June 25, 2008 by pamela.

Homeschool law.

Posted in Homeschooling, News DuJour | Print | 1 Comment »

June 25, 2008 by pamela.

I read with some interest a news piece about a man who is auctioning off his life or, rather, his lifestyle and material goods, on eBay. Seems Ian Usher wants a fresh new start.  I cannot help but feel sorry for the man… not for what he wants to leave behind, but for what seems to be an empty life.

During the last several days I’ve been helping my parents pack, move, unpack and settle a bit in their new home.  At some point after some conversation seemed to spark the thought, I wondered, for a split-second, what it would be like to pack up our whole house — everything and move to an entirely different place — to have a fresh new start somewhere else  (I don’t mean without my husband and children). Then I got a sick feeling inside… sick over what I’d necessarily have to leave behind, sick over the “life” we’d leave behind, sick over who I wouldn’t spend time with any longer and, actually, more sickening to me was the thought that in doing that, unless prompted and guided by the LORD, I’d know I was running from whatever it was He had for me to do here. So, as suddenly as the thought popped into my mind, I dismissed it entirely.  Thoughts like that are dangerous.  Thoughts like that are deadly.  Those thoughts are kin to thoughts of despair or thoughts of regret.  Dangerous.

Well, so, there’s a guy who’s auctioning off his worldly goods - not his life.  And… what’s interesting is that there are a number of people looking to take on a life or a lifestyle that someone else is done with, tired of — a life someone else seems to regret — and are willing to step in and pick up where Ian Usher wants to leave off. So, I then have begun to wonder… do people search eBay for new life?  Because… I’m thinking… whatever they’ve left behind to pick up what someone else wants to leave behind will likely have the same end result for them. Maybe?

Everybody’s looking for something.  Everyone wants something. I was looking at the plaques on my step-father’s walls as I was packing them up and thought… everyone’s done things for which they received some renumeration or some notoriety or some accolade and most of the time no one else knows, or few others know, about them.  And so stuff get packed away, put away in boxes or drawers and all those things begin to accumulate dust or memories fade and the once remarkable achievement floats out into the sea of forgetfulness.

My mother and I were sitting on her coffee table (what?!?! we were never allowed to sit on the coffee table!!) looking through slides… we’d slip one out of the bright yellow Kodak box and hold it up to the light - me, barely able to see the images; she, instantly described each one as if to see and remember them with perfect clarity.  But then, I realized, those were her babies… some things you never forget - no matter how many years have passed.

I know a lot of people would like new stuff or, at least, would like to get rid of old stuff and replace it with new stuff.  I know a lot of people would like to be done with trials and hardships, disappointment and failure. I know that sometimes life seems a bit arduous and along comes the “anywhere but here” temptation.

It is for freedom that Jesus came, that He died, was buried, rose again and ascended to heaven.  It is for freedom that He lives - and ever lives to make intercession for us.  It is in Jesus that we find our All in all.  It is through faith in Jesus that we have this calm and blessed assurance.  He alone tells us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life… no man comes to the Father but by Him.  I pray that Ian Usher will know the love and salvation of Jesus and put his trust in Him.  I pray that all who are seeking new life will turn to Jesus and that this day will be a day of new beginnings.

So… new life?  It’s in Him.  A whole new life.

Wherever you go… He’s already there.

Posted in More Slices of Life, Family, News DuJour | Print | 1 Comment »

June 18, 2008 by pamela.

(updated Thursday night) Please pray for the Bryant family - pray as led… this is a very sad situation — read here.

God is only good and is sovereign.  His ways are higher than our ways — His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  O, that God will carry this dear family through this valley of sorrow and may He comfort them in time of need.

I received a very loving and tender letter from Lorrie Flem (”TEACH”) and here is a sincere & tenderhearted list of requests she presented.  Will you join us in prayer for this precious family??

Pray for the Lord to give you His heart for how to pray for this family. Pray specifically for:

• Rachel, for her to banish guilt and rest in the peace that passes understanding
• The other 8 children as they deal with this tragedy and the day to day reality of life without their baby sister
• For Barry, the father as he prepares to lead a memorial service for Hannah on Sunday
• For Heather, the mama for her heart to instantly turn to Him for comfort when waves of sorrow wash over her
• For the entire family to lean on Him and to actually feel His presence as He walks alongside them grieving too

I believe, and Heather believes, that God is their refuge. Please pray for their strength and their comfort in the days ahead.”

Posted in Potpourri | Print | 1 Comment »

June 2, 2008 by pamela.

Anything, repeated often enough, will be believed by the masses.  And if you’re not careful, thoughtful and understand the Word of God and the enemy’s relentless attack on or distortion of the Truth, you’ll be swallowed up in the easy-believeism or the magnanimity of ‘leaders’ in ‘the church’ today.  You just really gotta be paying attention — both to what they’re saying and what they’re meaning.

These are incredible times in which to be alive - as free people, as abundantly rich people, as believers in Jesus… for many, many reasons, this is an incredible time, in the history of the world, to be alive.

As believers, we’re instructed in the Word, to be wise.  We’re instructed to watch the signs of the times - that in the last days, perilous times should occur - giving way to all sorts of depravity and distortions or misrepresentations of the Truth.  Read Joseph Farrah’s  “Give The Glory To God!” and then, Rick Warren’s response: “Give PEACE A Chance“  (get your Bible out and read what the Word really says - compared to paraphrases Mr. Warren uses) and then read Mr. Farrah’s very succinct, carefully written response to Rick Warren’s reply: Who Gets the Glory?

This is a great study in the ‘think’ of today and the talk of today in ‘mainstream’ churches… the subtle nuances just might be missed if you’re not careful.

From Let Us Reason Ministries  A Global PEACE Plan
Kjos Ministries: The PEACE Plan
Want to discover more?  Google.

Posted in More Slices of Life, The Church Today | Print | 2 Comments »

June 1, 2008 by pamela.

That’s the title of an article in this week’s Parade magazine: Should Home-Schooling Be Illegal?

I don’t often read much of the Sunday paper - well, that is, unless an article catches my eye or unless there’s a series I’m following. So this week, as I was tidying up the table, I was just glancing through the different pages and sections and happened to open the Parade magazine to the page where the aforementioned article is posted in the IntelligenceReport (Parade.com/intel) column. There’s just something about certain words that catches my eye and when I see particular words in the same heading, I take notice! Today’s words? Home-schooling and Illegal.

The very brief article that opens with question: Should home-schooling be illegal? and closes with the question: Should parents need teaching credentials to home-school their kids?

You can vote in the poll here. I think the results might surprise you.

Posted in Homeschooling, More Slices of Life, News DuJour | Print | 5 Comments »