes.

Compassion

There are many injunctions in Scripture to be generous with the needy. It's a clear mark of those who serve God.

In America, it is difficult to know how to apply that. Certainly, we can, and should, give to agencies which offer international and local relief.

But it seems that a more personal involvement is called for, and that's where I struggle. If you visit any urban area, the needs become obvious, but the causes are more difficult to discern. How does one help the needy without enabling or even encouraging them to continue lifestyles which are destructive to themselves and those around them?

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 10, verse 31

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Lemony Snicket

Ok, I have to say, the name always makes me think of candies... perhaps smallish hard candies with a coconut flavored shell and a soft lemon meringue flavored inside?

Beautiful

Often the weather in Northeast Ohio can be thoroughly lousy, but sometimes you get these October days that are surely a tiny foretaste of heaven...

We had a picnic at the Hinkley reservior after church, and then went apple picking at the Hillside Orchard. I have a long-standing fondness for Empire apples, but they were picking Golden Delicious (Doug's favorite), Jonathans and Melrose today.

I may have replaced Empires with Jonathans as my new favorite, but I've heard that they're not as good for baking as they add too much juice when they cook. The Melrose apples taste very good, also, and apparently are equally good for sauce and baking.

So, I'd say we made out like bandits!

Proverb of the Day

verse 13

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

Just a homeschool gripe

My 8th grader is doing a Literature Analysis course, which I in general usually appreciate. BUT, sometimes it's decidedly over the head of junior high students. For example, this week's lesson discusses the concept 'theme,' and the student is expected to write an essay on the theme of a certain book.

So far, so good. Here's the problem. The sample essay, which presumably was included to be helpful, has the following as its thesis statement regarding the theme of Huckleberry Finn: "It is a biting satire of the American penchant towards sentimental Romanticism." It ends with, "The journey of Huck, then, is the quintessential American journey."

These may well be true, but it sure doesn't help a 7th or 8th grader understand how to write an essay on the theme of Call of the Wild! It's just too far over their heads to give the students direction for their own essays.

Proverb of the Day

verse 11

Wisdom will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Thessalonians

As a general rule, I have great respect for our pastors, and am impressed by their preaching, but I was surprised when one of them gave 4o AD as the date the first letter to the Thessalonians was written.

The letter certainly seems to be written after Paul's 2nd missionary journey, which, unless Luke didn't adhere to a chronological timeline in Acts, came after the Council at Jerusalem.

If you look at the letter to Galatians, Paul refers to that council as being at least seventeen years after his conversion... This places Paul's visit to Thessalonica no earlier than the late 40's.

If we went to a smaller church, I'd love to ask him about it -- maybe he meant 50? -- but I guess I'll just keep scratching my head.

Proverb of the Day

22:28

Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your forefathers.

Evolution

Kids seem to think their parents 'have it all together' somehow. If I could use an analogy for spiritual maturity from the fairy tale of evolution, I'd try to convince my kids that I'm just crawling up out of the slime!

Proverb of the Day

verse 30

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.

Matt Towery

He said it a lot better than I can!

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/column.aspx?UrlTitle=its_time_for_america_to_leave_the_un&ns=MattTowery&dt=09/21/2006&page=full&comments=true

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 20, verse 29

The glory of young men is their strength,
and the honor of old men is their gray hair.

(My husband likes this one!!!)

Get US out of UN!

I remember those bumper stickers you used to see from time to time.

Now, I think I agree with Chavez who said, "And maybe we have to change location. Maybe we have to put the United Nations somewhere else; maybe a city of the south. We've proposed Venezuela."

So, let's do what Chavez said and get UN out of US! And while you're at it, let's get US and our $$$ out of the UN, too!

Chavez' transcript

If you want to read his comments for yourself, here's a link: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm

Proverb of the Day

18:22
He who find a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.

Pope's comments

Let's see: Islam is portrayed as being evil and violent, and they respond by being... evil and violent.

Ho-hum, nothing new here.

Except that, has anyone ever noticed the similarity between radical Muslims and two year-olds throwing tantrums?

ABC Movie

We watched the ABC movie about 9/11. I gather that how accurate it was depends on who you talk to...

