The ways of worship

For quite some time I have been thinking about 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. About 7 years ago, I asked our pastor how he interprets that passage. He referred me to some commentaries that said that the headcovering for the woman is her hair. Her long hair. Ok. Fair enough. But why aren't women taught to have long hair? For me, the hair length issue is an easy one to see that it does deal with submission. When I was first married, Chris wanted me to grow my hair long. I never would. I kept getting it cut. I would not submit to him...until I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Here is a pastor's interpretation that differs from what I was told many years ago. What is this modern woman going to do with this passage? Nothing or seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom? It would definitely be easier to do nothing. I pray if I do nothing, it will be by the prompting of the Spirit and not the fear of man.

I didn't listen to my husband

and I got what I deserved...needing to acknowledge that I have so far to go.

To obey is better than sacrifice...so says the Bible. Too bad I always think I know better and I can just do it on the sly and get away with things. The thing of it is, I have altruistic motives. But again, I know the Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy rags.

I guess when it comes down to it, I really don't trust God to be true to His word. That what He says is really the best. God is showing me that it's not even on the big things that matter. Every act of disobedience counts. Even when I want to think that it shouldn't.

I was raised never to waste anything. It's in my blood. When I saw that several neighbors were throwing away perfectly good-looking things, I thought I would take a walk and investigate. Chris came with me and of course, I knew he didn't want me to do anything about other people's trash. Because we have enough trash of our own. I didn't argue with him. How's that for points? Well, I get minus points because I didn't stop thinking about the trashed good stuff. I was still thinking about them in bed. In the morning, the first thought on my mind is whether I can beat the trash guys. So, I left my sleeping babies and husband and drove around and hauled a bunch of stuff home. It didn't take long for me to realize that not wanting those usable things to go to the dump meant that I needed to find homes for them. I had to take time to sort through them and clean what needed to be cleaned and then post on freecycle for people to come get the stuff. It took all morning and then I played email tag with the people coming to get the stuff. It was a nice thing for freecycle people. It was nice that the trash guys had less to dump into their truck. It was nice for the landfill to have a little less stuff. But I knew it wasn't what I should've done. I should've listened to my husband. I should've cleaned and got rid of my own stuff. I should've not done what was right in my own eyes.

God gave me a husband for my good. For my protection. For a picture of the way the relationship should look like between a loving groom and His bride.

(To show how much I try to justify things...
I was actually thinking about writing on people's wasteful habits. I was thinking about other people's problems. Anything but wanting to face that I am the chief of sinners. )

Vaccination ebook

Horrors of Vaccination

They tell it like it is

A girl's got lots to say

Good childbirth documentary

We watched Pregnant in America yesterday. I loved how the father was so involved in learning about childbirth and his desire to protect his wife and baby. This movie could impact those desiring something better than what they've experienced. Who watches these kinds of movies but those who have already decided to homebirth though?

The moral of the story: Be educated and have the baby yourself, without professionals. A midwife is usually a professional who may be too quick to steer you to the hospital even when there's nothing wrong. :(

We'd rather miss out

There is a free golf camp next week for the children of deployed servicemen. I called today and asked how to sign up. I would need to bring the children's shot records to register. I asked about getting a waiver. I was told that there would not be enough time to get it approved before the camp.

Ok. Fine. We can play golf on our own. And we won't suffer from the side effects of vaccinations.

I just need to remember that there's a reason why we homeschool. It's because we want to protect our children.

Lord, thank you for using these missed opportunities to remind me that the world's ways are not your ways, even if they are enticing. We are not missing out when we trust in You to take care of us. Thank you for keeping us healthy through good nutrition. I especially thank you for making breast milk to give the children life-long immunity. I know that we are susceptible to diseases and sicknesses because this is a fallen world. I also know that you give us knowledge to reject what is not wholesome for us. Please continue to bless us with good health and the desire to keep healthy nutritionally.

Whatever the government mandates is good

Safe or Unsafe?

The CDC states that Hepatitis B is a result of aberrant behavior. Is there any reason God-fearing parents would need to have their newly born child protected from this disease? Not if they are monogamous and do not use illegal drugs. This may make it into the top of my list of 1000 reasons why hospital births are unsafe and bad for mother and baby.

Most parents probably don't think their baby is at risk for HepB, but they haven't taken the time and effort to understand what a hospital is all about. Most people believe that whatever an authority figure wants to do is for their good. That's the way it's supposed to be. Why do we think doctors are to be trusted anymore than the rest of the population? Doctors know what they know based on what they've been taught in medical school. What do most children learn in public school about how everything came into being?

