I have failed at my job. My kids do NOT understand their own mother tongue... English. A simple request brings on a "I don't know what you mean!" type of response.
Please wash the dishes... brings "What ME wash dishes?? You don't mean the dishes on the kitchen counter? Me?? You mean someone else. I'll just go read a book!!"
Please bring down the books on poetry off the shelves upstairs... "Huh? What's that? Yeah, I know what a poem is, duh!! Yeah, I know what a book is. A book with poems in it? I don't think we have those. I don't know what you mean!"
I think I'm going nuts.
This is ridiculous!!
Feed the dog please... an hour later?
Did you feed the dog yet?
Oh, did you mean me? You looked at me when you asked but you didn't SAY MY NAME so I figured you didn't really mean me.
Was I this stunned as a child? No I didn't ask them that question.
They would tell everyone I said they were stunned. That they would remember!!
I'm going to pray now.
Should have done that before ranting!!!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Another Sunday towards peace?
This was another weird one for the record. I really want to remember the steps we are taking to get through this church mess.. for lack of a better word.
We went back to our church.
The pastor's message was great. He is in 2 Corinthians as opposed to our BRF 1 Corinthians.
The sermon was on chapter 2 dealing with forgiveness, repentance and restoration. How apropos. It was hard hitting but left us with what do we do if no repentance is offered. You can still forgive and not trust y'know. Forgiveness is what we are called to do. Trust without seeing repentance on the other side is just plain old stupid!! Yet, we can be nice at the same time.
To begin this little story with... I'm not a really touchy type of person. I like my space. If I give a hug its gotta mean that I am completely comfortable with someone and genuinely like and trust them. I very rarely have ever spontaneously hugged my mother. I will hug her because that is something she seems to need... but its not real natural. I don't hug men that aren't my husband... and hate it when men seem to think that touching someone else's wife IN ANY WAY... except a quick hand shake.... is appropriate. Dave had to speak to someone about that this winter. This other man hugs all the ladies and was shocked that I would find it offensive, but he was sensitive enough to know that I don't hate or even dislike him. It ended well.
I love to hug my children, on the other hand. Almost any child. Definitely my husband!!! The occasional friend on special occasions.... not many.
Therefore...
It nearly bowled me over when the woman who has been slandering us, whose husband told us royally off, who had us pretty near blacklisted, who caused all the problems for us in the church, who I most definitely do not trust and am NOT comfortable with... ran down from the choir and made a big show of giving me a hug during the handshake/welcome/family of God time.
Dave admits I looked as repulsed as I felt. It was like hugging a snake.... rephrase.. being hugged by a snake. I didn't hug her back.
This was not what I bargained for. Who hugs people they have seriously wronged?
This was not an apology.
Remember waaaay back in high school when some guy you weren't remotely interested in, but were nice to cuz you were nice to everyone (yeah..), asked you out and you got that queasy sick feeling in your stomach cuz you felt on the spot in a bad way?
That was this morning in church.
In front of everyone.
With my husband laughing.
When she left I could laugh too.
None of the kids got what we were laughing at and hate that Dave and I have our little private jokes.
Not that this is all out...
Nothing else can floor me at church now. I hope.
I can now naturally counter the "Oh, you're back. We thought we'd lost you." comments with a smile and a "Nope, we are still at the same address and phone number. Sorry we missed your call." without missing a beat.
We have an answering machine and call display.
There haven't been calls.
It sure ends the conversation quickly!
I hope that isn't mean. "The kids have grown so much!!" is another comment. Its been 2 months they haven't grown that much!!
I haven't noticed that any of the other kids in the church have changed so much so I'm assuming mine haven't either. They haven't changed hair colour or styles. Same wardrobes. Same faces. We still aren't ready for evening service. That used to be my fave. Testimony and sharing times are sweet fellowship times. This is where the 2 things I actually shared in the 2.5 years we were there were twisted completely around and thrown back in my face.
I am waiting for healing from the Lord from that one.
I don't usually share in public either. Its my private space issue. All those people hearing my private thoughts is intimidating.
Its much easier to just blog everything and then let half the world ... including complete strangers READ my private thoughts.
Yep, I'm not making sense anymore.
Blogging is done for the day.
G'night.
We went back to our church.
The pastor's message was great. He is in 2 Corinthians as opposed to our BRF 1 Corinthians.
The sermon was on chapter 2 dealing with forgiveness, repentance and restoration. How apropos. It was hard hitting but left us with what do we do if no repentance is offered. You can still forgive and not trust y'know. Forgiveness is what we are called to do. Trust without seeing repentance on the other side is just plain old stupid!! Yet, we can be nice at the same time.
To begin this little story with... I'm not a really touchy type of person. I like my space. If I give a hug its gotta mean that I am completely comfortable with someone and genuinely like and trust them. I very rarely have ever spontaneously hugged my mother. I will hug her because that is something she seems to need... but its not real natural. I don't hug men that aren't my husband... and hate it when men seem to think that touching someone else's wife IN ANY WAY... except a quick hand shake.... is appropriate. Dave had to speak to someone about that this winter. This other man hugs all the ladies and was shocked that I would find it offensive, but he was sensitive enough to know that I don't hate or even dislike him. It ended well.
I love to hug my children, on the other hand. Almost any child. Definitely my husband!!! The occasional friend on special occasions.... not many.
Therefore...
It nearly bowled me over when the woman who has been slandering us, whose husband told us royally off, who had us pretty near blacklisted, who caused all the problems for us in the church, who I most definitely do not trust and am NOT comfortable with... ran down from the choir and made a big show of giving me a hug during the handshake/welcome/family of God time.
Dave admits I looked as repulsed as I felt. It was like hugging a snake.... rephrase.. being hugged by a snake. I didn't hug her back.
This was not what I bargained for. Who hugs people they have seriously wronged?
This was not an apology.
Remember waaaay back in high school when some guy you weren't remotely interested in, but were nice to cuz you were nice to everyone (yeah..), asked you out and you got that queasy sick feeling in your stomach cuz you felt on the spot in a bad way?
