from the prairie - commentary from the life of one woman in the midwest

introducing...my new blog..please drop by!

2007-03-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

thatmom at www.thatmom.wordpress.com

We are still working on some of the technical stuff so be patient. However, you can download the first podcast! Pass along the word to any homeschooling moms you might know!

stay tuned......

2007-02-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

Watch this site for the March 2 grand opening of my new blog and a few surprises!

television and abortion

2006-02-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

I came across this blog entry that addresses the lack of understanding television writers have regarding Christians and abortion. Michele has some good insights into this.....

"Recently there was an episode on ER that dealt with abortion. Abby is pregnant with Kovac's baby and decided to get an abortion. At the same time a teenager comes into the ER pregnant and it turns out that she is raped. She is not only a teenager but a professing Christian......"

Read the rest of the essay here:

sunday pot roast revisited

2006-01-16T08:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I experimented with my favorite pot roast recipe and it turned out to be so delicious that I thought I might share it.

Sunday Pot Roast Revisited
(serves 8 if you have teenaged boys, more if not!)

1 4-5 rolled rump roast
12 medium sized white or Yukon Gold potatoes in chunks
2 pounds baby carrots
2 TBS. minced garlic
1 TBS. parsley flakes
1 cup olive oil
1-2 cans sliced mushrooms, drained
2 cans Campbell Golden Mushroom Soup, undiluted
2 packets Lipton onion soup mix

In large electric roaster or oven roasting pan, pour in olive oil. Add garlic. Place roast in center,surround with carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. Spread with Golden Mushroom Soup and sprinkle with soup mix and parsley. Cover and roast for 3-4 hours, at 325 degrees, depending on how well-done you prefer the meat.

Slice and serve, using pan juices that have formed a thick gravy.

Easy and delicious!

more interesting thoughts on ecclesiocentricity

2006-01-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

Someone suggested I read these interesting thoughts on the concept of "ecclesiocentricity" after my initial posting so I did and am posting the links here for consideration. While I certainly do not endorse everything at these particular sites, there is much with which I agree in the articles and thought they might be helpful to others.

the church according to John Dewey

wife ministers

what do ecclesiocentrists say?

officers and liturgists of the synagogue

the evils of medievalism

"monstrous" woman of the week ~ King Lemuel's Mom

2006-01-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

After a Christmas hiatus, welcome to the 10th in a series of biographical sketches that I publish on Fridays. The title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their agenda for women as “monstrous.”

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Hence, the title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their stifling agenda for women as “monstrous.”

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week's "monstrous" woman is King Lemuel's Mom, otherwise known as the one who wrote the instructions for life to her son in Proverbs 31. Scholars and historians know next to nothing about King Lemuel. They know even less about his mother who penned this wonderful passage to her son. Many older scholars believe that Lemuel was actually King Solomon, an interesting thought to ponder since that would make the mother in question Bathsheba.

In conservative circles, Proverbs 31 is the key passage that explains the ideal role for today's Christian woman. For me, it is both inspirational and overwhelming. And it is well-worth reading, studying, and memorizing. It is, I believe, a passage that is meant to describe the various tasks in a woman's life, not simultaneously in one season, but rather, in various seasons of life. After all, even Wonder Woman couldn't do everything listed in this passage all at once and still be a healthy, sane woman.

King Lemuel's Mom recognized the importance of a woman's role throughout her life and the various changes that each season brings, ultimately bringing honor to a husband who was older, experienced, and a leader in his community. She saw the opportunities for ministry and commerce that would come at various stages of life and told her son to look for a woman who was a hard worker and one who wouldn't shun her duties in the early years of marriage or until she too, would become an older woman. This is what she hoped for in a daughter-in law and she made her desires known to her son, which is what any good mom would do!

Whoever this Godly woman was, King Lemuel's Mom began the admonishment of her son by telling him of three perils that could trip him up, that could cause him to be ineffective as a king. She first warned him to steer clear of women who could cause him to fail in his duties. Secondly, she admonished him to not drink wine or strong drink, knowing that it could pervert his judgement. Note, her warning was clear. She didn't tell him to drink moderately, she told him to abstain. Finally, she was aware of the great temptations that leaders might have in lording it over those under their watchcare. She warned her son of and instructed him to remember his responsibility to the poor and needy.

Lemuel's Mom then goes on to list all that she believes are important in searching for a wife, giving us the familar icon known as the "Proverb's 31 Woman."

Being the mother of sons and being the wife of one wonderful husband, I recognize both the privilege of striving to be a Godly wife and mother and the awesome responsibility it brings, both in word and in deed. What an honor it is that God chose, through his Holy Spirit, to impart these truths to all of us through the writings of King Lemuel as handed down to him by his mother. And what a God we serve who chose to use this wonderful mother as his teacher, as our teacher.

Let's rejoice together as we read Provers 31:

"The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyetha it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarletb. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

grandbaby photo of the week

2006-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

update on spiritual abuse charges against r.c.jr.

2006-01-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

The following is an update (the previous information can be found here) as of January 10, 2006 written by Peter Kershaw, a former member of St. Peter Church and one of those who has filed charges against the St. Peter session. You can read his comments here. Please note that Mr. Kershaw states that he would never have moved his family to Bristol had he known what he knows now. I hope the public knowledge of these events will serve to caution people against choosing a church that is surrounded with so much controversy, a church where, as one commentator stated is like the "Hotel California," where you can check in but you can never check out.

As I understand it, R. C. believes that there are three possible ways to leave a church...you can transfer to another church with the approval of a session, you can die, or you can be excommunicated. I am unclear as to whether or not that is also the position of his presbytery. At any rate, I would like to offer a 4th way to leave a church. Walk out the door. When you have done everything possible, in good conscience, to follow the mandates of a church BCO and have made appeal after appeal to leadership to no avail, what other choice is there? For your own spiritual health and that of those under your protection,don't even walk. Run!

Here are Peter Kershaw's comments:

I've had a number of people ask me to provide additional details regarding our departure from St. Peter Presbyterian Church. Suffice it to say we had some differences of opinion with the St. Peter church Session over what qualifies as pastoral conduct, and how far a pastors' jurisdiction extends over other men's families, including my own.

At this juncture I prefer to not go into details and will only offer comments regarding what is already widely known through various internet sources (any resourceful person can find the particulars for themselves on the internet, especially on the blogs, so please don't ask me to provide you with links).

What is already known by many is that at least one of the reasons we transferred out of St. Peter Presbyterian Church is because of the manner in which the Session "disciplined" the John Austin family. If the Austins could be censured, shunned and threatened with excommunication, even though there was no biblical basis to do so, and even though the RPCGA BCO could never authorize such "discipline," I knew that it was only a matter of time before I too would come under the St. Peter Session's "discipline." For the well-being of my family we had no choice but to get out, and get out as fast as possible.

I'm pleased to say that we were immediately welcomed into another Reformed Presbyterian church in the area, and that the pastor has been very pastoral toward me and my family. Other former St. Peter members are also members there. That church isn't likely to be a permanent home for us, as we're in the process of finalizing plans for relocating elsewhere. However, even though it's just temporary, we're grateful to our new pastor and our new friends, for their Christian compassion, and for acting like real Reformed Presbyterians. Their kindness has helped us immeasurably in getting through this difficult time.

The ecclesiastical tyrannies perpetrated against the Austin family are just the tip of the iceburg behind why we had to leave St. Peter Presbyterian Church. Though not widely known, that pattern of abuse has actually been taking place for a number of years. Several other former St. Peter members have recently written the Presbytery giving detailed reports of personal experiences with the St. Peter Session. Their accounts closely parallel the abuses suffered by the Austins. In at least two separate written testimonials the magnitude of the St. Peter Session's ecclesiastical tyranny is even far more problematic than it was in the Austin case.

Perhaps at some point I will be able to provide considerably greater detail. However, because I have filed a number of grievances against the members of the St. Peter Session to the Westminster Presbytery of the RPCGA, it would be problematic to make detailed public disclosures over those matters, at least until such time as Presbytery renders a verdict (at present the Presbytery is investigating the charges and will soon set a date for trial). Whatever I do say at that time I trust can be gracious. Moreover, I trust that the verdict of Westminster Presbytery will speak for itself in conclusiveness and render any comments of my own redundant.

However, at this juncture there isn't much I can or should add, other than what follows, and what follows deals with the issue of the sometimes rather heated discussion now taking place on the internet regarding RC Sproul Jr and the Session of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church. The St. Peter Session would much prefer things be kept private, which is quite understandable. Others believe that the nature of the offenses committed by the St. Peter Session warrants public exposure, discussion and debate. What follows are some factors to consider in reaching your own determination in the matter.

RC Sproul Jr is a controversial man. That never troubled me because I too am known as being a bit controversial. However, I believe that it's possible to be controversial and yet not make a habit of offending people. I believe that it's possible to be controversial without taking pride or delight in infuriating your audience.

RC Sproul Jr acknowledges that he has offended many, and has even made a number of enemies over the years. From time to time some of RC Sproul Jr.'s adversaries vent publicly against him. That would be nothing new. However his treatment of the Austin family has provided considerable new incentive for bloggers and grist for the blog mill.

Now it would seem that there's even just that much greater degree of venting currently taking place against RC Sproul Jr, and much of it is over his ordering the shunning of the John Austin family by St. Peter Presbyterian Church.

RC Sproul Jr has offended many people over the years through his squiblog and articles in Every Thought Captive. He's even publicly slandered a number of people through his Open Letters. Two persons have recently filed grievance letters to Presbytery over RC Sproul Jr.'s public slanders against them in Every Thought Captive. Since the folks that RC Sproul Jr. publicly slanders aren't his supporters anyway, and since no one to date has sued him for libel, he's probably come to believe that he's had little cause for concern for exercising such unpastoral conduct.

However, it would seem that RC Sproul Jr. has some disaffected right within his own church. Former St. Peter Presbyterian Church member Rick Saenz posted "the Austin letters" on his Cumberland Books web site, but he posted no links to that specific page. The only people who were informed of that page were St. Peter members, and it was, therefore, from one of those St. Peter members that the source of a "leak" originated.

Now that "the Austin letters" have been leaked to the public there has been a great deal of internet chatter about it. Every day people send me emails with links to new blog discussions. Some of it may be healthy, but a great deal of it probably is not. While I can appreciate people's frustrations, for my part I would much prefer first having Westminster Presbytery adjudge the matter. After that has happened then let the court of public opinion be called into session.

On the other hand, I can see a valid basis for the concerns that some people have about feeling obligated to shine some light on the St. Peter situation. Some of the concerns being aired appear to be from one or more current St. Peter members, likely posting under aliases. There are yet others who say they have visited St. Peter Presbyterian Church, and have witnessed first-hand things that have troubled them, are also posting their comments and concerns.

Several St. Peter members have argued that it is inappropriate for anyone to be publicly discussing the problems of their church, whether it be discussion by their own members, or former members, and particularly outsiders. Perhaps so.

Certainly, it could be argued that the St. Peter Session needs to be given first opportunity to correct its transgressions. I quite agree, which is precisely why only one of the three letters that I prepared, detailing a litany of very serious allegations against the St. Peter Session, was made available to St. Peter members -- specifically "the Austin letter." The other two letters chronicle even far more serious allegations. However, since they are transgressions that are unknown to any current members (several former members are quite aware and, in fact, left St. Peter over those very issues), I deemed it appropriate to give the St. Peter Session the first opportunity to resolve them. However, for the sake of accountability, I did cc all three letters to the Presbytery. I did so prior to being released from membership at St. Peter.

The principle to be employed, as it applies to Elders, is a biblical one: Private sins should be confronted and dealt with privately, and if the sin is genuinely repented of, the matter must remain private. Public sins should be confronted and dealt with on the same scale as the knowledge and effect of the sin has spread.

In my estimation, the St. Peter Session handled very poorly its "repentance" to the Austins. Furthermore, the shunning does not seem to have in any way abated. The alleged "repentance" on the part of the Session has had little or no practical effect. One can only suppose that if repentance were being biblically modeled there would be some evidence of it. As such, it should be no surprise to anyone that the shunning of the Austins has become the subject of so much public debate. That indeed is most regrettable, not only for St. Peter Presbyterian Church, but also for the Austins.

This morning I was directed to a blog where a lady made the following argument regarding whether or not it was appropriate to be publicly discussing R.C. Sproul, Jr. and the problems at St. Peter Presbyterian Church:

"What if you knew someone who was accused of sexual abuse toward a child? Would you have the same wait and see attitude? Would you still support that person, even in the face of testimony in a church court, until you had heard from the accused? Or would you act to protect and then wait for an explanation? You see, people get all would up about sexual abuse, as well they should, but they don’t take seriously spiritual abuse, which as far, far graver consequences."

I find such a comment alarming, even a bit over the top, but it does make the point. Had the Austins known R.C. Sproul, Jr.'s propensity for "spiritual abuse" (as the above blog commenter terms it), I doubt they would have ever moved to Bristol. Likewise, the Kershaws would have never moved here. There's no question but that we would have appreciated someone giving us fair warning. Moreover, the St. Peter Session has a moral and a legal obligation to provide full disclosure to prospective members.

Should others be warned who are contemplating a move here, even prior to Westminster Presbytery rendering a judgment against the St. Peter Session? There are valid arguments both pro and con.

For my part I eagerly await the Presbytery's verdict. But how well I know the challenge of being patient while Presbytery sorts it all out.

and now a blog just for fun

2006-01-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

This blog by Marc from Minnetonka is based on the premise that a picture is worth a thousand words, as if the nun doesn't prove that to be true. We were nearly sick laughing at the Christian vinyl section!

a fun blog for baseball fans, at least Cardinals fans

2006-01-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

My son, Clayton, has just given his baseball blog a face lift and just in time for spring training.

Check out The Cardinal Curmudgeon.

Clayton is an attorney, by the way, and not a baseball writer so I think you will enjoy his interesting take on his favorite team as well as comments about managing his own softball team. A fun read if you like baseball.

what we can learn from Auschwitz about blind obedience to spiritual authorities

2006-01-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is another article from The Bruised Reed worthy of repeating this week:

I recently read excerpts from a book that discussed the reasons why the German people were so willing to accept and embrace Hitler's ideas, even in the face of the terrible atrocities commited under his command. Reaserchers now recognize that in the decades prior to Hitler's rise to power, German citizens had been taught that to question authority was the same as lacking submission to that authority and that it was a punishable offense to do so.

Rudolph Hoss, commandant at the concentration and extermination camp at Auschwitz where it is estimated that 1.3 million people died in the gas chambers, recalled this about his own upbringing:

"Our guests were mostly priests of every sort. As the years passed, my father's religious fervor increased. Whenever time permitted, he would take me on pilgrimages to all the holy places in our own country, as well as to Einsiedeln in Switzerland and to Lourdes in France. He prayed passionately that the grace of God might be bestowed on me, so that I might one day become a priest blessed by God. I, too, was as deeply religious as was possible for a boy of my age, and I took my religious duties very seriously. I prayed with true, childlike gravity and performed my duties as acolyte with great earnestness. I had been brought up by my parents to be respectful and obedient toward all adults, and especially the elderly, regardless of their social status. I was taught that my highest duty was to help those in need. It was constantly impressed upon me in forceful terms that I must obey promptly the wishes and commands of my parents, teachers, and priests, and indeed of all adults, including servants, and that nothing must distract me from this duty. Whatever they said was always rights. These basic principles by which I was brought up became second nature to me."

I belive there is a lesson for us in this account.

Many of us have been taught that we are to obey whatever is handed to us by those in authority, whether it be a parent, a government official, or an officer in the church. As I mentioned in my first entry on this blog, the "outing" of the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has opened the eyes of those who are willing to see the truth....it is all about the abuse of power.

Too often a body of believers will be brow-beaten into submission by this very teaching. They are told that it is a sin to not obey and submit to everything a religious authority instructs them to do. Indeed, they are instructed that this is from God's hand, not to be questioned. While I heartily agree that God is sovereign in the affairs of men, it is certainly not an excuse to turn a blind eye to abuse.

The truth of the matter is that not only is a Christian putting himself into spiritual danger and not only is he not heeding the entire counsel of God, but he is putting those under his own authority, ie. his family and those in his sphere of influence, in the same sort of danger.

lament over abusive pastors

2006-01-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

from The Brusied Reed blog, originally quoted by
Francis Schaeffer in The Mark of the Christian

Lament

Weep, weep for those
Who do the work of the Lord
with a high look
And a proud heart.
Their voice is lifted up
In the streets, and their cry is heard.
The bruised reed they break
By their great strength, and the smoking flax
They trample.

Weep not for the quenched
(For their God will hear their cry
And the Lord will come to save them)
But weep, weep for the quenchers

For when the Day of the Lord
Is come, and the vales sing
And the hills clap their hands
And the light shines
Then their eyes shall be opened
On a waste place,
Smouldering,
The smoke of the flax bitter
In their nostrils,
Their feet pierced
By broken reed-stems...
Wood, hay, and stubble,
And no grass springing,
And all the birds flown.

Weep, weep for those
Who have made a desert
In the name of the Lord.

Evangeline Paterson

can you handle the truth?

2006-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

"There are some truths powerful enough to make even a heart of stone cry out."
Annie Crawford

Finally, one more goodie from The Bruised Reed that should be revisited this week. This is an article by Gerald Tritle, originally published in The Chacedon. As I recently heard from someone who had been personally subjected to spiritual abuse and who referenced this article, the author has encapsulated what many have experienced for themselves. My prayer is that we would read it and take from it as the Holy Spirit leads us. I daily pray for those who have experienced this pain and for those who have inflicted it upon others. May God's grace be sufficient.

Reformed Christian media are exposing multiplying accounts of elders who mistreat their congregations by abusing their disciplinary privileges. As an elder, I strongly contend that the abiding health of the church necessitates just and biblically purposeful church discipline (which I am not addressing in this article). Nonetheless, I must agree with these Reformed media that Christ's righteous, little ones are being rebuked, harassed, and even excommunicated falsely for charges ranging from the vague "failure to heed the discipline of the session" and "disturbing the peace, purity, and unity of the church" to the specific, such as "schism" and "apostasy." Elders are inflicting these very serious charges and penalties on the Lord's people for a variety of reasons, none of which are sin, but which, instead, are issues of nonconformity to the norms of so-called "church-life." For example, sheep are punished for preferring to spend more time nurturing their families or engaging in community outreach rather than attending countless, supposedly required, church services and events (beyond Sunday morning worship) or for keeping their children with them in public worship versus allowing them to attend "children's church." I was astounded when a pastor actually requested that I not attend worship service any longer due to the fact that I was "subverting" the programs of his church (one of which was children's church) by my keeping my children with me in public worship. If I had been a member there, I am certain that I would have been in trouble. I know of several other instances wherein elders excommunicated members in good standing for simply trying to transfer their memberships peacefully to other churches. These bizarre events are seconded only by the moral apathy of the congregations who allow such behavior from their elders to continue occurring.