Overall, it leaves me with one strong impression. The primary fault belongs to the whole country for being reactive rather than proactive, and that is one area that hasn't changed. We still close the barn door after the horse is gone!

They hijack airplanes -- we increase aviation security. Then we hear that they've attacked subways -- we increase our public transportation security. I'm sure that after whatever their next attack is, we'll defend against it, too.

Perhaps after they bring dirty bombs into the country, we'll finally realize that it's worth to massive effort required to control who crosses our border!

Of course, I have to say that I think both the overall weak response of the Clinton administration combined with the low calibre of his appointees contributed as well.

Two girls....

I've been dividing my time between two little girls today. The first is Becky, who has been sick for several days. The problem is that any time she gets a fever, her little tummy tends to reject any food or drink recently acquired. Her method of preventing that is an ICE COLD washcloth applied and FREQUENTLY reapplied to her forehead. She also likes potpourri, which I heat on the stove and set near her. It seems to be working so far...

The other little girl is a recent acquisition. After the extremely upsetting but necessary euthenasia of my favorite cat in the world last February, we've been in the extraordinary position of having no cats. Our other cats have been strays, whom I like to think of has having been brought to us by God, so I was disinclined to go get a cat.

Doug's brother called this morning, and had rescued a stray from the towpath trail, but since they have a dog, thought we might be interested. So, now I have an adorable little cat learning to be less afraid in the basement, and spreading a few fleas while she's at it, unfortunately.

That's all for now. I'm sure one of my little girls in lonely and needs company!

Proverb of the Day

Verse 20

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Ever wondered why?

In recent years, I've found my mind returning again and again to a question. Why has God raised up the homeschool and Christian school movements in this generation? I'd love to see numbers comparing the percentage of Christian children in public school now compared to 30 years ago. I'm sure it must be dramatically lower.

And I'm sure that's a good thing, but I just can't help but wonder why sometimes. What is God preparing them for? Is He going to use them to usher in a glorious, worldwide revival? Or will they need to stand firm for Christ in spite of terrible persecution and worldwide chaos?

Or is this a revival in itself, and one that won't fade out after a single generation like so many in the past?

Whatever the reason, God is doing something, so if the anti-Christian bias of everything taught in the public schools hasn't been enough motivation, think about this and get those kids out of there!

September 11

A few short comments on the date:

I hope people remember to fly the flag today. It seems quite appropriate.

Other than that, how should we observe this anniversary? Certainly, not with a 'celebration.' Nor, however, should it be a time of mourning and sorrow that leaves us feeling defeated. It should be a time of remembrance, but remembrance mixed accompanied by resolve and firmness, with perhaps some defiance thrown in for good measure.

Finally, it's too bad the 19 men didn't know the proverb quoted below.

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 11:7

When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

Radio Stations

I wish I understood more about the way radio stations 'travel' so far at night. When we first moved here from Boston, I occasionally would listen to Red Sox games on the big AM station which reaches the Cleveland area sometimes after dark.

When I wake up in the morning, I like to listen to an Akron station (we live partway between Cleveland and Akron.) But since they turn their power down at night, and I get up before the sun, I can't ge the station at night. I can, however, listen to a station in Wheeling, WV which carries the same morning show...

Craziness.

Proverb of the Day

Verse 34 -- spoken by 'wisdom'

Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

Weight Loss

I was one of those who had trouble losing the last ten pounds after having kids...

Sometimes I'd 'diet,' which I define as a temporary, drastic change in eating styles. Other times I'd try to get more serious about exercise. Finally, after watching the results in others, I decided to give Atkins a try. And, I had about the same result that most others did: weight loss in the short term, weight gain in the long term.

So, then I ended up with more than 20 pounds to lose. I think I have finally found a two step (VERY SLOW) strategy for weight loss. The first step started more than ten years ago. I recognized a dearth of wisdom on my life, and began praying for wisdom (part of which is self-control) and reading Proverbs daily.

The second part began about 7-8 months ago. It involves what the experts always said, but since I'm still working on the wisdom thing I had to learn for myself. I have found a few small changes to make which are sustainable in the long term. I'm not on a diet, but I say no to sweets and 2nd helpings a little more often than I used to, and I walk for 20-30 minutes most days and lift light weights a few times a week. It works out to losing only a pound a month, which is hard to get excited about, except that I *think* I've finally found a long-term solution, and now I'm down by 8 pounds or so. Give me a year or so, and I'll be a happy camper!

