Two years old, with a license to drive.

It hardly seems possible that Josie could already be driving. She turned two today, and there she is in all her glory, driving (or at least being pushed in) her big birthday present, a little plastic car, while holding her little glow bear.

The camp is an outstanding place for these young ones to grow and play. Even though there was a retreat going on at the retreat center, (usually the Retreat Center parking lot is where the kids ride around) yesterday we came down to the circle drive to let Josie truck along on her new ride. Since it can be pushed, there was even some minor squabbles about who would be able to push her and for how long. I was thoroughly impressed that Jason was able to ripstick and push her at the same time. This Saturday was certainly a lot better than last Saturday!

Her new wheels gave me an appreciation for the nice freshness of a brand new car, especially since it was a $36 dollar brand new car, which is probably the only brand new car I will ever buy. I have been thinking about cars and vans and the sort since last Saturday, when our beloved Ford van met it's demise at the base of a rather stout electric pole.

I was impressed at how quickly our insurance company jumped on our claim, and after the value was assessed and a check issue for our loss, it made me realize what a great deal we had found when we bought the van over three years ago.

Since it was such a great bargain, I toyed with the idea of getting the van fixed - maybe it wouldn't be perfect, but it wasn't perfect to start with. Maybe if I could get it to a body shop for an estimate, or have my brother look at it, or salvage it myself and keep the extra money...all the possibilities.

But then I started thinking about the realities. How much would I have to spend just to have it towed to a shop for an estimate? Then, if I didn't like the estimate, how much would it cost to have it towed to another shop, then another? Even if I liked the estimate, how long would it take? Would the insurance company even insure it after they had declared it a total loss? Would the front end ever be the same again? Surely the engine block itself was destroyed by the impact - the frame was twisted and broken and absolutely fried - what was I thinking?

This didn't go on very long before I realized that I would just be better off starting over with a different vehicle - this ole Ford was done, and destined for the scrap pile. After all the Scripture says:

"What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted." Ecclesiastes 1:15

Well, there you go. "what is twisted cannot be straightened." Hmm, that's not what the body shop phone book ads say.

I couldn't help but think about this in light of my little two year old and her new car. In fact, it brought to light one of my great struggles that I have faced over the years in my ministry to youth. I spent a lot of time with students who were messed up in their view of life and truth. To think that I could try to "straighten" that out for them in a few hours was maddening and insane. Their twistedness began long before I met them.

The greatest "twisting" that anyone faces ever is truth twisting - not the crunching of metal and fiberglass in a car accident, although that can be truly devastating. The twisting of truth in a person's life stays twisted - only the Lord can straighten that out, and that through many years of readjusting our worldview though the leadership of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. The truth will remain twisted in the life of one who refuses to listen to God's truth.

At my high school, the principal would give a long speech over the school intercom at the beginning of every semester. I don't remember any of it other than the refrain of "no note, no change," which had something to do with changing classes. Only with a note of permission to change from parents (or was it teachers?) could a student go to the office and request a class change. The principal would say this "no note, no change" thing at least a dozen times each time he gave this speech, and it was a common thing for us to joke about.

The refrain of the Bible is "no truth, no change." If you listen to the father of lies, you will speak his language and lies will be your native tongue. Jesus said in John 8

⁴³Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

Like my poor old Ford, what is twisted cannot be straightened. When a child grows up with twisted truth, listening to lies, speaking lies, living lies, and believing lies, that child becomes an adult whose native language is falsehood, and he doesn't even know it.

What I want for little Josie, (and all the 8 J's ) is that truth - God's truth, is always front and center for her. It's her North Star - her Polaris. It's her point of reference. I want God's Word to be my kid's default setting - their basic assumption about life - their native tongue. Of course they all have a sinful nature - sin's twisting is evident in their young lives. But if there is no point of reference - no Polaris, no unshakable absolute truth, then that twisting will continue unabated.

