The Samples Are Here!

Our God is MIGHTY. Although we were repeatedly told last night that it wasn't possible, Customs cleared our package at about 2am this morning. It caught a flight out of Ohio at 5:30, arrived in Raleigh at 7:14am, and arrived in Wilson at 9:30. We just found out they had another glitch on delivery, but God had mercy and the samples have just arrived here!

He does answer prayer! When we went to bed, it seemed hopeless, when we woke up it was instate. Truly He gives to His beloved even in their sleep!

When it arrives, we'll open it, compare to the specs - Please Pray the Samples are Right! - take photographs of them and drive them to our customer in South Carolina - the old blood pressure can't take shipping them again! Please pray for safety, and that our customer will buy LOTS!!!!!

We are so thankful for your prayers and love. We praise God for you. He is so faithful!

Pray for Customs Clearance!

We have critical samples hung up in U.S. customs that our customer (a brother in Christ we believe) desperately needs in a very few days for a trade show. This is our current opportunity to make a sale we badly need. Please pray. Thank you for being there!

The Reagan Diaries

I've been dipping into The Reagan Diaries while Hal's been reading it preparatory to writing a review. Wow. I don't have much time this morning, so this is going to be pretty telegraphic, but here are my observations:

Reagan was real. He was the same guy in private he seemed in public.
Reagan was a real Christian. Great quote to follow one day later.
Reagan was totally on top of the issues.
Reagan was a totally likeable and engaging person.
The presidency is incredibly stressful.

It's great, you'll love it, go buy it!

"The Suckers Tickle Your Throat on the Way Down"

This is Pineapple Squid Curry, which our son was served for supper last Sunday night. He's craving homecooking a bit (No!).

This week he was delighted to find a grocery store with a few Western things like butter, cheese, and onion bagels. This morning he found a pan in the apartment, figured out how to work the gas stove, burnt the butter three times, and frambled* some eggs. He put a couple of slices of cheese on top, buttered the bagel with his chopsticks and had a comfort food fest.

Grandfather likes "fresh" air**, so keeps all the windows open and the air conditioner off. Near as we can tell, the weather in their city is just exactly like it is in Raleigh - every day. I know, weird, but the temperature in the two cities always seems to be within two degrees. Go figure. Anyway, it's just as hot there as it is here! Our son is delighted to have a window air conditioner in his own room that he turns down to 68 degrees and lies in blissful comfort.

*Frambled is our families terminology for the cooking technique a lazy boy who wants scrambled eggs. but not two dirty cooking dishes uses: Crack the eggs into the hot skillet and stir like mad :-)

**Fresh is used here only to denote outside air. The air in this part of Asia could not be described as fresh in any way, shape, or form. The pollution there is enough to make even a conservative like me appreciate the EPA.

"A Legislative Solution"

I was disgusted but not surprised to hear today that Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi would like to see "a legislative solution" to talk radio. What? That's right, they would like to see government control of privately funded speech because they don't like the content of it. Folks, that's not a solution, that's censorship and it's expressly forbidden by the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances.

That is precisely what is meant by "no law" "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;" ladies!

The liberals have been confused about censorship for a long time, though. If people tried to persuade a store not to carry an obscense book or a school not to require the children to read an inappropriate book, they screamed censorship. Friends, choosing not to sell something your customers disapprove of is not censorship. Not requiring something is not censorship.

Censorship is government control of speech and publication --- and that's what they are calling for now. Because, in the liberal mentality, if the poor dumb citizenry won't choose to believe or do what you want them to, then use the force of law. There's another name for that: tyranny.

The Episcopal Church Bats Zero Again

The ability of liberals to hold two antithetical ideas at one time never ceases to amaze me. Today, the Episcopal Church bats zero again in its reaction to the rogue "priest" who claims to be both Islamic and Christian in today's WorldNetDaily:

A veteran Episcopal priest says she became a Muslim just over a year ago and now
worships at a mosque Fridays – but that hasn't stopped her from donning her
white collar Sunday mornings. "I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I'm
both an American of African descent and a woman. I'm 100 percent both," Rev. Ann
Holmes Redding told the Seattle Times.

It is sad enough that someone could seriously think that being both a Christian and a Muslim is compatible, but that her authority in the Episcopal Church also doesn't get it makes you want to bang your head on the wall until it runs with blood:

Redding's embrace of Islam has been affirmed by her bishop, Rt. Rev.
Vincent Warner, who thinks the interfaith possibilities are exciting.

Whatever happened to:

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me.

How can that be compatible with a religion that says Christ is only one of the prophets and not as important as Mohammed?

And that doesn't even address the question of Christ's diety! Please! Can we at least be consistent and logical? I'd love to see even some basic common sense in this body!

Gone Fishin'

We're up at the Lake and I'm very surprised to find a wifi network that we can access tonight. How strange - we don't even have a telephone or tv up here! I'm so glad I can give you an update.

Number one son is feeling much better and seems to be finding his sea legs in the new environment. I am so thankful!

David caught his first fish - a little catfish - yesterday! And Samuel caught his grandpa - a huge granddaddy of a cat - about 18 inches long and a good five inches across the head. That old fellow was delicious!

We are all enjoying a much needed rest with lots of fishing, swimming and swinging - in the hammock that is! Hal is doing a combo rest and work thing - Monday he has a very important customer call ( and hopes to get an appointment for another - you could pray about that) and another call yet on Tuesday. We so appreciate your prayers for God's blessing on our endeavors - and for His soon provision.

The rest of us will reluctantly be coming back to reality in a few days. In the meantime, if I can get another signal - I've been writing one of my blog rants in my head for several hours - can't wait to share it with you!

A Hunger for Spiritual Things

A dear friend of mine, iykwim, went to visit an "official" church in a closed country this weekend. He was very surprised to find a very lively crowd and service that was packed out. I mean they had full overflow rooms and even the halls were full. He said folks were singing and praising with full hearts. It was incredibly moving that even under the strictures and observation of an unfriendly authority that folks were beating down the doors to hear any truth at all. "He who seeks Me shall find Me, when he searches for Me with all his heart." Dear Father, please send workers into the harvest that all who seek may speedily find! Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

Sick in Asia

Thank you so much for praying for our poor dear son sick in Asia. He's feeling a good bit better and just went in to work (remember it's Wednesday morning their time). I'm about to talk to him, so we may have a further update later.

Prayer Alert

Our son has come down with what we call "the epizootic" - meaning some unidentified stomach illness - probably short and nasty. He's started some meds and taken the day off, but we'd appreciate it if you'd pray for him.

He wanted me to tell you that being sick in Asia is no bed of ease - he's felt floors more forgiving than his bed. Seriously, you wouldn't believe how firm a firm bed is in Asia. I told him it would be very good for his back - if he survived the first couple of weeks :-)

Just wanting to hear his voice

We haven't talked to our son for more than a sentence or two on his uncle's cell phone, but we found out yesterday that his uncle has given him a cell phone of his own. Wonderful! Can we afford to call it?

We've used Skype for some time. If you download Skype (10 minutes for the whole process for us), you can use the mike and speakers on your computer to talk to anyone else who has Skype in the world -- Free! You can also buy "SkypeCredit" which will allow you to call landlines or mobile lines at extremely reasonable rates: $29.95 for unlimited calling in the U.S. or Canada for a year. Calling Asian land or mobile lines is 2.1-2.4 cents a minute! That is amazing to someone as old as I am! I remember how excited we were when we got our long distance service here in the U.S. for 15 cents a minute!

I also gave our "customer no service" cellular company, Alltel, a call and they actually came through with something at least possible: For $3.99 a month, we could call Asian cells for 20 cents a minute. It sure isn't Skype, but we'll be able to call wherever we are.

Why do I call Alltel our "customer no service" company? That's a story for another day! I'm just about to head out to the Tea Room with a dear friend. Oh, I hope the children don't mess up the house (Hal is here, but very distracted with business)!

Update: I forgot to mention that Skype is secure - that's a great plus when you are phoning into countries who don't value privacy.

