A couple of weeks ago I discovered that Andrew Peterson's "children's" book was available on iTunes for $3.95. So I downloaded it and haved listened to about a third of it. The books is wonderfully titled: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure, Peril, Lost Jewels, and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree. Knowing of Peterson's appreciation of the legendary 
otherworldly creations of Lewis and Tolkien, it is easy to see how they inspired him. Peterson has indeed brought forth a new world, complete with enchanting humans and many other strange creatures. But he is no copycat. This is a fresh and unique story, with wonderfully developed characters and a writing style all his own. I look forward to enjoying the whole Wingfeather Saga!
And don't forget that Andrew Peterson's primary contribution to bringing light and hope to this life is his music! He is one of my top three all time favorite artists.
Teaching Audio
I have just added to this site a teaching audio widget (located in the right column) with which you can listen to sermons I have uploaded. You can also download or subscribe to my sermons as a podcast. It all works through sermon.net. I just uploaded one I taught on Father's Day two years ago at Highland Christian Fellowship about turning the hearts of fathers toward their children. In it I explain how parenting fits into the biblical vision of making disciples for Christ.
New Life at Our House
I had two very important early morning meetings on Friday in my office. They were not planned meetings. Soon after he got up my son Caleb (9 yrs) came into my office with a picture he had drawn. It was a replica of a drawing I had done for him several weeks ago that depicted the Gospel. But on his picture he drawn himself crossing the "Cross" bridge to get to God. He proceeded to explain that a couple of weeks back he had given his life to Christ, just as I had explained to him, but he just hadn't told me yet. Moments later Josiah (7 yrs) came into my office. He preempted his discussion with me by explaining that he wasn't coming to talk to me just because Caleb had. He explained that he and Caleb had been talking about their decision to give their lives to Christ and had been praying for each other about it. Josiah's main concern was that he was not old enough or didn't really understand it. One of his reasons for this was seeing what had happened with our daughter Bethany (10 yrs). She was baptized when she was six. It was not long after this that I questioned that decision and concluded we had jumped the gun. Last month Bethany came to us believing that she did not really understand what she was doing when she was six and was ready to give her life to Christ. So, I talked with Josiah about this and we both had peace that he indeed understood what he was doing.
Three kids trusting the Lord as their savior in two months! Very exciting. Leading our children to Christ is the most important thing we can do for them. We will continue to disciple them and help them learn to walk in his ways. We are thankful to God for drawing them to himself and for the privilege and responsibility of guiding them in this journey.
the birchbark letters
I was wading in the New River with my buddy Dustin and my kids. He had already explained the currents of the water and the best spots one might find a trout if he had a mind to. I had also learned the names of various plants and trees. He called the kids over, reached into the river and pulled up a rock. He pointed to the surface of the rock and identified little infantish bugs squirming about on it. If I had picked up that rock, I would not have seen them. He explained the amazingly brief life cycle of these tiny creatures and how they fit into the complex economy of river life. It was an interesting lesson of how much I don't see, because I don't know it's there and don't know how to look for it.
Well, my naturalist friend has launched a creative new website called "the birchbark letters." If you love the outdoors and reflections on God's creation, or if you just enjoy creative, thoughtful writing, you will enjoy "the birchbark letters."
Here's the intro of one of his posts:
"I clearly remember the day I became a man. Well, at least in my own mind. The wind whipped in from the north on that January day. The sky was raw, clouded, and very, very cold. The grass was brown and the apple trees in our backyard were barren, hunkered against the wind. I was 10, wearing a tri-cornered cap my grandparents had given me. A Patriot I was, born of the American Revolution, fighting the Redcoats beside the dog-lot. . . . "
How Important Is the Bible?
I enjoyed reading this from the recent e-mail newsletter from Shepherd's Press:
How Important Is the Bible?
People are concerned about food. The reality is that if we don’t eat we won’t live. However, the Bible says that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4). By making this comparison, the Holy Spirit shows the importance of Scripture. Moses and Christ both make the same statement: man does not live by bread alone. Christians sometimes mentally recast well known passages such as this one in more comfortable religious terms. For example, we might read this passage as though it said Christians do not live by bread alone. After all, the Bible seems to be less and less relevant to those outside the church community. But to read it that way would be a mistake. In reality, people who do not live by the words that proceed from the mouth of God are literally dead men walking.
We are comfortable thinking of the Bible as being important for church or for Sunday School. We can think of the Bible as being important for daily quiet times or for other religious activities. But it may be difficult to see the Bible as more important to one’s wellbeing than eating is—especially for those who are not Christians. But Christ is explicit—man does not live by bread alone. In I Timothy 6, Paul indicates that there is a life that is truly life. This means that sometimes death masquerades as life. True life is only accessible through the very words of God.
The grave danger that Christians face, as Paul admonishes in Ephesians 4:17, is to embrace the futile thoughts of the world and live as if those thoughts were the ones that really matter. In the everyday world of modern culture the Bible is not valued. For example, children often enthusiastically ask what’s for supper. But one seldom hears this: What’s for Bible study tonight? Someone might say, That’s not fair, you're comparing eating with looking at the Bible. My point exactly!
