tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16045327295054041912024-03-13T21:22:22.363-04:00Sanctified WomanThe journey of learning to be set apart for His purposes...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-47345775136512123222012-01-06T06:29:00.001-05:002012-01-06T06:38:31.878-05:00Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom | What Do I Know?<p>Whether said in gest or in serious self-examination, the answer to this timeless question, “What do I know?”, colors our life principles and priorities. So knowing a bit more about “knowing” might be of greater benefit than we first imagine.</p> <p>The Scriptures speak of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom and their value to a man and the prosperity of his soul (Prov 24:4). Beginning with knowledge, what do I know? </p> <p>First, I find I want to “know”. Something within me desires to “know”. I want to “know” what is good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust. The desire to know is a God-given and God-purposed desire that humans made in His image possess.</p> <p>Second, as a result of wanting to “know”, I look to my authorities to “know” more about knowledge. Parents, church, scripture, and wise counselors are common authorities. I tend to look to scriptures first, and here I find particulars and specifics that can form, inform, and expand my understanding of knowledge:</p> <ol> <li>In the garden, there was a tree of knowledge of good and evil.</li> <li>Knowledge informs us of good and evil.</li> <li>Knowledge informs our actions.</li> <li>Knowledge and discretion are related.</li> <li>No knowledge and senseless are related.</li> <li>From the Lord’s mouth comes knowledge</li> <li>Take knowledge over gold.</li> <li>Through knowledge the righteous are delivered.</li> <li>If you love discipline, you love knowledge.</li> <li>Fools do not discern words of knowledge.</li> <li>Knowledge can come through receiving discipline and instruction.</li> <li>Knowledge without love can puff up</li> <li>We can have knowledge of truth</li> <li>We can have knowledge of God</li> </ol> <p>Scriptures are full of references to knowledge. These I have listed purport the value of knowledge to the life and soul of a man (or woman). A few other’s warn that knowledge apart from love puffs up the knower.</p> <p>So let’s ponder knowledge a bit more.</p> <ol> <li>There is knowledge to be found.</li> <li>Knowledge is to be fervently sought after.</li> <li>Knowledge comes in the form of words, instruction, and discipline.</li> <li>True knowledge bears good fruit.</li> <li>A life of wisdom is not possible without knowledge.</li> <li>Knowledge must be ruled and ordered by love</li> </ol> <p>These are just a few observations we can add to our understanding of knowledge and our relationship to knowledge.</p> <p>What about you? What do you know?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-46435026460606175692011-07-15T15:58:00.000-04:002011-07-15T15:58:05.477-04:00Practicum Speaker Bio<div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A former atheist and self-sufficient feminist, Heather’s path was irrevocably altered in 1990 when she recognized her life was on a soul-bankrupting path. Surrendering and filling out the back of a Gideon Bible her grandmother had given her years earlier, Heather laid her old life down and rose to walk in newness of life. An engineering graduate from the University of Louisville, Heather’s career path took a turn after the birth of their first child when she was introduced to the idea of homeschooling. Early in her homeschooling journey, Heather was introduced to the classical Christian model of education and shares its secrets and sufficiency with parents across the nation. A former Precept study teacher, Heather has taught and spoken at women’s conferences, as well as parent workshops and practicums. With a contagious passion for learning, speaking, teaching, and educating her children, she inspires and encourages others in their walk with Him and in their home-education journey.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">Heather enjoys writing, speaking, and teaching, and currently serves as Executive Director of Classical Conversations MultiMedia’s leadership team. Heather and her husband Ed live in NC, where they teach and disciple their children to use their lives and talents for the glory of God. You can learn more about Heather on her blog: <a href="http://www.sanctifiedwoman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Sanctified Woman</span></a></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-83812739933259952522011-05-03T10:34:00.001-04:002011-05-03T16:04:35.039-04:00Sanctification? What’s that? (part 2)<p align="justify">Prompted by my son’s thoughtful question, and turning to God’s Word as the ultimate authority for my life, I began to explore God’s will, that is “sanctification”.  Where did the word <em>sanctify</em> first appear in the scriptures? And what was the context?</p> <p align="justify">The first occurrence of the word <em>sanctify</em> is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus after the children of Israel had been freed from their slavery in Egypt. You know the story. The children of Israel had been oppressed and enslaved for 400 long years. The hope of ever being the nation that God has promised their forefather Abraham had become a distant memory clouded by their harsh oppression.</p> <p align="justify">The people cried out and after 400 years, in the fullness of His timing, the Lord moved. He raised up a deliverer. As the story goes, the Lord delivered His people through Moses, who had as a baby escaped Pharaoh's earlier death decree for first born male in every Hebrew home. The Lord brought mighty acts of judgment against Israel’s oppressors through Moses. </p> <p align="justify">The last of the ten judgments, or plagues came - the death of the first born. The Lord had not forgotten His people. He had seen the Pharaoh's harshness and cruelty, even his earlier order to kill the first born Jewish male. In His judgment, the Lord provided salvation for His people and their first born. This time they need not fear, their first born would find salvation. The blood of a lamb on the doorpost would cause the angel of death to <em>passover</em>  the house; the first born male of the house would be saved.</p> <p align="justify">It was on the heels of this miraculous liberation, the Lord commands the Israelites to remember His great and powerful hand that saved them out of Egypt, by instituting the ordinance of  an annual Passover feast  for the people to celebrate in community annually.  Unleavened bread would remind the people of the haste in which the left Egypt. Bitter herbs would remind them of the bitter oppression. Lamb would remind them of the Lord’s provision amid judgment.</p> <p align="justify">Interestingly, this context is also the first use of the word sanctify, which means <em>a setting apart. What or who was to be “set apart"”?</em>  The first born was to be part of this memorial and was to be followed <em>within the family</em>. A reminder how the Lord provided salvation for His people and their first born. While we are called to remember in community, we are also called to remember within our own family. </p> <p align="justify">Certain days, special meals, and distinct celebrations are part of our sanctification, of our being set apart. Such times call upon us to reflect and behold what God has done and what God has promised. Fixing our mind and heart on these truths is part of our sanctification. Drawing our thoughts backward, upward, and onward. Reordering our affections, so that any maligned appetite or desire may once again be rightly ordered according to His kingdom.</p> <p align="justify">I share with my son these truths. We each carry a vision of what our life and purpose are, and we become what we behold.</p> <p align="justify">Here’s the struggle: What/Who are we beholding? Practically, how do we as a family develop and faithfully carry a vision, His vision, in our modern, rapid-paced times?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-63310630352726276482011-04-28T11:23:00.000-04:002011-04-28T11:28:01.724-04:00Sanctification? What’s that?<p align="justify">This was the question my youngest son asked me just recently. Such a soul-shaping and overarching theme in my own life, I realized I had not communicated its important meaning and imperative well to my children, especially my youngest son.</p> <p align="justify">I remember when I first encountered this idea… the idea of being sanctified, of being set apart. I was reading the scriptures:</p> <blockquote> <p align="justify">“This is the will of God, your sanctification…” – I Thess 4:3</p> </blockquote> <p align="justify">Well, how wonderful! A clear concrete declaration of God’s will for me! Not some mystical hide and seek exercise. His will was made plain to me in this verse. My sanctification!</p> <p align="justify">After the initial excitement of such a profound discovery, the questions came… But what does this mean? And then, of course, came the follow up question – How? </p> <p align="justify">Rats! The wrestling and quest for understanding had only just been ignited…</p> <p align="justify">I have to confess I did not readily embrace what I began to learn as I search the scriptures. <em>Set apart</em>?!? I had spent much of my life working hard on fitting in, following the crowd, … And the idea of being sanctified, or in the process of sanctification, didn’t that sound arrogant, superior, and perhaps even self-righteous? I wasn’t sure what this meant. This wasn’t going to be easy and certainly not something natural to me and my understanding. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/TbmHfwDeFHI/AAAAAAAAAwY/ExpXbdqnV7o/s1600-h/images-set-apart2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="images set apart" border="0" alt="images set apart" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/TbmHgBwzSxI/AAAAAAAAAwc/mXUI2x7UAog/images-set-apart_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="169" /></a></p> <p align="justify">Perhaps you too have had similar thoughts and feelings about this word, this command, this declaration of the will of God. </p> <p align="justify">So I now hope to explore this word and principle this coming year and share the posts here… On my blog: SANCTIFIED Woman. With the hopes of enlarging our own understanding while also growing in our ability to lead our own family in this understanding, we’ll allow the potter to shape us and transform our understanding.</p> <p align="justify">Grace and truth are found on His wheel…</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-9121423042537163102011-03-22T07:07:00.000-04:002011-03-22T16:45:56.622-04:002011 Parent Practicum - Improving Your Vision<p>Greetings fellow classical educators!</p> <p>It is that time of year again - Parent Practicum time.</p> <p>Check out our video previewing this year's Practicum theme - Improving Your Vision. Stay tuned! <br /></p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"> </div> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/vv5J_VbFiCk/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vv5J_VbFiCk&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vv5J_VbFiCk&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-36521239085386050472010-04-25T22:31:00.001-04:002010-04-25T22:34:54.245-04:00Thinking Beyond a Book…<p><font size="3"><font size="3">Summer time is approaching and that can only mean one thing…  <strong>Parent Practicum</strong> season is here!</font><font size="4"><font size="4"></font></font><font size="3"><font size="3"><font size="4"><font size="4"></font></font> <p>Homeschooling is a journey that takes vision and careful planning. Check your bearings and plan the best route for your family at Classical Conversations’ free 3-day Parent Practicums.</p> <p>Join me, or any one of this year’s practicum speakers, as we explore practical tools for bringing breadth and depth to your family’s learning. Discover how the classical model takes education beyond a textbook for relational and transformational learning.</p> <p>CiRCE Institute founder, Andrew Kern, visits in select cities via a multimedia presentation to share his heart for education that reclaims the whole student, challenging educators everywhere to adjust their thinking.</p> </font></font></font></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b50e958c-0f74-46d6-b041-f2d874d4a43e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="407ceb9d-11a5-4439-b0b1-9051b8726c79" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIxCMxPS-Xg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/S9T7FuX1qLI/AAAAAAAAAv4/Tv54sMkEQsk/videoc103a5aaff29%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('407ceb9d-11a5-4439-b0b1-9051b8726c79'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/WIxCMxPS-Xg&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/WIxCMxPS-Xg&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p></p> <b><font size="3"><font size="3"> <p align="left"></p> </font></font></b> <p><font size="3"><strong>Economically-priced Care & Camps for Kids...</strong>While you are learning, your students will be too! Whether they are being cared for in our nursery, playing and chanting in our play camps, memorizing and drawing God’s world in our geo-drawing camp, or learning more about language, writing, science, or communicating in one of our older academic camps, your students are sure to enjoy the group learning environment.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Visit Classical Conversations’ Event Calendar and register for one of these exciting and equipping events today! </font><a href="http://classicalconversations.com/registered/index.php?option=com_events&task=search&Itemid=210&keywordEventType=27&keywordState=0&push=Search" target="_blank"><font size="3">click here ></font></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-85498945998851347412009-11-23T07:33:00.001-05:002009-11-23T09:40:34.598-05:00Sanctification Calls for Questions<p>(Part of <a href="http://sanctifiedwoman.blogspot.com/2009/11/sanctified-sections.html" target="_blank">Sanctified Sections</a> post series and <a href="http://sanctifiedwoman.blogspot.com/search/label/Streets%20of%20Sanctification" target="_blank">Streets of Sanctification</a> label)</p> <p align="justify">During this season of my life, many of my sanctification moments involve my immediate family – my husband and children. My sanctification and theirs is being lived out day to day, week to week, and year to year! The good, the bad and the ugly – if you will.</p> <p align="justify">One morning this past week, I was jolted to full alertness by my two favorite sons arguing in the kitchen over which food resources should be consumed and by whom. (Scarcity of food resources in a house with young, growing men is a constant real and present danger!)</p> <p align="justify">“You took the last two tortillas!” accused the authoritative, firstborn, fourteen-year-old son. “You should have eaten the whole wheat bread!” With a tone of injustice and exasperation, the oldest son brings his plight to his mother, who is not the sharpest (or most sanctified) judge and juror before 9:00am. But none-the-less, sanctification never sleeps, (at least not past 9:00am!) and I am once again summoned to direct the traffic for these two budding, often bull-dozing, boys.</p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">The first to present their case seems just, until another comes along and examines him. (Prov 18:17)</font></em></p> <p align="justify">The youngest son, Caleb, often feeling to be the victim of such barrages of the high expectations from his older brother, rather dumb founded demands, “Daniel, leave me alone! I didn’t do anything wrong! You always get on to me!”</p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">When clarity and hidden-heart agendas need to be revealed, there is a model Jesus provided. One he used over and over again. One I seek to feebly follow in our own home.</font></em></p> <p align="justify">Delaying dealing with my youngest’s tone and sweeping statement, a question arises in my mind. Unclear as to why my oldest son was pushing the whole wheat bread, I asked some key questions. This brings me to my first practical principle in sanctification.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwqBA42Zo2I/AAAAAAAAAs8/ioi5pJVxJPY/s1600-h/iStock_think_Small%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="iStock_think_Small" border="0" alt="iStock_think_Small" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwqBBIWix_I/AAAAAAAAAtA/Ca4eRa6Mwhs/iStock_think_Small_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="239" /></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Sanctification Principle #1:</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff">Ask questions and get THEM thinking!</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">Questions engage the mind and reveal thinking.  Jesus modeled this throughout His interactions with different people. His purpose was often to sift to the surface the heart and the understanding of the person he was engaging.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"> <font color="#808080">Caution: <em>Too often as parents, we continue do all the thinking for our older children.</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000">Through a series of questions, it is revealed my oldest partiality toward the tortillas and his lack of fondness for whole wheat bread. Upon this revelation, we determine -  together - he should not have taken a reprimanding demeanor with his younger brother which began the disgruntled detour. Reconciliation <font color="#808080"><em>(a practical process put firmly in place in our home from the time my oldest was two) </em></font>was sought with his brother, both apologized for their reactive words, attitudes and tones. Sanctification continues - relationships strengthened, bitterness abated, humility displayed, grace given – after all, <em>He</em> is the potter and <em>we</em> are the clay. The streets of sanctification are once again relatively relationally liter-free.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000">Weighty considerations as we journey down the streets of sanctification… </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000">This takes TIME, LISTENING and asking QUESTIONS! Much harder than giving a command and demanding compliance, which most appropriately characterizes parenting in the child’s younger years (or the inverse mindset of leaving the children to themselves to find looking-to-the-interest-of-others, god-honoring wisdom.) <em><font color="#808080">As the child grows self-revelation is much more powerful and lasting than the revelation by others to the child – questions help sift self-revelation to the surface.</font></em>  Are we willing to invest at this level? We choose. This is a toll road. There is only a PAY NOW or PAY LATER option, because either way, we will pass through the toll booth. <em>Pay now</em> is proactive, <em>pay later</em> is reactive and tends to be much messier. Both are costly in time and energy, however one way tends to be much more harmonious, the other way much less.