Two of my “big boys” are working at a new neighbor’s home. It is a very large log home (about 6,000 sq. ft.) sanding the entire thing and staining it. They had heard good reports about our boys from other neighbors, so offered them a VERY well-paying job.

I take them and pick them up. Although they are only 3 doors down, it’s about a half a mile. Here’s some of the discussion they reported to me as of late. We all found it quite humorous, similar to what my older son experienced at his place of work:

Last week, their [adult] son moved back home. He is helping with the sanding, as are the woman and the the man of the house. The woman is QUITE A CHARACTER. Today, the son finds out we don’t have a tv. “You mean, you have NEVER watched a video IN YOUR LIFE?”

My son, Joe, says, “Well, I did see a short one in hunter’s safety class.”

“Yeah,” he replies, “but that’s EDUCAAATIONAL”

So he asks, “have you seen Star Wars?”

“No, but we have the book.”

“Have you seen JRR Tolken’s stuff?”

“No, but we have his books.”

“How about CS Lewis?”

“No, but we have his books and I’ve heard audio tapes.”

“AHA!” He exclaims, “So you ARE lazy!” So he asks, “Do you play VIDEO GAMES?”

“No.”

The son tells my boys that he has over 300 dvd’s. He said, “I’ll find you a “good” one to watch.” Then he turns to his mom and says, “Mom, which dvd should I show the boys?” to which she replies, “Remember, they aren’t allowed in the house.”

He says, “I’ll bring the tv out here!”

So the woman says to the boys, “I was thinking of your poor mom and how much work kids are with all that cooking and cleaning.”

My son, Joe says to her, “Oh, my sister cooks all the dinners and we take turns with lunches.”

“Oh, but the dishes!” She exclaimed.

“We have assigned chores.”

Evidently, she wasn’t going to be happy with any answer he gave because the next thing she says is, “When I was growing up, we had a neighbor that had 16 kids! They were treated like SLAVES! They never played with us. Well, ONCE, they played with us.

Joe told me he set her straight. But then she asks him, because she and the husband argue all the time, “Do your parents ever fight?”

“No.”

“You mean they NEVER fight?”

“Not that I know of,” Joe replies.

Joe said that she laid down the law to her husband NOT to curse in front of my boys. She keeps scolding her son when he cusses and yet, SHE does it! “OOPS! Don’t tell your mother! That’s the ONLY one I say.”

Yesterday, when I picked them up, they told me the last thing she said to them as they said good bye was, “Remember, don’t tell your mother ~wink~”

Tags: Joe, television

In 1 Peter 3:15, it says, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…”

Sanctify:

hagiazō
hag-ee-ad’-zo
To make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: – hallow, be holy, sanctify.

From Webster’s:

SANC’TIFY, v.t. [Low L. sanctifico; from sanctus, holy, and facio, to make.]

1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.
2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
3. To purify; to prepare for divine service, and for partaking of holy things. Exo 19.
4. To separate, ordain and appoint to the work of redemption and the government of the church. John 10.
5. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy be detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.
6. To make the means of holiness; to render productive of holiness or piety.
7. To make free from guilt.
8. To secure from violation.

Can we do this? 1 Peter 1:13-16 tells us to… 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

5:25-27 also says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” AHA!

Oh what a beautiful picture…being washed in God’s Word! I think that’s why I love to listen to it read to me out loud. I love to hear it quoted. I just soak it in, every syllable of it!

In light of the idea of keeping our children pure…and even ourselves, what steps can we do to be sanctified…holy…set apart?

Even if our husbands are not washing us in the word, we can be washing our children in God’s Word. It’s a whole lifestyle change….remember…we are aliens and strangers here….this world is only temporary. Where do we hang our hat? We can be keeping them set apart by:

• Getting rid of the television
• Getting rid of social influences that thwart holiness (this may include neighbors or family members)
• Get rid of reading material that is opposite of purity
• Know where your children are at all times and be with them
• Protecting our sons’ eyes from immodest women, clothing, magazines at the stores (how about turning magazines around at the checkout? I do.)
• Not taking our families to beaches or swim areas in which immodest apparel is worn.
• Make sure we and our daughters are dressed in purity, which includes swimwear or running around the house in anything see-through, too short, low cut, etc.
• Speak to each other in love, encouraging each other

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Romans 8:12-14 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The time we have with our children is oh so short!

Ephesians 5:3-20
But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

Tags: Bible Truths, Family, television

We have not had a television since we came to Christ almost 18 years ago (next month). The only regret we have is that we didn’t use it for target practice, but instead, sold it at a garage sale. ~smile~

We have never regretted the decision to remove it from our home. We have found that we haven’t really missed anything.

We read the book, HOME INVADERS, which was a real eye opener for us at that time (we read it AFTER getting rid of the tube). Further, we wanted to have no appearance of evil in our home. It’s not just the language, it’s the content. The entertainment factor…the flitting of the pictures…gotta keep things going and entertaining. Since then, we’ve heard how bad television has actually gotten in the last 18 years.

Can small children actually distinguish between what is appropriate and inappropriate? I have not found that they can.  They don’t have that discernment yet. And it might not make sense when one program is ok and another is not.

The television is a time sucker. I don’t know how I could get anything done! As it is, I have to be very good about limiting computer time. As for my children, we only allow 1/2 hour each day, except weekends, for something educational. A couple of them have their own web pages and have become very good at html and java. They are now working on creating graphics. We have only a couple games they may play *if* they earn their time (another half hour).

We replaced our television with a 30 gallon fish tank. It has been so nice! But no….we do not have our furniture all encircled around it.