Pray for the Persecuted Church

I have just been reading a website about the persecuted church. It really made me sad how asleep we, their free brethren, are to their needs. Why do we seldom hear a call for prayer for our suffering brothers and sisters? Why are we not raising funds to support their families while they are imprisoned? What would we need if the head of our family was taken away? I know first hand that in one country where many are persecuted, that a dollar will go 7-10 times as far as it will here. Let's hear their cry!

For obvious reasons, I will restrain myself and not publish a list of sites here, but if you google "persecuted church" or "persecution" and country names, you'll find a lot to pray about and many to help. Please help.

Safely Met!

Our son has been safely met by my brother in Asia!

Must tell you all that I felt an urgent need to pray for him this morning after his plane landed, probably while he was clearing customs - sometimes a challenge in that country. After some time, I felt a release and didn't need to pray anymore. Just a few moments later, the phone rang and my brother was calling, "I've got your son." Amen. Thank you, Lord!

Homeschool Moment: The Great Circle Route

Tonight over supper we were talking about the flight our eldest son is taking today to Asia. We first looked at the flat world map on our kitchen table (I covered it with roll plastic bought at Wal-Mart and we've got a US one on there, too - we have a big table!). It looked pretty obvious that his plane would travel right across America and the Pacific to Asia. Not so, Grasshopper! I asked one of the children to run go get the globe. If you hold a piece of string between where you are and where you are going in Asia and try to get the string as short as possible, you will be surprised at the actual route. It is much closer to travel north to go west to Asia from the U.S. East coast! It's called the Great Circle Route! Check out this Great Circle Mapper. It looks confusing, but just type in two airport codes (you can look them up on the same page and map! For example, if you type in "JFK-NRT" (JFK, New York to Narita, Tokyo, Japan) and press "Display Map" it is amazing! You may not recognize the continents at first because you are looking down at the North Pole!

BTW, we'd sure appreciate prayer for Eldest Son! He has just a little more than an hour to make it through one of the busiest, most confusing airports in the world to make his connection and his plane is running a little late!

First Girl Moments

It's such a treat seeing the differences between our six boys and our little girl! The other day, the poor dear had to be anesthetized for a medical procedure. As she's coming out of the anesthesia, Hal asked her, "Would you like a popsicle, Sweetheart?" She moaned, "Chocolate. I need chocolate." That's my girl!

The Decline and Fall of Civilization

I thought reality TV couldn't get any worse until I read this ghoulish piece in which Dutch TV show contestants compete for the kidneys of a terminally ill lady. Can this possibly be the land of godly William the Silent? The country of Haarlem, whose citizens nearly starved to the last man rather than give up their right to worship the Savior by surrendering to Alva? How the spiritually mighty have fallen! May the Lord prevent us from having descendents like these.

Update: The producers say that their show was a hoax - that the terminally ill lady was really an actress and the show was meant to draw attention to the need for organ donors. I fail to understand how this improves matters. Not only are they offering this "entertainment" but they are lying about it :-P

Wanted: Praying Friends

Our seventeen-year-old son will be leaving this Sunday to spend three months in an Asian country, working with our brother. This will be a *very* challenging time for him -- he speaks a little of the difficult language, but he will be living with our sister-in-law's father, who speaks no English at all. He will be making his way around the largest city in the world by himself and working very long hours with our very demanding brother. There are no known believers in the situation, limited if any fellowship with the expatriate church, and not even Christian websites, because they are blocked there.

In other words, he will be simply living faithfully among them. What an opportunity to impact the world!

This Wednesday is our day to fast and pray for him, as well as the many trials we've been going through in our lives in the past weeks in work, ministry, health, home repair, and more. We are feeling very weary and need to seek the Lord's face. We would appreciate any of you who feel led pray for him and us. Thanks for all your friendship!

In Christ,
Hal and Melanie

Memorial Day the Right Way

We are proud to know the Scott Brown family, who every year put on the perfect Memorial Day picnic for the entire community. Imagine a beautiful rural farm with glassy lakes, a big circus tent with honored veterans sharing their memories, prayers for the soldiers and their families, hayrides and military equipment to examine for the children, patriotic music, North Carolina barbeque and great fellowship! It's a wonderful way to spend the day honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, who've laid down their lives for friends - their fellow citizens - in a way that honors God, especially. If you're in the neighborhood (3721 Quarry Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587), come on over. If you aren't, I hope the Lord will raise up someone like Scott in your area - maybe it's you :-)

Check out Scott's blog for some enticing pictures!

Massacring Memorial Day

I thought the Democratic candidates for president couldn't shock me. I really thought I had such low expectations that no one could fall below them. That is, until I read John Edwards' reprehensible recommendations to violate Memorial Day picnics and parades with anti-war protests. Honestly. If he thinks that the troops will feel supported by protests implying they are wrong to fight, if he thinks the new war widow will be comforted by thinking her husband died in vain, if he thinks the children whose Daddies are in Iraq will be cheered up by wondering if Daddy's doing right, he just plain doesn't have the judgement to be dog catcher, much less president. I thought about calling this post "John Edwards: Shameless Self-Promotion" because that's what it is.

The Most Basic Unit of Civilization: The Home

I just found an absolutely fantastic quote by Theodore Kuyler:

The household is the fountainhead of society. Both the commonwealth and the church grow out of the family. They both take their character from the family. The real seed-corn whence our republic sprang was the Christian households, which stepped forth from the cabin of the Mayflower, or which set up the family altar of the Hollander and the Huguenot on Manhattan Island or in the sunny South. All our best characters, best legislation, best institutions, and best church-life were cradled in those early homes. They were the taproot of the republic, and of the American churches.

For one, I care but little for the government which presides at Washington in comparison with the government which rules the eight or ten millions of American homes. No administration can seriously harm us if our home-life is pure, frugal, and godly. No statesmanship or legislation can save us, if once our homes become the abodes of ignorance or the nestling-places of profligacy. The home rules the nation. If the home is demoralized it will ruin it.

There are several essentials to a good home. Wealth is not one of those essentials, for in many an abode of honest poverty contentment dwells. Out of such lowly cottages and cabins have sprung our greatest noblest men and women. The little clapboarded farm houses of New England have been the nurseries of our greatest divines, most useful philanthropists and devoted missionaries. The riches of those humble dwellings were industrious hands and praying hearts. God's Word was the light of the homestead. The Bible, the spinning-wheel, and the family alter stood side by side. The growing refinements of later years have introduced into many rural habitations the piano, the pictures, and the pile of books. But let our people see to it that the increase of culture, money and refinement is not attended with any decrease of homespun frugality, domestic purity, and the fear of God.

A true good home is not only one in which God reigns, but it must be an attractive spot. Even all the consciousness Christian parents do not seem to find this out. The result is that the theatre, the billiard-saloon, the club, the convivial party managed to "out-bid" the home, and to draw away the sons and the daughters. It is too often the fault of his parents, that a sprightly boy prefers some other evening resort to the stupid or disagreeable place in which he eats and sleeps. If this home were made more attractive he would not seek the haunts of danger and depravity. And one of the surest methods of keeping a husband out of a dram-shop, or a son out of the haunts of sin, is the "exclusive power of a new affection" for their home. Everything that attracts our children to their homes is very apt to be, in the end, an attraction towards heaven.