One would rightly wonder how that in churches wherein many elders rule, wherein the very church government (i.e., a plurality of elders) exists for safety's sake, such actions could take place and such preposterous and absurd disciplinary rulings could be issued against Christians who simply may not be "going with the flow," as directed by the elders and as followed by the general congregation. Providentially, I came upon some answers that all too well define why and how these ridiculous disciplinary rulings are taking place. I have concluded that church elders and their respective congregations, who have historically relied upon their plurality of eldership for safety and for just judgments, are falling prey to a phenomenon called groupthink.1 Groupthink threatens the effectiveness of the very form of government (plurality of elders) to which churches cleave for safety and destroys Christ's people, those whose souls elders are charged to oversee. I am also concluding that sins caused by groupthink are becoming more the norm rather than the exception. I will define groupthink, provide examples of its manifestation, and suggest some safeguards to prevent groupthink from taking root in church eldership.

Groupthink is a mode of thinking that occurs when a homogenous, highly cohesive group (e.g., a church session, ruling board, committee, congregation) is so concerned with maintaining unanimity (i.e., striving for agreement) that they fail to evaluate all of their alternatives and options. Sins of omission and commission occur when elders or parishioners, while isolated as a group and under either stress or pressure, engage in groupthink and see agreement and strong solidarity as the norm. Church elders who are suffering from groupthink on a discipline issue consciously and subconsciously see the motivation to belong to the group and to conform to its rules as paramount. The covert and overt pressure to agree becomes the stealth temptation that leads group members, as well as the group as a whole, into irrational, unethical, and even sinful behavior leading to sinful conclusions and judgments.

Church elders are extremely susceptible to groupthink because they make frequent, critical, group decisions (including disciplinary decisions), regarding the congregations they serve as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. To avoid the errors of groupthink, every elder must submit himself and his proposed rulings to the Word of God. Thankfully, Reformed theology has taught us that elder authority is declarative only as Samuel Miller states in his book entitled, The Ruling Elder:

"The authority of Church officers is not original, but subordinate and delegated: that is, as they are his servants, and act under his commission, and in his name, they have power only to declare what the Scriptures reveal as his will, and to pronounce sentence accordingly. If they attempt to establish any other terms of communion than those which his word warrants; or to undertake to exercise authority in a manner which He has not authorized, they incur guilt, and have no right to exact obedience."

The declarative nature of the elders' rule according to the Word of God notwithstanding, we must all remember that, this side of heaven, even "good" elders and the congregations they serve must guard against groupthink—a mentality that enabled the Scribes and the Pharisees to justify themselves in making the sinful, but seemingly reasonable, group decision to murder the Prince of Life, Jesus Christ.

All elders, sessions, consistories, church boards, and congregations will naively deny that they could ever be victims of groupthink, unaware that no one knowingly enters into this temptation so as purposely make a bad or sinful judgment. Studies, however, are conclusive that groupthink occurs in all group dynamics. To demonstrate, most churches have elders (ruling and teaching elders) and congregational members who intimidate, who dominate meeting deliberations, who are quiet and cowardly, who acquiesce to questionable authorities, and who are self-deceived. All of these types of elders and parishioners, including good and wise ones, can see themselves as part of an in-group (they envision themselves as a godly group of folks desperately pursuing the peace, purity, and unity of Christ's church), working against an out-group (a parishioner or family that either may be sinning or is simply acting in opposition to the elders' or congregation's goals and programs).

To focus for a moment, elders are clearly suffering from groupthink if, while deliberating discipline cases, they: 1) overestimate their invulnerability or high moral stance, 2) collectively rationalize the decisions they make, 3) demonize or stereotype out-groups and their leaders, 4) have a culture of uniformity wherein individuals censor themselves and others so that the facade of group unanimity is maintained, and 5) contain members who take it upon themselves to protect the group leader (usually the pastor) by keeping information—theirs or that of other group members—from that leader.

Elders, just as the Roman Catholic machine of the 16th century, can, as previously mentioned, overestimate their invulnerability towards sin. They develop an impression that they are beyond error, for they say to themselves, "If we work together, we can't go wrong." The admirals in control of Pearl Harbor in 1941, determined that their naval base and the ships docked there were invulnerable to attack. They uniformly and cohesively maintained this position of fortification against all clear and substantiated warnings communicated to them by the Presidential Administration in Washington. You know the rest of the December 7th story. Similarly, groups rationalize that, if they think as a group, then their decisions will be right, good, and highly moral. Often, groups contemplate precedent decisions and their resulting successes to confirm this vision of inherent morality. Elders can operate in this group mentality, maintaining their inherent morality and protecting their public image. They may also say that, because there is a "multitude of counsel" present, biblical decisions, those which seem good to the Holy Spirit, cannot help but be formulated.

Elders, when under the pressure of a church discipline case, also may rationalize their favored position, which may actually be the idea of one or two very verbal leaders within the group. It becomes normal and convenient (especially if group members are tired or thinking about other issues at the time) to downplay the drawbacks and risks of a given course of action. Groupthink causes legitimate objections to a chosen course of action to be perceived as negative or "lacking faith." Groupmembers (elders or parishioners) begin to discount warnings that their thinking may be irrational, whether the warnings come from within or outside of the group.

Elders, as was also mentioned, can quickly stereotype out-groups. This aspect of groupthink allows the in-group to paint an unappealing, inaccurate, and self-serving picture of the adversary of the group's position. For example, group members who do not have Master of Divinity degrees, yet who may have a biblical objection to a degreed and "professional clergyman's" course of action, may be quickly demonized or despised in a "respectful" sort of way. While consciously denying it, the in-group is subconsciously demonizing the out-group. Stereotyping out-groups (e.g., ruling elders, homeschoolers, wine-drinkers, proponents of Christian liberty, Theonomists, and Reconstructionists) leads to premature and erroneous group decisions. The Reverend Brian M. Abshire in his Conquest of the Pod People, Feb. 21, 02, Chalcedon Webpage, depicts such decisions. He shows "obnoxious" believers to be a sort of out-group that usually and erroneously receive the wrath of elders and congregations in church discipline cases. He states that "…formal discipline is not used against heretics, apostates, church-splitters, backbiters and others who may well be pod people (Abshire's name for unbelieving church members), but only against people who are obnoxious." Abshire reminds us that some of God's children are indeed difficult to love sometimes, having rough edges, failing to relate to others adequately, and sometimes being burdensome. In response to the people who are concerned "only for the peace of the church," pressure, says Abshire, is put on the brethren with "OPD" (obnoxious personality disorder) to conform to the acceptable in-group.

Many elders in a group situation, as stated already, censor their own and then others' thoughts which oppose the group's ideas. Self-censorship manifests openly under the guise of group loyalty, faithfulness to a Book of Church Order or "the spirit of unity" and becomes group censorship. Weak elders, who fear appearing disloyal to the group or to a Book of Church Order and not wanting to go against the seemingly unified others, cower under the pressure of the stronger group members. Lacking courage and boldness, these weak men gladly conform to the strong and to their favored position. The stronger members, as they gain more strength, pressure other group dissenters into conformity, as well.

This façade of group uniformity is fueled and maintained via mindguards, wherein some elders will shield the group from exposure to ideas, discourage others from expressing ideas, and even suppress information from other sources (e.g., documentation). The silent and understood group norm is agreement, and that norm is powerful. I recall being told by a certain teaching elder that I would be removed from the session unless I stopped referring to certain opinions as being "modern evangelical" versus "Reformed." Neither the Bible nor any Book of Church Order gives any pastor the title of ecclesiastical boss, endowed with power to remove dissenting elders. My shock at this elder's statement was seconded only by my disbelief of the other eight elders who said nothing about this power mogul's actions and words.

Groupthink is not psychobabble. It is real and has been clearly documented as having contributed to the space shuttle disaster of 1986. Robert Jackall writes in his Moral Mazes that in January, 1985, a year before the space shuttle Challenger's tragic seventy-three-second flight, engineer Roger Boisjoly of Morton Thiokol, a contractor to NASA, suspected trouble. Boisjoly and others came up with recommendations to improve the shuttle's O-rings and to adhere to specifications regarding not launching below certain temperatures. The day before the Challenger launch, with forecasters predicting the overnight temperature at eighteen degrees, much lower than the fifty-three-degree minimum recommended by Morton Thiokol, Boisjoly and other O-ring team members held a discussion that resulted in a recommendation not to launch. While at first demonizing Boisjoly, Morton Thiokol's top managers afterwards recommended that NASA not launch the shuttle, given the cold temperatures and the potential O-ring failure. NASA, under the constraints of public and government pressure to launch, minimized Thiokol's concerns of probable O-ring failure and insinuated that Thiokol was not being a "team player." Under NASA pressure, Thiokol reversed its recommendation not to launch the shuttle. The next day, Challenger was launched, the O-rings failed, and the booster rocket exploded, incinerating the shuttle's entire crew. In summary, although Roger Boisjoly worked long and hard in collaboration with many others to reach a safe and ethical decision, he was, in the end, unable to resist pressure from his company's client, NASA. This case shows that ethical answers are not always easy to recognize, execute, or accept. Apparently, neither NASA officials nor the Morton Thiakol executives understood that they were making an ethically wrong choice, but, instead all pursued a vocal agreement for a launch. It also shows that the process of reaching an ethical decision can involve complex and demanding communication efforts. Ecclesiastically speaking, pressure to conform and to submit to a group's erroneous position can blind and cause to err the best of elders and congregations.

Congregations, like deliberating elders, sometimes pursue corporate agreement at the expense of righteous, biblical behavior. An example of this type of behavior can be found in an analysis of the stabbing death of Kitty Genovese on the streets of Queens, New York, in 1964, which happened while thirty-eight onlookers did nothing to help her. Christine Silk, in her article entitled Why Did Kitty Genovese Die? (published on the WWW by the Objectivist Center), explains that people, regardless of their conscious denials, take their action cues from others, especially during emergency or highly emotional events, when deciding what to think or how to behave in a given situation, especially when they are unsure of what to think or do. It should be noted that taking social cues from others often provides a beneficial shortcut to knowledge that guides our actions (as in following a friend's example in purchasing a particular product). But sometimes, taking social cues from others can lead people astray, and with grave consequences. When Genovese's murderer first attacked and stabbed her (in the middle of the night while she was coming home from work), she screamed for help. Lights went on in nearby buildings while many folks peered out of windows to determine what was happening. One man yelled from a window to her assailant, "Leave her alone." That witness then closed his window, thinking that all was cared for when the assailant left his victim. The rest of the thirty-eight onlookers assumed that the situation was managed and proceeded to shut off their lights and go back to bed. When many of these thirty-eight witnesses were later interviewed, they stated that they were thinking that someone else was caring for the situation (e.g., calling the police). In addition, these onlookers justified their inaction by declaring that they saw other lights on and heard a man discoursing with the assailant. In reality, nothing was happening toward the end of helping Genovese. Her attacker came back and stabbed her again. She screamed while again being watched by nearly thirty-eight onlookers peering out of their windows who were assured that someone else was calling the police. Nobody called the police. After the witnesses shut off their lights, the assailant came back and stabbed Genovese a third time. That time, she died. No one who saw this did anything because they all presumed that someone else was acting.

Many unsuspecting parishioners, like Kitty Genovese in the past, have become victims of congregational groupthink. Silk explains that groupthink spawns a pluralistic ignorance in which "each person decides that since nobody is concerned, nothing is wrong." It also produces an effect called "diffusion of responsibility," whereby people assume that, because others are present (e.g., in the congregation or on the church's ruling board), somebody else must be doing something about a particular situation. Thus, no individual (parishioner or elder) feels particularly compelled to take responsible action (e.g., call a congregational meeting, issue a formal complaint against the elders, call a presbytery representative, depose a church officer). The famous last words from the silenced lambs become, "I thought that he or she was taking care of that situation. What a shame that had to happen to such a nice family." They resume their lives while the injured parishioners' lives and reputations are severely damaged and altered.

I witnessed one family being unjustly disciplined in a church while their friends and many other families were stating that they "had seen this type of behavior from the elders in the past and that they were not going to sit by and let this happen again." Would the lambs be courageous? No! They were silenced, became cowardly and self-preserving ("We can't get involved, they'll kick us out, too."), and they allowed a good family to be unbiblically excommunicated. I have seen all of the data on this case. In this case, groupthink caused the elders to make a sinful decision (for which they will be accountable to God), groupthink caused the congregation to displace their responsibility to act (for which they will be held accountable for the sin of omission), and groupthink caused an innocent family to be cast unjustly out of the congregation. They are blessedly recovered from the event and are in a solidly Reformed congregation.

If we apply the knowledge of the groupthink experts to churches, we can see that elders and congregations who are engaged in groupthink tend to make faulty decisions because they: 1) fail to adequately determine their objectives and alternatives, 2) fail to adequately assess the risks associated with the group's decision, 3) fail to cycle through discarded alternatives to re-examine their worth after a majority of the group has discarded the alternative, 4) fail to seek advice outside of their system (i.e., their local church or supportive-to-the-in-group presbytery members), 5) select and use only information that supports their position and conclusions, and 6) do not make contingency plans in case their decision and resulting actions fail.

The following are some are some recommended strategies for minimizing the risk of sinful decisions that groupthink can cause:

1. Parishioners must strictly employ the criteria in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and Exodus 18:21 when choosing their rulers.
2. Parishioners must always remember that their elders are men who have been called from among their numbers. Reformed theology has wonderfully taught us that the vocational calling of an elder is no more holy unto God than is that of the truck driver. Parishioners, therefore, must watch over the actions of their elders and be prepared to challenge them respectfully and forcefully when they are sinning.
3. Parishioners should never allow organizational bureaucracy or twisted interpretations of Matthew 18:15-17 (taught many times from the pulpit to neutralize decisive congregational action against uncontrolled church authorities) to stop them from correcting wrongs. Congregational action against over-lording elders is neither "schism" nor "divisiveness," and is never a sin.
4. Parishioners should never assume that others care about and are trying to stop bad church discipline decisions from being made. Act! Remember Genovese.
5. Parishioners or elders who become the unjust prey of tyrannical elders should be vocal about their need for help. Do not assume that other parishioners or elders can come to their own conclusions about what is happening.
6. Elder meetings should always be meetings open to congregational members. When doors must be closed due to discipline cases, congregations should be allowed to choose a representative, perhaps from a sister church, to sit in on deliberations to watch over them for biblical soundness.
7. Elders and congregations should avoid isolation of the group. Isolation leads to an unhealthy and cultic environment. Strive to prevent isolation caused by viewing only limited data and by considering only a few alternative actions. And, remember! In the body of Jesus Christ, the Reformed corner of the church is not the in-group called to demonize the rest of the church (the so-called out-group). Members' cross-pollinating fellowship with other churches and denominations is healthy, preventing isolation, and should be encouraged (Acts 10:35).
8. Every elder should be allowed to critically evaluate courses of action without being judged or stereotyped as an out-group. Elders should call a meeting after a decision consensus is reached in which all group members are expected to critically review the decision before final approval is given. Individualism (diversity) at this point should be encouraged.
9. In churches where there are ruling elder/teaching elder distinctions, teaching elders should not be looked at as the leaders. In addition, the term moderator (on a session of elders) does not equal that of "leader," unless one dangerously construes the term that way. Teaching elders should avoid being directive (over-lording) and should even encourage dissent. Ruling elders must avoid passivity (being cowardly and indecisive) to a "superior" teaching elder.
10. Always consider an outside, respected, and impartial party to witness complex and critical deliberations and to review group conclusions before any final actions. An outsider may provide more options to consider and inherent risks to avoid.

Because of groupthinks' clandestine qualities, it can be a sinister snare for elders and congregations alike. To attain their collective goal of glorifying God in their judgments, all Christians, whether in rulership or not, must call upon the Lord for the individual courage to confront, to reason, and to make decisions that represent the will of God as revealed in His Word. This is a part of loving God with all of our minds. This is a part of reconstructing the visible church for God's glory. We should be especially wary to avoid the sins of groupthink in our judgments, for with what judgment we execute, our Lord has said in Luke 6:36-38 that it shall be executed against us to the same measure.

Notes

1. The groupthink specifics I articulate in this article were gleaned while attending an Air Force "Decision Making & Critical Thinking" lecture that presented summaries from the following works:

* Janis, Irving, 1982, Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decision.
* Janis I and Mann L, 1979, Decision Making: A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, Choice and Commitment, The Free Press Houghton Mifflin.
* Janis, Irving , 1972, Victims of Groupthink: Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes (2nd edition). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

everything you ever wanted to know about men....

2006-01-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

but were afraid to ask.

Being the wife of one husband, the mother of 5 boys who are mostly men now, and 5 grandsons, I think I have a fairly basic understanding of men. When I came across this list it resonated with me immediately.

Men like to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.

Be careful of men who are bald and rich. The arrogance of "rich" usually cancels out the nice of "bald."

If it's attention you want, don't get involved with a man during play-off season.

Men like phones with lots of buttons. It makes them feel important.

Men love to be the first to read the newspaper in the morning. Not being the first is upsetting to their psyches.

The way a man looks at himself in a mirror will tell you if he can ever care about anyone else.

Don't try to teach men how to do anything in public. They can learn in private, but in public they have to know.

All men are afraid of eyelash curlers.

A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually havejobs and bathe.

All men hate to hear, "We need to talk about our relationship."

Men are brave enough to go to war, but they are not brave enough to get a bikini wax.

All men think that they're nice guys. Some of them are not.

Men have an easier time buying bathing suits. Women have two types, depressing and more depressing. Men have two types, nerdy and not nerdy.

If a man prepares dinner for you and the salad contains three or more types of lettuce, he is serious.

No man is charming all of the time. Even Cary Grant is on record saying he wished he could be Cary Grant.

Men have higher body temperatures than women. Men are like portable heaters that snore.

Most men hate to shop. That's why the men's department is usually on the first floor of a department store, two inches from the door.

Men are less sentimental than women. No man has ever seen the movie "The Way We Were" twice, voluntarily.

Impulse buying is not macho. Men rarely call the Home Shopping Network.

Men who listen to classical music tend not to spit.

Men are self-confident because they grow up identifying with superheroes. Women have bad self-images because they grow up identifying with Barbie.

When a woman tries on clothing from her closet that feels tight, she will assume she has gained weight. When a man tries something from his closet that feels tight, he will assume the clothing has shrunk.

Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause, you gain weight and get hot flashes. With male menopause, you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles.

Men forget everything. Women remember everything. That's why men need instant replays in sports. They've already forgotten what happened.

manna on Monday

2006-01-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

And now for some sane views on church authority...

Yesterday and providentially, our pastor continued his teaching through the book of Acts as he preached on what he calls his favorite passage in the book, Acts 20:28. In part two of his three part series on these verses, he made the following observations:

* This passage is directed to the church leaders in Ephesus but there is application for all of us in that the principles of authority and leadership are the same in the home and workplace.

* Elders and pastors are to keep watch over themselves. He made the analogy that Christians are to be like tools and instruments...they cannot rightly perform the work they are called to if they are not kept sharp and tuned.

* We are not to underestimate the ruin that can be caused by an unwatched life within the body of Christ.

* We keep watch over ourselves in 4 areas as described in Acts 20:28:

by being concerned for our own sanctification and the sanctification of others,
by being courageous in declaring the Gospel, becoming watchmen on the wall as described in Ezekiel 33:2,
by being content with material possessions
by showing compassion for the weak and needy

Good stuff...stay tuned for part three next week.

ecclesiocentricity another name for ecclesiolatry

2006-01-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

And speaking of nutty views of church authority, check out this blog by a PCA pastor in the Peoria area. Note the lack of scholarship and exegesis. As an astute young man pointed out to me recently, it is all this guy's opinion because you cannot find any Scripture to back up what he is saying. And note that there is no place for comments, which is not surprising given the overall message that truth begins and ends with this man himself. Can anyone take this stuff seriously, I ask you.

