Mr. Smith's Opinions and Truths

Hello, Marion

2011-11-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

In the immortal words of Indiana Jones, "Hello, Marion." This is small "howdy" to my most faithful follower. Keep asking questions, seeking your parents' advice, and loving the Lord.

Mr. Smith's Favorite Movies

2011-05-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

These are in no particular order after the first two.

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
2. Master and Commander
3. John Adams
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
5. The Patriot
6. Pride and Prejudice
7. Gladiator
8. Jaws
9. Red
10. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
11. The Harry Potter series
12. The Sound of Music
13. Sense and Sensibility
14. Cars
15. Up
16. Mary Poppins
17. Hoosiers
18. Field of Dreams
19. My Fair Lady
20. The Goonies
21. The Crossing
22. You've Got Mail
23. Notting Hill
24. Sleepless In Seattle
25. Joe Versus the Volcano
26. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
27. Finding Neverland
28. The Apple Dumpling Gang
29. To Kill A Mockingbird

Christmas Movies
1. The Nativity Story
2. White Christmas
3. Holiday Inn
4. Trapped in Paradise
5. The Very First Noel (Narrated by Andy Griffith)
6. A Christmas Carol
7. It's A Wonderful Life

Best Musicals of All Time - (In no particular order)

2011-05-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
1776
My Fair Lady
Singing in the Rain
The Music Man
Hello Dolly
The Phantom of the Opera
The Wizard of Oz
White Christmas
Holiday Inn
The Muppet Movie
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

More to come - I am taking suggestions

"The Twenty-Five Cent Dating Lecture"

2011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have given the following as a lecture to my junior high school classes for at least the last five years and probably more. The children have heard of the lecture from older siblings or friends and ask for it each year. If they have heard it in seventh grade they want it again in the eighth or else they would like a new student to our school to hear the infamous "Pearce's Twenty-Five Cent Dating Lecture." A few take it to heart and use it as a guide, some take bits and pieces and apply them and still others just think that I have lost my nut. However, I thought it was high time that I wrote it down. Much of the lecture is from my own experiences, observations and mistakes and some influence from a small and useful book entitled, "Her Hand in Marriage" by Douglas Wilson. So hold on and enjoy the ride.

Dating is one of the most selfish institutions ever conceived by man. Now before you close my blog I will say that there is a time and place for dating, just give me a moment to explain. As I was saying, dating is a selfish act. Oh, we take flowers and find out her favorite food, or we bake him his favorite cookies, all in the name of making him or her happy. When all we are really doing is making ourselves happy. We are looking for that feel good time, the brush of the hand, that movie-arm-extension-yawning thing, the goodnight kiss, etc. Dating is about you, the individual.

Mr. Wilson points out, and I agree, that dating is the dress-rehearsal for divorce. We try out a girl or guy that we really do not know much about and in thinking of ourselves we always keep in the back of our minds the idea that we can leave at anytime. Does this sound like marriage in the United States?

Americana dating, as we know it, is also relatively new. We do not see dating in the Bible, we really do not see this kind of dating until maybe the 1920s and in this particular form until the 1950s. I, like you, just considered dating the way we do things and so it must be a tradition that is upheld. After all didn't your father date and perhaps your grandfather?

The biggest argument that is thrown in my direction is, "How do I know what type of girl/guy that I want to marry?" Look, you are not buying a new car. That is the same argument I get from people about pre-marital sex. "I need to see if we are compatible in bed," a test drive, so-to-speak. I am not even going to take the time and energy to point out the numerous flaws in that argument. (I Corinthians 6:12 & 13)

Remember, that 999 times out of 1000, evangelical dating and marriage does not work. Find a strong Christian or the rest of this process is worthless. (2 Corinthians 6:14)

So how do we meet someone? Step number one: have many friends of both sexes and go out a lot and stay in quite a bit as well, both in large groups. See movies, go eat, play games, watch television, go for walks, etc. This way you are never tempted to do that which you should not and your reputation will be above reproach. I will guarantee that you will get a clearer picture of what someone is truly like when you are in a large group of friends rather than alone on a date. The way a guy treats you on a date is the way that you want to be treated not the way that he wants to treat you. He may want a second date or even more, how will he achieve this if he acts like himself. And so he is Romeo and she is Juliet, you know, without all the death, but none-the-less an impression is the focus. Why? Because the date is all about the individual you are, and not the individual you are with.

Once you have seen him/her in a large group setting over a long period and you have had a few talks in that environment and you have overheard even more talks and discussions in that environment and you are finally feeling an attraction, what is next? The next move is his. Yes, this may seem old fashioned, but the guy has the next move. Why? Because the only guy that is in your life, apart from Jesus Christ, should be your dad and the suitor is attempting to take dad's place. At the point of marriage the responsibility to care for the girl, as Christ cares for the church, passes from dad to husband. If the guy is not willing to make the next move, then he will not be willing to care for you like your dad or more importantly, like your heavenly father. (Note: the only reason to ever enter into a courtship/dating relationship is with the intent of marriage.) So what is the next move?

He needs to contact your dad, face to face. Guys get this straight, you must first go to the dad. If this is terrifying and you say "no way", then girls you know that you are not worth a little gut-wrenching fear to this boy and he is not right for you. Move on. Guys just man-up and get it done.

In the case of my daughter, a long discussion will ensue and at the close I will tell him that he should get lost, running in a serpentine pattern to avoid buck-shot, or if he finds my favor I will tell him that I will ask my daughter what her desire might be. If I ask my daughter and she states that she is not interested, then I, the dad, will go to the young man and break the news. It is not her job. If my girl is interested, then we move to the next step.

The next step is called courtship. What, more old-timey verbiage? Just wait, it gets better, at least in my opinion. Courtship is carried out with the constant thought in mind that dad is the man in the daughter's life. Dating, at this point, is permissible. Guys, you must file a flight plan with dad each time and on his approval the date will occur. Guys, if you tell the girl's dad that you will have her home by 11:00, then it better be 10:55, through her front door. If you tell dad that you are going to be at place "A" then do not deviate to place "B" without calling. Never be alone in a parked car. You may drive alone from location to location, but otherwise always be around people. It is best for you and him/her. AVOID TEMPTATION!

Now, if you really want to get to know someone, and this will be a requirement for my kids, spend time with him and his family and him and your family. Spend so much time at the other person's home with the other family that the person you are courting becomes comfortable at home while you are around. What I am trying to say is that the way a boy treats his mother and sisters is how he is how he will eventually treat you. The way he shows them love through word and deed will be the way he shows you love in marriage. Likewise, the way a girl is submissive and supportive of her dad is the way she will be as a wife to you. This time is vital. This is the "dress rehearsal" or "test drive" for which you have longed.

Optimum physical contact is holding hands or nothing at all. If he or she cannot wait to hug and kiss then he or she may not have waited with other girls/guys. If he cannot wait then he probably does not count you worthy. What is important to you will be important to him, in a Godly relationship.

Finally, when you have had the marriage discussion, he must ask your dad, ladies. He must, to not is a sign of disrespect for the passing of responsibility from dad to husband. Guys, by this point you have already had the pre-courtship talk, you have already spent so much time with the family and in the case of my daughter, you have already spent so much time in a one-on-one discipleship relationship with your future father-in-law (this is also a requirement of any Godly courtship) that this last step will be easy and it will feel natural. Remember that you should marry your best friend.