We do not do videos, either. The children are all avid readers, to put it mildly! They are excellent at researching when they come across things of interest. They also take what they learn from audio tapes and books and create their own puppets and hold puppet shows. They have even made their own puppets. They checked out books, asked Mom and Dad what they sound like, etc. ~smile~

There are times when we would love to share educational things with the kids or especially good movies. We realize, however, that there are usually books that cover it all, anyway. Perhaps when our smaller ones are older, and are more able to discern, we could consider this. But right now, it wouldn’t work for us.

Oh yes! One thing we have missed! When we were visiting in Oregon several summers ago, some missionaries we support happened to have been in the state on furlough from Africa. We went to a church to hear them speak. While waiting, we realized they were going to show a video. After much whispering and private discussion, we whispered down the line of our 8 kids to “follow us”. We had been sitting in the front pew, btw. We left as quietly as our “Queen Mary” family could. Later, we heard that it was a good thing, as they work around natives that do not wear clothes! LOL Uh….my kids (boys especially) were NOT ready for that! LOL We were so thankful we left.

Unfortunately, so much of television, the bad pictures, the foul language, the attitudes, etc. flashes before your eyes before you have a chance to change a station…. the damage is already done. It’s too late. Images are sealed in the brain.

• The number of television sets in U.S. households in 2001: 248 million
• The percentage of households with at least one TV in 2001: 98.2%
• The average number of TVs per home in 2001: 2.4
• The projected number of hours that adults (age 18 and older) will watch television in 2004: 1,669 (This is the equivalent of about 70 days.)
• The percentage of people age 18 and over who said they watched television in the spring of 2002: 94.3%
• Older Americans (age 65 and over) were more likely to be glued to the tube (97 percent) than any other age group.
• The projected spending per person for cable and satellite TV in 2004: $255.18
• The estimated average monthly rate for cable TV in 2002: $34.71
• The number of stores that primarily sold televisions and other electronic equipment in 2001: 21,724
• The annual payroll for the 245,000 employees of 6,692 cable TV networks and program distribution firms in the United States in 2001: $11.7 billion
• The number of television broadcasting networks and stations in the United States in 2001: 1,937

– Source: United States Census Bureau, March 2004

Tags: Family, television

Sorry life has taken me away from posting. But then again, maybe it’s best if I don’t post too often. You know the old saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Do you grow fonder the longer I am away?  Hehe

Well, the Superbowl is today. I have no clue what number year this superbowl is. We haven’t watched it in over 17 years! But I do know this: Steelers are playing the Seahawks. Being the Northwestern gal I am, and since I was born just outside Seattle…and because my Dad is a huge Seahawks fan, I guess I’ll officially, silently, root for the Seahawks.

I did find out, however, a few years ago, that today is a great day to do any shopping at Costco! Anne and I went there to find a very vacant warehouse! Oh! We did bump into our neighbors.  They told us they make an annual event of shopping on Superbowl Sunday because no one is around.  So there’s my tip to you today!

Dennis has been heavy into recording for our new CD. This one will be much more professional than the last, which was really intended just for fun and family.  I am excited to see parts of it coming together.

The purpose of this CD is to encourage the Saints and to plant seeds in non-believers. You can come visit our band’s site at www.electricchurch.net.  Please join the mailing list and enjoy reading!

Dennis has a 3 day weekend! Yippee!!!  What a treat for us! He really needed a break. He works between 14-16 hour days 6 days a week, usually.

The mice have been keeping us on our toes here, lately. It seems that they have all moved from the shed into the house. Understandably, right? I mean… the house IS warmer and there are crumbs…yes, crumbs. I know, it messes up your pristine image of me.

Anyway, the mice never keep us short of excitement here. I think their life’s goal is to taunt me.

School is moving right along! I enjoy sitting and working with the girls. The boys are mostly doing independent work.

I haven’t been feeling real well lately. I think it has something to do with the fact that we are expecting [again] in September!

We had a worm (a virus) infect a couple of our computers recently. It wiped out a lot of personal items, for which I am sad about. Just another reminder to have things backed up on CD!

Yesterday, Bethy and I sat and went through a large box of photos. It was so enjoyable to do this and everyone in the house came by us more than once to view all the photos of memories past. We managed to get them all organized into 2 small shoebox sized boxes.

I guess that’s enough for now. I need to get started on my day.  Until next time!

Tags: baby, Bethy, electric church, Family, health, television

This is an excerpt from Doug Wilson’s book, Reforming Marriage…puts things a bit more into perspective, don’t you think?…….

“We would like to invite you over this evening…..”

“Why, thank you!” he says, innocently enough.

“Wait, wait, that’s not all. We would like to invite you to come into our bedroom and watch us while we have sex. It could be a really exciting time for all of us.”

The Christian recoils in horror. “We couldn’t do that. You see, we’re Christians.”

“Oh, I see,” he says, scratching his head. “That could be a little much for you then. I’ll tell you what! We have a video camera. Why don’t you let us tape it, and I’ll just bring it over in the morning. Then you watch it whenever you want.”

The Christian explains that this wouldn’t be possible either.

“I don’t understand,” the neighbor says, with a puzzled look. “Last week you invited us over and we all watched that movie on your VCR. It had a couple of skin scenes in it. Why are you willing to watch another man’s wife, but not mine? My wife may not be the best looking….”

Here the hapless Christian interrupts and explains that her looks have nothing to do with it. He goes on to explain that they are not ordinary Christians. They belong to that very special breed – hypocrites

Tags: television