In an interesting related article, Andrew Sandlin had this to say regarding "ecclesiocentricty":

"One of the most injurious errors in the history of Christianity is when the church is identified with the Kingdom of God. Jesus said very little about the church and very much about the Kingdom, and He did not equate the two. Nobody else in the Bible did, either. This is just a fiction dreamed up early in the Western church in the attempt to conform it to the structures of the collapsing hierarchical Roman Empire by which it was surrounded, and this view was later passed on to the Protestants (and even in the Westminster Confession). The church is a local assembly of Christians, but the kingdom is the rule of God by Jesus in the world, wherever that may be (1 Cor. 15:23-28). This means that Christian schools and businesses and politics and music and pro-life and family and campus and cultural ministries and so on are (or should be) within the Kingdom of God, even though they are not the church. The church should not try to monopolize these aspects of the kingdom. Sometimes I hear well-meaning Christians say, “All ‘para-church’ ministries are anti-Biblical.” They have yet to find a Bible verse for this assertion. They believe that if the church isn’t doing it, it shouldn’t be done. The problem with this is that God’s plan in the earth is bigger than the church, which is to be sure a vital part of it. The family is a basic ministry in God’s plan. It should be a part of the church, but it is not the church. It has its own calling separate from the church (Gen. 1:26-28). The same is true of the state (Rom. 13:1-7). It is not a part of the church, though it is God’s minister and subject to His authority. The state should be a part of the Kingdom of God in Jesus, yet it is not the church. “Ecclesiocentricity” (church-centeredness) subverts the Lordship of Christ by arrogating to itself tasks and institutions beyond its purview. So, the church is not the Kingdom."

rc sproul jr accused of spiritual abuse

2006-01-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

The latest pimple on the face of reformed Christianity comes out of Bristol, Tennessee where R. C. Sproul Jr. and his fellow elders have been accused of spiritual abuse. From what I can gather by reading around the blog world, his presbytery is still investigating the charges.

The Austin family, who moved to Bristol to be a part of Sproul’s agrarian community called St. Peter Presbyterian Church, felt they had been victims of the typical “bait and switch” where they were told they only needed to subscribe to the Apostle’s Creed to become members and then had their consciences pressed when they would not agree that baptizing a handicapped child would guarantee her salvation. When the Austins chose to leave the church, the congregation was instructed to shun them and they were threatened with excommunication for not keeping their membership vows.

Months of conflict passed by until a rather weak apology and a membership release were both sent to the Austin family after the threat of a lawsuit was made by another church member. You can read the proverbial paper trail here, the Austin’s personal journey here, and commentary by anonymous “Jim” here, which is itself so sad, as the fear he is experiencing as he tries to plan his “escape” from St. Peter’s proves that the charges of spiritual abuse are true.

This has probably been a long time in coming. Verbal and emotional abuse of women and alcohol abuse have already been widely acknowledged with this group so why should it surprise anyone that over-lording would be next in order to silence concerned church members? Can you say contumacy?

Reading the documents was eerily too familiar to me. When our family experienced a situation similar to that of the Austin family, all the same elements were there…intimidation, warnings to other church members to shun us, public pronouncements of our disobedience to the elders (asking questions = rebellion remember), excommunication, alcohol abuse, conscience-binding, the list seems endless.

The bright light in the R.C. story seems to be Rick Saenz who had been a part of the session and who had failed to take a courageous stand. The documents include a letter he wrote to the Austins asking them for forgiveness for his cowardice during their time of crisis.

My most interesting observation, as it was in our own situation, however, is the fact that R. C., while proclaiming his distorted views of church authority, was reluctant to come under the authority of his own presbytery. How this is handled in the future will be interesting to watch; hopefully their presbytery will take their calling more seriously than our's did and actions will follow mere words.

And after reading through the numerous commentary, I have come to the conclusion that some of this half-baked doctrinal stuff seems to show up most often alongside too much alcohol. "I've only had 5 beers dude, but this excommunication stuff is looking pretty good right now....burp burp burp"..... Hmmmm.......

so many great books, so little time

2006-01-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Our home improvement project for the winter will be to add more bookshelves to the library, choose and install new ceiling moldings, paint all wood and woodwork, and organize all the shelves into some sort of reasonable order. I am so thrilled as it will mean that I will actually be able to put my hands on the appropriate book at the appropriate time and my bookshelves will be purged of all unnecessary items, making room for what else but more books!

When my Christmas tree goes out this afternoon, my favorite end table will again be in place and loaded with some of the books I hope to read during the next few months:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

Women Caught in the Conflict: The Culture War Between Traditionalism and Feminism by Rebecca Groothuis

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck,

Boundaries by Dr. John Townsend,

and a more thorough read of Heartfelt Discipline : The Gentle Art of Training and Guiding Your Child by Clay Clarkson.

I have been so inspired by my online friend, Kristin, when I see how many book she reads in one year and herself a mama with sweet little ones around her! I need to use my time more wisely, read more, write more, process more of what I read and write, and to relax while doing so, I think.

me and my dishwasher

2006-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

It seems as though it has been f-o-r-e-v-e-r since I have blogged and I hope to have several new entries by the end of the coming weekend.

We have been enjoying our family....all 18 of us under one roof for over a week....and my dishwasher has whispered "enough" several times. We have played games, seen movies, had awesome discussions, have gotten far too little sleep, and Clay and I continue to spend time with Sam's famly as he has gone back to umpire school.

So, lots more blog entries to come and some great pictures, too.

Some upcoming commentary....

* What exactly does "ecclesiocentricity" mean and why do we need to understand it?

* What does foot binding have to do with high heels and corsets? And, of course, does it have anything to do with hyperpatriarchy?

* New Year's resolutions...some good ones to ponder.

* Monstrous women from the pages of Scripture

Christmas travelers soon to arrive ~ day 1

2005-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

The stockings are hung in my hallway with care knowing the grandbabies soon will be there.

The first of the out of town family arrives tomorrow. The guest room is clean, there are fresh towels, and two portable baby beds are in place. I have pancakes and bacon for breakfast and whipped cream for the coffee. The packages are wrapped and the kitchen floor has been mopped. I look around and love my cozy home, the walls aching for the sound of my children once again crowding around the table.

We are a family of storytellers and I can't wait for hot tea and stories, both old and new, as we feast, share, and rejoice in another Christmas, another year of God's goodness to all of us.

got me a college girl Christmas surprise from Emily and salon.com

2005-12-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

Several months ago our college girl blog was approached by journalist, Emily Biuso, to write an article for Salon.com. Several of us were interviewed and this week the article was published. We were pleased with the finished product and felt that Emily did a great job of capturing what our goals are for college girl. We also look forward to having many more opportunitites to discuss the benefits of a college education for Christian women.

Christmas music ~ day 2

2005-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we attended two awesome events that brought the joy of Christmas to us in very musical ways. The first one was the Winter Recital for Greene Bird Studios. Our son, Joe, played the piano both as a soloist and as an accompanist for Mollie's Kindermusik students. There were several highlights of the event...sweet little Henry playing in the Kindermusik ensemble, Justin Craigmile's rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas, and one of the little Herr boys, I'm not sure which one right now, playing a Santa Claus jazz piece. He is only 6 or 7 and this is his second year of lessons but we are expecting great things from him in the future. Oh, and Aaron's composition student, Kyle Motsinger, the guy I refer to as "Andrew Lloyd Motsinger" sang two of the songs from the musical he is writing. The icing on the cake was hearing Mollie and Aaron on piano and trombone. We all went to Mollie's cozy home for a reception following the recital...the cheese ball alone was worth the trip!

The next day we went to the Christmas concert at Bethany Baptist Church where we spent two glorious hours listening to both familiar and new songs praising God for the birth of His Son, Jesus. For me, the most beautiful part of the day was seeing the live Nativity with a newborn baby boy and his own Mama in the roles of baby Jesus and Mary. It was no less than stunning.

I think, perhaps, the greatest part of the Christmas season is the music. Today I will bake cookies and prepare the guest room for my family who will arrive tomorrow morning. The packages are nearly all wrapped, my pantry is full, thanks to the $800.00 grocery trip to Sam's Club, and I will listen to wonderful carols as I anticipate the coming celebrations. Today's play list includes Chrismas Star by the Cambridge Singers and the Three Tenors Christmas.

the Christmas the shepherds knew ~ day 3

2005-12-22T04:23:00.000-08:00

God, in His sovereign goodness and mercy to me, has been teaching me a wonderful lesson the past few weeks. Or maybe, I should say, He is reteaching and reminding me of His plan for my life, of His watchcare over me.

Last weekend I was so blessed to hear one of the shepherds in a Christmas concert, speak about "his" response to the pronouncement of Christ's birth, lowly shepherd that he was. He reminded us that the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was handed down to the poorest and lowliest of men rather than to the religious or political rulers of the day. What a refreshing and wonderful thought....if He revealed Himself as the Incarnate God come to earth to these people of lowly estate, He may certainly reveal himself to me as well. There is no need for a priest, a pastor, an elder, or any mediary to speak to me on God's behalf. My access to the throne of grace is real and sure and not encumbered by any earthly advocate. I may approach God only because the Lord Jesus Christ has purchased me as His won.

I think it must have really made the religious leaders of the day furious on pondering this truth years later. I know it still makes some religous leaders mad today when they cannot control how God works in the lives of His elect, when they cannot micromanage God.

I also received this wonderful piece in an e-mail newsletter from Jeff Myers and wanted to share it here. May you be as blessed as I was.

GOOD NEWS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
by John Carpenter

Most of us don't know a whole lot about shepherds. When you thumb through the classifieds in the paper, you'll not find many ads for them. Personally, I always think of children wearing their dad's bathrobes in a Christmas play.

Shepherds weren't admired in biblical times. They were called loathsome in Genesis. In fact, being a shepherd was sometimes considered a punishment.

The shepherds were despised by the orthodox "good" people of the day. Shepherds were quite unable to keep the details of the cremonial law; they could not observe all the meticulous hand washings and rules and regulations.

Because they worked in an unclean profession, the rules of the temple worship would have prohibited them from entering into its courts. Now think about this for a minute. They were tending to lambs that the priests would use in sacrifice for the sins of those who were worthy to enter the temple gates, but not for them because they were unworthy.

Shepherds were the lowest of the low vocationally. Most Jews would have nothing to do with them. Isn't it interesting then that God chose these lowest of the low to be His heralds to announce the birth of His son on earth? Notice that in Luke 2:17, Luke writes, "Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child."

In essence, these uneducated, unclean, unsacrificed-for men were chosen by God to be the first preachers of the Gospel, the first missionaries bringing the good news.

And how did they respond?

Did they question the logic of a King being born in a poor hamlet like Bethlehem or research the historical prophesies, or debate whether they were even allowed to enter a filthy, dirty stable, as the Pharisees would have undoubtedly done?

No. Once they had picked themselves up off the ground where the sudden appearance of all the armies of Heaven must have knocked them, they knew immediately what to do. They believed. "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem!" they exclaimed, and they ran to Bethlehem. It might have been a mile; it might have been five miles; we don't know. But they ran.

We don't know what transpired after the shepherds found Jesus, but we do know their excitement was undiminished because then they ran to tell everyone what had happened. They didn't care that the townspeople might turn up their noses at them; they had to spread the good news. They believed. They ran. They told.

The shepherds were overlooked and looked down upon by their culture, but not by their God. He chose them for a most special job.

Christ chose to identify himself with them. "I am the Good Shepherd; My sheep hear my voice," he says, and thus transforms this most ignoble of professions into the most noble. Perhaps some of those rough, dirty shepherds who first announced his coming were in the crowd thirty-some years later when the Son of God chose to identify himself with their profesion. What a blessing for them! Their memory would have taken them back to what the angel first said to them.

Listen to the words of the angel one more time: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people;" For all the people. Even shepherds. Even you and me.

west side neighborhood association Christmas ~ day 9

2005-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

Our neighborhood association has encouraged outdoor Christmas decorations again this year with the centerpiece being a nativity. The community college art department provided the life size characters and it really is quite nice. And in a much better location this year. For more than a decade it sat at the corner at the end of our street and then the house was sold and Halloween celebraters who loved the macabre moved in. So last year the family agreed to allow the nativity to be set up but, perhaps in silent protest, their Frankenstein monster in an electric chair remained visible, just over Joseph's left shoulder. In some ways it was prophetic but mostly it was tacky. Anyway, this year's location is much better and on a busier street to boot!

and this, from "unredeemable" hollywood

2005-12-14T13:07:00.000-08:00

I always love it when I see someone who is willing to stand in the gap, someone seeking to reform the existing culture, by God's grace, rather than retreating into a cult-like separatist mentality. So this link in my e-mail thrilled me to no end. I hope others will join me in praying for Jonathan Flora and others like him who are chipping away at the Hollywood agenda and are making a difference. I ordered my copy of A Distant Thunder this morning.

'tis the season for the Christmas Santa tiz ~ day 10

2005-12-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

The articles keep pouring in, or should I say, pouring out. The big hub-bub this year has been about some churches canceling services on Christmas Sunday so that people can spend time with their families. While I would wholeheartedly disagree with this practice,it seems as though those making the most noise about it are the same people who are all wound up about church authority and the keys of the kingdom and whatnot. Did it ever occur to them that perhaps God is working in a different way among the elders, deacons, and pastors in those churches as they hold Christmas Eve services or have week long worship services instead? Why not just rejoice in your own celebrating of Christmas and your own Sunday worship and be hesitant to cast judgement? Oh, I forgot to mention that these same folks are the ones proclaiming God's judgement on the Katrina victims. My own opinion is that God will reserve His harshest judgement for those who speak for Him in this way.

Now, about Santa. I have read too many laments through the years about this grandfatherly gift-bearer to be too concerned. In my estimation, taking on Santa is agin to taking on the banished elements of worship that are leftover after the hyper-regulative principle folks have had their way. The argument is the same....these things take away God's glory. How sad, to worship a God who's glory can be taken away by a mere man, let alone a jolly one in a red suit.

H. Clay Trumbull, great-grandfather of Elizabeth Elliot, in his book called Hints on Child Training, has devoted a chapter to adding value to a child's Christmas. He talks about the joy of anticipation and the hanging of stockings, of finding treasures on Christmas morning, of the parent giving of himself to make the morning special. He wisely said "He who would make children happy must do for them and do with them, rather than merely give to them. He must give himself with his gifts, and thus imitate and illustrate, in a degree, the love of Him who gave Himself to us, who is touched with the sense of our enjoyments as well as our needs, and who, with all that He gives us,holds out an epectation of some better thing in store for us: of that which passeth knowledge and understanding but which shall fully satisfy our hopes and longings when at last we have it in possession."

It seems to me that that is a picture of who the original Santa Claus was as told here:

"The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. Over the course of many years, Nicholas's popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland."

Christmas depression

2005-12-14T09:22:00.000-08:00

Today is “finish all my homemade Christmas gifts” day and tomorrow is my “I am finished with Christmas shopping” day. It is a good week. The fruits of my online shopping trips are piled mostly in Amazon boxes in my laundry room patiently waiting to be lovingly wrapped and ribboned. Though it seems like a daunting task when I look at it now, it will be invigorating once I start. I like to pray for the gift recipients as I wrap their gifts, asking God to bless them with blessings far beyond the simple ones I will give.

Psychologists and counselors tell us that they are apt to see more clients during the Christmas holiday season than at any other time of the year. While many of us are enjoying the warmth and joy of Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth and the delight of fellowship with family and friends, others are struggling with the pain that comes to them, some in overwhelming ways, during this time. I believe that many people have connectors back to past Christmases that remind them of either happier times or sad ones and the memories will bring about depression whether they realize what is causing it or not.

I can well understand this since I have the same experience every year at this time. We have lost 3 of our parents during this season as well as several close friends. I have miscarried twice during Christmas. Some of my most difficult times of spiritual wrestling have come during the Christmas season. My dear friend, Renee, lost her husband in a terrible accident 3 days before Christmas 2 years ago. Her Christmastime will never be the same, and neither will mine as I seek to bear her burden.

A few weeks ago I was in the Christmas section of K-Mart and suddenly felt a terrific sadness come over me, a deep heaviness resting on my heart. I wanted to leave, I wanted to cry. What was it that triggered these overwhelming emotions? I don’t know. Sometimes the music will take me back to a time, a story from long ago. Other times it might be a certain holiday food or a smell. One year I was in the hospital preparing for surgery after the loss of our baby and the television in the waiting room was broadcasting live coverage of American troops landing in the Middle East. The room was decorated for Christmas and I can still picture how it looked and the feelings I was experiencing that morning. That moment will forever be in my basket of memories.

Other times I am brought back to the first few years of our marriage when we had three little ones. There wasn’t much money in those days but we were all so happy, living in a farmhouse with no storm windows, dirty, yucky coal heat, and often ice in the toilet bowl in the coldest of Decembers. It was in those days when we established our family Christmas traditions, ones we still have today...a tree from the tree farm, handmade stockings, lots of Christmas music, special treats. Those memories are both sad and happy and I will carry them forever.

Sunday we sang this song and what a blessing it was to me as I thought about its application for those of us who celebrate Christ’s birth and resurrection at this most wonderful time of year. In the midst of our manmade joys and our fleshly struggles, God’s Word, His Son, Jesus, who IS the Word and who was made flesh to dwell among us, to experience our temptations and who is acquainted with our grief, yes, His Word and words abide with us. Amen.

Ancient Words
By Michael W. Smith

Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart.

Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home.

CHORUS:
Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world.
They resound with God's own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart.

We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

the Christmas tree and other Campbell legends ~ day 11

2005-12-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

One family traditon is the procuring and dressing of a tree from Grady's tree farm.

No, this is not our tree nor is it men from the Campbell household loading it, especially not this year since our current tree is on the small side.

Our annual trek to the tree farm came on a blustery cold day but was warm in the fun of children, especially Henry as he helped to cut down a tree for both his home and another one for Grandma and Grandpa.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-12-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the ninth in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays. The title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their agenda for women as “monstrous.”

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Hence, the title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their stifling agenda for women as “monstrous.”

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week's "monstrous" woman is Joni Eareckson Tada, a woman who has inspired several generations through her testimony of God's faithfulness to her in the midst of overwhelming personal struggle. Not only has she been an example in her own life, but God has used her mightily to teach and instruct both men in women as the body of Christ seeks to minister to those with physical limitations.

Disabled at the age of 17 in a diving accident, Joni Eareckson Tada found the strength and courage to live as a quadriplegic by relying on the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. During two years rehabilitation, she learned to paint using a brush held between her teeth.

Today she is an internationally known mouth-artist, author, speaker and radio host. She founded 'Joni and Friends' to offer hope to hurting people by sharing her own experiences. Above all, she is an enthusiastic and highly effective advocate for those with disabilities.

Her first name is recognized in many countries of the world due to her best-selling books, including her autobiography Joni. World Wide Pictures’ full-length feature film JONI, in which Joni recreated her own life, has been translated into numerous languages and shown in scores of countries around the world.

Joni’s role as advocate for disabled persons led to a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability for three and a half years, during which time the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

Through her work with Joni and Friends, she records a five-minute radio program, "Joni and Friends," which is heard daily on over 700 station outlets as well as raising disability awareness. Joni is a sought-after conference speaker both in the U.S. and internationally. She is also a columnist for Moody Monthly magazine.