Men, love and cherish her. Ladies, honor and serve him. (Ephesians 5: 22-33, Colossians 3: 18 & 19)

Couples, place Christ at the center. This is the ultimate recipe for success.

Tardiness - Rude or what? Let me help!

2010-12-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

One of my pet-peeves is when people are late. Perhaps I get this from my father. Like him, I try to arrive early to everything. Last year on my job evaluation, it was even noted that I am early to each event or meeting. I do admit that it is a bit of an obsession. I like to be at a movie no less than a half-hour before the previews roll. I guess I figure that if I shoot for early, I will at least always be on time. Tardiness is simply telling other people either that their time is more important than yours or that one who is tardy is sadly lacking attention and needs to be looked at as they walk in clanging about.
I do have an observation that I believe is well founded. I have noticed that the majority of people who are late to morning events, still have had time to get their morning beverage. Seriously, the person or persons will be just a few minutes late, you know just enough time to be a major distraction, and yet they will still have had time to get their coffee.
Here are a few pointers to help the tardy get places on time. Firstly, setting all of your clocks ahead will not work. You know they are all set ahead, so who are you fooling? Secondly, cut out the coffee and you will be on time, or thirdly keep the coffee and simply begin your day a whopping five minutes earlier. Please!

Rob and Karen - An Example

2010-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night last, my family had the honor of attending a very special event. It was the celebration of two of our friends, a wonderful couple, reaching the brilliant age of fifty. I thought it appropriate to take a moment, or even two, to tell you a bit about them. They are indeed a wonderful couple and a shining example of marriage, but I want to take the time to speak to the character of each as individuals.
Let’s start with Karen. To meet Karen is an adventure; at least. She could easily be the mayor of our town, not only because she knows everyone in town, which she does, but because she is a very well liked individual in our town. This speaks to her character. Karen loves people. She loves to be with people and do for people. She has a heart of compassion and service. This is Christ in her and the Holy Spirit working through her.
Then there is Rob. Rob does not work a room like his wife, he would prefer a smaller setting with a few people at a time and yet his passion for people is no less than that of Karen’s. Like our Lord, Rob is a discipler, and like Karen he too has a servant’s heart and shares a heart of compassion and yet it is displayed in a very different way. Not that one way is better or worse than the other; just different. They would both sacrificially hand you anything that they own. Rob loves to listen and process and respond only when he feels it is of benefit to you and not him.
They are a couple of compatibility. Like a candle and a flame, one is not as effective without the other. They find joy in their Savior, their family, and their friends; doing so in very dissimilar and similar ways. It is an honor to know them and be counted as friends.

Goodbye Jackson

2010-11-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

I do not like cats. I do not try to hide the fact that I do not like cats. There have been very few cats that have crossed my path that I have any kind of affection for at all. Clancy was a large gray cat of my childhood. A fine and affectionate cat, I could have however done without the mouse guts that he would reward us with on our door mat. Barn Cat was a cat that basically ruled our family farm. Probably the strongest of all of the animals living on the farm at that time. She was eternally pregnant and probably has a rivaled amount of descendants to Noah's wife. But, Barn Cat had class. She had the cat attitude that I disdain, but could still let certain people past her emotional wall, her tough exterior, (she only had half a tail) to be an affectionate friend. Finally, there was Jackson. Jackson was a tough, large, black cat with a really distinguishing nick in the point of his left ear. He was the only cat, to my knowledge, to out-mouse Barn Cat. We would let Jackson in our chicken house and he knew to ignore the birds. He would then proceed to hunt in specific areas and without fail head for the door within three minutes with a plump, juicy mouse hanging from his mouth. He was a king, a ranger, a mouser, and a love. Even though he would spray your car like nobodies business, Jackson was a loyal friend who would always be around the farm even when no one else was. Goodbye Jackson.

Begin With Prayer

2010-11-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

We begin meals with prayer, Christian gatherings with prayer, even bedtime with prayer. Today is election day and I am reminded of one simple truth; God is still on the throne and in control. This being said, we need to remember that we are to "pray without ceasing." We should continually be in an attitude of prayer. When things go wrong we are quick to pray, but how about when things are good? Do we praise him quickly. Today is November 2nd and it is sunny and warm in the state of Washington. This is rare for this time of the year. As I walked down the sidewalk at school, I stopped, turned toward the sun and allowed the warmth to fall upon my face and I praised God for this simple moment. Let us remember to begin with and continue with prayer as we drive, as we shop, as we play with our children, as we weep with a friend and yes even as we vote. Let us always begin with prayer.

Christians and Coffee

2010-10-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

I want to rattle on a bit and since this is my blog, I get to do that. Our topic today is Christians and coffee. I have often pondered those that savor coffee as I savor air. Yes, both Christians and pagans alike will line up in endless lines to pay four dollars or more for a cup of coffee. I know that is not just coffee, but a mochachino or a latte’ or some other un-American name for a “legal addictive stimulant.” But, what are they really doing? They have become addicted. They are truly addicts I have seen friends try to quit and honestly there should be a patch or a useful ten-step program. They become edgy and snippy and even tyrannical.
The irony is that Christians do not like to rely on anything but Jesus Christ. That is what I believe, but for water, food and other survival needs, Christians like to believe that addictions are bad. SO WHY COFFEE? WHY CAFFEINE? Let me refer you to the following link; please check it out. *It will explain that even though coffee has some benefits; that excessive coffee consumption can be addictive, it can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and cause an irregular heartbeat. Coffee is also suspected in breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. I mean really, when a woman becomes pregnant they tell her to stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol and cut out caffeine. That should cause a red light. I get the smoking thing, but they claim that red wine is good for your heart and other alcohol has beneficial medicinal purposes as well, (and I am in no way telling anyone to start consuming alcohol) but many Christians act like the 18th amendment is still the law of the land. So why do we just make light about our addiction to caffeine, our dependence on our corner-occupying espresso stands? It is like a legal dealer on every block, now they are sticking the things in church foyers. All we need is Christ to come in and turn the cart over in my estimation.
I don’t have the answer. Perhaps it makes believers feel a little rebellious in a way that is not yet classified as sinful.
Thank you for reading. If you don’t give up your habit at least consider the non-health cost. How much do you spend a week; twenty-five dollars? That is one-hundred a month, give or take. That is twelve-hundred a year. For the people I know, this is a conservative estimate. But even at twelve-hundred a year if you saved that money from the day of one of your children’s birth until his graduation, then you would have saved $21,600 and that does not include interest. College is expensive, but wouldn’t that money help considerably?
* http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/coffee_health_risk.htm

Things That Are Wonderful

2010-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

These are things that I think are pretty wonderful in no particular order.
-Salvation through Jesus Christ alone!
-the changing seasons
-daisies, crocuses, dahlias, etc.
-donuts
-hymns
-family
-friends
-Twix
-Double-Stuff Oreos
-starry nights
-baseball
-a well turned double-play
-American revolutionary and colonial history
-my parents
-my wife and kids
-Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
-good movies
-movie previews
-The Fourth of July, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and other holidays
-a firm, but not vise-like hand shake
-mowing lawn
-John Deere
-fresh cut grass
-fresh tilled soil
-harvesting pumpkins
-adoption
-a good discussion and/or debate
-students who think
-good English tea - cream, two sugars
-preaching & teaching
-being an elected official
-walking in England
-The Kilns
-the smell of lilacs
-completing a well-done project
-a really good fireworks display
-patriotic music
-most all music with the exception of opera, new country and hip-hop/rap
-George Washington
-Peter, Esther, Job - my top three Bible characters apart from our Lord
-a student who loves history as much as I
-coming home
-my dad being in heaven - healthy and happy

