I Have Been Thinking

I haven’t written anything here in a while because I’ve been thinking and reading too much, and my brain is about to explode!

That little pink hippo at the feet of “The Thinker”? That’s me.

I have been thinking about politics – Obamacare and Common Core especially – they are tied together in a subtle way – the attack on religious freedom and freedom in general

I have been thinking about education – Common Core and kids who are stuck in public school but desperately want out and the attack on homeschool freedom and religious freedom – the history of education that reveals how the public education system has been hijacked by socialists

I have been thinking about Bill Gates and how he is acting like “The Brain” in Pinky and the Brain and trying to take over the world.

I have been thinking about religion – Taking care of orphans and widows, if you see someone with a need and you can help but don’t help, what does that say about your love level and your religion? Why do Christians have to fight among themselves about details that don’t matter while the enemy is attacking and defeating us in the war?

I have been thinking about theology – The “quietness camp” and the “confidence camp” – they’re both right, but they’re both wrong – these terms are taken from “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge

I have been praying for this little guy: Matt Yong Clement He has a tumor that covers half of his face and has almost cut off his breathing. Kim and Jane Clement adopted him from China and brought him here to California to get the tumor removed. The doctors (19 of them!) are consulting right now about how to proceed. He had a tracheotomy, and now they are having trouble getting him off the ventilator. He has been delirious because of the drugs. I have been praying for his healing, and my heart hurts for him and for his new parents.

And I have been playing chauffeur to two sons who have jobs but no cars (no licenses for that matter!).

And my camera broke, so I don’t have cute pictures that inspire me to write.

So which topic should I write about first?

After Nine Months of Unemployment – We Have a Job!

We finally got our breakthrough today! Gary starts his job tomorrow! I’m very excited!

More radical changes are on the way. Here are a few in the last month:

1. Shawn has been working at his job for a month and a half.

2. Patrick is working at Family Dollar. He just started Saturday.

3. Anna helps a friend of ours with cleaning jobs. And Anna is learning Karate, self-defense, assault prevention, etc., and she is now a white belt. She wants to be an instructor.

4. Gary starts a new job tomorrow. A full-time job. With benefits. We haven’t had benefits in about 12 years.

But we never go to a doctor, so it hasn’t been much of a problem.

But the Lord is so good to us. I just had to share. Rejoice with us! We were on the verge of losing hope. It has been very hard lately. But God has answered our prayers. He is faithful. If you have waited a long time, don’t give up. I still have a prayer request that I write every time I give. We want our own home and farm. We are believing God for it. In the natural it is impossible. But With God All Things Are Possible!!!

We are still believing for this miracle. This job for Gary is a sign that our God is with us and answers our prayers. Believe God for great things. Don’t stop believing.

Never, never give up!

Time to Beef Up Our Bible Study

It would seem that we need to work harder on our Bible knowledge, judging by Morgan’s performance today during our Bible study time.

I read to some of the kids several of the main concepts from the Gospel of John today. Then I asked some questions to find out what they had learned.

I asked if John the Baptist was the same as the John who wrote the book of the Bible. None were too certain, so it was quiet for several minutes. Then Morgan said, “Wasn’t Matthew the one that was called “The Rock” after he wrecked and was bit by a snake but didn’t die?”

I stared at him. Was he being serious? Or was he joking? I found myself praying that he was joking.

I told him, “No, Matthew was a tax collector. Peter was called “The Rock”. And Paul was the one who was shipwrecked and bitten by a snake but survived.” “Oh,” he said.

Then I asked the names of John the Baptist’s parents. Nobody said anything, so Morgan volunteered. He got Elisabeth right. Then he tried to think of his father’s name. “Artaxerxes?” I stared at him again. NO! I said, “Morgan, we’re in the New Testament now.” “Oh.”

Nobody knew the name of John the Baptist’s father, so I told them that an angel had told him that his wife was going to have a baby. Morgan shouted out, “Abraham!” My eyes could not open much wider, and my brain could not take much more of this mishmash of Bible knowledge. It was hurting, and I was starting to panic.

