Learning Logic thru Homeschooling

Wow, time flies!

2010-01-10T19:41:00.002-05:00

Having twins has been a huge challenge. Getting used to all of it has really been a struggle. I think I'm finally ready to get back on track with "school"! You know it's bad when your kids ask you if they can do school!!! ;) Well, at least i have eager learners.

I would say i fear we are behind, but, I freak out on occasion and then we jump into some really cool subject and my kids always impress me, they are so smart.

I don't "teach" them much, I just give them the opportunity to learn. They make it look good on me, but I can't take the credit for it.

I'm hoping to be able to update much more often.

Scripture memorization - this is where I'm starting.

2009-09-17T13:30:00.002-04:00

I always have a hard time memorizing scripture, so this might give me some motivation:

1 Corinthians 13 French: Darby Translation

1 Si je parle dans les langues des hommes et des anges, mais que je n'aie pas l'amour, je suis comme un airain qui résonne ou comme une cymbale retentissante. 2 Et si j'ai la prophétie, et que je connaisse tous les mystères et toute connaissance, et que j'aie toute la foi de manière à transporter des montagnes, mais que je n'aie pas l'amour, je ne suis rien.3 Et quand je distribuerais en aliments tous mes biens, et que je livrerais mon corps afin que je fusse brûlé, mais que je n'aie pas l'amour, cela ne me profite de rien.

4 L'amour use de longanimité; il est plein de bonté; l'amour n'est pas envieux; l'amour ne se vante pas; il ne s'enfle pas d'orgueil; 5 il n'agit pas avec inconvenance; il ne cherche pas son propre intérêt; il ne s'irrite pas; 6 il n'impute pas le mal; il ne se réjouit pas de l'injustice, mais se réjouit avec la vérité; 7 il supporte tout, croit tout, espère tout, endure tout.

8 L'amour ne périt jamais. Or y a-t-il des prophéties? elles auront leur fin. Y a-t-il des langues? elles cesseront. Y a-t-il de la connaissance? elle aura sa fin. 9 Car nous connaissons en partie, et nous prophétisons en partie; 10 mais quand ce qui est parfait sera venu, ce qui est en partie aura sa fin. 11 Quand j'étais enfant, je parlais comme un enfant, je pensais comme un enfant, je raisonnais comme un enfant; quand je suis devenu homme, j'en ai fini avec ce qui était de l'enfant. 12 Car nous voyons maintenant au travers d'un verre, obscurément, mais alors face à face; maintenant je connais en partie, mais alors je connaîtrai à fond comme aussi j'ai été connu. 13 Or maintenant ces trois choses demeurent: la foi, l'espérance, l'amour; mais la plus grande de ces choses, c'est l'amour.

2009-09-16T21:29:00.001-04:00

Pilgrim jewelry

2009-09-16T00:50:00.001-04:00

Compare linear thinking to circular thinking. Who is overall more successful?

2009-09-16T00:39:00.001-04:00

Mental note: explore the concept of a devine right of a king. Is it biblical? What happened after the glorious revolution?

Da Vinci Drawings

2009-09-15T23:50:00.001-04:00

Here's a link to Da Vinci's Drawings

"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding." - Leonardo

I like this quote. :)

Although, who says you can't be logical and creative?

2009-09-15T23:35:00.002-04:00

Now that I think about that, who exactly says that a person has to be left or right brained? Perhaps that's just an excuse for someone elses lack of ability, and they want to inflict that thought on everyone else, so they have less to live up to.

Not to say that Da Vinci was typical, cause, obviously not, but, I think when you study people who were extraordinarily talented above all the rest, you should put aside some of the stereotypical "crap" and think outside the box. ;) which is unfortunately where I prefer to spend most of my time. Outside of the stupid box. I think I'm not ever finding my way back to that damn box again.

Anyway, a person like Da Vinci was so out of the norm, i wonder if he was always somewhat unhappy? Most people don't think about that, but you have to wonder, who did he have that he could talk to or where did he go to just chill and find some peace? I imagine that his mind was turning gears non-stop. Enough so, to give him ample opportunity to learn so many different skills. Yes some had to do with the education he was afforded, and the early work as a studio boy, but still, to see some of his sketches that have almost more clarity than my digital camera, that's a very developed skill.

It makes me also wonder if he had to reach a certain level of perfection for himself, just so he could find some sort of peace with whatever it was that he was working on. That sounds strange, but, I can sort of relate to that concept. I have to reach a certain "level" before my mind will be content to let me rest a little on that topic. I think Thomas Edison had a similar issue, if I remember that correctly. Not that i am anywhere near their brilliance, I just usually have a lot of little "projects" running through my mind.

MMMM . . . . . it's something to give some thoughts to.

Ok Wow . . . Da Vinci was totally awesome!

2009-09-15T23:23:00.002-04:00

Yeah. I haven't studied him in a long time, but, wow, is it possible to be in love with a dead man? ;) Just kidding. I still just can't imagine how one man can not only think up these ideas, but then have the talent to actually draw, every single teeny tiny detail.

That totally amazes me. It's not very common for a person to have the logic and reasoning to design many of the things he designed, but, then to also have the creative ability and artistic side to be able to sketch them. It makes me wonder if he had a close companion, (not that kind) but another kind, that perhaps he was able to work with or discuss things and ideas with.

I do know that it's so much easier to come up with things when you have someone who understands you and your ideas enough to be able to discuss them with them without too much criticisms and nit picking. It would be interesting to see just who he hung out with on a regular basis.

This blog here has some cool information on 15 Da Vinci War Machines.

Inventions - where to begin

2009-09-15T23:13:00.002-04:00

My oldest child has an almost unnatural affection for firearms, as does my third child. So we may begin with the history of guns. I did find some very interesting info on them:

Science and civilisation in china

Great info overview here of "Handgonnes"

The firearm blog had this little tidbit of history here.

Of course I have a mild obsession with Da Vinci, so I'd rather study his numerous inventions, so I'm gonna have to find a happy medium.

Actually I think he has a drawing of a mechanism that was later incorporated into guns. Let me see if I can find that one.

2009-09-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

Thinking of ways i can use cinci museum center in my lesson plans this year. They have great stuff there.

Molly and her kittens

2009-09-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

The one in the bottom right corner is badly deformed. It's not gonna make it, but she still keeps taking good care of it. It's so sad to watch her with it knowing it's gonna die.
I had to hand feed her as a newborn, and now she treats her kittens the way I treated her. She tries to hold them with her paws, and she puts them under her chin and cuddles with them. And when she lays down, she lines them up next to her and puts her arm around them to keep them close. I used to do that to them, cause they slept in my bed with me, and i didn't want them to fall off the edge. Animals are so strange, you wouldn't believe what a momma cat has to do to her kittens. If I had to be that meticulous with my kids, I wouldn't have had more than one, maybe two. I had to keep them at 100 degrees, bottle feed them every three hours, all through the night. I eventually put them in a bag and carried them with me everywhere. I even took them to Kings Island. Of course I left them in the car, but I would walk out and feed them every three hours.
So many people thought I was crazy, and I guess I am, but they were born during a windstorm in the attic of our house, they then fell down between the walls of my bedroom and bathroom, and the other one the kitchen and the bathroom wall. I happened to be pregnant with twins at the time, and I kept hearing this little crying sound, there was no way I could leave them in there to die, so I knocked holes into the walls, nine holes to be exact. But, hey, we saved them.

It was kinda funny, cause we had just started watching the wonderpets, so as we were trying to rescue them, the kids and i were singing the theme song to the wonderpets. (yeah, we're a little crazy) I took them to two different vets, and they said that they wouldn't make it, and they recommended that I put them to sleep. So I was willing to take care of them until they died.
They are both healthy grown cats now! Max and Molly. Max thinks he is my child. he jumps from the floor into my arms and kisses me all over my neck and ears. He actually puts his paws around my neck. He's so confused. I have to admit that they have me totally spoiled. ;)

I actually had to teach them how to groom themselves. I did almost everything short of licking them. No, I did not lick them. I would wipe them down with a wet wash cloth after every time i fed them. Imagine that at 3AM. I finally just dumped them into a tub of warm water, it was so much easier.

It did prepare me for my twins though. I got boy and girl kittens, a boy and a girl twin babies. Only me!!

Better view of the bridge from the Ky side

2009-09-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

View of Cinci from Ky

2009-09-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

Little Rose Bud

2009-09-14T21:01:00.000-04:00

Music, music, music

2009-09-14T15:08:00.004-04:00

Sometimes, i find that music can just make or break your day. And occasionally it can make a bad day much easier to take.

The song that stands out today is: If today was your last day, by Nickleback. Yeah. I could do that! ;)

Here are some from my current playlist: (my treadmill list is a "non- mom" playlist, you'd have to email me for that one ;) )

Wild at Heart by Gloriana

The entire CD of The Zak Brown Band -

Colbie Callait is another great artist her songs i like are:

One fine wire, Bubbly, Magic, Lucky - with Jason Mraz (also his song I'm Yours)

Ingrid Michaelson's song called Be OK

Kate Earl has a great new CD out - my fav's on that are Melody, Nobody, and Learning to Fly

The group Love and Theft are pretty good, i like these songs:

World Wide Open

Runaway

Don't Wake Me

Drowning

French Pop Artists: Alizee, Jenifer, Nadiya, Yelle, Amel Bent, Lorie

My water obsession!

2009-09-14T08:13:00.000-04:00

I had more fun playing at the museum than the kids. It usually happens that way. ;) I just use the kids as an excuse to go. I love the way the water is frozen in mid air. This is one of my all time fav water shots.

Reflection

2009-09-14T08:11:00.000-04:00

This was a total accident, but it turned out to be a really cool picture. Maggie and her mischievous twin!!

Love the Detail on this one.

2009-09-14T08:08:00.000-04:00

Fell over.. . . no, knocked over.

2009-09-14T08:07:00.000-04:00

This picture speaks for itself.

Simple.