Mr. Smith's Pet-Peeves

2010-10-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

The following are just some of my many pet-peeves. They are in no particular order.
-people who make excuses
-people who do not know how to run an effecient meeting
-micro-managers
-girls who pierce other than their ears
-soccer
-girls/guys who continually sweep their bangs from their face
-people who talk to me with their hair covering one eye
-most contemparary Christian music
-Chris Tomlin (mainly when he messes with good old hymns)
-junior high and high school students that date
-people using abbreviation and acronymns in their speech
-the salaries of professional athletes
-Americans who have never read The Constitution, but quote it all the time
-The American Civil Liberties Union
-ABORTION
-liberals
-child-centered parenting
-people who go to church for themselves rather than for God
-people who do not know how to use a four-way stop
-RAP/Hip-Hop (it is not music)
-big government
-high taxes
-liars
-two-faced people
-changing your hair color
-cats
-the price of snacks at a movie theater
-reporters who print or say things out of context
-informal weddings
-solos at weddings
-people who believe in change just for change sake
-churches that "embrace the culture"
-tipping waiters and waitresses
-people who complain and do nothing to solve the problem
-students who believe they know everything
-unjust war
-cyclists and joggers who do not know how to use the road
-people who spoil surprises
-people who buy gifts for other people on someone's birthday
-people who ask a question that has just been answered
-David Hasselhoff
-bare-midriffs
-people who do anything else while driving
-large lollipops (Dum-Dums are sufficient)
-auto repairs
-America's Next Top Model
-call-in talk radio
-the misinterpretation of "separation of church and state"
-people who do not take down their Christmas lights
-Christmas music before Thanksgiving
-tailgaters
-students missing school for vacation
-students missing school for very avoidable reasons/appointments
-students missing school for their birthdays
-the Oakland Athletics & New York Yankees
-homosexuality
-death
-a limp hand shake

The Rules for Young Men in College

2010-09-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Rules

These are rules that I have put together that have been tested and proven successful if followed completely. They are rules intended to help a young man of God be successful at college as well as guard his purity and reputation in Christ. These rules are also designed to aid young men in helping young ladies guard their purity and reputation .

Rules for the Success of Young College Men
By Tim Pearce

These are the rules. You will notice that these are entitled “The Rules”. This means that they are not up for debate. There are no exceptions. These are not guidelines or suggestions, they are rules. I will guarantee you that if you strictly abide by and follow all of these rules; you will have the most wonderful Christian college experience that can possibly be had. These rules have been tried and tested and when followed to the letter, have had a 100% success rate. You will excel not only academically, but in your spiritual life, in your friendships and in purity. These rules will help to set you apart from the ways of the world, not just the secular world, but from the Post Modern Americana Christian World.
The following rules are in no particular order of importance, save the first rule. You cannot be a truly successful young man of God unless you view these rules as a whole and not a list from which you can pick or choose. However, if you follow the first rule, then the others will fall into place. I will say that the rest of the rules will be easy if you cling wholly to rule number 1.

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and think through each decision from your Savior’s stand-point and not your own. Use the Bible as a filter through which all of your decisions and thoughts must pass.
2. Set aside time to read the Bible and pray every day. This is vital to the success of this contract. You must have a quiet time.
3. Attend church regularly. Sunday morning is not sleep or homework catch-up time.
4. Work hard. You are at college to get an education, everything else is bonus. Homework comes before all other activities. If you work hard and plan well, you will have time for some of the other activities.
5. Sleep! If you are doing rule number four, then most nights you will have plenty of time to sleep.
6. Go to Class!!! You are paying good money to go to school, it becomes your career while you are in college and missing class can be a major setback. With the exception of perhaps, vomiting or loss of a limb, get to class!
7. Interact in class. Answer questions, give input. Do not be afraid to look foolish, you will look more foolish down the road, if you do not know the information.
8. Visit your professors. Go see them in their offices, ask them questions, and build a rapport. Interact with them in class.
9. Have a calendar, either paper or electronic. Look ahead and enter due dates and plan for major projects. You do not want to be taken by surprise when several things are due at once.
10. Do not be in an exclusive relationship. Make lots of friends, both guys and girls. Through your interactions with many people in large groups you will be able to truly see the way a young woman acts and treats others. If you are spending time one-on-one, then you will only see glimpses of what she wants you to see and you are only showing her what you would like her to see. You will end up marrying your best friend and you will know her very well through that non-exclusive friendship.
11. You are to never be alone with a girl. Never! Her reputation as a young woman of God is at stake. You are to never be alone with a girl in a car, no matter how innocent it may seem. You will not be alone with a girl in a room or anywhere else for that matter. You will never pray alone with a girl or study the Bible alone with a girl. Those are intimate things that can lead to other intimate things. If you become a tutor, you will not tutor girls. If you need a study partner, it will not be a girl. No matter how inconvenient it may be, you do not be alone with a girl. Your reputation as a light for Christ is on the line. People may know you pretty well, but they may not know what you are doing while alone with a girl(s).
12. Look at a girl appropriately as if she is your sister. If she is not dressed in a way that protects your innocence, then she is not a young lady with whom you should spend time. The way a young lady dresses is showing off her heart. Flee evil. Even if she is dressed modestly, look at her eyes. We are guys and we lust and our eyes wander, so pray for strength. Do not think that you are above this type of problem; that is when trouble begins. If you are lusting in your heart after a young woman, then you are not only sinning against yourself and God, but you are taking something from her as well. Her body belongs to God first and then her future husband; hands off and eyes off.
13. Do not flirt. You may not think that you are sending signals or even intend to, but you may very well be anyway. Girls want to be loved; they want the attention of a guy. They seek different types of attention, but they do want your attention. Girls are vulnerable and can be easily hurt. If you are upfront with all of your female friends that you are seeking friendship, then they will generally know where they stand with you.
Be wary! There are some young women who want to be physical. They will tell you what you want to hear and feed your massive guy ego. Just a heads up.
14. For everything else; refer to rule number one!

Toy Story 3 - Be Brilliantly Surprised

2010-06-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

I will not often blog to endorse a movie. I do however love movies. Before my son came to live with us, my wife and I would go to the late show of some recent film every Friday night. It has been a while since I was surprised by a movie. We took our almost five-year-old son to see “Toy Story 3” yesterday and if you haven’t seen this film, finish reading my blog and then get up and go. It is a jewel for all ages.
Now I promise no spoilers in this entry. But I will tell you that if you have even the slightest pulse, take a box of tissue or 2 to 3 hankies. Your heart will be grabbed in such a way that will move you for hours if not days after the credits roll. (By-the-way, stay for the credits, as always with Pixar.) The new characters are wonderful and compliment beautifully the familiar characters that have become a part of our lives. The script is surprising and just when you have predicted what will happen; the writers throw you a curve ball. There is great humor, edge-of-the-seat drama and, as previously mentioned, thought-provoking heart-wrenching emotion.
Be prepared that some of our old standby characters are mentioned, but do not appear in the film. This, as with all three films, speaks to the truth, the reality, of kids and toys and growing up.
Be sure that there is also another craftily and elaborately devised plan by Woody. That is one brilliant and yet deeply caring cow puncher. If you haven’t guessed he is my favorite. I love all of the characters, they are an orchestra of complimentary personalities, but Woody is the epitome of friendship, loyalty, humanity, frailty, strength, humor and imperfection, and yet he teaches us so many life lessons; the most important being that we cannot make it on our own. We need family, friends and in the case of all sinners we need Jesus Christ.