Joni serves on several boards, including the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization as a senior associate for evangelism among disabled persons. She also serves in an advisory capacity to the American Leprosy Mission, the National Institute on Learning Disabilities, Love and Action, Christian Blind Mission International and as a Trustee of the Riverside Foundation.

Joni was named "Churchwoman of the Year" in 1993 by the Religious Heritage Foundation. She was the first woman to be honored by the National Association of Evangelicals as their "Layperson of the Year." She has received the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, the Courage Award of the Courage Rehabilitation Center, the Award of Excellence from the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, the Victory Award from the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the Golden Word Award from the International Bible Society. Joni holds an honorary Bachelor of Letters from Western Maryland College, an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Gordon College and in March of 1998, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Columbia University, the first honorary doctorate bestowed in their 75 year old history.

The author of 27 books, her best-selling and award-winning works cover topics ranging from disability outreach to reaching out to God. They include All God's Children, Friendship Unlimited: How to Help Your Disabled Friend, Glorious Intruder, Secret Strength, A Quiet Place in a Crazy World, Diamonds in the Dust, More Precious Than Silver, and A Christmas Longing, which includes reproductions of her best-loved Christmas paintings. The Life and Death Dilemma addresses the tough issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide. She explores the nature of Heaven in Heaven, Your Real Home. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty, is co-authored by long-time friend and mentor, Steve Estes. Mrs. Tada has also written several well-received children's books, including two that have received awards. Tell Me The Promises received the EP Gold Medallion and a Silver Medal in the C.S. Lewis Medal Awards in 1997, and Tell Me The Truth received the EP Gold Medallion in 1998. Her most recent books include Holiness in Hidden Places, You've Got a Friend and Prayers From a Child's Heart, O Worship the King, a book and CD set done in collaboration with Dr. John MacArthur and Robert and Bobbie Wogemuth, was just released in October 2000.

Joni and her husband Ken have been married since 1982. Ken is a high school teacher and a member of the Board of Directors of Joni and Friends. The lovely Christmas cards you see displayed in this article can be purchased at Joni and Friends.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

cozy Christmas ~ day 23

2005-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to the most beautiful snowfall. Several inches fell in the night and a flock of junkos crowded to the feeder before dawn, hoping for a big breakfast before the larger birds arrived.

I have been working on some sewing projects, staying up late at night to do the handwork while I watch the second season of the Gilmore Girls. New Campbell kid, Dowen, now has his own stocking, ready to hang with the others and today we will put up the greenery in the front hall and down the stairway. I am enjoying the fruits of my labors from past years, ornaments I made seven or eight years ago with inspiration and patterns from Debbie Mumm's Quick Country Christmas Quilts.

My little kitchen tree makes even counters full of dirty dishes a little cheerier. I am listening to John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas, a CD worth the purchase if only for his rendition of Carol of the Bells.

now that's what I call Christmas decorating ~ day 24

2005-11-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

This guy sure had a plan for his Christmas lights.

Check it out.

Christmas Bible readings ~ day 25

2005-11-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, our church handed out a daily Bible reading schedule for Advent. We are encouraged and uplifted by the message, God's continuous redemptive plan as written on the pages of the Old and New Testaments.

Another great idea is making a Jesse Tree with your children. Tulip Girl has pictures of some of the trees on her blog and The Reformed Church of America has detailed instructions on their site. There is also a devotional guide for daily family time that accompanies the project.

Daily readings:

Week of November 27th

Isaiah 40: 1-5
Isaiah 52:7-10
Isaiah 40:9-11
Genesis 3:8-15
Genesis 15:1-6
Deut. 18:15-19
Psalm 89:1-4

Week of December 4th

Isaiah 11:1-10
Zech. 6:12-13
Micah 5:2-4
Malachi 3:1-6
John 1:1-8
John 1:9-18
Mark 1:1-3

Week of December 11th

Luke 1: 5-13
Luke 1:14-17
Luke 1:18-25
Luke 1:39-45
Luke 1:46-56
Luke 1:57-66
Luke 1:67-68

Week of December 18th

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-35
Isaiah 9:2-7
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 2:1-2
Luke 2:21-35

Christmas in the air~ day 26

2005-11-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

The first year our son, Sam, was married was the first year he was unable to be with us for Christmas. I was feeling rather blue and it made my day when he called. The first thing he told me was that if he closed his eyes, he could smell Christmas at our house and I knew exactly what he meant! Between the baking goodies, the live evergreens, and the cinnamon apple potpourri simmering in tiny pots placed around the house, our home does have a distinctly Christmas smell at this time of year.

I believe that there are 5 necessary ingredients involved in setting the stage for hospitality at my house and thought I would share them here. Just remember that each of the 5 senses ought to be enlivened and you will give others an experience to remember. Here are some thoughts about enticing the other senses:

Sight

The beauty of the Christmas season is simple to accomplish with tiny twinkle lights, candlelight, or a lovely tree decorated in any number of interesting ways. Our tree changes a little each year; currently I am using plastic ornaments that look like the fragile glass ones so that the little people who come to our home won't get hurt. I also like to have framed pictures of past Christmases sitting out to enjoy and bright colored chocolates add a festive touch when they fill clear jars.

Sound

So where do you begin to list the wonderful Christmas CD/s available now? I like to have a good variety of styles and intensity of Christmas music...something for every mood. I try to wait until after Thanksgiving to bring them out but it is awfully hard to do that! Today I am listening to John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas!

Taste

Every family has favorite recipes, especially during the holidays. Last year I collected a variety of great ones from our daughter and 2 daughters-in-law and put together a family cookbook for family and friends. To prove just how important family holiday cooking can be, let me tell this story. Just last week I talked with all three of my grown children within 24 hours of each other and each of them waxed eloquent about the virtues of mashed potatoes and turkey gravy. You know they will both be on my Christmas table!

Touch

This is the time of year to pull out all the cozy throws and blankets. Tables are especially welcoming when pretty linens are used and making cloth napkins is so easy. One yard of fabric will make 4 dinner napkins. I cut 18" squares from Christmas themed cotton fabric and machine stitch a small hem. They can be washed over and over again and each year I like to add a new pattern.

Christmas countdown ~ day 28

2005-11-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, tiny tots with their eyes all aglow....I love it all.

Today we are at day 28, the 4-weeks-'til-Christmas eve day. I have my list and am ready to go. I am listening to Best Loved Christmas Carols by the Choir of King’s College in Cambridge. The smell of cinnamon potpourri is permeating the dining room. It is brisk and cold outside and I have already lingered too long watching the cardinals and juncos at the bird feeder on the west side of the house. Joe and I stayed up late last night reveling in hot chocolate topped with real whip cream and decorating the small Christmas tree in my kitchen with copper cookie cutters and a parade of angels I made years ago. Tiny containers of sprinkles sit on the counter in anticipation of their role in sparkling up cut outs of stars and miniature trees.

Actually, I spent yesterday Christmas shopping. I got up early, put in the last load of dishes still awaiting a good scrubbing from the Thanksgiving Day stuff-your-tummy-athon. I took a shower and dressed....in clean flannel jammies, Christmas ones. I brewed a piping hot cut of tea and sat down in front of the computer, armed with a list, credit card, and a reasonable budget. Since there were so many leftovers, I didn't need to think about cooking for the gang so, with only a couple interruptions, I had more than half of my Christmas shopping completed within just a few hours. No crowds, no crabby sales people, no parking space issues, no tired feet at the end of the day. It was wonderful...and not bad, considering I shop for 6 children, three spouses of said children, 6 grandchildren, my husband and my mother.

We do Christmas big at our house. I cannot say exactly why we started this tradition but we did and we love it. Perhaps it was fond memories I had when I was young, though not of my own typical Christmas day. Being an only child, I longed to have siblings to share in the delights of Christmas cheer. I also longed to escape the sad, boring Christmases with my dad's side of the family...they all wear cowboy boots and grunt (not that I have anything at all against cowboy boots but not with grunting), my uncle chews tobacco, my cousin, Roy, was once mistaken for Wayne Newton at an airport, seriously, and no one in the entire family reads...need I say more... to join the near-circus of the Hewitt family Christmas. My mother had 8 brothers and sisters. There were 36 grandchildren, though we were never all at my grandma's house at once. But there was sure to be chaos, pandemonium, and continual hubbub.

My Aunt Pearl, barely 5 feet tall, even while wearing her usual large hat, lit up the room with her smile and her laughter. My grandma's tree reached the 12 foot ceilings in her front parlor and there were presents for everyone under that enormous tree. The dining room table held cookies and candies and, of course, the Christmas ham. No Silent Night could be sung in that crowd.

So, as our own family grew, Christmas started to take on a life of its own. We started our own traditions, have our own routines. Wherever my own children may be on December 25th, they will know there is a place called "home" and that Christmas, the celebration of the grand entrance of God in the flesh, the birth of Christ our Savior, we are doing Christmas, there is plenty to eat, and the door is always open to them.

I will share some of these traditions over the next few weeks. Please comment and tell me your own experiences, things that are important to you during this most wonderful season of all.

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tiding of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.

"Fear not, then," said the angel,
"Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan's power and might.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
this holy tide of Christmas
Doth bring redeeming grace.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!"

blogs of beauty award

2005-11-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

My friend, Sallie, at Two-Talent Living is sponsoring a "Blogs of Beauty" Award and I must say this is a fantastic idea! To read more about it and to place your nomination, go here. Here are the categories:

Best Biblical Exhortation
Does the best job of bringing biblical truth and exhorting others to walk closely with the Lord Jesus. (Blog does not have to be exclusively a theological blog.)

Best Design - Contemporary
The most beautiful blog of a contemporary design.

Best Design - Traditional
The most beautiful blog of a non-contemporary design.

Best Discussion
Has the best discussions in the comments sections.

Best Encourager
Has the most encouraging blog content.

Best Frugality
Has the best content regarding frugality. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about frugality).

Best Homemaking
Has the best content regarding homemaking. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about homemaking.)

Best Homeschooling
Has the best content regarding homeschooling. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about homeschooling.)

Best Humor
Has the best humor.

Best Meet for a Mocha
The blogger you have never met and would most like to meet in person for a mocha.

Best Motherhood
Has the best content about being a mommy. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about motherhood.)

Best Quiet Spirit
Demonstrates a beautiful, quiet spirit through her blog entries.

Best Recipes
Has the best recipes. (Blog does not have to be exclusively about cooking.)

Best Variety
Has the most enjoyable variety of content.

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-11-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the eighth in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays. The title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their agenda for women as “monstrous.”

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Hence, the title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their stifling agenda for women as “monstrous.”

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week's "monstrous" woman is really an entire regiment of women, over 100,000 of them, as a matter of fact. This week I am featuring The Harvey Girls, the women who settled the western United States through humble acts of service and kindness to the weary train travelers on the Santa Fe Railroad, women who brought civilization to a pagan, godless environment that was, prior to their arrival, inhabited primarily by men and loose women.

During the mid to late 1800's, rail travel to the Southwest and Great Plains was a common, though uncomfortable, way of life for those who wanted to be part of the Great Westward Expansion. The transcontinental railway was completed in 1869, thus opening the doors of opportunity to many who had previously been unable to travel west.

British entrepreneur and restaurateur Fred Harvey set out to accommodate the dining needs of these train travelers by establishing the first chain restaurants called Harvey Houses. Having traveled by train only to find the purchased meals contained rancid food that caused severe illness to travelers, Harvey brought the fine dining of Europe to both the exhausted train traveler and the hungry cowboy.

Eventually located in train stations from Chicago to California, the Harvey Houses were destined to failure until Fred Harvey placed ads in city newspapers looking for young women who would be willing to work as waitresses. Initially, Harvey had employed men as waiters but they often spent their time drinking, gambling and picking fights, even during working hours. Harvey realized that the secret to taming the wild west would be not only linen tablecloths and fine china but gentile women whose very presence would influence both the restaurant atmosphere and the general environment of the small towns popping up everywhere west of the Mississippi.

So Harvey began hiring young ladies who could meet his requirements. Fred Harvey wanted no “saloon” women; Fred Harvey was looking for virtuous, wholesome, high-minded young ladies who would be willing to work hard and live in chaperoned dormitories. Not only were their uniforms to be clean, starched, and perfectly fitted, but the duties of a Harvey Girl were clearly defined and slackers would soon be heading home with one way tickets.

The entire dining experience at a Harvey House was a pleasant one. Ten minutes before the arrival of a train, a wire would be sent to the Harvey House, alerting the staff. Tall pitchers of ice water were placed at each table along with fresh salads. Steaks were grilled and pies were cut into the standard servings of 4 slices per pie! Fresh coffee was made and any unused portion left at the end of one train stop was thrown out. Second servings were always available for no additional charge. And all of this was done by the hands of lovely young women who were there to serve others!

In exchange for their hard work, the Harvey Girls made a good salary and were given free lodging, train travel where ever they wanted to go, all their uniforms, a laundry service, and all their meals. Many of them sent home every penny they made to help support their parents and siblings. Others worked as Harvey Girls and saved money to put themselves through college.

Stepping off the train platform in Dodge City, the Harvey Girls might encounter the stench of 200,000 rotting buffalo hides piled in a city street. At other stops there were threats of Indian uprisings or the unbearable heat of the dessert. These young ladies were not only sturdy and determined, but because they had to meet the stringent requirements for wearing the Harvey uniform, were young ladies who had a vision for service and, perhaps, a greater vision for their part in setting up households in those small towns.

Many Harvey Girls were courted by and married ranchers and cowboys. As they joined the communities, they also were instrumental in seeing that schools were established. Because many of them were Christians, churches were soon built in small towns, circuit riding preachers came, and the Gospel was procalimed in areas previously unreached! These women brought a sense of propriety to their neighborhoods and to this day many towns and cities have Harvey Girls as “founding mothers” in their town histories.

During World War II, the Harvey restaurants were turned into way stations for troop trains and the Harvey Girls often served 4 meals a day, 100’s of men at each meal. The Harvey Girls had no small part in the war effort; during 1943 alone, more than 1 million meals were served each month to servicemen in Harvey Houses across the U.S.

Though riding trains, for the most part, was replaced by car and air travel, thus bringing an end to the Harvey House chain, the mark of these incredible women will forever be written on the landscape of the old west.

For more reading about The Harvey Girls, I would recommend the book The Harvey Girls, Women Who Opened the West by Lesley Poling-Kempes.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-11-25T06:56:00.000-08:00

friday's quotes of the week

2005-11-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Heard, read, or said by me this week:

"I LOVE pecan pie."

son to mom

"I Really LOVE pecan pie."

son to mom

"I don't think I had ever really eaten pecan pie before today but I LOVE it."

son to mom

"Many people have compared human history to a tapestry. Every person you know is one thread of that tapestry and they weave in and out of your life in small or large ways as they each become a part of who you are."

son in English paper

"...so all of this is to say, please do carefully consider that there are many different Christian women in many different circumstances who come to your blog. Biblical Womanhood encompasses so much and will look different in many lives. You do have a wonderful opportunity with your blog, but also a tremendous responsibility that you will answer for someday. As a fellow writer and blogger I know this very well. In fact, for a few years I stopped writing for publication because the weight of the responsibility was so heavy on my heart. We who write do teach and will be held accountable."

wise blogger to fellow blogger

"Long ago (down on my knees)
Long ago (I setted it all)
Yes, the old account was settled long ago; (Hallelujah!)
And the record's clear today,
For He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.
There was a time on earth,
When in the book of Heav'n
An old account was standing
For sins yet unforgiv'n;
My name was at the top,
And many things below,
I went unto the keeper,
And settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees)
Long ago (I setted it all)
Yes, the old account was settled long ago; (Hallelujah!)
And the record's clear today,
For He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.
The old account was large,
And growing ev'ry day,
For I was always sinning,
And never tried to pay;
But When I looked ahead,
And saw such pain and woe,
I said that I would settle,
I settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees)
Long ago (I setted it all)
Yes, the old account was settled long ago; (Hallelujah!)
And the record's clear today,
For He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.
When in that happy home,
My Saviour's home above,
I'll sing redemption's story,
And praise Him for His love;
I'll not forget that book,
With pages white as snow,
Because I came and settled,
And settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees)
Long ago (I setted it all)
Yes, the old account was settled long ago; (Hallelujah!)
And the record's clear today,
For He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago."

Johnny Cash in At San Quentin

"Did I mention that I LOVE pecan pie?"

son to mom

random thoughts on thanksgiving

2005-11-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Mayflower Compact
November 18, 1620

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
June 20, 1676

"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present War with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgments he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."

This is the day I traditionally prepare for the annual Thanksgiving Day feast. This year we will be entertaining only our three sons who are still at home and my mother but I have every intention of making the feast nonetheless. Here is the menu for the day:

Prairie Roasted Turkey
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Turkey Gravy
Great-Grandmama's Stuffing
Scalloped Corn with Peppers
Vintage Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Relish Tray
Rolls
Pumpkin and Pecan Pies with Whipped Cream

The secret to perfect turkey and stuffing is in the amount of moisture that you add to both. I rinse and clean the turkey, using the neck for the broth in the stuffing. After rinsing the bird's cavity, I stuff it with 2 oranges, peeled and quartered, 2 sticks of butter, 1 large onion, quartered, and 1/2 cup of minced garlic. I will baste the turkey several times during baking to keep it moist.

The moisture in the stuffing is crucial, as I learned from my grandmother, who often used a dozen beaten eggs when she prepared dressing. After I saute onions, celery, and garlic in butter, I toss it with the bread crumbs. They I pour in enough broth to make the mixture very soggy. When you think you have added enough broth, add more. Bake and serve. You will not be disappointed.

The Corn Song
by John Greenleaf Whittier

Heap high the farmer's wintry hoard!
Heap high the golden corn!
No richer gift has Autumn poured
From out her lavish horn!

Let other lands, exulting, glean
The apple from the pine,
The orange from its glossy green,
The cluster from the vine;

We better love the hardy gift
Our rugged vales bestow,
To cheer us when the storm shall drift
Our harvest-fields with snow.

Through vales of grass and meads of flowers
Our plows their furrows made,
While on the hills the sun and showers
Of changeful April played.

We dropped the seed o'er hill and plain,
Beneath the sun of May,
And frightened from our sprouting grain
The robber crows away.

All through the long, bright days of June
Its leaves grew green and
fair, And waved in hot midsummer's noon
Its soft and yellow hair.

And now, with Autumn's moonlit eves,
Its harvest-time has come;
We pluck away the frosted leaves,
And bear the treasure home.

Then shame on all the proud and vain
Whose folly laughs to scorn
The blessing of our hardy grain,
Our wealth of golden corn!

Let earth withhold her goodly root,
Let mildew blight the rye,
Give to the worm the orchard's fruit,
The wheat-field to the fly;

But let the good old crop adorn
The hills our fathers trod;
Still let us, for his golden corn,
Send up our thanks to God!

Natural Woman Day

2005-11-22T00:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Natural Woman Day to all.

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-11-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the seventh in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays. The title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their agenda for women as “monstrous.”

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Hence, the title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their stifling agenda for women as “monstrous.”

