Last week’s term:
Polytheism – The belief that there are many gods.
This week’s term:
Hylozoism – (hy-luh-zoh-iz-um) The doctrine that all matter is endued with life. This doctrine is friendly to Materialism, and is the philosophical companion to Hinduism.
Thanks for reading,
I don’t have any super-unique idea to share, just thought I’d show you where we do our lessons each day. When we moved in over two years ago, we turned our dining room into our “school room”. This is my HQ for lesson plans and grading, and it’s the room where Leslie, Laci, and Matt do their work. Lauren and Mitch each have desks in their rooms. While I teach Matt each day, Leslie and Laci work at the kitchen table, but the rest of the time they are in here.
I really like my little bulletin board to show off the good work they are doing. My sister knitted the little banner at the top to celebrate our arrival to North Carolina last May. I wanted to use it for something here because it’s so adorable. This is what I came up with. It’s a duel-purpose banner. Every time I see it, I’m happy that the kids are learning, and I’m happy that I have the world’s greatest sister.
This is my magnetic chalkboard. I love it. I used a marker board for years, but kept losing the markers or the little ones would write on things that weren’t erasable. Aaaaand, I have more fun writing with the chalk. (That’s the main reason.)
This is my messy work station. The clock is something I added this year. It says, “It’s time to LEARN!” And it’s always time to learn. See? It’s a constant reminder.
One of my banners. When chaos explodes, I look at Snoopy and think, “This is just an adventure! Yes, that’s what I’ll call it, an adventure.” And you know, it really is!
Books, banners, and a bee, all to encourage a strong work ethic. I believe that subliminal messages speak volumes.
Here’s my cabinet. Notice that globe on top. It serves as a reminder of where places are located in the world, and how long it’s been since I’ve dusted up there. I also store lots of charts on top. I’ve tried to strike a balance: No child left behind, and no space left unused.
Here’s the inside. I also have two shelves packed with books in a closet…and three other bookshelves.
So, there you have it. This is where we slave all day, every day. Homeschooling is work, that’s for sure, and I know I’m not the greatest teacher in the world. In fact, one thing that homeschooling has taught me is that I need the Lord’s help to do it. If my kids turn out even halfway normal, it will be because of the grace of God.
Thanks for visiting.
With love,
A few days ago, I listened to a sermon by Pastor Don Fortner of Danville, Kentucky, entitled “The Doctrine of Godliness”. It is from the sixth chapter of Romans. It is rather long, so it took me about three sittings to hear it all the first time through. It was such a blessing to my heart, that I wanted to pass it along to you. I know that you are just as busy (or busier!) as I am, or you may not have the capability to listen to sermons online, so I gave it a second listen while taking notes.
I wanted to share the highlights with you here, but please, if at all possible, listen to the message by Brother Fortner. I have never met him, but the 10 – 15 sermons that I’ve heard have been a blessing. You can listen, download, or watch the sermon by clicking HERE. You can also view his sermon outline by clicking HERE.
Here are my notes:
All religion attempts to give men laws and rules by which to live. They have the notion that by obeying certain rules, we can be holy. These churches preach doing good works constantly. However, we are not justified or sanctified by works, but by grace.
These “self-righteous, will-worship Armenians, and works-religionists” respond to the message of grace with the cry of “Licentiousness!” However, these that proclaim to live the law, are really against the law. They, in fact, are the antinomians. What they call “obedience” is really just their best effort at obedience, and their best effort is still disobedience. God doesn’t say, “Give me your best effort”, He expects perfect obedience. “Try” isn’t good enough with God.
In Romans 6:1-2, Paul addresses the issue of those who are no longer under the law and yet who would live a licentious life: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” What is he saying? He’s saying “It’s absurd to even imagine that grace promotes ungodliness!” Why? Because of Romans 6:14:”For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Christ doesn’t simply repair our old heart, He gives us a new heart! (Ezekiel 36:25-26)
So what is “godliness”? To most folks, this is “touch not, taste not, handle not”. But anybody can keep rules! No, godliness is living for God; consecration to God.
Godliness is both our responsibility and God’s promise:
Our responsibility – ” Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” – Romans 6:12 This doesn’t mean not wearing a beard, or smoking tobacco, or anything like it. It means things like covetousness, lust, greed – all the things no one else knows about but you. Sin doesn’t just live in me, it RAGES in me. We must always fight it, never giving up.
God’s promise – the power of Christ in me. God holds me back from sin, not me! “Our responsibility is our response to His ability!” – Harry Graham.