Abraham Lincoln - The Paradox

2010-06-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

For me Abraham Lincoln and his role in the "War Between the States" has become a bit of a problem. Do not get me wrong, I think that he was a good man and in fact I have come to believe that he was the right man at the right time, placed in power providentially as all leaders are. I agree wholeheartedly that the abolition of slavery was paramount. I can find no one with which to disagree on this point.
But the “Civil War” was not initially or primarily about slavery, it was about state’s rights. So where I run into a problem is in the question, “was President Lincoln acting within his power and within the reach of the Constitution?” And whether he was or not, “did he do the right thing by fighting to keep the Union together?” Many southern colonies were worried about the issue of state’s rights when the Constitution was waiting to be ratified. They were worried that the Constitution threatened their way-of-life. The northern states that had already ratified the document enticed the south by saying that if they ratified the Constitution and it was not working for them, the southern colonies could then secede from the Union.
I believe with all of my heart that the southern colonies had the right to secede. But I praise the Lord that a man like Lincoln had the courage to fight to hold this great nation together. I shudder to think how things might have turned out had the hand of the Almighty not reached down and saved this great nation.
Do I fear that a precedent was set, that the commander-in-chief can supersede the Constitution at will? No, we have not seen that in this way since. Have we seen presidents who have tried to get around the Constitution, yes, we have one now, but the voters, the people, will rise up and our system of checks and balances will succeed. God bless the United States of America.

The Rules for Young Ladies in College

2010-01-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

These are rules that I have put together that have been tested and proven successful if followed completely. They are rules intended to help a young woman of God be successful at college as well as guard her purity and reputaion in Christ.

The Rules
Rules for the Success of Young College Ladies

These are the rules. You will notice that these are entitled “The Rules”. This means that they are not up for debate. There are no exceptions. These are not guidelines or suggestions, they are rules. I will guarantee you that if you strictly abide by and follow all of these rules; you will have the most wonderful Christian college experience that can possibly be had. These rules have been tried and tested and when followed to the letter, have had a 100% success rate. You will excel not only academically, but in your spiritual life, in your friendships and in purity. These rules will help to set you apart from the ways of the world, not just the secular world, but from the Post-Modern Americana Christian World.
The following rules are in no particular order of importance, save the first rule. You cannot be a truly successful young woman of God unless you view these rules as a whole and not a list from which you can pick or choose. However, if you follow the first rule, then the others will fall into place. I will say that the rest of the rules will be easy if you cling wholly to rule number 1.

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and think through each decision from your Savior’s stand-point and not your own. Use the Bible as a filter through which all of your decisions and thoughts must pass.
2. Set aside time to read the Bible and pray every day. This is vital to the success of this contract. You must have a quiet time.
3. Attend church regularly. Sunday morning is not sleep or homework catch-up time.
4. Work hard. You are at college to get an education, everything else is bonus. Homework comes before all other activities. If you work hard and plan well, you will have time for some of the other activities.
5. Sleep! If you are doing rule number four, then most nights you will have plenty of time to sleep.
6. Go to Class!!! You are paying good money to go to school, it becomes your career while you are in college and missing class can be a major setback. With the exception of perhaps, vomiting or loss of a limb, get to class!
7. Interact in class. Answer questions, give input. Do not be afraid to look foolish, you will look more foolish down the road, if you do not know the information.
8. Visit your professors. Go see them in their offices, ask them questions, and build a rapport. Interact with them in class.
9. Have a calendar, either paper or electronic. Look ahead and enter due dates and plan for major projects. You do not want to be taken by surprise when several things are due at once.
10. Do not be in an exclusive relationship. Make lots of friends, both guys and girls. Through your interactions with many people in large groups you will be able to truly see the way a young man acts and treats others. If you are spending time one-on-one, then you will only see glimpses of what he wants you to see. You will end up marrying your best friend and you will know him very well through that non-exclusive friendship.
11. You are to never be alone with a boy. Never! You are to never ride alone with a boy in a car, no matter how innocent it may seem. You will not be alone with a boy in a room or anywhere else for that matter. You will never pray alone with a boy or study the Bible alone with a boy. Those are intimate things that can lead to other intimate things. If you become a tutor, you will not tutor boys. If you need a study partner, it will not be a boy. No matter how inconvenient it may be, you do not be alone with a boy. Your reputation as a light for Christ is on the line. People may know you pretty well, but they may not know what you are doing while alone with a boy(s).
12. Dress appropriately. Guys do want to see your chest. If you are advertising, then people will think that you are selling. Help guys be pure, what a favor you can give to the young men around you. Your clothing does not need be tight. Again you can help those around you and you can remember that your body is not yours. It belongs to the Lord and through Him it then belongs to your future husband.
13. Do not flirt. You may not think that you are sending signals or even intend to, but you may very well be anyway. Guys can think that a smile is a sign from above. Seriously, you may have something in your eye and a guy might think that you are winking at him. He might claim, in a group, that blue is his favorite color and so you state that yours is as well, and he will think that you are hinting at something bigger. Guys are just wired so differently than girls. Remember that girls want to be loved and guys want to be touched and to touch. Be aware of every bit of body language that you use, everything that you say and the way that you say it. Pray that everything that you do and say will be taken righteously. Signs may not be your fault, guys are responsible for their own actions, thoughts and feelings, but keep an eye out to see if a guy is sending you signals, based on your interaction.

14. For everything else; refer to rule number one!

Why Do I Blog?

2010-01-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

Why do I blog? I am asked this question often. It would be nice if more than just three of you read what I had to say, I feel that I have quality contributions to make, but the main reason for taking the time out of my life to pen my thoughts is simply to straighten my thoughts. On any given day I have so much in my head that it would be nice to have Dumbledore’s Penseive, but I do not. So in my own way I clarify and clear by blogging. How do I choose what thoughts to elucidate? I commonly do not put a thought to ink unless I have a lucid opinion, one in which I am comfortable regardless of who agrees or disagrees. I have, however, had my mind changed from time-to-time and am open to a change of position or at least healthy discussion on most issues save one. I will not change my position on Jesus Christ being the one true God as a member of the Trinity and it is only by Him and through Him one must be saved. Sorry, to burst your bubble if you are an unbeliever, but Christ alone!

