What is wrong with today's "youth groups"?!

I heard a story recently about a large "mega church" having a "hazing" to initiate incoming freshman to the senior high youth group. These young people (in order to "join" the youth group) had to pass a series of tests, including drinking a "mystery drink" (which turned out to be ketchup mixed with Sprite) and being forced to sing into a microphone in front of a ton of their peers. All of this and more with the blessing of the youth leaders! What is wrong with some churches today?! This particular young lady, is shy and left in tears...with a few of her peers jeering at her as she left. What damage has been done to this young ladies spirit?!

Here is a link for a sermon by a pastor named Dr. Voddie Baucham.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5209234630

Please, if you have young adults in your home....or any children, please listen to this sermon...or (if you are like me and technically challanged), print off or read the pdf file. It is the 'centrality of the home' where our young people should be discipled! It is not the churches JOB to disciple our children...many times by youth pastors who have never parented themselves!

We had a rather bad experience at a church that we used to attend in the youth program. Both of my older girls were not included, whispered about and were hurt and made to feel uncomfortable in a place where the leaders should have made sure that every single young person there was accepted and included. Church is supposed to be a safe place, a place of acceptance. The scars are still there.

The church that we attend now has a great youth program....but, it is referred to as a 'youth/parent' group, where twice a month, a parent and their youth attend a youth function where we worship together, listen to the teaching together, discuss together and fellowship together....WITH our child. One night a month is Mom's night and one night is Dad's night. This was such a refreshing change for us! And, our church recognizes that the primary influence in our children's lives is us...the parents. We, as a church, support each other and accept each other. I know, no church is perfect, but for us...this is a good fit, and is God's will for our family.

I have been so very blessed by the teachings of Dr. Voddie Bachaum! I wish I could give a copy of 'Family Driven Faith' to every family! My oldest daughters and I will have the pleasure and priviledge of going to a homeschool conference in 2 weeks where he is the keynote speaker. We're very much looking forward to sitting under his teaching. You know how some pastors just seem to "click"...and you feel very comfortable with them and their preaching style as well as the Lord simply speaking more powerfully into your life thru one person than another? Well, for me, it has been this man. I encourage you, if you can, please go to his website...http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Blog.html Read the resources available, go to the link above and listen to his sermons, download and read the pdf files....you will be blessed.

I'll leave you with the words to a Casting Crowns song "If we are the body"....this song came out when we were experiencing troubles at our former church and youth group...it illustrates, I think, how we, as the church, should be reaching out to each other...not hurting each other. ~Sue~

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coatAnd quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances Are better out on the road CHORUS

But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price For us to pick and choose who should come And we are the Body of Christ Chorus (2x) If we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way Jesus is the way

What to eat...what not to eat...

Even since the Lord placed the desire in my heart to live simply, eat and live in as healthy a manner as we can...I've struggled with the fact that, let's face it...eating and living organically can be rather expensive. After much prayer, here is what our family does:

If we can afford to buy organic that week...then we do. We've found what works for us, is to research and read labels of ingredients in anything that we can't make ourselves, and we make our own laundry soap and cleaning products. More than anything....we pray, do the best we can following the Lord's leading for our family and trust Him for the our health.

That said, here is a link to a WONDERFUL resource from Kitchen Stewardship.

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/06/03/the-list-what-to-eat-what-to-avoid-how-to-compromise-2/#more-6457

She has answered the questions about what to avoid, how to compromise if you have to, and the optimum things to eat/buy/make if you can. What a great resource! I have printed out a copy for myself to refer to in the future and just wanted to share this great resource with all of you. Sometimes, it is very hard to know what is best...especially if money is not exactly unlimited.

So check out Kitchen Stewardship! Thanks, Katie, for great information and resources! ~Sue~

Great giveaway! Raising Homemakers!

There is a wonderful giveaway over at Raising Homemakers for a 10 dvd set of 'Homestead Blessing' dvd's! Check them out...and check out this wonderful new website! ~Sue~
http://raisinghomemakers.com/

Simple summer pleasures...

Thru out the summer, I want to journal some simple summer pleasures we are enjoying. As this is our family (and my personal) photo journal, I like documenting the old-fashioned fun times we have as well as the milestones and memories in our family. I remember being a little girl and running thru my Gram's clothesline on a hot day...lying under the shade of the sheets, playing hide and seek and marveling at how the wind would make those sweet smelling sheets swell and billow like sails on a ship...yesterday, I had the chance to experience this same wonderful memory with my own children and little nephew.
Anna and Ty ran thru the sheets, chasing each other and hiding from each other, squealing with joy the whole time...it was so precious to watch!

The other evening, Sara & Ronnie ran and hollered and played in a drenching, warm rain storm...having a blast and making fun memories...

When everyone tired out, Sara used some of the sheets and made a shelter where these 3 lay down, watched the clouds and Sara told stories to the little ones.

~Just one of my simple summer pleasures I enjoy...my clothesline, watching my children making memories...sitting in the shade of a maple tree, with a cold drink, maybe some knitting or crochet, enjoying the peace and watching my children play . What a nice way to take a break from the work and heat of the day! I'll be posting more of our summer pleasures soon. What are some of your summer pleasures? Have a blessed day! ~Sue~

Our Garden! One small change for June....

~One small change....really does make a world of difference! While trying to be a good steward of what the Lord has blessed me with, I've realized that teaching my children to be good stewards is one of the things of utmost importance to me. To worship and love God...to be in awe of and take good care of His creation...for us, lots of discussions of nature and creation have been going on around here as well as being good stewards. We all have worked so hard (and made wonderful memories) with our garden this year!With 2 raised beds, using a combination of square foot gardening and lasagna gardening...our soil this year is so rich from compost! Ron & Ronnie have been working hard to get our beds ready and prepare the soil. We've started a large compost bin as well.
Anna was so happy planting and working along side me...she was so careful with the plants and planting the seeds....she can't wait till the seeds that she and I planted start to sprout!

