BlaBla on GaGa

I’m a hopelessly boring housewife to most, I admit. I feel as though I teeter on the line of being a complete neanderthal when it comes to my participation in the latest fashions of dress and apparel or the latest pop-culture disasters. The prime motivation for my lack of concern comes from a very strong desire to keep myself un-spotted from the world. Que lots of Scripture verses about how this world is not our home, etc. Sadly, no... that’s not why. To be honest, I just don’t care- most likely to a fault.

The recent Lady GaGa production, “Judas” is something I just can’t get away from. Everyone seems to be having a conniption, stomping their Facebook feet, and lighting up the blogs about how GaGa has “gone too far”. Since I do at least try to teeter on that line of remaining somwhat culturally relevant, I forced myself to see what everyone was shouting about. (I also recently forced myself all the way through Rebecca Black’s “Friday” video but that’s another story). Here’s a sample:

In the most Biblical sense,
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense
I just speak in future tense
Judas kiss me if offensed,
Or wear ear condom next time

I wanna love you,
But something's pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue,
Judas is the demon I cling to

So now I am left to ask the questions: Why is everyone so upset? What is everyone so upset about? Perhaps it boils down to this one thing: In our minds, in our reactions, in the very way we relate to the world around us, we too frequently and easily deny what God tells us directly:
(Eph 4:17) “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindess of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. “ Sometimes we live as though we forget that everyone who is not walking with Christ in the Gospel walks in the futility of their mind. Sure, this song rightly warrants outrage and “I am outraged!”
To get a little deeper though, I have to ask where my outrage is coming from. Incidentally, this song skillfully and clearly articulates the depraved condition- a condition of separation from God! I don’t believe Lady GaGa went “too far”- she spelled it out perfectly. I wonder if a certain amount of indignation and outrage at times subconsciously comes from deceiving ourselves on some level: the notion that a lot of things might be kind of “bad” but in reality we can safely process it as somewhat neutral. Then, when it gets “really bad”, we are outraged and don’t want to have anything to do with it! Perhaps I am the only one who suffers from this perspective at times.

In the end, I’m reminded by this latest cultural outrage that nothing, not even something that seems somewhat innocuous is neutral. It’s funny how many times we choose to make war on something only when it crosses the level of becoming obvious to the masses! I’m also reminded of God’s grace in the Christian life and the amazing work he has done for us. In a way, a song like “Judas” is humbling. John Owen says:" The spiritual life which I have is not my own. I did not induce it, and I cannot maintain it. It is only and solely the work of Christ. It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me. My whole life is His alone." We’d be lovin’ on Judas too if Christ hadn’t first loved us.

Mother's Best Friends

My kid's know not to mess with two things:

My Coffee.

My Beer.

I've discovered some similarities between the two. Nothing is more refreshing in the morning than slurping up a big mug of black, strong coffee. Reheated about 4-5 times (kids). Sure, half of it is water-pressed decaf but when you create that beast in the french press and steep it for twice the time it's required to brew (kids again), no one complains you added decaf. I may not sit down for breakfast, I may have had a horrible start to the day. But, the familiarity and comfort of that deliciousness reminds me to look up, and to charge forward. Coffee brings friends AND enemies together. It creates wonderful snobbish cliques but also unifies in mysterious ways. Yes, if everyone drank coffee there would probably be no more war. Ok, so I went a little too far. Maybe not...

Beer is very similar. What can top opening up the strongest most grape-fruity IPA after [ insert the trial-of-the-day here]. My cooking is just more appealing to my husband when it sits on the table next to a nice dark Guiness. Burned salmon? There's Guiness! Over-cooked broccoli? Who cares when you have a nice ale! Stew for the 8th night in a row? We've got a nice wheat beer to add to it. Yes, like coffee, beer can unite friends and enemies alike. A nice beer after dinner reminds me of all the good things God has given to us, and all the good things yet to come.

Please, let's go out for coffee... or beer.

Love On, People!

How the Holy Spirit pours God's love into our hearts so that we are not overcome by circumstances or the way others may behave towards us. I recently read a quote by Louisa Alcott that said "Love is a great beautifier". What an accurate and eloquent way of pointing out that the love we have for someone covers and diminishes the many ugly spots we may see in them. In fact, our love for others can turn the ugly into the beautiful and the stormy night into a beautiful sunrise. How little do we court this kind of love, feeding it so that it blossoms and grows! If we see an ugly spot, a spot of imperfection, we are so apt to frame it, to make a mountain out of it! Jesus blood: washing, renewing, and covering us with grace should empower and quicken us to show the same towards others. For oh how he loved a wretch like me!