When supper is served, generally some care is given to how the food is prepared and whether the meal is served attractively. The plates and utensils used to serve supper are clean. The table is wiped clean before the meal is served. Even in a hectic home, there is some thought given to what food will be served and when. Meals are varied so as not to be boring. Shopping for meals may take place at several different stores. Recipes may be consulted to provide new and fresh ways to make meals attractive and enjoyable. Sometimes a friend might be consulted for a better way to prepare a particular meal. Now contrast this preparation for supper with the preparation used to serve God’s Word to families. Sitting down to read the Bible without advance thought and planning is about as appealing as sitting down to eat supper when all of the food and dishes from the night before have been left out on the table to be used again.
Use the above analogy and answer the question again – how important is the Bible? Certainly, for most of us it would be accurate to say that, functionally, we consider the serving and preparation of bread to be far more important than serving the Word of God. This distinction is not lost on children.
You Know What Assuming Does . . .
"One of the major failings of our educational system is the inattention paid to the role assumptions play in thinking. This means that as the products of the system, students are unlikely to have given this key topic any thought whatsoever. Instead, students blithely go through life in happy ignorance of the assumptions that form the foundation of their knowledge of themselves and the world around them." "Assumptions are presuppositions that make possible the thoughts and activities we construct based upon their presumed truth."
- Raymond S. Ruble, The Theory and Practice of Critical Thinking
Plug for My Ancient History Class
"The first of a three-year program of classes integrating theology, history, and literature from Creation to the present day is being offered this year at the Blue Ridge Teaching Co-op. These classes are based on the Omnibus curriculum provided by Veritas Press, a classical curriculum provider for homeschoolers and classical Christian schools. From their web-site: "Omnibus is a Latin term meaning "all encompassing." Our purpose is to have students grow in their appreciation of the unity of all knowledge---all disciplines are related to and under the Lordship of Jesus Christ....[Students will be led] through the study of the great works from antiquity, teaching with the emphasis on ideas, not simply information. ...With Trinitarian thinking at the core of the study, students will learn to interact with timeless material, including the greatest works in Western Civilization, in a wise and godly way. In Omnibus I: Biblical and Classical Civilizations students will cover history, literature and theology from the dawn of time to the fall of Rome. They will also apply and further develop their skills in composition, logic and aesthetics." This first year course being offered through BRTC is entitled "Biblical and Classical Civilizations". The theology/history class is being taught by Dr. Matthew McDill (listed as "Ancient History" on the BRTC site) and the complementary literature class is being taught by Mrs. Renee Fuller, (listed as "Ancient Literature" on the BRTC site). These two classes may be taken separately or together. There are no prerequisite requirements.
Next year, "Church Fathers through the Reformation" is scheduled to be offered, followed by a third year of "Reformation to the Present". Though students are not required to participate in both classes in any one year or in subsequent years of the program's course, a student would benefit greatly from any one, two, or certainly all three years of the program, which would constitute the study of a chronological, Christian worldview, literature-based history of the world using primary resource documents and the "Great Books" of Western Civilization.
There are openings available in Dr. McDill's and Mrs. Fuller's classes. Please visit www.hcchs.com, and the Blue Ridge Teaching Co-operative link for more information.
"Train Up a Child"
“Train up a child in the way he should go;even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Prov 22:6
The definition of “train” in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains is “disciple, i.e., broadly instruct in accordance with proper rules of conduct and behavior which would include both principles and teaching holy ritual.”
Disciple your children. Teach your children. Training is primarily teaching. But it cannot be one class, or one semester, or only in class. Training is life teaching. Discipleship implies and walking through life together and giving instructions along the way. Discipleship would naturally include example and demonstration as well. This is also teaching.
The other day, Dana and I discussed this question: “Why are we educating our children?” Education cannot be an end in itself because knowledge is an incomplete virtue. Knowledge is valuable and important, but the most significant issue is what one does with his knowledge. Many have wrought great evil and destruction with their knowledge. Children are to be trained in the way they should “go.” The main concern is not merely what they know, but what they do. Thus, we must broaden the view of Christian education to wisdom. Wisdom adds righteousness and fear of God to knowledge. God’s purposes for us are to love him and love others. All education and knowledge, then, is gained in order to fulfill God’s purposes.
Training a child has this broader goal in mind for it does not simply convey knowledge, it teaches a way of life – “in the way he should go.” It is a way, a path that goes on and on. It is not just a particular skill or behavior. As the definition above states, it includes principle and holy ritual. Principles are eternal truths that transcend particular circumstances. Principles inform wise and right decisions no matter what the particular problem or choice one faces. “The way” is one that will last one’s entire life. Thus, when the disciples are old, they will still be able to follow it.
This way is not a personal, traditional, or cultural way. It is the way one “should” go. This assumes a right way, a transcendently true way. Therefore, the child is taught God’s way – the way of righteousness, love, and wisdom.