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. ~ Psalm 119:117
“Sin becomes more bitter as Christ becomes more precious.” ~ Robert Hawker
The above points are just the things that leapt out at me. I can in no way do the actual sermon justice, so I beseech you to give it a listen. I have heard a lot of sermons that included long lists of rules for me to follow. And, since I’m a control freak, it’s kind of fun to have a checklist and go through and tick each one off as I complete it. The problem with that is that I begin to feel puffed up and proud as I look at my accomplishments. I then start comparing my list to another’s list. “Hmm… she wears that!? For shame! Doesn’t she have the list? She should know better!” But while I’m thinking about her list (or lack thereof), I’m committing a sin – the sin of pride. And that’s the very thing that I must fight against. And not just pride, I also have to fight laziness, selfishness, lust, gluttony – oh my, the list is too long to put here.
Rules may make you feel safe and happy, but rules don’t please God. Only Christ can please a thrice holy God. I hope you know Him. If you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit on your life for what you are – not what you do – then believe on Him for salvation and enjoy His free grace.
With love,
This is a recipe that my mom made when I was growing up. It’s a nice change from the chicken casseroles or crockpot meals that I usually make, and like 99% of the meals I prepare, it’s super easy. I hope you’ll like it, too!
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup onion
1 envelope sloppy Joe seasoning
large can (about 30 oz.) of baked beans
2-4 tablespoons brown sugar (I used 3)
1/2 cup ketchup
10 half-inch cubes of cheddar cheese
10 oz. can of biscuits
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Brown beef and onion, drain. Add sloppy Joe seasoning, except one tablespoon. Also add beans, sugar, and ketchup. Heat till bubbly. Place one cheese cube in a biscuit and seal. Roll into a ball. Roll each biscuit in reserved sloppy Joe seasoning. Pour mixture in a 9 x 13 inch dish. Top with biscuits. Bake 20 – 25 minutes.
Bon appétit!
What a boring burdenless prayer life a Calvinist has. And self centered I would presume.
This statement was made on a recent Facebook post regarding the Doctrines of Grace. I was soon blocked from the conversation, but because I know how theological discussions can go, I took screen shots of it before I was banned. I have written about prayer before, but it can’t hurt to quickly re-visit such an important topic.
“Boring” – Can prayer be boring? I think it can, and not just for the Calvinist. It can become trite, repetitious and without fervor for any believer.
“Burdenless” – Should prayer be burden-filled? I suppose that when we come boldly to our Father’s throne, we can be encumbered with many cares. Loved ones who are not born again, Christians who have backslidden from God, financial stress, marital difficulty, friendship woes, child-rearing worries, health concerns, work issues, doctrinal questions, and fears of all kinds are just a few of the problems I have brought, stoop-backed, to my Father’s throne. I cannot carry the load! I am overcome and overwhelmed. I lay them at His feet not knowing what to think or what to do. I know many of my peers would seek counsel from parents or friends, but what if you do not have that option? Isn’t the Lord of Heaven enough? Can He not handle it? Or am I supposed to take those burdens to the Lord and then pick them up and keep carrying them? Why shouldn’t I leave them with Him? Indeed, I can walk away from my time of supplication and feel “burdenless”! That is exactly the point of prayer, to leave our burdens with the Lord.
“Self-centered” – Guilty. I admit that I do bring my own problems to the Lord. I do not know what to do or how to handle them. I admit that I often complain to my Father about others. It’s humbling to be whining about someone else and feel the prick of the Holy Spirit that seems to scream (not audibly) “You are better than Mr. or Mrs. So and So?” Oh. No, I’m not. Then the repentance on my part must begin. Believe it or not, Calvinists do pray for others. We carry the burdens of friends and loved ones before the Lord. We have hearts, we feel pain and loss and sorrow. We grieve for our friends and neighbors. But what else can we do besides pray? My resources and talents are limited, but my Father, Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, has unlimited, infinite, boundless resources. He can help, I know He can, and I beg Him to do just that. I’ve learned that He either gives me that which I have requested, or He gives me grace to survive without it.
Prayer is necessary because God says we should pray. (I Thess. 5:17) Christ taught His disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4), and He Himself prayed (Matt. 26:36-39). Prayer is one tool that God uses to bring about His perfect will. Yes, I pray. Not as faithfully as I should, not as perfectly as I should, but I do pray. And if you’re a Christian, I hope you do, too.
With love,
Last week’s term:
Monotheism – The belief that this is but one God.
This week’s term:
Polytheism – The belief that there are many gods.
Thanks for reading,
Sickness, dental appointments, homeschooling, and more sickness. That’s what my week has consisted of. That is also the reason for my absence from my blog.