At two years old, Josie's heart is a lot like her new car - not perfect, but clean. She will become the product of her influences, just like every other child in the world. If she is immersed in the flood of the lies of our culture, and that is the dominating influence in her life, she will grow up with lies as her native language - but that's not going to happen on my watch.

My job as a Christian father is to help establish a Biblical worldview in my children - not just tell them a bunch of unrelated Bible facts. I don't care if they win Bible trivia games, I want them to follow after God's heart. Like the Ford van, it is better to start with a correct and true frame than to try to straighten what has been twisted.

I could spend a lot of time and energy later on in their lives running around trying to straighten them out, or I could be busting my rear right now to make sure that I am doing everything I can do to give them a proper understanding of God's truth, so that they can make the choice to accept that or reject it as they become adults. I will let them choose, and I will pray that they will choose wisely.

My theory is - if their framework is right and they understand the reality of what they might be rejecting, I think they will choose to follow and obey God. Doesn't the Scripture say the same thing in Proverbs?

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

God, help me to build your truth as the true and right framework into each of the 8 J's.

Another picture of the carcass

The Death of the Ford Van

Jenette accidently found a telephone pole the hard way this morning. She was being careful on the snowy road, but she slipped off anyway. Life is rough sometimes. She walked away with a busted lip and a very distraught spirit. God took care of her, so I am very thankful. This has been a hard day.

Lessons in the Night Sky

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." James 1:16-18

Jenette and I had our date today - we went to a workshop at a local tree nursery about growing fruit trees. We are looking forward to starting our journey with fruit trees. Our family can easily eat an entire case of apples in just one week, so a little family orchard is something we are wanting to get established. We are still wrestling with where and how to plant the trees - we essentially live on a classic Missouri glade, with little but rocks beneath the ground's surface.

While it is freezing cold tonight, just two days ago it was quite balmy. We took the opportunity to do some stargazing on Wednesday night. It was truly a perfect night - no wind, just a little cool, and a clear, moonless night. In fact, it was warm enough that we could hear spring peepers starting to sing their song for the first time this year. Hopefully all those little frogs won't freeze to death tonight.

One of the great things about living here at the camp is that there is a great place to observe the night sky - away from city lights and open enough to see the whole sky. It's on the south property, away from all the lights, out on the open glade that is only used as a cow pasture for right now.

We saw Orion so clearly - and Pleades as clear as I have ever seen. Canis Major (the Big Dog) is one that I have never noticed before, but we saw that one, as well as Cassiopeia and Ursa Major (and Minor) - We pointed out the North Star (Polaris), Sirius, and Venus - so bright that it dominated the sky. The Milky Way was bright and obvious - especially after we had been out there for an hour or so. Joel is our family's official science teacher (by popular vote and by expert status), so I let him do most of the instruction. The kids wanted to quote Psalm 19, so we did that. It was a beautiful night. To sit and consider the glories of the night sky is something that many people never do - yet it just shouts out the power of God and the smallness of people.

Joel told me a quote he read in a book or heard somewhere - that if you put three grains of sand into a cathedral, that the sand in the cathedral would be more dense in filling up the cathedral's space than all the known stars filling up the space of the universe. Of course the assumption there is that the universe has some limited, known space, which is little more than just a random guess by so called scientists.

We have a little book about space and stars that someone gave us, and it begins like this: "In the beginning, there was nothing..." Obviously, without any reference point or reality or truth, everything else in the book is questionable. Without Polaris being fixed in space as we look at it, it wouldn't have guided sailors and adventurers all over the world for hundreds - even thousands of years. Without a point of reference, there is no reality or truth to live by. The book might has well have started, "in the beginning, giant pink bunnies played basketball with plastic mannequin heads." Because if one ridiculous nonsense statement could be made, the option is left open for many others.

If I don't fix my life and the lives of my children on the one reference point - the reality of God and His interaction with us in His Word, then my children can and will believe anything about the world, themselves, and their interaction with God. Is it any wonder that our culture is so twisted, when we haven't pointed the next generation to their spiritual North Star?

