It is interesting how certain things play out in the political arena. But this is a critical election, not because the pundits and politicians tell us so, but because of things like the YouTube below.
If you haven't seen it I pray you'll take ten minutes to do so.
Kyrie eleison!
September 30, 2008
September 29, 2008
V for Veritas, Tactic or Strategy
"I am afraid Senator Obama does not understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy." John McCain, September 26, 2008 at the Presidential Debate between the two senators.
My oldest daughter, Sarah, has had a political bent since she was 2 and 1/2 where she punished her Grammy for voting for Ross Perot by not walking with her anymore or holding her hand. This event occured on the way to Dan's Bake Sale. Google it if you don't remember it, or are curious.
Since then her political interests have grown and developed through the years.
At the age of 9, Sarah drug us down to the local Republican office and she offered to volunteer for Bill Owens in his campaign for governor. Because of her age, they required that a parent participate in volunteering with her. A reasonable request to be sure, but also requiring a time commitment on our part.
So, like good parents, we complied and began volunteering beside her. This was in July. In August of that year at the annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade that many political candidates walk in, our daughter was carrying a sign in support of Bill Owens close to his float. As we walked the parade route, folks called out to us that having her carry the sign was "child abuse." Little did they know that it was her passion that spurred us on to helping her do what she desired to do.
This was also the first time that we had been referred to as Sarah's parents.
Because we homeschool, we were able to tailor Sarah's learning to her passion for politics. She took three years of the US Constitution and can quote many sections of it. She not only learned the basics, but also about the Supreme Court cases that helped to shape the interpretation of the Constitution.
She also volunteered as an intern for four years in high school for a representative who, together with his wife, founded CHEC (Christian Home Educators of Colorado). In those four years she learned about the reality of politics from the inside and grew in her understanding and knowledge of how the inner workings of the political scene are accomplished, or not. She also volunteered on many more campaigns, locally, statewide and nationally. Some were winning campaigns, some were not.
Right now there is a referendum on the Colorado ballot that would allow 21-year olds to run for and hold office in the Colorado State House or Senate. The age requirement now is 25-years old. This referendum was co-sponsored by the representative that Sarah interned for with the specific intention of allowing people like Sarah to run for office.
Since graduating from high school in May 2007, Sarah has been the Executive Director of the HEARTH Fund, a Political Action Team that promotes choice in education, Christian family values in Colorado politics. In the last election, the HEARTH Fund supported 16 candidates and 10 of those were elected. It was founded in 2004 by Representative Kevin Lundberg. Since Sarah assumed the ED position, the HEARTH Fund has almost doubled in size and continues to grow. She began the 5X5 campaign, helped with state-wide caucus training and recently launched the SEND campaign on the Amy Oliver Show.
Tomorrow, Sarah has the opportunity to approach a local investor to ask him to help fund her vision for the future of the HEARTH Fund. We would appreciate your prayers for that meeting.
Well, Sarah has become convinced through the last several months that she needs to geer herself towards becoming more involved in politics. (Is that possible?) Therefore, she has begun a political blog and I invite you to view it and engage her in discussion if you feel up to debating on the internet.
So, how does this tie in to the quote at the top? Truth is always truth, and that's not a tactic, it's a strategy. Veritas mean truth. I could say something rather mean-spirited, but I'll exhibit restraint for now and refrain from doing so!
Let me know what you think of her blog in my comments.
My oldest daughter, Sarah, has had a political bent since she was 2 and 1/2 where she punished her Grammy for voting for Ross Perot by not walking with her anymore or holding her hand. This event occured on the way to Dan's Bake Sale. Google it if you don't remember it, or are curious.
Since then her political interests have grown and developed through the years.
At the age of 9, Sarah drug us down to the local Republican office and she offered to volunteer for Bill Owens in his campaign for governor. Because of her age, they required that a parent participate in volunteering with her. A reasonable request to be sure, but also requiring a time commitment on our part.
So, like good parents, we complied and began volunteering beside her. This was in July. In August of that year at the annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade that many political candidates walk in, our daughter was carrying a sign in support of Bill Owens close to his float. As we walked the parade route, folks called out to us that having her carry the sign was "child abuse." Little did they know that it was her passion that spurred us on to helping her do what she desired to do.
This was also the first time that we had been referred to as Sarah's parents.
