This is what a "field trip" looks like in our neck of the woods :D Right in our own backyard.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Field Trips at Home
Winsome- charming in a childlike or simple way-attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.
This is what a "field trip" looks like in our neck of the woods :D Right in our own backyard.
This is what a "field trip" looks like in our neck of the woods :D Right in our own backyard.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Home Education; Putting Family First
My Most Recent Reflections on Marriage, Motherhood and Ministry.
Home Education. Why?
For the first part in this series see here
Family First.
I have heard the question posed whether family has become an "idol" in segments of the homeschooling community. Have home schooling advocates sometimes focused TOO much on their own families to the point that they are of no use to anyone else? I suppose this can be true. I suppose it can also be true that some people are so focused on work and personal interests that they are not much use to anyone else either, including their family. Personally I see more families that struggle to find quality time together than I do the opposite (is there really any such thing as too much quality family time anyway? I digress).
Anything can become an idol in our life and it's something we for sure need to contemplate. I have sometimes asked myself how I can possibly be "useful" to God in building His kingdom when I have my hands pretty full just keeping up with my own little corner of the world. God has been good enough to speak gently to me and assure me that He doesn't need me to "free" time up for Him, or worry about having myself situated hopefully, possibly, maybe in a potential place for pursuing the lost. He is much bigger than that, He knows where I am, and He knows that both my heart *and* door are open *at all times* for anyone He sees fit to bring into my path. I have learned to trust Him to make the divine appointments and He has proven to me time and time again, that He is the best Day Planner. I wrote about a revelation in this area here
Here's the way I have come to see it. My life is at the centre of an ever widening circle of influence. I'm kept afloat by God's strength, purpose and sustenance. His spirit is meant to flow outwards from me to touch those around me. My nearest circle is inevitably those whose lives are most intimately connected with mine, or *should be*, my immediate family. Ironically, society has muddled and filled and robbed our schedules to such a degree that the average family spends the majority of their time segregated and running rather than united and bonding.
The bible is clear that men of influence in the church are only qualified if they have proven themselves faithful and successful in the more intimate circle of family influence FIRST. "An elder must be.....a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient." Titus 1:6 Wow. That's heavy. After all, we can do our best and whose to say how our kids turn out, right? I mean, they have their own free will, they will have their own personalities and make their own choices right? Will it really be *our* fault as parents if they choose wrongly? I don't know about that, all I know is we are called to be diligent, called to "train them up in the way they should go" and assured that if we do this diligently from an early age, when they are old they will not depart from it. Yes God can keep them and draw them to Himself *despite* our failures, but as parents you can bet your bottom dollar that we are going to make sure that *we* are doing everything in *our* power to train them up in the way that they should go, since He calls us to.
Personally, I am convinced that the conscience is formed in the earliest of years and that is one of the biggest reasons I believe in home education. We don't want peers, strangers, the world, public text books and television forming our children's consciences. We want their consciences to be formed through the hearing of the word, the discussing of the word, careful and constant training through one on one interaction with the people who care more about their consciences and world view than anyone else possibly could. Their parents.
Also, rather than training our children "defensively" (as they're out there, in the trenches of society, one by one as the punches come, deal with them) we wanted to be able to train "offensively" (inform them of the punches *to* come, discuss right and wrong *before* the temptation/trial/situation arises, and play the primary role in the formation and strengthening of their moral conscience and worldview so that as situations arise they are informed and stolid about what they believe and what they should do.
I think the family first concept is kind of like the "be faithful in the small things first" concept. Not that raising kids is a small thing by any means, but in the grand scheme of life, it's the mndane, every day, day in and day out "normalcy" of your life. You are focusing on those "nearest" you rather than on big dreams. Why? Maybe because in order to truly influence those "nearest" you, you need to be on the ball! Others see you PART of the time, your family sees you ALL of the time. Parenting may seem at times like the monotonous "small things" but just remember the old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song... "from small things baby, big things one day come!"