Jay Wile of Apologia fame may be a great textbook writer, but he must've been educated in a school environment where learning is about accepting what the medical community puts out as fact.

How sad that when given an opportunity to speak on the topic of vaccinations, he accuses the other side of deception instead of being balanced. Why not encourage parents to research on their own and to take their children's health and well-being into their own hands instead of assuming their doctor is always right? Why not caution against multiple vaccinations given together because it's too hard on our children's little bodies? Why not question the necessity of vaccines like Gardasil which go hand in hand with sex ed in public schools?

Our authority is Jesus Christ. In Him, alone, can we be free from the fear that this world makes us believe in.

Remember the chia pets?

Well...they're really good for you! I've just ordered 25 pounds. So you know who to get in touch with if you want some. :)

I was going to write about all the health benefits of chia, but since the information is already out there, I won't bother.

Maybe we'll try to grow some of our own Chia pets soon. I just can't let Max know that they came out with them in the 1970's. He thinks anything '80s and before is really goofy. He's right, but little did we know how good the chia seed really is for us. It's ok if he thinks his parents are goofy products of the '70s too. One day he will be a father and his thinking will become rational. We love you, Max, even if you are a product of the '90s. :)

To Take the Pill or Not

This blog post says it well.

I remember a pastor talking about the Pill being between us and God. That's it. No mention of the possibility of a newly created baby not being able to implant. It could be that he truly had no idea, but since he wanted to talk about the Pill, shouldn't he have looked into it?

Naturally not all the blame should be on pastors. They are fallible and prone to political correctness at times. The burden in doing something that changes the way our body functions ultimately lies in ourselves. We could say ignorance is bliss. But who are we fooling?

Four less birds...

I am racked with guilt. There will be four less birds in this world because of my actions. The children are very sad, to say the least.

I changed our cockatiels' nest today to make it cleaner. They didn't like the new nest. We put back the old one. They were either too confused or too distrusting and would not brood anymore.

I am obviously not cut out to be a bird breeder. Knowing that what I did caused the eggs not to be hatched is a sobering fact. I wish I could undo this afternoon. I wish there was something that could be done so these four little eggs would live. But alas, life is real. That is a very lame thought but of course, what I mean is that the reality of this sinful world is death and it can not be reversed. It's no comfort to think that these are animals. The eggs contained more than just future birds. They embodied hope and wonder. The sense of loss is tremendous. I am thankful that my children only experience sorrow and not the pangs of remorse in this instance.

I can grieve over my imbecilic decision to take away the birds' nest but I know that once they have more eggs and they hatch, I will feel infinitely better. How on earth does a woman who had her child(ren) murdered by an abortionist or other means survive her guilt? I do not think she can. It must be buried so deep that she forgets in order for her to not drown in the horror of it all.

Thinking about all the women who have fallen for this evil deed fills me with anguish. The tragedy of our baby-less birds has paled in comparison to the souls that never became little people.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that our children will never know the guilt that comes from rejecting their baby, whether born or unborn. Thank you for the precious gift of life, eternally secure in Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Culture of Death: The Intent of the Heart

"In summary, according to multiple references throughout the Physician's Desk Reference, which articulate the research findings of all the birth control pill manufacturers, there are not one but three mechanisms of birth control pills: 1) inhibiting ovulation (the primary mechanism), 2) thickening the cervical mucus, thereby making it more difficult for sperm to travel to the eggs, and 3) thinning and shriveling the lining of the uterus to the point that it is unable or less able to facilitate the implantation of the newly-fertilized egg. The first two mechanisms are contraceptive. The third is abortive." Randy Alcorn

Let's just play devil's advocate and say that chemical birth control measures always work in preventing ovulation. So no possibility of an abortion. But what about the desire of not receiving these little ones through the artificial means of preventing ovulation? Of course, making sure that a baby is not conceived is hardly the same as wanting an abortion. Hardly.

Practicing Catholics may be applauded for rejecting birth control. But really, what difference is there between 'natural' family planning and artificial family planning? Both say, No, God. Not right now. I don't desire a child in my womb, thank you very much. When I want one there, I'll let you know.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16

The Fall certainly has taken the delight in anticipating children and turned it into sorrow.

What a read!

I came upon this fantastic thesis on homebirth, specifically at home unassisted.