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week’s “monstrous” woman is Rosa Parks. Known as the mother of the modern civil rights movement, her story is one of inspiration and encouragement for all those who face oppression and discrimination today. It is also a testimony to God's grace in the life of one person who sought to make a difference within the culture she was given.

Born Rosa McCauley in Tuskegee, Ala., on Feb. 4, 1913, the daughter of a carpenter and a teacher, Rosa attended rural schools until she was 11 and then attended Miss White’s School for Girls in Montgomery where she was trained in the skills necessary to be a domestic. Later she dropped out of high school to care for an ailing grandmother and did not graduate until she was 21.

In the early 1950s Rosa Parks found work as a tailor's assistant at a department store, Montgomery Fair. She also had a part-time job as a seamstress for Virginia and Clifford Durr, a white liberal couple; they encouraged Rosa Parks in her civil rights work.

The segregated seating policies on public buses had long been a source of resentment within the black community in Montgomery and in other cities throughout the Deep South. African Americans were required to pay their fares at the front of the bus and then to get off and then come back on through the back door. The white bus drivers, who had been given police powers, frequently harassed blacks, sometimes driving away before African American passengers were able to get back on the bus. During peak hours, the drivers pushed back the boundary markers that segregated the bus, crowding those in the “colored section” to provide more whites with seats.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks took her seat in the front of the “colored section” of a Montgomery bus. The driver asked Rosa Parks and three other black riders to relinquish their seats to whites, but Rosa Parks refused even when the other three gave up their seats. The driver called the police, and Rosa Parks was arrested. She was released later that night on a $100 bond.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the announcements were made from the pulpits of black churches and in the black newspaper, The Montgomery Advertiser, that the city buses would be boycotted. Some road in carpools, other took taxis owned by black drivers who only charged the bus fare. However, 40,000 black commuters walked, some over 20 miles to their jobs. The boycott lasted 381 days and during that time blacks were harassed and physically abused. But their tactics worked and segregation of public transportation was brought to an end. Rosa Parks, commenting on the day she rode the bus, said “I didn’t get on the bus to get arrested. I got on the bus to go home.”

There is another side to this story, however, according to Doug Patton, whose columns can be found at The Conservative Voice. Rosa Parks' faith in Christ was the driving force behind her actions.

“It is unfortunate that few in this generation who honor Rosa Parks know about the spiritual dimension of her long life, because it was Christ who was the guiding light of her years on this earth.

"As a child," she wrote in 1994, "I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face."

Once, knowing that her presence would overshadow a lesser known author at a joint book signing, Mrs. Parks requested that her colleague switch seats with her so that the public would talk to him first. That kind of humility cannot be conjured from a human heart devoid of God's influence.

When civil rights icon Rosa Parks died last week at age 92, she passed into history as a woman who stood up for what she believed in and refused to back down at a pivotal point in our country's evolution toward racial equality. Her one act of defiance was a catalyst that sparked a movement and brought about unprecedented changes in our nation.

Upon her passing, her body lay in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for the public to pay their respects, an honor normally reserved for presidents and Supreme Court justices. Before she could even be laid to rest, a bill had been introduced in both houses of Congress to erect a monument to her in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. Every politician and news commentator spoke of her with a reverence akin to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pope John Paul II.

Ironically, hardly a word was said about the true impetus behind her actions on December 1, 1955.

Yes, she was exhausted that day. Yes, she chose not to give up her seat, knowing fully well that she might be arrested. But by her own admission, she would never have had the courage to remain seated had it not been for her unwavering faith in God.

This is more than just an historical footnote, and it is not just a case of tangential nitpicking. She understood that her faith and her God were greater than the white man who wanted her to move to the back of the bus, greater than the Montgomery police, the mayor, Jim Crow, the whole structure of institutional racism and oppression….Rosa Parks has passed into history. More important, she would have told you, her spirit has passed into eternity with Jesus Christ. “

friday's quotes of the week

2005-11-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

Heard, read, or said by me this week:

“So if the difference between Christian faith and all other forms of spirituality is that Christian faith offers a relational dynamic with God, why are we cloaking this relational dynamic in formulas? Are we jealous of the Mormons? And are the formulas getting us anywhere? Are modern forms of Christian spirituality producing better Christians than days long ago, when people didn’t use formulas and understood, intrinsically, that God is a Being with a personality and a will of His own? Martin Luther didn’t believe in formulas, and neither did John Calvin. Were they missing something or are we?...

The truth is there are a million steps, and we don’t even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we may not be willing or even able to take them; and still worse, they are different for you and me and they are always changing. I have come to believe the sooner we find this truth beautiful, the sooner we will fall in love with the God who keeps shaking things up, keeps changing the path, keeps rocking the boat to test our faith in Him, teaching us to not rely on easy answers, bullet points, magic mantras, or genies in lamps, but rather in his guidance, His existence, His mercy, and His love.”

Don Miller in Searching for God Who Knows What

"The greatness of God is a glorious and unsearchable mystery, "For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great king over all the earth.' (Psalm 47:2) The condescension of the most high God to men is also a profound mystery. 'Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly." (Psalm 138:6). But when both these meet together, as they do in this Scripture, they make up a matchless mystery. Here we find the most high God performing all things for a poor distressed creature.It is the great support and solace of the saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy issues. And, indeed, it were not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence."

Jon Flavel in The Mystery of Providence

"History is a tangled skein that one may take up at any point, and break when one has unraveled enough."

Henry Adams

"History selects its heroes and its villains, and few of us resist patricipation either at the parade of at teh guillotine."

William F. Buckley Jr.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

more than frost is on the pumpkin

2005-11-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

Our first dusting of snow came yesterday in the early twilight hours; we woke to more than frost on our fall pumpkins. I guess this means we must roll up the umbrellas and place them in their storage boxes for a winter's rest. Sigh...

mo leverett

2005-11-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

My son, Ben, has reintroduced me to blues music. I have always been a Motown sort of gal so I am enjoying all the greats who influenced the Temptations, The Supremes, Aretha, etc. After Katrina hit New Orleans, I came across an article about Mo Leverett and Desire Street Ministries and remembered that I had heard Mo in concert a few years back at a PCA Mercy Ministries Conference. I googled them and ended up ordering several CD's. Their ministry to inner city families is amazing, even more so since the hurricane, and purchasing music directly from them helps to support their efforts.

Their website says this about Desire Street Ministries:

In New Orleans, down the river from the old French quarter there is a part of town that is infamous for it's poverty and neglect. Nestled in this historically diminished area is a housing project that has been ranked the worst in the United States.

Reverend Mo Leverett founded Desire Street Ministries in 1990 in order to minister to the youth in and around the Desire Housing Project. DSM's mission is to revitalize the Desire neighborhood through spiritual and community development. Now in its second decade of serving this neighborhood, DSM is seeing true transformation take place, and your investment in this work would encourage and sustain what God is doing in New Orleans.

Mo's music is awesome. His voice, a deep raspy sound reminiscent of Joe Cocker and Van Morrison, is accompained by mournful soul sounds from his backup singers, the vintage accordian, and that 70's organ the Motor City guys loved. His love for the Lord, his wife and children, for the people under his ministry, and Louisiana is inspirational. The Cajun seasoning is sprinkled through each song and the message is clear, poignant and convicting...love God with your whole heart and your neighbor as yourself. And when Mo talks about loving your neighbor, he means to do so in word and deed! Mo sings about relationships and it is more than refreshing.

Lyrics of A Day is Like a Thousand Years
by Mo Leverett from The Sacrament of Life

I wish your eyes had seen my little first born man
Half a pound of legacy within my hand
Little feet, little heart, little ears,
You know with God a day is like a thousand years.

In his mother's womb he was stitched and hemmed
For the love of Jesus his little light was dimmed
But he was warm, he was loved, in a wolrd of fear
You know with God a day is like a thousand years.

His sould flew home on the wings of angel's prayers
to a place where children come with children's cares.
Though I cried when he died, the angels cheered
You know with God a day is like a thousand years.

My wife and I held him in our arms that day
for a fleeting moment before we gave hims away
WAs it wrong to have longed to keep him here?
You know with God a day is like a thousand years.

Lindsay & Lacey & Maggie girls
Your little borther Mo is in a different world
But he would say it's okay, you save those tears
You know with God a day is like a thousand years.

Lyrics from Cajun Queen
by Mo Leverett from The Sacrament of Life

Little lady from New Orleans
Finest thing I ever had seen
She's the woman of my wildest dreams
She's my very own Cajun queen.

We got a crib in the old 9th ward
The kinda woman that I can afford
She got her lover, she got her Lord
She's my very own Cajun queen.

I love to see her in the morning sun
But when the evening sky has come
She's more dangerous than a loaded gun
She's my very own Cajun queen.

She's fine and feminine to the core
I see her shimmying across my floor
She got more tools than the hardware store
She's my very own Cajun queen.

To listen to tracks from Mo's albumns and to order CD's, go to Justice Road productions.

tortilla soup

2005-11-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

When I was only 15, I spent two weeks in Mexico City on a study tour. I can still remember the sights and sounds and especially the taste of authentic Mexican cuisine. Last weekend I decided to experiment with my own recipe for Tortilla Soup and here it is. Ole!

Tortilla Soup

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 cans chicken broth or 6 cups homemade chicken broth
1 can black beans, drained well
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 large onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TBS. minced garlic
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. basil
2 tsp. salt
12 6" corn tortillas
1 pound shredded sharp cheddar or monterey jack cheese

Cut tortillas into thin strips and place on greased or oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Turn oven off and allow to cool. Cook chicken breasts and cut into cubes. Set aside. In oil, saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add tomatoes, beans, garlic, spices, broth, and chicken. Simmer for 15 minutes. In serving bowl, place 1/2 cup. cheese. Ladle soup over cheese and top with tortilla strips. Makes 8 servings. Enjoy!

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-11-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the sixth in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays. The title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their agenda for women as “monstrous.”

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Hence, the title of “monstrous” has been given to these women as a rebuke to those who have labeled all women who do not follow their stifling agenda for women as “monstrous.”

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week's "monstrous" woman of the week is Florence Nightingale, Italian nurse and standard bearer for modern nursing practices. Her influence worldwide in the area of health care is a testimony to God's grace in her life.

Florence was born in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820. Although Italian born, she grew up in London, England where her education included the study of Greek, Latin, German, French and Italian. Her father taught her history and philosophy while her governess schooled her in music and drawing. As part of an upper class family, Nightingale and her sister were expected to grow up as proper ladies who would "devote themselves to their family, husband, society, entertainment and cultural pursuits" (Bullough, 1993).

But Florence was driven by a different dream. She believed that her attraction to nursing was God's will, or "a calling," and because of that she made many personal sacrifices to pursue her professional life with intensity.

Her family disapproved of her decision to take up the nursing profession, which was seen in her day as a vocation for lower classes, one carried out under harsh conditions in dirty hospital environments. The family's disappointment did not deter her from her goal, and at the age of 33, having studied nursing for nine years, Florence began caring for the sick.

In 1853, she was asked to work at the Harley Street Nursing Home. There, she made improvements that included better organization and training for the staff, and she implemented a system that piped hot water to every floor. She also created a lift to bring patients their meals (Falkus, 1980).

The Crimean War began and the British army was unprepared to accommodate British battle injuries and casualties in Crimea. This led to disasters such as cholera, lack of supplies, and inadequate sanitation. British Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert asked Nightingale to take nurses and help the hospital in Scoter, Turkey. On October 21, 1854 she set out for the hospital with the 38 nurses she had trained.

Entering the hospital, Florence was appalled and horrified by what she saw. Wounded soldiers lay on straw mats that lined the room like coffins waiting for burial. The floor was covered with dirt and blood. There were no hospital gowns: the men still wore their uniforms. As Nightingale passed them, each soldier tried to act stern and tough, but their boyish faces betrayed unmistakable pain. Those who were able to conquer their convulsions lay still, as if dead.

The first change Florence made was scrubbing all the injured men's clothes. Then, she spent her own money buying bandages, operating tables and other basic necessities for the hospital. Her nurses cleaned the whole hospital so there were no more germs and this helped to stop contamination and spread of disease. She is a hero because she changed the hospital and saved lives with her determination and hard work.

Florence Nightingale also changed the profession of nursing forever. Nursing was once an occupation with little respect: people didn't think you needed any special training or skills to do it, and most nurses were poor and uneducated. It was very unusual for Florence, who came from the upper class, to work in a hospital. The hospital conditions were more sanitary after she reorganized everything. Funds and donations flooded into hospitals and the patients received better care. Hospitals around the world were changed forever, and caring for the sick became an honorable profession.

The state of the hospital in Turkey was horrendous but even more challenging was the hostile attitude the nurses received from the doctors. Many did not even allow nurses inside the wards! It wasn't until the Battle of Inkerman, during which the British suffered many casualties and the hospitals became overcrowded that the doctors were forced to ask for help.

Florence sent reports back to London about ways to improve conditions and assumed care of the patients at night, moving about each floor comforting patients with a lamp in hand. This intimate relationship with her patients earned her the affectionate title of "Lady with the Lamp."

Through selfless devotion and sheer determination, Florence Nightingale transformed the profession of nursing forever. She gave dignity and honor to what continues to be a female-dominated profession and revolutionized hospital conditions, making them more organized and above all, sanitary. Largely because of her efforts, funds and donations flood into hospitals, allowing patients around the world to receive better care.

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
The Florence Nightingale Oath

friday's quotes of the week

2005-11-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Heard, read, or said by me this week:

"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not."

Mark Twain

"A human life is a story told by God and in the best stories told by humans, we come closer to God."

Hans Christian Anderson

"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for."

Louis L'Amour

"Look, Grandma, I hurt my finger."
"Oh, Henry, I am sorry. Can I fix it?"
"Yes, I need a cookie."

Henry and Grandma

"I would never insist that women have to have children to be fully female. Some women aren't mother material and some men don't deserve the children they sire. But something vital and poignant happens when one's own interests become secondary to the more compelling needs of children."

Kathleen Parker

"I lay there under the stars and thought of what a great responsibility it is to be human. I am a human because God made me. I experience suffering and temptation because mankind chose to follow Satan. God is reaching out to me to rescue me. I am learning to trust Him, learning to live by His precepts that I might be preserved."

Don Miller in Blue Like Jazz

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-11-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

november on the prairie

2005-11-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

Eleven asparagus ferns took up residence inside today, their airy coolness out of place in a house preparing for Thanksgiving. The wind has picked up and the temperature is dropping. My cat hurries past me; he thinks the leaves are stalking him and his fur stands on end. I can taste winter coming and it tastes fresh and bitter.

A long time ago I read about the concept of "connectors", those moments in time that take you back to an experience that was either good or bad. This morning the air outside smelled like Germany; it tasted like the day my oldest son was born, a day when powdered sugar snow was sprinkled on the grayness of a mountain morning. It was a nice thought, a memory of a time when I was young and had my own babies, when I was still in the spring of my life.

My son-in-law introduced me to an author who was new to both of us and it has been like meeting a new friend, so personal and reflective are his words. He says we should picture our lives like a book and ask ourselves where our bookmark is today. (I think I am somewhere in August.) At any rate, it has caused me to think alot about how I am spending my life and where I want to be through the fall and winter months that are still coming. It is making me evaluate June and July, to be honest.

Here is another nice prairie poem:

Four Kinds of Lilacs
by Leo Dangel
in Home from the Field

"Why don't you turn at the next corner,"
she said, "and take another road home.
Let's go past that farm with all
the different colored lilacs."

"That's seven miles out of the way,"
he said. "I wanted to plant the rest
of the corn before evening. We
can look at lilacs some other time."

"It'll take only a few minutes,"
she said. "You know that lilacs
aren't in bloom for long...if we
don't go know, it will be too late."

"We drove past there last year,"
he said. "They're like any other lilacs
except for the different colors. The rest
of the year, they're all just bushes."

"They're lilac, purple, white, and pink,"
she said. "And today, with no breeze,
the scent will hang in the air...no flowers
smell as good as lilacs in the spring."

"I thought of planting lilacs once,"
he said, "for a windbreak in the grove.
The good smell lasts only a few days.
I suppose we can go, if we hurry."

manna on monday

2005-11-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

from my pastor:

"We do not obey God in order to secure our salvation....we obey God because we are secure in our salvation."

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-11-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the fifth in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays.

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week I am featuring Gladys Alward, missionary and defender of the women and children in China. The following biography is used by permission from www.hyperhistory.net, a great resource for anyone who is interested in God's working out of His plan throughout the ages.

"My heart is full of praise that one so insignificant, uneducated, and ordinary in every way could be used to His glory for the blessing of His people in poor persecuted China." Gladys Alward

Gladys Alward was born in London in February of 1902 in a working class family. She entered the work force at age 14 as a parlor maid, otherwise know as a house servant. It included heavy chores, long hours, and low pay. Gladys had been going to church off and on in her life. She was familiar with the message but had no personal relationship with God. One night a stranger confronted her and asked about her spiritual need which convinced her to go see the pastor. She talked with the pastor’s wife and was saved.

Gladys' life was changed after she was converted. She dreamed of going to another country and sharing about Jesus as a missionary. This led her to the China Inland Mission. She enrolled but failed.

She worked at other jobs and saved money. One day she heard of a 73 year old missionary, Mrs. Larson, who needed a young assistant to help her in China. So with all the money she had saved, she bought a train ticket on the Trans-Siberian railway. Finally on October 15th, 1932, Gladys said goodbye to her friends and family and set out for China. She went across England and Europe without any troubles. But eastern Russia was a dangerous war zone as it struggled to take advantage of China. When she wasn’t allowed to go any farther on the train, she got off and walked in the snow to the nearest station. Her passport was stolen from her. Because of these prroblems she was forced to take a boat to Japan and then to China. From there she rode a train, a bus, and a mule to get to the city of Yangchen. She only could have gotten there with the help of God

With not much of a welcome party Gladys started missionary work at an inn for muleteers. At the inn was Mrs. Larson and Yang, a Chinese Christian, the cook. The inn would give shelter for the mules and a place for the muleteers to eat and sleep. While the muleteers would eat, Mrs. Larson and Gladys would tell them Bible stories. But because Gladys was a foreigner she was not easily trusted.

Gladys was slowly but surely learning the language. But only 8 months after she arrived, Mrs. Larson became sick and died. Now Gladys had no way of getting any income. A few weeks later, the Mandarin of Yangchen came and asked Gladys to become the official foot inspector. This job was to go around and tell people that binding girl’s feet was illegal and then to unbound them. The Mandarin needed someone with big unbound feet. Gladys accepted knowing that she could spread the gospel more.

So she went visiting houses and revisiting houses again to check on the girls and people started to get to know her. Two years after she went to China the Mandarin asked Gladys to stop a riot in the prison. Depending only on God, Gladys walked into the prison. The men were killing each other and it was a bloody mess. Gladys commanded them to stop and tell her what was wrong. They were tired of being cooped up and needed food and work. From then on Gladys was known as “Ai-weh-deh” which means “Virtuous one.”

Once she saw a beggar on the road with a very sick child beside her. She bought this child for nine pence, for which she was later called. She fed her and adopted her. Her family grew. One day Ninepence brought in a boy saying that she would eat less in order to keep this boy, later naming him Less. In 1936 Gladys became a Chinese citizen and continued dressing like the people around her.