</font></p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">Have you found this out the hard way? In some areas of my sanctification journey I sure have! My biggest struggle has been to have tools to help me be proactive. As a parent, this took genuine humility on my part, because that meant I didn’t have all the answers much less tools to help me. I don’t even think I had any answers, mostly because I didn’t have a vision for intentional parenting founded on His word and ways. Rather, I had lots of “man’s wisdom” – from my own secular upbringing, my third parent – the TV, ideas influenced by romance books and mindless music. Yikes! The only thing I can say is that when my oldest was two years old, I became keenly aware that I didn’t know where I was going with these new family additions!  I hit a roadblock on the streets of sanctification.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">So what do I do when I need help? Is there a street sign with instruction in His word, on what to do when we need help? Yes!! Call on the Lord, seek Him, seek Him with all our heart is what His word says. So I clung to Jeremiah 9:23-24, Jer 33:3, Prov 3:5-6,  and other scriptures that revealed this “seeking and finding” principle to me and the journey began…</font></em></p> <p align="justify">So roadblocks require <em>genuine</em> humility and a few tools in order to overcome and  journey forward. I say tools and not techniques. Techniques tend to cage our thinking  into a system or formula, which, when divorced from foundational understanding, are dangerous and inappropriate when it finds its application in people and relationships. Rather, we need tools which provide an image of a master tradesman with understanding utilizing a tool to accomplish a <em><strong>purpose</strong></em>. </p> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#808080">Do you and I know our purpose as parents? Do we seek to understand our influence, stewardship, responsibility? I am afraid too often we do not. Rather than seeking sanctification in our parental thinking, we seek the path of least resistance or the path of least patience… and we settle. We settle for what the current culture says, and yes, even what some short-sighted church leaders and “church-goers” say.</font></em></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><strong>One of the primary tools we need is good questions!</strong></font> </p> <p align="justify">Good questions are by nature, engaging and relational. Without good questions, we are merely having “parallel monologues”, as I have heard my friend, Andrew Kern, say. Conversations without connections don’t strengthen relationships – with God or with others. So let’s see where we can go to find some models of good questions, then we’ll work on some principles of <em>purpose</em> and <em>listening</em>.</p> <p align="justify">More probing ideas to come… </p> <p align="justify">Uncomfortable? You bet, that is sanctification’s way. With the perpetual flow of seemingly prickly people in our lives as well as our own ample portions of porcupine-ness, sanctification finds its transforming abode.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-68707095551487234172009-11-16T11:08:00.001-05:002009-11-16T11:21:52.989-05:00Sanctified Sections<p align="justify">Years ago, I was introduced to a book that would irrevocably alter my warped, worldly thinking and set me on a new path to appropriate my identity according to God’s Word. That book was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Common-Made-Holy-Neil-Anderson/dp/1565078284/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258378009&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Common Made Holy</a> by Neil Anderson and the <a href="http://www.ficm.org/newsite/index.php" target="_blank">Freedom in Christ Ministry</a>. A book that opened my eyes and heart to the idea of sanctification on a very practical level. A book that I recently picked up, reminded me of an important principle found in Anderson’s book.</p> <p align="justify">The importance of relationships in our sanctification process. The Lord uses relationships with others to sanctify US! </p> <p align="justify">Ohhh! So that’s why relationships can be so difficult - they touch areas that we would prefer remain untouched! YES! Some relationships more than others seem to touch such areas. And some relationship-<em>seasons</em> (husband-wife, parent-child, friend-friend, employer-employee, etc…), are more challenging than others at different times.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF45EL3AkI/AAAAAAAAAsk/2fL7HNdjZME/s1600-h/clayjar%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="clayjar" border="0" alt="clayjar" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF45Wz2axI/AAAAAAAAAso/2CJBScplm5Y/clayjar_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="303" /></a> </p> <p align="justify">While we have a tendency to <font color="#808080">(more comfortably)</font> focus on the OTHER person’s need for sanctification during a difficulty<font color="#808080">,</font> we must be careful to follow the command to work out our OWN salvation, or sanctification, with fear and trembling. The principle and application of “the log and the speck” has transformative power – personal transformation and relational transformation. Sounds difficult but desirable, yes? Yet many of us settle for the paralysis created by neatly placing blame and guilt on the other party, ignoring our own participation and contribution to an often relationally polarizing process. </p> <p align="justify">So let’s first look at the <em>WHY </em>question. Why do many of us have a tendency to solely settle for seeing others as the incessant thorn in our side and ourselves as victims? This is a big question and the answer requires expanding our thinking, which translates into exposure to ideas based on higher and deeper principles than those we may be currently operating under. </p> <p align="justify">Where would I search for such principles? Among mere men and their wisdom? Perhaps as a starting point or a bridge to a <em>greater source</em>. Years ago, as a teenage atheist, I lived according to man’s wisdom and the wisdom the world valued. What was my primary source? Well… <em>General Hospital</em>, of course! Actually, GH was just one of many. I would now blush at the books, music, magazines, TV shows, and movies that shaped my futile and foggy thinking in those days. The results and consequences are not appropriate to share here, however, it was through these that a search began, a decision was made, and a line was drawn. My <em>greater source</em> was Him and my primary source of truth was to be God’s Word from that day forward.</p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF46PVlXQI/AAAAAAAAAss/nniqAVb8ZQE/s1600-h/iStock_BibleSmall%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bible Watch and Keys on a Grunge Background" border="0" alt="Bible Watch and Keys on a Grunge Background" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF46g7uzsI/AAAAAAAAAsw/XJDohYvffCE/iStock_BibleSmall_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="306" /></a> </p> <p align="justify">So here is a perhaps new <em>sanctification idea</em>, drawn by men from God’s word, that I have found worthy to ponder on my own journey in the fertile fields of relationships. </p> <p align="justify">For lack of a more creative term I will call this grid … <em><strong>Sanctification Sections</strong></em> and over a few blog posts, I hope the idea will take a firmer shape in your mind and heart. </p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF46vCIBXI/AAAAAAAAAs0/-NA6q3_casg/s1600-h/HeartCheck%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="HeartCheck" border="0" alt="HeartCheck" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SwF47K9obBI/AAAAAAAAAs4/ayzhrUInN0A/HeartCheck_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="480" /></a> </p> <p align="justify">Place this four-section table over your own heart – thinking of what you know or see about your OWN heart.</p> <div align="justify"> <table border="5" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="454"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="98"> </td> <td valign="top" width="168"><strong><font size="3">What others see/know</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="172"><strong><font size="3">What others do NOT see/know</font></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="98"><font size="3"><strong>What I see/know…</strong></font></td> <td valign="top" width="168"><strong>Best Section</strong> <br />contains what I know and allow others to see about me. I share what I know to be the BEST about me with others.</td> <td valign="top" width="171"><strong>Behind-the-Scenes section <br /></strong>secret part of my life – <br />* positive (specific acts and disciplines that cultivate a strong and healthy Christian life)  <br />* negative (sin, struggles, thoughts, fleshly weaknesses not shared or trusted to others)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="98"><strong><font size="3">What I do NOT see/know</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="168"><strong>Blind Section</strong> <br />Yikes! Others can see things about me I am BLIND to (pride, self-reliance, consequences of media choices, etc)… BUT with safe, mature counselors, I humbly allow these areas to be brought to my conscience to be transformed & sanctified.</td> <td valign="top" width="172"><strong>Buried Section</strong> <br />Again, there are things I <em>don’t know</em> about my own heart, and others don’t either – degrees of pride, selfishness, self-reliance, tendency to spiritualize, denial, hiding, blaming, … <br />Sanctification seeks to reduce this “section” too!</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p align="justify">Table adapted from <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Listening-heavens-sake-building-relationships/dp/0963851810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258377691&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Listening for Heaven’s Sake</a>.