Darfur

In a nutshell:  Matthew 25 is there to guide us all through these harrowing times.

In good times or bad:
Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

and it works both ways, always:
Matthew 25:45
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

forewarned, forearmed:
Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If we've done good it will be counted as such.  If we've done nothing it will be counted as such.   

Matthew 25:31

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

25:32

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

25:33

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Which side would you choose to sit on?
Matthew 25

Well, Christians were told long ago they'd not have an easy road merely for being who they were.  In the last several years "tolerance" has become such a vulgar word.  I almost say "no thanks, I don't want your tolerance", know what I mean?

From FRC:

"Our brave soldiers brave hardship, pain and death. Aiding these men and women are chaplains, who minister to them at risk of their own lives. Our chaplains are from different faiths and have been allowed, until now, to pray and minister according to their religious convictions. After some questionable religious practices at the Air Force Academy, the Air Force has passed interim guidelines that go to the opposite extreme and undermine the ability of chaplains to minister according to their own faith tradition. Reps. Todd Akin (R-MO), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Jim Ryun (R-KS) worked to pass language in the House version of the National Defense Authorization that reads: "Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible." This language allows chaplains to pray according to their faith traditions, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or other. Incredibly, Sens. John Warner (R-VA) and Carl Levin (D-MI) are trying to replace that clause with politically correct language that will require chaplains to be "sensitive" to, not people of other faiths, but to the "diversity of faiths." People of all faiths should object to any requirement that chaplains pray or serve contrary to their faith tradition."
(emphasis mine)

While this is here with politicians names listed I think it a good opportunity to say Christians that vote should be extremely mindful of who they vote for.  Many politicians claim a connection to faith when trying to get elected but is anyone keeping up with their record after they are voted in?  Is anyone watching to see that they actually vote and represent their faith within their body of work - which may very well be the reason a Christian decided to vote for them in the first place; that implied promise? 

I personally feel that the majority of politicians (no matter the party affiliation), once in their desired office, forget their faith.  Or they don't realize that their position is one in which to bear testimony.  They don't seem to know how to blend their faith and their job.  We all know they do a terrible job at remembering who it is they work for and who pays their salary.  That in mind, it's probably even easier to forget their faith.  I pray that Christians become very vocal and persistant in calling them to task.  After all, it's the people's government... and Christians are people too.  Even after the elections are over!

In an FRC email I was alerted to a statement made by Rosie O'Donnell.  She said, "...radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state." 

At first I thought "I don't care what Rosie O'Donnell has to say on the subject."  Then it occurred to me that I should care a little because she has a huge microphone -- television.  And I'm guessing somebody watches that show she's on.  I don't, but I imagine they have some sort of audience.  So, I should care that she's projecting her homosexual/Christianity-is-a-threat agenda to so many.  Frankly, I'd rather she didn't have a soul listening to her.  Unfortunately, I know some are listening - and worse, some agree with her - and worse still, some will form their opinion based in part or in whole around her words.  She shouldn't win those people, period.  They're God's children and she is aiming to bring them down into her own degradation.  (Misery still does love company!)

Anyway, on to the idea I now "get".  I always seem to breeze past the simple stuff and have to come back to it.  People like Rosie O'Donnell will view any amount of Christianity in a person as radical Christianity.  Any Christian who is strong enough in faith to tell someone like her that her lifestyle choice is an abomination to God would be considered radical to her.  It's not radical.  It's having read and knowing and sharing the word of God.  It's not radical.  It's what we're to do as God's children.

The truth stings, which is why you don't want to hear it, but it will also set you free, Rosie!

Ha, like Rosie O'Donnell is going to be reading this blog!  Well, if she ever does, I invite her to reacquaint herself with her heavenly Father's good word.  Maybe then she'd be radical for God too.

thought:

Lots of discussion, debate, articles, etc. regarding:  is public school good... good for education, good for all, good for some, good for Christians, good at all. 

