Give me Jesus.
Month: March 2008
What a day that will be…
Wes’s dad died eight years ago and at his memorial service his own mother spoke of the son she loved, was so proud of and would greatly miss. She shared some poignant stories and a few humourous anecdotes that really engaged the crowd gathered there to celebrate his life that day in the church he had pastored for many years. She closed her remarks about her son saying, “Goodnight, son, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Well, today was that morning. I’m sure: a glad and happy reunion. The dear and precious woman we all call grandma passed from this life into the arms of the Lord; her hope, her strength and her Redeemer. She longed for home — longed for heaven — longed to see Jesus face to Face.
Born in 1908, she was nearly 100 years old and lived a marvelous life of faith and joyful obedience to the Lord — much of her life in full time ministry. The Lord was good to her… in and through her. What a testimony to His merciful kindness, His faithfulness, protection and provision. She was a remarkable woman, ever eager to share the hope of the Gospel, to visit and to help others — ever ready to host a prayer meeting or a Bible study and just as eagerly to listen to one in need, despair or rejoicing.
Her smile was a comfort and a consolation; her laughter was infectious and her zest for life contagious. I loved her as my own grandmother all these years and she treated me as such… for I’m pretty sure she never distinguished the “in-law’s” any differently that her own grandchildren. My mother-in-law is just the same toward me, too. How grateful I am for my husband’s Christian heritage on both paternal and maternal sides of his family… how grateful I am for the loving kindness they’ve shown all these years… what a blessing and testimony they are to me – to our family. Grandma loved us and prayed for us… for these two things I am eternally grateful and it is these two things that makes it bittersweet to say good-bye for now.
So… instead, I will say, O, what a day that will be when I see you again. Until then, thank you, Grandma — for a life well lived, for an example to follow, for a promise to keep, for memories to treasure, for joys to remember, for the honour of being your family, for your loving kindness and tender concern for us, for our children and for our grandchildren. I’ve loved you – and I will always.
Goodnight, Grandma, I’ll see you in the morning.
one of the first gents of emergents – clip
one of the first gents of emergents
It’s important to prove all things and hold fast that which is good. Prove all things. This man, Rob Bell, is probably one of the most influential ‘pastors’ in one of the fastest growing churches, Mars Hill, in America today. This is the “other Mars Hill” – not Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church in Seattle. Rob Bell is known for his “Nooma’s” — short film clips depicting a particular concept or thought. The Nooma’s are thoughtful. The Nooma’s are thought provoking. The Nooma’s are provoking. Positively or negatively depending on what you think of them, what you think after watching them and what you think about the message they give (or don’t give).
This, from the Nooma.com site on what a Nooma is: “It’s short films with communicators that really speak to us. Compact, portable, and concise. Each Nooma touches onissues that we care about, that we want to talk about, and it comes in a way that fits our world. It’s a format that’s there for us when we need it,as we need it, how we need it.”
I remember seeing them for the first time a few years ago. Straight away I had a reaction. I made notes and comparisons with the Word. My reaction was strong. It’s stronger today.
And the truth.
Each day the lines are clearer.
vasectomies.
I thought I’d just start this post off with a bang: vasectomies. Writing the rest of it will be easier now, comparatively speaking. Well, with the exception of replies to comments – but that’s probably the good thing about not receiving lots of daily comments here.
I don’t know of an elective surgery that is more emotionally charged than vasectomies – with the exception of tubal ligation. Every week I receive letters from women — men and women — couples — who ask for prayer for conception and pregnancy – most requests are posted on our site. In addition to those, we receive letters inquiring about birth control and vasectomy or tubal ligation reversal. So many aches. So many questions. So much regret and disappointment. So many broken hearts and marriages. Week after week, couples plead for prayer on their behalf that God would be merciful and grant them conception… that God would provide a way for a vasectomy reversal… that God would forgive a bad or foolish decision.
If you’ve visited our site or have known me any length of time you will readily know my strong opposition to the big fix. It’s a lie… the big fix is no fix at all – for breaking things that work just fine isn’t a solution or a fix-all. Very, very rarely do I ever talk with a person for whom pregnancy is or would be fatal or detrimental health wise. Very rarely do I read of situations where a woman should not — must not — get pregnant. And most of the time, my estimation of birth-control is this: it is for people who should not get pregnant. And who should not? People who are not married. to. each. other. Sincere or Medical cases of necessary abstinence are rare – much rarer than are cited.
Responsibility is a marvelous gift to men and to women. Responsibility requires necessary restraint and composure, resolve and commitment. Vasectomies remove a substantial restraining factor in men’s lives and behaviour. That’s something that’s probably not mentioned when men seek a vasectomy. It’s not like the doc sits there and says, now, brother, you do realize that you now have total sexual freedom, don’t you? Are you sure you can handle this?
Of course not.
Instead, docs ignorantly praise a man for the decision he’s making (the great financial benefit, notwithstanding) and how now he’ll be free to enjoy secs completely and his wife will never have to be burdened again, blah, blah, blah. Based on the number of women who’ve written to us, and we’re nobody!, and I will tell you, women cry over the foolish decision and men ache with shame and regret for making a decision based on convenience. and doubt. and fear.
Page two, Local Section of this morning’s Seattle Times has an article about a doc in Oregon who is offering “premium vasectomy appointments” to men who want to time their vasectomy just right to enable them to watch March Madness college basketball… “It’s snip city.” the ad in the article proclaims.
