Well, here I am! Back again. If you are wondering what this post is about, read on.

A veeerry long time ago, I posted, on my old blog, about willingly agreeing to do something that a sibling desires. Hence the name of my post. I decided to post on some of our family's favorite games. I will try to do one overview a week for as long as I remember. Please, if you have the game, feel free to comment on what you think about these games. Here' my first overview:

Carcassone:

Number of players: 5 without expansion (Inns and Cathedrals), 7 with.

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 5. The ratings are the average ratings from our family) 

Ease of setup: 5

Fun Factor: 4

Overview:

This game is great! Our family often plays games, and this is often chosen! This tile game is recommended for slightly older age groups (probably 10 and up), but is very easy to set up, easy to clean up, and easy to play! There are about ten different expansions for more fun play, but with each expansion you add to the regular game, it takes longer to finish. All in all, this is an excellent game. The strategy is simple and yet takes skill to build roads, cities, cloisters, and pastures (while keeping your opponents from doing the same!).

There. I posted about something. Hurray! I feel verrrrrrrrrry accomplished!

For Now,

Your brother in Christ,

Peanut

Sorry for the long time of not posting. Enjoy!

As you may know, I am starting a series on God's creation. My first post is on God's wonderful weather!

You may be wondering why I started on this particular topic. The reason is that I saw an amazing thunder- or lighting-storm a long time ago. I'm definitely not joking when I say AMAZING. My brothers and I together saw about 50 different lighting strokes and about 50 rumbles!

God is amazing. I was just reading in my science textbook about the hydrologic cycle (the way water is transported from different sources of water to other sources of water). Did you know that clouds are formed on dirt, dust or other "dirty" molecules? that water can stay in the atmosphere for about 10 days?

And clouds! Cirrus, stratus, nimbus, cumulus, cumulonimbus, and much more in so many different shapes and sizes!

And the sun! Did you know that it takes 4 years for a ray of sunlight to reach the earth? That means that the sunlight you see today was emitted in 2004! Also, the core of the sun can reach 27,000,000 degrees, which would make one big sunburn!

 Wow, that's amazing! God is good! He even designed a way to refute the evolutionist "Christians" who sometimes say that God created the universe, but the "days" are actually millions of years in creating. Everyone knows that plants can't survive for long without the sun. Well, God made plants before the sun. God also must have made the sun's light not wait 4 years to reach the earth.

 One last thing. Remember that God is Amazing!

Your brother in Christ,

Peanut

I have finally gotten around to doing this...after a month of saying that I would.

And now, the one and only, Peanut's... Prized... Preserves! The exclusive, practically only, for CVP attenders.  Current flavors of Apricot, Nectarine, Peach and Apricot-Pineapple, jam in jars with labels and covers...yummy stuff! All proceeds goes to our "Adoption Fund", which means that when you buy jam, you donate and are getting us closer and closer to the adoption of a Chinese baby.

If you live in our area and are interested in purchasing some jars for your family or to save for wonderful Christmas gifts, I am taking orders.

Pints:  $6.50   1/2 Pints:  $ 3.50

You can leave me a comment on this blog if you'd like to order, or you can email me at my parents' email address. 

Thanks!    

Finally, I will leave you with a few photos:

Step 1: The Empty Jar

Step 2: The Fruit

Step 3: The Cooking

Step 4: The Cooling

Step 5: Labels and Covers

Step 6: Delivery

Have you ever stolen anything? You may be shaking your head vigorously, but I will say you are most likely wrong.

Think again.

Have you ever taken a cookie or snack without asking? If you haven't, then you are doing well.

Have you ever taken a toy away from a sibling without asking nicely? If not, so far so good.

Have you ever said you would be somewhere at a certain time, and not appeared? If so, you've stolen time. If not, good.

 There are even other ways we steal: recording copyrighted music, and using someone else's written words without permission.   Which reminds me, I should say that this information came from Dr. Fletcher's teaching a few weeks ago.

Even a "little" thing such as taking a cookie without asking is like stealing money.

However, we can be thankful that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and can give us the ability to do what is right and pleasing to Him.

Finally, I want to share a Bible verse with you:                 

 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
NKJV
James 4:17

Your Brother in Christ,

Peanut

I recieved a very nice tag-hope you like the answers.

1. What is your school's name and why? Home. ( we are homeschooled)

2. How is your weather today? Hot and nice.
3. What steals your joy? Satan, if anybody. I'm a happy guy.

4. Name 5 blessings you received this week. 1. I saw one of  my friends that I had not seen for 3 years. 2. Playing the new version of  Upsie-Downsie with my family. 3. Swimming in our pool with my family. 4. The Davises Scrubs service and their help for us in their pool service. 5. The blessing (all the time) of family.

5. Favorite scripture passage?  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Eph 2:8-9


6. Who in the Bible do you think you are most like? Maybe David. I certainly didn't kill a giant, but I certainly have the joy.

7. The last passage of scripture you read was:

The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Prov 29:15

8. Have you ever praised God for something weird? I don't think so...

9.What is the best miracle God has performed in your life, or what is your favorite answered prayer? I always pray our adoption of a Chinese baby will go well. So far, God has answered that prayer. The paperwork has been finished. We must remember not to pray in vain, though.

10.What is the most fun thing you have done lately? Going on my special day with Dad.