Culture of Death

I have been wanting to buy the Duggar's book and went online to see where I should buy it from. I really should not have been surprised at the venom and loathing I read about this family on a blog. They were accused of being 'fundies'. Well, is that really so bad? It really could be taken as a compliment. All it takes, these days, to be labelled a 'fundie', is to have high moral standards and to live according to the Bible. Actually, it doesn't even take that. The fact that our girls choose to wear dresses will get us branded us legalists. Does anyone even know what this word means? I don't think so. The girls and I choose to wear dresses because they're pretty. Thy're feminine looking and don't emphasize our hips and bottoms like pants do. I like to wear skirts because they are very comfortable. Our clothes help us to remember to sit in a ladylike way and to behave with decorum. So no, we don't wear jeans because we prefer to wear feminine and modest looking clothes. Not because we're working our way to heaven. But maybe because we reject feminism. We reject that women should be just like men. We embrace childbearing and homemaking as God-honoring and fulfilling. Feminism demands equal pay. The rewards from staying home and raising my own children cannot be compared to any amount of monetary gain. Feminism demands a voice. I prefer going to my husband. Feminism demands the separation of love and procreation. Feminism is selfish. It is what is taught at government schools. It is the pervasive view of our country. 'Barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen' is a repugnant idea to our society, but to us it's funny because I am almost always barefoot and have been pregnant 7 times. And we practically live in the kitchen. (Because the chocolate is in the pantry.) Before feminism took root in this land of the free, the Duggars would not have been vilified. Why would they? The US is indeed a free country, without limits on the number of children can family can have. But times have changed and there is no stigma for the woman who has abortions. How can I be more politically correct? If a woman chooses not to bear an infant in her body, she certainly is entitled not to. On the other hand, if a woman chooses to not tamper her body with chemical drugs, which are abortificient in nature, or prematurely and surgically alters her reproductive organs to be 'broken' (synonymous with fixed), she will be derided and ridiculed. Ours is a culture of death. Life is not celebrated. Marriage covenants are broken as easily as they are made. God bless the Duggars who are counter-culture. I will buy the book because I'm sure it will be an interesting read. I expect I will be challenged and edified.

I may need to edit what I wrote about feminism taking root in this country. Feminism, of course, had its beginning in the Garden of Eden. Eve could've hidden behind her husband for protection from the devil, but she was bold and she was deceived. And not content with her own sin, she drew her husband in as well. Previously, I had erroneously thought that Adam sinned because he loved Eve and didn't want to separated from her. What is love when one knowingly disobeys God? Moral of the story: When a woman falls, she drags her man along with her. I pray tha Max, Lucas, Josiah, Noah and Noble, will choose wisely the women who will do them good and not evil all the days of their lives. If there's a hint of feminism at work in her, you can be sure to find pride lurking underneath.

All this to say that what's pleasing to God is sure not to be pleasing to man.

Birthing books

I saw a few really good books on childbirth at the Dellinger's consignment sale on Tuesday. I picked Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and thought about getting it for someone. Anyone who could potentially have a baby. Then I thought about all the books I already have and how I've been trying not to have duplicates and put the book back. When I was standing in the enormously long line to pay later and passed by the books section and saw that the book was gone, I was immediately filled with regret. Isn't that how it is? When something is gone, then you really wish you could've had it. :)

I am so glad that there are 9 people who believe that birthing in one's home is the way to go. Noble may only be 6 months old, but I'm sure he appreciated being born in a place he already knows and didn't have to be in a hospital since he didn't need medical care. All the other children have witnessed that birth is not a medical event. They have seen how normal birth is. They know that God has made their mother to be able to birth without anyone telling her what to do. They don't associate fear and anxiety with childbirth. May our children pass on these truths to their progeny and may hospitals not take the place of homes in welcoming babies in one's family.

Here's my list of childbirth book recommendations:

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Homebirth by Sheila Kitzinger
The American Way of Birth by Jessica Mitford
Birth as an American Rite of Passage by Robbie E. Davis-Floyd
Active Birth by Janet Balaskas
Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms
Birthing From Within by Pam England
Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin

Whatsoever things...

I've been wanting to write a little bit about my father for some time. Even though he passed away 14 years ago, there are things that remind me of him all the time. Noble reminds me of my father. Something about Noble's face makes me think of him. Neither my mother nor my siblings have seen Noble in person so I don't know if they see it too. I hope there's a good sale on scanner's soon so that I can scan a picture of my father to put with this post and have a picture of Noble here too.
Chris says something that makes me think of my father. Chris will say, Same same, instead of same thing. Just like my father did. I love it. I love hearing Chris say it.

I didn't know how much I would appreciate hearing our children call Chris, Baba. That was how I addressed my father so I am so grateful to have my children carry on that tradition.

I miss my father.