That was this morning in church.
In front of everyone.
With my husband laughing.
When she left I could laugh too.
None of the kids got what we were laughing at and hate that Dave and I have our little private jokes.
Not that this is all out...
Nothing else can floor me at church now. I hope.
I can now naturally counter the "Oh, you're back. We thought we'd lost you." comments with a smile and a "Nope, we are still at the same address and phone number. Sorry we missed your call." without missing a beat.
We have an answering machine and call display.
There haven't been calls.
It sure ends the conversation quickly!
I hope that isn't mean. "The kids have grown so much!!" is another comment. Its been 2 months they haven't grown that much!!
I haven't noticed that any of the other kids in the church have changed so much so I'm assuming mine haven't either. They haven't changed hair colour or styles. Same wardrobes. Same faces. We still aren't ready for evening service. That used to be my fave. Testimony and sharing times are sweet fellowship times. This is where the 2 things I actually shared in the 2.5 years we were there were twisted completely around and thrown back in my face.
I am waiting for healing from the Lord from that one.
I don't usually share in public either. Its my private space issue. All those people hearing my private thoughts is intimidating.
Its much easier to just blog everything and then let half the world ... including complete strangers READ my private thoughts.
Yep, I'm not making sense anymore.
Blogging is done for the day.
G'night.
Friday, April 27, 2007
BRF -- 1 Corinthians 5-8
These are some tough chapters. Some of the issues here are heatedly disputed in the church and I have been called a legalist for going with some of it. I believe Paul is being extremely clear in these chapters of EXACTLY what he is speaking of. Those who say these are gray (or grey) areas are perhaps just looking to continue on with the status quo.
You can not act on 1 Cor 5-8 while still being tolerant of sin or politically correct. Its time to choose your side... or don't bother reading.
1 Corinthians 5:9-12 (New King James Version)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
We are to stay away from those who are sexually immoral and claim to be brothers. We aren't even to eat with them. (No pot lucks or home visits!!)
This is something "loving" Christians these days refuse to do. There is one "couple" at our church who are living together while waiting for each of their divorces to go through and then will get married and expect everyone to congratulate them... and people will!! They thought it would be wonderful to get to know Dave and I better and have invited us into their home for dinner. He is a Bible school/seminary graduate and happens to be familiar with this text. He is actually rather on the brilliant side. By getting us to eat with them we are also committing a sin. We declined the dinner invite. They are not upset as there are others who will go.
The general consensus to these type of situations is that in a few years everyone will forget that they had chosen this route and will just treat them as any other married couple in the church. In this case each of them has a daughter with the same name so there will always be questions from new people!!
The Bible says clearly... STAY AWAY!!!
We have no call to hold the world to our standard... that would be ridiculous!!! We need to be reaching out to those who are lost and in sexual sins.
We have every reason, even a mandate to recognize this in the brethren and expect them to wise up and be holy... not to make a mockery of God's holiness.... even if it isn't what the church people call "loving."
When you bring this up in your church.. and we must... and people say "We can't do anything. To not even eat with them is unloving." Tell them to take it up with God and His word... which is perfect and infallible!! What if some of these people are your best friends? Remember Jesus said He came not to bring peace but a sword. If we aren't willing to choose Him first, we show we hate Him and are friends of the world.
Also, those in sexual sins certainly know it and they KNOW there are always repercussions for the choices they make. We need to be wise enough to be able to judge these situations according to God's word.
In chapter 6 Paul is reminding us that we are going to be judging the world someday. We need to show discernment in judging now. Ch 6 vs 2b ".. are you not competent to judge trivial cases?" When Paul gives us an open and shut case for what we are to do, it should be a trivial matter to simply follow directions. Not even a lot of gray matter used here.
We also need to be able to judge disputes between the brethren. I love Ch 6 vs 5 probably because we have been looking for a wise person to help mediate the problems at the church and have come up pretty empty handed (though we may have found one this week, praise God!!)
"I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?"
Can we all hang down our heads and admit that this is true? Are we wise enough? By God's grace soon we will have a resounding "YES!!!" from some ladies who are taking God's word seriously! We need to be wise. Our men need to be wise, not just in their individual business worlds, but in the Word of God. We need men that can stand up and say "Enough!! This is wrong and this is why. You can't do this and claim to be a disciple of Christ!!"
Someone who actually gets vs 12 ""Everything is permissible for me" -- but not everything is beneficial."
I've heard people quote the everything is permissible for me phrase... how many of them know that Paul was quoting what the believers in Corinth were saying and HE wasn't saying it I'm not sure. Yes, we have freedom in Christ. Freedom from the law. Freedom for what we eat, etc...
God still has reasons for laying things out the way He did though and we really should pay attention. For instance, God forbade eating pigs. It is not absolutely permissible to eat pork in any form. This is definitely NOT a sin. However, it is really hard on your body. We don't eat pork because it literally makes us ill. Ever tried the pouring coke on the pork roast and see what happens?? Little worms will make their way out!!
I guess we do eat some pig. We do enjoy ham.
Just not pork roast, loin or chops.
Definitely not chops.
How bout the shellfish thing? Another no-no according to the OT law. Those creeping things that creep on the bottom of the sea (lobster, crab, etc..) feed on dead flesh. Yep, if another creature dies, they are the vultures of the sea. Remember the Swiss Air flight that crashed off the coast of NS a few years back? That was also a bumper year for lobster. No joke. Dave still eats it, I am thankfully allergic and don't offend anyone at the dinner table by just sticking with the allergen thing. No one who just paid $30 for lobster in a restaurant wants to be told that they are eating sea vultures.
Moving on. (Thank goodness?)
Chapter 7
No one likes discussing this chapter with me... especially those who are in or have been in divorce proceedings. I simply don't care what their station in life is.. If I'm asked I state what I believe to be true.
Before Paul gets in to talking about marriage and when its ok to let your spouse go (very few reasons I might add) he gives this disclaimer.
