Children and Answered Prayer

It is amazing how God graciously answers the prayers of our children.

This evening, we all took our dog, Lady, to the dog park. Our daughter was lamenting the fact that some of her favorite dogs weren't there for her to play with. So, I boldly prayed with her that God would bring one of them to the dog park within five minutes. She added that she wanted to see Belle and Strider the most. Within less than two minutes, Belle and Strider showed up!

Now, in light of eternity, a little girl's wish for two dogs to play with doesn't seem very important.

But, a few hours later, while putting our daughter to bed, she became sad about her birth mother [a recurring thing these days]. Usually, when I ask if we could pray for her birth mother, our daughter gets upset. But tonight, she agreed. Since her birth mother probably wakes up shortly after our daughter goes to bed [time zone difference], together we prayed for her birth mother to have a good day. We prayed that she would become a Christian if she isn't already. Then, our daughter prayed that her birth mother would want to talk to her when we find her [a search that we won't be able to institute for another 7 1/2 years].

Now, I know He's not Santa Claus, and His ways are not always our ways. But, if God can make two dogs show up at the dog park, can't He make a birth mother want to meet her birth daughter?

Another Reason Why We Home School

Fifty Years of Math 1957 - 2007

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding
the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this?

Because of the evolution in teaching math since the
1950s:

1. Teaching Math In 1950s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?

2. Teaching Math In 1960s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100 His cost of production is 4/5
of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

3. Teaching Math In 1970s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
$80. Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
$80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Math In 1990s

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the
preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class
participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels
feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and
if you feel like crying, it's OK. )

6. Teaching Math In 2007

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100.
El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

Have a GREAT day!!


[This was sent to me by my cousin, John, and I found the truth and irony compelling enough to share it in my blog.
The photo is the cover of the 1857 Ray's Arithmetic.]

"Praise My Soul"

This was our processional hymn in church yesterday. What words of wisdom are tucked away in this hymn! I know that long posts can become tedious, so I'll just share a few nuggets. Go here to read all five stanzas and listen to the music.






Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

The third line of the first stanza gives us enough to ponder for an entire lifetime. We are ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven. Rereading those four words helped me to more fully grasp their weight.

Verse two tells us that He is slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Oh, that we could always be like that with our children. How easy it is to be swift to chide and slow to bless.

Lord, help me to truly grasp what You have done in my life. Give me the wisdom and strength to forgive others as I have been forgiven.

Real Work for Sons--part 2

A few weeks ago our son made a blow dart gun out of a broken fishing rod. He made darts out of wooden shish-kabob skewers and craft foam. He's been out in the backyard shooting homemade cardboard targets and even taught his little sister how to do it.

The other day he purchased some one inch diameter PVC pipe, cut it to size, wrapped it with camoflage duct tape, and added a PVC "mouthpiece." He then spent the better part of the afternoon in the backyard shooting at just about anything he could get his hands on, including an old potato.

We watched him, intently shooting. "It's natural that he wants to shoot at things," my husband said. "Yes," I replied. "He's ready to help defend the family."

And here we sit in suburbia. In a neighborhood of tract houses, across the street from a government school that we've never used.

Lord, I know each part of 'the body' has its place. Help us to learn where we fit. Help us to be obedient. Help us to be content.

Theses on Worship-Part 9

Notes from Jim Jordan's book, Theses on Worship...

Thesis 13
Worship Comes in a Context of Death

The title of Thesis #13 may be a little off-putting, but read some of what Jordan has to say:

"...death comes in many ways: the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of a dream; a pregnant teenager; a son with AIDS; a philandering spouse; a fearful sickness; a spell of depression; a bitter and sarcastic mate; a dark night of the soul. Psychological techniques may give 'fast, temporary relief' to some of these things, but in fact all are forms of death. It is the pastoral ministry of the Church and only the Church that can deal with the fact of death."

"The gospel is real good news for real people hurting in real life situations. That is why modern gospel songs are so inadequate. They present a 'happy gospel' without the context of pain, enemies, and death. Advertising-jingle music just does not make the grade.

"The effect of this kind of worship is that it isolates worship from life instead of transforming life into worship."

(To read previous posts on Jordan's book, click on "worship" below.)

"Breathe on Me, Breath of God"

I always thought this hymn was written recently because of its simplicity, but its author was Englishman Edwin Hatch (1835-1889).

Biographers have written:

"Hatch was a man of deep piety and simplicity of spirit..."

"Hatch was an esteemed member of the Oxford University faculty, ... but when it came to expressing his faith in ways that would speak to the ordinary person, nobody has done it better than Edwin Hatch did..."

"Dr. Hatch was widely known for his scholarship and lectures in early church history. Despite his scholarly attainments, Hatch was said to have possessed a faith as 'simple and unaffected as a child's.'"

Towards the end of his life, Hatch was the rector in Purleigh, England(pictured above).


"Breathe on Me, Breath of God"


Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Blend all my soul with Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Real Work for Sons

Some dear friends and I recently got to talking about the problems of small families and living in suburbia.

First, one lady wondered if the fact that most families are small nowadays made relationships more difficult. Instead of several siblings to chose from for various games, activities, and confidences, children now usually have only one or two siblings. They don't have to learn to share on such a large scale, etc.

Then I added that perhaps even more damaging is the lack of substantive work for children to do in the family. My family is getting a little tired of me saying, "If we lived on a farm...," but I think how different our lives would be if we had a small farm. Our twelve-year-old son would have something substantive to occupy his brain, muscles, and hours. In addition, it would be IMPORTANT to the good of the family. There seems to be something wrong about living in suburbia, with Dad driving off to work every day. Even if Mom and the kids are home schooling, there are a lack of meaningful tasks for children, especially boys, to contribute to the well-being of the family.

A blogger from Pennsylvania recently wrote a post about the PBS series "Frontier House" (now out on DVD) which he and his family had viewed. Upon finishing the series, he wrote the following:

I asked my sons, why do you think these children would rather have been back on the frontier where it was all such hard work? My youngest replied, "Because they knew they were needed." They knew they were needed! Children don't need all the latest toys or video games. They need to know that they are needed (and I would say "loved" as well).

This is one of the things that draws me to agrarianism. The desire to be able to raise my boys in an environment where each is a contributing member of the family, where they can see that they are making a difference, that they are needed, that they are wanted.

I say a hearty "Amen" to this family, and I pray they are able to lead the agrarian lifestyle they so desire.