"Never let any one make your mother or sister cry"...

One of the casualties of the religious commitment to egalitarianism is a sense of God's call to men to protect, provide and to be faithful. Russell Moore spoke beautifully of this in the parenting seminar at Bethlehem Baptist Church (watch for this seminar -- March6/7 --to come online either at Desiring God or hopeingod.org in the next few days).

Among the Camps by Thomas Nelson Page is a wonderful read-aloud for children about children during the civil war in the south. Major Stafford must go off to war, and his young son Charlie promises that when he gets to be a man he won't let anybody make his mamma cry." In response his father says to his wife: "On my word, Ellen, the fellow has some of the old blood in him." Then he calls Charlie his young knight and, drawing him up, says, "I had rather have heard you say that than have won a brigadier's wreath."

In another story Jack, 10 years old, is left by his father (going off to fight) to take care of his mother. "He told him he wanted him to mind his mother, and look out for her, to help her and save her trouble, to take care of her and comfort her, and defend her always like a man."

No doubt these good old stories can teach us how to charge our young men to begin early their calling to protect, provide and be faithful.

The last picture of my father and I

This picture was taken last summer. Ruthiey took it and I am very grateful to have it.

"Right Where You Want Me"

That's the name of my daughter's blog entry detailing her visit to Canada to help Opa and Oma. She arrived three days before my father's stroke and was able to be there as he visited the doctor and got checked into the hospital. Then she was able to drive my mother to the hospital to visit him. We clearly felt God's grace in her being available at that time, and I was deeply touched by this photo journal of her stay.

http://colormylifewithlove.blogspot.com/2010/02/right-where-you-want-me.html

If this doesn't cheer you up.....

All winter this lovely Carolina Breeze Hibiscus has been blooming in my dining room window. The blooms are for a day -- to remind me of the briefness of life. But when one flower is gone there are several new buds ready -- to remind me of the grace of God. It cheers me much.

Fair trade, minimum wage, child labor laws.... Who'd a thunk it?

I love a teacher who can make a subject understandable. It indicates that the teacher actually understand the subject himself -- something we cannot take for granted with all teachers.

Jay W. Richards, a Christian, understands economics. And his thoughtful book Money, Greed and God is a joy to read. The subtitle is "Why Capitalism is the Solution and not the Problem." In the book he exposes eight myths that explain every mistake Christians make in understanding economics, and makes a convincing case for capitalism being practically and morally superior.

Fair trade, minimum wage, child labor laws..... It is possible to see past the feel-good apparent benefits of these to the actual results, and judge whether they are good policy. Who'd a thunk it?

Jay Richards came to speak at Bethlehem Baptist Church on February 20. Our teens loved it. This seminar was video taped and will be available on DVD from the Minnesota Family Council. I cannot recommend this resource highly enough.

Every good gift is from above.

On February 9 my mother called me to tell me that the nurses had not been able to wake my father that morning. I flew out that morning praying that I would still be able to see my father alive. But I did not set my heart on it. I was happy enough knowing that I will see my father in heaven.

I got to the hospital at 11:00 PM. My sisters had told my father to wait because I was coming. Though he was dying, his face brightened when I came to greet him, and I am sure he said "I love you." After spending some time with him, kissing him and praying for him, I told him he could go to be with Jesus. It is a better place. Less than an hour after I arrived he was unresponsive and about 20 hours later he passed peacefully into glory.

The doctor said he probably did wait for me. That is a gift I will be eternally grateful for.

Death with dignity?

It is a common expression --usually used to justify euthanasia. But I remember a godly man arguing that there is no such thing as death with dignity. We were not made to die. We were made to live forever.

As I watched my father dying I thought about how bad sin is. Death came because of sin. Have a good look at death and tell me sin isn't bad, that we can play with it, excuse it, redefine it. It is killing us, and there is only one place for cleansing -- the blood of Jesus.