We just enjoyed watching "The Gospel of John" Sunday afternoon. Spend 3 hours with your children watching a word for word dramatization based upon the Good News Bible translation from the American Bible Society. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the Bible unfold and come to life. Herb sat with Bible out, going along with the NIV as the movie progressed and was amazed how faithful it was to the text. Stars Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus and narrated by Christopher Plummer(Captain in the "Sound of Music"). You can read more at http://www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com/ and buy online or find it at your local Christian bookstore. It seems the book of John is always recommended to new believers--this would be a great resource to give to family members in sharing the message of why Jesus came. It is not rated, though I would give it a PG due to some slightly intense scenes.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A "Word to the Wise" July 2008
The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.
~Calvin Coolidge
~Calvin Coolidge
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Lazy Summer Days
Herb enjoyed taking the girl's pictures in a nearby wheatfield--modeling some dresses I made for the 4th of July. Picked up this material at the end of last summer and it only took me a year to get around to sewing them!! So I guess "lazy days of summer" is an appropriate title for this post!Saturday, June 21, 2008
FRIDAY NIGHT FLICK
We are going to recommend a movie that would provide a good point of dialogue with your older children. A couple weeks ago we watched Bella, a movie that is pro-life at the heart. Recommended to us by another homeschool family who is very involved in the pro-life movement, we plunged in to see what had people talking. The movie's main actor is a popular Latino actor who became a christian and wanted to make a movie that would affect cultural thinking on abortion. You won't find a sterile environment for the backdrop in this movie-however, you won't have to wade through language, nudity, or immoral scenes because they aren't a part of this film. The movie is rated PG13--we kind of scratched our heads on that one. For a complete review of the contents you can go to http://www.pluggedinonline.com/, a service provided by Focus on the Family for movie reviews.
Nina is a young selfish girl who lost her job because she was repeatedly late--fired by her friend's brother. She reveals she is pregnant and has been sick, therefore missing work. Of course, the young man that befriends her is the main actor/co-director of this movie. He is a gentleman towards her, showing true compassion which is something she has never experienced. Nina doesn't want her child and she gives many excuses and reasons to "get rid of it" so she can go on with her life. Through compassion and actively helping Nina, he is able to convince her that life is the only choice. At the end, a dear little girl, Bella is the result.
I quote the co-director, "This film is for the Ninas of the world. This film is not for the people who already agree that life is personal and has dignity. I want to touch the girls who come from broken families who don't know anything about all these important issues—and next thing you know they find themselves pregnant and they think it's fine to just go and have an abortion because that is what they have been taught. I want to reach them and embrace them and love them through the film and then by that they can choose what is best for them, which is to have their baby."
Why we like this movie? It helped us as a family to get "into the head" of a typical young girl we all come in contact with everyday. We need to know what she is thinking if we are going to address topics with a young lady on abortion, adoption, etc. It provides a relatively safe catalyst for conversations about abortion, immorality, and consequences for life's choices.
The theme of this movie: redemption
Nina is a young selfish girl who lost her job because she was repeatedly late--fired by her friend's brother. She reveals she is pregnant and has been sick, therefore missing work. Of course, the young man that befriends her is the main actor/co-director of this movie. He is a gentleman towards her, showing true compassion which is something she has never experienced. Nina doesn't want her child and she gives many excuses and reasons to "get rid of it" so she can go on with her life. Through compassion and actively helping Nina, he is able to convince her that life is the only choice. At the end, a dear little girl, Bella is the result.
I quote the co-director, "This film is for the Ninas of the world. This film is not for the people who already agree that life is personal and has dignity. I want to touch the girls who come from broken families who don't know anything about all these important issues—and next thing you know they find themselves pregnant and they think it's fine to just go and have an abortion because that is what they have been taught. I want to reach them and embrace them and love them through the film and then by that they can choose what is best for them, which is to have their baby."
Why we like this movie? It helped us as a family to get "into the head" of a typical young girl we all come in contact with everyday. We need to know what she is thinking if we are going to address topics with a young lady on abortion, adoption, etc. It provides a relatively safe catalyst for conversations about abortion, immorality, and consequences for life's choices.
The theme of this movie: redemption
Monday, June 09, 2008
Body of Christ, big ones and little un's
I know we're supposed to be signed off for the summer......but we were so blessed yesterday...had to share it:)
One reason for taking a blogging break for the summer was due to taking on additional ministry opportunities--what a blessing this has been for our family!
Before Christmas, we began serving when we were available on a Sunday morning at a small church that asked if we could lead the worship for them occasionally. That was several months ago and we are still enjoying leading worship for this body of believers on a regular basis. Yesterday, after the service, we rode home, reflecting on the blessings we had seen and experienced. This small church chose about a year ago to begin worshipping as families--some of you are familiar with the term "family integrated". Others of you know how our hearts have been blessed by visiting churches just like this for several years now.
"Beauty"--Our hearts reflected on the beauty we saw and heard yesterday......... The beauty of a 4 year old holding the door open for a 70 year old who has to walk using a walker. The beauty of little boys helping take up the offering. The beauty of voices raised, young and old, blessing the God of heaven in song. The beauty of hugs being doled out by surrogate grandparents to my children who have already lost one set of grandparents. The beauty of sitting down to eat a meal lovingly prepared by hands, young and old. The beauty of older men serving the bread to families. Young and old, all together--what a taste of heaven....on this earth isn't it wonderful to see displayed just a glimpse of eternity.