Theodore Kuyler

A House NOT Divided: Promoting Unity in the Homeschool Family Notes & Resources

A House NOT Divided: Promoting Unity in the Homeschool Family

I. Intro
II. Family Vision/Mission

Practical Ways to Impart a Sense of Unity in the Family

III. A Family That Desires Unity Tears Down Obstacles

A. Our evil habits destroy our regard and love for one another.
1. Don't allow pesting or bullying
2. Don't tolerate name calling
3. Punish provocation as well as reaction
4. Stop sarcasm and smartmouthing
5. Make competition healthy
6. Encourage peacemaking
7. Encourage shared emotions Romans 12:15-16

B. How can we change?
1. Recognize that bickering and discord is sin Proverbs 6:16-19
2. Deal with it as seriously as we do other sin

IV. A Family That Desire Unity Builds Memories

A. Form family traditions
1. Holiday means "holy day"
2. Feasting is approved by Scripture
3. Form traditions around other holidays
4. Let anticipation build
5. Be unique and don't be afraid to be alone

B. Share interests and accomplishments
1. Develop family hobbies and shared interests
2. Share adversity
3. Seek out a challenge

C. Be sure your children know you value them
1. Children pick up your attitude toward them.
2. Children will also pick up your attitude toward more babies. Psalm 127:3
3. Your parenting is impacted if you believe your children are a gift from the Lord

V. A Family That Desires Unity Reminds Themselves of It Everyday in Little Ways

A. They identify with their family
1. Matching clothes or dress code
2. Fellowship as families
3. Have a healthy sense of pride in your family
4. Have special family code language and code words

B. They guard each other's hearts and feelings
1. Criticism stops at the threshold
2. This starts with the parents
3. He's my brother...
4. Wash your dirty laundry privately

C. They spend time together
1. Quantity trumps quality
2. Bring a child on errands
3. Take the family on business
4. Read or play together as a family
5. Remind yourself of why you are doing this Deuteronomy 32:46-47

VI. Conclusion
A. Summary
B. Glorify God in your family
C. Oswald Chambers quote

"Our family life in Perth was a very united one; each evening, after the home-lessons were done, was given up to games of various kinds. We found our enjoyment and entertainment in our home; no outside amusements could possibly compare with the fun and happiness to be found there. We never had any desire to be out playing or walking with chums...
"I feel traits in my character which I knew not of before, and it causes me to bow in deeper gratitude for that home training which I have now left, for the training and disciplines of life. Oh! What a mighty influence home life has on us! Indeed, we do not know how deep a debt we owe to our mothers and fathers and their training."

D. Theodore Kuyler quote (see more of this fantastic quote in another blog entry here)

Everything that attracts our children to their homes is very apt to be, in the end, an attraction towards heaven.


Resource:

Doorposts Brother-offended Checklist

The Usual Stuff

Well, we had our usual conference week - our home air conditioner croaked, the van needed a trip to the tire store, and I had a medical crisis. Ho hum. It seems to happen every year:

2006 House air conditioner out, van air conditioner broke, hotel gave us the wrong room, speaking clothes trapped in broken dry cleaner's machine.

2005 Wreck on the way to conference, raced to go to the children's dentists appointments first (30 miles away) only to find they had cancelled the appointments, Hal had to travel separately, we all got in way late

2004 I'm on pregnancy bedrest and in a motorized wheel chair. Our room isn't ready and we wait for hours, spent all Saturday night in the emergency room.

Are you getting the picture? Sure looks like somebody doesn't want us here :-)

"Yes, We Know What Causes That" - Resource List

Here are a few resources to go along with our workshop "Yes, We Know What Causes That",
North Carolinians for Home Education Annual Conference
Session 11 -- Saturday, May 24, 2007

Theodore Roosevelt on a tour of the Midwest

"Three cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Bower and their really satisfactory American family of twelve children!"

Books to Help You Make the Decision or Explain It To Others

A Full Quiver: Family Planning and the Lordship of Christ by Rick and Jan Hess

Be Fruitful and Multiply: What the Bible Says About Having Children by Nancy Campbell

The Bible and Birth Control by Charles Provan

The Way Home: Beyond Feminism and Back to Reality by Mary Pride

Email Groups to Encourage You

Quiver-Full! is an email discussion group for those committed to or interested in the Lord planning their family.

MOMYS Mothers of Many Young Siblings is for mothers who have ever had four or more children eight years and younger at the same time -- others can subscribe as "read only MOMYS". This one is a great encouragement and you know the advice comes from people who really know.

Biblical Resources - "To the Law and to the testimony!" (NKJV unless noted)

Man and woman were created to be fruitful

Genesis 1:27-28 - The Mandate from Creation, before the Fall

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; ...

Genesis 9:1, 7 - Repeated to Noah after the Flood

So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth ... And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it.”

Genesis 35:10-11 - Repeated at the establishment of God's covenant people

And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.

Children are a primary purpose of marriage

Malachi 2:14-15

Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.

Children are a blessing and a gift from God

Psalm 127:3-5

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

God's people should expect to have children from Him

Psalm 128:1-4

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

Leviticus 26:9 - God's promise to His people

"For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you."

1 Chronicles 25:5 - Seventeen children given as a special blessing

All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. (NASB)

God provides for His children

Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.

Raising a family is meant for hard times, too

Exodus 1:7-9 - Israel as a refugee nation in a time of famine

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, ... And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we ... "

Jeremiah 29:5-7 - God's word to His people carried off to Babylonian exile

"Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace."

Homeschooled from the Beginning Resource List

A few resources to go along with my workshop on teaching your little ones.

Getting Ready for School:
The Three R's by Ruth Beechick

Devotions:
A Catechism for Boys and Girls
Divine and Moral Songs for Children by Isaac Watts
Your Bible - read early and often to them!
Buy several copies of the hymnbook your church uses for use at home!

Science Resources:
Spring and Summer in North Carolina Forests - These are older than this age range, but nice to begin reading aloud.
Fall and Winter in North Carolina Forests
The Nature Readers
Pets in a Jar
Usborne First Book of Nature
Lyrical Life Science

History Resources
Greenleaf Guides
Tapestry of Grace
Veritas Press Their catalog alone is a great resource. You don't need scripted lessons at this age! Your local library :-)

Written by Me!

All of the posts labeled "By Hal" are actually by me - Melanie. Blogger did this when it migrated our blogs to google accounts and I don't have time to change them all! Sorry!

Live Blogging the NCHE Conference

I'll be live blogging the NCHE Homeschool Conference at NCHE Conference Blog. See you there!

A Letter to Children Who Have Lost a Parent

I am posting this for the children of a MOMYS, who just lost their father unexpectedly. I wrote this a few years ago when a dear friend's husband died. As I read over just now, I thought that others might benefit if I posted it more publicly.

My dear young friends,

I am writing because I have been through what you are going through. My father died when I was 14 years old. I felt so sad and confused and frightened. I wondered where we would get the money to live on and if we’d have to move. God provided all we needed and we stayed right there in our house and my mother still lives there - and it’s been 25 years!! Now my children go to spend the night in my room. I was afraid that everything would change, that we wouldn’t be a family any more without Daddy. Although Daddy wasn’t with us, and we missed him awfully, everything didn’t change. Mama was still Mama, we were still a family, we still celebrated holidays as much as we could like we did before - and we had lots of happy memories of Daddy to share.

I was also sad. I was sad that Daddy wouldn’t see me graduate or be able to walk me down the aisle when I got married. God wiped away my tears and comforted me. I know my Daddy is in heaven and that our Lord is telling him all about us. I know he can’t wait until we all get to heaven and he can meet my children. When I graduated, all my grandparents came, and I knew Dad was proud of me, even though he couldn’t be there. When I got married, my brother gave me away and I never loved him so much as I did then. It drew our hearts together. It was beautiful and special and nothing spoiled it.

I also felt funny when Dad died. Sometimes I wanted to cry and cry and cry. But sometimes I wanted to laugh and be carefree and pretend that awful things never happen and I was worried that people would think that I didn’t love Daddy if I did that. It’s okay! When you feel like crying, cry. And pray to the Lord for comfort. When you feel like laughing, laugh. Anybody with any sense knows you love your Dad and he wants you to be joyful. We are Christians and we shouldn’t mourn like the pagans do - with no hope. My father is in heaven - perfectly well, enjoying the Lord, and I know he wants the same for me. Don’t ever be afraid to be joyful!

I worried about my Mama, too. She seemed so sad and worried. I wondered how I could take care of her and help her. Now that I’m a mother, I wouldn’t want my children to worry about me. I am stronger than they are, both physically and spiritually. I would want my children to trust me to take care of them. How can you help your mother? Be honest with her. Tell her what you are thinking about. Share your feelings. Remember your Daddy and help her teach the little children about him and share those memories with them. Obey her and do your school work and chores. Give her lots of hugs and don't worry if she just has to cry sometimes. That’s a great time to pray for her.