2009-09-14T08:03:00.000-04:00

Blogging thru txt!!!

2009-09-14T07:36:00.002-04:00

Love technology. Txting is one of the best inventions :)

Getting Back to School

2009-09-14T07:03:00.004-04:00

Its really difficult to get back into school after taking some time off to adjust for the twins. But, we are getting there.

I'm still digesting some "research" I have done for the last few months. I had started writing again, and I was looking for some details to add to my writings and ended up on a very interesting side venture, to say the least. So, as I'm working those thoughts out of my head and onto paper, I've been contemplating the various subjects we will be studying this year. ;)

The kids all voted to study various inventions and inventors. That sounded great to me too, so that's where we will start this year. I'm looking forward to looking a bit closer at Da Vinci. He had some amazing ideas. I think we are going to make a few models of his drawings, depending on the interest level of the kids.

My older son will be studying the book, The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I had heard about this book before, but had not read it yet. After reading several summaries, I find it fascinating. You could use the strategies in this book to approach almost any subject. It's amazing.

French will move from a side subject, to a main subject this year. I really want the kids to be almost fluent in french by the end of the year. I'm fairly confident they can do it.

And of course logic and reasoning. That's a given. I think that's one of the major subjects anyone should study. Not quite sure what books or games/puzzles we will be using for that so far.

The Colors Fade, like everything else . . .

2009-09-14T06:50:00.002-04:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Yep. This little collection says a lot. I guess it just reinforces the idea that there's a season for everything.

Flicker PhotoStream

2009-09-14T06:35:00.003-04:00

I've finally started uploading more of my photos to flicker here's the link:

Flicker

I've had a recent obsession with water, it's so awesome to photograph!

Wow!! It has been a way long time since I have posted.

2009-09-14T06:28:00.003-04:00

So much has happened since i've been on here. Well, to start with, I had twin babies! Actually they are 10 months old. So, I've been just a bit busy. To say the least. ;)

I'll have to catch up slowly. Maybe. I consider this my therapy sessions, so, who knows what's gonna end up on here.

I'll start adding more updated photos. We've been to a few cool places in the last few months. At least locally. No major trips as of late, but i feel a road trip coming on soon, perhaps europe. I'm not finding too much interesting close to home. We shall see.

Rally Crowds

2008-09-09T16:00:00.000-04:00

Campaign Sign

2008-09-09T15:53:00.001-04:00

Campaign Sign

2008-09-09T15:53:00.000-04:00

Campaign Excitement?!?

2008-09-09T15:51:00.001-04:00

Campaign Excitement?!?

2008-09-09T15:51:00.000-04:00

McCain Rally

2008-09-09T15:49:00.000-04:00

McCain Palin Rally

2008-09-09T15:47:00.001-04:00

McCain Palin Rally

2008-09-09T15:47:00.000-04:00

Mass umbrellas left at McCain Palin Rally

2008-09-09T14:43:00.001-04:00

Easiest to photograph

2008-08-26T10:09:00.002-04:00

He doesn't ever complain, and sets perfectly still!!

Favorite Photo from my new Nikon D80

2008-08-26T09:59:00.002-04:00

This is one of my favorite photos I've taken with my new camera!!!

It hasn't been retouched or enhanced on the computer. So far I love this camera.

Maggie in her wagon!

2008-08-06T12:41:00.000-04:00

Wonderful Compliments . . .

2008-07-13T22:53:00.003-04:00

Today we decided to go to the Chinese Buffet after church. I am usually a little nervous about taking all the kids to a restaurant by myself, because, sometimes you just never know how there going to behave. And since I am not feeling like my usual self, (pregnancy with twins) I was a bit hesitant.

Anyway, through the course of our meal, six . . . . . six actual different people came over to our table to compliment me on how well behaved my children were!!! I was so glad to hear this!! Sometimes when you stay at home all the time and end up going through a drive thru because it's easier, you lose sight of how well you are actually doing as a parent. And how well behaved your children can be. This has really given me a little boost to keep going. (like I actually have a choice!!! :) It just makes it a little easier, like I can sometimes see a little glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. Not that I have a horrible time with my kids, but, parenting 24/7 is difficult, for anyone.

It was a very nice end to the day.

Wow, it's been a long time . . . .

2008-05-15T14:51:00.002-04:00

It's obvious, that my new penpal has taken up a lot of my attention! I found a french pen pal and I have spent quite a bit of time comunicating with them.

So I plan to be a better blogger and continue on with my blogging!

I do have quite a bit to blog about . . . .

First of all, the month of March was a rough month. My grandfather was very ill and passed away, then the day we buried him, his brother passed away, so I was driving back and forth to Ky for most of the month. . . . . . and somehow in all of that mess, we conceived a child!!! Yes, we are expecting our sixth child! That was a shock. Especially since our youngest just turned 1 yr old on March 13th.

So now I am trying to organize and clean out our house, make lesson plans for next year and try not to get overwhelmed. Easier said than done.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him . . and he shall direct . .

2008-03-03T02:05:00.007-05:00

After a particularly difficult week towards the hopeful end of a dark and gloomy winter. I had in my mind the ideas of finishing up the end of the school year, making sure we had covered everything that we needed to cover and "then some", just to make sure my kids kept way ahead of the game. And as usual with me, one great project idea leads to tens of thousands of others and I'm off and running before I've even finished the first idea.

Well, after the winter months of cooking, dragging out every toy we've ever owned, sewing, schooling, time lines, french etc., etc. my house is in complete chaos. It hit me like a ton of bricks. You would have thought that I hadn't even been there for months. :) It really did just sneak up on me.

Now, yes, it was somewhat picked up and barely livable, and we could smooth it over if we had company coming over, but, for me, I usually rearrange, paint, change some pictures, clean out each bedroom. But, with my total focus being on the kids, and only the kids, I didn't have time to do any deep cleaning, (sorting old clothes, packing away old toys to make room for the new Christmas ones, finding a place for all of my new fabric, yarn, homeschool books I just had to have) or experimenting with power tools while my husband was at work. I think re-covering my kitchen chairs is as far as I got, for the whole winter.

To make an already long story a bit shorter. I started feeling this, overwhelming failure feeling creeping up on me. And I kept focusing on all the things that I hadn't done, the housework that multiplies behind your back, or the really cool projects that could have went with that lesson we just finished, the paint in the hallway had still not been trimmed out after almost 2 yrs, the hands and feet prints on that same hallway paint, that really should have been repainted, the schedule we should have been following for science was behind, did we do enough math this year, it goes on and on. We just had one birthday party, and in 2 weeks we have another one, then another one after that, my husband may or may not be off work, then he may or may not be going out of town at the end of March, and on and on and on my thoughts went this way.

Until I decided, I will just buckle down and get it done, I can do it, all of it, I'm not tired, if I get it all done, then I won't be a failure . . . was my final thoughts on it. I was determined. So I kept staying up late night after night after night, and still very little progress (5 very active, hungry, questioning kids and one that refuses to go to bed). I was beginning to really get truly tired.

So, tonight I just kept praying, as I was crawling around on the floor at 2:00am looking for things that my youngest might choke on and trying to stifle a scream when I landed all my weight with my knee on the worlds most dangerous and deadly LEGO!!! Knowing, in the back of my mind, that within 20 minutes of the kids waking up this midnight crawling was a joke, but I wanted to do my best. I would be okay if I did my best and if I do my best, they will all do their best. . . . . .and I will not have failed. It was becoming to hard to hold back the tears.

I thought okay God, what have I done, please you must tell me. I don't understand, I'm doing the best I can. I'm putting 210% into my family, kids, homeschooling, I take very little time for myself, why can't I just see some progress? What am I doing wrong? Please God, just tell me so I know what to do!!!

I had received a voicemail earlier and decided I would set down and email them a response. I started to delete some of my email groups because they get kind of full quick, when I notice an email that mentions the name of the author of our science curriculum, (which we were behind on), . . ." oooh, maybe she had a miraculous idea that would help me do better ". . . .I thought to myself . . .

Here is what the email contained:

I read this today and thought it might speak to some of you as it did me.

Melanie in CA

(Jeannie Fulbright is the author of Apologia's elementary science curriculum.)

Guarding Our Thoughts

By Jeannie Fulbright

In my last post, I talked about the temptation to feel overwhelmed. I have been wanting to address this lately because I know what it is to get overwhelmed. I also have discovered a way to protect myself from this emotion. When I walk through my house, I can easily become overwhelmed.

I realized this one day as I passed by a tremendously messy closet filled with books. On the floor, I spied a stack of standardized practice tests that I had never given to my children. In an instant,that emotion of being overwhelmed began to wash over me, like a darkpresence entering my entire body. Normally, I would have received that emotion and walked on with whisperings of despair clouding my day. But right at that moment, I turned away from it. I basically resisted the temptation and literally turned my face away from the reminder of my inability to "do it all" and I turned my thoughts away from the lies that I'm not succeeding at homeschooling.

Over the weeks, this temptation has arisen several times. When I saw the the Latin book lying upside down on a broken shelf in the hallway, both the broken shelf and the unused book scream their insult at me. But I turned away from the negative thoughts that were spewing through my mind.

No, I didn't give my kids standardized practice tests, we failed to use that Latin book and I may have to throw that shelf away if it keeps accusing me like that. But, all of that does not make me a failure. I cannot let undone projects, plans or curriculum rob me of my peace. Neither should you.

So, we are big planners and big dreamers; that's a good thing - as long as we don't get down on ourselves for not doing all we planned or reaching all our dreams. Planning and dreaming are important. It causes us to move forward, closer to our goals. But it's so important to guard our thoughts from the accusations that we are not measuring up because we have not accomplished domestic success in some area or perfection in our homeschooling dreams and plans.

We need to believe that God is truly God over our lives, our homeschool and our children. Perhaps it was not His perfect will that I make my children work through those practice tests. Perhaps He doesn't want us to study Latin yet, or ever. As one of his precious children, He has promised to lead me and guide me. I'm believing that I'm in the center of His will and being led by Him, even when I don't fulfill my big ideas and grandious plans. I can rest in Him, trusting that we are on the right track - even when I don't "feel" like it.