In 1938, the war happened between Japan and China which later resulted in WWII. Japan was invading China. Japan started dropping bombs on Yengchen. All the people escaped into the mountains and the Japanese came into the city. Then the Nationalist army drove them out and the people settled back into regular life until more bombs were dropped on Yangchen and the whole thing would start over again. But by now Gladys had a ransom on her head - dead or alive. She was doing a little spying on the Japanese.

Gladys had about 100 orphans that she felt needed to go to a safer city. Gladys with 100 children trekked for 12 days toward the city of Sian to an orphanage. On the 12th day she was at the yellow river with no way to get across. She and the children prayed and sang to God. A Chinese officer on patrol heard them and took them across. Finally safe in Sian, Gladys collapsed with Typhoid and delirium for a couple of days.

Once Gladys got better she resumed ministering in the new region to lepers, prisoners, and she also started a church. Gladys was still very weak and ill and never quite regained her strength. In 1949, after nearly 20 years in China, she finally went home to England. There she received lots of publicity and even dined with Queen Elizabeth. She stayed in London for 10 years because China had closed its doors because of Communism. She wasn’t comfortable in England. When she went back, she went to Hong Kong and Formosa and opened orphanages and ministered to people there until her death in China in 1970. She was 68.

Gladys was a very faithful missionary and although experienced lots of troubles, she kept her faith and hope in God. In the world’s eyes, she may not have done very much, but she helped many “small” people and did without so that many could know the richness that comes from God. The world would be a better place if there were more people like the "insignificant, uneducated, and ordinary" Gladys Aylward.

friday's quotes of the week

2005-11-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Heard, read, or said by me this week:

"And this is precisely why we attempt to chart God, because we want to be able to predict Him, to dissect Him, to carry Him around in our dog and pony show. We are too proud to feel awe and too fearful to feel terror. We reduce Him to math so we don't have to fear Him, and yet the Bible tells us fear is the appropriate response, that it is the beginning of wisdom."

"We dream of Christ's love for His bride reading like Romeo and Juliet, two equals enflamed in liberal love. I think it is more like Lucentio's pursuit of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. That is, the groom endearing the belligerent bride with kindness, patience, and love.

Our "behavior" will not be changed long with self-discipline, but fall in love and a human will accomplish what he never thought possible. The laziest of men will swim the English channel to win his woman. I think it is worth repeating that by accepting God's love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel we need to obey. In exchange for our humility and willingness to accept the charity of God, we are given a kingdom. And a beggar's kingdom is better than a proud man's delusion."

Don Miller in Blue Like Jazz

The Summer-Camp Bus Pulls Away from the Curb
by Sharon Olds
from Good Poems for Hard Times
selected and introduced by Garrison Keillor

Whatever he needs, he has or doesn't
have by now.
Whatever the world is going to do to him
it has started to do. With a pencil and two
Hardy boys and a peanut butter sandwich and
grapes he is on his way, there is nothing
more we can do for him. Whatever is
stored in his heart, he can use, now.
Whatever he has laid up in his mind
he can call on. What he does not have
he can lack. The bus gets smaller and smaller, as one
folds a flag at the end of a ceremony,
onto itself, and onto itself, until
only a heavy wedge remains.
Whatever his exuberant soul
can do for him, it is doing right now.
Whatever his arrogance can do
it is doing to him. Everything
that's been done to him, he will now do.
Everything that's been placed in him
will come out, now, the contents of a trunk
unpacked and lined up on a bunk in the underpine light.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-11-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

"limited amusement"

2005-11-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

I found this on a mystery blog and it seemed to be providential, so I had to share it.

one good lookin' guy

2005-11-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

fierce love

2005-11-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

My friend, Vicki, and I were talking the other day about vindication, vindication in the short term and in the long term as well. We also discussed what happens when someone is never vindicated in this life. Then I came across this poem and thought it seemed appropriate. So this is for my dear friend, Vicki.

He Thinks Of Those Who Have Spoken Evil Of His Beloved
by William Butler Yeats.

Half close your eyelids, loosen your hair,
And dream about the great and their pride;
They have spoken against you everywhere,
But weigh this song with the great and their pride;
I made it out of a mouthful of air,
Their children's children shall say they have lied.

manna on monday

2005-10-31T21:54:00.000-08:00

Our pastor continues to preach through the book of Acts, yesterday stopping in Acts 18 and telling us what it means to have a faith that is complete. We are nourished and refreshed, on hyper-everything detox.

The six marks of a complete Christian as demonstrated by Apollos:

* thorough knowledge of the Bible and a hunger to mature
* great passion for God that is contagious
* proclaiming the truth with boldness
* eagerly receiving the Gospel and humbly learning from others
* having a helpful ministry to God's people
* courageously refuting false doctrine

Not only was I blessed beyond measure by the message, but the music was so worshipful and inspiring, nothing in a minor key, not a single dirge. I wonder if this is what music in heaven will be like; I wonder what kind of amps God uses in His praise band.

oh, the glories of an october day

2005-10-31T21:41:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that October has come and gone. We live on the most beautiful street in all of Canton. The two maple trees in our front yard are the last on the block to turn and today they are a vibrant yellow. Rain has fallen most of the day, causing them to lose their leaves more readily. Jude and I spent the afternoon being cozy, snuggling on the couch, commiseratng together about how awful it is to get new teeth. I pulled out the cookbooks again today, looking for new recipes to try in the crockpot. K-Mart and Walmart tell me it is Christmas time but I would like to meander through November rather than race toward the twinkle lights.

My First Morning Milking
by Leo Dangel

I walk to the barn before a sign
of morning. The stars are sparks
in a black sky. Yellow light
from a window is on the blue snow.

Then my father and I
carry the milk pails to the house.
We bend over the sink, our heads
close together, and scoop up water
with our hands to wash our faces.

I smell bacon. The others come
downstairs, rubbing sleepy eyes.
I want to tell them what I know,
the mystery that goes away
when everyone wakes up and the sun
is a cold fire in the east window.

welcome to the world Clayton Dowen Campbell V

2005-10-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

My newest grandbaby made his entrance into the world this afternoon. He is the fifth Clayton and weighed in at 8 lbs. 10 oz.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-10-29T05:36:00.000-07:00

"monstrous" woman of the week

2005-10-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the fourth in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays.

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week I am featuring Amy Carmichael, missionary and defender of the women and children of India. The following biography is used by permission from www.hyperhistory.net, a great resource for anyone who is interested in God's working out of His plan throughout the ages.

"Amma! Amma!” 84-year-old Amy Wilson Carmichael awoke with a start from her peaceful sleep to her many children crying Mother in the native Tamil language outside her window. “Amma wake up!” Slowly, but surely, Amy forced her old crippled body into an upright sitting position. Soon she could hear Jewel hushing the children and telling them to leave their Amma alone. Amy couldn’t help but smile at the rude awakening, thinking she wouldn’t want her life to be any different. As her usual routine she pulled out her Bible, and prayed, thanking God for not forgetting her and her children and for blessing them as much as he was.

Resting comfortably, she started to ponder where she had left off in what would become a book filled with her own stories that had lead her to become Amma to so many children.

She had already written a little about her birth on December 16, 1867 in Millisle, Northern Ireland, making sure not to forget to include some stories of her 3 younger sisters and 4 younger brothers.

One afternoon, she and her brother came across a homeless woman (called a Shawlie for the Shawls the homeless wore). The woman was stumbling over the stone path trying to carry her bags, and probably would have taken a bone-shattering fall if Amy and her brother had not assisted her back home. Although it was a short distance to go, the experience would forever change Amy’s life, and million’s of lives around the world. There were many who looked down on Amy for helping the woman, and she had to learn to hold her head high and proud that she was helping someone in need. In addition to that lesson, she experienced a small miracle; she heard the words “Go ye”, as if a human voice had just spoken to her. She looked around the owner of the voice, but found none. When she arrived home later in the day, she eagerly looked up the words “Go ye” in her Bible, in hopes to find a verse that finished the statement. God was with Amy then, as he also had been, and always would be, and showed her a different verse in 1 Corinthians 3:12-14 – “Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward.”.

After just a few short years of living with and teaching the Shawlies, Amy heard God’s calling again. This time she felt like God was calling her to go oversees, specifically, India.

“Amma?”, Amy put her pen down and looked up from her writings, “Yes?”. A very small, thin girl entered Amy’s room, and tiptoed her way into Amy’s lap. The girl was 6 years old, though she appeared to be only a toddler because of her small frame. “Tell me again how I became your little girl, Amma?” asked the little girl as she put her arms around her Amma’s neck in a loving embrace. Amy sighed, put her biography away, and started: “Well my precious Gem, you were only just short of 2 months old when your REAL Amma died of a jungle fever. Your Papa, although he loved you dearly, was going to give you to a local Temple, to make the gods of his religion happy.” The small girl’s eyes became wide with horror, “What would I do there Amma?”. Amy continued, wishing her daughter wouldn’t have to know such things so early. “Well the temple priests would never let you play in the sunshine like you do here, and they would teach you dreadful things. Then you would eventually be ‘married’ to the false gods, and would become a prostitute in ‘honor’ of the gods. God was watching over you though, my dear Gem, he knew you needed to become my daughter. So through your aunt, He brought you to me, and now I am your Amma, and you are my precious daughter.” Satisfied with the story, the little girl bounced off to go play with one of Amy’s 100 other “daughters”. The tired Amy sighed, but thanked God repeatedly for how he was using her. Amy thought of all her other “daughters” and “sons” who had the same story as Gem, and how God was working in the lives of the people to break their Caste system to bring Amy children who needed a loving Amma.

Once in India, missionary work was very difficult, but Amy being as strong willed as she was, persisted, and was rewarded with a band of Indian women who became Christians. That wasn’t enough for her though, especially after she learned more of the horrors of the caste system. Such as a mother would rather her child die of a curable disease than to allow him to be seen by a doctor of a lower caste. She also learned about how newborn children were sold for the use of prostitution in the temples for their entire lives. Ironically as Amy fought the caste system of India, she found herself also fighting the caste system that the missionaries had created in their own communities. In the Indian caste system, there were levels of importance of the value of a person’s life, depending completely on the family they were born into. The castes ranged from a person of very high importance and value (Brahmans who are political and religious figures) down to the people who, according to the system, didn’t deserve a caste, and were simply the Untouchables (usually maintenance workers). Similarly the missionaries caste system began with those of high importance and value (themselves), then the Christian Indians (their servants/slaves), then the non-Christian Muslims/Hindus, and then lastly, the children of India and the missionaries who had “gone native”. Amy knew she needed to break both systems, because God sent his Son to die for, and love ALL people, including the Untouchables and the children of India.

This was not acceptable to Amy, and she immediately began trying to break the caste. Soon families were giving Amy their newborn girls, because girls were not of any value to them. After just a few short years the Carmichael “family” grew, and grew. Property was then purchased , and a small village was created to accommodate Amy, her girls, and her growing band of women Christians.

The village was called Dohnavur, and didn’t take long before it was filled with un-wanted girls, and loving Christian women. In 1918 the first boy arrived in Dohnvur, and became just the first of hundreds of boys who would fill a similar village next door to the girls. Amy loved every minute of working with all the children, and called them all her precious Gems. Although she never married, the hundreds of children became her children, and she was a loving Amma to them all.

Feeling more tired than usual, Amy put away her papers for the last time. Lying back on her pillow, she thought about the past 56 years she had spent in India, and how much God had blessed her life. Then she closed her eyes, and fell asleep for the last time. She never awoke. Amy Wilson Carmichael went to go be with her God that she spent her whole life serving, on January 18, 1951. She was buried in her garden along with many of her children that had died over the years. Although she clearly asked before her death for no grave stone to be put over her grave, her children put a bird bath over it with one word written on it: Amma.

next generation leadership

2005-10-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

(Note:This is from the Jeff Myers newsletter I receive each week via e-mail. It was so good I couldn't keep it to myself!)

It started as a simple question. Bryan College student David Beisner wondered if anyone wanted to go down to Louisiana for a weekend to help with disaster relief. He felt he should do something, and he had four seats in his car.

David mentioned this in chapel--would anyone want to go?
Eighty students signed up.

By the end of the week, a full-out relief convoy was being planned, and not just for a weekend, but for the entire Bryan Fall Break--seven days.

David, who is in my leadership class, came to class with a stunned expression. "Eighty people means 2,000 gallons of water, several thousands dollars worth of food--in addition to housing and supplies!" David was totally overwhelmed, but he bravely pressed ahead, guided by faculty sponsor Dr. Travis Ricketts and assisted by several other of Bryan's outstanding student leaders, the team made the journey and returned last week.

Because so many of the students who went on the trip were in my leadership class, I asked them to share some brief testimonies. An hour later, the entire class had been moved, some to the point of tears, to see how God had worked through this trip to make His glory known, to provide relief for the suffering, and to set a practical example of leadership for those who weren't there.

For example, one student named Laura told of finding two children essentially abandoned by their drug-addicted mother and her boyfriend. Laura cared for them as her own for the week, and shepherded them through social services to be placed with their natural father.

Last week she received this letter from a co-worker on the
ground:

The troubled couple with two kids have been getting rides
to the methadone clinic everyday and are doing much better.
The girls are with the oldest one’s paternal father (who
apparently hadn’t seen her in years) and his wife and are
happy. I just wanted to let you know that it was because of
your team's intervention that their lives were changed
forever. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and doing what
God called you there to do.

One day Laura was on hand when a Marine Corporal showed up and announced that he was assigned to set up a medical clinic.
The FEMA employee turned to Laura: "Do you know anything about that?"

"Well," said Laura with hesitation, "my dad's a doctor."

"Then you're in charge," was the reply.

It was amazing how much of a difference one group of committed, hard-working and compassionate students could make during one week of time--and how much responsibility they were given. One 2005 Bryan grad was hired full time in a coordination role for all of the FEMA trailer-parks in all of the Southeastern U.S.

Another student, Timothy, told of how he and his team tore moldy plaster and insulation out of homes so that they may be rebuilt. They told of stunned and grateful home owners who were skeptical that anyone would work without pay--and who then dissolved into grateful tears when they found out it was true.

Perhaps the greatest testimony, however, came from two students from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania who had come to Louisiana on their own to see if they could help out.

These two students were taken in by the Bryan group, and while they found the Christianity of the Bryan students baffling and odd, they couldn't help but feel--and see--Christ's love in action.

Stephen St. Vincent, one of the Swarthmore students (they call themselves "Swatties") wrote about his experiences in the Phoenix, Swarthmore's online student newspaper. Note how profoundly the encounter with the Bryan students broke down his stereotypes of conservative Christians:

Trip to Louisiana an eye opener
BY STEPHEN ST.VINCENT
The Phoenix, October 20, 2005

In the wake of the hurricanes that shook the Gulf Coast to
its physical and moral core, many thoughts crossed my mind.
The overarching theme of these thoughts was to do whatever
I could to help. Yet I found myself doing nothing. Musing
with Jonathan Ference '07 one night, I commented that it
felt selfish to want to do something yet care too much about
my grades here at Swarthmore to drop everything to help
these people in their most dire hour. So we made a moral
compromise and planned a trip to Louisiana for fall break
to volunteer.

Jon and I drove from Swarthmore to Baton Rouge, La., on the
first Sunday of break and ended up at the main Federal
Emergency Management Agency refugee camp. Despite the
recent condemnation of FEMA, this place was absolutely
astounding. An entire RV park with full hookups--electri-
city, water, and sewage. The camp contained about 700 RVs,
each holding between four and seven people. Residents got
three free meals a day and paid no rent. This program will
last for 18 months...

The FEMA camp had exhausted its need for volunteers by the
end of Tuesday, but we were lucky enough to meet up with a
group from Bryan College in Tennessee. The rest of their
group was working in Slidell, just north of New Orleans. The
next morning, Jon and I met the rest of the Bryan group in
Slidell. Their task was to gut houses that had seen up to
eight feet of flooding. Everything was disgustingly mold
infested. Our job was to go into a house, take out all the
belongings and throw them into a huge pile on their front
lawn. We then added to this pile every appliance, cabinet
fixture, door and all of the drywall, insulation and
flooring in the house, leaving literally a shell of what
used to be a home...

The Bryan group generously took us in, fed us, and
generally treated us like family. Granted, these kids have
some views that would not exactly go over swimmingly at
Swarthmore. Their school is named for William Jennings
Bryan, the pro-creationist lawyer in the Scopes trial...
I think I prayed more with those kids than I ever have in
my life...

I was forced to assess how much stuff I own and consider
essential to my life.... But more than that, I was forced
to wonder why, despite all of the talk on this campus
about a "social conscience", despite all of the
conservative-bashing and despite all of our resources,
there were nearly a hundred conservative Christians from
Bryan College volunteering there, but only two Swatties.

It was William Jennings Bryan who said, "The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error." When we act as if it was true, and the world sees it, God receives the glory.

Christians and boycotts

2005-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

The past several months I have received e-mails that have encouraged me to boycott all sorts of businesses in the name of Christ. Either these businesses are giving charitable support to groups who support anti-Christian behaviors, such as homosexuality or abortion, or businesses that have poor employee policies.

As I have read through the e-mails, have looked at the suggested links, and have read the articles where Christian leaders are calling for these boycotts, I have had many thoughts and concerns as well as questions. Here are a few of them:

Where do we draw the line in our boycotting? Recently I learned that American Girl, the makers of the wonderful Kit doll I received as a birthday gift just weeks ago, has given a large sum of money to Planned Parenthood, the number one abortion provider in the country. They are also advertising their cooperation with Girl's Inc. which is an educational organization that encourages girls, among other things, to be pro-choice as far as abortion is concerned. Some others are also upset that the books featuring American Girl dolls promote what they call a "feminist" mindset. (I am in the process of writing an entire piece on Christians and feminism so that is for another day.)

Just prior to this, Starbucks was the target because of their charitable support of homosexual organizations. And before that it was Wal-Mart and Target because of their treatment of employees as well as their violation of the human rights of those in foreign countries where their products are made.

So, the questions I have are these:

Do those encouraging these boycotts apply the same standards everywhere they shop? Do they stop in for a chat with every mom and pop shop owner to find out the recipients of their charitable giving? Do they do the research and discover where every brand name in their favorite store gives charitable contributions? What about every business establishment, every vendor they work with in their own businesses, right down to the guy who sells you paper and paper clips? What about every barber, every beautician, every gas station, etc. etc. etc? Do they ask everyone of these people and businesses if they give to the United Way, who, in most cases, is a big supporter of Planned Parenthood? If not, where is the equity and justice in the matter?

Then I wondered about which "sins" ought to inspire these boycotts. Abortion and homosexuality seem to top the list. What about lust? Should we rent DVD's from establishments that rent or sell X-rated materials? What about R rated movies that have nudity? What about PG movies, like Waking Ned Devine that has nudity, albeit a naked little old man on a motorcycle? What about patronizing restaurants where the waitresses are not wearing modest clothing? Should we give money to businesses who hire these women and then require them to wear immodest uniforms?

And that brings me to this question....there are those who believe that it is a sin for a woman to work outside the home. Do you then not shop at Kroger because there are women clerks? How far does this go and what "sins" qualify as boycottable?

