I just did a lesson at Church a few weeks ago about the Trinity. I thought this posting was interesting and well written. I guess many Christians just don't see what all the fuss is about the Trinity. I think that is because many Christians don't really believe in taking God's Word for what it says. I'll post my lesson when I get back from camp.
I am in charge of our Church Camp for first grade through fourth grade this week. Great fun, but tiring. I am going to do a lesson for them about Daniel 1 - that Daniel and his friends resolved to not defile themselves with the king's food and wine.
Such a simple, yet profound example. They simply chose to honor God and keep themselves pure for His sake and His glory. If Christians today did that - if they applied that example, then surely the name of Christ would be more honored in this culture. I'll write more about the lesson after camp.
jc
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Fun with Photoshop Elements
Had some fun goofing with new photo editing software. The boys quite enjoyed the result!
jc
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Deliverance before Obedience?
(Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." ESV)
This morning was a rare morning at Church where I actually was able to hear the sermon. Most Sundays I am teaching children's church during both services. Occasionally I schedule others to take over so we can sit in the service.
This morning BA was preaching about the 10 Commandments - kind of an introduction. He really stuck to the first two verses of Exodus 20.
His basic point was that God's grace precedes God's Law. God delivered the Israelites, then demanded obedience from them. I thought this was an interesting idea, since many people think that the Old Testament shows the "God of Law" and the New Testament shows the "God of Love."
He also made the point that demanding obedience before offering deliverance is never God's way and only leads to failure. God provided every possible want or need in the garden before Adam and Eve chose to rebel. Romans 5 says while we were still God's enemies, Christ died for the ungodly.
This really made me think of so many Christians who want to force Christianity on a culture that really doesn't want to go that direction. We can't begin with moralizing. We have to begin with our own sinfulness and God's love for us through Christ. In fact, Jesus' most harsh and condemning words were reserved for the religious leaders of the day who practiced "God's Law" but did not want to be bothered with God's Love and Grace.
I have been around some homeschoolers who wear their homeschooling like a Pharisaical mantle, demonstrating their great superiority over all the secular schmucks who send their kids to public school. Oh, I wish they would go away!
As for me and my house, I want to obey and love God not to earn God's favor, but because He first loved me. I think that there are many people who say they are "Christians" but have never acknowledged that they are sinners - the place to start in order to receive His grace.
BA also said that the 10 Commandments teach us how to love God and love others. I really like that part. The more we teach and preach the practical application of God's Truth, the better off we are! I hope everyone was listening and thinking about ways to apply this great sermon.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 ESV
This morning was a rare morning at Church where I actually was able to hear the sermon. Most Sundays I am teaching children's church during both services. Occasionally I schedule others to take over so we can sit in the service.
This morning BA was preaching about the 10 Commandments - kind of an introduction. He really stuck to the first two verses of Exodus 20.
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Exodus 20:1-2
ESV
His basic point was that God's grace precedes God's Law. God delivered the Israelites, then demanded obedience from them. I thought this was an interesting idea, since many people think that the Old Testament shows the "God of Law" and the New Testament shows the "God of Love."
He also made the point that demanding obedience before offering deliverance is never God's way and only leads to failure. God provided every possible want or need in the garden before Adam and Eve chose to rebel. Romans 5 says while we were still God's enemies, Christ died for the ungodly.
This really made me think of so many Christians who want to force Christianity on a culture that really doesn't want to go that direction. We can't begin with moralizing. We have to begin with our own sinfulness and God's love for us through Christ. In fact, Jesus' most harsh and condemning words were reserved for the religious leaders of the day who practiced "God's Law" but did not want to be bothered with God's Love and Grace.
I have been around some homeschoolers who wear their homeschooling like a Pharisaical mantle, demonstrating their great superiority over all the secular schmucks who send their kids to public school. Oh, I wish they would go away!
As for me and my house, I want to obey and love God not to earn God's favor, but because He first loved me. I think that there are many people who say they are "Christians" but have never acknowledged that they are sinners - the place to start in order to receive His grace.
BA also said that the 10 Commandments teach us how to love God and love others. I really like that part. The more we teach and preach the practical application of God's Truth, the better off we are! I hope everyone was listening and thinking about ways to apply this great sermon.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 ESV
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Chucky the Lucky Ducky
(Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." ESV)
Read the story in my last posting, or check out http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06061410.html. Now this is profoundly disturbing, although not that surprising. I truly admire the pluck of Mr. Parker, who has taken a stand for righteous values (I don't know if he is a Christian or not, but there is something that is motivating him.)