Of course my "focus" here is on faithfulness in influencing and training our kids, so I'm not touching on all the other "circles" that are part of our lives and at some point as our kids grow, our ripples and circles of influence will merge and converge, and our kids will slowly move further out to make room for other circles to move closer in. In no way am I discounting these other circles, but they are not my focus and I'm long winded enough trying to keep on "focus"....
To Be Continued.... Home Education: Why?
-time efficiency (time to learn PLUS live, laugh, love, play, relax and just plain be a child)
-quality of education
-freedom and flexibility
"I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. " Genesis 18:19 NIRV
Home Education. Why?
For the first part in this series see here
Family First.
I have heard the question posed whether family has become an "idol" in segments of the homeschooling community. Have home schooling advocates sometimes focused TOO much on their own families to the point that they are of no use to anyone else? I suppose this can be true. I suppose it can also be true that some people are so focused on work and personal interests that they are not much use to anyone else either, including their family. Personally I see more families that struggle to find quality time together than I do the opposite (is there really any such thing as too much quality family time anyway? I digress).
Anything can become an idol in our life and it's something we for sure need to contemplate. I have sometimes asked myself how I can possibly be "useful" to God in building His kingdom when I have my hands pretty full just keeping up with my own little corner of the world. God has been good enough to speak gently to me and assure me that He doesn't need me to "free" time up for Him, or worry about having myself situated hopefully, possibly, maybe in a potential place for pursuing the lost. He is much bigger than that, He knows where I am, and He knows that both my heart *and* door are open *at all times* for anyone He sees fit to bring into my path. I have learned to trust Him to make the divine appointments and He has proven to me time and time again, that He is the best Day Planner. I wrote about a revelation in this area here
Here's the way I have come to see it. My life is at the centre of an ever widening circle of influence. I'm kept afloat by God's strength, purpose and sustenance. His spirit is meant to flow outwards from me to touch those around me. My nearest circle is inevitably those whose lives are most intimately connected with mine, or *should be*, my immediate family. Ironically, society has muddled and filled and robbed our schedules to such a degree that the average family spends the majority of their time segregated and running rather than united and bonding.
The bible is clear that men of influence in the church are only qualified if they have proven themselves faithful and successful in the more intimate circle of family influence FIRST. "An elder must be.....a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient." Titus 1:6 Wow. That's heavy. After all, we can do our best and whose to say how our kids turn out, right? I mean, they have their own free will, they will have their own personalities and make their own choices right? Will it really be *our* fault as parents if they choose wrongly? I don't know about that, all I know is we are called to be diligent, called to "train them up in the way they should go" and assured that if we do this diligently from an early age, when they are old they will not depart from it. Yes God can keep them and draw them to Himself *despite* our failures, but as parents you can bet your bottom dollar that we are going to make sure that *we* are doing everything in *our* power to train them up in the way that they should go, since He calls us to.
Personally, I am convinced that the conscience is formed in the earliest of years and that is one of the biggest reasons I believe in home education. We don't want peers, strangers, the world, public text books and television forming our children's consciences. We want their consciences to be formed through the hearing of the word, the discussing of the word, careful and constant training through one on one interaction with the people who care more about their consciences and world view than anyone else possibly could. Their parents.
Also, rather than training our children "defensively" (as they're out there, in the trenches of society, one by one as the punches come, deal with them) we wanted to be able to train "offensively" (inform them of the punches *to* come, discuss right and wrong *before* the temptation/trial/situation arises, and play the primary role in the formation and strengthening of their moral conscience and worldview so that as situations arise they are informed and stolid about what they believe and what they should do.
I think the family first concept is kind of like the "be faithful in the small things first" concept. Not that raising kids is a small thing by any means, but in the grand scheme of life, it's the mndane, every day, day in and day out "normalcy" of your life. You are focusing on those "nearest" you rather than on big dreams. Why? Maybe because in order to truly influence those "nearest" you, you need to be on the ball! Others see you PART of the time, your family sees you ALL of the time. Parenting may seem at times like the monotonous "small things" but just remember the old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song... "from small things baby, big things one day come!"