</em></p> <p align="justify">Can these ideas help your family along sanctification’s way? It sure has mine! Does this help provide a framework for a dialog of truth and grace? I am working on it!</p> <p align="justify">So the question NOW becomes a <em>HOW</em> question. <em>How</em> do you and I move from our comfortable habit of neatly tying up all relational distress as due to the other person, to soberly and accurately allowing the Lord to poke around in our own hearts?</p> <p align="justify">There are cautions and considerations as we learn <em>How</em>. Let’s unpack these ideas a bit… more in blog posts to come.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-56433670636498761002009-11-13T16:49:00.001-05:002009-11-13T16:49:51.991-05:00Wise Parents Wrestle…<p align="justify">Today produced yet another enlightening discussion with friends and fellow forerunners in the Christian-parenting journey. Personal struggles in passing along the live-giving ideas and principles wrapped up in a life based on truth as defined by the One who claimed to be <em>the Way, the Truth </em>and <em>the Life</em>. </p> <p align="justify">The communication and cultivation of these life-giving and life-altering truths to the next generation, in a world preoccupied with its own passing beauty, is appropriately marked by struggle - a wrestling if you will.  After all,  where there is no wrestling - no struggle - inherent weakness and frailty remain unrevealed.  A result no loving parent would intentionally wish to cultivate yet statistics bear an alarming frailty among young people emerging from “Christian” homes.</p> <p align="justify">Wise parents therefore welcome the wrestling and do not settle for the short-sighted temptation to exasperate our young adults by means of forcing mere external obedience while refusing to engage their young minds and hearts through relevant encounters of principles and ideas from scripture. While we, as parents, are often already resolved on such ideas and principles, we often forget how we arrived at such resolutions. Many resolutions have been made through our own struggles with truth and “truth” <font color="#808080">(and others through amiable acquiesce or clinging to a certain form or tradition, but that is a subject best left for another blog post)</font>. The next generation must be afforded the same opportunity, the same right to test His ways and truths against the world’s “ways” and “truths”. <em>The Way</em>, <em>the Truth</em> and <em>the Life</em> is more than up to the task, even if we parents are not! Remember, He dealt with us, didn’t He?</p> <p align="justify">Is such wrestling permitted and promoted within the arena of your home, my home? The days of parenting by authority alone were appropriate when our children were young and their capacity to understand and reason required consistent external governance, correction and intervention. However, in healthy, and I would argue Biblical, parenting of the human soul, this external governance must give way to internal governance upon which the work of His spirit must be fully relied upon for all application and wisdom on the parents part and the budding youth’s heart.</p> <p align="justify">Consequently, if we parents continue to rely more upon our own strength by exerting our unilateral authority to its fullest extent in all matters on behalf of these young adults, this internal governance in our youth remains neglected, and as a result, it is profoundly retarded. Producing what kind of adult? At best, an adult that is conditioned to be controlled and cared for by other humans with an identity grounded in human elements and efforts. In the end, both parent and youth resent this regretful result.</p> <p align="justify">The human soul innately knows it was designed for a greater governance, a governance that does not produce slavery to a human element, but a governance that paradoxically produces freedom from human frailties of self and others. Producing a freedom to love and serve from the heart. With a transcendent identity characterized by an attractive and unassuming authority that stems from the internal governance of His spirit. This is the appropriate and fruitful governance the human soul was designed to find its fullest satisfaction.</p> <p align="justify">My spirit is vexed in this sober undertaking. What parent is able to labor in a worthy manner under such weighty matters? Hope abounds because of His provision. For whom He has granted precious and magnificent promises through which, when apprehended and appropriated by His grace, we wrestle with Him who bestows strength, blessing, understanding, and wisdom.</p> <p align="justify">May we wrestle with Him, so that we may have personal strength to pass to our youth in their time of wrestling.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-49531280502376346162009-11-05T11:24:00.001-05:002009-11-05T11:24:18.769-05:00Some fun in Challenge 1!<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:bdefe4b8-4f04-420f-82a2-10b7ce5b544d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="c5fa390a-9786-46c5-95ab-9b52281d9729" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ux2HVQ4Xas&feature=youtube_gdata" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SvL8MvpE38I/AAAAAAAAAsU/lkeaKRSRCyg/videoff3b9eecc04b%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('c5fa390a-9786-46c5-95ab-9b52281d9729'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2ux2HVQ4Xas&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/2ux2HVQ4Xas&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-77776857148128869432009-11-02T10:29:00.001-05:002009-11-02T10:36:30.992-05:00Thankful and Content<p>I am thankful for my eyes that see, <br />Your creation, your power and nature so clearly. <br />But should you take this gift away, <br />I would be most content, for it can often cause me to stray.</p> <p>I am thankful for the legs that carry me, <br />To do your work and meet my fellows in need. <br />But should you take this gift away, <br />I would be most content to sit at your feet and stay.</p> <p>I am thankful for the keen mind given me, <br />By it, I may think and dwell on ways of Thee. <br />But should you take this gift away, <br />I would be most content to more quickly find your narrow way.</p> <p>I am thankful for the health given me, <br />To serve and minister with bended knee. <br />But should you take this gift away, <br />I would be most content and prepared for glory’s day.</p> <p>I am thankful for the many gifts given me, <br />To be a faithful steward of them in word and deed. <br />When you decide your purpose for me is complete, <br />I would be most content to live forever with Thee.</p> <p>Heather Shirley <br />November 1999</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-58603412088288536422009-09-09T20:16:00.001-04:002009-09-10T07:25:14.303-04:00From Triangles to Tattoos?!?<p>Each week, I have the privilege of gathering with a group of 16 and 17 year olds where we learn math and more about the God behind the language of math!</p> <p>This week, we were once again learning even more about triangles. Let me just say, I love triangles! Triangles are so important in measuring and relating to God’s creation that there is a whole course called Trigonometry devoted to them! And guess what, my God is a <strong>tri</strong>une God.  Interesting that He would choose the triangle as a corner piece in understanding so many aspects of His creation. Very interesting, isn’t it?!?</p> <p>So this week, we were contemplating triangles. Formulas for triangles, similar triangles, right-triangles, congruent triangles, … and I stopped!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFO9WbE_I/AAAAAAAAAr0/UUsG02p16EQ/s1600-h/iStock_triangle_XSmall%5B18%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Hi-res wooden ruler with path" border="0" alt="Hi-res wooden ruler with path" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFPMk7H-I/AAAAAAAAAr4/TtpoT3G4hNs/iStock_triangle_XSmall_thumb%5B16%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="120" height="119" /></a></p> <p>“Students. What do the words <em>congruent triangles</em> mean?”</p> <p>A student replies reading the bold text from a lesson, “Congruent triangles are similar triangles with a scale factor of one.”</p> <p>“Good!” I replied. “So you could say <strong><em>congruent triangles</em></strong> are the same. They have the same side lengths and same angles.”</p> <p>Frustrated and forlorn, one student states, “Well then! Why don’t we just say that then! Why do we have to use strange words!”</p> <p>YES!! The moment had come! You see, I have been waiting, waiting for this fated pivotal moment. The moment when the stars aligned, and I could share a secret I learned seven years ago - a learning secret.</p> <p>“Every subject has a language that we have to learn! This is called the <em><strong>grammar</strong></em>. Do you feel stupid when someone keeps using a word as if you should know what it means? I sure do! Does anyone here know what a direct object is? A few nodded, others whispered “No.” I said, “If you knew Latin or sentence patterns and structures you would.”</p> <p>So it is so important to go back and ASK, what do you mean by _______? Or hustle back through a lesson and find the definition of that unfamiliar word.  