The Pinnacle of Fashion

2010-01-02T22:36:00.000-08:00

I will probably never understand current fashion trends, especially those of our youth. It does not matter when it might be, when I say current fashion trends, it is always now so the trends are always current and therefore I will never understand current fashion trends.
I always explain to my students how I understand that they truly believe that they have arrived; fashion wise that is. I grew up through the stunning attire of the seventies and eighties. I recall bell-bottom cords, feathered hair, leg-warmers; I even spent some time myself emulating Don Johnson’s Sonny Crockett of Miami Vice. We were certain that we had finally perfected dress. We dabbled in the past, collecting bits and pieces from the fifties, sixties and seventies, but we had, at last, compiled a collection of fashion which would stand the test of time, clothing and hair which would last for the ages to come. Today’s youth are no different. I look back at old yearbooks and with today’s young people at my side; mock the attire of my times of yore. And yet as I ridicule my youth, I am aware that my students and all young people in the United States believe that they have reached the pinnacle of fashion.
So we all do it, we all go through the crazy trends and try extremes in the way that we look and dress. I will not understand, however, what I believe is known as a faux-hawk; a hairstyle of young men arranged by utilizing gel, mousse, superglue or whatever necessary to form the hair into the equivalency of what looks like a chicken in desperate need of being culled.
I also have great difficulty with young men who wear their pants at the base of their bum cheeks as to advertise which brand of boxers they are sporting. For the love of all that is good, if you are that frantic for the world to see your undergarments just wear them over your pants or just don’t wear the pants at all.
But the immense hang-up I have today is the purchasing of a pair of pants, hooded sweatshirt or of any other clothing that looks as though it has gone fifteen rounds with a rabid pit-bull. I generally throw away clothes before they get to the point that I have seen in the mall, let alone wear them in public. The more worn the clothing is, the more shotgun-like holes which the clothing possesses, the higher the price. I should just start selling my worn our jeans on eBay and I could retire by forty-five.
Yes, I know this too shall pass. But, I pray that it will pass quickly, like Henry the VIII’s wives.

Obama's Blundering Morality - Stem Cells

2009-03-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

On this day, Monday, March 09, 2009, President Obama will be keeping one of his campaign promises, it is the promise to reverse President George W. Bush’s executive order to stiffly limit the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Congratulations Mr. Obama, like King David in the case of Uriah, you have just carefully orchestrated murder. The main difference being that King David was a man after God’s own heart and repented, where Mr. Obama will most likely sleep just fine tonight.
In contrast to President Bush, I do not even condone the research be done on already aborted embryos, as I believe that abortion is immoral. But, to produce embryos solely for research is just wrong. It is argued by myself as well as millions of other morally correct citizens, that abortion and the production of embryos for research is ethically wrong. However, it is argued on the other side that it is morally wrong, for the sake of cures of Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries and other diseases, to not utilize this research. Ironically, the best research and only really successful research has come from the study of adult stem cells. And the lives of the adults do not need to be taken for the research to take place. http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/winter01/stem_cell.html
I have seen beloved relatives suffer through Parkinson’s and yes I prayed that the disease would be eased, but neither them nor I would have wanted the death of millions of fetuses for this gain.
Obama stated before signing the order, “It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient.” That is easy to say when you have been given a chance to live outside of a lab dish, a chance to become someone and something, not just produced as a means to an end.
THE END NEVER JUSTIFIES THE MEANS IF THE MEANS IS IMMORAL!
Obama then stated, “ …In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent.” It becomes pretty clear that when it comes to morality and truth, President Obama God have two pretty contrasting views.

The “Stars”, Like Sergeant Schultz, “know nothing”

2009-02-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

The economy is dropping and looking bleak, let’s ask Lindsey Lohan what she thinks, that will make things better. The United States is in an energy crisis; let’s call Tom Cruise, because he spent many years getting multiple degrees in the sciences (for the record Scientology is not a true science.) We are going to war again, let’s quickly contact Pitt and Jolie, perhaps their experience in violent films will help me sleep at night.
Why do we care what the stars are thinking? Many of them are not thinking at all. It has always stopped me in my tracks. We go to war, we hear from military analysts who have spent their lives actually in the military and studying the same. We hear the opinion of new broadcasters who have great research teams and years of experience in research; we listen to politicians who also have background and some understanding, and then we spend time hearing from the stars. As if Sean Penn’s opinion will place people at ease. I would glean better information from my horoscope as it deals with the heavenly stars. (I do not endorse this course of research either.)
Don’t get me wrong, next to the brilliant soldiers, analysts, reporters and politicians; there are plenty of idiots within their ranks. But what qualifies a movie or music icon to give expert opinion on the major issues that our great country faces? I will tell you, the fans, that’s who. The fans cannot wait to hear what their favorite rocker has to say about the latest crisis. It is the fan, the general public that has elevated the stars to a status of all wisdom. It is all of the masses that can no longer think for themselves because they have been spoon fed shallow scripts that cause them not to think, video games with reset buttons and “music” with lyrics that would drown in a thimble.
I would become a big fan of the Hollywood icon or the Stadium performer who just simply told the truth and said, “I know nothing.”

John Adams – The Unsung President

2009-02-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

President Adams was not just a one term President who should be skipped by in history books and great discussions on our way from Washington to Jefferson. I do not always agree with Adam’s view of the role of government, but he was a true patriot and statesman as well as a loving husband and father and should be memorialized in grand fashion.
John Adams was very instrumental in the birth of our nation. He was a bright mind and a loyal diplomat to France and the Netherlands. At the early tension prior to the Revolution, Adams successfully defended the British soldiers that were involved in the “Boston Massacre” (as it was called by Samuel Adams.) John Adams did what was right rather than what was popular and that is reflected time and time again in the course of his service to his country and during his presidency. He was successful in keeping our newly born country out of a war between France and England, which I argue may have torn our young country apart. His actions were not rewarded because the votes for his second term were already cast when the news of the treaty was announced in the states. By that time Mr. Adams had been told that he would retire as a private citizen to his home, Peace Field in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Adams, more often than not, placed duty before his family. He spent many years away from both his wife and children and yet to read his letters, one learns that he loved them all dearly and they were never far from his thoughts. Adams wrote regularly and in more than one letter to his “Dearest Friend” Abigail, he lamented that he had not the time to write more. He was in fact a harsh taskmaster to his children, but it was out of love and a desire to see them come to be their best. He had very high aspirations for each of them. In today’s society children are often raised at the other end of the spectrum, coddled to a fault.
It is time that President John Adams was recognized with a memorial the likes of Washington and Jefferson. It must be on a grand scale as we seek to celebrate the life and service of an ardent patriot.

"Our obligations to our country never ceases but with our lives."
John Adams, Letter to Benjamin Rush, 18 April 1808

Robert E. Lee - Virginian First?

2009-02-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

I have come to have great respect for the leadership and the man Robert E. Lee. So many Americans are quick to judge the man because he led the southern army during the War Between the States, but there is so much more to the General Lee. He was a God-fearing Christian who was apposed to slavery. He believed in a gradual emancipation, but emancipation none-the-less. So why did he fight for the south? He was loyal to his state or “country” of Virginia. Virginians all the way back to Washington and Jefferson were devoted to Virginia first. Our Virginian forefathers thought of her as a country, their mother country. Yes, other colonists thought of their particular states as individual countries as well, but like Massachusetts citizens, Virginians had a certain zest for being a born and bred member of their “country”. This carried on and when Lee was asked by Lincoln to lead the Union forces, Lee put Virginia before the United States. So let me now ask, if Virginia had not seceded and had stayed with the Union, would Robert E. Lee have still been loyal to his state? Since he was apposed to slavery and still fought for Virginia, was he so much for states rights, as was the Confederacy or would he have fought to preserve the Union as, in this instance, would have been the desire of his beloved Virginia?