I'm not supposed to be leaning on my own understanding anyway...

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5

If I were to lean on my own understanding, I would certainly think I should be doing much more, accomplishing much more, reaching all my dreams and fulfilling all my big plans. I think God's more interested in giving us rest - while we are more interested in being supermom and creating superkids and being a family of superheroes. Yet, He came so that we could enter into His rest. Rest for our souls.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

So, next time I walk by that enormously cluttered and disorganized closet with hundreds of great homeschool products I'll never have time to use even if I homeschooled a hundred years, I plan to quote that Scripture, breathe a sigh of relief and allow Him to bring rest to my soul.

At 3:00am in Ohio, through a homeschool mom I've never met who is from California, and the author of our science curriculum . . . (out of 673 emails in that file, what were the chances of me clicking on that one at that very moment of need?)

God not only heard my prayer, he answered it when I needed it most. Sometimes, I guess, it takes"crawling" to get you just a little bit closer to God.

For those of you who think I'm crazy for homeschooling all these kids, and wonder how I do it. Here's a fine example of why and how I can keep going, it's not me . . . it's Him.

We're learning french

2008-02-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

I found some great books that are helping us to learn to use french around the house:

French in 10 minutes a day - Bilingual Books, Inc.
At Home Abroad French: Practical Phrases for Conversational French
Lingua Fun French
Hippicrene Beginner's French
Usborne's First Thousand Words in French
Usborne's French Picture Dictionary

Everyone says the kids should learn spanish because there are more people who speak spanish here than french, but, I have tried to learn spanish and it just doesn't click. French is so much easier for me, and I really enjoy french culture, and a possible trip to Europe!

It has taken me a little bit to brush up on what I had learned in school. I find, surprisingly that I remember way more than I thought I would. The kids were really surprised when I started spouting complete sentences in french (some "franglais" too). I thought if I use it as part of our everyday routine, then they would learn it faster. It seems to be working. They do understand quite a bit for just learning it.

Laptop Overheats

2008-01-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

Great link to helpful site:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2006/01/04/toshiba-laptop-overheating/

Back to Piano Lessons

2008-01-15T16:06:00.000-05:00

http://www.pianoworld.com/fun/vpc/piano_chords.htm

Imagine . . . a non musical mom helping with piano and violin homework. Ugh!!!!!!!!

Noah looses a tooth . . . .that wasn't loose!

2008-01-14T23:46:00.000-05:00

Noah is by far one of my most interesting children! I was on my computer, it was after bedtime, so it was suppose to be MY time, well . . . that's never going to happen.
Noah comes in holding his bloody finger, and says quite calmly, "Mom, I think something is wrong, can you take a look at this." For those who do not know me, I don't do blood, of any kind, well the finger was fine when I wiped it off, but the blood dripping from his mouth was another story, and the hole where his tooth had been changed things completely. At this point I was panicked, but not Noah, he was still just as calm as could be, I began with a much louder voice, "Noah . . . where is your tooth? Why are you bleeding? and for crying out loud . . . . why aren't you crying?" My other children began to find my reaction slightly hilarious, Dad was watching T.V. in the same room where apparently Noah was trying to open the wrong end of a Match Box pop up plaything with his teeth, he proceeds to tell us that his tooth went flying across the room somewhere.
To make a long story short. We find the tooth, it had been broken off clean, and Noah is excited that he has lost his first tooth and wants to know how much he's going to get from the Tooth Fairy. Probably not too much, so this doesn't start a trend in loosing teeth.

Another day in our crazy life. That was part of the reason I posted the video of Noah doing the Crazy Poem. It fits him perfectly!

Sarah's a little bit country . . .

2008-01-14T23:45:00.000-05:00

Cute Video of Noah

2008-01-14T23:42:00.000-05:00

Music Monkeyz Debut

2008-01-12T02:46:00.000-05:00

Good Country Music from Childhood

2008-01-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Alive and Well

It's been a while since I've heard their music! You can hear some of their songs on their myspace page.

I have their album, my kids thought it was a frizbee in a fancy case! :)

The Nutcracker 2008

2008-01-09T01:59:00.000-05:00

More Maggie Presents

2008-01-09T01:53:00.001-05:00

Maggie's Homemade Christmas Presents

2008-01-09T01:33:00.000-05:00

I had the brilliant idea to handmake all of Maggie's Christmas presents this year. It was way more work than I had imagined. . . .

Maggie's Doll

Don't Eat It!!!

Maggie

2008-01-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

Maggie on the move . . .

Cute Picture

2008-01-08T18:54:00.000-05:00

I was going through my pictures and saving them to disk when I came across a really cute picture:

Very interesting site on AML

2008-01-02T21:02:00.000-05:00

Medline Plus info on AML

A Wiki Defiinition of Acute Monocytic Leukemia

Photo of Acute Monocytic Leukemia

Interesting take on Benzene and Cancer

Yahoo Answers

What are the Risk Factors of AML?

2008-01-02T20:58:00.000-05:00

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_Do_We_Know_What_Causes_Acute_Myeloid_Leukemia_AML.asp?sitearea=CRI&viewmode=print&

What causes AMI?

2008-01-02T20:55:00.001-05:00

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2x_What_Are_the_Risk_Factors_for_Acute_Myeloid_Leukemia_AML.asp?sitearea=CRI&viewmode=print&

Acute Myleoid Leukemia- Research

2008-01-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

My grandfather has been diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia. So now we are trying do some research on this topic to get a better understanding.

Dermatologists found it to be rare. They took a biopsy and determined it to be a myleoid sarcoma.

Here is a link to the cancer association website:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1x_What_Is_Acute_Myeloid_Leukemia.asp?sitearea

Anyone who has information that may read this please send me whatever you have.

Hannah Concert comes to a close

2007-12-13T16:16:00.000-05:00

We have been psycho busy lately!!!

2007-12-13T16:11:00.000-05:00

Dare I even try to mention what all we've been doing lately. I have been knitting, sewing, making yarn dolls, keeping up with school with the kids. We've had the stomach flu . . . . it goes on and on and on.
And at the very last minute we were able to get tickets to Hannah Montanna's Concert - in Columbus, two hours away from us.

Toys for Maggie

2007-11-29T10:23:00.000-05:00

I have a new project idea . . . what a surprise!!! I've decided to try to make Maggie some baby toys. I have been looking to find some patterns, but couldn't find much that I liked. Here is a link to one toy I think is so neat, I want to try to make:
http://kimberlychapman.com/crafts/knit-patterns-caterpillar.html

Look at these other really neat ideas:
http://kimberlychapman.com/crafts/knit-littledudes.html

Here is another idea for a baby block:
http://knituition.blogspot.com/2007/02/bright-baby-block.html

I think I am actually addicted to knitting! Shhhhhh . . . don't tell anyone. I'm now searching for any excuse to knit. I'm afraid I've passed this addiction on to one of my children. I'm not suppose to tell anyone, but, they have been sneaking and knitting with me. I'm sure it will spread to the others soon. There will be no hope for us.

Botany: the light hut goes large

2007-11-19T04:21:00.001-05:00

We made a little light hut for our botany class, but now that we realize what we can do with it, we needed to make a much larger one. So, I found an old wardrobe box, that we had when we moved and we hadn't used it. It is now our light hut.

Caleb and Noah are really getting into the seeds, they love checking to see if they have made progress. Caleb just started his, and he keeps telling me that he thinks the plant is trying to break out of the seed. He's so smart. I love his simple logic sometimes.

We've decided to propagate some houseplants, Sarah's thinking of selling them. It's a good idea. I'm willing to help her if she's willing to try it.

It did take some time to make, but the kids are learning a lot. It's worth it!

Getting things together . . . finally finding the time.

2007-11-19T04:09:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to announce that I am on track with getting my house more organized!!! After all of the recent projects and running here, there and everywhere, I can finally stay home, dig in and get it done. This session of Co-Op is over, soccer is over and I'm not volunteering for one extra thing for the next few months.

I want to focus on finding a place for everything in the house and if it doesn't have one, then it's not staying here! This makes the second round of this, for this year. So now it's getting down to the nitty gritty. The things to tackle are my craft stuff, school stuff and the stuff that doesn't really belong anywhere.

The kids are willing to pitch in, because I had my husband bring up the Christmas Tree. It's going to stay in the box until we get the house "ready" This may seem cruel, but, it works.

I want to really enjoy this holiday season. I don't want the primary focus to be on presents, but to be about spending time with family, going to shows, festivals, ice skating, baking cookies, the fun stuff. I won't be stuck in the stores, trying to find the perfect gifts, and I don't want a bunch of gifts either. We're going to make things for grandparents, and each other and try to celebrate what Christmas is all about. Make some memories, not debt and stress.

Stress starts to set in . . .

2007-11-12T00:42:00.000-05:00

Usually when I get into a project of course the house suffers. This time was not an exception. We had so many other things going on, plus the dress making project, school, etc. For almost two solid weeks we had some scheduled thing to attend. I can push the declining house off for a while, but then all of a sudden it jumps up and smacks me in the face . . . I start seeing not only the large every day messes, but every single little detail that is out of place. Then I start being a very difficult person to be around (to put it nicely) so, tonight I was trying my best to not say anything and I had just planned to dig in and start the major clean up and laundry service, but my poor husband, who had just gotten home the previous night from working 2 or 3 16hr days, had to ask me what was wrong. Big mistake! You'd think he'd learn by now. The fact that you could loose a shoe, and definately a sock on our kitchen floor seemed to escape him, and the 4 baskets of laundry that I personally folded two weeks ago which had never made it to their drawers was running low, we had science co-op tommorrow, I had a Bible Study I needed to study for, a hand towel seemed to be the only clean thing left in the bathroom closet . . . and he had to ask if something was wrong. Mmmmmm. . . . .