Please read carefully.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (New King James Version)
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
The Lord is commanding us not to divorce, but even if it happens (the next few verses say when it can happen with no guilt) we are to remain unmarried.
vs 39 states the ONLY exception to this rule... death of the spouse.
This corresponds exactly to what Jesus says in Luke.
Luke 16:18 (New King James Version)
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
I've been waiting for someone preaching on remarriage/adultery to connect these 2 verses. No one has while I've been sitting in the pew... but here ya go folks...
It doesn't matter if you do the divorcing or are on the receiving end of the divorce. If you remarry, you commit adultery. That is where the sin part comes in. Some reasons for divorce can leave you completely in the clear as far as sin goes, why mess it up by committing adultery afterwards?? Another marriage while the first spouse is alive is called adultery. Jesus said it. Paul (though not using the word adultery) makes it clear this is not to happen.
Chapter 8 and the weaker brother and I'm done.
Once again ... how did this get so long??
Vs 9 "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."
The youth pastor who has no problem with having a beer on the patio of the pub along the waterfront on a hot summer day.
The couple who make wine in their basement.
The woman who wears what she considers warm weather necessities such as tube tops and backless halters.
Camping every weekend in the summer so you become a 3 season church attender.
Are these sins? Probably not. Can they become a stumbling block for another and cause some to fall? Absolutely yes.
Lets just not go there.
There are so many really great things to do with the freedom we have in Christ.... like...
Actually visiting people on the Sabbath.
Resting when you can instead of having a prescribed day for it.
Speaking to others of different backgrounds and being allowed to go into their houses.
Not kissing your fingers to a wooden box every time you walk in and out of your house!!
Talking to God face to face.
Reading God's word and discussing it with fellow believers.
Having God speak directly to us as we open His word.
Having the Holy Spirit guide us to a divine appt with a stranger that changes your life.
Meeting strangers and finding them friends.
Having forgiveness from our sin and starting every day fresh.. and sometimes every minute!
Why go out of our way to do something that can cause a brother to fall?
That's my BRF for tonight. BRF could also stand for BRIEF... Not on this blog!!
Now I can read all of yours.... YEAH!!
You can not act on 1 Cor 5-8 while still being tolerant of sin or politically correct. Its time to choose your side... or don't bother reading.
1 Corinthians 5:9-12 (New King James Version)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
We are to stay away from those who are sexually immoral and claim to be brothers. We aren't even to eat with them. (No pot lucks or home visits!!)
This is something "loving" Christians these days refuse to do. There is one "couple" at our church who are living together while waiting for each of their divorces to go through and then will get married and expect everyone to congratulate them... and people will!! They thought it would be wonderful to get to know Dave and I better and have invited us into their home for dinner. He is a Bible school/seminary graduate and happens to be familiar with this text. He is actually rather on the brilliant side. By getting us to eat with them we are also committing a sin. We declined the dinner invite. They are not upset as there are others who will go.
The general consensus to these type of situations is that in a few years everyone will forget that they had chosen this route and will just treat them as any other married couple in the church. In this case each of them has a daughter with the same name so there will always be questions from new people!!
The Bible says clearly... STAY AWAY!!!
We have no call to hold the world to our standard... that would be ridiculous!!! We need to be reaching out to those who are lost and in sexual sins.
We have every reason, even a mandate to recognize this in the brethren and expect them to wise up and be holy... not to make a mockery of God's holiness.... even if it isn't what the church people call "loving."
When you bring this up in your church.. and we must... and people say "We can't do anything. To not even eat with them is unloving." Tell them to take it up with God and His word... which is perfect and infallible!! What if some of these people are your best friends? Remember Jesus said He came not to bring peace but a sword. If we aren't willing to choose Him first, we show we hate Him and are friends of the world.
Also, those in sexual sins certainly know it and they KNOW there are always repercussions for the choices they make. We need to be wise enough to be able to judge these situations according to God's word.
In chapter 6 Paul is reminding us that we are going to be judging the world someday. We need to show discernment in judging now. Ch 6 vs 2b ".. are you not competent to judge trivial cases?" When Paul gives us an open and shut case for what we are to do, it should be a trivial matter to simply follow directions. Not even a lot of gray matter used here.
We also need to be able to judge disputes between the brethren. I love Ch 6 vs 5 probably because we have been looking for a wise person to help mediate the problems at the church and have come up pretty empty handed (though we may have found one this week, praise God!!)
"I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?"
Can we all hang down our heads and admit that this is true? Are we wise enough? By God's grace soon we will have a resounding "YES!!!" from some ladies who are taking God's word seriously! We need to be wise. Our men need to be wise, not just in their individual business worlds, but in the Word of God. We need men that can stand up and say "Enough!! This is wrong and this is why. You can't do this and claim to be a disciple of Christ!!"
Someone who actually gets vs 12 ""Everything is permissible for me" -- but not everything is beneficial."
I've heard people quote the everything is permissible for me phrase... how many of them know that Paul was quoting what the believers in Corinth were saying and HE wasn't saying it I'm not sure. Yes, we have freedom in Christ. Freedom from the law. Freedom for what we eat, etc...
God still has reasons for laying things out the way He did though and we really should pay attention. For instance, God forbade eating pigs. It is not absolutely permissible to eat pork in any form. This is definitely NOT a sin. However, it is really hard on your body. We don't eat pork because it literally makes us ill. Ever tried the pouring coke on the pork roast and see what happens?? Little worms will make their way out!!
I guess we do eat some pig. We do enjoy ham.
Just not pork roast, loin or chops.
Definitely not chops.
How bout the shellfish thing? Another no-no according to the OT law. Those creeping things that creep on the bottom of the sea (lobster, crab, etc..) feed on dead flesh. Yep, if another creature dies, they are the vultures of the sea. Remember the Swiss Air flight that crashed off the coast of NS a few years back? That was also a bumper year for lobster. No joke. Dave still eats it, I am thankfully allergic and don't offend anyone at the dinner table by just sticking with the allergen thing. No one who just paid $30 for lobster in a restaurant wants to be told that they are eating sea vultures.