11. How did you choose your screen name? Art of Brotherhood? Well, I wanted to focuse on brothers and help brothers learn from my mistakes. Now it should be Art of Siblinghood as I am now focusing on both brothers and sisters.  If it's dadspeanut3, then if you didn't notice my nickname is Peanut, and this is my third blog (the other blogs didn't work).

Your Brother in Christ,

Peanut

Here are just a few verses on discipline. Remember discipline is for correction and is given in love, and is not out of anger.

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
NKJV

Prov 19:18

18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction. 
NKJV

Prov 15:10

10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.
NKJV

Prov 13:24

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
NKJV

Prov 22:15

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
NKJV

Prov 23:13-14

13 Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from hell.  
NKJV

Prov 29:15

15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
NKJV

Prov 3:11-12

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
NKJV

Prov 10:17

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
NKJV

Prov 12:1
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
NKJV

Prov 15:5-6

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.

NKJV

P.S. My Dad just did a sermon on the Lord's discipline, which was my inspiration for this. Enjoy!  (heehee)

Your Brother in Christ,

Peanut

My brothers and I just got back from our family's yearly reunion. The easiest way to describe it is to say it is a get-together of my extended family. But to my family, it is much more than that. To us, it is a gathering of not only family, but also fellow believers in Christ. Our whole family (or almost all of it)knows Christ and knows Him well.

Our family takes this for granted. Most families in America don't know God, much less love their families very much. But when people love each other and God so much that they get together and enjoy God and each other, other people notice. People noticed us.

So that is my challenge to not just brothers and sisters, but everyone. Make people not only notice, but when they notice give them your faith.

Remember, there will be a greater family reunion in Heaven with our family and God's family. Let us look forward to that family reunion.

  Your brother in Christ,

Peanut

Everybody knows about it. Just about everybody has done. I know. You know. I have. You probably have. Arguing is very evil and very, very hard to avoid. Some people might argue absent-mindedly and forget about it very soon. Arguments grow and grow and grow until somebody might get so angry and say mean things like, "I don't like you!" (note:please do not say or do all the things in this post except the things suggested at the end. Thank you) Brothers and sisters, please try to resolve your arguments and say "I'm sorry" and "Please forgive me, I was wrong" but don't say those with a heart that says, "He was wrong" or "It was him [or her]not me" for it is what is in the heart that counts.

Here are some ways to help:

1.(By far the most important) Pray and read your Bible. Maybe some of the things that need resolving need God's superior help.

2. Admit you were wrong. Most arguments aren't resolved correctly because one person believes the other was wrong.

3. Get a good sleep. It seems stange but sleepiness leads to grumpiness, and grumpiness often leads to arguing.

Of course there are more ways to help but most arguments are solved only by one person admitting he or she was wrong. 

Favorite Car? Chevy Silverado


Ford or Chevy? This seems weird based on what I just said, but Ford.


Favorite color? Blue...water, sky...good color


Black or White? Oh really?  Did you have to put this question on the tag?  Oh...I would say black but that's a mourning color and I'm not a sad kind of guy.  So, that leaves white.  But, I don't really like white, so that brings us back to black and I'm not a mourning kind of guy (and so on).


Favorite Restaurant? Home Town Buffet (just the thought of it makes me hungry)


Ruby Tuesday or Chilies? Chilies (If I remember correctly I didn't like Ruby Tuesday's)


Favorite animal? I don't know.  But one thing I do know is that Kevin did not put snails on his blog!


Cats or Dogs? I don't care as long as they are smart enough to know me 


Your Hero? My family


Country or City? My home town.  (It didn't take me long to answer that one or the previous one)


Favorite football team? If I followed football I'd say the Steelers (Mr. Rafferty, brace yourself) but the 49ers would be the logical guess (Sorry Mr. Rafferty).


What is your middle name? Ryan


Favorite desert?  (Oh, I found something strange.  Desert? Shouldn't it be dessert?)  The Mojave or  IceCreamAngelFoodCakeCarrotCakeApplePiePeachCobblerBerryPiePumpkinPie...isn't that one dessert?

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla


Favorite Drink? Hot Wassail for winter.  Water for spring and summer.  Apple Juice for fall.


Mr. Pibb or Dr. Pepper? Do I have to answer this?  Ah...neither.


Favorite band? The Philharmonic Orchestra.  Does this qualify as a band?


Mercy Me or Casting Crowns?  Casting Me or Mercy Crowns, Mercy Casting or Me Crowns.  The second one doesn't make sense does it?  Neither.

What kind of guitar do you have? I don't have a guitar.


Favorite Movie? Star Wars and Chronicles of Narnia are tied.

Time has gone by and summer is now here...ahhh, summer...makes you wish you could play with your brothers all day long. But alas, that is not true.  With summer comes more outside work (and we still have school work too) but there are still opportunities to spend quality time with your brothers.  But sometimes we don't use those opportunities to spend time with each other, instead, spending our time selfishly on ourselves.  Your brothers are important. Make it a goal to spend as much time as you can with your brothers this summer. Hopefully you will strengthen your relation with your brothers.

Here are some ideas:

Play war.  If you have trees maybe you can climb up together and imagine that you're a ship captain and crew.  If you have a pool, swim together.  Play board games together if it's too hot.  Work on a yard project side by side.  Sit down and talk with each other.  Start a club.  Build a wood project together.  Do a treasure hunt for each other (my brothers really like it when I do this).  Camp out in your yard.  Finally, you could get up very early and surprise your parents by cleaning the house (Mom says she likes this idea best). 

Your Brother in Christ,

Casey (a.k.a. Peanut)