So, I decided that he should go to bed to get a good nights sleep, and I would just have to stay up all night to get caught up on everything, because I was the only one I could count on . . . and a few other not very nice things probably came spouting out.

Anyway, I ended up finaling getting to watch an awesome show Jon and Kate plus eight . This is such a great show. It really gives one some perspective. I will elaborate on it more at a later date, but, it is a show worth watching.

Maggie just woke up crying, so I've got to go now.

Finished Sarah's Dress and Bonnet

2007-11-10T22:55:00.000-05:00

Voiala! Sarah's dress is finally complete. I used homespun cotton, which would be period correct for the era the dress was designed for. I was trying to go with the 1830's-1840's. Most all the photos I found were very basic and plain, or so complicated I was afraid to attempt it. I didn't use a pattern, I just looked at some images from google images with a search of 1830's children's clothing and looked into some of the fabrics that would have been available then. Everything is fastened with hooks and eyes. I machined stitched everything I could. All the gathers on the bonnet were hand stitched. The cuffs were almost too small to machine stitich, but, I made it work.

I used about two yards on the dress, almost a half yard on the bonnet and trim. I could add some more trim to the bottom of it possibly, but that can wait till later. I added in some growth seams, so she could wear this dress for the next 3 yrs and not grow out of it.
A view of the front and back of the outfit. I made some modifications to the bonnet, so it's not exactly period correct per the historic pros, I've been reading about. But, I bet the mom's back then made some changes as the were sewing too.

A side profile, my most favorite pose.

Don't the Ugg boots add the right touch? I bet they wish they had those back then!

It took much longer than I had anticipated. But I am very pleased with how it turned out. The petty coat is a bit heavy and perhaps a little too long, I will probably go back and make some changes, in my spare time.

Maggie's bonnet is finished, it looks like Sarah's, I am just getting ready to start her dress, after my hands stop hurting. I actually have blisters!!

It was all for a good cause, she looks addorable, even if I do say so myself. :)

I love sewing. As soon as cold weather hits, I start looking for fabric. There's not a safe sheet or curtain in my house!

Sarah was studying the Civil War in a co-op class, so I felt it was time for her to watch Gone with The Wind. Not that it's very accurate exactly, but it's a great movie to make you fall in love with the gowns.

The next night we were still working on her dress when a late night channel had a special on Carol Burnnette, Sarah cracked up when she saw her do the scene from Gone with The Wind and Ms. Ellen's Portiers, with the curtain rod sticking out of her back. For those of you who watched the Carol Burnnette Show you know what I mean.

I love to sew. I tried knitting a blanket for Maggie while I was pregnant with her and it was a painfully slow process. Sewing is so much faster. I am now looking at doing a small quilt out of some quilting squares I have had for almost 2yrs. I just couldn't find the right design I wanted. I think I may do a sampling of squares. I am a very novice sewer, so I don't know a lot of terminology, or really how the details work. A wonderful lady at our church, Ellie, has given me tons of advice and answers all my silly questions. I know that you piece the top together, you add some soft fluffy stuff in the middle, and a backing. Stitch it together with a neat design and its a quilt. I'll post some pictures of this quilt from beginning to end. We'll see how it turns out!

Historical Clothing

2007-11-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

Here is my daughter Sarah wearing the outfit I made for her last year. I am trying to make another dress for this year. She is studying around the 1800's just before the civil war. It has been difficult trying to find the appropriate pattern for the date.

I will add a photo of the dress for this year. It needs to be finished before friday, so I will have it done soon!

Biology

2007-10-29T21:26:00.000-04:00

My oldest son, Jacob, is doing 9th grade biology this year. It is really challenging for him. He seems to really like it now, the last few weeks has been slow going and he has been less than enthusiastic about the class. We have gotten to a point that he enjoys. I think he will really enjoy the lessons that include the dissections.

We are using Apologia Biology. I really like it as well. We use the CD-rom Book. It's nice because you can print out the study guides, tests etc. without having to worry about copying them.

Botany - Bean Sprouts

2007-10-29T21:09:00.000-04:00

One of the kids in our Co-Op decided to put his bean sprout project in his light hut. It was great because we got to see a rapid progression of growth.

I was very impressed with how well the kids did with their projects, and how well they maintained their growth charts.

Of course some kids could have cared less, but, that's typical at this age.

Overall, my kids have really enjoyed this way of studying botany. I would have to say it has made it very interesting to me too.

Botany

2007-10-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

Today we completed lesson 2 in Apologia's Botany Book. I am very impressed with this curriculum. We are currently using it in a Co-Op atmosphere, and it's working well, but, I would almost prefer to go at it on our own. The level of detail is great. It really allows for different grades and interest level. My K-1st grader, Noah, does a large amount of observing, not always completing the notebooking assignments, but he enjoys the projects and definately has a hands on approach. My older child, Sarah, amazes me with the amount of detail she retains. This book provides enough for her to get a good solid foundation on the subject, but keeps it simple enough so Noah doesn't get overwhelmed. Plus, I don't have to use separate texts for each of them.

Loss of homes in California

2007-10-26T18:33:00.000-04:00

My heart really goes out to the families who have lost everything in the fires. I'm sure nothing can be said that would provide any comfort. They will continue to be in my prayers.

View from the top of the mountain

2007-10-26T00:23:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite places ever. It takes some time to hike up there, but it is worth it. This time we found a huge fishing spider and a real walking stick.

Hiking for perspective

2007-10-25T16:57:00.000-04:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to take a little hike up, Lilly mountain, a small mountain in Kentucky. As I am not in the greatest shape, and was very unprepared for a hike in the woods, it definately offered some renewed perspectives,(besides the fact that I need to get back on my treadmill):

I couldn't imagine the imense fear of the being among the first settlers here in America.
They could not have survived without the Hand of God.
We Americans revolted, standing up for what we truly Believed. We would have faced certain death if we had failed.
Our country was built on the foundation of belief in Christ alone, no other gods.

I topped off my weekend with a rainy day read of The Frontiersmen, by Allen Eckert, a historical narrative of early settlers in the Cumberland Valley, and some genealogy research, as my family was of the first settlers in that area, and I still don't know how they survived.
And as usual this type of thing leads me to think of the current state of demise that our country is in, and the reason we had to come home early is because I had another endorsement meeting for the Republican Party.
During my drive home, I began to think about the candidates I had met and which ones I should endorse, and how could I really know if they believed what they said they believed.

In Psalm 11:3, the Bible gives to us a most vital message for the times in which we live. In this Psalm, David says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Then in Luke 6:47-49, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of two men who set out to build two houses. The first man digs deep and lays his foundation upon a rock, but the second man carelessly builds his house upon the earth, without digging and laying a sure foundation. Then when the storm came, the first house stood strong, "for it was founded upon a rock." However, the second house immediately fell, "and the ruin of that house was great."
The forefathers of our nation were well aware of this profound truth. Unlike most of the current leaders of our country, the men who established our Bill of Rights were, for the most part, men who BELIEVED in something and STOOD FOR IT. These men lived in a time when people still had RESPECT for good moral standards and godly living. They weren't all Christians, but there was still a reverence for God and the Bible. This was a time when Americans had a FEAR OF GOD before their eyes, and sin was kept down to a minimum. This was a time when God the Holy Spirit could move about and find some men to get a job done. Friend, this was a time when some SOLID FOUNDATIONS could be laid for our nation.
So they were laid. One only has to read Benjamin Franklin's appeal to President Washington for a National Day of Prayer to realize the truth in the above statements. Franklin's appeal reads in part:"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine Protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard -- and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow can not fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
We have also been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' (Psalm 127:1) I firmly believe this, and I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. . ."
Our nation was built by men who knew that an empire without a solid foundation could not stand. Our nation was built by men who knew that we needed God's help if we were going to become a strong nation. In 1789, both Houses of Congress requested that President Washington recommend to the American people a day of public THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, and he did so. Washington himself, from the very start, knew that our young country must have the blessing of God for survival. After placing his hand on a Bible (not the Koran) and taking the oath of office on April 30,1789, President Washington made his views very clear concerning the source of authority:
"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being, Who rules over the universe, who presides in the council of nations, and whose providential aid can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States. . . Every step by which they have advanced seems to have been distinguished by some providential agency. . . . we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."
Good foundations were laid. Our liberties were built upon basic Bible principals, and it is for this very reason that we have become the great nation that we are today. However, if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Help renew our foundations:
www.mikehuckabee.com

Food for thought?

2007-10-20T02:17:00.000-04:00

How would George Washington have handled terrorism?

I'm sure it existed during his time, any examples?

Political News FRC Summit

2007-10-20T02:04:00.000-04:00

John McCain decided to separate his religious beliefs from politics. How does a Christian do that?

The news stations have yet to even acknowledge Mike Huckabee as a contender for the Presidential Election. And yet Fox News says they report and you decide, really? When will they start reporting the actual news?

God help the average person. This election will be a joke if people don't get out and encourage people they know to vote. We have so many important issues at stake.

And the whole issue of Mitt Romney, do people actually know what the man believes and stands for?
Unbelievable!!

2007-10-20T01:22:00.000-04:00

A search for hope and inspiration on a gloomy day:

http://www.todaysamericandream.com/

As usual, back to George for a little uplifting and encouragement:

The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
General Order, (9 July 1776) George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 3g Varick Transcripts

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for giving to Mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island (1790)

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
George Washington

Mark Twain - Quotes for my day

2007-10-20T01:13:00.000-04:00

“I can live for two months on a good compliment."

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

“A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.”

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.”

Not the best day today . . . .

2007-10-20T00:04:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have one of those days where everything just keeps getting worse? Today was my lucky day for "let's see how much Jane can take before she cracks" day.

First of all, I have let my guard down again, just a little this time, and actually depended on people. I just counted on them to be genuine and caring. Who knew? Big mistake on my part. My other huge mistake was in thinking that just because some people were "like minded" in their beliefs, I held them to a higher standard. I have to wonder how many times I will have to learn this lesson? God, is probably shaking his head and thinking, when will this girl ever learn? I did good this time and held my tongue, which for those of you who know me, is a miracle in itself. If you took each individual thing that happened over the course of this week, they all weren't really a big deal, but if you add them all together, and then dump them within about 24hrs of each other, they begin to get heavy.