Moving on. (Thank goodness?)
Chapter 7
No one likes discussing this chapter with me... especially those who are in or have been in divorce proceedings. I simply don't care what their station in life is.. If I'm asked I state what I believe to be true.
Before Paul gets in to talking about marriage and when its ok to let your spouse go (very few reasons I might add) he gives this disclaimer.
Please read carefully.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (New King James Version)
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
The Lord is commanding us not to divorce, but even if it happens (the next few verses say when it can happen with no guilt) we are to remain unmarried.
vs 39 states the ONLY exception to this rule... death of the spouse.
This corresponds exactly to what Jesus says in Luke.
Luke 16:18 (New King James Version)
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
I've been waiting for someone preaching on remarriage/adultery to connect these 2 verses. No one has while I've been sitting in the pew... but here ya go folks...
It doesn't matter if you do the divorcing or are on the receiving end of the divorce. If you remarry, you commit adultery. That is where the sin part comes in. Some reasons for divorce can leave you completely in the clear as far as sin goes, why mess it up by committing adultery afterwards?? Another marriage while the first spouse is alive is called adultery. Jesus said it. Paul (though not using the word adultery) makes it clear this is not to happen.
Chapter 8 and the weaker brother and I'm done.
Once again ... how did this get so long??
Vs 9 "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak."
The youth pastor who has no problem with having a beer on the patio of the pub along the waterfront on a hot summer day.
The couple who make wine in their basement.
The woman who wears what she considers warm weather necessities such as tube tops and backless halters.
Camping every weekend in the summer so you become a 3 season church attender.
Are these sins? Probably not. Can they become a stumbling block for another and cause some to fall? Absolutely yes.
Lets just not go there.
There are so many really great things to do with the freedom we have in Christ.... like...
Actually visiting people on the Sabbath.
Resting when you can instead of having a prescribed day for it.
Speaking to others of different backgrounds and being allowed to go into their houses.
Not kissing your fingers to a wooden box every time you walk in and out of your house!!
Talking to God face to face.
Reading God's word and discussing it with fellow believers.
Having God speak directly to us as we open His word.
Having the Holy Spirit guide us to a divine appt with a stranger that changes your life.
Meeting strangers and finding them friends.
Having forgiveness from our sin and starting every day fresh.. and sometimes every minute!
Why go out of our way to do something that can cause a brother to fall?
That's my BRF for tonight. BRF could also stand for BRIEF... Not on this blog!!
Now I can read all of yours.... YEAH!!
Ultimate Homeschool Conf
I am a new member of the Ultimate homeschool Conference and I'm lovin' it!!
For $25 American I can actually listen to many, many sessions on my own free time, read amazing articles, learn about new ways of teaching, get AMAZING free ebooks and treasures (even a lapbooking unit study on sled dogs the kids will love as they had their first sled dog ride ... mushing experience this winter) and lots more. There is still time to sign up if you are interested at Ultimate Homeschool Expo Ticket.
The $25 is if you sign up with a friend. Otherwise its $35. The site will be up indefinitely so you can have encouragement all year round.
I also found this article. I'd love to know what everyone thought of it.
Its a little long and a lot controversial and might just shake up one of our biggest "Traditions of man" beliefs that we have. Hope you are interested enough to take a look.
My BRF is gonna go on late when the kids are in bed.
I know I didn't BRF last week, I did read ch 1-4 several times though... more than I read the 5-8 that I will be posting on.. go figure!!
For $25 American I can actually listen to many, many sessions on my own free time, read amazing articles, learn about new ways of teaching, get AMAZING free ebooks and treasures (even a lapbooking unit study on sled dogs the kids will love as they had their first sled dog ride ... mushing experience this winter) and lots more. There is still time to sign up if you are interested at Ultimate Homeschool Expo Ticket.
The $25 is if you sign up with a friend. Otherwise its $35. The site will be up indefinitely so you can have encouragement all year round.
I also found this article. I'd love to know what everyone thought of it.
Its a little long and a lot controversial and might just shake up one of our biggest "Traditions of man" beliefs that we have. Hope you are interested enough to take a look.
My BRF is gonna go on late when the kids are in bed.
I know I didn't BRF last week, I did read ch 1-4 several times though... more than I read the 5-8 that I will be posting on.. go figure!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
home again, home again, jiggety jig
Well, I'm back from the big city!!
Cities I should say... lots of buildings, more cars, parking garages that never end...
Ok, how many people when they travel actually get to have a really good tour of a parking garage?? Not many.
Ang not only showed me around the parking garage but showed me how to play a GREAT game of Scavenger Hunt meets the Amazing Race.
We got a clue... a partial clue... and a panic button for the car and off we went to discover... we can't read a ticket for the garage which apparently tells you where to go and Ang is as blind as a bat regarding the huge cement posts in the parking garage. But that's ok, cuz we got to play this neat new game and she did, after all, carry the big suitcase!!
Aunt Anne, Angela and I had the most amazing time at the Kay Arthur conf. It was so far beyond anything I've ever been to. I don't know enough Bible. Simple as that. I have some new precept studies for me, the kids... oh and a few for Dave. We can get more later.
Thanks to A. Anne for the complete works of John McArthur in a box... Logos for the computer which also has a complete pastoral reference library.
Dave is gonna be cookin' smart!!!
We will be switching our reading programs to precepts studies beginning almost immediately. I need to order a few more things. They have an amazing kids line already and they are, of course, pumping out more studies faster than you can blink.
They have 4 studies to do the book of Genesis, 3 on the book of John, a couple on Revelation.. more to come there.. Jonah, James, Who is God?, How to Study the Bible for kids, on and on...
As a homeschooling Mom I have the rare privilege of having my kids study well what is important. Some of the precept upon precept studies are of post university quality. In those studies the book of Rev. takes over 2 years to complete. This is an exhaustive study!!