For all of the reasoning and "facts" from any camp, for or against, the simple fact for Christians is we are to assess it by searching the scriptures.  If what public schooling is and does stands up to that test then we should have no worries that public schooling is serving God.  If what public schooling is and does fails that test then it should be painfully clear to all Christians that public schooling does not serve God.

As Christians if something does not serve God should we be party to it and of it?  No.  As Christians if it isn't serving God and we are a party to it then we are choosing to be apart from Him.  As Christian parents we, in that case, are also subjecting our children, His children, to being apart from Him. 

In many ways, to me, this is very much like the parent, Christian or not, that says they want to teach their children about many religions so they can make their own choice.  It greives my heart when I know of parents who do that.  When it's a Christian parent in particular.  There will come a time that a child will definitely be accountable for making that choice for themselves, in the deepest recesses of their own hearts.  While they are children, however, it is the duty of the parent to lead them rightly.  Encouraging and leading a child to dabble in other religions, even if only by making them aware of the religion, can open a door that will be regretable.  It's not what we're to do.  As Christians it's not only irresponsible, it's dangerous.

Oh, I could go on but I'll spare potential readers.  The one purpose in posting this is to remind parents, particularly Christian parents, that have children in the public school system that you need to get in the word and test the system against the scriptures.  Does it pass or fail?

In browsing around HSB tonight I realized, like my family, many are just beginning their new school "year" and many of those are also new homeschoolers.  I pray that we'll all have blessed partnership with the Father in guiding our children through all of the learning they require - including the academics ;-)

As I've said before - May our Heavenly Father be the principal of each of our home schools, Jesus our headmaster, and the Holy Spirit our guidance counselor.

Lean on Him, fellow homeschoolers!  Here's to an abundantly blessed year!

Time is fast approaching our first day of "7th grade".  We'll begin on Tuesday.  I've been tidying up my plans, gathering materials, and cleaning up what we refer to as the school room.  Little by little over the last few weeks I've crossed things off my "to do" lists - both written and unwritten.  I actually am quite ready!

Know what's even better?  My son is also sounding down-right ready!  LOL  He's asked once or twice if he could begin this or that in the last week.  He's excited to dive into WriteShop in particular.  Was it wrong of me to tell him "no" to beginning it the other day?  Maybe, but I needed, at that time, to go back over it so I knew what I was doing and a huge part of my reasoning was ... admittedly... selfish.  I want that enthusiasm for next week, lol!

Let me share with you:  How I Spent Some of My Summer Vacation! 

First Week Kick-Starter

Over the past 8 years I've always tried to make our first week after Summer break particularly special for my son.  The very first time I did this was to, hopefully, make a mental mark for my son to realize the slight difference between what we'd already been doing in the normal course of our days and what we were journeying into with some specific planned education.  Up to that point we played and explored and everything was educational anyway but the difference in my mind was with the planned education activities there was an end goal of sorts that would be met at some point.  It's hard for me to explain, really, because I'm of the firm opinion that these sort-of-end-goals will be met regardless of planning.  Learning takes a natural course from day one that these little blessings enter the world - it's so often our planning that tends to interrupt and sometimes halt that natural course... so it's tricky, it's a fine line in my mind.  And, that is why I always thought something to show a difference between what we typically do anyway and these little planned additions would be beneficial.  If something ended up going wrong we'd have a starting point to turn back to in figuring it out... the planned parts!  LOL  That fine line is also the heart of the reason why I went out of my way to create our "curriculum", until this year, rather than purchase materials.  Even if I was simply "reinventing the wheel" for some things - it was important to me to display that effort and imagination because the two combined equals learning in everyday life and above all that's what I wanted my son to know about his education-life.

The first week kick-starter has also been, on the simpler side, the best way for my son and myself to get our heads out of Summer mode and into a more academic mode.  When I've done really well at coming up with a good first week I know it!  Because - before either of us realize we're into the 6th or 7th week and neither of us felt a pinch, lol.