I just get very disheartened and discouraged when all at once everything I do seems to fail or blow up in my face. It happens so many times. Why are fellow believers so mean to each other? They seem to get a sick enjoyment out of seeing others struggle.
I used to very rarely become easily discouraged and weary, but now, I find myself becoming so much more withdrawn and less likely to tackle projects that once seemed simple to me.
And it's not even projects, it's more like ideas and hope. Because for me, people don't realize, I live on my hopes and ideas. And when every hope and idea is ridiculled and frowned upon, or criticized down to the tiniest detail, I don't feel the value or point in my living.

I can certainly understand constructive criticism, but, to nit pick every flaw in every hope and idea that someone has seems to be cruel to me somehow. I keep trying to find the lesson I need to learn or the point God might be trying to make in all of these situations, but I just keep finding hypocrites, who would rather sit and point out others mistakes than to take a chance at making any of their own.

I find my compassion for others almost non existent at times and ask myself, if these people say they believe in the Word of God, where is their fruit? Why are they expecting my behavior to hold to a certain standard and theirs not?

I, yet again, was expecting to get compassion, companionship, uplifting and support from fellow believers in Christ and again, I was expecting too much.
But, it is to my own fault because I still keep thinking that fellow believers are different from unbelievers. The Holy Word of God, says they should be, but, their actions are not.
I guess the lesson here is that I should look at my own actions an hope that I do not treat others as I have been treated. And thank God for the small lesson, hoping to avoid a larger one.

Embrace the Change Gospel Tour?

2007-10-19T22:09:00.000-04:00

Our country is in deed, very in need of prayer. I again encourage everyone to educate themselves about the issues at hand. The very elect will be decieved.

If you were evil and you didn't want the truth to be told. You would want to try to make sure there is no absolute truth, you would create deceptive paths away from the truth. And try your best to imitate the truth.

Christianity is the only example of God reaching down personally to man. All the others are man reaching up to God.

Permalink

Non-Discrimination Act

2007-10-19T21:25:00.000-04:00

October 19, 2007
Please take time NOW to contact the House Education and Labor Committee
return to full navigation
October 17, 2007 - WednesdayForward to a Friend!
This week the House Education and Labor Committee will consider the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). If this legislation passes, it will mainstream homosexuality and provide homosexual activist a legal tool for punishing employees who do not approve of their lifestyle.ENDA will force businesses to provide special employment rights to those who define themselves based on sexual behaviors. Such efforts are a misguided infringement upon our constitutional rights. This legislation will be used by homosexual activists as a means to punish business owners who have moral and religious standards Employers' liberty to use their own good judgment regarding hiring practices will be a thing of the past. Hearings have been postponed several times in order to placate homosexual, and transgender lobbies. The new bill number is H.R. 3685; the legislation still fails to protect religious organizations or business owners.
AL07J09

Wisdom from George Washington

2007-10-17T15:16:00.000-04:00

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Washington proclaimed firearms to be "the people's liberty teeth."

"The hand that destroys the Constitution rends our Union asunder forever."

"Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary."

Genealogy Link
http://www.globalgraffiti.com/family/sizemore/howard/howard.htm

Quote from George Washington

2007-10-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, my standard of a politician is George Washington. Obviously, finding someone like him is not likely to happen. But a person can dream.

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them.
The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore to resolve to conquer or die."

I can't help but study GW during political campaigns.

Thank God Someone is Willing to Take a Stand . . .

2007-10-12T01:43:00.000-04:00

I believe as I said in a previous post, that the lazy Christian community was waiting to be lead like little sheep, and of course they were waiting on well respected James Dobson, to do their work for them.

I hope they are happy! I am thrilled with the interview of James Dobson http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=555

He continues to have my utmost respect. Look how fast the Republican Party was willing to throw away several major core values because they were afraid. Wow, I am so ashamed to have such weak links in our party. What does that say about the true values of the Republican Party? Where's their faith in God.? And they were actually mad at James Dobson because he wasn't willing to compromise his beliefs under no circumstances. The Word of God is not negotiable.

I Thank God for true Believers. Like I said before, I supported Mike Huckabee well before I heard any poll results. I found the candidate who best aligned themselves with the Word of God and I was then exercising my Faith in God, praying that if this is what God wanted NOTHING could stop it, not even Hillary Clinton!

Almost every Christian that I talked to was so worried about beating Hillary that they were willing to compromise, just so a Republican could win. In that instance everyone looses. Compromise is not an option when it comes to the Word of God. I feel that it is perhaps the root of the whole issue. Look at the values they would have been compromising: unborn babies, and gay marriage. Two huge issues that supposedly help define our party! What are these people thinking. Well, that's exactly it, they were thinking and not praying. "Everyone did what was right in their own minds." We can only rely on God's Word. It never changes, compromises or collapses under pressure. God forgive us for when we do.

Let's all take a deep breath and realize that we have God on our side. He is a very powerful campaign manager!
We need to work together and place our support behind a candidate who is the closest one aligned with our strongly held Biblical beliefs. Because, God is in control, so win or loose this election, if we do our best and rely on Him for our every decision, He will not let us down. Things may not go they way we think they should, but if we do our part He will certainly do his.

It's Huckabee or Hillary

2007-10-12T00:11:00.000-04:00

A wonderful article that has me breathing a small sigh of relief. At least there is one other person out there who feels this is an all or nothing election.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/perspectives_its_huckabee_or_h.php

Huckabee on Crime

2007-10-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

Huckabee on Crime
People naturally selfish; only God or punishment prevent it. (Jun 2007)
Defends death penalty biblically as well as politically. (Jun 2007)
Supports death penalty, but only reluctantly. (Jan 2007)
Eliminating parole gives no incentive for rehabilitation. (Jan 2007)
Three Strikes based more on revenge than restoration. (Jan 2007)
Commuted death penalty sentence due to problems at trial. (Jan 2007)
Build more prisons, and privatize their management. (Nov 2002)
Supports flexible federal block grants for crime programs. (Sep 2001)
Tougher juvenile crime penalties; but let states set them. (Aug 1999)

Mike Huckabee on Civil Rights

2007-10-11T16:44:00.000-04:00

Mike Huckabee on Civil Rights
Address gay behavior if problematic, not gay attitudes. (Jun 2007)
Gay tolerance reflects lack of fixed societal standards. (Jun 2007)
Respect gay couples but no gay adoptions. (Jan 2007)
USA has gone from Barney Fife to Barney Frank. (Jan 2007)
Signed legislation outlawing same-sex marriage in Arkansas. (Dec 2006)
No civil unions; only one-man-one-woman marriage. (Nov 2002)
No affirmative for state contracts nor colleges. (Nov 2002)
More federal funding of IDEA for disabled education. (Mar 2000)
Support principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment. (Feb 2001)

Huckabee on Budget and Economy

2007-10-11T16:43:00.000-04:00

Huckabee on Budget and Economy
Created state surplus in AR; cut spending to do same for US. (Sep 2007)
Bankruptcy reform: limit Chapter 7; protect states' role. (Feb 2001)
Uphold commitments to states before other spending. (Sep 2001)
Protect local milk supplies with Southern Dairy Compact. (Sep 2001)

Huckabee on Abortion

2007-10-11T16:39:00.000-04:00

Huckabee on Abortion

Led Arkansas to human life amendment in state constitution. (Sep 2007)
Consensus impossible: pro-choice world fundamentally differs. (Jun 2007)
Hate abortion but allow it is like hate slavery but allow it. (May 2007)
Certainly good day for America when Roe v. Wade is repealed. (May 2007)
Embryonic stem cell research creates life to end a life. (May 2007)
Pro-life includes improving life after birth. (Jan 2007)
Outlaw all abortions; err on the side of life. (Jan 2007)
Pro-life and pro-death penalty, & sees them as far different. (Jan 2007)
Even Americans who are pro-choice are pro-life. (Jan 2007)
Eliminate public funding for abortion organizations. (Nov 2002)
Supports woman’s right-to-know legislation. (Jan 2001)
Pro-life, but respects choice as mandated law. (Jan 2001)

Huckabee for President

2007-10-11T14:16:00.000-04:00

The Christians either need to stand up or shut up when it comes to this next presidential election!
Huckabee is a man of his word, he walks the talk, why isn't the Christian community getting behind him and supporting him?
Is it because he doesn't have enough money? Or What? Is he not cheesy enough?

I think it is sad to see a supposedly Christian country not be willing to stand up for the Christian Values it was founded on. I believe the term may be "lukewarm". I'd rather be hot or cold, sink or swim. Didn't God have something to say about being lukewarm?

It wouldn't be so frustrating if every Christian I mention political candidates to didn't shrug their shoulders and mumble something about how no one is any good anyway, we should just vote for the lesser of the two evils.
Of course, we should all just jump behind the man with the most money and the cheesiest smile, or we should just wait until the usual Christian leaders like James Dobson do all the research for us and then wait for him to tell us who we should vote for and why. I think highly of Mr. Dobson, but isn't God the one we should rely on for leadership?
Or just ignore it all and show up to vote and cast your ignorant vote for the name with the "R" next to it.
Hey, may as well just stay at home and not even get involved, you know God wouldn't like us arguing about stuff like this. Don't rock the boat, smile and nod boys, just smile and nod!

I think the Christian community at large should get up off their stale, lazy, pew moldy butts and try standing up for what they say they believe in. Would it hurt if every "real" Christian who wasn't ashamed of their Chrisitanity would do their own research, decide what issues are relevant and most important to them, then sit down with the Bible and the history of the choice candidates and see who aligns with God's Holy Word. The same Holy Word that Christians are suppose to base their actions upon the principals found within. (there's a novel idea)
Oh, but the problem with that is it would cause "Christians" to actually do something and it would require them to have to read and, God forbid STUDY the Bible! That's just to damn much to ask isn't it? I'm sure your too busy volunteering for every church committe, and playing church, doing all that work for God that you don't have time to actually be a Christian! Mmmm. . . . .the irony.