It has been over 25 years since my father died, when I was fourteen. I can see the truth of God’s Word when it says that God would be a father to the fatherless and a judge for the widows. He has taken care of my mother and brother and me in a great way. We miss Daddy and we will never forget him, but we are happy adults. God has been so good to me! He has loved me and saved me, given me a great husband, blessed me with seven wonderful children. I wish I had known when my Daddy died, that everything would be okay, that I would be happy again, that my life would turn out just right. That’s why I’m writing to you. I thought it might encourage you to hear from someone who has suffered what you are suffering and has seen God’s mercy. He is faithful. He has taken care of me and He will take care of you. He promises to do it and He always keeps His promises. I love you all for your mother’s sake and I’ll be praying for you.

With much love and concern,
Melanie Young,
daughter of "Bill" Smith, 1940-1978

A/C Then and Now - and NOT

It was when we lived in Louisiana that I first understood how people lived without air conditioning in the South. Seriously, Louisiana is so hot that no one I knew did anything at all they didn't absolutely have to outside between May and September. The sweat would roll down my back from walking from my house to the car - under the carport!

We went to visit Oakley Plantation where John James Audubon was he taught drawing to the family's daughter (what a tutor!) and where he collected very many of his specimens. It was such a hot day, we dreaded going into the house, but in the house, it was warm, but comfortable! The docent pointed out the high ceilings, carefully oriented windows and louvered porches that gave the house ventilation and kept the heat moving out. It was amazing the engineering in that old house!

Shortly after that, Hurricane Andrew came through Louisiana and knocked out our power and water for some time. We very quickly discovered that our house was NOT designed for living in without air conditioning. In fact, it was absolutely uninhabitable without air conditioning! It gave me a real admiration for those who used their wits to combat the challenges of nature and build houses like Oakley.

Sitting here in my very hot modern Dutch Colonial, I'm wishing I was back Oakley Plantation - well, maybe not, it's a lot hotter in Louisiana than it is in North Carolina - but I am realizing that the house, like our old one, is NOT designed for this. You about can't get a breeze in here no matter what you do!

Why are we so hot today? Our air conditioner died Thursday - thankfully we have had a cool weekend! We just heard the bad news that we have to either have a new compressor ($1000) or a new unit ($4000). Our air conditioner man (a homeschool dad himself!) recommends the new unit since ours is over 20 years old, but then again, he hasn't seen the exchequer! Our new business is not paying yet and it's been a long time, a long, long time, since the last salary check :-)

However, we've come to the conclusion that air conditioning is not optional. Not in this house. Not in the South. Wish I had a house like Oakley today!

The Annual Homeschool Panic

Hal was checking email tonight and ran across an email from one of our friends who seemed pretty wrought up about testing and something about curriculum. Hal said, "What's the matter? Everything okay?" I told him, "No problem, it's just annual homeschool panic."

It cracks me up how everyone I know thinks everybody else is calm, collected, with an orderly, peaceful school day. Their children rise at 5am, bring their mother breakfast in bed, do all their chores, and then get started on schoolwork right away! Everyone else's house is neat. Everyone else has a weekly menu that everyone loves. Everyone else has children who just adore to share their toys and books with their siblings. Baloney! Wait, other folks might spell it correctly: Balogna!

This time of year all the bright, shiny new catalogs come out - with pictures of clean, sweet children working hard at their schoolwork. It's time for conference, too - 50,000 SF of curriculum that must be better than what I'm using! Discontentment is rampant

The truth of the matter is that homeschooling is a front line spiritual battle. It's a battle over who will disciple our children and you can bet that the enemy will not relinquish them easily. After nine months of constant warfare - ineffective curriculum (sometimes something else is better :-), sibling squabbles, teaching the same lesson you've taught to five other children, housework that never even gets close to caught up, phones that ring constantly, learning difficulties, transcript woes, the family crisis that cost you weeks of schooling that has to be made up -- after all that, is it any wonder you are tired? Is it any wonder you are worn out? Is it any wonder that you are second guessing yourself? Usually by May, I can't stand to even think about homeschooling - it makes me feel too guilty! It's the Annual Homeschool Panic.

Here's my prescription: Go to your state homeschool conference. I know you don't want to - I don't either - I think it'll make me feel worse. It never does, though. Instead, I am reminded of why I am doing this. I am fed and equipped to start again. I get new ideas and see new things. I realize I'm not alone. Give it a try.

Truth and Deception

Today someone handed me a tract designed to look like a Wal-Mart gift card. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm all for tracts - nuggets of truth easily shared with others. This particular tract bothered me a lot, though. It plainly says at the top, "Wal-Mart Gift Card" and yet, it is not a gift card at all and has no monetary value. It is a tract with a sinner's prayer and the gospel simplistically outlined on the back in a way that looks like the fine print on a gift card.

Please stay with me a moment and let me tell you why this concerns me:

First, in just a worldly way, do you expect someone whom you've just tricked into thinking you are giving him something of value (when it is not worth what he believes it is) to then accept the thing of value you are offering him (the free gift of life in Jesus Christ). Surely, they are thinking, "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." These tactics make no sense whatsoever.

Secondly, isn't this an illegal trademark violation? The Scripture commands us not to steal, but when we use the trademarks of others without their permission and without benefiting them, aren't we breaking the law and diluting their business asset - their name and logo? Our laws protect trademarks because it is recognized that businesses invest a lot of assets into their name and logo recognition, through advertising, signage, product placement and more. When we trade on that name without their permission, we are illegally benefiting from their investment.

Lastly, I do not think we should be deceiving others to bring them to the truth. In fact, I think offering someone something that seems to be of value to him and then refusing to honor that expected value, even if we offer something else in return is, I believe, defrauding him. It is a type of bait and switch.

Dear friends, I know your heart. I know you so desire that the lost and dying people around you grasp the hope that is in Jesus Christ. I know that you only hoped to catch their eye - to get their attention. I know you only want to share the good news, but my dear brethren, is our Lord not strong enough to save without the use of that which he warns against in His Word:

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “I was only joking!”

Dear ones, this is not the way of our Master. God has known His people from the foundation of the world and needs no tricks to reach them. We are to proclaim the gospel to the world - by our words, by our lives - but we are never, never encouraged to deceive them. We told our children long ago, that we would never intentionally lie to them, not even so-called "white lies" because we wanted them to know that if we said it, that as far as we knew, it was the truth - they could trust it. This has meant that our family doesn't practice Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, but also that our children really, really trust us. Shouldn't the world be able to do the same? Or else, how will they know when we are speaking the truth?

Can I suggest that you hand out invitations to visit your church or tracts with provocative questions or just plain old truth? Let us, as the North Carolina motto has it: To Be, Rather than to Seem - Esse Quam Videri. A good motto for a Christian.

Back to the Blogosphere

It's been a hectic few months and I'm afraid this blog had to take a back seat to life for awhile. If any of you are still out there, I've got a good excuse though. While I've been gone, we found out we were expecting twins, prepared frantically for bedrest, then lost them both to miscarriage. I've started a new blog out of my frustration at the lack of information on the net about miscarriage. Check it out at Hope in Miscarriage, but I'll still be blogging here about life, the universe and everything.

Not very merry about a non-Christmas

I just ran across a most amusing editorial about the Intolerance Police and one man's private stand. Enjoy.

We wish you a merry Christmas. A very merry Christmas - as you remember that we are celebrating the birth of the Saviour who has taken away our sins and made us able to approach the Maker with joy:

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever. Amen.

The Christian and the Government

There is no doubt Biblically that we are to be subject to the authorities over us. This is not an absolute command, though. Scripture makes for some serious exceptions: When the authority forces us to violate the commands of God, we are to obey God rather than man. Also, there are examples of appealing to higher civil authority.

I have been hearing lately a lot of discussion from fellow believers that is greatly concerning to me. They state very clearly that they believe we should comply with any request made by a government official as long as it does not ask us to violate a command of God. It is my belief that they misunderstand both the American system of government and the application of God's word.

Our country is plainly founded on the principle of Lex rex - the law is king. This is a radical departure from the majority of governments at the time, most of which believed in the divine right of kings, which was a justification of Rex lex - the king is law. The principle of lex rex was the foundation of the American Revolution -- that King George was in violation of the Magna Carta and other laws to which even he was subject, therefore he was a tyrannical ruler in violation of the law and should be resisted. I fear we no longer understand these principles.