School

First day of school yesterday

God is good. I am always overwhelmed by the Grace which brings a non-kid, non-domestic person like me to be able to make the choice to homeschool my kids, and then gives me all I need to accomplish that to which God has called me.

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 5:22

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him;
the cords of his sin hold him fast.

Romans 8:28

I heard something interesting in church Sunday... One of the teachers in the adult classes pointed out that the promise in Romans 8:28 appears to be conditional, 'for those who love God.'

He then asked how we know who loves God, and for an answer reminded us of Jesus words that those who love God are those who obey him. In effect, he was warning us that if we're choosing not to live in obedience to God's ways, we cannot expect that 'everything will work for our good.'

I'm still processing that one! It's a new concept, but seems biblically sound.

Blech!

Ok, here's my entry for the World's Worst Recipe contest...

Sweet and Sour Vienna Sausages:

Put 8 cans drained Vienna sausages in slow cooker
Combine 2 cups each grape jelly and ketchup
Pour mixture over sausages and stir lightly
Cover. Cook on high 1 hour, and on low for 5 hours.

I'm NOT kidding. I found this recipe in a cookbook. I didn't make it up!

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 1:32

For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them,
and the complacency of fools shall destroy them.

(NASB this time--I don't feel like going upstairs for my NIV)

"Take care of yourself first"

That's the advice often given to moms these days. I don't always agree with it.

It the advice is merely to live one's life in such a way as to stay healthy and fit, well... of course. Unfortunately, it often means something else entirely--something which can look a lot like the selfishness we humans so easily slip into and rationalize.

Consider what Jesus said, "Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed." And, "Greater love has no man that this: that he lay down his life for his neighbor." In fact, isn't the whole message of the Bible to love and give and serve without thought for our own needs, let alone making sure that we 'take care of ourselves first?'

The Beloved Proverbs 31 Woman...

This is my distillation of the qualities referred to in every woman's favorite passage of the Scripture. She...

works with her hands
is discerning in her choice of materials to work with
is eager to work, not begrudging her time and effort
is willing to go the extra mile to get good food at a good price
is an early riser
provides meals and clothes and cares well for her family
invests wisely and is effective at business
isn't half-hearted or sluggish in her approach to her work
keeps herself physically fit
isn't above menial tasks
is skilled at domestic tasks
generous and hospitable
contributes to her family's income with her skills
speaks wisely
is a good teacher
isn't idle
is prepared for the future

And finally.... SHE HAS SERVANTS TO HELP HER WITH IT ALL!

Proverb of the Day

Verse 33

As churning milk produces butter,
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife.

(Anyone want to try that middle line and let me know if it works?)

Kelley's Island

I like islands, I used to like camping, but boy, am I getting tired of getting rained on!

Proverb of the Day

Verse 28

Like a city whose walls are broken down
is a man who lacks self-control.

Danger!

The world is a dangerous place today... or is it? Either my memory deceives me, or I used to bicycle, roller skate, even occasionally skateboard, and I didn't even own a helmet.

I went to playgrounds with metal slides, and boy, did they get hot on a sunny day! I have no recollection of squishy mulch beds under the playground equipment. Sometimes it was grass, usually it was just packed dirt, occasionally cement.

I was probably an adult before I ever wore a seatbelt. Having the heart of an explorer from a young age, I used to regularly roam the neighborhood, creekbed, woods, even restaurants alone from the time I was in early elementary school.

I was definitely an adult before I ever tried anything other than white bread!

Am I writing all this to say that my parents were neglectful? Absolutely not. I imagine that most people 'of a certain age' would have a similar tale to tell. (Can you imagine how much the poor kid who wore helmet and pads like they do now while skating would have been teased when we were young????)

I'm writing this because I've noticed an astonishingly inverse curve between the protection we give our kids' bodies and the protection we give their hearts and minds. As surely as the parents of yesterday wouldn't have felt it necessary to 'protect' their kids from all the above-mentioned 'hazards,' so they would never have dreamed of allowing their kids to watch, listen to, and play today's popular tv shows, music, and video games.