I know there are those of you who are Christians who are just as angry as I am and you all are the ones I am counting on to take the time and get involve with this upcoming election.

Find a candidate you truly believe in , call them or email them. Let them know you support them and are willing to do what you can to promote their campaign.
Then support them. Ask what they need done. Money can't buy everything. I personally respond well to personal, genuine endorsements.
Encourage people to find out about the issues, recommend the candidates you personally endorse and tell them why. You and the candidate gain credibility when someone knows an issue is important to you and you found a candidate that aligns with your genuinely held beliefs.
Don't demand a response. Let them take in the information. You may never know the impact you have on someone else. We don't convict, the Holy Spirit does that.

Titus 1:15-16

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

On the school front . . .

2007-10-11T09:44:00.000-04:00

Today we are going to wrap up lesson 11 in the Mystery of History Vol 1, and move on to the Minoan Civilization. We study history together as a family at breakfast/lunch and dinner. We have a timeline that runs the length of our dining room wall, and we add events and famous people as we go.
Jacob has some more pond water to look at under the microscope in biology. Two lab reports due, and a test to take.
Sarah has to decide on the seeds she wants to plant for Botany. We need to set up her light hut and get those planted today.
They all have math to do. And Critical thinking skills. I love those books.
Caleb is reviewing his letters on the refrigerator, he's always the first one up in the morning.
Noah has made great progress in math. He is a natural with numbers. For reading, he is working with the an, it, ag, and at families. He has finished all of the first color of level 1 Bob Books.
Sarah has a soccer game today at 5:30pm and we have co-op tomorrow.
And somewhere in this day I plan to get the laundry done and take 30 mins for myself to go get a manicure. A totally unnecessary thing for me to do, but, that is the one treat I allow for myself. I don't drink pop, smoke, drink or do drugs, I have limited myself to only two TV shows; Grey's Anatomy and The Unit. I deserve a manicure every two weeks or so. My blog time doesn't count, because I can do that while I cook, clean, feed and give out/grade assignments. Multi-tasking!

Homeschooling Facts and Trends

2007-10-11T08:52:00.000-04:00

Facts on Homeschooling - July 2006

RESEARCH FACTS ON HOMESCHOOLING
Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.
July 10, 2006Copyright © by Brian D. Ray

General Facts and Trends

Homeschooling may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States (at 7% to 12% per year). Home-based education is also growing around the world in many nations. · There are about 2 million homeschool students in the United States. There were an estimated 1.9 to 2.4 million children (in grades K to 12) home educated during 2005-2006 in the United States. ·
Families engaged in home-based education are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources for their children’s education. The finances associated with their homeschooling likely represent over $16 billion that taxpayers do not have to spend since these children are not in public schools ·
Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 15% of homeschool families are non-white/nonHispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo).
A demographically wide variety of people homeschool – these are atheists, Christians, and Mormons; conservatives, libertarians, and liberals; low-, middle-, and high-income families; black, Hispanic, and white; parents with Ph.D.s, GEDs, and no high-school diplomas.

Reasons for Home Educating
Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason.
The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:
teach a particular set of values, beliefs, and worldview, accomplish more academically than in schools, customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child, use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools, enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings, provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults, and, provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, and improper and unhealthy sexuality.

Academic Performance
The home-educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not related to their children’s academic achievement.
Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.
Social, Emotional, and Psychological Development ·

The home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem. · Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members. They are commonly involved in activities such as field trips, scouting, 4-H, political drives, church ministry, sports teams, and community volunteer work.

Success in the “Real World” of Adulthood
The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far it indicates that they:
participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population,vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population, and go to and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population.

General Interpretation of Research on Homeschool Success or Failure
It is possible that homeschooling causes the positive traits reported above. However, the research designs to date do not conclusively “prove” that homeschooling causes these things. At the same time, there is no evidence that homeschooling causes negative things compared to institutional schooling.

Future research may better answer the question of causation.
Sources
The above findings are extensively documented in one or more of the following sources, all (except one) of which are available from www.nheri.org:
A Homeschool Research Story, Brian. D. Ray, 2005, in Homeschooling in Full View: A Reader.
Home Educated and Now Adults: Their Community and Civic Involvement, Views About Homeschooling, and Other Traits, Brian D. Ray, 2004.
Home schooling: The Ameliorator of Negative Influences on Learning, Brian D. Ray, Peabody Journal of Education, 2000, v. 75 no. 1 & 2, pp. 71-106.
Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us, by Brian D. Ray, Journal of College Admission, 2004, No. 185, 5-11.
National Education Association. (2005). Rankings and estimates: A Report of School Statistics Update. Retrieved 7/10/06 online http://www.nea.org/edstats/images/05rankings-update.pdf.
Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling, Brian D. Ray, 2005.

About the Author Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. is an internationally known researcher, educator, speaker, and expert witness, and serves as president of the nonprofit National Home Education Research Institute. He has taught as a certified teacher in public and private schools and served as a professor at the graduate and undergraduate levels. His Ph.D. is in science education from Oregon State University. Dr. Ray has been studying the homeschool movement for about 22 years. For more homeschool research and more in-depth interpretation of research, please contact: National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) PO Box 13939 Salem OR 97309 USAtel. (503) 364‑1490
mail@nheri.org

www.nheri.org
Copyright © 2006 by Brian D. Ray

Regarding Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God

2007-10-11T05:51:00.000-04:00

If this sermon doesn't stir something inside of you nothing will. I couldn't believe it was written as long ago as it was.
It seems so relevent for today. I like his approach. Blunt and to the point.

Regarding George Washington's Farewell Address

2007-10-11T05:46:00.000-04:00

I feel this is a very relevent piece of advice from a man who knew from experience what he was talking about.

It is long, I actually listened to the audio version a few times and then read it. It is well worth reading.

George Washington was a truly unique man. He had, and through his legacy still has, an incredible ability to instill a sense of patriotism within the hearts of true Americans.

This should be required reading.

Sinners In The Hands of and Angry God

2007-10-11T05:34:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to the Audio Version of this sermon.

SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD

by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Enfield, ConnecticutJuly 8, 1741

--Their foot shall slide in due time--Deut. xxxii. 35

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.
That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."
It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"
Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.
That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.
The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.
The truth of this observation may appear by the following considerations.
There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands.-He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God's enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces. They are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames. We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down?
They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God's using his power at any moment to destroy them. Yea, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" Luke xiii. 7. The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and it is nothing but the hand of arbitrary mercy, and God's mere will, that holds it back.
They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. John iii. 18. "He that believeth not is condemned already." So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John viii. 23. "Ye are from beneath." And thither be is bound; it is the place that justice, and God's word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law assign to him.
They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.
So that it is not because God is unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that he does not let loose his hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one as themselves, though they may imagine him to be so. The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.
The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion. The scripture represents them as his goods, Luke xi. 12. The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand; they stand waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it, but are for the present kept back. If God should withdraw his hand, by which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them; and if God should permit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.
There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in scripture compared to the troubled sea, Isa. lvii. 20. For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;" but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God's restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.
It is no security to wicked men for one moment, that there are no visible means of death at hand. It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world. The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noon-day; the sharpest sight cannot discern them. God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending them to hell, that there is nothing to make it appear, that God had need to be at the expense of a miracle, or go out of the ordinary course of his providence, to destroy any wicked man, at any moment. All the means that there are of sinners going out of the world, are so in God's hands, and so universally and absolutely subject to his power and determination, that it does not depend at all the less on the mere will of God, whether sinners shall at any moment go to hell, than if means were never made use of, or at all concerned in the case.
Natural men's prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment. To this, divine providence and universal experience do also bear testimony. There is this clear evidence that men's own wisdom is no security to them from death; that if it were otherwise we should see some difference between the wise and politic men of the world, and others, with regard to their liableness to early and unexpected death: but how is it in fact? Eccles. ii. 16. "How dieth the wise man? even as the fool."
All wicked men's pains and contrivance which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.
But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive: it was not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell ever to be the subjects of that misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, "No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself: I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief: Death outwitted me: God's wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction came upon me.
God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment. God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. But surely they have no interest in the promises of the covenant of grace who are not the children of the covenant, who do not believe in any of the promises, and have no interest in the Mediator of the covenant.
So that, whatever some have imagined and pretended about promises made to natural men's earnest seeking and knocking, it is plain and manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes, till he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal destruction.
So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of, all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.
APPLICATION
The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ.-That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.
You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his band, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.
Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies. God's creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.
The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it.
The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God. However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religious affections, and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. However unconvinced you may now be of the truth of what you hear, by and by you will be fully convinced of it. Those that are gone from being in the like circumstances with you, see that it was so with them; for destruction came suddenly upon most of them; when they expected nothing of it, and while they were saying, Peace and safety: now they see, that those things on which they depended for peace and safety, were nothing but thin air and empty shadows.
The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.
O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. And consider here more particularly,
Whose wrath it is: it is the wrath of the infinite God. If it were only the wrath of man, though it were of the most potent prince, it would be comparatively little to be regarded. The wrath of kings is very much dreaded, especially of absolute monarchs, who have the possessions and lives of their subjects wholly in their power, to be disposed of at their mere will. Prov. xx. 2. "The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul." The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater. Luke xii. 4, 5. "And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him."
It is the fierceness of his wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the fury of God; as in Isaiah lix. 18. "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries." So Isaiah lxvi. 15. "For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire." And in many other places. So, Rev. xix. 15, we read of "the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, "the wrath of God," the words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: but it is "the fierceness and wrath of God." The fury of God! the fierceness of Jehovah! Oh, how dreadful must that be! Who can utter or conceive what such expressions carry in them! But it is also "the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." As though there would be a very great manifestation of his almighty power in what the fierceness of his wrath should inflict, as though omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as men are wont to exert their strength in the fierceness of their wrath. Oh! then, what will be the consequence! What will become of the poor worms that shall suffer it! Whose hands can be strong? And whose heart can endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable depth of misery must the poor creature be sunk who shall be the subject of this!
Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires. Nothing shall be withheld, because it is so hard for you to bear. Ezek. viii. 18. "Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them." Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God, as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery; you shall be continued in being to no other end; for you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel, but to be filled full of wrath. God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that it is said he will only "laugh and mock," Prov. i. 25, 26, &c.
How awful are those words, Isa. lxiii. 3, which are the words of the great God. "I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment." It is perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, vis. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation. If you cry to God to pity you, he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour, that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment. He will not only hate you, but he will have you, in the utmost contempt: no place shall be thought fit for you, but under his feet to be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
The misery you are exposed to is that which God will inflict to that end, that he might show what that wrath of Jehovah is. God hath had it on his heart to show to angels and men, both how excellent his love is, and also how terrible his wrath is. Sometimes earthly kings have a mind to show how terrible their wrath is, by the extreme punishments they would execute on those that would provoke them. Nebuchadnezzar, that mighty and haughty monarch of the Chaldean empire, was willing to show his wrath when enraged with Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego; and accordingly gave orders that the burning fiery furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was before; doubtless, it was raised to the utmost degree of fierceness that human art could raise it. But the great God is also willing to show his wrath, and magnify his awful majesty and mighty power in the extreme sufferings of his enemies. Rom. ix. 22. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endure with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" And seeing this is his design, and what he has determined, even to show how terrible the unrestrained wrath, the fury and fierceness of Jehovah is, he will do it to effect. There will be something accomplished and brought to pass that will be dreadful with a witness. When the great and angry God hath risen up and executed his awful vengeance on the poor sinner, and the wretch is actually suffering the infinite weight and power of his indignation, then will God call upon the whole universe to behold that awful majesty and mighty power that is to be seen in it. Isa. xxxiii. 12-14. "And the people shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire. Hear ye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites," &c.
Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. Isa. lxvi. 23, 24. "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For "who knows the power of God's anger?"
How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him! But, alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder, if some that are now present should not be in hell in a very short time, even before this year is out. And it would be no wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of this meeting-house, in health, quiet and secure, should be there before to-morrow morning. Those of you that finally continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell longest will be there in a little time! your damnation does not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all probability, very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder that you are not already in hell. It is doubtless the case of some whom you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you. Their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of the living and in the house of God, and have an opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned hopeless souls give for one day's opportunity such as you now enjoy!
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?
Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? and so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is extremely dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. Do you not see how generally persons of your years are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of God's mercy? You had need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite God.-And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and hardness. And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?
And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now harken to the loud calls of God's word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favours to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others. Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles' days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever you was born, to see such a season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.
Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation: Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards

Washington's Farewell Address 1796

2007-10-11T05:15:00.000-04:00

A wise man who knew what he was talking about. This is well worth reading, twice.

Washington's Farewell Address 1796
1796

Friends and Citizens:
The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.
I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country; and that in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both.
The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to which your suffrages have twice called me have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a deference for what appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped that it would have been much earlier in my power, consistently with motives which I was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retirement from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the last election, had even led to the preparation of an address to declare it to you; but mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical posture of our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea.
I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty or propriety, and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that, in the present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination to retire.
The impressions with which I first undertook the arduous trust were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, I will only say that I have, with good intentions, contributed towards the organization and administration of the government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconscious in the outset of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of others, has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself; and every day the increasing weight of years admonishes me more and more that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any circumstances have given peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I have the consolation to believe that, while choice and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it.
In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and persevering, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits have resulted to our country from these services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an instructive example in our annals, that under circumstances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to mislead, amidst appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, in situations in which not unfrequently want of success has countenanced the spirit of criticism, the constancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.
Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger, natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all-important to the permanency of your felicity as a people. These will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can possibly have no personal motive to bias his counsel. Nor can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimilar occasion.
Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.
The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.
For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.
But these considerations, however powerfully they address themselves to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those which apply more immediately to your interest. Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the union of the whole.
The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with the South, protected by the equal laws of a common government, finds in the productions of the latter great additional resources of maritime and commercial enterprise and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The South, in the same intercourse, benefiting by the agency of the North, sees its agriculture grow and its commerce expand. Turning partly into its own channels the seamen of the North, it finds its particular navigation invigorated; and, while it contributes, in different ways, to nourish and increase the general mass of the national navigation, it looks forward to the protection of a maritime strength, to which itself is unequally adapted. The East, in a like intercourse with the West, already finds, and in the progressive improvement of interior communications by land and water, will more and more find a valuable vent for the commodities which it brings from abroad, or manufactures at home. The West derives from the East supplies requisite to its growth and comfort, and, what is perhaps of still greater consequence, it must of necessity owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable outlets for its own productions to the weight, influence, and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union, directed by an indissoluble community of interest as one nation. Any other tenure by which the West can hold this essential advantage, whether derived from its own separate strength, or from an apostate and unnatural connection with any foreign power, must be intrinsically precarious.
While, then, every part of our country thus feels an immediate and particular interest in union, all the parts combined cannot fail to find in the united mass of means and efforts greater strength, greater resource, proportionably greater security from external danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations; and, what is of inestimable value, they must derive from union an exemption from those broils and wars between themselves, which so frequently afflict neighboring countries not tied together by the same governments, which their own rival ships alone would be sufficient to produce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. In this sense it is that your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.
These considerations speak a persuasive language to every reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the Union as a primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a doubt whether a common government can embrace so large a sphere? Let experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case were criminal. We are authorized to hope that a proper organization of the whole with the auxiliary agency of governments for the respective subdivisions, will afford a happy issue to the experiment. It is well worth a fair and full experiment. With such powerful and obvious motives to union, affecting all parts of our country, while experience shall not have demonstrated its impracticability, there will always be reason to distrust the patriotism of those who in any quarter may endeavor to weaken its bands.
In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our Western country have lately had a useful lesson on this head; they have seen, in the negotiation by the Executive, and in the unanimous ratification by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and in the universal satisfaction at that event, throughout the United States, a decisive proof how unfounded were the suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the General Government and in the Atlantic States unfriendly to their interests in regard to the Mississippi; they have been witnesses to the formation of two treaties, that with Great Britain, and that with Spain, which secure to them everything they could desire, in respect to our foreign relations, towards confirming their prosperity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the preservation of these advantages on the Union by which they were procured ? Will they not henceforth be deaf to those advisers, if such there are, who would sever them from their brethren and connect them with aliens?
To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a government for the whole is indispensable. No alliance, however strict, between the parts can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions which all alliances in all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of a constitution of government better calculated than your former for an intimate union, and for the efficacious management of your common concerns. This government, the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.
All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests.
However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the Constitution, alterations which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of governments as of other human institutions; that experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, especially, that for the efficient management of your common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty is indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a government, with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, indeed, little else than a name, where the government is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each member of the society within the limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property.
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.
As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it, avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertion in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear. The execution of these maxims belongs to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it is essential that you should practically bear in mind that towards the payment of debts there must be revenue; that to have revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment, inseparable from the selection of the proper objects (which is always a choice of difficulties), ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time dictate.
Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it 7 It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue ? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?
In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations, has been the victim.
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.
As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils 7 Such an attachment of a small or weak towards a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people under an efficient government. the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing (with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to support them) conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that, by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.
How far in the discharge of my official duties I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the public records and other evidences of my conduct must witness to you and to the world. To myself, the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them.
In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my proclamation of the twenty-second of April, I793, is the index of my plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of your representatives in both houses of Congress, the spirit of that measure has continually governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it.
After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, under all the circumstances of the case, had a right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and firmness.
The considerations which respect the right to hold this con duct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will only observe that, according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been virtually admitted by all.
The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without anything more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations.
The inducements of interest for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own reflections and experience. With me a predominant motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.
Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that, after forty five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.
Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a man who views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several generations, I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

Geo. Washington.

Inspired his countrymen - George Washington

2007-10-11T03:11:00.000-04:00

To clue you in to where my thoughts are coming from tonight, I have to give you a bit of background. . . .

Over the summer we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Washington D.C. It was one of the most educational experiences of my life. That may sound sad to some, but, that was my first visit to D.C.!
What made the experience even greater was the fact that this was our first year homeschooling. So, as my children are still young, we thought it was a good opportunity to study the founding of America.
Armed with hundreds of hours of audio books, several atlases, a book entitled, "The Footsteps of George Washington" we packed the van so full, I couldn't fit our stroller for our 2month old. Ahhh . . . who's gonna need a stroller for a newborn? ;) Did I mention I have a total of five kids?

After a grueling 8.5 hr drive we arrived. Pee breaks and all. My husband was working in Columbia, MD so we didn't stay right in D.C. In which I am grateful, I enjoyed visiting all the surrounding areas as well.

Tonight my focus of thought turned to George Washington, yet again. I had an endorsement meeting this evening, that has all but caused my brain to shut down.

This past week I was trying to re-acquaint myself with the political processes, local politics and such. It was hard to do because we are studying Ancient Egypt, Biology and Math, Math, Math. I try not to get on the American History kick, because I could dive into that topic and never come back up for air. There is so much information about the founding of America that I was never taught as a student, that I just can't get enough of it. Sounds ridiculous I'm sure, but hey, it's my blog, stop reading it if you want.

See, I wasn't taught American History from original sources, I was taught from a predigested, politically correct textbook. Sorry to say, but it's the truth. I know it's the truth, because I made a visit to George Washington's House. I saw one of the Bibles that belonged to George Washington. I read letters written by GW himself about many issues and the fact that he prayed, yes prayed! Now since prayer isn't in style right now, it's not in the textbooks. I got to visit churches that GW attended. I have never seen so many Biblical quotes within a 50 mile radius as their are in the D.C. area. It seems strange for a country that wasn't founded on Christianity to have so many scriptural quotes in every fiber of it's being.