To Miss W (and Ebeth)

2009-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

I am friend to a young lady who is a former student of mine. She is now twenty and I have been acquainted with her since she was very young and have had the privilege of watching her grow into a woman of God. She comes from a wonderful Christian home and it is a joy to know them.
I had the opportunity to chat with her for a few minutes yesterday. I relish all of our conversations because she loves the Lord and she is a thought provoking young lady. As we talked she expressed the fact that she had been going through some times of discontentment recently in the area of marriage and the fact that she is not and not really moving in that direction at this time. You see, since I can remember, she has had the desire to become a wife and a mom. As we talked it became clear that she felt embarrassed and sinful for her lack of contentment in the place in which God has placed her and she is now content once again. So, being a bit of a thinker myself, I began to pray and ponder her situation.
I now have a few thoughts to share with you Miss W. It is so important to be joyful in each situation in which you are placed, but I believe that does not mean you cannot carry some sorrow in a situation or even a desire for change. For instance: my dad recently passed away. I find great joy that he is with the Lord and am thrilled that God answered my prayers of healing. (Not as I would have done it, but he healed him just the same.) I find great peace and yet I am taking the time for mourning as scripture teaches. (Ecclesiastes 3:4) Perhaps there is a bit of mourning in a young lady in yet unfulfilled dreams?
Secondly, there are many examples from scripture in which God places an individual or individuals in situations and they are joyful and obedient in those situations and yet they pray and even work (with God’s guidance) to change those circumstances. I first give you Paul. As Paul is writing to the church at Philippi in Chapter 1 verse 21-26 he discusses the fact that he is content to stay here on earth and do God’s will for the furthering of the Kingdom of God, but he states in verse 22 that his “desire is to depart” that is be with God and reunited with Jesus.) This in no way means we should seek our desires over the Lord’s will, but it does mean that we can have other desires. In the garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed for God the Father to take the cup of suffering and crucifixion from Him, (that was the wholly human side of Christ.) But the wholly God side then prayed “not my will but thine be done.”
In closing, Miss W, continue to dream, continue to aspire toward a husband and children, and by all means pray for these things, but moreover continue to pray that God’s will and not yours be done.

The A.C.L.U. - A Contradiction

2009-02-12T10:58:00.000-08:00

The American Civil Liberties Union or A.C.L.U. is suppose to be an organization who sole purpose is to protect and preserve the rights of all citizens of the United States as found in the Constitution. So why is it that they work so hard to trample on the very rights they strive to preserve while attempting to protect the same?
I give you school prayer. Now, as a Christian I do not condone teacher led prayer in schools. I do not want a person who may not be a Bible believing Christian leading my children in prayer, but let us use this example to see a clear contradiction that is the A.C.L.U. This organization claimed that to have prayer in school infringes on the rights of those who do not want to pray or practice religion. But what about the rights of those who do? I believe that they are stomping on the First Amendment rights of those who have a desire to have free speech and expression of religion.
How about Affirmative Action and other such regulations? In making sure you have just the right number of minorities employed at a workplace or enrolled at a college or university, are we not infringing on the rights of the Caucasian? I do not care what color you skin might be, I want the right person for the job. I want the he or she that has the best training, experience and/or personality to fill the niche.
A.C.L.U. if you have to exist, please exist for all people and not just those who make more of a statement and get you more press, not just the left, but the right.

The Orthodontist is Open After Three

2009-02-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

I have been a schoolteacher now since 1995. I have spent my time teaching middle school and a little high school. What never ceases to amaze me is the casual way parents, who are paying for private education, take the responsibility that their children have to be at school. No, do not get me wrong, I want it noted that there are many families who hold school sacred, right below church, and to them I tip my hat. But, there are an increasing number of parents who are passing the bad habit of making attendance a low priority on to their children.
I am constantly asking students if they know that the orthodontist is open after three. I went through the entire brace routine when I was I high school and yet I did not miss a bit of school to do so. O.K. so it may be harder to get an appointment, but what about other activities or events? I have students in my classes who are consistently missing school days for other activities. I fully support these other areas of these students' lives, but to place them above an education is skewed. These events or activities should not infringe on the preciousness of education. Seriously, students will have the rest of their lives to do most of these activities. School is a student’s career and should be treated thus.
Finally, families that go on trips during the school year, what is that all about? We are required to be in school 180 days each year, leaving 185 days for trips. I had a family go to Disneyland the first week of school this year. You might as well wait and come back next year if you miss the important bulk of training that takes place the first week of school. I had one family that would go on a cruise every year during school days. The student missed 7 school days on the cruise and later in the year got very sick and missed more than the allotted days. When the child was assigned Saturday School, to make up for the excessive absences, the family cried foul and whined that it was not their fault. My administrator simply told them that he understood the illness, but it would not have been a problem if they had not made the decision to go on the cruise earlier in the year. The boy did Saturday School.
Education is key. Maybe it is just because I am a teacher that I am so passionate about this, but really. Are we preparing our youth for the real world?

The Anti-Social Society Deteriorating Facebook

2009-01-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

I have been faced with a dilemma. Is Facebook something that all people should have? Is it really a good social tool? At 1.5 million users, it will soon become standard for everyone to have one, so why don’t I endorse Facebook?
Well, I just can’t bring myself to jump on the wagon. I recently read an article by Farhad Manjoo, who compared Facebook growth with the escalation of the cell phone in our society to the point that you need to have one. Manjoo states, “…and then one day enough people had cell phones that everyone began to assume that you did, too.” He then went on to say, “they’d [cell phones] grown so deeply entwined with modern life that the only reason to be without one was to make a statement by abstaining.” I cannot think of a better way of making a statement than abstention. This philosophy of doing something because everyone else is doing it and because it has become commonplace, is frightening. In the United states there are approximately 1 million divorces a year. By the time teenagers turn 18 in the United States, somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 percent of them have had sexual intercourse. Adolph Hitler came to power and reeked havoc on our world because a bunch of young people who were following the crowd. The anti-christ will have everyone marked because it is the thing to do.
A young friend of mine is struggling with peer pressure due to the fact that she does not have a Facebook and all of her friends do. The friends say that they could keep up with her more often and better if she had one. The irony is that most of those people live on the same college campus with her and she would end up seeing them less and talking to them less if she signed up for Facebook. Our society is becoming more and more isolated in the name of being more social. Students are texting and Facebooking rather than calling or visiting, they are walking in packs down the mall texting the friends that they are not with, while each one is listening to different music on their ipods.
If you want to be a true friend, make an effort to call or go see, or invite your friends over. I am guessing that if Christ were incarnate today, He would not be interacting with people through a text and I am betting He would not have a Facebook. He was about up close personal relationships. That is how He still wins hearts.

Adams and Jefferson / Friendship and Fury That Work

2008-10-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

When John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were wrestling with the other founders as to the role and size of government, they were not concerned with morals and principles. Yes, there have always been unprincipled and immoral men, but at the time our government was being formed, morals and principles were assumed. It was just a given that people generally believed in biblical principles, regardless of their faith in Jesus Christ. Our founders were working to form a way to manage government and give rights to the people. They did not have to discuss same-sex marriage or the killing of millions of babies in the womb, because people generally held to the decent and right principles set forth in the Word of God.
Today, our government has to spend a lot of time dealing with morals, because the world has worked so hard to keep God and His plan and simple decent morals out of government. Instead of spending time sharpening each other on matters of Constitutional government, in a partisan manner in which our founders intended, our politicians spend a great deal of their time governing morality.
Adams and Jefferson were ardently opposites on the role of a federal government. They agreed on the given morals that should be inherent in any government, and so they were able to have ongoing healthy differing opinions which truly did keep our government and our elected officials razor-sharp. They disagreed until the very day on which they both died, and yet kept a strong respect and admiration for one another. We should hold this example of tight friendship, solid respect and a fervent differing of opinion up to the faces of our governing officials.