I take the opposite approach, though I'm perhaps a little more protective than my parents were, especially about my kids roaming alone at a young age. Probably because parents have allowed their kids to wallow in filth from the time they're in elementary school, there seems to be more creeps out there.

But, we own a trampoline, and not only does it not have a net, the springs aren't covered! (I figure they'll be safer in the long run if they learn to be cautious about the danger, instead of being totally protected from any possibility of injury.)

My daughter rides a scooter with no protective equipment at all.

However, one of the reason I was so vague about the mental, emotional, and spiritual dangers of tv, music and games is that my kids are as protected from that stuff as much as your average roller skater is with a helmet, shin pads, elbow pads, little glovelike hand protectors, etc. etc.

Who's training your children?

One of the most clung-to verses in the Bible is in today's chapter of Proverbs...

Verse 6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (From memory, so perhaps not exactly perfect.)

It's often claimed as a 'promise' from God. But is it really a promise? It's in the book of Proverbs, which are wise sayings, and generally, but not exhaustively true. For example, while gray hair often indicates wisdom, it's certainly not universal! And the righteous GENERALLY, but not ALWAYS leave an inheritance... etc. etc.

So we can't blame God for breaking His promise when children grow up in Christian homes and then turn away from God as adults.

However, even if it were a promise, how are most kids in Christian homes trained, anway? Let's see.... at least 35 hours a week in public schools, being trained by peers and government educators. Add to that another ten or so being trained by television/movies, and perhaps another five (note that I'm fairly conservative with my numbers here to give us the benefit of the doubt) listening to secualar music. That comes to 50 hours a week being trained in the ways they shouldn't go!

Trained in the way they should go? Well..... maybe two hours on Sunday, and two more on Wednesday (although the peer interaction often causes this time to be of VERY questionable value!) What about time reading the Bible, praying, discussing life from a godly perspective with their parents? How does that stack up to the 50 hours a week being trained from an ungodly perspective?

So, back to Proverbs... With training like that, it's no wonder that the percent of our kids walking with God as adults is so low, and only by God's grace that it's as high as it is.

Roller Coasters

I went to Geauga Lake again this weekend -- this time with my family. Fortunately, I've been a fan of roller coasters for over 30 years, so I don't mind going two weekends in a row. Fortunately, my husband and kids also like them, so we had a good time. But, for the first time in my life, I've found a roller coaster I don't like.

I've been trying to understand why, and I'll TRY to explain. The ride is called the X-Flight, and its gimmick is the position riders are in. After getting in and being strapped down, the seats lay back so the riders are on their backs, going head first, kind of backwards. Then, as the cars start up the hill, they're almost sitting up again, due to the angle of the track.

It's going down the hill, and most of the rest of the ride that caused me a problem. The track flips over so that the rider is now hanging, face-down, with no support other than the restraints that have you buckled in. Now, I know in my head that those restraints must be trustworthy, but I couldn't make myself trust them and just enjoy the ride.

Every other coaster I've been on, most of your weight, for most of the ride, was supported by the steel car you were sitting in or on. If I ever try it again, I'm going to pay a LOT more attention to the restraints so I can either decide I trust them or not ride....

Proverb of the Day

Verse 23

He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Warning: Politics

Don't read this if you don't like political commentary that uses the L-word, but this is what I was thinking about this morning -- in the shower no less! I worry about me sometimes...

Taking into account the differing levels of ethics in individuals, it still seems clear that liberals are both more willing to cheat to win elections, and more likely to be sore losers about it. So, as I scrubbed diligently between my toes this morning (or not!) I was pondering why this seems to be the case. I think it is less a reflection on their character than on their values.

Let me explain. A conservative (at least by more modern standards, and I'm not going into the whole paleo-, neo-, classical mess) believes in less government and more freedom and responsibility of the individual. In terms of elections, this has two effects. First, conservatives want more power to rest with the people and so are more likely to accept their choice. Second, and perhaps more importantly, government is overall a less important construct to conservatives.

Now, consider liberals. Liberals believe that the answers to human problems and difficulties is best or at least most likely to be provided by governments. For governments to truly take care of people the way they need to be taken care of, governments should have more power and people must give up some of their liberties. (The Patriot Act is an interesting twist on this drama -- more comment about it at the end.)