Another sad consequence: older men acting on impulse; younger men instructed. Older men paving the way for younger men to neglect God.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. — Psalm 19
Problems? Headaches? Tired of being tied down? Kids interrupting your game or game-plan? Make an appointment to cut them off today. You’re in charge of your life – why be bogged down with children and family, why bother?
So light and so cavalier is the view of the great gift of life. Pragmatism makes many foolish decisions. For which man could know what God has in store for him? Who can know the great mind of God on matters of life, offspring and posterity – except that He says children are a blessing and a great heritage to the man who has them. Decisions with eternal implications made in a moment of frustration or despair… based on a most convenient scenario.
I wonder how many will be grieved five minutes or six months later when the gravity of the decision is realized. It is a grievous thing to cut off the possibility of children – the heritage of the Lord. The big fix is a lie.
We know many who have sought forgiveness for the hasty or ill advised action and have joined in prayer and have sought reversal: “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me…”
God help us.
Homeschooling makes missionaries…
Or, missionaries make great homeschoolers. Or is it, homeschoolers make great missionaries.
Timothy… in Ghana
Kathryn in Uganda
The Oars are in the Water
And one of those oars is in the hand of California assemblyman, Joel Anderson, who has introduced legislation to reverse the lower court’s decision to dramatically restrict homeschooling in California.
About Homeschooling and these days…
Written Friday, March 7, 2008. This has been quite a Newsy Week! As a diversion to the mudslinging political campaigning, home education is on the chopping block in California (my dear home state believe it or not!).
It’s always amazing to me that when “liberal beliefs” or a liberal position is *agreed with* then everything’s well and good. But, if that position or those beliefs are challenged in any way, then there is incredible offense taken. In many cases, everything’s right except righteousness – and the Bible says this will be so. The Lord even forewarned of these very days, these perilous times. He forewarned the hatred of God, of Himself and of those who would love God. And so, while not surprising, the signs of the times and the events or activities of the day are strangely just that: surprising. I found myself, many times yesterday, marveling in disbelief. I listen to the campaign rhetoric and shake my head. How can all this possibly be happening in America? But it is. How can believers be so unprincipled that immorality, unrighteousness or unbiblical stands are acceptable and even given support in candidates campaigning to hold the highest office of this land. Amazing.
Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity, phone calls, emails, petitions, letters, etc., regarding the California case that could, if enacted, literally dismantle legal homeschooling in California and make it so difficult that only a very few parents could legally do so.
In an attempt to get a more accurate (instead of what I assumed would be — and is) feel for the climate surrounding the recent ruling, I attempted to wade through the hundreds and hundreds of comments on the SFGate page that were posted following the recent ruling pertaining to homeschooling in California. What an education! What contrast! Those championing tolerance and liberal thought were absolutely the most narrow, closed minded of all the contributors. It would seem that “liberal thinkers” would be the most open to home education or to private education or whatever other form of ‘alternative’ education would be undertaken by parents and students. But no. No, such was not the case at all.
All of this has once again led me to ask, as I have on numerous occasions in the past, why is public education so critical to liberals or whatever name might be given to those who so ardently stand against ‘conservative’ parents? Why does it matter so very much and why is such an incredibly high amount of money put toward the ‘education system’ in America (and, of course in many! countries around the world)? Indoctrination. Mass indoctrination. Simple. Get enough people assembled in one place and tell them lies often enough, they will not only believe, but embrace and defend. And interestingly, as an assault or attempt to denigrate the practice, that’s just what is leveled at home-educating parents: indoctrination. You see? Indoctrination is mocked by liberals. But it is precisely indoctrination that makes public education so necessary.
I know I’m standing on the proverbial edge here, but I’d say the opposition to homeschooling is a farce. And I’d say further that it’s an attempt to dismantle or topple parent’s rights so that the massive machine can continue unhindered: destroying the foundations of Truth and Righteousness in this once great nation. Now, do I think every homeschooler is being taught in sincerity and truth and that every homeschooler is receiving an excellent education in truth, academics, righteousness, morality, patriotism, faith and obedience to God and goodwill and honour toward men? No. But I’m very confident that all the homeschooling families I know or have met are earnestly attempting striving to do so. And so that’s probably what’s most disheartening about the attack on homeschooling and the negative comments regarding home education and/or parent’s rights to home school their children.
In the end, I find I want to say to all those in opposition who personally have “school-age” children: go ahead, send your children to school. God bless you. You’ll be doing what you think is best – as the parent of those children – that’s your deal.
To those in opposition of homeschooling — who do not have children: well, hmmm. Until and unless you have children of your own, it’s foolish to make selfish demands on others who are thoughtfully and diligently bringing up and training the children who are the future of this nation.
To those who have “school age” children in the government schools and who are opposed to homeschooling or to parents who homeschool, consider this: millions of your peers (parents of children) are paying to home educate their children and are paying, in part, for your children’s education as well! For consider this, not only are the children of homeschooling families not taking up seats, time and space in government schools, they’re also not wasting government resources — though their parents are paying for other’s children in what is often unquestionably a waste of government resources.
To those who are just fighting the issues of home education vs. public education because there’s nothing better to do: there are many marvelous and fruitful ways to spend time and energy. Fighting against home education is fruitless unless there is something at stake. What is it?
And then… because I’ve been spending so much time thinking about the public or government vs. home or private schools, I find myself wondering why progressive thinkers are so adamantly opposed to home education or home schooling. Could it be that conservatives are really the progressive thinkers and liberals are not? Could this be? I know, I know, the whole dialectic praxis… but, really, it’s amazing that liberal thought can be so… so… not liberal.