It is sad and disturbing that the vengeance was taken out on a 7 year old boy by other kids. My stomach churned when I first heard about this. I hope for his sake that the Parker family would consider homeschooling. When I heard about this, I couldn't help but think about our little backyard barnyard and Chucky the Lucky Ducky.
Chucky was given to us by a good friend, a Godly public school science teacher who attempted to hatch some duck eggs in his classroom incubator. During the time of the incubation, one of the ornery kids purposefully cranked up the heat on the machine, and all the eggs were "cooked" except for little Chucky's.
A little background here: we already had two hens and one duck - the only survivors at our attempts to raise around thirty or so birds in the last two years. Now the hens don't like anybody. They have pecked some of the other chicks and ducks mercilessly when they are shut up at night in their little shed.
When we got Chucky, the girls were so happy because our other duck (the kids named her "Pipsqueak" for the funny noises she makes) was lonely and had no duck "friends." In fact, the night after all of Pipsqueak's "friends" got eaten by some critter or other, the girls cried not for the lost of the many, but for the loneliness of the one. (It was sweet, but pathetic!)
Well, Chucky started following Pipsqueak around like a baby duck follows her mama. But when we would put them in the shed at night, poor Chucky kept on getting pecked. I don't understand chicken sociology too much, but they are very much into a strict social order. Meaning, the only ones in the club are the ones in the club; everyone else is subject to a pecking. And so the barnyard "pecking order" is firmly established.
About two weeks ago, I went out one morning to find poor little Chucky on the floor of the shed, covered with blood and gasping for life. I didn't pick him up, because I thought it wouldn't do any good. He had violated the order and he paid for it with a pecking. One way or the other, he wouldn't ever do it again.
Well, Chucky is still alive, but he is scarred and ugly. One eye is gone, and his whole head is just one ugly scar. He is definitely not as cute as he used to be.
I think the analogies between Chucky and that little boy are profound. The only solution I had was to separate the poor little duck completely from his evil tormentors. Think about it.
jc
Read the story in my last posting, or check out http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06061410.html. Now this is profoundly disturbing, although not that surprising. I truly admire the pluck of Mr. Parker, who has taken a stand for righteous values (I don't know if he is a Christian or not, but there is something that is motivating him.)
It is sad and disturbing that the vengeance was taken out on a 7 year old boy by other kids. My stomach churned when I first heard about this. I hope for his sake that the Parker family would consider homeschooling. When I heard about this, I couldn't help but think about our little backyard barnyard and Chucky the Lucky Ducky.
Chucky was given to us by a good friend, a Godly public school science teacher who attempted to hatch some duck eggs in his classroom incubator. During the time of the incubation, one of the ornery kids purposefully cranked up the heat on the machine, and all the eggs were "cooked" except for little Chucky's.
A little background here: we already had two hens and one duck - the only survivors at our attempts to raise around thirty or so birds in the last two years. Now the hens don't like anybody. They have pecked some of the other chicks and ducks mercilessly when they are shut up at night in their little shed.
When we got Chucky, the girls were so happy because our other duck (the kids named her "Pipsqueak" for the funny noises she makes) was lonely and had no duck "friends." In fact, the night after all of Pipsqueak's "friends" got eaten by some critter or other, the girls cried not for the lost of the many, but for the loneliness of the one. (It was sweet, but pathetic!)
Well, Chucky started following Pipsqueak around like a baby duck follows her mama. But when we would put them in the shed at night, poor Chucky kept on getting pecked. I don't understand chicken sociology too much, but they are very much into a strict social order. Meaning, the only ones in the club are the ones in the club; everyone else is subject to a pecking. And so the barnyard "pecking order" is firmly established.
About two weeks ago, I went out one morning to find poor little Chucky on the floor of the shed, covered with blood and gasping for life. I didn't pick him up, because I thought it wouldn't do any good. He had violated the order and he paid for it with a pecking. One way or the other, he wouldn't ever do it again.
Well, Chucky is still alive, but he is scarred and ugly. One eye is gone, and his whole head is just one ugly scar. He is definitely not as cute as he used to be.
I think the analogies between Chucky and that little boy are profound. The only solution I had was to separate the poor little duck completely from his evil tormentors. Think about it.
jc
Seven-Year-Old Beaten at School For Father's Stand Against Homosexual Activism
Seven-Year-Old Beaten at School For Father's Stand Against Homosexual Activism
(Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." ESV)
By John-Henry Westen and John Jalsevac
LEXINGTON, Massachusetts, June 14, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On May 17—the two-year anniversary of same-sex "marriage" in Massachusetts—the first-grade son of a prominent pro-family advocate was dragged and beaten behind the Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington during recess, receiving multiple blows to the chest, stomach, and genital area.