So compared to conservatives, liberals as a whole are more prepared to take an 'end justifies the means' approach to elections because the 'end' -- the power of government -- is seen as so much more important by them. Secondly, they're less willing to accept the decisions of voters with equanimity because they have less faith in the abilities of individuals to make proper choices without the guidance of people who've devoted their lives to studying such choices.

The Patriot Act is an odd issue. The Democrats are saying it gives too much power to the goverment and the Republicans are saying the government needs to take away certain individual liberties so it can take care of us. So how do we reconcile that with what I've written above? First, I was speaking of liberals and conservatives, not Repubs and Dems. It can be argued that the two parties in Washington today consist of liberals (GOP) and hyper-liberals or socialists (Dems.) There are some conservatives who have painfully gone against their party in opposing the Patriot Act because of their principles.

However, out of the myriad of activities our government engages in, national defense is one of the few which is actually authorized by the Constitution. Therefore conservatives, who have great respect for the document as it was originally written and legally amended, are inclined to accept the exercise of governmental authority related to defense issues.

But why on earth would the Democrats oppose something that gives the government more authority? Go back to the 'sore loser' issue. They've never accepted the voters' choice to elect Bush, and therefore they've opposed him every time they thought they could get away with it.

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 18, verse 17

The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.

Disappointment (sort of)

I heard back from one of the two publishers I sent a proposal to... The sample chapters are 'not strong enough.' If I get a similar response from the second place, I'll do some serious rewriting and perhaps even pay for some editorial advice from someplace like Writer's Edge.

But despite the title of this entry, I'm not terribly bothered by it. As anyone who has ever looked at this more than once or twice can tell, I'm a real devotee of Proverbs. I especially love chapter 16, and find great peace in the first verse, which says something like, 'In his heart a man plans his steps, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.' I'm going to assume that goes for the reply of the keyboard as well, and truly, if my Lord doesn't want this thing published, or doesn't want it published yet, neither do I.

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 15:20

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

Trusting Christ

If salvation is trusting Christ for what happens after we die, recognizing that we have no hope and no help apart from his all-sufficient grace, then perhaps sanctification is trusting Christ for what happens before we die. Might spiritual maturity, then, consist in dependence, in trusting Christ as our all-sufficient and gracious Lord?

Herding Cats

Saturday I took five 13 year old girls from church to Geauga Lake, a medium-sized amusement park near our house. It actually went quite well, until it was time to leave... that's when it became herding cats.

I felt quite bad about it, as I was almost half an hour late returning the girls to church where their parents were waiting.

I'd forgotten something about 13 year old girls, though. They RUN from roller coaster to roller coaster.... pant, pant, huff, huff as I chase along after them trying to keep up!

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 14, verse 15

A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

Civil War Re-enactment

We visited Hale Farm and Village yesterday -- it's a historical village set in 1861. They were having an annual Civil War battle reenactment so we decided to go see. My daughter, of course, was more interested in the weaving and spinning display. Even though she's quite old enough to understand it wasn't real, she didn't like the 'soldiers' fall down like they'd been shot.

Proverb of the Day

Verse 19

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Bagless Vacuum

Ok, when I first heard of these, I thought they sounded neat. No more going store to store trying to find discontinued bags for vacuums more than two years old!

BUT.... I've discovered that what it boils down to is this. Instead of quickly and easily pulling a bag out once or twice a year, I have to take the thing apart, dump it, clean a filter, and try not to strangle on the dust once or twice a MONTH!

Never again....

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 9, verse 10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Homeschool Objections

The most common response I get from other mothers of school aged kids is, "That's great, but I could never do it." The most frequently offered reason for not being able to do it is, "My kid(s) won't listen to me."

Homeschooling isn't just about education. It may not even be primarily about education, although a great education is usually a by-product. One of the things it IS about is teaching your children to listen and respect their parents, their family's values, and especially the Word of God more than they respect peers and unbelieving adults.

It's about Romans 12:2 - 'Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.'

And if a child doesn't listen his parents, that's all the more reason to bring him home and train him in godliness and respect for parental authority. It's better than taking the chance that he won't listen to you during his teen years, when the stakes are so much higher!