In order to learn anything, we have to understand the words people use and how they are using them – this is called the <em>grammar</em>!” If we don’t understand the words, or know the grammar, we tend to shutdown and tune out, because it really is “all Greek to me!” </p> <p>I didn’t stop there. Oh no! The door had been swung open and I have been invited in! I went on … to the <em><strong>dialectic</strong></em> stage. Learning how to think and make connections; perceive relationships between subjects, between concepts and between their personal faith and their personal choices.<img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Doors with welcome mat" border="0" alt="Doors with welcome mat" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhKp5t4TEI/AAAAAAAAArw/pMxx6oaW9iw/iStock_door_XSmall_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="200" /></p> <p>On and on, I went! Until finally, as I was moving into the third learning skill, <em><strong>rhetoric</strong></em>, I stopped and I asked. “Does anyone here have a tattoo?”</p> <p>Attention riveted, as they each craned their necks to be sure they had heard my question correctly. Everyone shook their head, but I could tell I had struck an already contemplated cord. A tempting knock on the debate door was heard loud and clear. I allowed for a temporary trek down tattoo lane… but only to serve my greater purpose.</p> <p>“Why would someone want a tattoo?” I fished. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFPkblNQI/AAAAAAAAArQ/Abf7zunZbZQ/s1600-h/butterfly200%5B5%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="butterfly200" border="0" alt="butterfly200" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFQEmuhLI/AAAAAAAAArU/5PNr_Zu-pso/butterfly200_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="200" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Immediately, the answer from one student was - “To tell a story, to share a message that is important to the bearer.”</p> <p>Ahhhh HAAA! Here is where I rounded out the robust and riveting discussion, by dropping my premise into place. The idea that <strong>words</strong> – speaking and writing <strong>words – </strong>are superior to images in many ways. What’s my authority? God’s illustrations and metaphors in His word. Specifically, referencing our God in speaking creation into existence and Jesus being the word of God, just to name a few. Words carry great power!</p> <p>I challenged the students – work on using <strong>words </strong>well! </p> <p>I concluded by saying… whether you or your friend has a tattoo or piercing or whatever… people will ask questions about it and you will eventually need <strong>words</strong> to tell the real, whole story … and that is the heart of rhetorical skills – mastering the right usage of words!</p> <p>We bantered a bit more, even laughed as we shared thoughts and ideas. One student asked me, “What do you think, Ms. Shirley?” Good! They are interested in what I think. Like any good teacher would do, I let the question linger, leaving them to ponder what I might think and why. “That discussion is for another time.” Though I am disappointed that no one asked me if I had a tattoo, but I think I inadvertently let that cat out of the bag when I said, “It is by the grace of God that I don’t have a tattoo. Before the age of twenty, I was an atheist, but that’s yet another colorful story for another time!”</p> <p>So I leave the rest of this discussion to your family’s dynamics, history and walk with the Lord. You can thank me (or curse me) later! :) </p> <p>Either way, your family still needs to answer the question… </p> <p align="center"><strong>What is MY communication strategy?</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFQZ7vObI/AAAAAAAAAr8/jvg2TboRkv0/s1600-h/iStock_strategy_XSmall%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="iStock_strategy_XSmall" border="0" alt="iStock_strategy_XSmall" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SqhFQiezBtI/AAAAAAAAAsI/TuE1sn3gvLE/iStock_strategy_XSmall_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="127" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-19971881751928607982009-09-07T07:08:00.001-04:002009-09-07T07:08:21.570-04:00Comparing Covenants<p>My oldest two children and I are currently working through a study on Abraham using Precept Ministries materials for teens/schools.</p> <p>We are enjoying looking into the life of Abraham, where many historical and spiritual sprouted. Who was Abraham? What is his significance? How does this relate to the rest of scripture? These are only a few of the questions we contemplate and ponder in this rich study.</p> <p>This week we camped on the Abrahamic covenant and cross referenced two other main covenants in the scriptures – the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.  While we only scratched the surface of these ideas and their implications, it was an incredible time of discussion and observation.</p> <p>I’ll share a quick overview chart that may stir your family to ponder and compare these covenants.</p> <p> </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Abrahamic Covenant (AC)</strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Old Covenant (OC)</strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>New Covenant</strong><strong>(NC)</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">Genesis 15</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">Exodus 24, Gal 3</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">Ez 36, Jer 31, Gal 3</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">God made with Abram</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">God made with Israel</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">God made with believers</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <ul> <li> <div align="left">Promise: Great nation, descendants (seed)</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">All nations blessed through him</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">Land</div> </li> </ul> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <ul> <li> <div align="left">added because of transgression</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">Tutor to lead to Christ</div> </li> </ul> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <ul> <li>Promise: <br />God’s Law written on hearts</li> <li>Forgives iniquity</li> <li>God’s Spirit within causes to walk in His ways</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <p>We asked questions like:</p> <ul> <li>When was the covenant made? How long will it last?</li> <li>Who made it? Who was it made with?</li> <li>What was promised? What was its purpose?</li> <li>What was the outcome? What was Abram’s response? What was Israel’s response? What should be the response of those participating in the New Covenant?</li> </ul> <p>Enjoy pondering and discussing!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-66806050374251692352009-08-24T08:41:00.001-04:002009-08-24T08:41:10.200-04:00Rainbows as Reminders<p>Have you ever had moments of desperation? </p> <p>Seasons of life that drive you to your knees? To your face? </p> <p>Not necessarily a moment or season of difficult circumstances or outward trials, but an inward hunger and thirst for righteousness – right-ness with your Lord. </p> <p>The anguish of heart, as you desire to know that you are pleasing Him first and foremost – not yourself and not merely a people-pleaser. </p> <p>Do you ever have an overwhelmingly keen sense of your own inadequacy? The “Whom am I Lord…?” syndrome?</p> <p>Who am I Lord…</p> <ul> <li>… to steward the lives of these children? </li> <li>… to respect and help my husband? </li> <li>… to teach your word to others? </li> <li>… to minister to other parents? </li> <li>… to lead areas of a national homeschooling organization? </li> <li>… to teach my children at home? </li> <li>… to manage the monthly grocery bill?!!! </li> </ul> <p>Often times these roles and responsibilities overwhelm me like a flood! My frailties floating higher and higher around me. How about you? Do you ever feel that you will drown in the sheer volume of responsibilities contained in your day-to-day life?</p> <p>Do you ever need a reminder that He is in charge? That He oversees the affairs of your life? That He will not allow the flood to overtake you?</p> <p><strong>Well… these last few months have been like this for me.</strong> </p> <p>This morning I intentionally cried out to God and poured out my heart before Him! Wrestling with Him for His perfect work in my life, in lives of our family, in our community, in our church, in Classical Conversations and beyond.</p> <p>As I went out to the mail box around 7:10am this morning to put something in the mailbox (which is NOT a normal habit of mine :))…</p> <p> I turned around to head back toward my house, and here is what I saw!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKXloupqI/AAAAAAAAAqw/B22ZasMUuzc/s1600-h/DSC_0119%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0119" border="0" alt="DSC_0119" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKX-z2ozI/AAAAAAAAAq0/SWtruJqEITI/DSC_0119_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="303" /></a></p> <p>NOW…. Does that rainbow look like it is perfectly and personally encircling my house? </p> <p>You tell me?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKYWEv1PI/AAAAAAAAAq4/R7a94RMT92o/s1600-h/DSC_0120%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0120" border="0" alt="DSC_0120" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKYg71mzI/AAAAAAAAAq8/Yf4krsLQm_4/DSC_0120_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="304" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKZNFZuOI/AAAAAAAAArA/P-ju00U-yag/s1600-h/DSC_0121%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0121" border="0" alt="DSC_0121" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SpKKZfoXwsI/AAAAAAAAArE/VVJgt6xjDek/DSC_0121_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="304" /></a> </p> <p>Do you, like me, sometimes need a rainbow to remind you of who He is? His faithfulness?