NCHE Conference Update

Glad to be at the NCHE conference again this year. Already bought our curriculum for next year (always the first thing we do). My Father's World has a BIG area at the book fair. Also bought great gifts and new (old) books. It was good to hear Mark Hamby again. Good coffee at Brew Nerds. Nice dinner at Mellow Mushroom. I checked out the room I will be speaking in tomorrow. Pretty big. Hope it's full. Pray for me. I don't want it to be "just another workshop." Of course, I assume (or hope anyway) that none of the speakers want theirs to be "just another workshop." But I am praying that a passion will be ignited (or fanned) for establishing authentic relationships with their children and helping them to follow Christ!

Morning Prayer

Here in the High Country it is finally warm enough early in the morning to sit outside to meet the Lord. I can sit here and listen to the birds sing. I can look out at my garden. We have planted asparagus, about 18 tomato plants, peppers, leeks, and we have some mustard and collard greens coming up from last year. I love being outside! Here is a wonderful morning prayer from the Psalms:

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!"

Psalm 143:8, 10

Speaking at the NCHE Conference

I am looking forward to speaking in one of the workshops at the North Carolinians for Home Education Conference. My time is Friday, 3:30-4:30 in the Gains Ballroom. Here is the title and description:

Who’s the Boss?: Biblical Authority in Parenting

Children are ever changing, complicated, individually unique little beings. How can we successfully love and teach them? How do parents establish control in the home and at the same time teach children to establish their own faith and motivation? Parents are given authority and responsibility from God to both discipline and disciple their children. In this session, the balance and timing of these two responsibilities will be explored.

Graduated Two Years Ago!

Thanks to Dave Black, who was my Ph.D. mentor,  for posting some excerpts from my dissertation, The Authority of Church Elders in the NT. I graduated around this time two years ago! I often think of how glad I am to be done; but I am even more glad I did it! The privilege of working with Dave Black was one of the highlights. I could say many positive things about his scholarship and how he challenged me academically, but the most profound influence he has had upon me is the love for Christ and his church the he and BeckyLynn have LIVED OUT! He posted our picture taken just after my Ph.D. oral exam in 2006. Dave is all the way on the left.

Mother's Day

We enjoyed Mother's Day together celebrating our fantastic resident mother, Dana. Here she is with her children (apparently Josiah wasn't ready).

Here is Samantha Rubie getting ready for our beach trip this week.

Caleb Update

Caleb is ten now and is moving quickly toward young manhood. He is a hard, diligent worker. Although he is not into house cleaning so much, he maintains a steady motivating to take care of the chickens and garden. He loves to draw and build and wrestle with Josiah. Overall, he blesses our home with a pleasant, calm disposition and does much to balance out the stronger personalities in the family.

Josiah Update

Josiah is 8yrs and is in the 3rd grade. He continues to be our premier entertainer - a good sense of humor, hilarious body movement, and devoid of the inhibitions that make most people unfunny. He does a good job of feeding the chickens and collecting their eggs. His most recent favorite activity is airsoft (plastic BB guns) battles with Caleb, his friend Sam, and me.