Here is my own answer for this. We need to realize that we live in a fallen world and we must expect that those unbelievers who live in it will act like the unregenerate folk that they are. Our job is not to publically undo them. That is God's job and we have the assurance that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. In the meantime, I think Christians ought to be spending their time and energies in doing three things:

1. We must be about the business of witnessing and ministering to our "enemies" in Jesus name, giving a cup of cold water to those who do not yet know Christ, seeking to spread the Gospel far and wide to those who are lost. This might mean speaking a word of kindness and offering compassion to everyone from the owner to the guy stocking the shelves, building a relationship with those outside of our own "boxes."

2. We must stop being afraid of our culture and purpose to engage it and shed light in the dark corners. We are not called to start a new culture but to be God's instruments in reforming this one. I recently actually read the statement that said that "Hollywood is unredeemable." How much faith does it take to say that? Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. We are not the keepers of the secret knowledge of who might or might not be redeemed. Not long ago World Magazine had an interesting article on the large number of Christians who are seeking to influence the movie industry. (I think this is awesome, mostly because so many Christian offerings in the arts tend to be hokey and sappy.) The challenge is to be culturally relevant without compromise. There are many areas of life where this ought to apply.

3. Finally, where are those people who are crying out for boycotts against Christian organizations and businesses that muddy the name of Christ by their own behaviors or hiring practices? I know of a situation where a Christian ministry practiced age discrimination. This is not only unchristian, it is illegal. There are other groups who go far beyond the essentials of the Christian faith and practice discrimination based on their own unbiblical views of women. Should I purchase products from those people? (If I don't would that be called a "girlcott?") Instead of worrying about what the world does or doesn't do, I think believers ought to be holding each other accountable and to higher standards than we require of those outside the body of Christ. It is hard to be taken seriously when we are not cleaning up our own messes.

spicy apple bar cookies

2005-10-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Spicy Apple Bar Cookies
I discovered this recipe during our first Christmas in Germany in 1976. The cocoa adds an unexpected zing to the apple dessert. I like to serve this warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 TBS. cocoa
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
½ tsp. ground cloves
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1 ½ cups diced, peeled apples
½ c. chopped walnuts
Sifted powdered sugar

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Sift together next 8 ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Stir in oats, apples, and walnuts. Spread in greased 9 X 12 pan. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes. Cool slightly in pan on rack and cut into bars. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm with ice cream!

another soup day

2005-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

The days are shorter now and the crispness comes under the door as we dig for coats and heavy sweaters. My upstairs hallway is lined with the "winter tubs", as I call them, and we are accessing what things to put away for yet another warm time and which things to save, hoping for Indian summer.

Much of the midwestern crop is harvested and we talk of baking squash and making chili. I pour over cookbooks in search of the perfect stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving, knowing I will most likely make it the way I have done for 30 years and the way my mother made it 30 years before that.

Here is an old standby recipe, a soup I dreamed up one day when I didn't have meat thawed for dinner and I knew everyone would want their tummies warmed when they came inside. Nothing is better than this delicious soup served up with bread sticks on a cold November day. I especially like to put it in the crock pot for the afternoon so the flavors can blend.

Karen’s Corn Chowder

1 pound frozen or fresh corn
1 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 cup finely chopped red pepper
4 cups potatoes, boiled, drained and cubed
4 cups milk
2 cups reserved water from boiled potatoes

In pot, sauté onion and pepper in butter over medium heat. When vegetables are translucent, add flour and mix well. Pour in milk and cook until bubbly and thick, stirring continually. Add boiled potato water. Add corn and heat through. I like to place the soup in a crock pot at this point and let it sit on low for several hours so the flavors can blend.

what is leadership?

2005-10-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather the wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea"

~ Antoine de Saint Exupery

"monstrous" woman of the week for God, Home, and Every Land

2005-10-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the third in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays.

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week I am featuring not one “monstrous” woman but actually an entire regiment of them. Just after the end of the Civil War, in the fall of 1873, a group of women met together in New York State to address the growing problem of alcohol abuse in their homes and communities. Seeing the destruction of families by men who were abusing alcohol and spending their hours in saloons rather than with their families, the women first began times of prayer in the 2nd Presbyterian church of Fredonia, New York. It was out of these first prayer meetings that the Women's Christian Temperance Union began.

By the end of the 19th century, Americans spent over a billion dollars each year on alcoholic beverages compared with $900 million on meat and less than $200 million on education of children. As concerns rose around the country, Christians began to rise and take a stand against the abuse of alcohol. Women, the guardians and keepers of home and hearth, led the charge. Eventually Women’s Crusades were held and the women marched into saloons, drug stores, or wherever liquor was sold. They prayed on sawdust floors or, being denied access, knelt on snowy pavements or in the doorways until nearly all the sellers had given in.

According to E.P. Gordon, author of Women Torchbearers, one crusade in Ohio lasted 50 days and “in fifty days drove the liquor traffic, horse, foot, and dragoons, out of two hundred and fifty towns and villages, increased by one hundred percent the attendance at church and decreased that at the criminal courts in like proportion."

I chose these dear ladies to be lauded this week for several reasons. First of all, my husband’s grandmother and two great aunts, all three godly women who worked their entire lives for the preservation of the American home, were at once suffragettes and lifetime members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.* When I think of godly women who have gone before us, their names certainly deserve to be included on that list.

Secondly, there appears to be resurgence among Christian men today who have no qualms about spending both their time and money in saloons rather than in their homes with their families and, sadly to say, sometimes under the guise of “Christian fellowship.” This is heartbreaking when you realize that as little as one drink of an alcoholic beverage can cause judgment to be impaired, a loss of self-control, an unrealistic feeling of well being, a release of inhibitions, coordination and alertness to be impaired, and an increase of collision while driving. Note that a drink contains ½ ounce of alcohol and is defined as 1 can of beer (12 oz; 4-5% alcohol), 1 glass of wine (4 oz; 12% alcohol), or 1 shot of most liquors (1 oz; 40-50% alcohol). At times "a drink" is really the equivalent of more than just one drink, like when you order a drink with more than one shot of alcohol in it, or you do a shot followed by a beer.

What sadness for a godly wife to know that her husband is purposefully placing their family in harm’s way by public drinking in places of temptation. Perhaps it is time for Christian women everywhere to unite, once again, and take a stand against this renewed threat to our home and nation.

The original WCTU members rallied under the banner which read “For God and Home and Every Land.” Today they would quote the Greek Philosopher Xenophen in describing temperance this way: "moderation in all things healthful; total abstinence from all things harmful.”

For anyone who is interested in what my own personal conviction is on this matter, it could best be described here.

*Note that the woman's right to vote was, in part, a result of the need to protect women who were married to alcohol abusers. Not being able to own property and having no rights for custody of children if a divorce occured were just two injustices that women suffered and were directly related to alcohol abuse.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-10-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

"monstrous" woman of the week ~ Elizabeth Elliot

2005-10-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the second in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays.

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

This week's "monstrous woman" is missionary and exemplary Titus two woman, Elizabeth Elliot. Elisabeth Elliot was born in Brussels, Belgium, where her parents served as missionaries. She graduated from Wheaton College and later went to Ecuador as a missionary. In 1953 she married a former classmate, Jim Elliot. Together they worked on translating the New Testament into the language of the Quichua Indians. Their daughter, Valerie, was born in 1955. Ten months later, Jim was killed by the Auca Indians while attempting to take the Gospel to that primitive tribe. Elisabeth continued her work among the Quichuas and later lived and worked among the Aucas.

She returned to the United States and remarried. Her second husband, Addison Leitch, a professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, died of cancer in 1973. Today, she lives north of Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband, Lars Gren. She has one daughter and eight grandchildren.

Elisabeth is the author of a number of books, including Shadow of the Almighty, Passion and Purity, A Path Through Suffering, The Shaping of a Christian Family, and Keep a Quiet Heart. For many years she hosted the radio program Gateway To Joy.

Most recently, a documentary, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, has been released about Elizabeth's heroic ministry in Equador to the same tribe who murdered her husband. It will be followed by another film, End of the Spear, also based on their lives, that will be theaters in January, bringing the good news of the Gospel to those in our culture who so desperately need to hear it. Elizabeth Elliot is a role model for any young lady and a picture of God's providence in using her unique gifts and abilities as a woman for His glory!

friday's quotes of the week

2005-10-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

"Reintroduce law into justification and you open the door to faith-plus-something. That "something" is never legal righteousness. It always turns out to be sacerdotal power, the great grand priest in his robes and sacerdotal office holding forth like the Pope.

Understand this: whenever you hear a pastor arguing for works as part of justification, you hear a pastor seeking the office of Pope. "

from David Bayly (the whole article hits the nail on the proverbial head)

"Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?"

Lily Tomlin

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than to be crowded on a velvet cushion."

Henry David Thoreau

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-10-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

that's my kind of student

2005-10-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

Noah Riner, student assembly president from Dartmouth College, delivered the following speech to incoming freshmen last month. Three cheers for Noah. I might also mention that Noah was homeschooled and part of his curriculm included the "Secrets of Great Communicators" from the Meyers Institute. You can read about the huge firestorm this great speech created here.

You've been told that you are a special class. A quick look
at the statistics confirms that claim: quite simply, you are
the smartest and most diverse group of freshmen to set foot
on the Dartmouth campus. You have more potential than all of
the other classes. You really are special.

But it isn't enough to be special. It isn't enough to be
talented, to be beautiful, to be smart. Generations of amazing
students have come before you, and have sat in your seats.
Some have been good, some have been bad. All have been special.

In fact, there's quite a long list of very special, very
corrupt people who have graduated from Dartmouth. William
Walter Remington, Class of 1939, started out as a Boy Scout
and a choirboy and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He ended up as
a Soviet spy, was convicted of perjury and beaten to death
in prison.

Daniel Mason '93 was just about to graduate from Boston
Medical School when he shot two men--killing one--after a
parking dispute.

Just a few weeks ago, I read in the D about PJ Halas, Class
of 1998. His great uncle George founded the Chicago Bears,
and PJ lived up to the family name, co-captaining the
basketball team his senior year at Dartmouth and coaching
at a high school team following graduation. He was also a
history teacher, and, this summer, he was arrested for
sexually assualting a 15-year-old student.

These stories demonstrate that it takes more than a
Dartmouth degree to build character.

As former Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey said, at
Dartmouth our business is learning. And I'll have to agree
with the motto of Faber College, featured in the movie
Animal House, "Knowledge is Good." But if all we get from
this place is knowledge, we've missed something. There's
one subject that you won't learn about in class, one topic
that orientation didn't cover, and that your UGA won't
mention: character.

What is the purpose of our education? Why are we at
Dartmouth?

Martin Luther King, Jr. said:

But education which stops with efficiency may prove the
greatest menace to society.... We must remember that
intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus
character--that is the goal of true education."

We hear very little about character in our classrooms, yet,
as Dr. King suggests, the real problem in the world is not
a lack of education.

For example, in the past few weeks we've seen some pretty
revealing things happening on the Gulf Coast in the wake
of hurricane Katrina. We've seen acts of selfless heroism
and millions around the country have united to help the
refugees. On the other hand, we've been disgusted by the
looting, violence, and raping that took place even in the
supposed refuge areas. In a time of crisis and death,
people were paddling around in rafts, stealing TV's and
VCR's. How could Americans go so low?

My purpose in mentioning the horrible things done by certain
people on the Gulf Coast isn't to condemn just them; rather
it's to condemn all of us. Supposedly, character is what you
do when no one is looking, but I'm afraid to say all the
things I've done when no one was looking. Cheating, stealing,
lusting, you name it--How different are we? It's easy to say
that we've never gone that far: never stolen that much; never
lusted so much that we'd rape; and the people we've cheated,
they were rich anyway.

Let's be honest, the differences are in degree. We have the
same flaws as the individuals who pillaged New Orleans. Ours
haven't been given such free range, but they exist and are
part of us all the same.

The Times of London once asked readers for comments on what
was wrong with the world. British author, G. K. Chesterton
responded simply: "Dear Sir, I am."

Not many of us have the same clarity that Chesterton had.
Just days after Hurricane Katrina had ravaged the Gulf Coast,
politicians and pundits were distributing more blame than
aid. It's so easy to see the faults of others, but so
difficult to see our own. In the words of Cassius in
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, "the fault, dear Brutus is not
in our stars but in ourselves."

Character has a lot to do with sacrifice, laying our personal
interests down for something bigger. The best example of this
is Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before his
crucifixion, Jesus prayed, "Father, if thou be willing,
remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine,
be done." He knew the right thing to do. He knew the cost
would be agonizing torture and death. He did it anyway.
That's character.

Jesus is a good example of character, but He's also much more
than that. He is the solution to flawed people like corrupt
Dartmouth alums, looters, and me.

It's so easy to focus on the defects of others and ignore
my own. But I need saving as much as they do.

Jesus' message of redemption is simple. People are imperfect,
and there are consequences for our actions. He gave His life
for our sin so that we wouldn't have to bear the penalty of
the law; so we could see love. The problem is me; the
solution is God's love: Jesus on the cross, for us.

In the words of Bono:

[I]f only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would
be transformed....When I look at the Cross of Christ, what
I see up there is all my s—- and everybody else's. So I ask
myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this
man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a
religious nut? And there it is, and that's the question.

You want the best undergraduate education in the world, and
you've come to the right place to get that. But there's more
to college than achievement. With Martin Luther King, we must
dream of a nation--and a college--where people are not judged
by the superficial, "but by the content of their character."

Thus, as you begin your four years here, you've got to come
to some conclusions about your own character because you won't
get it by just going to class. What is the content of your
character? Who are you? And how will you become what you need
to be?

soup weather is here!!!

2005-10-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned cold and yesterday just seemed like the day for chicken soup. Here is a recipe from my own repertoire. Enjoy!

Prairie Chicken and Rice Soup

3 pounds chicken with skin and bones, any combination
1 pound carrots, sliced
3 onions, 2 of them finely sliced and 1 quartered
2 cups chopped celery
3 stalks celery hearts
3 TBS minced garlic
2 pkgs. long grain and wild rice mix, including dry seasonings packet
sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
coarse salt to taste
fresh-ground black pepper
dried parsley flakes

In stock pot, place chicken parts, quartered onion, celery hearts, and garlic. Cover with water and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer until chicken falls off bones. When cooked, drain chicken, reserving broth but tossing out vegetables.

Return broth to heat and add remaining ingredients, simmering until vegetables are tender and rice is cooked. Remove meat from bones and add to soup mixture. Offer ground pepper when serving for extra zing. Can be prepared ahead of time and frozen or placed in crock-pot for supper later in the week.

Best if served with homemade bread or biscuits.

how biblical is your worldview?

2005-10-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Time for introspection. Time to put on a thinking cap. Time to find out just how Biblical a thinker you really are. Go here to take a Biblical worldview test and then, if you are at all inclined, comment about your thoughts during and after the test as well as logging your score if you so desire. Hint: If you cannot identify the man in this photo, you may be in trouble! I am looking forward to hearing from you.

manna on monday

2005-10-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

All summer we have been enjoying the blessings of solid Bible teaching in our worship services on Sunday as well as some good study time over the weekends. I thought I would like to post what I am calling "manna on Monday", just some thoughts from the sermon,Scripture quotes, or even hymn or chorus lyrics that have encouraged and convicted me as we have worshipped, relaxed, and meditated over the weekend.

Some excerpts of Isiah 43, from which the sermon text was taken yesterday:

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Random thoughts I had:

There is but one true God,though we live in a post-modern culture that rejects any such notion.

The phrase "let go and let God" is ridiculous. God himself says He is in control of all things and no one can "let Him" do anything.

God is continually doing a new thing.

I also spend some time researching the "one another's" of the New Testament in preparation for the mom's retreat. I am asking God to show me this week how they apply in my relationships with my children. Pretty convicting stuff

"Lord, we stand by grace in Your presence, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb; We are your children, called by your name, humbly we bow and we pray: release your power to work in us and through us until we are changed to be mroe like You. Then all nations will see Your glory revealed and worship you."

homeschooling mom's day of encouragement

2005-10-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

There is still time to register for the Homeschooling Mom's Day of Encouragement in Peoria, Illinois. Anyone who wants information can e-mail me. You can also download a registration form at Providence Church's website. Here is the scoop:

The Third Annual Treasures of a Mother's Heart
A Day of Encouragment for Homeschooling Mothers
will be held on October 22nd from 8:30am to 3:00pm
Lariat Club in Peoria
$20.00 includes lunch and all materials.
Nursing babies more than welcome.

The goal of the day is to encourage and pamper homeschooling mothers.The theme for this year's retreat is "The Joy in the Journey" and there will be 6 homeschooling mothers sharing their personal testimonies of God's grace to them during difficult times of homeschooling. Renee Lowe and Karen Campbell will also be speaking and you won't want to miss "Burn-Out: The Musical!" Who could pass up this event with original lyrics like these, sung to the tune of Memory from Cats?

"Clutter
It was piled on the pavement
It was flowing from dressers
It was up to my knees
From the lamplight
The dusty tables made us all cough
And the refrigerator had old cheese."

happy birthday to me

2005-10-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

The close of a great birthday celebration weekend is at hand. I am posting some pictures taken with my new digital camera. Thank you dear, sweet husband for this wonderful present! No more begging and borrowing photos from the offspring.

I spent part of Saturday at Mount Piscah during the Spoon River Scenic Drive, a beautiful golden day set against the blue of an October sky in Illinois.

We feasted on grilled pork chop sandwiches, deep fried onions, and funnel cakes. Too much sugar and fat but oh so good and only once a year!

Henry had his face painted by a real Indian woman with feathers in her hair and dreamcatchers hanging over her head.

Joe gave me the wonderful gift of my very own American Girl doll.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-10-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

voice of reason in the wilderness of paranoia

2005-10-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

Finally I read an article this week that reflects what I have been thinking as I have listened to the pundits from all sides discussing the appointment of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Dr.Jeff Myers is an Associate Professor of Communication Arts at Bryan College and President of the Myers Institute for Communication and Leadership had these comments to make about her appointment.

"On Saturday I had the privilege meeting Robert George, a long-time Princeton professor who is an articulate defender of natural law against the encroachment of secular humanism...Dr. George defines judicial activism as when courts legislate from the bench—when they force the legislature to adopt, and the executive branch to execute, policies that could not prevail in the fair forum of a democratic process...The opposite of judicial activism is strict constructionism, which says that judges are not legislators. Dr. George points out that justices should not legislate, even for desirable means. The court’s edicts, if they usurp the authority of the people, are not redeemed even by good consequences...To understand why strict constructionism is a good idea, we need to go back to the deliberations of our founding fathers."

Check out the entire article and while you are at it, read some of the other writers who are featured on Christian Worldview Network.

friday's quotes of the week

2005-10-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

"The world changes; it is never constant but in its disappointments. The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two, and be gone. What madness is it to set our heart upon our inn, as to forget our home?"

Thomas Watson

"It naturally follows, then, that when someone leaves the cult, it is of paramount importance to the cult leader that this individual not have any communication with the members at all. The one who leaves becomes public enemy number one because he may influence others to leave. So what do cult leaders do to keep this from happening? They slander those who leave. They spread rumors about them. They practice public character assassination and promote behind-the-scenes gossip. The purpose of this is to keep the still loyal members from communicating with the former members.

All morality is thrown out the window in this. The end justifies the means. Cult leaders will lie, make up false rumors out of thin air, gossip publicly and privately, and do everything possible to destroy the individual who left, then wipe their hypocritical mouth and say, "What have I done?"

In this way they are just like the adulterous woman in Proverbs.

Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness."

