Mercy in the Morning - SPUNKY AND TOS STAND UNITED

Sep. 22, 2005

SPUNKY AND TOS STAND UNITED

(Edited section in blue 9/23/05 and added link 9/24/05)

I need to explain to many of my commenters why TOS had to post an official response to Spunky's review. See this link for Spunky's website where you can find her original review: Spunky Homeschool Spunky is a TOS columnist and part of the homeschoolBlogger team. If she were a blogger not affiliated with TOS, you'd see no TOS official anything. There are 2200 bloggers on this site, many of whom I'm sure differ with TOS in some form or another. And, that's totally okay. We really desire them here. It's a community and we love that. However, if TOS associates or staff has a major difference on a position that we hold, we want to state clearly where this company stands. We are also still in unity with Spunky. To clarify even further, here is a statement of unity between Spunky and TOS:

Thank you to all who have expressed their opinion about the book, Created to Be His Help Meet and the review by Spunky and her husband. It is obvious that emotions are strong on this book. Thank you to Deborah Wuehler for taking the time to write a review of what Spunky said and answering some of the objections that were raised. Your time and devotion to the Lord and that task is commendable.

While it may appear to some that the publishers of the The Old Schoolhouse and Spunky are at odds with each other, nothing could be further from the truth. We are united in Christ and our friendship is stronger than ever. We do not discourage honest debate of critical issues facing homeschoolers today. This book is one such example. As long as the debate remains civil and constructive we encourage all who call HomeschoolBlogger home to "study to show themselves approved unto God and rightly divide the word of truth". And part of that means allowing the blogs to be used to challenge each one of us to look at what we believe in light of the Word of God and what it teaches.

As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. We all have been sharpened by this discussion. The Publishers and Spunky stand together to provide a format for you to encourage each other and sharpen one another. And to that end we stand as one even if on particular issues there is disagreement. Our relationship is not predicated on the idea that we all must think the same way but on the truth that it is Jesus Christ who unites us. And in that you can be sure we all agree.

Spunky Homeschool (Karen)

Deborah Wuehler

Gena Suarez

Jenefer Igarashi

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Hope this clears things up and that we can all stand in unity in Jesus Christ as we continue to benenfit from this wonderful place called homeschoolBlogger.com.

I would like to apologize if I came across harsh in any of your eyes in my answers to Spunky. I tried to write it all in a spirit of humility and with much prayer, and, as one commenter stated, as if you were sitting across the table with a cup of tea.

I pray the Lord blesses each and every one of you in a special way and that He touches your life with His mercies which are new every morning.

May His Face Shine Upon You,

Deborah

(Edited 9/24/05)

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Comments

Sep. 22, 2005 - God Bless You, Deb.

Posted by ByHisGraceInColorado

You did a beautiful job of bringing this to a close~or at least showing us all how the Lord works in and through a bunch of very different folks. I am so glad we have His word to stand on and guide us through our different opinions. He is Truth, and there is just no way around that.

Love you!
Nancy

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Sep. 22, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by JenIG

sing it with me "We are fam i leee, I got all my sistahs and meeeee"
group hug!
jen

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Sep. 22, 2005 - Singing with you Jen - and here's the song:

Posted by devdoordeborah

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(Psalm 133:1)

Love to you all! Deborah

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Sep. 22, 2005 - Yay!

Posted by Anonymous

GREAT post.
You guys at TOS continue to impress me...

Molly
www.ChoosingHome.com

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Sep. 22, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I commend you all for maintaining unity. However your explanation as to why your own personal responses to Spunky on her posts on personal blog are an official position doesn't hold up.
If she had her reviews in TOS then you would be within rights to respond officially if you saw fit. However she posted independent reviews on her own personal blog and you have responded on yours. It is still questionable as to whether or not your review is independent - your responses to Spunky's posts aren't as can be seen by including statements from the author and her daughter.
A magazine does not usually take an official position in this manner.
A magazine could take an official position on a book, declaring any connection with the author.
However you have taken an official position on Spunky's reviews - which is a serious consideration and quite a different matter to simply officially endorsing a book.
Catez Stevens

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Sep. 22, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I'll explain a little differently to clarify it for you.
If TOS actually thinks they need an official position on a book then they could simply endorse it in TOS. The fact that TOS contributors may not all agree would be understood - but you would have an official position in the appropriate context - in TOS.
What you have done is to take a position officially on some-one's reviews - when those reviews have not been put forward as TOS reviews.

I accept that you are busy - and if these posts were just your personal blog posts it would be understandable that you do not respond to commenters concerns. But you have made these posts part of TOS magazine. As such the concerns need addressing. When you make your posts officially representative of a magazine then a different level of ethics and professionalism is expected.

While the copyright issue is not one Spunky is pursuing, I would expect a magazine to have a higher standard and to acknowledge the error.
Likewise a declaration of any connection with the author would be expected.
A review would not contain statements from the author or the author's family members - it cannot be independent if it does.

I hope that clarifies things a bit.

Catez Stevens

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Sep. 23, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by sparrow

What is the position that TOS holds that needs defending? That you are in doctrinal agreement with the Pearl's ministry? that you agree with _Created To Be His Helpmeet_ ? something else?

I find it strange that the TOS organization would need to go to so much trouble to defend a book, if that is all you are referring to. If you are taking the deliberate step of publicly aligning yourself with the Pearls doctrinally, I would like to know that.

Also, while I completely understand the busyness that accompanies motherhood and homeschooling, I find your lack of response troubling. You made an official statement for your organization. If you don't have the time to answer the concerns and questions that accompany that statement, you should not be making it.

I will look forward to your response.

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Sep. 26, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by sparrow

Deborah,

I am still waiting for a response to my questions. These are important questions to me, and I hope you will take the time to reply.

Thank you.

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Sep. 29, 2005 - Hi Deborah

Posted by Beth

For what it's worth, I totally concur with Sparrow and Catez, and await your response here as well.

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