</p> <p>Let me share mine with you today! </p> <p>He’s bigger than our floating frailties that can seek to sink us!</p> <p><em><font color="#808080">Grace and peace along sanctification’s way….</font></em></p> <blockquote> <p> </p> <p><em><strong><font color="#0080c0">Go Deeper…</font></strong></em></p> <p><em><font color="#0080c0">Read Genesis 9:8-17 for more on God instituting the rainbow as a sign of His covenant (solemn, binding promise).</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p><em><font color="#ffb9ff">By the way… What did I put in the mailbox? My payment for the upcoming Catalyst Conference. I look forward to what the Lord is doing among His people and the next generation! I want to be in on it!</font></em></p> <p><em><font color="#ffb9ff">What is the Catalyst Conference? Check out this link:</font></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.catalystconference.com/">http://www.catalystconference.com/</a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-69743861693377182132009-08-21T09:57:00.001-04:002009-08-21T10:28:10.159-04:00Memorials Help Us Keep Perspective…<p>Have you ever noticed how easily we forget the blessings that have been bestowed upon us? How quickly your day, week, month or year can turn into a series of difficulties or frustrations?</p> <p>Depending on our personality and upbringing, we either have a tendency to see life as a glass “half-empty” or as a glass “half-full”. Regretfully, the first describes my mode of thinking more often than the later.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n0BnjJwI/AAAAAAAAAp8/OKKic219bCc/s1600-h/iStock_glasshalffullXSmall%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Half-full or half-empty" border="0" alt="Half-full or half-empty" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n0ts8xxI/AAAAAAAAAqA/Q76-m8dSaFw/iStock_glasshalffullXSmall_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="141" /></a>  </p> <p>Perhaps you have heard a<em>ttitude determines altitude, </em>I have come to embrace the idea that my thought-life and the filter through which I view life – must continually be cleaned and adjusted!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n1CvHMcI/AAAAAAAAAqE/aIp7e6Atsr0/s1600-h/iStock_000004185893XSmall%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="iStock_000004185893XSmall" border="0" alt="iStock_000004185893XSmall" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n1ueOPwI/AAAAAAAAAqI/Lqk0daPXOJE/iStock_000004185893XSmall_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163" /></a> </p> <p>Several years ago, when my children were very young and through a series of  “parenting refinements”, I was introduced to this idea of a memorial box. As the Lord often commanded his people<strong><em> to remember</em></strong> (crossing the river with Joshua, feasts, the Lord’s supper, etc…), so the Lord commands us <strong><em>to remember</em></strong>.</p> <p>So here is our modest, authentic and rather tacky-looking memorial box…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n2XNhCQI/AAAAAAAAAqM/DeKidLunrvg/s1600-h/DSC_0116%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0116" border="0" alt="DSC_0116" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n2y2tsVI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/mkrKGx7qnAM/DSC_0116_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n3SqzMXI/AAAAAAAAAqU/jobTTiMKEMQ/s1600-h/DSC_0117%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0117" border="0" alt="DSC_0117" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n320rW0I/AAAAAAAAAqY/hqYtJJsbU1o/DSC_0117_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p>So what has our family put in it? It has to meet one of two criteria: (1) It reminds us concretely of a situation or circumstance where the Lord uniquely worked in the life of our family or a family member or (2) Provide a significant or pivotal memory in the life of the family member.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n4mtjmNI/AAAAAAAAAqc/a8YRcYcjLb8/s1600-h/DSC_0118%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0118" border="0" alt="DSC_0118" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/So6n5Md8BRI/AAAAAAAAAqg/rVpKLQ4C3m0/DSC_0118_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Here you see our overflowing ten-year-old memorial box. (We need to store some of the contents to make room for more.) </p> <ul> <li>Driver’s license plate reminds us an old car we received as a GIFT when we desperately needed a second car. </li> <li>The Bible is a memorial to when I became a Christian. </li> <li>The flower represents my speaking at Gideon’s conferences, sharing how God has changed my life through a small Gideon Bible. </li> <li>Certain pictures remind us of a car accident several years ago, when my three children were all under 5 years old. The van was totaled, but we were all okay! </li> <li>The post cards remind us of special trips others made and thought of us. </li> <li>Tucked behind the license plate, are the first pair of pants my daughter sewed. </li> </ul> <p>Those are just a few of the items on top!</p> <p>If you are a parent, you already know how quickly our children can forget the blessing, privileges and provisions you provide as parents – Just like we often do with the Lord’s blessings and provisions… I have found this memorial box is a wonderful concrete, visual reminder that our lives are how they are because of OTHERS – God first, then for my children they see how we as parents provide for them – we provide what they could not provide for themselves and more…</p> <p>We love taking time to remember! It helps us all keep a sober assessment of ourselves and the trials that come knocking at our door….</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-31519733848169245902009-08-03T08:51:00.001-04:002009-08-03T08:51:15.525-04:00Christianity - Science's Cultivator or Crippler?<p>Where and when did scientific thinking rise on the canvas of God's landscape of history? What was the scenery like? What was to soil composed of?</p> <p>For hundreds of years, civilizations rose and fell without the benefit or discovery of scientific philosophy.  Historians divide history into three stages:</p> <ul> <li>The <strong><em>ancient</em></strong> world - regarded as brilliant though limited in its scientific understanding </li> <li>The <strong><em>medieval</em></strong> world - dismissed as a time of intellectual and cultural desolation (the dark ages) </li> <li>The <strong><em>modern </em></strong>world - heralded as a time when reason and enlightenment arose to dispel the myths of medieval superstition. </li> </ul> <p>History is not a pond, it is a stream, and in recent years this simple outline has been challenged, particularly the negative characterization of the medieval period and its role in providing the fertile soil for modern science. Following the stream of history, we find modern scientific thought sprung forth in western, christianized Europe. </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdPMUny-I/AAAAAAAAApk/4arJ3vkaX2Q/s1600-h/In%20the%20beginning...%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" border="0" alt="In the beginning..." align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdPUsZ6BI/AAAAAAAAApo/TzSH_DJfKS4/In%20the%20beginning..._thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="114" height="108" /></a>People in pagan cultures who see nature as alive and moved by mysterious forces are not likely to develop the conviction that all natural occurrences are lawful and intelligible. <em>(Soul of Science p26)</em></p> <p>The world does not have its own inherent rationality, but it is intelligible because it reflects God's rationality.<em> (Soul of Science p 33)</em></p> </blockquote> <p>God's creation, set in the proper context of a biblical world view,  is reality and revelation. </p> <blockquote> <p>For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdP93j57I/AAAAAAAAAps/UZwAVNajrMo/s1600-h/waveunderstanding%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" border="0" alt="waveunderstanding" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdQH8z5II/AAAAAAAAApw/GA1VNZD7gSc/waveunderstanding_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="159" /></a></p> <p>Creation could be studied and in that study men could be pointed back to the Creator and Sustainer of the creation. In that "pointing back", man could observe and learn more about God's power and nature. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdQYI9ZtI/AAAAAAAAAp0/UsSL5WRrKIQ/s1600-h/In%20the%20beginningII%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" border="0" alt="In the beginningII" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SnbdQsdoR6I/AAAAAAAAAp4/JRoRl3007tQ/In%20the%20beginningII_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>However, man's limited view and tendency to trust his own understanding to the neglect of God's sober warnings, has led to deification of creation in many realms of scientific and philosophical thought.</p> <blockquote> <p>For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. <sup id="en-NIV-27938" class="versenum" value="22">22</sup>Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools <sup id="en-NIV-27939" class="versenum" value="23">23</sup>and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:21)</p> </blockquote> <p>Creation was good, but it was not god. Creation reveals to us His power, not our power. Creation unveils aspects of God's nature, not nature as god.