The visit to Mt. Vernon was one of the highlights of the trip, I have such a love of the land and a deep sense of patriotism, I kept trying to imagine what GW was thinking during his lifetime. When he sat on his front porch, what thoughts were going through his head? The early years, the later years looking back. It was an indescribable gamut of thoughts and feelings.

When you first go thru the gates at Mt. Vernon they direct you to a theatre for an introduction. The neatest idea I have seen at any museum. It really set the stage and the tone for the rest of the visit. Even my toddler was completely engrossed in it.

In this video it depicts a George Washington that seemed so real, young and full of passion. Quite handsome, if I do say so. One of the major points that stuck out in my mind, was his passion for the land. They show a scene where the men are less than enthusiastic about the very apparent potential of being slaughtered by the British Military, and GW gives them a little pep talk.
In this talk he pretty much explains that at this point, we can die now, or keep fighting for our land, fight for the idea, the idea of real freedom and die later, but it would be for a good cause. Of course GW puts it into much more passionate wording.
But the general gist of it was, here we aren't fighting for some king, so he can have wealth, power, and more riches, what we are fighting for here is ours, this is our land. We settled it, it is our right to own it. That is the whole reason we came to this country.
Maybe I was suffering from post pardom, but I was almost in tears by the end of this 20 min introduction. I was truly moved by the amount of passion and determination these few men had. We have to remember they weren't a highly trained, armed military, they were a slapped together mismatched militia of all sorts. Many were wealthy wimps that died of pneumonia before they finished saddling their horse. The ones who survived did so, because they believed in something. They believed they had a right. They had a right to believe in God, they had a right to keep what they worked for, they had a right to own land, they had a right to pursue happiness.
I was so depressed to come back to reality. George Washington would be devastated to see what had become of the country that he gave his life for, gave all he had, and then some. I have to wonder why? Why did this country take the turn it took? I believe . . . I am willing to take responsibility for the rights that I have been afforded at the cost of the blood of others. Are there any other people out there that feel the same way? When I look back at what sacrifices these men, women and children gave to secure my right to believe, to hope, to strive for true freedom, I feel an obligation to at the very least exercise the rights they secured for me and hopefully continue to secure those rights for generations to come.
Our America turned out more voters for Dancing with the Stars than for a Presidential Election. Sad, to say the least. What did all those people fight for and die for? So we can sit by idly and let them slip away? God forbid.
I have to think that perhaps these last few generations have had things too easy, myself included. We have not had to suffer, go without, or fight for our rights. People have to go around door to door to try to convince people to even register to vote, when only three generations ago they had to kill or be killed to secure that very same right.

Part of our Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Note: the original hand-written text ended on the phrase "the pursuit of property" rather than "the pursuit of Happiness" but the phrase was changed in subsequent copies in part because it was broader. The latter phrase is used today).
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

"In January 1919, the bill passed the Senate, and on August 26, 1920, after two-thirds of the states had ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, women won the right to vote."

"President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law pledged the federal government to enforce equal access to the ballot in the South."

Only 64% of our citizen population voted in 2004. Another sad note is half of them don't fully understand what they are voting for or against.

It is getting difficult to maintain a good outlook on this subject. Part of me is still naive enough to believe things could change. Even worse, part of me is just plain ignorant enough to think I could make a difference. I keep thinking, maybe they don't realize how important this really is, they just don't know what it's all about, and that's why they don't care. And I keep thinking of ways to just get people interested in the issues and getting people registered to vote. Is there anything that would make a difference? Is there some way to inspire people to care about their own country?
To keep myself from going crazy with this issue, I am resigning to the fact that I can only do what I can do and I will have to pray for the rest.
I am going to do my research, find good candidates, promote the hell out of them and pray for the best. But, at least I'm not setting back in silence.

So each day or week or ever so often I will be updating my "Political Candidates" links at the top of my blog site. And at the bottom of the site I will be adding more information about the various government offices and what they do. This is a good time to teach the kids by example, don't exclude them from this uniquely American process, let them help you with the research, and choose candidates based on the right reasons and let people know about it. This can also be a great lesson on Truth in Media I believe Konos has a unit study that would work great for this topic.

Please don't sit idly by and watch what so many people worked so hard to accomplish slip away.

Learning, Logic and Probabiity

2007-10-09T13:32:00.000-04:00

Learnin,g Logic, and Probability Video

Artificial intelligence systems must be able to learn, reason logically, and handle uncertainty. Research has focused on each of these goals individually, and only recently have attempts been made to achieve all three at once. In this colloquia, Pedro Domingos, UW Computer Science & Engineering, describes Markov logic: a representation that combines the full power of first-order logic and probabilistic graphical models, and algorithms for learning and inference in it. Experiments in a real-world university domain illustrate the promise of this approach.

Homeschool High School - Options

2007-10-09T00:21:00.000-04:00

I have been looking into the North Atlantic Regional Schools High School Program. This looks like a viable option for our oldest son. He is beginning to take high school level classes this year, it would be a shame to not get proper credit for it.

I always like to check out the reputation of any organization I would consider an association with before we would make any sort of decision below is the only negative info I found.
Apology to NARHS for being accused of operating a diploma mill.

Words of Wisdom on Education

2007-10-08T22:12:00.000-04:00

Noah Webster :
“In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”
[Source: 1828, in the preface to his American Dictionary of the English Language]

“The Bible was America’s basic textbook in all fields.”
[Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5]

“Education is useless without the Bible”
[Noah Webster. Our Christian Heritage p.5 ]

Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. . . . If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws. [Noah Webster, The History of the United States 1832, pp. 336-337, 49]

“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” [Noah Webster. History. p. 339]
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Benjamin Rush:
"Let the children who are sent to those schools be taught to read and write and above all, let both sexes be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education”
Letters of Benjamin Rush, "To the citizens of Philadelphia: A Plan for Free Schools",
March 28, 1787
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Thomas Paine:
“ It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.”

“ The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal.” “The Existence of God--1810”

________________________________________

Jedediah Morse:
"To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."

________________________________________

Samuel Johnston:
• “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
[Elliot’s Debates, Vol. IV, pp 198-199, Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the
North Carolina Ratifying Convention]

_____________________________________________

Thomas Jefferson:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s
Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.

_________________________________________________

Patrick Henry:
"This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”
—The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

_____________________________________________

John Jay:
“ Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Source: October 12, 1816. The Correspondence and Public Papers of John
Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed., (New York: Burt Franklin, 1970), Vol. IV, p. 393.

“Whether our religion permits Christians to vote for infidel rulers is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received either from the clergy or the laity. It appears to me that what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat about his attachment to Ahab ["Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord?"
2 Chronicles 19:2] affords a salutary lesson.”
The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, 1794-1826, Henry P. Johnston

Math

2007-10-08T20:29:00.000-04:00

I have resigned myself to the fact that I am going to have to master the subject of math. Isn't that a horrible thing for a homeschool mom to say? I can hear the tongues starting to wag. "How can she think that she's qualified to teach her kids how to do math, if she isn't that good at it herself?"
Hello? I learned how to do math, I just didn't like it, except for some parts of it that were more interesting than others. I just don't rattle off every fact and figure when a math related question comes up in conversation, they make calculators for that sort of thing. I enjoy topics like History, English, Science, and topics that aren't so cut and dry . Stuff you can talk about.

Okay, math is not exactly my favorite subject, but I would like for my kids to enjoy it, so they don't loathe it the way I do. Perhaps loathe is too strong of a word?

I know how important it is so, I really want my kids to have a good solid foundation in math, so they won't have any doubts or trouble later.

We use a program called Math U See. I really like it and more importantly the kids really learn from it. It has DVD lessons, teacher book, student textbook and test book and of course manipulatives. The program is levelled, and does not spiral, like most other math programs. That means that they learn all of one area before they move on to the next. So in some grades they won't necessarily score as high on standardized tests because they have not been taught to the test. This program is for the benefit of the students mastery, not the testing community. I prefer to go with what works best for my kids.
Another thing I like about the program, is once the student knows it, you just move to the next lesson, you don't have to keep doing worksheet after worksheet, and bore the kid to tears.
I look for my Sarah and my Noah to whiz through this sort of program quickly. They are naturally good at math, and enjoy it. It has such a straight forward progression, it makes it easy to grasp and move on to the next concept.

It does require some parent preparation time, about 30 mins per lesson per kid. That can be time consuming. Especially if the kids progress quickly.

Math U See
Reviews of Math U See
Another family who loves MUS

Here is a great interactive site for learning factor trees:
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_202_g_3_t_1.html

The heat is on . . .

2007-10-08T00:38:00.000-04:00

Politics in my area are beginning to heat up. I encourage everyone to read up on the relevant issues and potential candidates. The upcomming elections are very very important. Just remember people died to secure our right to vote. We live in a free country for a reason. Freedom is not free. Voting in America is not only a privelage, it is a responsibility! Please excercise your right to vote.

Some people do go out and vote, but, I am amazed at the amount of uneducated voters we have going to the polls. There are people who simply vote for a name they think sounds familiar to them, and they don't really know what that person stands for at all. Half the time they don't even know what the responsibilities that peticular office is responsible for doing.

It is sad. We promote "democracy" in other countries, yet do we really practice what we preach?

Cats Cats and more Cats!!!

2007-10-08T00:31:00.000-04:00

Why do cats repopulate so quickly? Did you ever wonder about this. Didn't Ancient Egypt love their felines, how did they control their cat population?

I have a little problem, I'm trying to avoidably have 3 outdoor cats neutered. But, they aren't feral or friendly, they are somewhere in the middle. I can't find a reasonably priced clinic that will allow us to bring them in. I cannot afford to pay a huge price for their neutering, but I want to get them taken care of, so we don't have more litters of kittens.
These cats are from a second litter of stray cats we are trying to keep up with.

Any suggestions?