Jacob Parker, the 7-year-old who was attacked, is the son of David Parker. LifeSiteNews.com readers will recall that David Parker objected to homosexual curriculum in his son's kindergarten class. At a meeting with the principal of the school last year Parker requested that the school inform him of when homosexual discussions would take place, so he could exclude his son from the activity. The principal refused and Parker said he would not leave until his request was granted. School administration called the police and had Parker charged with trespassing. (see coverage: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/05042910.html)
Brian Camenker the President of MassResistance, a pro-family group, that has worked with Parker to have the rights of parents in Massachusetts respected told LifeSitenews.com that the school system has since continued to refuse to notify parents of such material being presented in class. On April 27, 2006, Parker, his wife, and another family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school system.
LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Mr. Parker about the incident.
According to Mr. Parker, school authorities determined from an investigation into the assault that the beating was indeed planned and premeditated.
Mr. Parker described the incident at the school saying: "During the recess period, a group of 8-10 kids suddenly surrounded Jacob and grabbed him. He was taken around the corner of the school building out of sight of the patrolling aides, with the taunting and encouragement of other kids. Jacob was then positioned against the wall for what appeared to be a well planned and coordinated assault.”
Parker told LifeSiteNews.com, his son related that one student in particular performed the actual physical assault while, “many children stood, watched silently, and did nothing as the beating commenced.”
Parker added: "The group of kids surrounded Jacob and he was beaten and punched. Then, as he fell to the ground, another child was heard saying to the group of children, 'Now you all can finish him off,' and as he was down on his hands and knees, the beating continued on his back. Then, fortunately, one little girl ran to contact the oblivious playground aides to stop it.
"Four of the attackers were from Jacob's first-grade class; the others were from other classes at Estabrook.
"The teachers' aide apparently determined that since she could not see external bleeding, and since Jacob apparently was not hit in the face, she did not send him to she school nurse."
The family was immediately notified of the incident.Speaking to LifeSiteNews.com, Parker speculated that the cause of the attack was most likely what he called “displaced aggression.” “If children hear venomous things from their parents, the children do internalize this,” he said.
“I certainly don’t want to vilify the children in this,” he said. “We understand that skirmishes happen on the playground. It’s taking the child around out of view of the aides, and the number of children that stood around watching that concerns us.”
Parker noted that his conflict with the school over homosexuality is well known among the students. "We are aware that the school administration sent notices home with all the young children concerning the Parker arrest, the 'King and King' incident and the federal lawsuit," he said. “They must know that the children read them.”
He pointed out that the date of the attack--the two year aniversary of same-sex "marriage" in Massachusetts--cannot be a coincidence.
The topic of Parker's beliefs has become so widespread among the students that Jacob says he overheard his fellow classmates ruminating that perhaps their current principle—who has resigned her position to take up a job elsewhere—was leaving the job because of Jacob’s father. Members of the community itself have organized public demonstrations specifically against Parker, in which their children have taken part. One of these demonstrations is pictured on the right and below. (photos courtesy of MassResistance.com) While prominently displayed in the student library are the back issues of the Lexington Minuteman that specifically deal with Parker’s case, for the children to read.
“We’re trying to be patient and tolerant," said Parker when asked if he was considering pulling his son out of the school. "We’re trying to hang on to the notion that the schools are for every child and for everyone. I don’t feel that we should have to leave for an injustice.”
But he added that “There are limits to how much patience we can have. I certainly understand why more and more parents are pulling their children out of public schools.”
Ironically, the school prides itself on its long-time involvement in various "Safe School" programs, which are geared to creating school environments "safe" for students who are homosexual.
Parker asked, "Isn't the school supposed to be addressing safety and preventing bullying and violence? Or are such programs only focused on children with homosexual parents? You can be certain that if this happened to a child with homosexual parents more would be made of this and that 'lessons' teaching tolerance and diversity of homosexual behavior normalization would be forced upon the young children."
The school and larger community are deeply divided over the Parker's stand against pro-homosexual indoctrination. A group has been formed in Lexington to counter Parker's efforts. The 'Lexington Cares' group maintains an anti-Parker website and has conducted anti-Parker letter writing campaigns and demonstrations.
Calls to Estabrook school were not returned by press time.
To express your concern to Estabrook school contact:
Estabrook School117 Grove StreetLexington, MA 02420 USA
Email Principal Joni Jay: jjay@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
Phone: (781)861-2520 Fax: (781)862-5610
Story URL: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06061410.html
(Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." ESV)
By John-Henry Westen and John Jalsevac
LEXINGTON, Massachusetts, June 14, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On May 17—the two-year anniversary of same-sex "marriage" in Massachusetts—the first-grade son of a prominent pro-family advocate was dragged and beaten behind the Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington during recess, receiving multiple blows to the chest, stomach, and genital area.