Of course most of them won't take that long.
You can also get studies that are 20 min per day and then some that are 40 min a week... one lesson with no homework that are wonderful for Sunday School classes.
http://www.preceptministries.ca/
This is the link to find out more info.
I'm not making so much as a penny for this blurb!!! I think its important.
Time is short. We need to prioritize.
Other than that. I ate too much this weekend. Lots too much!! Way to many desserts and that's ok!! I'm home now... except Dave was getting food for the weekend. Way to many unhealthy snacks at my home right now. I'm gonna weigh a ton when I have this kid.
Gwen and Luke are doing great. We are going up for a birthday party this weekend and I will get to meet the little(?) guy!! I'm wondering if he's getting enough attention... first boy... 4 older sisters.... maybe!
Hopefully Gwen gets her turn to see the wee man!!
Dave has toddled off to bed...
I must go too.
Cities I should say... lots of buildings, more cars, parking garages that never end...
Ok, how many people when they travel actually get to have a really good tour of a parking garage?? Not many.
Ang not only showed me around the parking garage but showed me how to play a GREAT game of Scavenger Hunt meets the Amazing Race.
We got a clue... a partial clue... and a panic button for the car and off we went to discover... we can't read a ticket for the garage which apparently tells you where to go and Ang is as blind as a bat regarding the huge cement posts in the parking garage. But that's ok, cuz we got to play this neat new game and she did, after all, carry the big suitcase!!
Aunt Anne, Angela and I had the most amazing time at the Kay Arthur conf. It was so far beyond anything I've ever been to. I don't know enough Bible. Simple as that. I have some new precept studies for me, the kids... oh and a few for Dave. We can get more later.
Thanks to A. Anne for the complete works of John McArthur in a box... Logos for the computer which also has a complete pastoral reference library.
Dave is gonna be cookin' smart!!!
We will be switching our reading programs to precepts studies beginning almost immediately. I need to order a few more things. They have an amazing kids line already and they are, of course, pumping out more studies faster than you can blink.
They have 4 studies to do the book of Genesis, 3 on the book of John, a couple on Revelation.. more to come there.. Jonah, James, Who is God?, How to Study the Bible for kids, on and on...
As a homeschooling Mom I have the rare privilege of having my kids study well what is important. Some of the precept upon precept studies are of post university quality. In those studies the book of Rev. takes over 2 years to complete. This is an exhaustive study!!
Of course most of them won't take that long.
You can also get studies that are 20 min per day and then some that are 40 min a week... one lesson with no homework that are wonderful for Sunday School classes.
http://www.preceptministries.ca/
This is the link to find out more info.
I'm not making so much as a penny for this blurb!!! I think its important.
Time is short. We need to prioritize.
Other than that. I ate too much this weekend. Lots too much!! Way to many desserts and that's ok!! I'm home now... except Dave was getting food for the weekend. Way to many unhealthy snacks at my home right now. I'm gonna weigh a ton when I have this kid.
Gwen and Luke are doing great. We are going up for a birthday party this weekend and I will get to meet the little(?) guy!! I'm wondering if he's getting enough attention... first boy... 4 older sisters.... maybe!
Hopefully Gwen gets her turn to see the wee man!!
Dave has toddled off to bed...
I must go too.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
BRF Jonah and Kay Arthur
All I have to say about Jonah is that it really bothered me.
After Jonah did the rebellion thing and the near drowning thing he was miraculously saved AND KNEW IT. Then he did his little messenger thing and threw a sulk fit that was worthy of any middle schooler. No offense kids, you can't help puberty!
Was Jonah 12?
Did he really through a snit fit at God?
God really can use anyone!!
However, we just finished up the most wonderfully awesome precept study conference weekend with Kay Arthur where we studied Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, Hosea, Isaiah and Zachariah. I can not describe to you how incredibly real those sessions were and how the Bible came alive.
I purchased some of the precept studies and will be praying for an opportunity to share the word with more people.
It was amazing the people that I met, the divine appointments God had in store for me and some of the wonderful women that facilitated the appts and encouraged me. I do NOT believe in coincidences... one woman met me who upon finding out I was from NB absolutely had to have me meet a woman she just met from Halifax, who just happened to be sitting in the same pew as me in this ginormous church, who also happened to be staying with friends in Guelph, who also just happened to be going through a horrific time at her church even though she and her husband are standing firmly on God's word, who just happened to know the new pastor at the church that has really hurt us this winter and could offer the most amazing encouragement to me and could also give a good character reference to Pastor Chris and Sandy about us.
Do you think this is a coincidence??
We met in Brampton where neither of us had even stopped in before.
This appt was definitely set up by God.
If anyone EVER has a chance to go to a Kay Arthur or precept seminar GO!!!
Do not hesitate.
If anyone is looking to get to know the Bible better, get yourself a good precept Bible study. They have them on about every book of the Bible in weekly SSchool type studies, Inductive 15 min per day studies, and lets get down and dirty into the word with our sleeves rolled up precept upon precept study.
The time we have is short.
We need to prioritize.
As Kay said, "Instead of fighting the war we are in we tend to stay home and weave daisy chains."
This woman is 73 years old and gives everything of herself to see that as many people as she can in countries all over the world learn the gospel of Jesus Christ.
She has written about 100 Bible studies and books, learned the Bible like no one else I've ever seen, constantly travels around encouraging others to study and share, gives her best to the people at the conferences (she spoke for a total of 7 hours today... at 73!) and more.
What are we doing for the Lord?
Where is our energy going?
What are we teaching our children?
As homeschooling moms is the Bible our primary focus?
Is the study of God's Word more important than Math, science, history??
Why are we buying readers and other books to learn reading from when we can teach them with God's word?
If the knowledge of God's word is the most important subject they can learn, do we show that with the amount of time we spend in the word daily with our children?
They have treasure seeking kids Bible studies for kids. They are amazing!!