Of course my "focus" here is on faithfulness in influencing and training our kids, so I'm not touching on all the other "circles" that are part of our lives and at some point as our kids grow, our ripples and circles of influence will merge and converge, and our kids will slowly move further out to make room for other circles to move closer in. In no way am I discounting these other circles, but they are not my focus and I'm long winded enough trying to keep on "focus"....
To Be Continued.... Home Education: Why?
-time efficiency (time to learn PLUS live, laugh, love, play, relax and just plain be a child)
-quality of education
-freedom and flexibility
"I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. " Genesis 18:19 NIRV
Sunday, April 27, 2008
My Kids Crack Me Up
Playing Indian. (not for the faint of heart-read-stomach)
Prairie Girl (8), The Poppet (6) and The Hero (4) are sitting around the dinner table eating garlic sausage on a bun (Sunday suppers are simple affairs around here.) The conversation proceeds as follows.
PG: Did you guys know that Indians used to eat buffalo heart, liver and tongue RAW?
PP: Ew.
PH: COOL.
PG: Yeah, imagine if this was raw buffalo. If it were me, I'd pick the liver.
PP: Really?
PG: Yeah, what would you pick?
PP: What else did they eat?
PG: The heart and the tongue.
PP: Well.... the heart I guess. That means *you* get the tongue (to PH)
PH: No, I don't want the tongue (I have a horror flashback to being 7 years old and being chased around the house with an authentic, raw, slimy cow's tongue, for real, don't ask).
PG and PP; well, that's all that's left, so eat up.
PH; in a resigned, melancholy tone... "Oh-kay".
They all start ripping into the sausage with many vocal effects to the tune of mmmmm and yum..... bunch of savages...
Prairie Poppet's (6) Premiere Poem
As Written:
I am SAm
I fel in GAm
it wAs stice
it mAD Me Fel ice
As Recited:
I am Sam
I fell in jam
It was sticky
It made me feel icky.
:D
First Frog of the Season = Fabulous Fun.
Ugly little (okay,not so little) jigger, but he brought the kids oodles of delight yesterday.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
No!. No, no, no. (denial)
I kid you not. These pictures were taken THIS morning. Double check the date on this post if you like, I did, because it looked like it was time to start breaking out the christmas decorations.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thankful 88 & Counting
Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness to Reap a Harvest of Happiness.
Finding Flowers Amidst the Stones.
I am thankful for His mercies that are new every morning, and for the strength He provides for *today*
88. I am very thankful I fell asleep at 9:30 last night, so that I could be awake and nurturing for Prairie Princess II when she woke up vomiting with a frighteningly high fever at 4 am. I never used to be a morning person, but there is something about the quiet hour right at dawn that soothes and ministers to me. Okay, not when I am rinsing out puke buckets, and stripping bed sheets, but after the fact....
89. I am thankful for washing machines to wash said sheets
90. I am thankful that The Popppet seems to be feeling A-OK now.
91. I am thankful for clinics, and doctors, and pharmacies and pharmaceuticals.
92. I am thankful that whatever health issues my kids might face, they are not dying, they are not terminally ill, they are not physically debilitated in any way. That's alot to be thankful for.
93. I am thankful for finally having found a doctor who seems concerned, interested and committed to pursuing a diagnosis for Prairie Son-shine II's symptoms.
94. I am thankful for kids who sit quietly reading books for an hour straight in the doctor's office, and who actually think it's *fun* to drill each other with math problems in the van.
95. Along the same lines I am thankful for children who have no idea what a webkin, gameboy, or any of those other little electronic gadgets and thing-a-mi-bobs are and couldn't care less.
96. I am thankful for bakeries and glazed donuts and "tea dates" with my prairie chicklets.
97. I am thankful for a beautiful and diverse circle of friends that I love. It blesses me to think of each one of them, and who God has created them to be, and how He has brought us together to enrich one another through our differences. A beautiful quilt of many colors, sewn together with threads of unconditional love and affection.
Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17
I hope you also can find the flowers amidst the stones in whatever cares and joys this day brings your way.
Finding Flowers Amidst the Stones.
I am thankful for His mercies that are new every morning, and for the strength He provides for *today*
88. I am very thankful I fell asleep at 9:30 last night, so that I could be awake and nurturing for Prairie Princess II when she woke up vomiting with a frighteningly high fever at 4 am. I never used to be a morning person, but there is something about the quiet hour right at dawn that soothes and ministers to me. Okay, not when I am rinsing out puke buckets, and stripping bed sheets, but after the fact....
89. I am thankful for washing machines to wash said sheets
90. I am thankful that The Popppet seems to be feeling A-OK now.
91. I am thankful for clinics, and doctors, and pharmacies and pharmaceuticals.
92. I am thankful that whatever health issues my kids might face, they are not dying, they are not terminally ill, they are not physically debilitated in any way. That's alot to be thankful for.
93. I am thankful for finally having found a doctor who seems concerned, interested and committed to pursuing a diagnosis for Prairie Son-shine II's symptoms.
94. I am thankful for kids who sit quietly reading books for an hour straight in the doctor's office, and who actually think it's *fun* to drill each other with math problems in the van.
95. Along the same lines I am thankful for children who have no idea what a webkin, gameboy, or any of those other little electronic gadgets and thing-a-mi-bobs are and couldn't care less.
96. I am thankful for bakeries and glazed donuts and "tea dates" with my prairie chicklets.
97. I am thankful for a beautiful and diverse circle of friends that I love. It blesses me to think of each one of them, and who God has created them to be, and how He has brought us together to enrich one another through our differences. A beautiful quilt of many colors, sewn together with threads of unconditional love and affection.
Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17
I hope you also can find the flowers amidst the stones in whatever cares and joys this day brings your way.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Why Home Education?
My Most Recent Reflections on Marriage, Motherhood and Ministry.
In recent months I have been asked multiple times why we chose home education, what our educational philosophy is and what our kids education involves compared to public school, how we came to embark on what some see as such a "courageous" and "challenging" endeavour, and a hoard of other questions. Even this past week in our home group, public versus home education became the sole topic of discussion, although that wasn't on the agenda. I currently have multiple friends who are considering homeschooling and facing so many questions and challenges (internally and from external sources) that I thought it would be timely and practical for me to do a personal series on this topic so that I can have all my thoughts in one place once for all. So without further ado...
Home Education. Why?
Why did you choose.....?
It's Our God Given Responsibility.
I think most parents would agree that we, as parents are responsible to educate, train and disciple our children. It's not a matter of *whether* we are responsible for their education but rather a matter of *how* we are going to accomplish that, what the challenges are, and making the choice that will best facilitate our success in that duty.
Some parents might agree in part but then say that as parents we are only responsible for the spiritual teaching, and spiritual formation of our children, and "secular education" is better left to "qualified" educators. In the grand scheme I don't believe you *can* separate spiritual formation from any aspect of education. Spiritual conviction and and one's world view as formed through education are intrinsically connected. We must look at science through the lens of Creation, History through the lens of His Story, Math through the lens of His Wisdom, The Arts through the lens of relationship with Him. These things all point to Him and His truth.
So, whether our children are home educated, or whether they are public schooled, the responsiblity lies on the parent to make sure that their children's "worldview" AND spiritual formation are continuously growing upward in allignment with the Truth and the Great Teacher.
Once we recognize our children's education is primarily *our* responsiblity it is a matter of deciding how we can best fulfill it. If our children would go to public school, our job would be the same, but our schedule would be difficult at best. For us it came down to the question of "how many hours are there in a day?". If our children spend 7 hours a day in school (between getting there and getting home) and THEN have "other" outside activities on top of that, sports, music lessons, homework, play time with friends, club, youth... plus WE have evening activities two to three nights a week, how much time does that leave us for being our children's primary educators? How much could we REALLY be aware of what they are learning, how they are processing it, how their peers are subtly influencing them?