</p> <p>Therefore, only within the framework provided by Christianity could scientific thought be born. Christianity provided:</p> <ul> <li>Proper presuppositions - God's created order</li> <li>Proper sanctions - Man's commanded dominion and stewardship of creation</li> <li>Proper motives - Show how creation proclaims the wisdom of the Divine Creator</li> </ul> <p>While many modern scientists have come to view Christianity as the great "crippler" of science, they neglect the very roots from which modern scientific thought sprung. Christianity was indeed the great cultivator of modern scientific thought. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-76038709551638485192009-07-30T07:27:00.002-04:002009-08-03T07:47:46.618-04:00Summer Book-Camp | The Soul of Science (Part 1)<p>As a homeschool parent, every summer becomes a "boot-camp" or should I say "book-camp" of sorts for me! I compile books to be read - digested - and ideas to be apprehended.</p> <p>This summer <em><strong>The Soul of Science</strong></em> subtitled <em>Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy</em> by Nancy Pearcy and Charles Thaxton is now in my portable book bag with tattered pages and highlighted in a multitude of colors.</p> <p>So let's begin - "Why?" is this book on my "book-camp" list? Because it reviews the history of people, culture and ideas that shaped the modern science we have today. In Christian circles, modern science tends to be viewed as pagan or an enemy to our faith. In fact, "modern" science indeed has many presuppositions that are anti-Christian or anti-God. So, as a Christian, how do I teach "true" science, which reveals God's created order and beauty? As Romans 1:20 says:</p> <blockquote> <p><sup>20</sup>For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. </p> </blockquote> <p>Good question!</p> <p>This will be the my the topic of my posts over the next few weeks - Stay tuned!</p> <p>Purchase <a href="http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/soulofscience.html" target="_blank">Soul of Science</a>.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-58699037850903832062009-05-22T07:41:00.001-04:002009-05-22T07:48:54.781-04:00Today I am off to NCHE...<p>My yearly pilgrimage to our state's local convention for home schoolers, North Carolina Home Educators, is here.  Our local conference is around the third largest in the nation (the last time I checked anyway), with thousands and thousands in attendance.</p> <p>This sea of families gathers to be inspired AND often overwhelmed.  Inspired by the plethora of spell-binding speakers and overwhelmed by the plethora of undergirding resources.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/ShaPcOYYCcI/AAAAAAAAApc/GsS6rSdWUqM/s1600-h/iStock_pilgrim71XSmall%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="religion" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/ShaPcTA7xaI/AAAAAAAAApg/gM1TdiwbPZc/iStock_pilgrim71XSmall_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" align="right" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I fondly remember my arrival to this strange and new land, the land of the blue jean jumpers (of which I have never owned) and families with more than 1.7 children (having three children of my own). Initially, I remember experiencing a lack of connection with this unfamiliar land of people, but more of a new found sense of independence and freedom.  Independence to make the best decisions for and with my children in regards to their education, and the freedom to chose from a variety of resources and methods to cultivate a students of wisdom and virtue.</p> <p>I have to confess, this newfound freedom and independence has been frightening at times, and a bit uncomfortable even. However, after years of making this pilgrimage and years of learning how to learn, I have become less overwhelmed.  I now embrace each year of my independence and freedom with more and more vision and anticipation.  Fear of the unknown has gradually given way to an intrepid yet sober vigilance to embrace this new land.</p> <p>How about you, fellow pilgrim?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-19426900000108152232009-05-14T09:44:00.001-04:002009-05-14T09:47:24.237-04:00Sanctified, Set Apart... the Next Generation<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SgwgUJt_-AI/AAAAAAAAApQ/OUhrmYQ4xVQ/s1600-h/DSC_0490%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="DSC_0490" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SgwgUVsLblI/AAAAAAAAApY/TUkE3u3Ol4g/DSC_0490_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>To Danielle (a close family friend and special young woman to me) on your 19th Birthday...</p> <p><em>This landmark year encompasses your transition from the teen years into your twenties. While I will always have memories of our first meeting - you as an energetic and tenacious ten year old, the young woman you have become over these past ten years is most remarkable.</em></p> <p><em>I marvel at your strength to make difficult yet God-pleasing choices in the current culture. I pray for your continued strength, Danielle, as the years ahead continue to require more of the same -strength, as well as wisdom, discernment and grace.</em></p> <p><em>Remember He is the potter, you are the clay. As you cross into this next decade of your life, may the Lord continue the good work He has begun in you. </em></p> <p><em>All my love and grace,</em></p> <p><em>Heather</em></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-62026561670857254072009-02-13T05:47:00.000-05:002009-02-13T05:47:00.382-05:00Algebra and the Classical Model ?!?<p>Here we are! In the middle school and early high school years, where algebra is now an everyday reality!</p> <p>I love teaching my children to conquer new challenges while utilizing the tools of learning - classical model.  Employing grammar and utilizing dialectic skills brings me great joy but it brings me the greatest joy when my children "get it".</p> <p>Now algebra is all about equations, equations, equations.  Representing problems in an abstract equation and then finding solutions through the use of operations and laws.</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:301d1a3c-dcaf-4f1f-b4b0-2f9fd58004e8" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SZLS8-PmXwI/AAAAAAAAApA/bkBQnq3IuGA/Week-5-Lessons-77-80-8x6%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SZLS9qJ3K7I/AAAAAAAAApE/nCnJEU9p2lQ/Week-5-Lessons-77-80%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p>Check out my <em><strong>Algebra 1 - Classically</strong></em> under my download folders to the right.  You may find these notes, clearly marked grammar elements and problem-solving dialog helpful in your own algebra journey!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-83464545395836030762009-02-11T08:12:00.000-05:002009-02-11T08:12:20.967-05:00The Winnowing Valley<p>Throughout the Christian life there are times of faith-filled victory and trust as well as times of deep doubt and even crippling despair.  This week I received a call from a dear and trusted friend who has experienced the first but is currently walking through the later.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:66a38d98-1c0f-4ce6-8265-9b485462e3bd" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: right; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY9ZLx610TI/AAAAAAAAAow/Ua8VxS0qOh4/questionmark-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY9ZMGCMr9I/AAAAAAAAAo0/BNwErfPSXx4/questionmark%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> How about you? Have you too experienced the presence and power of the Lord so undeniably that you were sure that you would never doubt His word or intention for your good ever again? <p></p> <p>Most of us would be honest enough to say that these words echo our own experience.  This side of heaven the battle to hold onto the unseen, to trust the eternal and to not give into the world's ways is an everyday reality in the Christian life.</p> <p>I call these times of struggle and despair: Winnowing Valleys. </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:2e82e3c4-6982-4809-9c0d-4b7c5274fa11" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY9ZMeBx8JI/AAAAAAAAAo4/6nClm_4itMw/ValleyXSmall-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY9ZNdblbVI/AAAAAAAAAo8/3NRVL9tVw6Q/ValleyXSmall%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>Are you familiar with a few of the "winnowing valley" symptoms? </p> <ul> <li>Everything that once seemed fine and manageable is now difficult or larger than life. </li> <li>Spiritual truths and principles that were once clear and accepted are now foggy and up for question. </li> <li>Perhaps a particular temptation that you had been victorious over now has a newfound magnetic power. </li> </ul> <p>What is going on??  Where did this come from? Why is this happening?</p> <p>Questions like these loom and linger.  Somewhere along your journey you have been transported from the majestic mountain top to the vulnerable valley below.</p> <p>While winnowing valleys are a bit enigmatic in nature their ultimate purpose is always crystal clear... but before we identify the purpose of these strategically appointed seasons, we must know more about Him who oversees the seasons of our lives...</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-34740594363885871082009-02-09T12:47:00.000-05:002009-02-09T12:47:16.697-05:00Meet Mary Ann Smith, a Sanctified Woman<p>A son of a widow, my husband, Ed,  is the fifth of five children.  My husband's mother, Mary Ann Smith, was widowed when she was five months pregnant with Ed and caring for her four other children ranging from ages 15yrs to 2 yrs of age.</p> <p>Talk about a sanctified woman, Mary Ann Smith's life has modeled trust and dependence upon the Lord. Even in the darkest of times, she has chosen Him.</p> <p>Over the years, we (Ed and I) have come to possess the precious four minute video reels of Mary Ann and her young children.  