The Constitution of the United States serves the role of the king or final authority in our nation. This is such a blessing as we are not subject to the whims and prejudices of a human ruler. All other laws are therefore subject to the Constitution, and all officials are subject to both. The government officials we deal with are the messengers of King Constitution and they themselves are personally subject to it as well. Therefore, when they act in violation of the Law, then they are false messengers and should be held to account. This is not disobedience or rebellion, but rather obedience to the higher power. Now, I am not advocating disorder or disrespect - they are still the duly constituted power and therefore deserve the respect of their positions. In our country, we have a variety of ways to hold government officials to account in an orderly, peaceful way: we can appeal to their authority by referencing the authority of the law, we can respectfully refuse to comply with "requests" as not bearing the force of law, we can appeal to the authority they directly report to, we can appeal through the judiciary, we can vote them out or insist on their removal by those we can vote out, and we can and should pray.

The Scripture does not forbid us to appeal to authority! Rather, Paul, when being treated highhandedly by the local authority reminded them that he was a Roman citizen and had certain rights which they must respect. Read about Paul's trial and successful appeal. Scripture also expects us to choose the leaders we follow carefully and hold them to account for their obedience to the law of God. Read the entire Old Testament to see God's judgement on those who chose and followed wicked leaders. When we exercise our rights and privileges as American citizens to insist our leaders follow the law which makes them leaders, we are being subject to the authorities over us as Scripture commands.

There would have never been an American Revolution if the ideas I'm hearing held sway over our forefathers. Think about that.

Marie Antoinette and John Edwards

John Edwards' staffer's hilarious gaffe in asking the Raleigh Wal-Mart for an early PS3 for the Edwards family brought us all a good laugh, but I really don't think it means all that much. Having a housefull of young staffers, I know they can go off half-cocked in an effort to get the job done. What really gets me is Edwards' response:

In the call, he repeated a story about his son Jack disapproving of a classmate buying sneakers at Wal-Mart. "If a 6-year-old can figure it out, America can definitely figure this out," Edwards said.

Well, well, well. The child of a millionaire mocks a classmate for wearing shoes bought at Wal-Mart. Did that little six year old make an informed decision to shop at the despised store? Or did his mother try to make the family's hard-earned dollars go a little farther and buy her little one Wal-Mart shoes? If John Edwards wants to teach the morality of caring for the less fortunate, let him start with his own children: Polite, kind people do not mock or criticize the clothing of those less fortunate than they. No doubt John Edwards' son thought the little boy ought to wear D&G instead -- on sale for only $109!

John Edwards reminds me of Marie Antoinette. When told the peasants had no bread to eat, she proved her complete lack of understanding of the lives of her subjects: like an early John Edwards, she replied "Let them eat cake!"

Election Prognostication

Well, I've finally had it enough to creep out of my corner and state it publically: I don't think the Republicans are going to lose on Tuesday. The mainstream media is just so certain this will be a bloodbath for the Republicans that I'm starting to get suspicious. This is beginning to look like one of those liberal attempts to create a reality by reporting that it already is. We'll see.

A Proper Apology

After watching John Kerry flounder around all week pretending to apologize, I thought he and others could use a short course in apologizing. First, do not: blame others for being offended, pretend you didn't really do it, say it's not all that important, say you were misunderstood, or any other weaselly attempt to sing and dance your way out of trouble.

You see, a real apology is a wonderful thing. It is an almost foolproof way to restore a broken relationship and that is an incredibly valuable thing. A proper apology begins with the hardest thing of all: acceptance of responsibility and guilt, "I was wrong to do _____." It continues by communicating repentance. Now, repentance is not merely being sorry, but being sorry enough to change your course of action, "I should have done _____ and I will do that in the future." Finally, it ends only one proper way, a request not for understanding or for forbearance, but "Will you forgive me?"

These three simple steps are very seldom completed and it's a shame. I've found that being quick to forgive and even quicker to ask forgiveness will keep you at peace with most men. Give it a try.

Nailed!

We woke this morning to find a wonderful bit of vandalism to our front door. In the night, some wag posted the Ninety-Five Theses to our door -- with a note saying, "You've been nailed! Happy Reformation Day!" and some treats. Thankfully, they used tape not nails, but what a delightful reminder that we are not alone, that others are remembering the great debate and rediscovery of the gospel, too. Thanks, friend!

Reformation Day

I find it hard to understand that there are Christians who celebrate Halloween - a celebration (or propitiation, depending on your beliefs) of evil and death, yet I used to do it myself. Why did I? I was living an unexamined life. Once I began to examine everything by the light of the Word of God, it became impossible for me to continue a practice that did not bring glory to our Lord and Father but rather glorified evil spirits, death, and evil -- even in jest.

I was not much happier with the harvest festivals held by so many churches. They seemed to be just a G-rated version of the world's festival: Halloween-lite. Can the church do nothing better than imitate the world?

Yes, it can! And it has! For nearly 500 years, faithful protestants have remembered a real encounter with the forces of darkness: in 1517, on October 31st, a monk named Martin Luther nailed an academic call to debate on the doors of Wittenberg Cathedral. That debate shook the world and rang out from the halls of academe to the plowboys in the fields. As a result, the gospel was rediscovered and the Word of God was translated into the languages of people's hearts, their native tongues. For centuries, the church celebrated Reformation Day in gratefulness for God's hand in the life of Luther and his contemporaries and the glorious results it has had not only in the church, but in the history of the world (I'll deal with that at a later date - I'm looking forward to it.)

Our family has celebrated Reformation Day for many years. We nearly always watch the terrific old black and white movie, Martin Luther, unmatched in stirring historical accuracy by the flashier modern versions. We always eat foods of the countries of the Reformation: cheese fondue from Switzerland, bratwurst, sauerkraut and hot German potato salad from Germany or some other Germanic delight. We play Reformation games like "95 Theses" in which blindfolded folks stick their post-it-note theses to a big paper cathedral door with candy rewards listed in each panel. We joyfully tell the stories to our children of those who stood for right and scripture before us, hoping that one day, they too will be able to stand. It's a day our children eagerly look forward to -- whether we celebrate with dozens of friends or just our family. In fact, they can't figure out why a Christian would do anything else. And neither can I.

Amazing Lack of Perspective

This past week, a number of North Carolina homeschoolers received a letter (once on the page, hit refresh to view) from the state oversight agency requesting them to bring their children and records to the local police station for inspection. There's only one little problem: the statute authorizes no such thing.

For one year after the testing, all records shall be made available,
subject to the provision of G.S. 115C-196, at the principal office of such
school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized
representative of the State of North Carolina. (1979, c. 505; 1981, c. 423, s.
1.)

NCHE, our state homeschool organization, issued an alert encouraging non-participation with this extra-legal request. There are several amazing things here:

1. How in the world could anyone who has ever studied history or even current events think that the police station is an appropriate venue to ask people to come to for these record reviews? How could they think you would choose to bring your children into this situation? This appears to be an innocent mistake, yet I am totally flummoxed that anyone could be clueless enough not to realize this would be seen as pure and simple intimidation.

2. Homeschoolers are such nice folks that they really, really want to comply with the law such that some folks don't seem to care that this is way beyond the law and are thinking of participating. Beats me.

3. Some of the veteran homeschoolers among us don't seem to understand what is the big deal. Dear husband says it's the methadone effect[1]: the situation was so awful when they started homeschooling, that anything less than that seems just fine. However, this is a step towards less freedom, not more.

Here's the big deal: When we willing and voluntarily submit ourselves to government requirements beyond the law, we place ourselves in the position of providing an excuse for more regulation ("We're already doing it anyway. What's the big deal?") Loss of freedom is always a big deal and freedom relinquished is seldom regained. That's why the fight to regain freedom to direct your child's education was and is such a battle.

Samuel Adams said it well. Freedom costs, chains are free. Which do you want?

[1] methadone effect - Our family's term for something that is a step in the right direction for some, but the wrong for others. Methadone is a step in the right direction for heroin addicts, but for non-addicts, it would be a step toward addiction. Always move in the right direction.

The Marriage Vow

In an age when the divorce rate among Christians differs in no respect from that of unbelievers, to the shame of the church, we seem to have forgotten what a vow is. This weekend I had the privelege of seeing what it means to an older generation to promise "For better or for worse."