For us, we didn't just want to "find out through the grapevine" what our kids were being taught and "supplement" it for mere minutes here and there. We wanted to be intimately involved in the forming of their worldview, in the moment by moment maturing of their consciences and understanding of God's world. Never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine what a rewarding and beautiful experience that would be.
Besides responsibility, other determining factors were;
-time efficiency (time to learn PLUS live, laugh, love, play, relax and just plain be a child)
-quality of education
-family first
-freedom and flexibility
"I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. " Genesis 18:19 NIRV
In recent months I have been asked multiple times why we chose home education, what our educational philosophy is and what our kids education involves compared to public school, how we came to embark on what some see as such a "courageous" and "challenging" endeavour, and a hoard of other questions. Even this past week in our home group, public versus home education became the sole topic of discussion, although that wasn't on the agenda. I currently have multiple friends who are considering homeschooling and facing so many questions and challenges (internally and from external sources) that I thought it would be timely and practical for me to do a personal series on this topic so that I can have all my thoughts in one place once for all. So without further ado...
Home Education. Why?
Why did you choose.....?
It's Our God Given Responsibility.
I think most parents would agree that we, as parents are responsible to educate, train and disciple our children. It's not a matter of *whether* we are responsible for their education but rather a matter of *how* we are going to accomplish that, what the challenges are, and making the choice that will best facilitate our success in that duty.
Some parents might agree in part but then say that as parents we are only responsible for the spiritual teaching, and spiritual formation of our children, and "secular education" is better left to "qualified" educators. In the grand scheme I don't believe you *can* separate spiritual formation from any aspect of education. Spiritual conviction and and one's world view as formed through education are intrinsically connected. We must look at science through the lens of Creation, History through the lens of His Story, Math through the lens of His Wisdom, The Arts through the lens of relationship with Him. These things all point to Him and His truth.
So, whether our children are home educated, or whether they are public schooled, the responsiblity lies on the parent to make sure that their children's "worldview" AND spiritual formation are continuously growing upward in allignment with the Truth and the Great Teacher.
Once we recognize our children's education is primarily *our* responsiblity it is a matter of deciding how we can best fulfill it. If our children would go to public school, our job would be the same, but our schedule would be difficult at best. For us it came down to the question of "how many hours are there in a day?". If our children spend 7 hours a day in school (between getting there and getting home) and THEN have "other" outside activities on top of that, sports, music lessons, homework, play time with friends, club, youth... plus WE have evening activities two to three nights a week, how much time does that leave us for being our children's primary educators? How much could we REALLY be aware of what they are learning, how they are processing it, how their peers are subtly influencing them?
For us, we didn't just want to "find out through the grapevine" what our kids were being taught and "supplement" it for mere minutes here and there. We wanted to be intimately involved in the forming of their worldview, in the moment by moment maturing of their consciences and understanding of God's world. Never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine what a rewarding and beautiful experience that would be.
Besides responsibility, other determining factors were;
-time efficiency (time to learn PLUS live, laugh, love, play, relax and just plain be a child)
-quality of education
-family first
-freedom and flexibility
"I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. " Genesis 18:19 NIRV
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Prayer for Women
As an addendum to our conversation on Thursday's post I just had to share this link to "A Prayer for Women" from Gina's blog. Wow. Talk about sobering, challenging, and moving. I thought those of you who participated in thursday's conversation would find this both encouraging and touching.
Also stumbled across this blog (don't ask me how, you know how it is) and my jaw just about hit the floor. Who knew this week was the Great Turn-Off The TV Week??? I loved Daisy's no nonsense "tell it like you see it" style.
It's when I stumble across things like this that I am reminded of Elijah, who felt so alone and depressed, feeling that there was noone who related to him, only to be told by the Lord that there were THOUSANDS in his immediate vicinity who had not "bowed the knee to Baal". We are not alone in our inner fight to be in the world but not of it. Be strong and of good courage!