(Another frequently mentioned reason is inadequacy on the part of mom -- as one thoroughly inadequate mom, I can say that homeschooling becomes a wonderful and terrible adventure of trusting and leaning on God's grace day by day. I've gone from struggling with consistency in daily time with God, to eagerly seeking the grace I need each day.)

I may do more blogs on this, but what I really need to do is add a homeschooling page to my website!

Hudson River Valley

I just got back from my cousin's wedding in Cold Spring, NY. (Congratulations, Fred and Keri!)

I've always loved paintings I've seen by the 'Hudson River school' of painters, though the only one I can name is Thomas Cole. What a beautiful part of the world!

You can see small prints of some of the art here:
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/hudson-river-school.html

Goals for my kids, part 2

So, after all that, what are my goals for my kids?

I mentioned #1: that they love and serve God with all their hearts (implying salvation, of course.)
I think #2 would be that they live wisely and well.
#3: That they are instrumental in building the Kingdom of God.

Last, or perhaps combining all the others, that they someday stand before the Lord, and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Proverb of the Day

Verse 7

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.

Are we a nation of rich fools?

In Luke chapter 12, Jesus said...

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.... The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop... He said "...I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones." ... But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you." This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God... Seek his kingdom... Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.

Wow! Those are some tough words! So why am I still sitting here in my air-conditioned 2350 square feet (I think) house, surrounded by possessions?

Because I'm trying to reconcile those words with these:
- Proverbs 31 - clearly the wise woman makes sure her family is provided for adequately.
- Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children...
- 1 Timothy 5:8 - If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

So what do we do with these? Clearly, one can't sell everything, especially as a parent with children to provide for. I think the answer is to try to live with less in every way you can tolerate, remembering that what each person can tolerate is different, and don't judge each other.

For example, one might live with heat and ac settings more uncomfortable than others in order to save money and increase their giving, while another who can't take the heat forgoes the latest fashions. If we stop looking at our money as our own, and actively look for ways to have less and spend less so we can give more, I believe the Lord will help and direct us, and bless us (not necessarily with more money, unless we're truly faithful at giving more, or perhaps as a test, but with more of Himself, which is greater by far.)

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 2:12

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse.

Goals for my kids

I imagine all parents have 'goals' for their kids' lives. It's a good idea to spend some time thinking hard about what those goals are, and then check to see how well your parenting matches up to them.

For example, my absolute, #1 goal for Tim and Becky is that they grow up to love and serve God wholeheartedly. Is this more important to me than whether or not they have a good job? Yes, without a doubt. But do I communicate that to them?

For example, if time is limited and a choice has to be made between daily devotional time and finishing schoolwork, do I encourage my child to blow off the Bible and do their schoolwork instead? What message does that send to them about what's most important?

We as Americans are so focused on academic (leading to professional) success, and unfortunately, our children are going to pay the spiritual price for that if we're not careful. Let's remember what Jesus said about rich men, heaven and the eye of a needle!

I want to encourage my children to be and do their best, but I want them to know that I'd rather they be godly, faithful garbage-collectors (or insert lowly job of choice) than a president, doctor, lawyer, rich business owners, etc.

1976

Heard this at the Ohio homeschool convention...

Those of us who were part of the church in 1976 may remember that in all the excitement of the nation's bicentennial, believers were quoting the verses in Chronicles where the Lord says that if his people will turn and seek him, He will heal our land.

I do remember a lot of claiming that promise, a lot of people praying for the nation based on it. What came of it? One possibility which might have been claimed in the past is the resurgence of people of faith into conservative politics. Like many others, though, I'm somewhat disillusioned with politics these days.

What was pointed out at the homeschool conference was that the late 70s and early 80s is when the homeschool movement began... That's food for thought!

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 31 (Sorry, ladies. -- it's July 31st) verse 26

She speaks with wisdom
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Great memory verses for kids

Of course, it's important for kids to have a handle on the basic theological verses (e.g. ten commandments, 'Romans Road,' greatest commandment, etc.)

But I find that 'Mom says' isn't as effective as 'God says', nor should it be.