The story of the marriage of my grandparents is not a happily-ever-after one. My grandfather was an extremely difficult man to live with in his youth - a wild and angry man. Then after he repented and settled down, my grandmother suffered repeated cancers and back surgeries. They did not abandon each other through these challenges, though. They did their duty. Paid their vows - for themselves, for the Lord, and for us. They have lost almost all of their many siblings to death, helped a daughter through becoming a young widow, and loved and shepherded us all through heartbreaks, health breakdowns and job losses. Now in their eighties, Papa Ray has Alzheimers' and his health has declined to the point that he needs constant help.

Nana kept him at home as long as she could, but she was unable to pick him up when he kept falling down. Now he's at a nursing home going through rehab. And yet the wife of his youth has not abandoned him in his old age. She is there every day - to feed him, to take him to the bathroom so he doesn't need to lose his dignity, to bring him treats and happiness. What a lovely sight, to see her tender devotion to a man who no one would have once faulted her for running from. To see his once strong arms reach in trust and need to his wife, "Are you coming back soon?" To see her save him a piece of cake, "I'll take this to Ray later. He always loved red velvet cake." To see him cared for and clean and well-fed when so many were so lonely.

When I told Nana what a blessing this was for me, she told me how he had taken her from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital when she had cancer, how he'd cared for her when she couldn't. I thought of Ecclesiastes:

Two are better than one,

Because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

For he has no one to help him up.

Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;

But how can one be warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I commend to you Christian marriage. We are called to be a living picture of the eternal love between Christ and the church. Does it seem impossible to you? How can you love and sacrifice through all the hurt and hard times of this fallen world? I would recommend you see that your marriage is one of three strands: the two of you and He is who is able to make us able to keep our vows.

Intolerant Tolerance

I am shocked to read that Great Britain literally has tolerance police. I've said for many years, that when we start on the slippery slope of limiting free speech in order to be "tolerant", we will fall headlong into tyranny. Speaking of a Christian arrested for handing out leaflets at a public park:

A spokesman for the police said the campaigner had not behaved in a violent
or aggressive manner, but that officers arrested him because 'the leaflet
contained Biblical quotes about homosexuality'.

Well, that's certainly provocative - and dangerous - someone quoting Holy Scripture! Handing out quotes from the Bible can now subject you to arrest in that so-called free nation. How much longer will we Christians be able to speak out about any sin, about salvation in Jesus Christ alone? The freedom to even quote the Word of God on the issues of the day is evidently gone in the U.K. How much longer will we have it? Up camels, mamahadeen, and speak up before you can't speak out at all.

Just in case you think this is spin-doctored, read the whole thing.

H/T WorldNetDaily

Why Mamahadeen?

I thought the name Mamahadeen was pretty witty when I first registered it, but unfortunately, only one single person outside our family has gotten the joke (at least, has confessed to getting the joke.) This week another friend asked "What's that?" So, here goes:

Well, it's kind of complicated. The Islamic jihadists call themselves Mujahadeen -- holy warriors in Arabic. When folks started blogging, the mainstream media got bent out of shape and basically said "Are you gonna believe a bunch of crazy conservatives, typing in their pajamas or are you gonna believe us -- apostles of truth like Dan Rather?" Then some wiseacre called the bloggers "pajamahadeen" because they caused such a ruckus in the mainstream media. I took off on that and called myself Mamahadeen -- the mama in pajamas causing a ruckus for a holy reason -- got it?

On Cooking and Costs

I've noticed sadly that many of the young mothers I talk to have even less idea how to run a household than I do. Now, that's pathetic, because I grew up in a family business. Literally. We came home from school to the store and stayed there til it closed. I felt like I had to learn how to be a housewife "on the job" but with no training. I'm still not terribly good at it. Compared to the generation of mothers just starting out, though, I'm a wiz. Many of them had working mothers and all of them were fed frozen dinners and McDonald's predominantly. I was told by one friend, "I only make one meal from scratch -- Hamburger Helper." Seriously.

The really sad thing is that their lack of training makes it so much harder for them to make it financially on one income so that they can stay home with their little ones or homeschool. For example, when they want a pie, they buy a frozen one ($3-5) and put whipped topping on top ($1-2). It's so easy to make a pie if you've been taught -- and inexpensive. Even if you buy the crust ($1) and use Jello pudding and pie filling ($0.80), but then make meringue ($0.20).

Dorothy Sayers in Murder Must Advertise once said that we pay extra to have our food prepared and stripped of all natural fiber and vitamins and then buy the fiber and vitamins on the side, keeping the wheels of commerce constantly turning. Well, folks, don't let those wheels run you down: Get a good cookbook like The Joy of Cooking [Nota Bene: Buy only this edition (1975) or an older one - The All New... has removed all that made The Joy of Cooking the one cookbook Julia Child would have on her shelf if she could only have one] or Mennonite Country-Style Recipes and teach yourself to really cook. Or better yet, make friends with an older woman who loves to cook and ask her if you can "come help" and she'll help you!

Remarkable Providences

The incredible thing about the Christian life is that trials are often great blessings. Four and a half years ago, after the 9/11 business bust, dear husband was out of work for some time. When we told the children that Daddy no longer had his corporate job and it would be a long, precarious time until the business began to pay, the older children began to encourage the younger children to trust God by telling them many stories of God's providential provision for us four years ago. What a blessing!

Our dear Lord has already begun to show his love and provision for us:

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. I John 3:14

Immediately after reading the prayer request we sent out on our local homeschool loop, a dear sister emailed, saying that she and her husband were grateful for the service and encouragement we had given as homeschool leaders and they committed to bringing us a bag of grocery essentials every Friday for nine months! Can you believe that? What sacrificial love! What commitment! I pray that we will not need this provision, but to know that they are there is an incredible comfort. May the Lord bless them a hundredfold.

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8

Last week I received a very hurtful letter from an old friend and in the same mail a great encouragement: A letter from friends saying that they were grateful for our ministry to homeschoolers and wanted to encourage us in a tangible way. It was a very tangible way, a $500 check! We rejoiced at the provision and at the kind way they had helped us without referencing our need, even making it sound like it was something we deserved -- which we do not, we deserve hell, but have been given all this (and heaven, too, said the wise man). Last night we wrote them a thank you note and this morning they told us they had only found out last night about our need -- nearly a week after the check had been sent. They had been thinking of doing this for weeks. Our dear, precious Lord, knowing the coming need had prepared their hearts and provided an answer before we even asked. Blessed be His name! May these saints be blessed beyond measure!

How could we fail to trust Him? How could we doubt when we see such remarkable providences?

OUR World Turned Upside Down... Or Right Side Up

News Flash: Escape from Cubicle Nation!

An acquaintance of mine uses a great tagline for her email account: "Whenever I sit down and relax in a comfortable chair, a bar falls across my lap and I hear a voice saying, "Keep your hands and feet in the car at all times. Enjoy your ride!" This is our life!

Many of you know that dear husband was involuntarily transferred from a field engineering position to Cubicle Nation nearly two years ago, and the long hours, long commute, and isolation -- people emailed from cubicle to cubicle (really!) -- did not make for a happy assignment. Well, dear husband has had an unexpected opportunity to escape from Cubicle Nation!

We have been talking for a year about the possibility of going into business with my brother and mother to provide a stateside sales office for the Chinese manufacturing concern run by my sister-in-law and brother. We worked on a business plan last month and were getting pretty excited about the possibilities, but knowing that it would take nine months to see any money, it just seemed like a pretty big cliff to jump off of.

Well, here we go: The rollercoaster has reached the top of the hill and Whoosh! we're headed down the drop off. I can't wait to see what the Lord does next!

The World Turned Upside Down

For many years, I've enjoyed reading the wedding announcements in the newspaper. An incurable romantic, I enjoy reading all the details! In recent times, I have noticed a worrisome trend and I invite you to test it out yourself. In nearly all new marriages in the paper, the wife is substantially better educated than the husband. Now, please understand, I do believe that women should be well-educated, particularly if they desire to be true helpmeets to their husbands and teachers of their children. However, I think that, generally, people should marry those of like religion, values, and education. I worry about those marriages in which the wife is so much better educated than the husband. How will he have the courage to lead his family if he questions his ability to interact with his wife intellectually? Will they both face pressure for the wife to continue working even after the children are born if she is earning a great deal more than he is? It happens. I saw a friend in Wal-Mart the other day who is expecting her second. She badly wants to come home and raise her children, but she's a nurse and she makes so much more money than her husband that they can't imagine making it on his salary.