Our Casual, Rude, Uncaring Selves - Get Over You

2008-04-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Imagine you are sitting in church on a Sunday morning, and you are deep in worship as the message is being taught. Suddenly, some unthinking person is edging his way in front of you and others, tripping over knees and purses as he heads to the bathroom. It is much like the annoying one who does the same at a movie theater and yet we get riled up when it disrupts our movie, but we would often consider ourselves unchristian if we were to act disturbed by this selfish act.
On the other hand, we can sit three hours holding our bladders as the sights and sound of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy thrills us, but for an hour to and hour and a half church service, we seem to have weak kidneys.
How about the woman who is convinced that she cannot make it through the service without her "legal addictive stimulant." Why do people need coffee during a church service? Should it not be the passion and desire to worship and learn about God that keeps us awake and alert? Could it be the two hour Saturday night movie of the week, that you probably should not have watched last night, that has made you tired for God this morning or perhaps it is simply a lack of desire to be awake for God.
As a teacher I ran into the problem that students constantly wanted to take trips to the restroom. It was very disturbing to the class and so I instituted the rule that the bathroom disappears when class begins, and reappears when class ends. To this day, I have never had a student wet himself.
The problem in both of these instances is selfishness. We have made church about us. The Pilgrims and the Puritans would sit for many many hours on a Sunday, on very hard wooden benches in an effort to make the focus of their time about the Lord and not themselves.
Drink your coffee before the service, then go to the bathroom, then enter the worship service or the classroom with God and others in mind.
Get over yourself.

Stanwood - College Bound?

2008-03-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

A while back rumor came down that the State of Washington was looking to place a new four-year university in North Snohomish County. The idea was that the new school would service North Snohomish County (north of Everett), Skagit County and Island County. So in the infinite wisdom of the state, they decided to place the school in Everett, a location which meets none of the goals. (Which is fine with me.)
Putting the poor site choice aside, I would like to talk more specifically about my community, the community of Stanwood. I would like to discuss the movement, by many people from the greater Stanwood area, to have this college placed in the Stanwood vicinity, and the continued movement, now that the state college site has been selected, to attract a private college or university to the Stanwood area.
The thing that really staggers my imagination is the fact that most of the university proponents are the same people who fought blood sweat and tears to keep Wal-Mart out of Stanwood a few years back. It just seems ironic that someone would battle against the big box monster and then turn around and try to attract something that will inevitably attract the monster. If a four-year college, with dorms and the works comes to town, they are going to need somewhere to shop and at this time Stanwood does not have the stores that college students will be wanting. It is like building a casino and the entire time saying that it will not attract gamblers.
Get a clue! You cannot have one without the other.

St. Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have had an opportunity to write and update my blog. Not that anyone is reading this regularly except my wife and she has been since banned from reading this blog at work. The frozen food packaging company, for which my wife works, has set up the internet in such a way that many sites are blocked, each employee has only a certain amount of quota time each day, and if you visit any one site too often, then it becomes restricted. But, I send out a God bless you, to my wife who is a great supporter of the things that her husband loves.
It is St. Valentine's Day and I have to say, so what, and who cares? Well, my wife, for one cares a good deal. A few years ago a friend of mine and I decided to not get anything for our wives for Valentine's Day. He bailed on me and I followed through. (He must fear his wife more than I.) Anyway, was I ever in the doghouse? I have learned my lesson. I do not go over-the-top, but my lady is not one who needs someone to go over-the-top. She just wants to be remembered. I do not always say it, but she is daily remembered. Regardless of whatever conflict we might be going through, I always remember that God brought her to me and that I love her and she loves me. This might sound like gooey dribble, but we all need a little of that now and then.
My main problem with St. Valentine's Day is that so many couples only celebrate each other on February 14th. Shame on you men out there who do not do the little things throughout the year to remind her that she is a gift from God.

Should Christian Young Women Go To College?

2007-12-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

Should Christian young women go to college? This is a question that I get a lot. There is the school of thought that college is a waste of time for a godly young woman. It is assumed that, when married, the young lady will stay home and keep house, take care of the children, and her husband. Ideally this is a wonderful model. (I realize that in today's society, this is a very chauvinistic idea, but I don't think so.)
Firstly, a young lady should not be waiting for marriage. As a woman who has been given gifts and talents by her creator, she should be using them to further His kingdom. God will bring marriage in His time if it is His will. Secondly, just because a girl has dreams of marriage, it does not mean that God's plans for her are the same. I have heard it said too many times, "She really wants to be married, so God would not leave her single." I am glad that those making that statement are now deciding what the perfect mind of God will think next. I have known several girls, who were set on marriage through high school and college and have yet to be married. They may never. It is then important to be able to support one's self. Thirdly, marriage may not last forever. I am not speaking of divorce, but of separation through death. If a woman were widowed, then it would be wonderful for her to be able to make a living. I agree that the church should help to support her, but they may not have the finances to carry the whole weight of her financial burden. Fourthly, the kids grow up and go to college. The children are grown, the house is in order and dad is trying to pay for two or three of them at a time to go to college. Yes, there are minimum wage jobs that could help, but wow, what one could do with a college career. Finally, there are many men who have good jobs, but do not make enough to support all of the needs of the family. My sister-in-law has been a stay-at-home mom since my niece and nephew were born. My brother works very hard and does pretty well, but there are unforeseen car repairs, braces and other such expenses that may not fit the budget. She has an accounting degree and is able to work from home and still maintain the home and spend time with the children.
I believe that God has called me to work in the ministry of a private school. My wife wholeheartedly agrees. I would love to make enough money for her to stay home. That is not what God has planned for us yet. I will continue to guide young ladies toward college, until God sends them a different direction.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year; the beautiful colors, warm fires, and Thanksgiving. A gray day in the Pacific Northwest can be a wonderful thing. Grocery stores are one of my favorite destinations during this season. The ends of the aisles are packed with a cornucopia of delicious ingredients. I was at Haggen last night with my son, and my eyes and nose were filled with the wonder of bagged walnuts, condensed milk, bread crumbs for stuffing, baking flour, brown sugar, various spices and a plethora of other delightful items, not to mention the fresh baked pumpkin pies in the bakery.
Putting these earthly pleasures behind, I truly love the gathering of family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, siblings and parents all coming together in festive fall-colored clothing that leaves only the flesh of the face exposed. Everyone sharing pictures and stories from the past year and young parents showing off their new family additions whose presence ensures gatherings of this kind for years to come.
The pinnacle of the Thanksgiving season is giving thanks to the one and only true God of the Bible, giving Him praise and thanks first and foremost for the gift of His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world who came to this earth as God in the form of man to be the one and only Way, Truth and Life.
This has, for many years, left me asking the question, "To whom is everyone else giving thanks?" The very act of giving thanks lends itself to having to give that thanks to someone or something. I obviously do not have the market cornered on praising God. When I ask my question, I am not including other God fearing believers of Jesus Christ. I am simply wondering whom atheists are thanking. How about evolutionists? Then there are those who claim to believe in nothing. Who are they thanking? No one or nothing I guess. Or perhaps in our humanistic world, they are thanking themselves. How bold to thank one's self for every good thing and for life and breath.