So, some great verses for kids to learn:

Eph 6:1 - on obeying parents
Phil. 2:14 - Do everything without complaining or arguing
Prov. 15:32 - He who ignores discipline despises himself....
Prov. 17:14 and 20:3 on quarreling
Romans 12:17 - Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Col. 3:9 - Do not lie to each other.
James 1:19 - ... quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger...
1st Thess. 5:16-18 - Be joyful always, pray... give thanks...
Phil 4:8 - Whatever is true, noble, right, pure..... (great for beginning to teach discernment in entertainment choices)
Prov. 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control
Prov. 11:12 A man who lacks judgement derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
Rom. 8:28 - In all things God works for good...
Phil. 2:4 - Look not only to your own interests, but also to others...
Heb. 12:7 - Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.

One disadvantage

I appreciate my husband's career. He's an aerospace engineer, which means he often has interesting things to tell me about his work, and he's never been unemployed.

But... there is one disadvantage. One movement I love within the homeschooling community is a growing tendency for family businesses, and for fathers to mentor their children in their line of work.

My husband can't even take us to see his office since there's so much classified stuff going on! (I hope I'm allowed to say that....) Even if he could, it's not the sort of work you can learn through 'apprenticeship' unless you've already got a B.S. or M.S. in the subject.

Proverb of the Day

Verse 20

Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

On my own

The kids and their dad are camping, so I have the house to myself tonight. If it lasted very long, I'd start missing them all terribly, but it's nice as a rare occasion.

Proverb of the Day

28:20

A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Too easy to vote?

It seems the momentum is all toward making it as easy and painless as possible for anyone and everyone to cast a ballot...

I'm not sure I agree with that, to be honest. Wouldn't the country by better served by voters who had to educate themselves about the election and make an effort to vote, than by making it, more or less, an afterthought?

I just don't know that 'motor-voter' registration laws and the like are a wise choice. Perhaps, more accurately, I'm not sure that those for whom voting is as important a choice as picking out a stick of chewing gum will make wise choices in the ballot box.

And then where will we be?

Violins

I think my favorite musical instrument is probably the violin. I wish I were both more talented and more literate musically, so there are probably lots of other wonderful instruments I'm not remembering.

But, there is a sweetly piercing quality to the notes of a well-played and well-made violin that reminds me of times of prayer or worship when I've felt the presence of God draw near.

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 26, verses 18 & 19

Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows
is a man who deceives his neighbor and says,
"I was only joking!"

What to do about church?

Our dilemma:

We like our church -- it if were just my husband and I, we'd stay there quite happily. But we're not sure it's the right choice for the kids. Our kids are 11 and 13, and both are fairly strong in who they are. At this point, I'd say they're not terribly affected by peer pressure.

So, I think it's safe to say they're not being dragged down, though I'm not sure that will be the case as we continue into and through the high school years. Unfortunately, it's equally true that they're not being 'lifted up' very much either. Being a very large church, with a fair number of newer believers, and primarily public schooled kids, the aim in children and youth ministry is fairly low.

Of course, we strongly believe that the primary responsibility for teaching and training our kids in the things of God is ours, not the church's, so perhaps as long as they're not being pulled down it's o.k. if the church isn't helping with our job.

As is evident, we're trying to figure out what to do about church. I think if there were a good, largely homeschooling church closer to us rather than further, we'd probably go. But our church is farther away than we like, and the other options we've found are farther yet.

Thanks, God, for promising to guide us.

Proverb of the Day

Verse 9

A generous man will himself be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor.

Where does global warming come from?

According to NASA, the sun's radiation, which is what keeps us from being a frozen block of ice like Pluto, has been steadily increasing. See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030321075236.htm

This might explain the melting ice caps (I'm referring to the ones on Mars!) Ideally, it should cause those who are willing to sacrifice the economic prosperity of millions in their attempts to prevent global warming to think twice, but that's not likely.

How TV contributes to debt and bankruptcy

The current rates of debt and the rising incidence of bankruptcies is both distressing and frightening. It would be saddening to examine the homes of the newly-declared bankrupt, and see furniture, clothing, and appliances that seem to have come from places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, but it would make sense. "Here," we could say to ourselves, "are people who tried to be frugal, to use their money wisely, but the mountain was just too high for them to climb."