But Morgan wasn’t done. He suddenly blurted out, “Then wasn’t it Matthew that fell off his donkey and was struck blind and then the donkey started talking to him because he was beating him?”

He must be doing this on purpose.

To top it all off, he held up his index finger in an “AHA!” gesture and announced, “Luke and Peter – The Thunder Brothers!”

Morgan is a funny guy. And he prides himself on being obnoxious. So I’m not sure if he was goofing around, but just to be sure, we will definitely be beefing up our Bible study from now on.

The questions I asked aren’t even things that are covered in John. They are in the other Gospels. But I thought they were general knowledge that everybody would know. Guess I was wrong!

Huge Giveaway from Knowledge Quest

Here is a huge giveaway of some amazing products. You don’t want to miss out on this.

It is at Some Call It Natural

It includes all of this! Yes, I’m serious!

A Child’s Geography Volume 3 with Wonders of Old Timeline Book ($59.90)
NotebookingPages.com Treasury Membership ($99.95)
Philosophy Adventure Physical set ($89.95)
Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries Intro Pack from Diana Waring ($64.95)
Writeshop Primary Level (winners choice of A, B, or C) plus Activity Pack plus You Can Write A Story ($51.85)
Raising Real Men prize package ($100) Raising Real Men Book, My Beloved and My Friend Book, A Cry From Egypt Book, Boot Camp 9-12, Hero Tales Complete set
A Journey Through Learning $50 Gift Certificate
3 Months A+ Tutorsoft ($49.95)
Lilla Rose (2 Flexi Clips) ($32.00)
See The Light (2 DVDs) ($30)
King Alfred’s English and Baktar (Laurie White) ($25)

Don’t miss out on this chance to enter to win all of these great resources.

Giveaway of YA Christian novel: The Sparrow Found a House

Are you looking for a good book for your teenager that is interesting and relevant, yet teaches good morals and values?

Elisha Press is running a “blitz giveaway” of some signed softcover books. Five copies of “The Sparrow Found A House,” autographed by author Jason McIntire, will be given away on Saturday night. You can enter with just your email address here: http://elishapress.com/blog/sept-2013-giveaway?referrer=penney .

“The Sparrow Found A House” is a Christian novel targeted toward young adults, but advertised to be suitable for all ages. The author is a 2005 homeschool graduate, and homeschooling plays a major role in the story. Here’s the synopsis from the back of the book:

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rivera is living every teenager’s nightmare. Her widowed mom has married a man who wears his heavy Christian values like his sergeant’s stripes – on both sleeves.

Glenn Sparrow is persistent, immovable, and not afraid to be firm. Worse than that, he’s loving, kind – even fun – and he has Chris, Moe, and Katie completely won over.

But Jessie is determined that she won’t be won over, or give up her “freedom” without a fight. She knows what she wants, and it isn’t what they’ve got.

Or is it?

Reviewers have used phrases such as “realistic,” “true to life,” “believable,” and “hard-hitting but understandable” to describe The Sparrow Found A House. All seem to agree that it’s a little different from most Christian fiction.

Be sure to get your entry in soon, as the giveaway ends at 8PM Central on Saturday: http://elishapress.com/blog/sept-2013-giveaway?referrer=penney .

On their website, you can read the story online for free! I just did, and I really liked this story. It takes you through the process of a family becoming a godly, loving family, as they leave behind the ways of the world. They change step by step, and one of those steps is to start homeschooling their children. Many realistic life situations happen to them as they struggle to make this transition. They encounter turbulence from without and within their family. They face opposition to their efforts, but they continue to pray and ask God for strength and wisdom, and He takes them from glory to glory.

It is a very good story.

I still really like books I can hold in my hand, so I would like to buy the softcover book. I would like for my kids to read the story, and they would be more likely to read it if we have a physical copy of it. I may just read the story to all of them. It’s that good!

You can also get free digital copies of the story at their website here.