Our culture is more like the thinking of a toddler, instead of being "mature and complete," as it says in James. One of the delightful things that happened the other night was that Josie found something and lovingly gave it to Jenette. (Well, actually, she threw it at Jenette). Josie has this fondness for finding random things and giving them to people. Sometimes, she throws it when she is trying to give it to us. She is always very excited about giving something to someone, so she almost squeals in happiness: "Hee, mommy," (or daddy, or whoever.) "Hee" in Josie-ese is translated into English as "Here."

So, out there in the dark, looking at the stars, Josie finds something, and being the very helpful little girl that she is, says "Hee, Mommy!" and tosses this thing at Jenette. Jenette is somewhat startled and dismayed to find that Josie had thrown a cowpie at her. After we turned on the flashlights to find the flung dung, Jenette's panic subsided when she realized that it was a fairly dry pie.

All the other kids and I were thankful that Josie had chosen her mother to endow with such a glorious gift.

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you

I have been memorizing 2 Timothy and studying it in the light of my role as a parent. I think that application is valid in the sense that Timothy was a young leader of a Church - a local family of God that most likely got along like many families do. Those who are immature (like my little girls) are constantly bickering because of their selfishness, and those who are older and wiser (my now four budding young adults) have to exercise great patience with the little squirts and great discernment in their interaction with the wider world. Paul spoke to Timothy as a father to a son - the letter is almost like an impassioned plea for Timothy to stay the course - to endure as a Godly leader.

So, in the sense of application, I take it that way as well - I need to stay the course -to endure hardship, to remain faithful in the ministry and duty of teaching and training my own children to be Godly adults. I think that parents too many times forget that we are not supposed to be "raising children," but we are to be training our children to be godly adults.

"...and of this gospel I was appointed a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher," Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:11. I think that defines my role as a father - I need to be a herald - an announcer and proclaimer of warnings and blessings, in advance of the coming King. I need to be an apostle - a communicator of a specific message directed to my kids - that they are sinners and they need to humbly offer their lives to the Lord. I need to be a teacher - to explain to them what the Scripture means to the best of my ability. It was the lack of guidance in these key areas that led the Israelites to falter - because they didn't pass it down to the next generation.

It's interesting that many key Bible leaders did not pass down their faithfulness to God to the next generation. We are only one generation away from complete Biblical ignorance.

So, I am trying to take my role seriously. Trying to tackle this with the kids, we did a study last night about understanding the Scripture. I think my lesson went a little long, as they were kind of getting squirrelly toward the end, but that's how it goes sometimes. It has helped greatly since we have been putting Josie in bed before our Bible Study. She is the reigning "Queen of Squirrelly" and the class clown at age 23 months.

Anyway, I reminded them that three questions we should always ask when approaching the Bible are:

1. What does it say?
2. What is the author's intended meaning (AIM)?
3. How do I put this into practice in my own life?

Or, another simple way to put it is, read it, understand it, and apply it. We have been digging in to James - helping them read, understand, and challenging them to apply it. Even through the squirrellyness - (is that at word?) - we have had some great discussions.

Does Christ-likeness just ooze into a young person's life? Obviously not, as I have simply observed eight children as they grow through all their issues. In fact, it is exactly the opposite, as UN-Christ-likeness actually oozes out of a young person's heart because our hearts, even as small children, are hardened against righteousness. I have thought many times before that someone might call me a "one point Calvinist," because I do think we are evil, and completely prone to sin.

If that evil is not trained out of the child, it will take root in his little life and become a monster.

Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:13-14 -

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us."

I think Paul is talking about the Salvation that God gives us (if you look at the context), but again, I am thinking about being a godly herald, apostle, and teacher to my children in applying these verses. Is it not equally true that I need to be keeping as the pattern of right teaching what God says in his Word? And I need to be guarding this thing that has been entrusted to me - the spiritual health and guidance of my children - it has been entrusted to me, and to me alone, with the help of my wonderful wife.