The New York Times confirms that it's not just my imagination in a very disturbing article about not only the predominance of women on college campuses, but the failure of the men who do make it to college to compete in any real way with the women. How can this be for the "favored male" we've heard so much about? Well, how can it not be, with the constant stream of "Taking Our Daughters to Work Days", the constant encouragement of girls to be ambitious and "do something with their lives", with the death of boy-friendliness in the culture and in the schools? When boys who are perfectly normal are drugged into passivity for being too active, when a boy dares not defend the weak with his fists, when his only heroes are sports stars and gansta rappers? When military heroes are portrayed as evil oppressors, not the geniuses they once were?

Manhood is in trouble in our culture. It's been going on a long time and the alarm has been thoroughly sounded before. Now we are going to see the consequences: God's design for families turned upside down. The really sad thing about it is that no one is happy with the results. Men desire to lead, women desire to nurture, all are told that their natural God-given desires are unworthy of them. How incredibly pathetic.

Do you believe that those who have been fighting and fighting to remedy "discrimination" against women will be concerned about men's under representation in higher education? I don't. If they decide to pretend concern for other reasons, I predict that their solution is to make the men more like the women, just like feminism's solution was to defeminize women. The enemy always, always tries to destroy what God has wrought. Oh, that at least the church would value manhood and womanhood as God has designed it!

H/T The Drudge Report and The New York Times

A Real Life Mamahadeen

When I was growing up, I was asked again and again what I wanted to be when I grow up. I quickly learned that "a mommy" was not an acceptable answer, but saying something like "an astronaut" or "a veterinarian" brought admiration. Now that I've grown up to be a mommy and wouldn't change a thing, I look around and realize that many of my friends went through great struggles to decide to devote themselves to their families. For me, it was not as big an issue. My mother stayed home with us and gave us a delightful, secure childhood and I always wanted to be a homemaker mother like her! When she and Dad started a business and she began working, Ed and I went to work with our parents, so Mom continued focusing her Passions on her family. I grew up with a high value of womanhood and recognizing that a woman could use her talents to the fullest in the home and in the family business.

Our society doesn't value those things in women, though. Thanks to feminism, women are only respected when they act like men. It's not necessary for women to act like men to impact the world! Proverbs 31 describes a virtuous woman whose children rise up and call her blessed. She is busy in the management of her home, the discipleship of her children and her interaction with the world -- get to know her here.

Today I read the story of a lady who is a fierce warrior in the fight against terrorism -- from her home! May the Lord give her victory in battle - a true mamahadeen!

H/T WorldNetDaily and The Daily Telegraph

The Death of the Episcopal Church

How do you write a requiem for a church - a whole denomination? I am heartbroken to find out that the Episcopal Church has openly denied Christ. Yesterday they voted 645-242 against even considering the following resolution:

Resolved, the House of _____ concurring, That the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church declares its unchanging commitment to Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the only name by which any person may be saved (Article XVIII); and be it further Resolved, That we acknowledge the solemn responsibility placed upon us to share Christ with all persons when we hear His words, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6); and be it further Resolved, That we affirm that in Christ there is both the substitutionary essence of the Cross and the manifestation of God's unlimited and unending love for all persons; and be it further Resolved, That we renew our dedication to be faithful witnesses to all persons of the saving love of God perfectly and uniquely revealed in Jesus and upheld by the full testimony of Holy Scripture.

A Christian church who can not affirm that salvation is through Christ is no church at all. In case you were wondering if there was something procedural that kept them from considering this, VirtueOnline reports the position of those opposed to the resolution: "McDowell explained that how one lives his life is the more important issue than whether one affirms Jesus as Lord. " making it clear he has no understanding of:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

McDowell, Canon Theologian for the Diocese of North Carolina, further embarrasses himself and his church by comparing the proposal to the Nazi doctrines that lead to the Holocaust, according to VirtueOnline.

Is this a church anymore? Not a Christian one, anyway. May God protect and provide for the brothers who sought to have their denomination bow to Him to whom everyone will one day bow. May He give them wisdom as they lead their churches -- hopefully out of this false communion.

H/T WorldNetDaily and VirtueOnline

A Proper Education

Today at lunch, I could not restrain an exclamation of disgust as I read the news. Matt Henry asked what I had read and I told him that the U.N. was holding talks calling for global gun control. Matthew responded, "But, mom, how will they overthrow tyrants?" Ah... the glories of a proper education.
H/T Lucianne and CNS News

Differentiation

I have been noticing an increasing misapplication of Scripture that leads to serious consequences. Have you heard those who oppose war arguing that Jesus said to "turn the other cheek," or to "be at peace with all men," therefore our government has no right to pursue war? They have misunderstood Scripture. These commands are to us individually, in our own relations with other men. The responsibility of those in authority is different. The government is to "bear the sword" for the punishment of evildoers, not to turn the other cheek.

The obligation is if you are offended personally, then you should respond to the clear command of scripture and forgive those who have sinned against you, as often as necessary. However, if you are in authority over those in sin, you have a different obligation. You have an obligation to confront sin, restrain those you have authority over from sin, punish sin as you are able, and to lead those who follow you to righteousness. As you have power, you also have the obligation to protect the weak who are being attacked, even those weak not under your direct authority. The Bible gives responsibility with authority. To use the authority and reject the responsibility causes us to partake of the sin of those under us, whether our children, employees, congregation or citizens.

Let's be careful to use Scripture in a way that is warranted by the text.

A Sad Truth

This weekend I had an altercation with a brother in the Lord. What amazed me is that he would neither apologize nor accept my apology. I don't understand this at all. How can we reconcile with others if we refuse to apologize and ignore the apologies of others? I can only hope that it is because he has never been taught Biblical reconciliation.

I fear, though, that we are going to see more and more Christians without even the basic tools of living the Christian life. I hear about churches that are limiting their sermons and avoiding the music of the church in order to be seeker-friendly. Folks, if a sinner is comfortable in the church, the church is not preaching the Word of God. Romans 9:23 says, “ Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Have you ever heard of anyone who says they were saved because they felt so comfortable? When the Lord saved me, I was miserable over my sin!

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I Corinthians 1:18 If we try to avoid that teaching which the lost will not understand or be offended by, we will also avoid the power of God. The really sad thing is that not only will we see little true fruit of this kind of preaching (That is, many may join such a church, but how many are joined to Christ?); but we will also fail to disciple those who do know Christ in the church. "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." Hebrews 5:13

And so, it's a sad truth that there are an increasing number of Christians who may not even know "And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." Luke 11:4 and therefore not realize that forgiveness is not an option, but an obligation for the Christian.

The best way we can be seeker-friendly is to point them toward what they are seeking:

"For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:13-14

Early Homeschoolers

May 26, 2006
Last night during the keynote at the NCHE conference, I was grumpily chasing our toddler. Grumpily because I really wanted to hear the keynote session, but she was coming unglued. It was one of those divine appointments times, though. I met a wonderful young mother who was at the conference with her eldest and only child - who was three! I told her coming to conference would help her make the decision. She said, " Oh no! We've made the decision. We're going to homeschool." What a blessing to meet families that are so committed to discipling and teaching their children at home that they've come to spend a whole weekend at this conference! May the Lord raise up a whole generation like that.

BTW, I could kick myself for walking out without my camera phone last night. I first saw this mother and daughter when I saw them skipping together in a dark hallway. She said her daughter had just that moment learned to skip. What a sweet picture. Too bad you can't see it :-)

The FDA frustrates me to death

The FDA frustrates me to death. I am a board-certified lactation consultant and I counsel with many women who need a galactogogue - a medication to increase their milk supply. The most effective drug with the fewest side effects is also the cheapest: domperidone. Unfortunately, since it is a cheap drug, the manufacturers have chosen not to spend the fortune required to seek FDA approval and the drug can only be gotten from a very few compounding pharmacies in the U.S. or ordered from overseas, which is supposed to be illegal. The FDA also issued a warning about the use of domperidone based on reactions in a few people taking it intravenously and ignoring the real experts on its use in breastfeeding mothers. And so, most of the mothers I know in need of this medication take metoclopramide instead, even though metoclopramide crosses the blood/brain barrier and causes many side effects including depression.