The Right to Vote at a Polling Place

2007-11-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

I live in Snohomish County, located in the northwestern region of Washington State. Last year our county government decided that all registered voters would vote absentee. This means that I no longer have the right to drive to my local school library or Sons of Norway Hall and take my place in a voting booth and cast my vote. No longer will little elderly ladies greet me, whose joy is to help voters in the voting process and then place an "I Voted" sticker on your shirt or jacket.
In this past election, taking place on November 6, 2007, we once again received our absentee ballots in the mail. My wife and I then dropped them off at our local QFC grocery store. I have no problem with soldiers, shut-in folks or people working long shifts, signing up for absentee ballots, but I have a major problem with every registered voter being required to vote in this manner.
I wonder if the absentee method is really that much of a money saver. Most of the women and men at the polling places were volunteers and let us just look at the votes sent out versus the votes sent back. About 34 percent of the 333,618 ballots sent out were returned. That leaves us with a grand total of 220,250 ballots that went into the trash. How is that good stewardship? The incredible waste of paper, not to mention the printing and postage costs.
It is believed that this absentee method will encourage more people to vote. Voting is a right and a privilege. There should be effort involved. Maintaining a republic is not easy. It takes work. It takes sweat. If people choose not to make this effort or take advantage of this right, then that is their choice and they have forfeit that right.
Chances are, the people who are sending in the absentee ballots were the same folks who were greeted by those dear volunteers. Voters who would trudge through the elements to claim their right to vote.

Are We Still Teaching Manners?

2007-10-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended a band concert at my nephew's middle school. He has just entered the sixth grade and has played the trumpet now for about four to five weeks. It was a wonderful time. I was regrettably reminded of how casual our society has become. Perhaps it is just because we are in the Northwest and folks here are very informal, they don't even understand RSVP.
Before the music started, the director had to remind the audience not to walk around or talk during the songs. I was surprised that she didn't have to remind us to turn off our cell phones. What happened to respect and courtesy for others? We have let those ideas depart like the Dodo. Why do grown adults have to be told how to act in public? Because each one looks out for his or her self. If someone asks them to get manners, they feel that some inalienable right of theirs has been infringed upon. The director had to preface her warning with, "your children have worked very hard on these songs." We should know that they have worked very hard and not have to be reminded. Besides, it should not just be for the kids that we are quiet, but for the love of those around us who are trying to enjoy the music.
Turn off your phone at public events! If you should forget, then turn it off immediately. Do not answer it and begin talking like a guy did in a movie that my brother and his wife were attending a while back. This guy carried on a loud, full on conversation.
The Golden Rule, a very Biblical principle, applies here: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

How Do Christians Choose a Candidate?

2007-10-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

With Giuliani as the Republican frontrunner, the question arises, "Can I, as a Christian, vote for a man who is Pro Choice?" It has been suggested to me that we are not voting for a pastor, but a president.
Yes, we are to respect the office of the president whether we agree with the president or not. As Christians we are to understand that God put all authority in place. Even though we are not electing a pastor and we are to respect the office, the decision to me has got to be more about the man than not. Someone might say, "So he is Pro Choice, look at what a political conservative he is." All I can say to that is, wow!
I know that it is impossible to legislate morality. For instance if we ban abortion are the girls not going to get abortions somewhere other than clinics with trained professionals? (By-the-way, I do believe that we should ban abortion and that it is murder.) Morality is a heart issue and only Jesus Christ can change hearts.
I want a man that has impeccable moral values. Not a man that has been married three times and believes in abortion. So, I therefore must choose to vote for the candidate, if there is one, who claims Christ as a member of the triune Deity of God and as that candidate's personal Lord and Savior. I want a man who is not afraid of losing political gain, to speak out against abortion, gay marriage, and other sins against the Truth, Jesus Christ. Someone who is not afraid to give up a second term in the name of what is true and right.
Perhaps if he has traveled this far in politics, then he has already compromised along the way. I choose to believe that we can find this man and that God is faithful to His children regardless of who is in office.

2008 Presidential Fiasco

2007-10-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that with the millions of people in the United States, we have to settle for the lesser of two evils when selecting a president.
I am a schoolteacher. It really comes as no surprise that when students are asked what they want to be when they grow up, that they no longer want to be president. When I was a kid, president was still the number one answer.
If a child is taught integrity, right from wrong, love thy neighbor, and other good Christian morals; why would they then want to become something that throws all of those lessons out the window. I mean, Bill Clinton's approval rating went up when he was caught having an affair. It could just be that the polling was done at the corner tavern, but unfortunately I don't think that is the case.
We do have a problem however. I believe that if the election were held today, we would end up with another President Clinton. The Christian Right will select another candidate, rather than following strict Republican Party lines, because Giuliani is Pro Choice. This will split the Republican vote and Hillary will win by a minority vote, almost by default.
What is almost worse than Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Giuliani? That would be Mr. Romney. Many Evangelical Christians are excited about Romney and his morals. I would rather have a blatant non-Christian as president than a Christian poser. Romney and the Mormons claim to be Christians. Think of the deceit that could be displayed for our great country. A man claiming to be a Christian, but selling in the wrapper of falsehood that is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Well, there is still time. The primary is several months away and the general election is over a year away.
Pray hard people!

What Have You Done to My Stanwood

2007-10-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

I am involved with the government in the once small town of Stanwood, Washington. Stanwood was a fabulous place to grow up and go to school and just hang out. A place that seemed boring when I was in high school and yet we never lacked for things to do. From scaring girls at a local cemetery to just hanging out at the beach, we were never really bored.
Unfortunately over the past twenty years, many outsiders have discovered what a wonderful place Stanwood is to live. The problem that I have with people moving into Stanwood from the "big city" or where ever, is that they won't just leave the town the way it was. They are attracted by the "small-town" feeling; the lack of traffic, crime, gangs, etc. The issue becomes that once they have moved into our small rural farming town, these immigrants soon begin missing all of the amenities of the mess that they left behind. Soon the "newbies" fight to get the "big-box" stores and all that come with them and we are soon left with a city that isn't remotely what attracted the new folks in the first place.
If the "pit-of-despair" that you left is so terrible, then why recreate it in my town? Go away! Go back to your one-stop-shopping and your parallel parking. Go back to fast-paced living and take those that came with you.

Christmas Music at Christmastime!

2007-10-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

I believe that Christmas music should not be played until Thanksgiving Day and that it should be put away on the 26th of December. I find that if I wait to get out my Christmas music until Thanksgiving Day, then I am longing for it. I have been longing for those old familiar tunes this year since Halloween, but that makes it all the sweeter. Likewise, if I cut myself off on the day after Christmas, then I am not tired of it.
To my older brother and all of those of you who partake year round, it is a semi-free country, do what you like. Just do not infringe on my ears. Let me enjoy my idiosyncrasies and savor that most wonderful music at its appropriate time and season.
Honestly, all holidays should have their time and not overlap with others. But we'll discuss that another day.

Favorite Quotes

2007-10-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

"Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery that unequal in freedom."
Alexis de Tocqueville

"A true conservative is a man of the future rooted in the past."
Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.

"Decisions are made by those who show up."

"I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them; because of just one plain simple rule: 'Love thy neighbor.'... And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any other. Yes, you even die for them."
Jimmy Stewart as "Mr. Smith"

"He who is good at making excuses, is seldom good for anything else."
Benjamin Franklin

"Some people are like slinkies... they are not really good for anything... but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs."
Unknown

"Lack of planning on your part does not constitute and emergency on mine."
Unknown

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams

“Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”
George Washington (1732-1799)

“The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to him is not to believe that he loves you.”
John Owen - English Puritan Theologian

"There is no limit to what man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
Unknown

"Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable."
Peter F. Drucker

"Don’t waste time looking for a better job. Do a better job and you’ll have a better job."
S. Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-fil-A)