Jacob Parker, the 7-year-old who was attacked, is the son of David Parker. LifeSiteNews.com readers will recall that David Parker objected to homosexual curriculum in his son's kindergarten class. At a meeting with the principal of the school last year Parker requested that the school inform him of when homosexual discussions would take place, so he could exclude his son from the activity. The principal refused and Parker said he would not leave until his request was granted. School administration called the police and had Parker charged with trespassing. (see coverage: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/05042910.html)
Brian Camenker the President of MassResistance, a pro-family group, that has worked with Parker to have the rights of parents in Massachusetts respected told LifeSitenews.com that the school system has since continued to refuse to notify parents of such material being presented in class. On April 27, 2006, Parker, his wife, and another family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school system.
LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Mr. Parker about the incident.
According to Mr. Parker, school authorities determined from an investigation into the assault that the beating was indeed planned and premeditated.
Mr. Parker described the incident at the school saying: "During the recess period, a group of 8-10 kids suddenly surrounded Jacob and grabbed him. He was taken around the corner of the school building out of sight of the patrolling aides, with the taunting and encouragement of other kids. Jacob was then positioned against the wall for what appeared to be a well planned and coordinated assault.”
Parker told LifeSiteNews.com, his son related that one student in particular performed the actual physical assault while, “many children stood, watched silently, and did nothing as the beating commenced.”
Parker added: "The group of kids surrounded Jacob and he was beaten and punched. Then, as he fell to the ground, another child was heard saying to the group of children, 'Now you all can finish him off,' and as he was down on his hands and knees, the beating continued on his back. Then, fortunately, one little girl ran to contact the oblivious playground aides to stop it.
"Four of the attackers were from Jacob's first-grade class; the others were from other classes at Estabrook.
"The teachers' aide apparently determined that since she could not see external bleeding, and since Jacob apparently was not hit in the face, she did not send him to she school nurse."
The family was immediately notified of the incident.Speaking to LifeSiteNews.com, Parker speculated that the cause of the attack was most likely what he called “displaced aggression.” “If children hear venomous things from their parents, the children do internalize this,” he said.
“I certainly don’t want to vilify the children in this,” he said. “We understand that skirmishes happen on the playground. It’s taking the child around out of view of the aides, and the number of children that stood around watching that concerns us.”
Parker noted that his conflict with the school over homosexuality is well known among the students. "We are aware that the school administration sent notices home with all the young children concerning the Parker arrest, the 'King and King' incident and the federal lawsuit," he said. “They must know that the children read them.”
He pointed out that the date of the attack--the two year aniversary of same-sex "marriage" in Massachusetts--cannot be a coincidence.
The topic of Parker's beliefs has become so widespread among the students that Jacob says he overheard his fellow classmates ruminating that perhaps their current principle—who has resigned her position to take up a job elsewhere—was leaving the job because of Jacob’s father. Members of the community itself have organized public demonstrations specifically against Parker, in which their children have taken part. One of these demonstrations is pictured on the right and below. (photos courtesy of MassResistance.com) While prominently displayed in the student library are the back issues of the Lexington Minuteman that specifically deal with Parker’s case, for the children to read.
“We’re trying to be patient and tolerant," said Parker when asked if he was considering pulling his son out of the school. "We’re trying to hang on to the notion that the schools are for every child and for everyone. I don’t feel that we should have to leave for an injustice.”
But he added that “There are limits to how much patience we can have. I certainly understand why more and more parents are pulling their children out of public schools.”
Ironically, the school prides itself on its long-time involvement in various "Safe School" programs, which are geared to creating school environments "safe" for students who are homosexual.
Parker asked, "Isn't the school supposed to be addressing safety and preventing bullying and violence? Or are such programs only focused on children with homosexual parents? You can be certain that if this happened to a child with homosexual parents more would be made of this and that 'lessons' teaching tolerance and diversity of homosexual behavior normalization would be forced upon the young children."
The school and larger community are deeply divided over the Parker's stand against pro-homosexual indoctrination. A group has been formed in Lexington to counter Parker's efforts. The 'Lexington Cares' group maintains an anti-Parker website and has conducted anti-Parker letter writing campaigns and demonstrations.
Calls to Estabrook school were not returned by press time.
To express your concern to Estabrook school contact:
Estabrook School117 Grove StreetLexington, MA 02420 USA
Email Principal Joni Jay: jjay@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
Phone: (781)861-2520 Fax: (781)862-5610
Story URL: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06061410.html
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