Coming up with something this year was beginning to worry me.  In the past it's been rather easy.  We've done long, involved project-y type things, day trips, things that correlated to academics, things that had nothing to do with academics, Bible-only related study, a week of nothing but learning-type games, a week of nothing but reading, etc.  It's always been fun.  It's always been easy to come up with what to do.  This year, however, I've a maturing, soon to be 12 year old on my hands and I knew I needed something that would hold his interest, be enjoyable, and recognize his maturing while relaying the fact that I expect a tad more from him due to that maturation!  Yikes! 

It's more than homeschooling... it's parenting!  I spun my wheels on that for a couple weeks and got nowhere.  Sure, I could revamp an old idea but would that hold his interest or accomplish the task?  I worried over that.  I prayed. 

Our Theme For the School Year

We've not always had a yearly theme.  At the end of the "5th grade" year as I was looking toward the "6th grade" year I felt strongly led to incorporate a study of the armor of God into our studies.  I gathered some materials and ideas and during the "6th grade" year I did present it.  Here and there we touched on it.  And at some point, that was that.  I immediately knew I'd dropped the ball and hadn't done a good job of it.

When the end of "6th grade" crept up I began doing that looking forward thing for "7th grade" and the Spirit let me know very clearly that I was not finished with the armor of God!  I don't mind saying that I was grateful for being given the opportunity to try again!  Praise God!  (Do I hear a chorus of amen's out there?!)

I prayed that the Spirit would lead me regarding implementing the armor of God theme.  Then, I drifted and lost focus!

So, back in July and some of August there I was, adrift.  To be perfectly honest there was all this Summer stuff going on, daily life to live, and this stuff was constantly on my mind but not getting the quiet, focused attention necessary.  I knew I was headed for more than a little trouble if I didn't get my priorities straight.  A couple weeks into the drifting I happened upon an HSB'er that was pondering doing something special for the first day or week of their school year and felt prompted to respond to her.  I also felt nudged by the Spirit to "come back, stop that drifting".  I tried.  I prayed. 

More recently I was reading yet another HSB blog entry about preparing for the upcoming school year.  Not only was the Spirit nudging this time but he, I'm sure, led me to that particular post!  I related to what that mom said almost word for word.  Why, she even had a theme!  That's when I knew if the Spirit would take physical form and sit in front of my face he'd have been clearing his throat and saying "are you listening to me?!"

I thought I had been... clearly, I was not!

I responded to that post and in mid-comment I overwhelmingly knew I was to ask this particular mom to pray for me.  I hit the submit button thinking I'm probably going to confuse this lady but I was led to ask her so I did.  I did think on her post and my prayer request off and on but it was several days before I had the opportunity to browse HSB again.  In those days things were happening!  Mighty things.  Miracle things.  God things!  I had a good, calming feeling that she was indeed praying for me, and I knew - that I knew - that I knew in asking for prayer I had let go of something harmful, something that was gumming up the works so-to-speak.  In being prayed for God was responding by releasing His power over the situation.

During those several days I discussed with a few others what it was I was trying to pull together in order to have my planning for the upcoming school year complete.  Gone, though, were the frustrating feelings of grasping and coming back empty-handed.  I was comfortable in the fact that I was waiting on the Lord to move.  I had reconciled the fact that I had failed to accomplish, or even understand for that matter, what it was I was supposed to have been doing regarding the armor of God theme the prior year.  I knew that He knew I needed Him to take my hand. 

Within an hour of the last time I spoke to someone about my planning dilemma I was led to a part of the answer.  Any guesses as to where? LOL  Yes, yet another HSB homeschooling, bloggin' mom!  I had decided I'd take a break from housework and see what was up on the front page.  I saw the word astronomy and had to click.  The post was about Barnes & Noble's online university and a course being offered.  I checked to see what materials might be needed and thought the book looked interesting (found it cheaper at amazon, lol).  I signed us up thinking this will be a very different kind of kick-starter for us because it's a four-week course but it's right up our alley!  We love sky-gazing and what we do most often when taking in all that loveliness is talk about the Creator!  This was perfect.  The light dawned and I realized my hand was firmly in the Lord's and He was completing my planning! 