Not Yours to Give

The amount of recent discussion concerning our nation's health care situation has been impressively copious. I have come across varied arguments for a government run system, including that government employees are "reliable hard working people" and that the government-run postal

service runs effectively and operates "extremely well". Others believe it is our government's moral obligation to provide what some of the population does not have but desperately needs.

The other side of the debate argues that government-run health care will cost too much,

will give us inferior health care, and won't care for people of all ages/circumstances. It is interesting though that one issue has rarely, if ever, come to the forefront of the debate: The Tenth Amendment of our Constitution. This amendment specifically states that the federal government is limited only to the powers outlined in the Constitution. The rest belong to the states. Arguing for an unconstitutional health care system based upon one's observation that government workers work hard, that the USPS runs effectively (The USPS runs at a current $7B deficit and will have to close 100 branches), or that people aren't getting the care they need is a fallacious non sequitur argument. These arguments and opinions, in other words, have nothing to do with and are completely irrelevant to the fact that government run health care is unconstitutional.

We have become an entitlement society and our government has become the camel's nose inside the tent. We believe that if we are in need of something the government has a moral obligation to provide it. This is a very slippery slope. I would encourage readers to refer to Congressman Davy Crockett's exceptional remarks when Congress tried to appropriate just $20,000 to care for a deceased Naval Officer's Widow. His speech, titled "Not Yours to Give," is very apropos for many of the issues facing our nation, especially health care. In this speech he makes the point that appropriating money as an act of charity is an individual's right and does not belong to the members of Congress. We have become so far removed from ideas espoused in this speech by Davy Crockett that we now feel entitled to government education, arts, banks, charity, retirement, recreation and now government-run health care just to name a few. Where will this stop? When will our nation's leaders seek to restore integrity to the Constitution before we become a financially decimated nation? As Davy Crockett said: "Money with them is nothing but trash when it is to come out of the people."

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.

A poem long overdue......

God strengthen me to bear myself;
That heaviest weight of all to bear,
Inalienable weight of care.

All others are outside myself;
I lock my door and bar them out
The turmoil, tedium, gad-about.

I lock my door upon myself,
And bar them out; but who shall wall
Self from myself, most loathed of all?

If I could once lay down myself,
And start self-purged upon the race
That all must run ! Death runs apace.

If I could set aside myself,
And start with lightened heart upon
The road by all men overgone!

God harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease and rest and joys

Myself, arch-traitor to myself ;
My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe,
My clog whatever road I go.

Yet One there is can curb myself,
Can roll the strangling load from me
Break off the yoke and set me free

~Christina Rossetti

Messy Jesse

I love Grandma's pancakes!

The Lenity of a Brother

Well, after a long and unintentional sabbatical (is that possible?) I have been ever so gently urged by some to post again. I have started re-reading Edith Schaeffer's What is a Family? I decided to read this again as well as The Hidden Art of Homemaking which happens to be my favorite book (well one of them). I haven't read them in years and haven't read What is a Family since I actually had my own family. Figured that was a good idea. In describing the family, Schaeffer uses a mobile to describe the family. She says:

" A mobile is a moving, changing collection of objects constantly in motion, yet within the farmework of a form. The framework of a family gives form, but as one starts with a man and woman, a mother and father, there is never any one day following another when these two, plus the children that come through adoption or birth into the home, are either the same age or at the same point of growth. Every individual is growing, changing, developing, or declining- intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and psychologically. A family is a grouping of individuals who are affecting each other intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, physically, psycologically. No two years, no two months, or no two days is there the exact same blend or mix within the family, as each individual person is changing. If people are developing in a variety of creative areas, coming to deeper understanding spiritually, adding a great deal of knowledge in one area or another, living through stimulating discoveries of fresh ideas or skills- they are affecting each other positively. The mobile of the grouping of toddlers with young school children, of ten-year-olds with teenagers, of young married couples with middle-aged married couples, of grandparents with two generations coming along under them, is amazingly real, vivid, and living as any possible mobile one could imagine. What is a Family? A family is a mobile. A family is an art form. A family is an exciting art career, because an art form needs work."
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And so you see in the picture above a small part of our mobile. Since no one's art is just like another's.... no two families are alike. That's just another part of the complexity of God's creation. We tend to think of the world around us: the animals, mountains, valleys, oceans, and universe, as God's creation but our families are yet another facet of God's creation. He created every one of us!
...And I happen to like the creation that surrounds me.