Also stumbled across this blog (don't ask me how, you know how it is) and my jaw just about hit the floor. Who knew this week was the Great Turn-Off The TV Week??? I loved Daisy's no nonsense "tell it like you see it" style.
It's when I stumble across things like this that I am reminded of Elijah, who felt so alone and depressed, feeling that there was noone who related to him, only to be told by the Lord that there were THOUSANDS in his immediate vicinity who had not "bowed the knee to Baal". We are not alone in our inner fight to be in the world but not of it. Be strong and of good courage!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
April Showers... or Blizzards
April Showers....? April Fools....?
April showers bring May flowers? I am Prairie Chick, hear me laugh (or should I say cry).... Here is a glimpse of spring on the prairies;
Yesterday.....
Today............ Remember my joy at going out to hang the laundry *barefoot* on Tuesday? Ha ha ha.
April showers bring May flowers? I am Prairie Chick, hear me laugh (or should I say cry).... Here is a glimpse of spring on the prairies;
Yesterday.....
Today............ Remember my joy at going out to hang the laundry *barefoot* on Tuesday? Ha ha ha.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Lawful but not Profitable
Okay, so the chores are done. The Rugrat is still napping, and I have a few minutes on my hands to present a discussion topic. I've felt my blog has been weighing in on the superficial side this past week so I need to provide some depth for balance ;-).
Media as Entertainment.
I have struggled with this question on and off for YEARS. The main passage that comes to mind when I strive to judge what I allow as entertainment is; Psalm 101:2-3 (NIV): ‘I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.’
It seems so straightforward. And the New Testament gives me multiple lists of vile things so that I have no excuse. And yet, still I waiver. Okay, maybe not as much as some. I am actually quite anti-television, especially anti-public-broadcasting television. I have one show I follow (Lost) and other than that I pretty much only watch library videos (movies or documentaries) that I have reserved online because they correspond with what we are studying in school. But still.... even in this case, many times with the movies, I waiver.
No unwholesome thing. I know this would apply to literature too, but I am so up to my eyeballs in literature pertaining to education that I don't even have TIME to get in trouble in that department anymore. So for me this topic stems from television, but for others it could pertain equally to literature. Now, here's where I find myself.
I can draw a CLEAR line in the sand when it comes to shows where the basic premise is crime/murder/adultery... I see a lot of unwholesome garbage there that is not benefiting my mind or spirit in any way except fast paced, colorful, worldly self indulgence. For that reason shows like CSI, Law and Order and Gray's Anatomy are clearly out of boundaries for me and my conscience. I struggled off and on with ER as it "hooked me" early on with the actual hospital and patient story lines and then with all the sexual garbage and immoral messages that became part of it over time I knew it was not a wholesome thing to be watching. I've since given that up too, helps that bible study falls on that night and while I *might* have been caught watching it if I were home, it's not something I am going to tape....
Okay, maybe y'all think I'm a "neo-puritan" as Tim Challies refers to it in this article from a few years back. I feel like one sometimes when I hear my friends discussing these shows, or listing them as "favourites", but the truth is, I feel I fall somewhere in the middle. I mean, I'm not one of those uber conservative types who turn the tv off at the second hint of a vulgar word. I struggle to draw the boundary line when the content of a movie is "unwholesome" but in a clean, educational and thought provoking way that can cause you to examine deep questions and strive to cement your convictions and stand up for them. Not sure if you follow. Prime example, The Patriot. War, gore, horrible atrocities... and yet we watched this as a family while studying the American Revolution this past year and had DEEP discussions. Horrified? Most people would be, not so much that Prairie Guy and I watched it probably, but that we watched it with our kids.... well, we tend to be very transparent and raw with them whenever we broach a subject in education. They *read* about the revolution, they heard me *describe* the atrocities of the revolution, and they got a first hand *look* at the atrocities in the Patriot.