Fathers, what are we waiting for? The reason this generation is morally bankrupt and Biblically ignorant is because we have become too friendly with the world. We spend more time and energy pursuing our careers and our pleasures than seeking God and teaching His Word. We have ignored Moses' warnings to not forget God's commands. We have ignored Moses' call for fathers to teach their children diligently who God is and how we need to live for him. Even in the Christians homeschooling movement, it is primarily led by women - moms who teach their kids.

Where are the parenting Elijahs? - Fathers who will call out this generation and cause a ruckus by asking "How long are you going to waver between the two sides of the fence? Who are you going to serve?"

I hope that some day, when I croak, my kids will remember that a relationship with God and the diligent knowing, understanding, and applying of God's Word was more important for me to pass on to them than anything else.

If you are a dad, reading this, then I encourage you to obey the Scripture and make a concerted effort to teach your children who God is and how to live for Him by giving them the Word! That's what I want to do, what I am trying to do, and I ask any godly man to help me stay at it by keeping me accountable.

My Latest Read

What a fascinating book. This is a trilogy of three books, Black, Red, and White. This trilogy will challenge you to consider the love of our Savior in a wonderful way. I had thought before that C.S. Lewis had done fiction about the redemptive work of Christ in a way that no one else could. Dekker has an "edgier" work here for sure, but he demonstrates God's great love and wisdom here in a powerful way.

Be warned, though, it's hard to put down!

jc

Out on the wild frontier

We went for a hike today at Talbot Conservation Area. Josie wouldn't cooperate for this picture, but we all had a good time in general!

Bill Gothard - General Teachings/Activities

Bill Gothard - General Teachings/Activities

It looks like good ole' Bill Gothard is still around.  Gothard has a lot of good in his teaching, with a focus on marriage and parenting. This is unfortunate because many Christians are following his "system" instead of following Christ.  I have been familiar with Gothard stuff for a long time, and it seems that little of it has changed. Read the article that I have linked to for a good review.

Here's another link to a good Gothard review.

The brother in humble circumstances & other things.

Things I have been thinking about:

1. James 1 (I finally finished memorizing James)

James 1 says that the brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position, but the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

It is amazing sometimes to think about the amazing depth and cultural relevance that just one small verse of Scripture can bring. Our family studied this verse tonight (Jenette had to take the two little ones out - they were howling like monkeys). Kids can think about such deep things when they are challenged to. Jason said that it was interesting that rich people are compared to a wild flower - not a flower in a garden that is cared for and is constantly tended to. I couldn't help but think of all the so called beautiful, and famous and popular people who bring so much attention to themselves by the fame, beauty, power or whatever. But each of them are nothing but a wild flower that will pass away even while they go about their business.

But James also says that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. At the risk of being too "flowery," I would rather be a dandylion in God's garden than a daffodil in the world's ways.

As I look around and listen to the news about the government spending money it doesn't have to do things it shouldn't do, I also can't help but think that our country is very much like that wild flower. Maybe it used to be within God's garden - tended and cared for, but the forces of worldly freedom and worldly thinking have moved the flower out into the wild places of the world. Sadly, I think that sometime in the future, the blossom will fall and the beauty will be destroyed.

I have been studying Deuteronomy, and there is a constant call to the Israelite nations to either obey God and continue with God's blessing, or forget God and fall under curses. Not only have we forgotten God, but it seems like our country's leaders have gone past all wisdom and have gone straight to outright foolishness.

God, help me to continue to be a "brother in humble circumstances." I want to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him.

2. More "extreme gardening."

My project to actually have a back yard for the kids has been moving along - we actually can get to the creek now, and after another day out there, I think the kids will actually be able to get in the creek without fighting through a million rose vines. We have found the perfect tree for a tree house, although it is still in the uncleared area. We also transplanted six small pine trees from a forested area of the camp to our front yard.