where does he get this

Well, yesterday was my birthday (I partied hardy since it's the last one in my 20's.)
and so Aunt Joanna spent the day with Anna and Caleb. She had a brilliant idea to actually type out one of Caleb's stories that continually pour out of his mouth several times a day.
Here is one:

One day I WAS playing with my Legos and something stomped in and it was a monster. That's the end of it. The monsters name was nobody, thats his name nobody, his name is nobody. He's just black and white and brown and nothing else. His head is black and his body he's wearing a soft coat. His body is also black. He is wearing black hair and he has a toy that is legos and he has something that doesnt belong to anybody. And he has something really funny a black maker puppet. His name is Black, Kecky Koo, BLAHSK his name is also Legos and Egos and Eagles and Egos and Eagles and Edos and Eboos Ejoos, Eters, his name is Eaters. BLOCKS! He has an American doll and long hair and up to his feet and up to his shoes and his pappy doos. And he has a horse who has long hair down to his feet and it can talk, it's name is Pappy doo as well. Fish? Why are we talking about fish? Fish over there? Where is the fish? I dont see it, too bad, I dont know where they are. Something smells bad. Your hair smells bad. I don't hear any candles in my ears. Can I have one more cracker. Okay I have a realy funny story Mommy was fixing me a monster and it was the legos I could eat. And babos and capos and burbers and chuggers and we got to have other things too but I dont know what they are, so I got it out and the big monster came and then you know what happen nexts? A big monster came and it was Americahoos and it was big and small and it was a bad day for the burk. I didnt know what happened to it, it was bad, the monster was bad and he never gave up. And then he saw me! And then I got killed! And then I pulled out my sword and killed the monster and then another nice bear was nice. So he gave up and said lets go play our lock and then he said lets go play at the park and then no one gave up he pepped up and rolled under the shshere and it was a bad day. No one was here with us. So we picked up and then no body else came. I don't know what to say anymore. I was on a green couch though this morning and I was sleeping on the green couch and I woke up and found a gun and shoot up the bad monster and then I found a new gun and then I was sleeping very well and then I took off my shoes. End of the story.

Can anyone recommend what to do with this 3 year old boy???

I don't believe there is such a thing as sayin' too much

Well, since this blog is semi-journaling, semi-entertaining (at least it tries to be) I need to create a post chronicling a day in the life at the Taylor house. (Round Hill Taylors mind you- the cooler ones) I'm actually stealing this idea from another person's blog. Theirs will be much more interesting but I want this for posterity sake. When I am old and bored, I can look back on this and smile : ) This was a more laid back day. No Dr. appointments, no errands, no trip to the park.

Get up at ____ (I won't enter a time here but I have my excuses) and wake to find Anna reading Caleb a book in bed. Sneak downstairs to start breakfast, load of laundry, make coffee, make Josh's lunch. Jesse's screaming, and Caleb gallops to the kitchen demanding (well he did ask nicely) fruit.
"NO FRUIT!" I exclaim and start pancakes. Make Jesse's oh-so-enticing mash of bananas and oat flour. Try to get Anna to feed it to him while I make Josh's lunch. Jesse does not settle for this one bit. Food only comes from woman in late 20's with a ponytail he says to himself. Maybe I can get by with just nursing him I tell myself. (he looked quite tired) Caleb and Anna eat, Josh is out the door, and I am realizing that the floor looks quite foggy. Yes, a floor can look foggy when milk has been spilled on it several, several times and only quickly cleaned up with a small cloth. Oh, but Jesse needs to nurse now and Anna needs to start math! Caleb is still eating and decides he should help himself to more pancake syrup since mom is busy.
Caleb also decides he needs to go outside in his boxer briefs and t-shirt in the rain to get something out of the van. Caleb comes inside, is banished to the couch so I can mop/check e-mail/drink coffee while Anna gets dressed. Mopping is done, coffee only sipped, Jesse is already awake. Short nap. Probably because he didn't get HIS BANANAS!!! Feed Jesse his gruel, nurse him agAIN and FINALLY get to math. Math goes well except all of a sudden towards the end of the lesson pennies have become nickles. Nickles were five cents and Pennies were one cent at the beginning of the lesson but now pennies and nickles are the same. Go over lesson again. Caleb wants an origami polar bear. It's after lunchtime now and Anna has only done math and violin. No lunch yet. Anna does her oral reading to Caleb while Jesse is tended to and lunch is fixed. Good thing there was leftover homemade pizza. Yes, whole wheat, because giving the kids anything else would be like giving them cigarettes! Kidding. Well that's exhausting.. I think the day continued in the same frantic pace. But at least ALL OF school was completed, SOME cleaning was finished, SOME laundry was done, SOME children were fed (ok, all were fed!), we finished Rabbit Hill and the kids and I even had our new BFFs over for socialization practice. (I need all I can get) As I look back however, I feel like nothing was accomplished, and yet EVERYTHING was.

