Reading Proverbs 31 this morning, I was thinking of Ted Kennedy as I read the first nine verses...
He's not a king, but is a ruler of sorts, in the American fashion, and it occurred to me that he might do well to heed parts of it... Verse 3: "Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings." Also, verse 4: "It is not for kings...to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer..."
I think Sen. Kennedy would claim that he does the latter verses in this section: speaking up for the rights of the poor and those who can't speak for themselves (except the unborn, that is!) It's made me think a little as to what 'rights' were being referred to in Proverbs 31:8.
Postscript: Since Proverbs 31 is primarily known for its description of the impossibly virtuous woman, I imagine the title of this piece could raise eyebrows... ; )
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Proverb of the Day
Proverbs 31:8
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute
The Choice
O, receive the gentle, humble King of Kings,
and receive all that is good;
Or, reject the terrible, sovereign Lord of Lords,
and by Him be rejected.
and receive all that is good;
Or, reject the terrible, sovereign Lord of Lords,
and by Him be rejected.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Response to something Rush said today
Rush seemed to imply inside knowledge suggesting that the White House strategy is to snatch portions of each of the key Democratic voting blocs... and that this explains, at least partly, the administration's tactics on immigration.
The idea is that they want to make the GOP stronger by doing things which appeal to Democrats, I guess. Three thoughts: 1) Who wants a GOP that appeals to Democrats? 2) It won't work -- they'll lose at least as many voters as they'll gain, and 3) I thought they were supposed to pick their policies for the good of the country, not the party.
AAARRGHHH!
The idea is that they want to make the GOP stronger by doing things which appeal to Democrats, I guess. Three thoughts: 1) Who wants a GOP that appeals to Democrats? 2) It won't work -- they'll lose at least as many voters as they'll gain, and 3) I thought they were supposed to pick their policies for the good of the country, not the party.
AAARRGHHH!
Proverb of the Day
Prov. 30:8-9
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise I may have too much and disown you
and say, "Who is the Lord?"
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise I may have too much and disown you
and say, "Who is the Lord?"
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
Ohio weather this year
I have always resisted running either heat or AC in (supposedly) mild weather months like May, and also resisted turning one of them on until after the other had been off for months...
Well, this May, I had to turn the heat back on a few weeks ago when we were getting into the 30s at night, only only the 50s-low 60s during the day. Now it's in the upper 80s and we're sweltering. I haven't given into the temptation to push the AC button yet, but I'm weakening...
This on top of gas prices, we don't need!
Well, this May, I had to turn the heat back on a few weeks ago when we were getting into the 30s at night, only only the 50s-low 60s during the day. Now it's in the upper 80s and we're sweltering. I haven't given into the temptation to push the AC button yet, but I'm weakening...
This on top of gas prices, we don't need!
Monday, May 29, 2006
DaVinci Code lies
Just one quick note on a blatant falsehood in the book:
The so-called expert smugly informs one of the other characters that Jesus didn't claim to be divine, his followers didn't believe he was divine, and he only gained divine status when the Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea to discuss it and "by a close vote," as Brown's expert says, the Council agreed to consider him so.
However, anyone with internet access can discover that the vote in Nicea was not WHETHER Jesus was divine, but if he was divine from eternity, or only from his incarnation. And the "close" vote? 300-2, that Jesus was eternally pre-existent with the Father.
More on the rest later....
The so-called expert smugly informs one of the other characters that Jesus didn't claim to be divine, his followers didn't believe he was divine, and he only gained divine status when the Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea to discuss it and "by a close vote," as Brown's expert says, the Council agreed to consider him so.
However, anyone with internet access can discover that the vote in Nicea was not WHETHER Jesus was divine, but if he was divine from eternity, or only from his incarnation. And the "close" vote? 300-2, that Jesus was eternally pre-existent with the Father.
More on the rest later....
Proverbs for 2 days
28:6
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless,
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
29:5
Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless,
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
29:5
Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
Memorial Day Parade
I was impressed at the turnout for our little Memorial Day parade. It drew from 3 very small towns and one larger one that form a school district together. The parade route was lined with people as far as I could see in both directions.
It was very well done; veterans at the front, an excellent representation of the tomb of the unknown soldier, police and firemen, the highschool marching band, boy and girl scouts, and near the end, trucks full of kids representing every group imaginable -- all flinging candy at us. The kids, needless to say, were quite pleased.
It was very well done; veterans at the front, an excellent representation of the tomb of the unknown soldier, police and firemen, the highschool marching band, boy and girl scouts, and near the end, trucks full of kids representing every group imaginable -- all flinging candy at us. The kids, needless to say, were quite pleased.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Proverb of the Day
Chapter 27, verse 1
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Yankees, anyone?
I'm somewhat of a sports fan, at least I really enjoy baseball and football. My daughter, on the other hand, isn't. She enjoys going to the local minor league games, but takes the idea of 'winning not being the important thing' a bit farther than I do. She scolds me for expressing disappointment when the Indians or Red Sox lose.