Because we homeschool, we were able to tailor Sarah's learning to her passion for politics. She took three years of the US Constitution and can quote many sections of it. She not only learned the basics, but also about the Supreme Court cases that helped to shape the interpretation of the Constitution.
She also volunteered as an intern for four years in high school for a representative who, together with his wife, founded CHEC (Christian Home Educators of Colorado). In those four years she learned about the reality of politics from the inside and grew in her understanding and knowledge of how the inner workings of the political scene are accomplished, or not. She also volunteered on many more campaigns, locally, statewide and nationally. Some were winning campaigns, some were not.
Right now there is a referendum on the Colorado ballot that would allow 21-year olds to run for and hold office in the Colorado State House or Senate. The age requirement now is 25-years old. This referendum was co-sponsored by the representative that Sarah interned for with the specific intention of allowing people like Sarah to run for office.
Since graduating from high school in May 2007, Sarah has been the Executive Director of the HEARTH Fund, a Political Action Team that promotes choice in education, Christian family values in Colorado politics. In the last election, the HEARTH Fund supported 16 candidates and 10 of those were elected. It was founded in 2004 by Representative Kevin Lundberg. Since Sarah assumed the ED position, the HEARTH Fund has almost doubled in size and continues to grow. She began the 5X5 campaign, helped with state-wide caucus training and recently launched the SEND campaign on the Amy Oliver Show.
Tomorrow, Sarah has the opportunity to approach a local investor to ask him to help fund her vision for the future of the HEARTH Fund. We would appreciate your prayers for that meeting.
Well, Sarah has become convinced through the last several months that she needs to geer herself towards becoming more involved in politics. (Is that possible?) Therefore, she has begun a political blog and I invite you to view it and engage her in discussion if you feel up to debating on the internet.
So, how does this tie in to the quote at the top? Truth is always truth, and that's not a tactic, it's a strategy. Veritas mean truth. I could say something rather mean-spirited, but I'll exhibit restraint for now and refrain from doing so!
Let me know what you think of her blog in my comments.
Scraping
With two older sisters and a mom to constantly watch and learn from, it is interesting how our youngest views certain activites.
R's newest observation is that girls don't shave their legs, they scrape the hair off.
So of course we've changed our family lexicon of words to now include that we are scraping and NOT shaving!
R furthered her observations in that when daddy scrapes the beard off his face it makes a lot of noise and the girls are quieter.
R's newest observation is that girls don't shave their legs, they scrape the hair off.
So of course we've changed our family lexicon of words to now include that we are scraping and NOT shaving!
R furthered her observations in that when daddy scrapes the beard off his face it makes a lot of noise and the girls are quieter.
September 12, 2008
September 11, 2008
Considering Our Options
Jane has a very well reasoned post that I think you should read as you consider your important voting privilege this fall.
Twenty diets could not cure their gluttony
We are studying the Book of Concord in our Wednesday evening Bible class. Last year we covered the Augsburg Confession. This year we're starting with the Smalcald Articles. It's been interesting as our instructor has added tons of historical references and personal information about the folks involved so the picture developing for us is more than one dimensional.
One of my daughters takes copious notes, the other one doodles, and the inference from that is that the doodler isn't paying quite as much attention as the other. That would be wrong.
We were discussing this paragraph (page 261, Paragraph 12 from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions)
Our instructor thought it amazing that the cultural aspects that Luther was describing seem awfully familiar to us today.
And as the discussion continued, he asked, "So what was Luther saying here?"
To which, the doodler responded, "Twenty diets couldn't cure their gluttony."
That made us giggle, but he wasn't quite as amused as we were.
One of my daughters takes copious notes, the other one doodles, and the inference from that is that the doodler isn't paying quite as much attention as the other. That would be wrong.
We were discussing this paragraph (page 261, Paragraph 12 from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions)
Besides such necessary Church affairs, many important matters in the
political realm could also be improved. The princes and the estates
disagree. Interest rates and greed have burst in like a flood and are
defended under the law. Also, disrespect, lust, extravagance in dress,
gluttony, gambling, pomp, and all kinds of bad habits and evil. Subjects,
servants, and workers in every trade are insubordinate. The demands on the
peasants are unfair. Prices are exorbitant (who can list
everything?) These things have increased so much that they cannot be
corrected by ten councils and twenty commissions (diets). The council would
have their hands full if such important issues of the spiritual and earthly
realms that are contrary to God would be considered.