After inquiring on the cost to transfer some old 8mm video reels to DVD, this past December my husband and I took the task on ourselves.  Over a few days, we transferred some old 4 minute video reels (no sound) to DVD format, adding sound. Creating a tribute to Mary Ann Smith, to her life and sacrifice for her children.  After losing her husband, she raised all five children without remarrying until her youngest was twenty-one years of age.</p> <p>While the video process was tedious, this past Christmas, with all five adult children present along with several grandchildren, the memories and appreciation were worth all the toil and effort.  Tears of joy and gratitude flowed...</p> <p>Here is a great picture of Mary and her five children - all adults now with their own children and one even has their own grandchildren!</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:8379005f-0817-4d6a-b5c6-db4b2970d881" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8qyAv9x1I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/SXZ3MnWO8No/DSC_0263-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Margie, Bill, Martha, Mary, Larry, Ed" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8qzFE33vI/AAAAAAAAAoU/VYf9X0Hxr_I/DSC_0263%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p>While I am not able to load the video right now, I am able to share some precious pictures of Mary Ann Smith, her youngest son's family (that would be us!) and other special moments from 2008.</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:0e9e4408-9dc7-494c-9a80-1b9eb07cccf6" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8qzgrXGRI/AAAAAAAAAoY/w0vSymsZa0g/DSC_0077-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Mary and Daniel" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8q0VHhBwI/AAAAAAAAAoc/XAjgqULqSyY/DSC_0077%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:d767d9e7-088b-45d1-81df-88743d4fe8bb" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8q0mt31QI/AAAAAAAAAog/Iur5W5J2GsQ/DSC_0081-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Mary and Emily" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8q1WESNwI/AAAAAAAAAok/bYM8twC9mBA/DSC_0081%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:e412eeb9-636d-48ef-ac44-090ea95ba9c4" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8q2IRJXfI/AAAAAAAAAoo/c-17fquqZLI/DSC_0086-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Breakfast at Grandma Mary's!" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8q25MOwVI/AAAAAAAAAos/lRiRcUALPMk/DSC_0086%5B316%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-57502580229162306842009-02-08T13:18:00.001-05:002009-02-08T13:20:51.625-05:00The Silence is Broken<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8h86t98KI/AAAAAAAAAoA/naEWaOVhS1o/s1600-h/highwayexit%5B12%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="110" alt="highwayexit" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8h9P6VdMI/AAAAAAAAAoE/vDOBxyObiG8/highwayexit_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="133" align="right" border="0" /></a> Yes, I am returning to BLOG land this week!</p> <p> With other pressing priorities and seasons of sickness, I return with much blogging catch-up to do!</p> <p> I hope to catch up with many of you soon and blog our happenings too... </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8h9UnXfuI/AAAAAAAAAoI/ree9QQTA51Y/s1600-h/potter%27swheel2%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="127" alt="potter'swheel2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vsf-zOIyRVM/SY8h9ifWaVI/AAAAAAAAAoM/o96wzfCPjQ0/potter%27swheel2_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="190" align="right" border="0" /></a> As I continue along sanctification's journey through everyday life with my family, life lessons in mothering, principles revealed in my studying, dialectic discussions in our home schooling and what God is doing as I travel around speaking.</p> <p>My heart overflows... I look forward to sharing more soon!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-21797371945092642942008-11-01T10:56:00.001-04:002008-11-01T11:37:15.832-04:00Week 9 - The One Room School House and Verb Anatomy<p>Yesterday had to be one of my favorite days with my Essentials families!</p> <p align="justify">From time to time, we combine our Essentials A and B classes.  Yesterday was one of those days!  So roughly twenty 9-12 year olds were under my direction as we reviewed, learned a little more about verb anatomy, practiced dressing up sentences, read papers, and had mental math challenge.  </p> <p align="justify">The tutor intrepid, the energy incredible, the eagerness intoxicating, and the excitement interminable.</p> <p align="justify">Students recite conjugations (what's that??).  </p> <p align="justify">The simple, present tense of  To Play.</p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify">I play</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">You play</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">He She It plays</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">We play</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">You (all) play</div> </li> <li> <div align="justify">They play</div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify">Now simple, past tense. Now simple, future tense.  We are conjugating the verb To Play! Now let's do the same for To Work.  No problem. A student names a verb - To Run.  Uh-oh! That's an irregular verb!  No problem, we can handle it!</p> <p align="justify">Next students are asked to create sentences following a certain sentence pattern - then parse and diagram to make sure they did indeed create a sentence that followed the assigned sentence pattern. We chant the linking verb list, noting that the forms of the verb To Be are the most often used linking verbs. Students chant the preposition list while hopping on one foot.</p> <p align="justify"><font color="#808080">Did I mention that many younger siblings were playing quietly in the back of the room?  ...hearing the chants.</font></p> <p align="justify">We then flow into sentence modification - connecting dress-ups and sentence openers.  Students take one simple S-Vt-DO sentence and add adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases and even a few <a href="http://www.asiab">www.asiab</a> and who/which clauses.  Older students are called on to help the younger students in several of these exercises.</p> <p align="justify">We spend a few minutes reading papers, pointing out topic/clincher, and a few dress-ups heard.  Younger students benefit from hearing the more refined papers of older or 2nd/3rd  year students.</p> <p align="justify">We work in a quick Mad lib, while students reference their resource notebook of adverbs and adjectives.  As students rustle the pages of their resource notebook - new words are being introduced their brain and ever expanding vocabulary. (I love community!)</p> <p align="justify">Finally - it's mental math time!  With a lap whiteboard, younger student take notes as the series of numbers and operations are orally spoken.  Older students try to only write the answer on their board.  Quiet dialogue is allowed between students as they check each other and help catch careless mistakes.</p> <p align="justify">Oh my! The two hours are gone!  Our time comes to a close.  Students and families work together to clean up the room ,vacuum, empty trash, set room in proper order, help me take items to my van, ... until next week...</p> <p align="justify">And there you have it!  Twenty-three students and though varied in age, we learn together and encourage each other along the learning journey.  Just like the one-room school house of old.</p> <p align="justify"><font color="#808080">Have a great week with language and words! And keep drilling those multiplication tables! :)</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604532729505404191.post-8966936424598928082008-10-22T08:56:00.001-04:002008-10-22T08:56:00.277-04:00Sanctified Steps<p align="justify">Every day.  Every choice. Every decision.  </p> <p align="justify">Is dictated by our beliefs.  </p> <p align="justify">Our beliefs about what is most important in this life - our priorities if you will.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/fiveshirleys/SP8i3hTORoI/AAAAAAAAAn4/Mddi_WjXX6Y/s1600-h/timeandmoney%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="timeandmoney" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/fiveshirleys/SP8i38CpRVI/AAAAAAAAAn8/URbIm9rK29s/timeandmoney_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" align="right" border="0" /></a> </p> <p align="justify">Our priorities dictate how we spend our time and how we spend our money.</p> <p align="justify">The calendar and the wallet are the true barometers of our heart.  </p> <p align="justify">Not the words we speak on Sunday or what we do when we know others are watching - but our the day-in and day-out, habitual expenditures of our time and our monies.</p> <p align="justify">How is your barometer reading?</p> <p align="justify"><em>Lord, help me to take an honest inventory and make adjustments as necessary.  Show me the sanctified steps I need to follow to be more in line with your priorities amid the clamor of this world.</em></p> <h2><a href="http://sanctifiedwoman.blogspot.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=4&verse=12&version=31&context=verse"><strong><font color="#0000ff">Hebrews 4:12</font></strong></a> <br />For the word of God is living and active. <b>Sharper</b> than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. <br /></h2> <h2>John 17:17 Sanctify them with truth; thy word is truth.</h2> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3