They will also be what my kids will be doing for reading from now on. There are so many studies we will not run out.
My kids need to be ready for service.
So do I!
Watch out world... here we come!!!
After Jonah did the rebellion thing and the near drowning thing he was miraculously saved AND KNEW IT. Then he did his little messenger thing and threw a sulk fit that was worthy of any middle schooler. No offense kids, you can't help puberty!
Was Jonah 12?
Did he really through a snit fit at God?
God really can use anyone!!
However, we just finished up the most wonderfully awesome precept study conference weekend with Kay Arthur where we studied Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, Hosea, Isaiah and Zachariah. I can not describe to you how incredibly real those sessions were and how the Bible came alive.
I purchased some of the precept studies and will be praying for an opportunity to share the word with more people.
It was amazing the people that I met, the divine appointments God had in store for me and some of the wonderful women that facilitated the appts and encouraged me. I do NOT believe in coincidences... one woman met me who upon finding out I was from NB absolutely had to have me meet a woman she just met from Halifax, who just happened to be sitting in the same pew as me in this ginormous church, who also happened to be staying with friends in Guelph, who also just happened to be going through a horrific time at her church even though she and her husband are standing firmly on God's word, who just happened to know the new pastor at the church that has really hurt us this winter and could offer the most amazing encouragement to me and could also give a good character reference to Pastor Chris and Sandy about us.
Do you think this is a coincidence??
We met in Brampton where neither of us had even stopped in before.
This appt was definitely set up by God.
If anyone EVER has a chance to go to a Kay Arthur or precept seminar GO!!!
Do not hesitate.
If anyone is looking to get to know the Bible better, get yourself a good precept Bible study. They have them on about every book of the Bible in weekly SSchool type studies, Inductive 15 min per day studies, and lets get down and dirty into the word with our sleeves rolled up precept upon precept study.
The time we have is short.
We need to prioritize.
As Kay said, "Instead of fighting the war we are in we tend to stay home and weave daisy chains."
This woman is 73 years old and gives everything of herself to see that as many people as she can in countries all over the world learn the gospel of Jesus Christ.
She has written about 100 Bible studies and books, learned the Bible like no one else I've ever seen, constantly travels around encouraging others to study and share, gives her best to the people at the conferences (she spoke for a total of 7 hours today... at 73!) and more.
What are we doing for the Lord?
Where is our energy going?
What are we teaching our children?
As homeschooling moms is the Bible our primary focus?
Is the study of God's Word more important than Math, science, history??
Why are we buying readers and other books to learn reading from when we can teach them with God's word?
If the knowledge of God's word is the most important subject they can learn, do we show that with the amount of time we spend in the word daily with our children?
They have treasure seeking kids Bible studies for kids. They are amazing!!
They will also be what my kids will be doing for reading from now on. There are so many studies we will not run out.
My kids need to be ready for service.
So do I!
Watch out world... here we come!!!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Welcome Baby Luke
Welcome to the world Baby Luke McQuarrie.
Luke Gordon was born today at 1:29 pm.
He is already half grown at an amazing 11 1bs 12.5 oz.
Can we say OUCH!!
Gwen and Luke are doing fine.
I can't wait to meet him!!!!
Make that he was born yesterday April 11th as I see it is past midnight!
Luke Gordon was born today at 1:29 pm.
He is already half grown at an amazing 11 1bs 12.5 oz.
Can we say OUCH!!
Gwen and Luke are doing fine.
I can't wait to meet him!!!!
Make that he was born yesterday April 11th as I see it is past midnight!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Don't even feel you need to read this... its really nothing!
3 more days until takeoff!!!!
Caitlyn and I just folded an enormous pile of laundry which everyone helped put away.
One load in the dryer, one in the washer and we are caught up until at least suppertime!!
Caitlyn is making lunch... she's sure I'm never gonna get to it.. it is 2:00 after all.
I think the kids will all be going outside after lunch.
Except for the ones that are going down down for a nap.
Courtney is sweeping.
Justin is sleeping.
Jack is happy squawking.
Lunch is ready.
This has been a productive day.. so far.
I'm even having time to blog about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!
Caitlyn and I just folded an enormous pile of laundry which everyone helped put away.
One load in the dryer, one in the washer and we are caught up until at least suppertime!!
Caitlyn is making lunch... she's sure I'm never gonna get to it.. it is 2:00 after all.
I think the kids will all be going outside after lunch.
Except for the ones that are going down down for a nap.
Courtney is sweeping.
Justin is sleeping.
Jack is happy squawking.
Lunch is ready.
This has been a productive day.. so far.
I'm even having time to blog about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Not yer typical Easter Sunday Morning
I really have to blog this Easter Sunday morning... when I should be in church... and am NOT!
You see, my boys have this tendency to dig big holes. I do not like this tendency at all. They are worse than the dog.
They dug a big hole in the driveway. I told them in no uncertain terms (insert yelling like a maniac) that this was dangerous and not in the least acceptable and they were to fill it in immediately.
They filled all right... with water.
This iced over and then snowed over and it appeared that the hole was taken care of.
Not.
Dave had taken the boys and Courtney to church in the car and I was going to follow a little bit later with the 2 girls that need to look perfect before they leave the house. I must admit they did look pretty good!!
We backed up the van and as I was about to go forwards the ice under the front wheel broke and down we went into the hole. That hole is pretty deep. The van is sitting on this sick little tilt and Caitlyn, Molly, Justin and I are not going to go anywhere!!
Molly and I have had our cry. She loves church. Easter morning happens to be my favourite service and we were not happy campers.
So we suck it up and decide to make our table beautiful and put together the most wonderful roast beef dinner that we can get up.
We even have Velveeta cheese to make sauce for the veggies... and new potatoes...
I wish church were closer so Dave could have come back to get us, but its 1/2 hour away and the service would be over before we got there.
I guess I should get the veggies prepared.
Happy, happy day!!
You see, my boys have this tendency to dig big holes. I do not like this tendency at all. They are worse than the dog.