3. Prayer for the Camp

I am praying that MBC will be blessed because of my efforts - like Joseph, whom God blessed because of his faithfulness. I am praying for 2000 campers and 200 decisions.

4. Being the Spiritual mentor and teacher that I need to be for the 8 J's

We have changed some of our routines to help make this work better. I am making progress in this area. I think this is an area that got kind of lost (at least in the regular practice) in our coming to work at MBC transition. After spending several hours praying the other day one of the conservation areas nearby (I'm glad there weren't any hunters there!) - I have seen the importance of getting this back into regular practice.

Fireproof Movie

What a great movie. I have not been too excited about movies recently, because there is so much garbage in them, but this was a real winner. Made by the same guys as Facing the Giants, this one was so much better. I liked that this movie demonstrated the sin of selfishness in all it's ugliness. Our culture is just so full of people like the couple they portray in this movie. I think the writers and directors did a great job of creating characters that people could identify with.
If you haven't seen it yet, you need to.

Duggars Book

My latest read - another great example about how God uses ordinary but faithful people to bring glory to Him. Everyone asks us if we have seen this family on TV - of course, only having 8 kids makes our family look, well, small in comparison. This book was a bit of a family history - I guess I would have liked to see it go a little deeper, but I liked the overview. I would really like to meet Jim Bob Duggar some day - just to talk about life and the importance of obedience. This family has taken lots of hits - lots of negative stuff. It's amazing how much vitriol one Godly family can produce. And isn't it great that the Discovery Channel is the one sending out their message? I pray that I will have the faith and obedience of Mr. Duggar.

Well, today was another day of "extreme gardening," as I like to call it. We pushed back toward the creek just a bit more today, cut up several more huge trees, and burned lots and lots and lots of thorns. I got a brush blade for the camp weedeater and it made the going really easy with those rose vines. Jenna enjoyed sitting on the log stacks. You can see Joel and Jon in the background working on burning rose vines. Our back yard has come a long way. We still have a long way to go.

A great book for Teens by Teens

I really liked this book - it blows away the cultural myth and expectations of that dreaded animal "the teenager." Joel liked this book too. I think he could relate to much of this book, being the oldest of eight and being in a family living and working at Camp.

I would encourage not just youth, but parents as well to read this. Here is a quote from the authors:

Most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. We do. – Alex and Brett

I hope to see more in the future from these young writers.

jc

Eric's Blogosphere: The Economy & Our Opportunity

Eric's Blogosphere: The Economy & Our Opportunity

From the mind of my great friend, Eric Keller.

I think this is well said. Churches that are nervous about going out of business in this recession should be asking themselves if they are truly following God's plan for their Church. Is it possible that God will use this time of economic trouble to weed out Churches that are not faithful to Him and His Word?

Has anyone noticed that the Church of today is so unlike the New Testament Church that we don't even recognize it anymore?

jc

Fun with a box

North Carolina Ice Fishing

Well, it was supposed to be fly fishing, but it might as well have been ice fishing. The trout were as sluggish as my children are on a very cold day. But I enjoyed being out there.

Tim Tebow and John 3:16

Tim Tebow and John 3:16

John 3:16 -- Latest Bible Verse to Be Featured On Tim Tebow's Eye Black - NCAA Football FanHouse

John 3:16 -- Latest Bible Verse to Be Featured On Tim Tebow's Eye Black - NCAA Football FanHouse

BCS Aftermath and John 3:16

So the biggest suprise of the BCS championship game was not that OU lost. Disappointing, but not suprising. It was not that Florida won. It was not that both defenses played very well. It was not that my little girls had fun spreading popcorn all over the TV room. It was not that my mom made sure all my kids had an OU shirt for Christmas. It wasn't even that Tim Tebow wore "John 3:16" on his eye black.

It was that people freaked out about it.

My first reaction - three words -"Get over it." But then I started thinking more about it.