Our instructor thought it amazing that the cultural aspects that Luther was describing seem awfully familiar to us today.
And as the discussion continued, he asked, "So what was Luther saying here?"
To which, the doodler responded, "Twenty diets couldn't cure their gluttony."
That made us giggle, but he wasn't quite as amused as we were.
9-11 memories
I was talking with a patient today at work who is about my same age. As he was filling out a check to pay, he realized it was 9-11. We talked about how it was the date for our generation that we could always say what we were doing and what was going on when we heard about it, much as when JFK was assisinated for my parents' generation, and when Pearl Harbor was bombed for the generation before that.
So, I thought I'd share our story...
The morning of 9-11-01 I was sleeping and the rudeness of the phone on my dresser ringing awoke me. Everyone knows I'm a night owl, so calling me at 7:30 am had to mean something pretty serious. It was my niece from San Antonio who worked for an airline there and had gotten off her shift to hear about the goings-on on the radio on the way home. Then she called me.
I turned on the TV in our room and sat in disbelief as my husband and I watched (the phone had awakened him too!)
Then, as the reporters were wondering what might occur next and that President Bush has been whisked off to places unknown, the reporters opined that Norad might be a target along with the AFA. That put me into motion!
I woke up all the kids, who were none too happy, got them dressed and ready to hide in the basement, or go to a shelter or whatever was necessary. My mother had died the previous year and so my dad joined us, since he just lived a short distance away. Hubby had thoughts of gathering in his folks, too, but they weren't budging from their home.
My dad shared that when JFK was murdered, our family was stationed in Japan. They were told to gather all their families and report to base, where we stayed for a few days until they were comfortable knowing that more wasn't to come. He said because the news was delayed and because they were out of country, it added to their feelings of stress and worry. I can imagine that it did.
Dad also shared about how he learned of Pearl Harbor. His mother had died the previous year and they were in church when they heard. They suspended the services and just started to pray for hours between listening to the radio which someone brought into the sanctuary. He remembered that when they finally broke to go home, he felt insecure and frightened. He was greatly encouraged by FDR's address the following day.
I know that 9-11 was a scary day for a lot of folks and for too many a day of incredible sadness. Each and every day that we have not had another attack, I have been grateful to President Bush for his handling of this situation and for taking on the terrorists.
As the rallying cry goes -- NEVER AGAIN! And DON'T FORGET!
So, I thought I'd share our story...
The morning of 9-11-01 I was sleeping and the rudeness of the phone on my dresser ringing awoke me. Everyone knows I'm a night owl, so calling me at 7:30 am had to mean something pretty serious. It was my niece from San Antonio who worked for an airline there and had gotten off her shift to hear about the goings-on on the radio on the way home. Then she called me.
I turned on the TV in our room and sat in disbelief as my husband and I watched (the phone had awakened him too!)
Then, as the reporters were wondering what might occur next and that President Bush has been whisked off to places unknown, the reporters opined that Norad might be a target along with the AFA. That put me into motion!
I woke up all the kids, who were none too happy, got them dressed and ready to hide in the basement, or go to a shelter or whatever was necessary. My mother had died the previous year and so my dad joined us, since he just lived a short distance away. Hubby had thoughts of gathering in his folks, too, but they weren't budging from their home.
My dad shared that when JFK was murdered, our family was stationed in Japan. They were told to gather all their families and report to base, where we stayed for a few days until they were comfortable knowing that more wasn't to come. He said because the news was delayed and because they were out of country, it added to their feelings of stress and worry. I can imagine that it did.
Dad also shared about how he learned of Pearl Harbor. His mother had died the previous year and they were in church when they heard. They suspended the services and just started to pray for hours between listening to the radio which someone brought into the sanctuary. He remembered that when they finally broke to go home, he felt insecure and frightened. He was greatly encouraged by FDR's address the following day.
I know that 9-11 was a scary day for a lot of folks and for too many a day of incredible sadness. Each and every day that we have not had another attack, I have been grateful to President Bush for his handling of this situation and for taking on the terrorists.
As the rallying cry goes -- NEVER AGAIN! And DON'T FORGET!