That raises questions for me that I can't figure out answers for. Why am I okay with watching (and letting my kids watch) historical type war stuff, but not okay with contemporary murder stuff? One is no better than the other... the only answer I can come up with is that one is educational and "helpful" in a fashion (to understand society and history) while the other is just pumped up, jumped up, hyped up entertainment, the more shock value the better and littered with so much immoral and perverted sexual content. Sexual perversity, immorality and violence as entertainment are the two biggest measuring sticks for me in what I for sure don't want to set before my eyes. Language is another, but even there, I have my idiosyncrasies. I'm a bit of a red-neck, so words like where the devil lives, anything relating to manure, the opposite of blessing and stuff like that don't make me jump out of my skin. But on the other hand anything to do with the Lord's name squeezes the blood right out of my heart and words that tear down people, and of course the bomb words... well, that's another story.
Oh man, I'm rambling on and on. I often feel alone in my struggle to seek faithfulness in this area. It almost seems that other people don't really feel pricked in their conscience on this (and I'm not saying they should). I guess I just want to know what other people think about this? I don't necessarily think it's a SIN to watch the shows I mentioned, I think it's one of those Romans 15 things that needs to be considered according to conscience and may be sin for one person while not being sin for another. If it doesn't induce you to sin, or indulge the flesh, then it shouldn't be sinful in and of itself right? But then, I get disgusted, not induced and yet I still feel convicted not to watch, mostly because of this passage;
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). So I am not just judging whether something is *sinful* but whether it is *beneficial*.... I liked this simple and straightforward boundary list.
Phew. That got long. If anyone managed to read to the bottom of this, I want to know what *you* think. Is this something you have thought about? Is this something you have set boundaries on? Is this something you struggle with or have found peace with? I'd love to hear other's thoughts.
Media as Entertainment.
I have struggled with this question on and off for YEARS. The main passage that comes to mind when I strive to judge what I allow as entertainment is; Psalm 101:2-3 (NIV): ‘I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.’
It seems so straightforward. And the New Testament gives me multiple lists of vile things so that I have no excuse. And yet, still I waiver. Okay, maybe not as much as some. I am actually quite anti-television, especially anti-public-broadcasting television. I have one show I follow (Lost) and other than that I pretty much only watch library videos (movies or documentaries) that I have reserved online because they correspond with what we are studying in school. But still.... even in this case, many times with the movies, I waiver.
No unwholesome thing. I know this would apply to literature too, but I am so up to my eyeballs in literature pertaining to education that I don't even have TIME to get in trouble in that department anymore. So for me this topic stems from television, but for others it could pertain equally to literature. Now, here's where I find myself.
I can draw a CLEAR line in the sand when it comes to shows where the basic premise is crime/murder/adultery... I see a lot of unwholesome garbage there that is not benefiting my mind or spirit in any way except fast paced, colorful, worldly self indulgence. For that reason shows like CSI, Law and Order and Gray's Anatomy are clearly out of boundaries for me and my conscience. I struggled off and on with ER as it "hooked me" early on with the actual hospital and patient story lines and then with all the sexual garbage and immoral messages that became part of it over time I knew it was not a wholesome thing to be watching. I've since given that up too, helps that bible study falls on that night and while I *might* have been caught watching it if I were home, it's not something I am going to tape....
Okay, maybe y'all think I'm a "neo-puritan" as Tim Challies refers to it in this article from a few years back. I feel like one sometimes when I hear my friends discussing these shows, or listing them as "favourites", but the truth is, I feel I fall somewhere in the middle. I mean, I'm not one of those uber conservative types who turn the tv off at the second hint of a vulgar word. I struggle to draw the boundary line when the content of a movie is "unwholesome" but in a clean, educational and thought provoking way that can cause you to examine deep questions and strive to cement your convictions and stand up for them. Not sure if you follow. Prime example, The Patriot. War, gore, horrible atrocities... and yet we watched this as a family while studying the American Revolution this past year and had DEEP discussions. Horrified? Most people would be, not so much that Prairie Guy and I watched it probably, but that we watched it with our kids.... well, we tend to be very transparent and raw with them whenever we broach a subject in education. They *read* about the revolution, they heard me *describe* the atrocities of the revolution, and they got a first hand *look* at the atrocities in the Patriot.