Before I knew it I was looking up another resource that I'd heard about before but hadn't truly given much consideration to for some odd reason - Exploring Creation with Astronomy.  As I was looking at it and viewing a sample, then reading what others had to say about it, in the back of my head I'm thinking "but this is considered elementary science and my son's in 7th, and I've already got our science course planned.... blah blah."  I believe the Lord said something equivalent to "so what", LOL.  He had taken me to it and that was truly all I needed to go on.  I ordered it.  We'll work on it here and there as my son desires and we feel led to.

So, now I've got this astronomy course and B&NU and ECwA, and I'm thinking "that gives me a kick-starter but how does the armor of God theme work into this?"

Earlier in the Summer I had thought that I'd deliver the theme via notebooking - and it may still be how we record our journey through the armor of God.  The important thing is that it's been placed upon my heart that by studying something we already love so much and attribute rightly to God - along with my openly sharing with my son my own donning of the individual pieces of the armor of God every day - I am implementing the theme and therefore preparing my son so that he can knowledgeably and faithfully don the armor in his own walk with God.

I know, I know... it seems so simple doesn't it?  How could a person get so worked up for so long and fumble something that really only needs to be imparted by example!?  In my human fumbling I failed to exhibit those examples on a regular basis.  When I asked that HSB blogger to pray for me I mentioned to her that I knew that whatever was wrong - it was somewhere within my own walk.  Whatever it was, I knew it was me.  In asking for prayer and confiding in a Sister I let go of what was gumming up the works for so long... my own human over-thinking something simple.  I had to let go and let God!  Things fall right into place when we do, don't you know?!

So our first week kick-starter will be incorporated into the first four weeks of our school year instead of just the first week and our theme of the armor of God will be built upon daily... not just this school year but every year, every day, as it should be! 

I'm realizing that this theme was not placed in my heart as a study theme for schoolish purposes but as a reminder of the stage my son was about to enter - to be mindful of it.  It's another layer to be built upon the foundation laid so many years ago.  One that should be built prayerfully so that it can stand the tests of time.  It's one of those things that doesn't require planning so much as it requires obedience that exemplifies Christ in us and thereby testimony.

This was my Summer lesson.  I could be ashamed that at my age I'd have to relearn this lesson but I'm not.  I'm thankful to God that he deemed me worthy of instruction once more!

it either provides me with a good laugh or a shake of the head and always it leaves me content with the idea that I'm a creationist!

I was reading "How We Differ From Our Cousin, the Chimp" waiting for lots of scientific mumbo-jumbo to confuse or befuddle me and all I got was more conviction that I was, indeed, created... I didn't evolve from some other creature.  ;-)

First and foremost, I'm reminded that God owns time - whatever it truly is or is not - He owns it.  I always giggle when I hear or read someone say "millions of years ago... blah blah blah"... as if!  Sure millions of years ago something blah blah blah could have happened - but I'm not holding my breath for some mortal to relay it to me as if it's fact.  (I might as well include here that I also think radio carbon dating is a terrific tool... but it's terribly, humanly flawed.)

The main gist of the article (at least what I got) was that the diffence between us and chimps, largely, is... taadaaa, our brains.  We can speak.  When some brain genes got all uppity and decided to get too big for the chimp britches they took a hike, split, and voila... humans.  I'm sorry but I *AM* laughing out loud!

A couple statements in the article that clearly, in my mind, are duh-obvious and point to a creator are:  "The suggestion is that this region of DNA is crucial to the development of uniquely human brains," said David Haussler, a molecular biologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the co-author of a study reported in the journal Nature.