But, much of the time, that's not the case. Astonishingly, the 'bankrupt' often have homes loaded down with the latest goodies and fashions. So, I ask myself why. Why do people spend all of their money (and then some!) on things they may want, but don't really need?

The answer I came up with is television. It used to be that keeping up with the Joneses meant acquiring the same quality of goods and services as your neighbor. But your neighbor was just that: someone who had been able to afford a home in a similar price range to your own. Rarely would this stretch a family's income to the breaking point.

However, now the 'Joneses' we're keeping up with are from the whole world, and most often exist only in the mind of wealthy Hollywood types. This can and does break down budgets and probably families, too.

What a horrible little box from hell the tv often seems to be!

Proverbs for two days...

Chapter 20 for July 20, verse 17:

Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

Today, Prov. 21:9

Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Big Dig

Having lived in the Boston area for over 13 years, I am sympathetic to the plight of commuters after road closures due to problems with the Big Dig.

But I'm not surprised. One of the things which was so offensive about living there was the rampant corruption among elected officials; another was the utter foolishness of the choices made by the majority of voters.

As the project drew on, and the years which is was late in completion piled up almost as fast as the millions of dollars it was overbudget, it was clear that there were a lot of fingers trying to get into that pie.

Again, I'm not surprised. One of the reasons I believe in small government is that it seems that whenever the money pot gets big enough, the greedy and the thieves find a way to get at it. Large bureaucracies only make it easier.

Knowledge, Foolishness, Wisdom

Knowledge directed by the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom.
(See Proverbs 1)

Knowledge which defies or denies God leads to foolishness.
(Go to any of the ivory tower type campuses and have the professors explain how, according to their postmodern worldview, truth is just a socially constructed concept, and "What's true for you isn't necessarily true for everyone." Huh?)

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 19:11

A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

David and Goliath

Of course every Sunday School child knows the story of David and Goliath: David, a young Israeli fights the overwhelming champion of the Palestinians... oops, make that Philistines, and defeats him with God's help.

Why were they having to fight for their land so many generations after coming to Promised Land? Here are the instructions they were given: "When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you....But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live." (Numbers 13: 52, 55)

I guess the consequences of disobedience can last a long time.

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 18:13

He who answers before listening--
that is is folly and his shame.

Crazy Pastor Doings

Sometimes our pastor pushes the envelope, but I love it!

Yesterday, he preached about Joshua and the battle of Jericho--a very effective sermon with the main point being that, instead of asking God to work out our plans, we should ask Him what our part is in His plan.

Illustrating how we, like the men of Israel, often feel bewilderment and frustration with God's plan, Pastor Joe called all the men 21 and older to line up along the walls of the sanctuary, and then, after telling the women that they'd return in 6 minutes, he led them in a march around the outside of the building.

This, of course, during the heat wave! I think the men got the point he intended; some of them (not knowing yet the point of the sermon) were heard to ask why they were doing such a thing.

The women got a different point. It's hard to explain, but I think most of us acquired a more vivid appreciation than is normal in modern America for the role of men as protectors and warriors.

Proverb of the Day

Chapter 17, verse 9

He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Highlights of our trip

All four of us seem to have a different 'favorite' part of the trip. Mine is unmistakable -- the birthday party which began it all... Leaving here on a Thursday, we drove eleven hours that day and the next, and about three on Saturday, rushing to get to Denver before noon for my grandmother's birthday party.

We made it on time, but after checking into our hotel and changing clothes, we were among the last to arrive. For me, the best part of the trip was that party. I walked in and immediately saw and greeted my grandma, but after that, it was as if every direction my head turned and every place my eyes focussed, I saw people coming over to hug me and say hi, most of which I hadn't seen in years, and some in more than a decade. After my grandma, I saw my parents, my sisters, aunts and an uncle, cousins, cousins, and more cousins, a niece, nephew and even a 'grand-niece' if there is such a thing.

I'm still smiling at the memory!

Proverb of the Day

Proverbs 15:17

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love,
than a fattened calf with hatred.

Our trip in a nutshell....

-5210 miles
-16 days
-9 states (including Ohio, which we had to drive most of the way across twice!)
-6 campgrounds
-3 hotels
-1 night at my sister's house

I'm glad we got home on a Friday so we have the weekend to unpack and REST!