On Monday, Matt came down with a terrible stomach virus. It took him a full two days to get over it. Tuesday, Leslie and Laci had milder versions of it. By Wednesday, everyone seemed much better so we took the kids for their six month dental cleanings. That’s always an ordeal just because of the waiting involved. Fortunately, I had a book bag with three books inside. We managed to eek out a full three days of school (five for Lauren and Mitch since they never got sick), but boy, it was difficult!
On Wednesday, I got sick with a head cold and low-grade fever. Just enough to sap my energy. I really haven’t felt well since.
Friday night the children got to play basketball for the first time with our homeschool group. I was too sick to go, but I did spot this photo of Matthew on our homeschool group’s Facebook page (he’s holding the ball):
All the kids really enjoyed their new sport. Even Matthew, who claimed he wouldn’t like it before he went, was telling me how to dribble when he got home.
I admit that I often wonder why the Lord took my dad home to heaven when I still needed him. I needed his example, his wisdom, his humor, and most of all, his encouragement. The image above was on my Mary Engelbreit calendar for today. After a difficult week, it brought a smile to my face. For the twenty-six years I had a dad, he was the greatest. He believed in me, when few others did. Yes, I wonder why God took him when He did, but I bow to the Father’s will. He knows best, and He doeth all things well.
To end this on a high note, the Math U See Pre-Algebra and Geometry are going great! I am so thankful we came to that decision quickly and that it was the right decision. Again, I praise the Lord.
I’m praying this coming week goes better for us. How was your week?
Thanks for reading,
Last week’s term:
Materialism – Materialism is the system which ignores the distinction between matter and mind, and attributes all the phenomena of the world, whether physical, vital, or mental to the functions of matter. All random mutation evolutionists basically subscribe to this religious philosophy.
In my words, the “material” (matter) is god.
This week’s term:
Monotheism – The belief that there is but one God.
To read all entries in this series, click HERE.
Thanks for reading,
I can’t recall where he got the canoe, but he told me it would be safe, even fun. So one day in late summer/early autumn, just a few months after our marriage, we loaded up and headed for Saline River. I could not swim and I had never been in a canoe, or on a river, but Terry had been many times. As we made our way to the water, the sun shone around us as though it were being beamed through a strainer, specks and streams of sunlight dotting randomly through the tall oaks, pines, and sweet gums. Arkansas at its best.
He got the canoe into the water and told me where to sit. As I stepped into the wobbly canoe for the first time, my apprehension turned into full-fledged fear. My eyes grew wide and I gasped. “It’s okay,” he said calmly.
Of course it’s okay, he can swim! I thought.
We pushed off as I gripped the sides of the canoe for dear life. What had I gotten into?
“Just one thing you must remember,” he said.
“Yes?”
“Whatever happens, don’t stand up.”
That sounded simple enough.
He did most of the rowing since I was an inexperienced “canoeist”. I did try it once and managed to get us going the wrong direction! He quickly took the oars and righted us while we both laughed at my efforts. Not being an outdoor girl, it was a great adventure to be so close squirrels, songbirds, and fish. I was still nervous, but as I observed my faithful “captain”, watched his confidence and ability, I felt my heartbeat return to normal.
Then a strange noise filled my ears. It sounded almost like rushing water, like maybe a waterfall? But, we didn’t have waterfalls. Did we? As we continued on, the sound only grew louder.
That’s when I screamed. And when I did, the birds for miles around flew up and away in one giant formation, red squirrels scurried into holes, and deer leapt over fences to get away.
“That sounds like a waterfall!”
“It’s okay, don’t worry.”
“No, Terry! I can’t swim! We can’t go down a waterfall!” In my panic, I started to stand up, the canoe lurched one way, then the other, and that’s when I saw fear grip his heart.
“Don’t stand up; it’s okay.” I could see the seriousness of the situation in his eyes. I halted and forced myself to stay put.
“Valerie, just listen to me,” he said from his end of the canoe, gripping me as hard as he could with his eyes since he couldn’t reach me with his arms. “We’re going to row over there,” he pointed to a rocky bank. “We’ll take the canoe up the bank and then let it down past the falls. It’ll be fine.” I could see he was more worried about what I was doing than anything else.
Okay. That sounded okay. I tried to calm down.
We soon learned that it wasn’t so easy to get to that bank. We kept trying, well, he kept trying, but we just kept getting closer and closer to the falls. Finally, he was able to grab an overhanging branch to stop us. He got out and waded to the bank, dragging me in the canoe along with him. The “waterfall” that sounded so deafening to my ears was only a short wall, about two feet high, just enough to make a loud sound, but not enough to kill anyone. I felt my face grow warm with embarrassment. I laughed and apologized, he laughed and said no big deal and that we probably couldn’t have gone over it anyway. I did feel terrible as I saw he was soaked from the waist down, and I was completely dry. I tried to help get the canoe back in the water and we continued on. The only thing I had done right was that I hadn’t stood up!