The article states: "Finding the gene, or genes, that underpin the runaway brain of humans as compared to every other species is one of modern biology's holy grails."

The runaway brain... teehee, I like that!  And, isn't that statement (re-read it) an understatement of evolution-believing scientists?!

This also stuck with me: "But it's unknown how many significant differences will have to add up to make us different from chimpanzees."

Must be some new fuzzy math (pardon the puns)... I'm already way different from a chimpanzee.  And, I'm real sure you are too!

This also gave me a giggle:  "In searching for what makes humans human, Haussler's team decided its best bet was to identify regions of the genome — the blueprint of life for an organism — that have evolved most rapidly since chimpanzees and humans diverged."

So says them.  LOL, I've already ruined the ending for you earlier by telling you it had to do with the brain.  My guess is that you knew that before too!

I'm horrible but I'll give you the last line of the article:  "But that hardly explains what caused the changes and how they were coordinated to bring about our more complex and developed brains."

My, my how they do worry themselves over these things.  Moreover they spend humungous amounts of money and time on it... only to come to this type of "eureka" moment?!

Oh, it is so good to know I have a heavenly Father who created me.  It is such a blessing to have His Holy Spirit guide me.  It is tremendously comforting to know Jesus is my savior.  These faith facts afford me lots of time to do many things - but none of those things is studying if my cousin was a chimpanzee, praise God!

A construction worker recently dug out of a peat bog what appears to be a medieval psalmbook.  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205525,00.html

It's said that the book was found open to a page that describes Psalm 83.

Psalm 83

God is petitioned to confound Israel's enemies.

A song of Asaph

1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Have you studied on who these people are that are mentioned in verses 6 through 11?  Do you recognize any of them?  Where are these places located on today's modern maps and who are those people's decendants?

God, the owner of time, decided that psalmbook would be found just when it was for His purposes.

This autumn season our son begins his "7th grade" year.  Wow, where's my baby in diapers?!  I am so blessed that I can recall, with pretty good clarity, his "K" year and the strides made then, as well as his "1st grade, 2nd grade, etc." and the strides made in those years.  In fact, I think I recall them so easily because there was no difference really in those first academic years than in the first years of his life.  He was home and he learned from me and his dad and the people and life around him - and no forced, unnatural change took place because of an arbitrary age milestone.  My mental scrapbook doesn't have a page designated to the time my baby was pushed out of the nest and into the wild world unprotected, after all a 5 year old is not ready to fly alone. 

Over these years he's certainly grown; physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually.  He's gearing up to solo flights but even at the age of 11, almost 12, he's not ready to be out in the wild world unprotected.  He's not a baby anymore but he's still not an adult.  At this age he's not even a pre-adult, modern language says he's a pre-teen.  I do so love sheltering my gift.  At this stage he takes small ventures into the wild world.  Venturing often carries with it at least a slight risk so these ventures are carefully overseen or arranged by us, his parents and the Lord's guidance and protection is always sought regarding them.  I'm careful and prayerful in who I select or agree upon as his instructors for things such as music, karate, baseball, etc.  Just as I wouldn't send him off to misguided institutions for academics I wouldn't just go with the flow of chance on who has the privilege of providing fundamentals of interest-based activities.  I would count that as lax and it certainly wouldn't display my love and concern for my child. 

Thus far I think I've done a pretty fair job of looking out for my son.  It can't be said that I didn't give it my attention and effort.  I pray God grants me many more years in partnership with Him in the guidance and growing of this gift, my son.  I praise Him knowing that He'll never fail to be there for me, for my son, for my family.  Our homeschooling, our life-learning, our days and every breath in them are for His purpose and His glory.  Knowing these things in my heart and every fiber of my being and declaring them for all to hear - I go confidently into this "7th grade" year expecting abundant blessings.  I extend my faith and conviction to all that they may enjoy the same.  May our Heavenly Father be the principal of each of our home schools, Jesus our headmaster, and the Holy Spirit our guidance counselor.