They dug a big hole in the driveway. I told them in no uncertain terms (insert yelling like a maniac) that this was dangerous and not in the least acceptable and they were to fill it in immediately.
They filled all right... with water.
This iced over and then snowed over and it appeared that the hole was taken care of.
Not.
Dave had taken the boys and Courtney to church in the car and I was going to follow a little bit later with the 2 girls that need to look perfect before they leave the house. I must admit they did look pretty good!!
We backed up the van and as I was about to go forwards the ice under the front wheel broke and down we went into the hole. That hole is pretty deep. The van is sitting on this sick little tilt and Caitlyn, Molly, Justin and I are not going to go anywhere!!
Molly and I have had our cry. She loves church. Easter morning happens to be my favourite service and we were not happy campers.
So we suck it up and decide to make our table beautiful and put together the most wonderful roast beef dinner that we can get up.
We even have Velveeta cheese to make sauce for the veggies... and new potatoes...
I wish church were closer so Dave could have come back to get us, but its 1/2 hour away and the service would be over before we got there.
I guess I should get the veggies prepared.
Happy, happy day!!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
BRF -- Galatians
Nothing too earth shattering this week.
I really enjoyed Galatians.
I love the way Paul doesn't beat around the bush... he jumps right into why he's writing this letter.
Greetings, blah, blah, blah... vs 6 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- (7) which is really no gospel at all."
Hi guys WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING?
vs 10 really sums up how Paul is. "Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
I don't think anyone would accuse me to be a pleaser of men. I have plenty of problems, but I really could care less what anyone thinks of me. But I'm not so bold as Paul. He stood up to the core of Jesus' disciples, now the apostles. I love when he says that Peter was clearly in the wrong so he rebuked him in front of everyone. If you sin in front of everyone I guess being rebuked in front of all of them is fair. I just don't think I would ever do that!
The prophets of old rebuked in front of audiences.
Remember Nathan rebuking David about the Bathsheba/adultery/murder/cover up thing?
Maybe its loving to confront someone openly knowing they have 2 choices... hate you for life or repent publicly. Ouch.
Its so hard to not get caught up in the law. Freedom in Christ is a wonderful thing. Having the heart of Christ is a wonderful thing. Knowing the law helps to understand the holiness of God. The balance is being Christlike in His holiness and still free from the law. That is, for me anyway, a tough call sometimes.
I don't want to be burdened by a yoke of slavery, but what all is the law?
What are we free from? What about tithing? Is that part of the law? Is that still required today or is that the church trying to finance itself. If you are part of a home church do you still tithe? and to who? Is giving the way we are to go now? Does percentage matter? or does whatever we can give matter? Jesus said the woman with the 2 mites gave more than the Pharisees with their tithes. Did she give a tithe or what she had left from her meager store after she paid her rent and bought the groceries? Is all that she had everything until her next "paycheck" or all that she was ever going to have forever?
Sometimes all that I have is literally dumping out the change from my purse knowing that is it until the next pay... and it hasn't been a tithe. Thankfully we have had pay raises since. Where exactly is the freedom here?
Is it more important to give our tithe to the church for the newest gadgets they will be purchasing or to get christian curriculum for our kids to teach them at home? Does giving to registered charity make it a tithe and giving to an unregistered charity such as our homeschool make it not part of giving to the Lord.
Where does freedom come in and following the law go out?
I know that finances are not exactly what Paul is going with here, but this is the area of freedom vs the law that we keep struggling with. Everything we have is God's. We have a home to raise the children He gave us to raise, to offer hospitality to others in and to learn His word in. Our van is to not only schlepp our family around in, but to visit others and maybe even schlepp them around in. Everything we have is to be used for whatever purpose God has given them to us for. Most of all is to take care of and train our children to be warriors for His kingdom.
These are our busy at home with small children years which may not seem as productive as our get out and minister actively in the community years were (and will be again), but no less important. This is also the time when we have less money for tithing as the kids, bless their hearts, require a lot of upkeep!!
Freedom... law... freedom... law...
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
This is the heart of the book. Chuck the law. Stop picking on the other believers... just do good to them... even the ones that are nasty to us.
Oh boy. That opens a new can of worms. What about those who have spent a good deal of the past year slandering us? What about the ones that have believed the slander and told us off and ignored us? How on earth do we do good to them?
Jumpins!! Wish I hadn't had that thought! Now I may have to go waaay outside my comfort zone and start actively loving some "enemies" that I don't even like.
I'm going to need some prayer for this one girls.
Did anyone notice this Bible just keeps getting sharper and sharper??
I really don't want to change... but how can I grow closer to the Lord and not change?
Ideas... anyone?
Did I say nothing too earth shattering this week? I feel like my world is about to be turned upside down.
I really enjoyed Galatians.
I love the way Paul doesn't beat around the bush... he jumps right into why he's writing this letter.
Greetings, blah, blah, blah... vs 6 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- (7) which is really no gospel at all."
Hi guys WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING?
vs 10 really sums up how Paul is. "Am I trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
I don't think anyone would accuse me to be a pleaser of men. I have plenty of problems, but I really could care less what anyone thinks of me. But I'm not so bold as Paul. He stood up to the core of Jesus' disciples, now the apostles. I love when he says that Peter was clearly in the wrong so he rebuked him in front of everyone. If you sin in front of everyone I guess being rebuked in front of all of them is fair. I just don't think I would ever do that!
The prophets of old rebuked in front of audiences.
Remember Nathan rebuking David about the Bathsheba/adultery/murder/cover up thing?
Maybe its loving to confront someone openly knowing they have 2 choices... hate you for life or repent publicly. Ouch.
Its so hard to not get caught up in the law. Freedom in Christ is a wonderful thing. Having the heart of Christ is a wonderful thing. Knowing the law helps to understand the holiness of God. The balance is being Christlike in His holiness and still free from the law. That is, for me anyway, a tough call sometimes.
I don't want to be burdened by a yoke of slavery, but what all is the law?
