Faith Family Freedom and Firearms

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases…” (Psalm 103:1-3).

I woke up this past Lord’s Day (June 4) in a LOT of pain in my abdomen. I thought maybe it was a kidney stone.  I was really trying to get ready for church services but the pain just kept getting worse. So, after a while and my wife convinced men to, I decided to go to the ER instead of church.   We went to Avita Emergency Room which is located at the Richland Mall in Ontario OH. They took me in right away, ran a few tests and determined my problem was appendicitis! Right away they prepped me for surgery to have my appendix removed!

The surgery went well, praise the Lord.  I am amazed that the incision is small and they sent me home the same day. The recovery is gonna be a number of days and I’m still in pain but thankful for God’s goodness to me.  Please keep me in your prayers.

“Last Man Standing” is being cancelled from ABC, even though the hit comedy is very popular.   While I don’t watch a lot of tv, I do enjoy the show.   Tim Allen was always a favorite of mine growing up.  (Who else remembers Home Improvement?).  His show is one of the few with conservative values.    Notice the following clip:

I think we need to remember that all media is educational…  Depending on the program depends on what is the education.  And the powers that be are telling us what kind of education they want.  An education that is godless.

20th Century Fox is reportedly looking for a new home for the popular show.   Pureflix posted that they are interested in it, which I think would be great!

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces….”  (Daniel 2:34)

I am awake this evening watching yet another monument being removed from New Orleans.  Now, I just want to say that I have never been to New Orleans, nor was it on my list of places I wanted to go to.   However, I think the removal of the monuments there are a mistake.   If the monuments and historical markers that certain groups find offensive are removed, would there be any left?   History is supposed to show us the good, bad and the ugly of what has happened.  Let them be.

I have seen some magnificent monuments in this country to various individuals. Whether in Washington DC, Memphis, or Richmond, these all tell a story of our past.  The stones they were carved from is beautiful and my family and I enjoy learning from them.   Yes, that’s right, the best education is, a lot of times, outside the pages of a textbook.

The powers that be may try to erase our past.  They may take down some monuments that are over 100 years old.  And, though the cowards wearing masks backed by their mayor may have taken down some monuments in the south, I am here to tell you there is a Stone that will NEVER be removed.

His name is Jesus.   The only hope we have.

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”   (Acts 4:10-12)

While the hostile removal of our history makes my blood boil, I’m resting tonight in the blessed Rock of Ages.   How about you?

I just finished reading Education: Does God Have An Opinion by Israel Wayne, published by Master Books.   The book is divided up into two parts.  The first, he calls “The Apologetic,” in which he deals with establishing a truly Biblical philosophy of education.  The second part, is what he calls “The Core Subjects,” is all about applying a Biblical worldview consistently to all areas of education, from science to history, from mathematics to logic, from philosophy to language arts, and everything in between!

God has a lot to say about education in His Word.   And by far, Education: Does God Have An Opinion is the best book I have read on the subject.  Mr Wayne lays it out there Scripturally.  His argument is sound and logical, standing on the firm foundation of God’s Word.   His approach to the core subjects will bring new life to your way of thinking.   And his use of Scriptures makes the study exciting.  This isn’t Wayne’s opinion he is writing about, it’s God’s.

The book tackles subjects such as sports, socialization, public schools, academics, and a host of other issues that parents often have questions or concerns about.   This is a “must have” for every family library, as well as every church library, and if I had the money to make it happen, I’d buy them myself!

Here’s a video from Mr Wayne about his book:

 

Back in October, I wrote that I had never been to a homeschool convention.  Well as of April 20, that has changed.  My wife and I, along with our two oldest children went to the Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention, and wow what a great time it was!

Two things we didn’t know (but figured out real quick) was that with multiple speakers speaking at the same time (in different rooms), sometimes it was hard to choose which one to hear.   So, sometimes we both attended a session and other times my wife and I split up so and agreed to share our notes later.

We also didn’t plan for meals.  I think next time we will pack some sandwiches.   We had stayed at the Comfort Inn, which was only 1 mile away from the convention so it wasn’t too bad going to and from the room.  And there were plenty of restaurants close by.  But still, having that sandwich might have saved a bit on money and time!

It would be impossible for me to list everything I loved about the convention.  But, here’s what would top the list:

• Jesus Christ was the central theme of the convention.  (This was a Christian event).
• The speakers all had well thought out topics.  They spoke truth and encouragement.
• I was challenged and learned a lot.

Here’s some of my favorite quotes and takeaways:

Submit to the authority of God’s Word (see James 4:7). You may read it, study it, even have respect for it, but are you submitted? Steve Scheibner on the subject of “Second Mile Leadership: The 9 Essential Practices of Character”

Learn to be encouragers (those who inspire courage) rather than discourage (take away courage)! – Israel Wayne  “The Power of Affirmation (to Motivate Reluctant Students”

Academics cannot be the god of our Homeschool. We must not neglect the hearts of our children! – Jeannie Fulbright

“Tis better for God to approve than the world applaud.” -Robin Heltzer.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). Purity is about the condition of the heart. –  Jennie Bishop speaking on “Raising Pure Boys in a Dirty World.”

“The best education comes from the one who cares the most.” Israel Wayne“What About Socialization?”

God has called us to lead our families. Recognize it and lead or don’t and suffer the consequences. -Mike Donnelly, HSLDA.

“No subject is religiously neutral. Education begins with either the idea that God exists or the He does not exist.”   Israel Wayne on  “Education: Does God Have An Opinion.”

 

I have pages and pages of notes.   I was challenged as well as encouraged to be a better dad, husband, and teacher as we devote our lives to serve the Lord and be obedient to His Word.

Lord willing, we will be going to the convention next year.  This may have been our first, but I pray it won’t be our last!

 

I am now a “life member” of the NRA.   Some several years ago, I signed up for what they called “easy pay life” and sent $25 a quarter to them.   I don’t always agree with the National Rifle Association, but I do figure it this way:  If it weren’t for them, the right to keep and bear arms in this country would not still be here.   Thank God for  the work that has been done, and let us not stop now.

I have never been to a homeschool convention, which I suppose is relatively odd.  I am a homeschool graduate.  My wife and I homeschool our kids (the oldest is 12).   And we have friends who homeschool.

We have friends who have gone to homeschool conventions!  But we never have.

Lord willing, that’s about to change.   I signed us up for the Sandusky Ohio Teach Them Diligently Conference in April 2017.

If you are are interested or want more information, use this link http://ssqt.co/mcb8IV7 and save $5.

Hope you can go too.  And if you are in Ohio I will see you in Sandusky!

Here is a little something I copied from A.H. Strong’s Systematic Theology sometime ago, and thought I’d share it here. This was first published in 1907 but the words still ring true and I find his advice to be good:

To Find God’s Will

1.Pray
2.Think.
3.Talk to wise people, but do not regard their decision as final.
4.Beware of the bias of your own will, but do not be too much afraid of it. (God never unnecessarily thwarts a man’s nature and likings, and it is a mistake to think His will is always in the line of the disagreeable.)
5.Meantime, do the next thing (for doing God’s will in small things is the best preparation for knowing it in great things).
6.When decision and action are necessary, go ahead.
7.Never reconsider the decision when it is finally acted on.
8.You will probably not find out until afterwards, perhaps long afterwards that you have been led at all.

ATTENTION!
The Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, where I pastor, now has a website located at http://www.sgbcmansfield.org/.   Please visit our site and update your records accordingly.