September 4, 2008
Aw, thanks!
Esther has bestowed an award upon my blog. How nice! Pop over and see her cutie pie kids! There smiles will make you grin for sure!
Now the hard part is to pass it on to other folks! I believe the number is supposed to be 10, but being the independent minded person that I am, I'm rejecting that standard and issuing it to those I think deserve a hug for their wonderful blog posts. If you care to pass it on, please do so to however many people you think should have it.
So here goes:
1. Gina has such a real way of sharing her joys and struggles. When she writes, sometimes I wonder if she's been peeking in my brain. When she writes about struggling with certain things, although I do not face her same struggles, it reminds me that we each have our own burdens to overcome with the help of the Lord. Her faith is amazing. I admire her for sharing it, warts and all, and for the loving care and patience she lavishes on her sweet son, John.
2. Angie's thoughtful posts inspire me! She is a good writer and a classy lady.
3. Susan's posts impress me with their brain power. Gosh she can think her way around theological subjects and other things, and because of that I always learn things from her posts.
4. Jane is what I would call an "old guard" homeschooler and not because in age she's reached a certain age. In fact, I have no idea what Jane's age is. It's because she exhibits an independence and a sense of let's check that out and then thinks her way through what she's discovered. She doesn't do this in a way that is insulting to others. And I do not mean to demean in any way other folks who operate differently from Jane. I just mean that I admire Jane for her convictions and the way she comes to them.
I reserve the right to award more folks in the future with this award, but for now, that's it folks!
September 1, 2008
What are you reading?
The doctor I work for asked me what I was reading the other day. There's only one book I'm reading right now for me, and I've been reading it since March. Not his cup of tea, he thought it would be dull, dull, dull to read about such matters. It isn't dull to me, in fact it's quite interesting. But I do need to set aside time to read it, because I don't think it can be consumed in short bits.
It got me to thinking about all the reading I do that isn't for me, per se, which is an occupational hazard for homeschooling moms. I have gotten the best suggestions from other homeschool moms about what books to read for a variety of subjects. And I've learned so much from them!
It also made me think that this could easily be converted into a MEME (yes, I said that word...)
So here goes! This is the Reading Meme (obviously I lack a pizazzy title, so feel free to alter it if you can come up with something better!)
You can answer, or not, whichever questions appeal to you. Let's leave The Bible out of this... since most of my readers are Christians, we'll assume you like being in The Word.
Please let me know in the comments section that you're participating so I can jump over to your blog and read your answers.
Share with whomever you want.
Who is your favorite fictional author?
John Grisham or John Jakes I've really enjoyed John Grisham's novels, and movies. I like the intrigue that he creates. I read a lot of John Jakes in high school and college as my father began reading The Kent Family Chronicles and he thought I would enjoy them. YES! I sure did. And the movies were ok.
What is your favorite fictional book?
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell I spent hours baking in the sun every summer from the age of 12 through 18 reading this tome. It is so much more satisfying than the movie, although I like the movie, I just believe they left too much out that develops Scarlett's character. I wanted to name one of our daughter's Katey Scarlett, but my husband vetoed that!
Who is your favorite non-fictional author?
Richard J. Maybury of "Uncle Eric" fame or Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
What is your favorite non-fictional book?
The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. I converted to Lutheranism after marrying my husband who is a life-long LCMS-er! (Is that a new word?) ;-)
What is your favorite kind of poetry?
Although some might deny it's true poetic nature, my favorite kind of poetry is .... limericks! Of Irish descent and continually intrigued by the way words can be used, limericks attrack my attention and don't have to be bawdy!
Who is your favorite poet?
Not sure I have one.
What is your favorite poem?
Probably Casey at the Bat by Phineas Thayer
What is the longest book you've read?
Since I never finished War and Peace, and we're not including The Bible, probably Gone With the Wind.
What is the last book you read for yourself (not for the kids!)?
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right by Bernie Goldberg which I blogged about here.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
Reading the Psalms with Luther and A Seminary in Crisis by Paul A. Zimmerman. I am learning lots from both reads.
I'm reading aloud Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss with R. The rich language of this novel is really amazing.
I am re-reading the Uncle Eric books with my senior this year along with War for What? by Francis W. Springer. Up next with the senior, K, is The Word Becoming Flesh by Horace D. Hummel.
