Jesse's punishing me.

Yeah, so every single time I leave my children behind, it would seem, they do something to make me feel even more guilty. This past weekend I visited my bro and his wife and new baby. Drove all the way to KY with Anna and my parents. Jesse and Caleb stayed with Josh. This is what Jesse had to say about it when I got back.

Beowulf

This is an AMAZING version. Simplified but not dumbed down, and it does not take God out of the story. It's by Michael Morpurgo Illustrated by Michael Foreman. Notice how the evil motivating Grendel in the beginning of the story was: "He heard that wondrous story of God's good creation, and because it was good, it was hateful to his ears... nothing had ever so enraged this beast as night after night he had to listen to all this happiness and harmony. It was more than his evil heart could bear."

Of course the illustrations are somewhat minimal but wonderfully graphic, and fascinating for little boys eyes.

here's the link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/1406305979/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224880230&sr=8-1

Eatin' it.

Parenting is great. It makes you eat humble pie and just when you think you are full, you have to eat more. Only this kind of pie doesn't make you large around the middle. It actually shrinks some things. Ego, for one. I'm probably the only one that has to write notes to my daughter like this, but I wanted to save it on here for posterity's sake. I sure pray that my children don't grow up to think I'm a wacko. That, is ENTIRELY possible, and very probable, but I must rely on God's never ending grace.
--------------------------
I am sorry that sometimes I am grumpy or short with you.
Satan always tries to pull me off the path I am on as a mother
to you and your brothers. He tries to make me see the faults
and sin in you guys when I should be rejoicing in how God
is working in your life. Sometimes I am just being selfish and want
everything to go smoothly with no interruptions. But that is not life.
I am learning more and more patience all the time.
Please be patient with your mother. I am made of the same thing you are: Dust!
We would all stay dust were it not for the breath of God to give us life.
I hope you always remember that.
Lovin' on you forever....

You can DO IT!

Looking into the face of a 4, 3, or even two-year-old you might find yourself thinking: "There is no way in the world I can teach my child the fundamental, basic theological principles found throughout the entire Bible when they can't even wipe their own snot, or bottoms for that matter!" But as our friend Tony Little would say: "You can do it!". (sorry I just couldn't resist)

I was just reminded recently again, nay, newly inspired to continue with the most basic form of Biblical training: Catechizing! There really is nothing better in the world. Ok, well maybe a few things but the point is that one of the most fundamental things to teach our children apart from the inspired words of Scripture is the Catechism. The Catechism explains to them who God is, what He has done, and what He is doing. I would submit to you that if you were to have a "spiritual" conversation with any given 7 or 8 year old who has been catechized, they would shock and awe you with their deep understanding of sanctification, the purpose of a Christian life, the meaning of sin and it's effect on our lives, and I could go on and on as most of you know.

This is CRITICAL training we must give our children. The church has always done it. It is only in modern America where it matters "only what YOU think the Bible means". I have seen three very valuable things flow out of catechizing:
1. When a child is catechized, their default thinking slowly becomes more Scriptural. These questions about who God is and what he has done becomes written in their hearts. It is FAR more important to them as a Christian than cutesy dumbed down Bible stories illustrated with kid-friendly pandering cartoon images. (nothing wrong with those, I actually enjoy using them as a teaching tool occasionally.) When their brains start working and their mouths start moving, whatever is in the heart is sure to pour out.
2. We need the next generation prepared to guard against heresy as it is ever abounding! The things a child hears will instantly have to run by the catechism red flag. A child may think when he hears some sort of doctrine preached or talked about: "hum... that does not add up to what I know the Bible teaches on that matter- I better investigate it more thoroughly to make sure it is scriptural."
3. Catechizing helps the parent articulate the truths in Scripture in a way the child can understand. It has reminded me time and time again of things that, shamefully, had gone to the back of my brain!

Of course the catechism is not inerrant, but it provides a rock to build so much more on. It should never take the place of Scripture but rather serve as the best tool children can use in their understanding of scripture. They can memorize the answers BEFORE they can fully understand. I have become delinquent in my catechizing of the rugrats over the last 6-8 months and now that I am rejuvenated, I hope this can be an encouragement to anyone needing it. Although, I have noticed *cough, cough* that many are much more diligent in this than myself. Forgive me while I talk (or yell) to myself about how this is more important than grammar or math. I so easily forget.

here's a great place to start ( I also have a book with little stories to help explain each of the questions- it's an awesome format!): http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/cat_for_young_children.html

The Republicans will win this fall.

Greetings from the land of the Occasional Blogger. What a summer! Jesse learned to walk in spite of his 30lbs, Caleb, well he hasn't stabbed Jesse with a sword... and Anna learned, no, mastered the swimming pool and the bicycle this summer. Oh, and Josh just hit the big 2-9. Yep, next year he's turning 30!

Fall is falling on us and Palin's Failin'. Sorry, just had to plagiarize a quote from Peggy Noonan's WSJ article. http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html I wish I were as smart as that hubby of mine, able to insert hyperlinks at will, but alas, I didn't go to college so it's NO WONDER I don't know how to do that! I am sure that my overuse of commas is also quite profane to some.

Back to the explanation of the title of this blog entry. Ironically, this is the fall season and it is also election season. Do we fall during election season? I think so. 2008 will be an epic fall. Either way, we will have the worst Democrat in office OR we will have the worst Republican in office. I must point out, for example there are very specific issues that DO set them apart. For example: 1. Obama is going to raise your taxes... and McCain won't. At least that's their promise. Just please ignore the fact that McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts. 2. Obama will not drill our land for oil. McCain will drill for pete's sake, just please ignore the fact that he already voted against it. 3. Obama will ensure a tasty pork bill platter prepared especially for his supporters. McCain fights pork. He even reminded us of that outrageous pork for the"bridge to nowhere" and "grizzly bear DNA research". Wait, did you say that he wasn't present for the vote on the bridge to nowhere pork and he actually DID vote for the pork grizzly bear DNA research? I will admit, I'm impassioned! How could a freedom-loving American not be so?

Frankly, no matter which way the polls vote, this election season will give the Republicans exactly what they have been sowing for years now: a candidate who will increase government, increase spending (including pork), inflate the dollar, maintain unconstitutional wars, and grow the Department of Education to name a few.

Where are the statesmen (and voters in many cases) in the Republican leadership that will rise to the challenge of standing on principle, whether it is popular or not? Where are the statesmen that will call on fellow elected leaders to uphold the Constitution instead of trash it at worst, and ignore it at best? The Republicans have gone against THEIR OWN PLATFORM AND PRINCIPLES for years now. It IS fitting that no matter who wins the election, in many ways they will still win.