Jacob&Jesse

Well, Jesse just happens to have the best uncle in the whole world.
Anna and I took off to Starbucks on a lazy Sunday afternoon while
Jacob volunteered (more likely was bugged to) hang with Jesse
at the big Taylor house. After my cap fix, I returned to discover
quite a precious moment. Jacob gets an A+++ and his payment is,
well, he gets to watch Jesse again! Uncles are such a blessing to the
little guys. (they love big guys to hang with)

he grins at the girls and they always grin back

Well, in case you are a grandmother, or want to become a grandmother, just know what's around the bend. Your grandson is likely to raid your pantry to commence in structural engineering.

Indoctrination never looked so good

MMM...Anna Just got an American Girl Doll named Julie. Complete with story book! Now she can learn all about male chauvinists. The book was complete with lots of great history: Gloria Steinem, Title 9, Billie Jean King, etc. Even "Julie's" dad is a bum and her parents got divorced. That's ok, cause it's much more fun with it just being "the girls" now. Later on in the book, Julie has to fight evil coach Manley because he won't let her play basketball on the boys team. He even throws her petitions out that she worked so tirelessly to obtain! Please, women were created for a purpose so much greater than living a disgruntled life. Feminism is full of so much bondage. Please, we are smarter, better, worth more than those fems think.

Hillary wants to give us smart babies

Give it up for Rush

Rush...doony that is.
I have been taking an intellectual sabbatical as of late. Thankfully I don't feel as guilty since while at the playground today I learned (how did I miss this important stat) that it IS true: pregnancy causes the brain to shrink and it certainly doesn't grow back while breastfeeding.

Recently I have started reading the Chalcedon report again and one of the recent issues was so fantastic, SO fantastic I had to post a quote from it. Christopher Ortiz wrote an article: The City of God: Readings in R. J. Rushdoony on the Christian World Order.
So here is a little dose of R.J. for you who are NOT taking an intellectual sabbatical.
------------------------------------
The Aristocracy of Talent

"Because there will always be a governing class, and that governing class will reflect the good or evil directions and impulses dominant in society, it is important therefore to do two things, one to produce and train a superior class, and two, to produce and train a vast body of people who will want the leadership that new superior class can provide.
It is most certainly necessary to fight against subversion and against heresy, but something more is needed, a new faith and character in society at large, and a new leadership, a new governing class in terms of that faith and character...
What needs to be done is, first, to bring forth a new people. This is the basic task of evangelism. Moral dry-rot has not only destroyed the older Christendom but the newer humanistic world order. There can be no new class as long as we remain tied to the forms of the old, such as statist schools. Truly Christian schools must be established, and both old and young re-educated in terms of a total faith. Every sphere of life must be viewed in terms of the whole counsel of God.
Second, new leadership must be trained, a new aristocracy of talent in terms of the new humanity of Christ. This leadership must re-think every discipline in terms of Biblical thought: theology, philosophy, science, economics, statecraft or political science, law, and all things else must be re-thought and re-established in terms of Biblical premises."

This is what Rushdoony referred to as "godly rule," viz. that salvation is not fire insurance against an eternity in hell but has implications for all of life."

Later on the article closes with yet another Rush gem: "None of us is called to set the world or our time aright, but rather to meet our responsibilities under God. The responsibility and work at hand is ours; the issue is in the hands of God"

Fantastico!

Quote of the Day

"My heart is cracking!"

-Caleb Taylor, out of breath while running laps around the house during morning break.