List up to three books you intend to read by the end of the year.
Who knows? The doctor I work for recommends Colony by Ann Rivers Siddon.
Share with us about a book you read that you didn't want to but ended up enjoying.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was a delightful surprise. I read it as part of an AP class in high school that I took at a local college while a senior in high school. The other books we had read that semester were dull as tomes to me, and I thought this would be the same. To my surprise it was not!
Share with us about a book that you thought you'd like and ended up hating.
My college professor so highly recommended this book for a modern literature course that I couldn't wait to get to it! However, I thoroughly disliked this book and it was torture to finish it.
Share with us if you have a favorite series of books.
The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes. I enjoyed sharing these books with my dad and talking about them after we both had read them.
Name your favorite genre of books.
Historical fiction of course!
It got me to thinking about all the reading I do that isn't for me, per se, which is an occupational hazard for homeschooling moms. I have gotten the best suggestions from other homeschool moms about what books to read for a variety of subjects. And I've learned so much from them!
It also made me think that this could easily be converted into a MEME (yes, I said that word...)
So here goes! This is the Reading Meme (obviously I lack a pizazzy title, so feel free to alter it if you can come up with something better!)
You can answer, or not, whichever questions appeal to you. Let's leave The Bible out of this... since most of my readers are Christians, we'll assume you like being in The Word.
Please let me know in the comments section that you're participating so I can jump over to your blog and read your answers.
Share with whomever you want.
Who is your favorite fictional author?
John Grisham or John Jakes I've really enjoyed John Grisham's novels, and movies. I like the intrigue that he creates. I read a lot of John Jakes in high school and college as my father began reading The Kent Family Chronicles and he thought I would enjoy them. YES! I sure did. And the movies were ok.
What is your favorite fictional book?
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell I spent hours baking in the sun every summer from the age of 12 through 18 reading this tome. It is so much more satisfying than the movie, although I like the movie, I just believe they left too much out that develops Scarlett's character. I wanted to name one of our daughter's Katey Scarlett, but my husband vetoed that!
Who is your favorite non-fictional author?
Richard J. Maybury of "Uncle Eric" fame or Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
What is your favorite non-fictional book?
The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. I converted to Lutheranism after marrying my husband who is a life-long LCMS-er! (Is that a new word?) ;-)
What is your favorite kind of poetry?
Although some might deny it's true poetic nature, my favorite kind of poetry is .... limericks! Of Irish descent and continually intrigued by the way words can be used, limericks attrack my attention and don't have to be bawdy!
Who is your favorite poet?
Not sure I have one.
What is your favorite poem?
Probably Casey at the Bat by Phineas Thayer
What is the longest book you've read?
Since I never finished War and Peace, and we're not including The Bible, probably Gone With the Wind.
What is the last book you read for yourself (not for the kids!)?
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right by Bernie Goldberg which I blogged about here.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
Reading the Psalms with Luther and A Seminary in Crisis by Paul A. Zimmerman. I am learning lots from both reads.
I'm reading aloud Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss with R. The rich language of this novel is really amazing.
I am re-reading the Uncle Eric books with my senior this year along with War for What? by Francis W. Springer. Up next with the senior, K, is The Word Becoming Flesh by Horace D. Hummel.
List up to three books you intend to read by the end of the year.
Who knows? The doctor I work for recommends Colony by Ann Rivers Siddon.
Share with us about a book you read that you didn't want to but ended up enjoying.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was a delightful surprise. I read it as part of an AP class in high school that I took at a local college while a senior in high school. The other books we had read that semester were dull as tomes to me, and I thought this would be the same. To my surprise it was not!
Share with us about a book that you thought you'd like and ended up hating.
My college professor so highly recommended this book for a modern literature course that I couldn't wait to get to it! However, I thoroughly disliked this book and it was torture to finish it.
Share with us if you have a favorite series of books.
The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes. I enjoyed sharing these books with my dad and talking about them after we both had read them.
Name your favorite genre of books.
Historical fiction of course!
Even Good Things Can Become Addictions
Food for thought...
Jeff Gerke,
founder of Wherethemapends.com
(a Christian sci-fi site)
in a review of
L. B. Graham's All My Holy Mountain
said,
"Graham warns us of the risk of losing ourselves in the tasks we take up.
Even good things can become addictions."
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