She also takes great joy in applying the scriptural admonition to have "malice toward none" to my feelings about the New York Yankees. This morning I had to follow my husband out of the room and whisper my glee that they lost to the Kansas City Royals (currently the worst team in either league)...
She also takes great joy in applying the scriptural admonition to have "malice toward none" to my feelings about the New York Yankees. This morning I had to follow my husband out of the room and whisper my glee that they lost to the Kansas City Royals (currently the worst team in either league)...
Friday, May 26, 2006
Sesame Street isn't good for kids
When people discuss the problem of kids watching too much t.v., there always seems to be an assumption that Sesame Street is fine. I beg to differ....
What does a child see when they watch Sesame Street -- and most other so-called educational programming? The biggest problem is that the picture and topic change so frequently that it's as if they're (unintentionally) programming attention deficit disorder into these kids. The music is frenetic teeny bop rock, and colors and images flash across the screen for a second or two, and then change.
How are we to expect kids to go from that to sitting still, listening to a teacher with no flashing images, exciting music or special effects graphics?
Mr. Roger's Neighborhood is one of the few shows that move slowly enough to avoid contributing to the epidemic of ADD in this country. I'd include Barney, Theodore Tugboat, and Thomas the Tank Engine as some of the few harmless shows, also, from what I remember.
What does a child see when they watch Sesame Street -- and most other so-called educational programming? The biggest problem is that the picture and topic change so frequently that it's as if they're (unintentionally) programming attention deficit disorder into these kids. The music is frenetic teeny bop rock, and colors and images flash across the screen for a second or two, and then change.
How are we to expect kids to go from that to sitting still, listening to a teacher with no flashing images, exciting music or special effects graphics?
Mr. Roger's Neighborhood is one of the few shows that move slowly enough to avoid contributing to the epidemic of ADD in this country. I'd include Barney, Theodore Tugboat, and Thomas the Tank Engine as some of the few harmless shows, also, from what I remember.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Why American students lag behind
According to an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today, American students do poorly in science compared to the rest of the developed world: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1148545940278060.xml&coll=2
This is also true for math. What's interesting is that the longer American kids stay in the government schools (aka public schools) the worse they fare compared to students in other countries. Results of these studies can be found here: http://ustimss.msu.edu/ (I found it under Overheads.)
A couple of reasons: America is one of the few developed countries which allow the education of our children to be controlled by a government/union monopoly; also, we are more interested in how kids 'feel' about school than in whether they are receiving an excellent education. One quick piece of evidence... Eighth grade science classes were videoed in the US and in countries with high achieving students. Games and entertainment occupied a much higher percentage of time in the US classes.
As a homeschooling mom searching for curriculum for my kids, I have to wade through lots of curricula full of fun games to find quality material that just teaches without trying to entertain.
This is also true for math. What's interesting is that the longer American kids stay in the government schools (aka public schools) the worse they fare compared to students in other countries. Results of these studies can be found here: http://ustimss.msu.edu/ (I found it under Overheads.)
A couple of reasons: America is one of the few developed countries which allow the education of our children to be controlled by a government/union monopoly; also, we are more interested in how kids 'feel' about school than in whether they are receiving an excellent education. One quick piece of evidence... Eighth grade science classes were videoed in the US and in countries with high achieving students. Games and entertainment occupied a much higher percentage of time in the US classes.
As a homeschooling mom searching for curriculum for my kids, I have to wade through lots of curricula full of fun games to find quality material that just teaches without trying to entertain.
Proverb of the Day
Chapter 25, verse 9-10
If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence,
or he who hears it may shame you,
and you will never lose your bad reputation.
If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence,
or he who hears it may shame you,
and you will never lose your bad reputation.
Idol - Living the American Dream?
A confession first: I've never watched the show American Idol, and I'm not actually interested in who wins or loses, BUT, the guy's face is all over the news websites so I kept seeing this quote from him: "I'm living the American dream!"
The American dream? Since when is the American dream being rich and famous? I thought the American dream was freedom and the opportunity to make as much of yourself as possible. Fame and wealth are actually somewhat un-American, since the whole concept of elites in society is what we rejected when we left Europe, with its nobles and aristocracy.
The American dream? Since when is the American dream being rich and famous? I thought the American dream was freedom and the opportunity to make as much of yourself as possible. Fame and wealth are actually somewhat un-American, since the whole concept of elites in society is what we rejected when we left Europe, with its nobles and aristocracy.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Our Celebrity Culture
People used to value heroes: men and women who make the world a better place as a result of the courage and personal virtue. Now it seems that we value those who make the world a more vulgar place as a result of their immorality and lack of virtue.
Those who worship at the altar of the latest actors and musicians should think hard about the proverbs below.
Those who worship at the altar of the latest actors and musicians should think hard about the proverbs below.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Proverb of the Day
Proverbs 23:3
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
School's almost over
One big difference between moms who homeschool and those who don't....
Homeschooling moms are often at least as eager as most kids for school to be over!
Homeschooling moms are often at least as eager as most kids for school to be over!
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