That trip was many years ago, before we had experienced any real sorrow. We hadn’t walked the valley of the shadow of death, started over in eight other new homes, or faced financial reversal hand in hand together. We hadn’t dealt with hatred from other Christians, watched friends walk out, or seen our children suffer sickness, surgery and stitches. All of that would come in time, and will come again, I’m sure. The strength and skill I’d witnessed that day on the river, would be apparent in real life, too. Through all of the trials and heartaches, through the valleys, and in the darkness, I’ve learned I can trust my husband. I can just stay seated because he knows what to do. I’ve seen him take the oars of our life and get us going in the right direction (usually after I’ve messed things up). I’ve seen him handle the ups and downs – and the waterfalls – with deftness.
Eighteen years ago today, he asked me to marry him, and obviously, I said yes. In those years, I’ve learned that he knows how to handle the river, and everything else, too.
With love,
Years ago, I attended a Baptist history conference where the pastor preached against election. He said that every time the word “elect” was used in the Bible, it was referring to the Jews. He made a pretty good case for it, too. In fact, I was convinced. I am blessed to have a husband who is a pastor. He mentioned to me quietly, “What about 2 Timothy 2:10?” That verse states: Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Clearly, this verse is speaking of those who will be saved – those who are elect. The pastor conveniently left this verse out of his rather long list. I’m not sure if it was an oversight or intentional, but either way, it was misleading.
So what is election? This is the “U” in the “TULIP”. In that acrostic, the “U” stands for “Unconditional Election”. This is the belief that we do not in any way, shape, or form earn God’s favor. Some believe that this makes God out to be a terrible monster. I’ve been told, “God wouldn’t do that! He wouldn’t create people just to destroy them!” My first thought is, “Amen, that’s right!” My second thought is a little stronger, for it is from the Word of God:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ~ Isaiah 55:58
Who am I to declare what God will or will not; can or cannot do? I’m nobody, that’s who!
I grew up believing that “election” meant that God knew the future; He knew who would trust Him, and those people were the “elect”. This sounds pretty good. But, doesn’t that mean God saw some good in us, and saved us based on that “good”? The good being our faith? Then, doesn’t that mean it’s no longer “unmerited favor” but rather, “merited”? We earned His salvation through our decision? How can you believe in salvation by grace and also by the exercise of your own will? Did your will save you? Or did the power of God? If it was your will, then doesn’t that mean your salvation depends on you to some degree? Most of my peers would scream “NO!” But yet, they don’t want to believe God chose a people to be saved from before the foundation of the world, either. Perhaps they are afraid of being called a Calvinist? Fear should never prevent us from believing and proclaiming the truth.
But, for sake of argument, let’s follow their line of thinking for a moment: God saw in the future, before He framed the world or any of its contents, that Valerie Courtney would decide to trust in His Son and be saved on June 12, 1993. He also saw that John Doe would hear the Gospel that same day in Missouri, but would not trust in Christ for salvation. In fact, John Doe would die that very day and go to Hell. Why did God bother to create John Doe just to watch him face eternity in Hell?
We seem to have the same outcome either way.
Whether God saw your faith and saved you because of your decision, or whether He chose you for salvation unconditionally in eternity past, we are left with this undeniable fact: Some people are going to Hell, and God knows Who they are yet created them anyway.
I don’t understand grace at all. I don’t know why He saves anyone. Yet I have to believe in unconditional election, because I don’t believe God saved me because I merited His favor in any way. I wasn’t smart enough to choose Him, He chose me. (1 John 4:19) He saw no good in me, or in any of mankind as Romans 3 so clearly outlines. And friend, if you have repented of your own self-righteousness and are trusting in Christ alone to save you, then you are elect.
God didn’t set apart a people for Heaven and a people for Hell. We are all Hell-bound. Everyone. The fact He chose to save one single person is known as grace.
People have asked me, “Which of your children are elect, Valerie?” My answer is this: I pray every day for their salvation, because God is the only One Who can save them from sin. But even if you believe that it is your will, or your choice, that saves you, then I now ask you, which of your children will choose Him? Do you know?
I once heard this illustration of election: Election is a door. On the outside it says, “Whosoever will”; once you pass under that door, the other side says, “Chosen before the foundation of the world.”
That is election according to God’s Word.
Thanks for reading,
valeriewritenow.com 