I was very interested to find that google hot trends had "john 3:16" at a medium level Friday morning that peaked just after the game ended.
Of course some people didn't make that big a deal about it - but how amazing that Tebow's eye black made the google hot trends light up. I guess it was that people thought is was a big deal is what surprised me.

One blog post (from a site I won't link to) said that his eye black caused "an unholy controversy."

Yep - just little ol' John 3:16 - how controversial is God's love? Maybe Tim should have put Romans 1:27 on his eye black. Boy, that would have caused some real excitement. Then, google hot trends would have had it as "volcanic" and not just "medium."

How often does John 3:16 show up on Google hot trends? That may never, ever happen again. Although Tebow spanked my team, I am amazed that God could use something as small and insignificant as Tebow's eye black to cause people to search for the Bible verse.

I can certainly handle another Sooner big game loss if it magnifies God's Glory.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

After Christmas - they all have OU shirts

My Winter Park Ski Buddies

Winter Park, CO

Jason & Jon in Limon, CO

Josie on Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Random Wierd Picture

Plastic Death heads fall into line - Is this what CPR instructors have nightmares about?

MBC Calendar - Experiment

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Is Bernard Madoff Running the Federal Government?

Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - Is Bernard Madoff Running the Federal Government?

This article makes an interesting point - that having congress lecture automakers about poor management, decline into debt, and ridiculous spending practices is a little like having the fox lecture the chickens about their lax security policies.

The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it, and the are safe. Proverbs 18:10

College Without Compromise

I am very thankful to the authors of this fine book. The foreward by RC Sproul Jr. resounded with me - that many homeschoolers have fumbled when asked about the "college" thing - including myself.

I truthfully had not wanted to ... more » think about college for my kids, because I thought we could never afford it and I was not excited about sending my kids off to an environment that I knew would be negative for them.

I read this book and Accelerated Distance Learning at the same time (I bought them both from Global Learning Strategies.)

While the ADL book was very practical, and overwhelming at times, this book helped me see the big picture of a homeschool family using these principles to see their students through college - and it was more specific in it's practicality. While ADL exploded my vision of my kid's education, CWC refined it. Where were these books 20 years ago?

All the years of youth ministry I spent agonizing about the students I loved and cared for (and attempted to teach and disciple for the Lord) as they spritually withered away at college are bitter memories for me. I will be giving this book as a gift to all those I care about.

What a blessing it is that not only homeschool students but anyone can now receive a great education for a reasonable price in the best way possible - at home at your own pace.

I recommend this book to anyone!

What some others have said about the book:

http://servenclan.blogspot.com/2006/01/spotlight-college-without-compromise.html

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/missouri/135726/

Random posting about this that and the other thing

This is what I have been thinking about/praying about/studying/ and generally being obsessed with lately:

1. College for my children.

Two great books have held my attention lately:

Accelerated Distance Learning & College without Compromise

Click here to see these books at my Google Books library

I suppose it is beyond the scope of this blog to state how amazing these books are - I have written short reviews at the google site.

I had been really struggling with the whole idea of college for the 8 J's - too much money, too many bad influences, too much wasted time, too much opportunity to do all the wrong things.

Since I have read these books, I have learned that there are opportunities to get a degree in and learn the kinds of computery things that Joel is interested in - in an affordable, distance learning system. Everyone needs to get these books and read them.

2. It's the economy, stupid.

Living at and working for a non-profit Christian camp is an interesting adventure. While the government seems to be having a wild spending party right before complete bankruptcy (bailing out this and that and the other thing with money they don't have), it seems like the proverbial light is at the end of the tunnel. The only problem is that the light is a freight train barreling towards us. Here is what I am resolved to do.

• Get out of debt. If anyone has followed my blog at all (Maybe my wife and Janet Stephens - thank you both) in the last few years, you know that I have said this before, but it is getting down to crunch time.