What are we free from? What about tithing? Is that part of the law? Is that still required today or is that the church trying to finance itself. If you are part of a home church do you still tithe? and to who? Is giving the way we are to go now? Does percentage matter? or does whatever we can give matter? Jesus said the woman with the 2 mites gave more than the Pharisees with their tithes. Did she give a tithe or what she had left from her meager store after she paid her rent and bought the groceries? Is all that she had everything until her next "paycheck" or all that she was ever going to have forever?
Sometimes all that I have is literally dumping out the change from my purse knowing that is it until the next pay... and it hasn't been a tithe. Thankfully we have had pay raises since. Where exactly is the freedom here?
Is it more important to give our tithe to the church for the newest gadgets they will be purchasing or to get christian curriculum for our kids to teach them at home? Does giving to registered charity make it a tithe and giving to an unregistered charity such as our homeschool make it not part of giving to the Lord.
Where does freedom come in and following the law go out?
I know that finances are not exactly what Paul is going with here, but this is the area of freedom vs the law that we keep struggling with. Everything we have is God's. We have a home to raise the children He gave us to raise, to offer hospitality to others in and to learn His word in. Our van is to not only schlepp our family around in, but to visit others and maybe even schlepp them around in. Everything we have is to be used for whatever purpose God has given them to us for. Most of all is to take care of and train our children to be warriors for His kingdom.
These are our busy at home with small children years which may not seem as productive as our get out and minister actively in the community years were (and will be again), but no less important. This is also the time when we have less money for tithing as the kids, bless their hearts, require a lot of upkeep!!
Freedom... law... freedom... law...
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
This is the heart of the book. Chuck the law. Stop picking on the other believers... just do good to them... even the ones that are nasty to us.
Oh boy. That opens a new can of worms. What about those who have spent a good deal of the past year slandering us? What about the ones that have believed the slander and told us off and ignored us? How on earth do we do good to them?
Jumpins!! Wish I hadn't had that thought! Now I may have to go waaay outside my comfort zone and start actively loving some "enemies" that I don't even like.
I'm going to need some prayer for this one girls.
Did anyone notice this Bible just keeps getting sharper and sharper??
I really don't want to change... but how can I grow closer to the Lord and not change?
Ideas... anyone?
Did I say nothing too earth shattering this week? I feel like my world is about to be turned upside down.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Just another Monday
Today we watched Dave sail into the bright gray yonder...
He's off to Chicago!!!
Thankfully the rain and snow held off until after the flight took off.
We were able to stay outside and wave as the plane took off and became a tiny speck in the sky.
Then, off to Wendy's for a drive through dinner and then to AWANA.
Last week Molly told her cubbies leaders that Mommy is having a baby and SHE is going to be the Mommy when its born.
The secret is out.
I am a surrogate mom for my 4 year old daughter.
She is "practising" with her dolls to feed it.
Yeah.
We have some interesting kids.
Everyone went to bed well tonight.
Even Justin only cried for a minute.
They all are hyped about our cleaning day tomorrow.
Whats up with that?
Matt has us on a schedule that he found in his reading book that has him sleeping for 9 hours, doing chores for 5 1/2 hours, eating for 2 hours, exercise for 2 hours, hunting relics for 2 hours, hunting and fishing... etc...
He's taking the hunting and fishing hours as free time.
Reading for 1 1/2 hours... that would be school work. If it goes over the 90 min he will take it from the choring hours.
He believes we all need to be up at 6am to take up our new lifestyle.
Oh yes, devotions after breakfast for 1/2 hour... "Do we have a bell? It would make it easier?"
Yesterday he grumbled about helping clean up for 15 min and he is now wondering how he can fill 5 1/2 hours with chores?? Think of the spit spot house I would have... inside and out.... if everyone did 5 1/2 hours of chores cheerfully every day.
Ok... I'll see how tomorrow goes. Even a few days of this could make a big difference!
I'd best get to bed and set the alarm for 7:30 am.
I refuse to get out of bed at 6am for no good reason.
Not only that..
Dave is calling me when he gets to his room tonight... er tomorrow morning between 1 and 2 am!! Hopefully I will answer the phone before it wakes all the kids!
g'night!
He's off to Chicago!!!
Thankfully the rain and snow held off until after the flight took off.
We were able to stay outside and wave as the plane took off and became a tiny speck in the sky.
Then, off to Wendy's for a drive through dinner and then to AWANA.
Last week Molly told her cubbies leaders that Mommy is having a baby and SHE is going to be the Mommy when its born.
The secret is out.
I am a surrogate mom for my 4 year old daughter.
She is "practising" with her dolls to feed it.
Yeah.
We have some interesting kids.
Everyone went to bed well tonight.
Even Justin only cried for a minute.
They all are hyped about our cleaning day tomorrow.
Whats up with that?
Matt has us on a schedule that he found in his reading book that has him sleeping for 9 hours, doing chores for 5 1/2 hours, eating for 2 hours, exercise for 2 hours, hunting relics for 2 hours, hunting and fishing... etc...
He's taking the hunting and fishing hours as free time.
Reading for 1 1/2 hours... that would be school work. If it goes over the 90 min he will take it from the choring hours.
He believes we all need to be up at 6am to take up our new lifestyle.
Oh yes, devotions after breakfast for 1/2 hour... "Do we have a bell? It would make it easier?"
Yesterday he grumbled about helping clean up for 15 min and he is now wondering how he can fill 5 1/2 hours with chores?? Think of the spit spot house I would have... inside and out.... if everyone did 5 1/2 hours of chores cheerfully every day.
Ok... I'll see how tomorrow goes. Even a few days of this could make a big difference!
I'd best get to bed and set the alarm for 7:30 am.
I refuse to get out of bed at 6am for no good reason.
Not only that..
Dave is calling me when he gets to his room tonight... er tomorrow morning between 1 and 2 am!! Hopefully I will answer the phone before it wakes all the kids!
g'night!
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