That raises questions for me that I can't figure out answers for. Why am I okay with watching (and letting my kids watch) historical type war stuff, but not okay with contemporary murder stuff? One is no better than the other... the only answer I can come up with is that one is educational and "helpful" in a fashion (to understand society and history) while the other is just pumped up, jumped up, hyped up entertainment, the more shock value the better and littered with so much immoral and perverted sexual content. Sexual perversity, immorality and violence as entertainment are the two biggest measuring sticks for me in what I for sure don't want to set before my eyes. Language is another, but even there, I have my idiosyncrasies. I'm a bit of a red-neck, so words like where the devil lives, anything relating to manure, the opposite of blessing and stuff like that don't make me jump out of my skin. But on the other hand anything to do with the Lord's name squeezes the blood right out of my heart and words that tear down people, and of course the bomb words... well, that's another story.
Oh man, I'm rambling on and on. I often feel alone in my struggle to seek faithfulness in this area. It almost seems that other people don't really feel pricked in their conscience on this (and I'm not saying they should). I guess I just want to know what other people think about this? I don't necessarily think it's a SIN to watch the shows I mentioned, I think it's one of those Romans 15 things that needs to be considered according to conscience and may be sin for one person while not being sin for another. If it doesn't induce you to sin, or indulge the flesh, then it shouldn't be sinful in and of itself right? But then, I get disgusted, not induced and yet I still feel convicted not to watch, mostly because of this passage;
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). So I am not just judging whether something is *sinful* but whether it is *beneficial*.... I liked this simple and straightforward boundary list.
Phew. That got long. If anyone managed to read to the bottom of this, I want to know what *you* think. Is this something you have thought about? Is this something you have set boundaries on? Is this something you struggle with or have found peace with? I'd love to hear other's thoughts.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Thankful 81 & Counting
Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness to Reap a Harvest of Happiness.
81. I'm thankful for long winters, because it feels so good when they are finally over.
82. I'm thankful for the first lady bug of the season and the delight it brought to my prairie chicklets.
83. I'm thankful for sunday afternoons with wonderful friends, for prairie puddles, and the delight of just "hangin' out".
84. I'm thankful for swans, and geese, ducks and robins and the joy of seeing them land and take off from my dining room window.
85. I'm thankful for the first nibs of irises peeking up through the soil on the south side of my house and the first splashes of green streaking the grass in our meridian.
86. I'm thankful (oh if you only knew how thankful) for the day I hung my laundry on the line for the first time this year, and for the day after when I actually was able to go out and hang my laundry in BARE FEET. Oh joy. (Granted, when I went back out to recover my laundry the temperature had dropped so drastically I had to wear socks, a sweater and mitts would have come in mighty handy.... man these prairie highs and lows!)
87. I'm thankful for mud holes and 6 year old girls and the entertainment they can bring.
Care to join me in Giving Thanks to the Giver of Good Gifts today?
Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17
First Annual Spring Run-off Party
Scenes from Sunday's Shin-dig (be sure to check out the not so winsome Muddy Monday pics that follow).
Muddy Monday
What's that about a picture being worth a thousand words? Well, as you can see, Prairie Princess II got stuck in a nice mud bog, and while she found her big sister's antics in trying to rescue her quite humorous; my laughing hysterically at *her* not so funny.... Luckily this happened at precisely 4:30 and it was Daddy to the rescue while Mommy could keep clicking gleefully away on the camera...
Muddy Monday
What's that about a picture being worth a thousand words? Well, as you can see, Prairie Princess II got stuck in a nice mud bog, and while she found her big sister's antics in trying to rescue her quite humorous; my laughing hysterically at *her* not so funny.... Luckily this happened at precisely 4:30 and it was Daddy to the rescue while Mommy could keep clicking gleefully away on the camera...
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