• Be wise in spending and investing. Below is a link to an interesting article. (disclaimer - I certainly do not agree with everything the Christian Worldview Network says) http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/4354/Brannon-Howse/By-Gary-Kah Perhaps if more people would take this guys simple advice (get out of debt, save, invest in hard assets, buy some land and learn how to live/survive without the gov't) -we might all be better off with or without an economic crisis.

• Learn more about how to live and survive independently - After making our "Great Transitions" to the camp over the last several years, we were able to finally reestablish our garden this last summer with some success - we need to do more and learn more.

While I am not scared- because I trust in the Lord - I am greatly concerned how this coming economy is going to cause great harm - with the potential of causing our nation to make even worse decisions than it has.

3. 2 Timothy 3 & 4

I have never read these before in light of family life - I had always thought of them strictly as a church life kind of thing. Read it - thinking about your family, kids, roles of parents, teaching them, etc. "How from infancy you have known the holy Scripture, which is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." As I memorize Scripture, it immerses me into the thinking and the process of understanding God's truth. Someone said that you can learn God's words by reading the Bible, but that you can learn God's thoughts by memorizing the Bible. That is so true.

4. Woeful Bible teaching and interpretation

I won't go into it too much on this public blog, but my older sons had an interesting Bible class experience (not at our home church - at a different church) - I am sick to death of churches who use secular psychology as a form of teaching -whenever I get to write one of my rants on the blog I will talk about this more.

See my latest sermon posted below for my humble attempt to address this. There has to be some solid answers - people should not be allowed to teach Church classes (especially JH & SH) who simply don't know their way around the Bible. Maybe there is a way to train people better. I guess the problem is that they don't know they need to be trained. I learned so well at Bible College, and I am thankful for that ministry, but Bible college is so expensive now that it is out of reach. I need to look into their distance learning options on interpretation!

5. Chain saw chains don't mix well with rocks.

I should have taken a before and after picture (well, after has still not occured), but I have been working through the "Roman Barricade" (as Jenette called it) behind our house. When the house was built, all the trees were just pushed up in a 60 yard long pile. I have been dismantling that pile, log by log, so that a friend can come and level it out for us. I have already done in several brain new chains by getting them into the rocks mixed up with the rootwads and piles.

In case you didn't know it about me - I am one of those "chainsaw guys" that loves cutting up trees. I even made a little bench for the girls with my chainsaw. Maybe I'll start doing chainsaw art.

6. Poop and pee are common daily central themes of life at our house.

Jenette is working on potty training both Jenna and Josie - it has been, well interesting. She bought them both potty chairs - they're pretty cute sitting together. Jenna has been doing pretty well. Josie, not so much. But hey, she's only one.

7. Thankfulness

I am so thankful to God, for my wife and children, for being able to work here at the camp, for the camp directors being so faithful and flexible, for the wonderful house they decided to build for us, for being able to see my family (especially my grandparents) again, for being able to learn about new educational options for the 8J's and for this, that, and the other thing.

jc

Another Sermon at Oakwood Christian

I guess that is maybe the third sermon I have done at Oakwood this year. This one is "The Sufficiency of Scripture" - and although delivered most imperfectly, is truly one of the dear passions of my heart.

Click on the title link above - then go down to Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008. There is even an outline there.

I am working on reestablishing the wireless internet at the camp so that we can better access it at our house - then maybe more blogging will occur!

jc

My Job Description I created in XMind

Why the Election Results Don't Bother Me

1. God is ultimately in charge.
2. This is not my home. Heaven is.
3. I think it will help conservatives re-assess their message and messengers.
4. It gives us more reason to not put our trust in politicians to save us.
5. See #1.

Online Sermon

Here's a link to a sermon I preached at Oakwood Christian Church back in September. It was quite a reunion for us to be there, and it was such a blessing to hang out with Eric Keller as he has become the preaching minister there.

This sermon was my take on the legacy of Oakwood Christian Church, but it also is hopefully a good discussion of the purpose and legacy of any Bible teaching and believing Church.

Click on the title link above and go down to 9-23-08.

Vlog 5-16-08

2008 Promo Video