James Spurgeon, author of Tales from the Temple

premiere of the "monstrous" woman of the week ~ Phyllis Schlafly

2005-10-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first in a series of biographical sketches that I plan to publish on Fridays.

These entries will briefly tell about women I believe have done many things to further the cause of Christ in America, and some even around the world, and have maintained a godly femininity while doing so. They will be women whose choices in life have also disqualified them from being given the godly woman status in some of today’s hyper-patriarchal circles, though the hypocrisy certainly has escaped some of these list keepers! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! Oh, and feel free to emulate.

The distinct privilege of being the first "Monstrous" Woman of the Week goes to none other than Phyllis Schlafly. I could think of no other woman who deserves this honor more than she does, a woman who embodies the principles and character qualities of the true American Woman, a woman who stands as an example for all women today and for all the little girls and young women who will one day become wives and mothers in American homes. And, if I were George W. Bush, her name would have been at the top of my list to be Supreme Court Justice.

Best known for her courageous and undaunted battle against the Equal Rights Amendment, a brief biographical sketch of Mrs. Schlafly would certainly also include the following which I learned from the Eagle Forum website.

Phyllis Schlafly is America's best-known advocate of the dignity and honor that we as a society owe to the role of fulltime homemaker.

Mrs. Schlafly is a lawyer and served as a member of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, 1985-1991, appointed by President Reagan. She has testified before more than 50 Congressional and State Legislative committees on constitutional, national defense, and family issues.

Mrs. Schlafly is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington University, received her J.D. from Washington University Law School, and received her Master's in Political Science from Harvard University.

Mrs. Schlafly's monthly newsletter called The Phyllis Schlafly Report is now in its 38th year. Her syndicated column appears in 100 newspapers, her radio commentaries are heard daily on 460 stations, and her radio talk show on education called "Phyllis Schlafly Live" is heard weekly on 45 stations.

Mrs. Schlafly is the author or editor of 20 books on subjects as varied as family and feminism (The Power of the Positive Woman), nuclear strategy (Strike From Space and Kissinger on the Couch), education (Child Abuse in the Classroom), child care (Who Will rock the Cradle?), and a phonics book (Turbo Reader). Her most recent book, Feminist Fantasies, is a collection of essays on feminism in the media, workplace, home, and the military. (Blogger’s note: Mrs. Schlafly’s most recent book is proof that to be a strong, educated, politically active woman, one does not have to belong in the feminist camp.)

Mrs. Schlafly is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Illinois, Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She served (with the late Chief Justice Warren Burger) as a member of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, 1985-1991, appointed by President Reagan. She has testified before more than 50 Congressional and State Legislative committees on constitutional, national defense, foreign policy, education, tax, encryption, and family issues. She served five terms as a member of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women, 1975-1985, appointed by the Illinois Legislature. She served as a member of the Administrative Conference of the United States, 1983-1986. She has filed several amicus curiae briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal.

Mrs. Schlafly received her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1944 (Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha, Final Honors). She worked her way through college on the night shift at the St. Louis Ordnance Plant testing ammunition by firing rifles and machine guns and as a laboratory technician investigating misfires. She received her Master's in Government from Harvard University in 1945. She received her J.D. from Washington University Law School in 1978.

Mrs. Schlafly was the 1992 Illinois Mother of the Year. She and her late husband of 44 years are the parents of six children (John, Bruce, Roger, Liza, Andrew, and Anne) and 14 grandchildren. She taught all her children to read before they entered school and all had outstanding academic success: three lawyers, one physician, one Ph.D. mathematician, and one businesswoman.

In a ten-year battle, Mrs. Schlafly led the pro-family movement to victory over the principal legislative goal of the radical feminists, called the Equal Rights Amendment. She assembled the movement called Stop ERA. She is America's most articulate and successful opponent of the radical feminist movement. She has appeared on virtually every national television and radio talk show and has lectured or debated on more than 500 college and university campuses. Other political battles she led and won defeating the national movement in the 1980s to call a new Constitutional Convention.

The economist George Gilder wrote in his book Men & Marriage (Pelican, 1987):

"When the histories of this era are seriously written, Phyllis Schlafly will take her place among the tiny number of leaders who made a decisive and permanent difference. She changed the political landscape of her country. In fact, by the measure of the odds she faced and overcame, Schlafly's achievement excels all the others'. . . . She won in part because she is one of the country's best speakers and debaters and its best pamphleteer since Tom Paine. She won because of her indefatigable energy and will power, mobilizing women in state after state."

Joseph Lelyveld wrote in the New York Times Magazine (April 17, 1977):

"Phyllis Schlafly has become one of the most relentless and accomplished platform debaters of any gender to be found on any side of any issue."

On another interesting note, in September 2005, Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum awarded Margaret “Peggy” Elizabeth Phillips, wife of Howard Phillips and mother of Doug Phillips “Homemaker of the Year" which was mentioned on Doug's blog in August of 2005 as being quite a prestigious award!

you won't want to miss.......

2005-10-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Starting this Friday, I will be featuring the first in the series of the most terrifying, the most horrifying, the most mystifying, the most awesome blog entries ever...

THE "MONSTROUS" WOMAN OF THE WEEK!

You won't want to miss it.

may the mind of Christ my Savior

2005-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

Listen here.
This hymn, one of my favorites, makes me think of Corrie.

comments for the Gunn brothers

2005-10-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

(blogger note: I am glad that I posted these thoughts here as shortly after I posted them in the comment section of their blog, the gunn brothers removed all comments and all options to comment...what do you call someone who removes comments? New definition needed I think.)

I have been thinking about the monstrous women movie clip and the various things the Gunn brothers are saying on their blog. Here are today's thoughts for them:

"I hope you understand the point that I am trying to make. Past abuses necessitate sensitivity to others. It's the "winsome ambassador for Christ" approach. I believe that most feminists are such because of a reaction to the abuse of men in their lives.

Your comment about the kitchen might be funny to you but not to a woman who was consistently told that all she was good for was to be barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.

Look at it another way. Would you joke about vigiante lynchings to a black person? Would you laugh about ovens to a Jewish person? What I am sensing is your lack of understanding and compassion for the abuses that many women have had to endure in life. Are you asking "why" with ears to hear the answers?

I spent several years counseling women through a crisis pregnancy center ministry. I saw first hand the many abuses that so many of them endured. Up until that time I had been pretty naive. My own father was wonderful and then I married a man who was even more wonderful than that so I had a difficult time relating to what I heard. But once I listened with a heart of compassion, I heard and saw things that I have never forgotten.

We recently finished reading The Hiding Place as a family. My children were moved to tears many times. I cannot even imagine Corrie ten Boom approaching the topic of feminism with what I am seeing here. First of all, I imagine that you would think she, as a woman, should not have done all that she did. But beyond that, her example of compassion and hospitatlity to those who were not like her, especially the Jewish people, whom she knew to be enternally lost without Christ, was a true picture of Christ himself. Maybe it is trite, but what would Jesus do with a feminist? I think he would have asked her if he could have dinner with her."

Corrie ten Boom has long been honored by evangelical Christians as an exemplar of Christian faith in action. Arrested by the Nazis along with the rest of her family for hiding Jews in their Haarlem home during the Holocaust, she was imprisoned and eventually sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp along with her beloved sister, Betsie, who perished there just days before Corrie's own release on December 31, 1944. Inspired by Betsie's example of selfless love and forgiveness amid extreme cruelty and persecution, Corrie established a post-war home for other camp survivors trying to recover from the horrors they had escaped. She went on to travel widely as a missionary, preaching God's forgiveness and the need for reconciliation.

clarification on term "neolegalism"

2005-10-03T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have realized that my use of the term "neolegalism" has caused some confusion and I wanted to clarify my use of the word. For the record, I wanted to reiterate what I was hoping I had said.

An alert reader of my blog stated " Not to wander too far off topic... but I think that Doug Phillips is on record as opposing the neolegalists."

In part, this is how I responded:

"I would be interested in reading anything that Doug Phillips has had to say about "neolegalists." I guess is all depends on how one defines legalism and then neolegalism. Of course, if you mean neolegalism to only mean the discussions surrounding the Auburn Avenue Controversy, of course Phillips, who does not believe in the baptism of infants, would not be one.

However, I am using this term in the broader sense. Wikopedia defines legalism in this way: "Legalism, in Christian theology, is a pejorative term referring to an improper fixation on law or codes of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of pride and the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God."

I would use the term "neolegalism", then, to describe those people who, in their zeal for personal holiness within our post-modern world, superimpose their own application of Biblical principles on others, equating adherence to their own personal standards with another person's spirituality."

Hope that isn't clear as mud, as they say.

fyi

2005-10-03T00:47:00.000-07:00

I just learned something new again this morning.

There is actually an official term for anonymously posting on someone's blog.
Check this out.

"Anonymous Coward" is a term applied within some online communities to describe users who post without a handle; it is a dummy name attributed to anonymous posts used by some weblogs that allow posting by people without registering for accounts. The practice originated on Slashdot, where the mildly derogatory term is meant to chide anonymous contributors into logging in. Some weblog engines such as Scoop use the term "Anonymous Hero" instead, perhaps to avoid the name's confrontational nature.

Now, what I would like to know, what is the official word for someone who leaves a comment and then removes it, along with their name, though you have the e-mail comment?

Any thoughts?

friday's quotes of the week

2005-09-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Heard, read, or said by me this week:

"Women. You'd be wonderful if you'd just stay in your place...."

said to me by anonymous commentator on my blog entry about monstrous women

"None of the women who have responded to me have done so with a feminine spirit. All of you have the spirit of the American woman, which is foul, repulsive and contrary to nature. It is absolutely contrary to Christ's will for you as women......Women have largely destroyed authentic Christianity in America, and the weak men who have yielded to their independent spirit. You are just another in a long line of Feminists who dip themselves in Christianity. God sees through it though.... You are just avoiding the meat of the text, like every other rebellious woman. You are an American woman.Take it as an insult, even if you like the idea."

same commentator

"American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come hanging around my door
I don't want to see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
Now woman, stay away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come knocking around my door
I don't want to see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, I said get way
American woman, listen what I say
Don't come hanging around my door
Don't want to see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be

I gotta go
I gotta getta away
Think I gotta go
I wanna fly away
I'm gonna leave you woman
I'm gonna leave you woman
I'm gonna leave you woman
I'm gonna leave you woman
Bye bye, bye bye
Bye bye, bye bye
American woman
You're no good for me
I'm no good for you
Looking at you right in the eye
Tell you what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna leave you woman
You know I gotta go
I'm gonna leave you woman
I gotta go
I gotta go

I gotta go
American woman
Yeah"

Lenny Kravitz
(originally The Guess Who . . .)

"The truth, Sir, " I said, swallowing, "is that God's viewpoint is sometimes different from ours--so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things." I knew it was madness to talk this way to a Nazi officer. But he said nothing so I plunged ahead. "In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains, but simply because He has made us. Who knows, in His eyes a half-wit may be worth more than a wathchmaker. Or a lieutenant."

from The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, another woman who obviously didn't know her place, although she wasn't American

"We are a priesthood of believers and need no man to bring us to God, save for the new Adam, the Lord Jesus."

me to said commentator

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

monstrous regiment of women

2005-09-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

I’ll bet you didn’t know this, prairie blog readers whoever you are. According to this film clip that appeared on Vision Forum's blog page on September 23rd, (caution: rated M for misogyny*) the greatest threats to Christian men are as follows:

Hillary Clinton
Abortion
The View
Oprah
Equal pay for women
Universal suffrage**
Jessica Lunch
Joyce Meyers

To name just a few.

These are supposed to make grown men quake in their boots, run for cover, and generally respond as though Godzilla and Mothra were about to wage the war of wars in the church parking lot. Of course, this is difficult for me to relate to since my husband is a real man and cowers from little, though he doesn’t much like spiders.

He also likes it that I have the right to vote. And that I went to college. And that I don’t have to wear white dresses or shy away from expressing an opinion to be truly feminine.

But that is for another blog post.

There is more information about this film and the two fellows who made it on their website. They happen to be the same Gunn brothers who took first place in the political film category in the annual independent Christian film festival in San Antonio last year which is run by Doug Phillips. No surprise. After viewing the films from last year's festival, it appears that most of them were written, directed, and produced to pander to Doug's view of Christianity. Our culture is in desperate need of a Savior, not a neolegalist. Too bad a film that portrayed life outside his bubble would never make a first cut.

To their credit, the Gunns did a good job of revealing the radical homosexual agenda in San Francisco in last year’s offering. But how much better would it be if they had addressed the roles of women in such as way that reflected Christians, both men and women, as winsome ambassadors for Christ, struggling sinners who seek to use their gifts to their fullest for His glory in all spheres of life? Those who trust the Bible should know it has real answers for our culture’s real problems and should know better than to toss out roadblocks in someone’s path to make it more difficult to see this truth.

My impression of this video clip is that the only ones who will appreciate the movie will be those who cower at more than women and their roles within the church and the world. Real men want real women, not icons of a pre-Civil War south but women who will engage their culture in all spheres of life, living purposely in the 21st century and raising children who will do likewise.

This movie should be rated M for misguided and moronic.
*Misogyny is defined here
**Universal sufferage is defined by Wikopedia here. Very interesting.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-09-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

cultural confusion

2005-09-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the Peoria Journal Star, our local newspaper, did a two-part series on a family that has decided to completely withdraw from the culture. They had been homesteaders in the purest sense of the word and then a few years ago decided that, as Christians, they were showing allegiance to the godless state by having social security cards and drivers licenses so they returned these items to the state along with money they had received through an earned income tax credit.

It all reminded me of an interesting article I saw a while back and happened to reread again this past week. It is so good that I think it deserves wider readership so I am offering a sampling to entice my blog readers to check out the whole article. For me, it has helped to define some of the subcultures that I have seen popping up within the past few years, subcultures that I think are having a great effect on the church today for good and for not-so-good. Check it out.

Authoritarianism and isolationism are often married. Christian isolationism endorses a “godly” subculture, encouraging separation even from other Christians who do not conform to the ideals of that subculture. Isolationist Steve Schlissel states, “The naiveté of modern Christians concerning the religious character of the so-called Culture War is astonishing. Culture, Henry Van Til taught us, is simply religion externalized and made explicit.…We have been raised to believe that culture is religiously neutral rather than religiously determined.”

Religion certainly does influence culture, but this all-or-nothing view sees nearly every expression of culture as a religious statement, either heathen or nonheathen. There are, however, other approaches to understanding how Christians relate, or don’t relate, to the culture in which they find themselves. Professor and author Michael Horton draws from H. Richard Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture to explain five different approaches: First, Christ against culture holds that “the world is evil, but the realm of the Spirit is good; earthly things are inherently sinful, while heavenly things are inherently virtuous.”

Second, Christ of culture views Christianity as an extension of culture. Niebuhr states, “The movement that identifies obedience to Jesus Christ with the practices of prohibition, and with the maintenance of early American social organization, is a type of cultural Christianity… Christ is identified with what men conceive to be their finest ideals, their noblest institutions, and their best philosophy.”

Third, Christ above culture “suggests neither antagonism nor assimilation.” This is an attempt at neutrality toward culture and is directly opposite Schlissel’s view.

Fourth, Christ and culture in paradox sees the kingdom of God and the kingdom of humankind as “different spheres with different purposes.…Culture can never be an avenue of finding God.…But neither can culture be an object of disgust, since culture never promises to save or redeem.”35 In this view, while not all pleasurable aspects of life are spiritual in the salvific or godly sense, God is still present in them.

Fifth, Christ the transformer of culture is distinct from the Christ against culture and the Christ of culture views by holding that, “The problem is not the world, but the willful opposition of the world to God and His Christ. This frees the believer to participate in the world as a full-fledged citizen and to view it not as inherently wicked [or as an expression of false religions], but as a theater in which both God’s glory and human sin are displayed.”

Isolationists embrace the Christ against culture and also the Christ of culture views, and create their own culture, often based on ancient cultural practices found in the Bible. Horton explains that “there is great danger in mixing a ‘Christ against culture’ and a ‘Christ of culture’ paradigm…this mixture leads us to simply replace one culture with another and confuse the latter with God’s will and kingdom.”Christ against culture and Christ of culture are two sides of the same coin. A true transformer of culture does not seek to create a separate culture; rather, he seeks to transform the existing culture.

tales from the temple

2005-09-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the link provided by my online friend, David, in one of his comments, you MUST check out Tales from the Temple. It is an online autobiography by a young pastor who had attended an independent fundamentalist Baptist college. You will laugh and you will cry and then you will think a little harder about the concept of spiritual abuse and it's effects on you and those you know. And, I believe, you will be all the better for the experience.

Sodom, Gomorrah, and New Orleans?

2005-09-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Doug Giles has said all the things I have wanted to say, and more, to those Christians who are so certain that Hurricane Katrina is God's latest moment of house-cleaning.

"Hey, lunatic-fringe-self-proclaimed-prophet-of-gloom—can you please stop with the “God struck down New Orleans because of Mardi Gras and Biloxi because of their gambling” blather?

With that line of reasoning, how would you explain the hurricane that leveled Pensacola last year? Pensacola is no South Beach, nor does it have a Bourbon Street. In fact, I don’t think you can find a city in the US that has more churches per capita than Escambia County, and yet they got the blunt end of the pool cue eleven months ago.

Go figure."

For more, check it out here.

grant wood

2005-09-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

We just spent an awesome day at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The newly opened exhibit of Grant Wood art is fabulous and is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of American Gothic which is on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago for the occasion. Grant Wood became known as the first Regionalist artist, selling his now-famous painting for only $300.00.

If you don't know much about Grant Wood, I would encourage you to make the trip to this wonderful exhibit if you are close enough to do so. It is about 1 1/2 hours drive west of the Quad Cities and the rolling countryside is beautiful, especially this time of year. If not, check out an online gallery.

Grant Wood, who in his 50 short years of life defined midwestern life, is a master of capturing real people on canvas and the most stunning thing I realized today is that he is able to show in minute detail the texture of a blade of grass, a woman's hair, or the fur trim on a coat. He reveled in the ordinary and that is why I so love his works. This was my first time to see an original Wood painting, though I have collected his prints for years.

We also toured the studio where he worked, a remodeled hay loft over a carriage house in downtown Cedar Rapids. Then we drove the 15 miles east to Stone City, Iowa just to drive through the town where Grant welcomed depression-era artists to his colony during the summers. We were in the Stone City painting as we drove over the bridge and wound past the old stone church.

It was a great day.

grandbaby photo of the week

2005-09-16T20:43:00.000-07:00

friday's quote of the week

2005-09-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

This week I only have one quote and it isn't even exactly a quote but a paraphrase. But first, a little background.

The last few years have brought our family on an incredible church journey. In the process of sorting through exactly what we believe about church doctrine, clergy authority, and the proper response to clergy abuse, we feel that we are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

In the past few months, as we have attended a large church, something we had thought we wouldn't ever want to do, we have been blessed beyond measure by the teaching and preaching we have heard, preaching that has brought us through with renewed faith and has provided spiritual detoxification for us.

Last week the pastor made a statement that is worthy of the quote of the week all by itself. He said, "Whenever you see a spirit of authoritarianism, you can be sure that it comes from the hand of Satan. Such a spirit is never from Jesus Christ."

something new...grandbaby photo of the week

2005-09-09T12:34:00.000-07:00