Today I read a Lockerroom post by my friend Nancy Winter that suggested we didn't need the FDA. As frustrated as I am with them, I remember all too well what happened before the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. The Elixir Sulphanilimide tragedy taught us that the individual does not have the means to assure that the medication is taking himself, or worse yet, giving his children, is not diluted with a fatal poison. Europe learned this lesson with the birth of over 10,000 thalidomide babies in the late 50's. I want my medications tested on animals, and in people, before I use it.

So, what's a free-marketeer to do? Perhaps an Underwriter's Laboratory for drugs? An FDA that tests, labels for safety (like the use in pregnancy classifications already given), and then stands back? I'm not sure, but I suppose the FDA doesn't really frustrate me to death, that's what happened before the regulations.

Dearth and Ruin

The Bible says in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin. For as long as I can remember, though, the culture has been screaming that overpopulation is a problem, that people are like parasites on the earth, that it is irresponsible to bear more than two children. Who's right?

Europe is finding that God is right. No European country has even a replacement birthrate. The graying of Europe is likely to have dire economic consequences. Even Catholic Italy can't seem to convince people to have enough children to keep the country going. Russia now aborts more babies than are born there and will probably have too few workers to sustain their economy by 2020.

Tonight I read an article in Foreign Affairs in which the author was disturbed that the only people having babies were those that believed in God. Although he offers quite a few ideas to encourage seculars to reproduce, he misses the most critical thing: those who are selfish will do what is selfish; those who live by principle, will live out their principles.

We have seven children. We live by principle. We believe in God. Funny thing is, we seem a lot happier than those who only seek their own pleasure. Seems God had something to say about that, too.

China with Children

First, nearly everyone we talked to thought we were nuts for taking our children to China. Even the guidebooks have stern warnings that it just isn't a good idea. After travelling for a few weeks in China with our children, I just can't figure out where they are coming from. We and our children had a great time! Perhaps it is because we have so many children, but we found folks went out of their way to be kind and helpful to us. As Peter told us would happen, the waiters/waitresses in the restaurants gathered around our table and waited on no one else until we left. I'm sure the other diners were not as appreciative as we were. :-)

The Chinese we encountered seem absolutely delighted with our family. Whenever we stopped walking, people of all ages would gather around and ask about the children. They would say, "Are you all one family?" I'd crank out my paltry Mandarin and tell them "Yes, we have six sons and one daughter." (Anticipating the next question...) They would invariably say things like, "Lucky family!" "Happy family!" "Hero mother!" "Fortunate family" and "Hero father!" Then they each wanted an individual picture of us. This got a little old... my brother called my five year old "Hollywood", since everyone wanted a picture of his blue eyes and tow head. Poor Seth would be dozing in the stroller, we'd rouse him and say, "Seth, somebody else wants your picture." He'd sit up, smile sweetly, then go right back to sleep!

In high traffic tourist spots, we had to keep moving, or we were mobbed by the curious, but very sweet and friendly people. One guide said, "Who are you? I didn't know I was guide for movie stars!" It was interesting that when the crowd thinned out, someone would nearly always ask, "Your country lets you have seven children?" and be very thoughtful when we
explained how things are in America.

We discovered a few things about travelling with children in China: Carseats and seat belts are non-existent. High chairs are universal, but they usually look like a small regular chair on tall legs and are often called "baby chairs". If they don't have a high chair, they will go to great lengths to make a child comfortable in a big chair with extra pads and things to sit on. Child discounts go by height and the heights are absurdly short for westerners. My 8 year old was way over the height!

Leadership - Poor and Otherwise

MamahadeenWell, it's that time again. I'm totally infuriated and need to let off some steam, so here we go. It drives me crazy how so many people in so-called leadership won't take responsibility. We recently had a snafu in one of the orgs I'm involved with and everyone stood around pointing at the other guy, while the ship was going down. It's at times like this that you really have an opportunity to see how rare real leadership is. Leaders are out in front. Leaders take responsibility. When bad stuff happens, the leaders bust their behinds to fix it. Today I led. Hardly anyone saw it, but I stepped up to the plate and took care of business. Then I looked around. I was all but alone out there. Where were the folks that blew the situation in the first place. My blood boiled. Another day ruined. Another day lost fixing a mess I didn't create. Another day of putting my life aside to save the day. Arrrgggghhhhhh.

Then I took a nursing break and read a little in By Pike and Dyke by G.A. Henty. Once again, I was infuriated at the lack of leadership and lack of responsibility shown by the burghers of Flanders and Brabant. I felt for William of Orange - he always stood in the breach. He was always faithful in the midst of the faithlessness of his enemies and allies alike. I was reminded that the world is full of fools and incompetent leaders, but this wasn't about what is easy, it's about the will of God. William of Orange was God's man for that time. He kept the faith and fought for the people of God when they barely had the sense to fight for themselves. He did what the Lord would have him to do. He was a good and faithful servant.

That's what I want to be and really that's enough. Just let the rest go.

Dining Well in China

Well, we're back from our trip to China with our seven children and we had a fantastic time. I'm full of things I can't wait to share with you, but I'll start with formal dinners. Much to our surprise, when we arrived in China, my brother and his Chinese friends had planned a detailed itinerary for us, including many formal dinners instead of leaving us on our own as we had expected. We dined very well -including dinners at Yongfoo Elite in Shanghai and Ah Fat Abalone Forum inBeijing - and boy, did we learn a lot about dining in China.

First, a formal dinner is almost certain to be held in a private room, which actually adds a little ease to the situation - it becomes a private party -much like in someone's home. Dinner is served at a huge round table with a giant lazy susan in the middle. Cold dishes and salads are placed on the table first. Here's a trap: if you are deemed by the host to be the most honored person at the table, each dish will be turned in front of you as it arrives. No one will take anything from the table until you have taken some of that dish. If you don't realize this, all will patiently starve :-)

In the areas of China we travelled in, all formal dinners included shark fin soup. This is tricky to eat. Typically, you add a little vinegar from the bowl on the lazy susan and a few pieces of coriander leaves. It tastes like a wonderfully strong chicken noodle soup (heresy to my chinese friends :-). The "noodles" are the shark fin and are looked upon as a great delicacy. It helps to lift them onto your soup spoon using your chopsticks. Sometimes it is served over a candle fire, when you have eaten half of it, you should extinguish the candle if the waiter has not already done so, or it will be too hot to eat. This is one of the few things folks do seem to watch to see that you eat all of it - of course, since they may have paid $50-100 a bowl, I can see why. Two other extremely expensive delicacies you may be served are abalone (kind of like oyster, but milder), and bird's nest soup (Nothing like it sounds! Very sweet and tastes like coconut).

Oddly enough, don't be afraid to take children to a formal dinner. The Chinese are currently extremely indulgent of children and it is extremely unlikely your children will behave worse than the Chinese children present. They tolerate a lot.

Besides knowing these things, I found Chinese formal dinners to be more enjoyable and relaxed than American formal dinners. Taking portions from the common bowls, and therefore eating more of what you enjoy (do take very small portions to begin - there may be a *lot* of courses coming); the nearly universal kindness and friendliness we experienced, make it a great experience!

My forehead is getting bloody

Today I answered an email asking me for a favor and this is what I received in reply:

I apologize for this automatic reply to your email.
To control spam, I now allow incoming messages only from senders I have approved beforehand.
If you would like to be added to my list of approved senders, please fill out the
short request form (see link below). Once I approve you, I will receive your
original message in my inbox. You do not need to resend your message. I
apologize for this one-time inconvenience.
Click the link below to fill out the request:

I am stunned. Shocked. So, now you want me to fill out a form begging you to accept my email answering your question? This isn't the first time this has happened to me, so it's not just one dim bulb out there. Sorry, but if you write me, I think it is your responsibility to see that you accept my answer. Somedays it seems like the brick wall should be running blood.