"How beautiful the radiant Bride who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes, How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful the feet that bring the sound of good news and the love of the King. How beautiful the hands that serve the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ" (How Beautiful by Twila Paris)
One reason for taking a blogging break for the summer was due to taking on additional ministry opportunities--what a blessing this has been for our family!
Before Christmas, we began serving when we were available on a Sunday morning at a small church that asked if we could lead the worship for them occasionally. That was several months ago and we are still enjoying leading worship for this body of believers on a regular basis. Yesterday, after the service, we rode home, reflecting on the blessings we had seen and experienced. This small church chose about a year ago to begin worshipping as families--some of you are familiar with the term "family integrated". Others of you know how our hearts have been blessed by visiting churches just like this for several years now.
"Beauty"--Our hearts reflected on the beauty we saw and heard yesterday......... The beauty of a 4 year old holding the door open for a 70 year old who has to walk using a walker. The beauty of little boys helping take up the offering. The beauty of voices raised, young and old, blessing the God of heaven in song. The beauty of hugs being doled out by surrogate grandparents to my children who have already lost one set of grandparents. The beauty of sitting down to eat a meal lovingly prepared by hands, young and old. The beauty of older men serving the bread to families. Young and old, all together--what a taste of heaven....on this earth isn't it wonderful to see displayed just a glimpse of eternity.
"How beautiful the radiant Bride who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes, How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful the feet that bring the sound of good news and the love of the King. How beautiful the hands that serve the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ" (How Beautiful by Twila Paris)
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Signing off for the summer...........
The Humber GangHello family and friends!
As you can tell, posting has been sloooooooowwwwwww....we have been busy attending weddings, parties, reunions, hosting friends we've haven't seen in a few years(We love you Humbers!!) and finishing up our bookwork.
We've also put in our garden and weeded the flower beds:) Speaking of flower beds, the girls and I had a fun time breaking up some old china that was chipped and spreading it in our flower beds--made a pretty mosaic focal point under the hostas.
We've also taken on additional church ministry so it just seems posting gets put on the back burner! Anyway, we'll be back again in the fall--have a wonderful summer!!
P.S. Herb's tests are in the process of grading and then the final step for certification in nouthetic counseling will begin. Yeaah!!
As you can tell, posting has been sloooooooowwwwwww....we have been busy attending weddings, parties, reunions, hosting friends we've haven't seen in a few years(We love you Humbers!!) and finishing up our bookwork.
We've also put in our garden and weeded the flower beds:) Speaking of flower beds, the girls and I had a fun time breaking up some old china that was chipped and spreading it in our flower beds--made a pretty mosaic focal point under the hostas.
We've also taken on additional church ministry so it just seems posting gets put on the back burner! Anyway, we'll be back again in the fall--have a wonderful summer!!
P.S. Herb's tests are in the process of grading and then the final step for certification in nouthetic counseling will begin. Yeaah!!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
A "Word to the Wise" May 2008
The day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting. Because that is the end of every man. And the living takes it to heart.
~Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7: 1-3
~Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7: 1-3
FRIDAY NIGHT FLICK
"Sophie Scholl" will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. A gripping true story set in Germany during the reign of Hitler. Sophie, along with her brother are part of the student resistance group called the White Rose.
Director Marc Rothemund does an exceptional job re-creating the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life. This 2005 Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Language film(yes, it is in German with English close captioning)is worth your time.
Why we like it? It demonstrates courage in the face of danger--standing for what you believe, even at the greatest sacrifice of life itself.
Director Marc Rothemund does an exceptional job re-creating the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life. This 2005 Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Language film(yes, it is in German with English close captioning)is worth your time.
Why we like it? It demonstrates courage in the face of danger--standing for what you believe, even at the greatest sacrifice of life itself.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Silver Anniversary Trip
On April 2nd we were blessed to be able to celebrate 25 years of marriage(after 5 years of dating). We weren't going to let this silver anniversary get by without a real honeymoon--the first one was only a day or two due to conditions of poverity:)
Our destination was somewhere warm and sunny, with flowers and relaxation. We settled on Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina and we HIGHLY recommend it! We enjoyed several days at the Biltmore Inn on the property which allowed us full use of biking trails, gardens, touring the home, etc. The house itself is the largest private residence in North America and takes about 1/2 a day to tour it. The gardens are beautiful and the biking trails and pathways are so scenic, quiet, and peaceful. We drove and took our time, listening to John Adams by David McCullough--we also highly recommend!
On our way home, we stopped in French Lick, Indiana for lunch at the West Baden Springs Hotel. We also encourage our readers to check out this "8th Wonder of the World" as it was called when first built. Built in the late 1800's--it has been restored to its' first splendor and just re-opened in May of 2007. It had the largest dome in the world at the time it was built. It has been refurbished to the tune of 344 million dollars and it is awe-inspiring to see. You would never guess this "European style" treat is sitting in this rural town in Indiana!
We truly enjoyed our week away and are so blessed to have four great kids who were glad to hold down the fort for us so mom and dad could have this special time together.
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