I left just a little bit of room for some celery in this bed. We had so much celery last year that we could pick it as needed straight thru until it snowed!

Ronnie! He dug, he planted, he lugged a heavy watering can....I"m so proud of how hard he has been working! He has now taken over all garbage at our house! (Ron is very pleased!) Ronnie has also been eating us out of house and home! LOL He and Anna are my primary composters!

We planted around a dozen zucchini plants around our little front 'stoop'. I'm trying something new this year...since they seem to do better by climbing and take so much space...we decided to train them up the railings...we also have many perennial herbs that will be in this spot as well for 'ground' cover, along with flowers for splashes of color. Hopefully, the deer will leave the herbs and zucchini alone!

Our "green acres" pose!

We are also adding a lot of herbs to our herb garden....we will have chamomile, spearmint, peppermint, orange mint and apple mint to dry for teas. Lemon balm and lavender for sachets. Basil, chives, garlic chives, thyme, sage, parsley and cilantro. Yum!
My little herb garden..I will be transplanting a lot of these in the next few days and spreading them around.

And...just because I love them...my beloved red geraniums!

~So....for 2010 our garden will have lots of herbs to dry, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, hot peppers, butternut squash, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, cantelope, jalepino peppers...and I'm hoping to get a couple berry bushes to put in with a gift certificate I have to a local nursery. The girls and I plan on having the dehydrator going, lots of canning and some freezing...can you tell I'm hoping for a lot of zucchini? LOL

We will also be going strawberry picking soon and plan on making lots of jam for the stocking the pantry. What is one small change that you can make? ~Sue~

P.S. I have to tell you all ...ever since my husband put in our outdoor clothesline...we have to laugh because my laundry is up to date! I am LOOKING for things to make a full load, and am LOVING hanging and taking down my laundry outside with my precious children helping me! I enjoy it so much! Ron is putting up a line just for Anna at her level because she loves it as much as I do!

Turning everything into a reason to give thanks!

~So...corn-on-the cob...well, we had a visiting pastor at church on Sunday who told the following story:

As some of you know, this winter in Pittsburgh, Pa. we had a record amount of snowfall...as a matter of fact, in February is snowed for 23 consecutive days...after the starting amount of 23 inches in a 24 hour period....so lots and lots of shoveling, lots of slippery roads and lots of gray skyes. Well, our pastor Mark Altroggee was telling the story of he purposed years ago to look for anything good, anything to give thanks for, to Praise for in the midst of trials or hard times...so he said as he shoved his driveway for the 14th time in 2 days, he kept telling himself "this will make the corn really good this year!"...."this will raise the water table and give us the best corn on the cob we've had in years!"....see, his favorite food is (you guessed it) corn on the cob! I'm sure he was also thanking God that he was able to shovel, able to get out, grateful for heat and warm food....but he was looking past the present trying circumstances and looking to the harvest of blessings that he knew would come.

This hit home so much for me! Seems I was in a very weary place...weary of illness, fatigue, gray skys....and one of my favorite foods is corn-on-the cob as well! (it made me smile)

Years ago, when my older girls were little, we loved to watch the old "Pollyanna" movie...and play the "glad game"....looking for reasons to cultivate gratefulness, thankfulness and joy. I guess I've gotten away from that these past few years, but the Lord has graciously reminded me to 'count it all joy'...and to again....play the "glad game"! Here are some thoughts that stood out to me from the preaching:


~Christians should be the most CHEERFUL people on the face of the earth!

~We should try and consciously turn everything into a reason to praise and be thankful.

~Remember God's care and provision of us during our desert times...and remember His goodness during our times of abundance....everything good and perfect in our lives comes from Him...not our own efforts. Prosperity can cause us to forget His love and care.

~A quote from C.S. Lewis says this " You have no more right to be proud of your skills or accomplishments than of the color of your eyes!" Who we are and the gifts and skills we possess are given to us from God!

~He talked about the saying "proud as a peacock"....proudly strutting around showing off his beautiful feathers...but he didnt' do anything to make them so beautiful...he didn't paint them, arrange them and stick them in his back....

~Anna (my 5 year old) says...."well, God just made me this way, I guess"!

~Give up running our own lives, give up trying to be 'good enough'....remember, only God sustains us.

~We are to be abounding in thanksgiving at all times!


~Don't take God for granted...no grumbling or complaining!

~This world does not satisfy...(our possesions, jobs, homes) only God's living word, (daily manna for us) our relationship with Jesus satisfys our souls.

~God teaches us to depend on His word. Speak the psalms to ourselves....

~Deuteronomy 8:1-20....remember the lessons learned in the desert places....lessons to humble us, to draw us closer to Him, to cause us to depend on Him...to prove His faithfulness to us.

~Thru trials and trying times...trust God, thank Him, praise Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For me, this sermon was HUGE! Such a refreshing time....almost felt like a washing the 'gunk' off...the bad attitudes, the wearyness was all washed away and I feel renewed again...I could have listened to him speak more of this for hours.

I've been smiling everytime I think of corn-on-the-cob lately...and know that this summer, when I am sick from the heat and humidity (I get so sick from heat/humidity)....that He will bring refreshing rains....and cozy snow storms this winter as well....I've learned so many lessons this year! I am realizing that times of testing, for me, are usually not short...but being able to remember what I've learned....being grateful for the times of refining, humbling, testing times...and learning to be thankful, grateful and praising Him in the storms of life....He is my all in all!

I just wanted to share this with all of you! If you would like to listen to this teaching, you can go to http://www.provchurch.org/messages/ and listen to May 23rd.

May you all have a blessed day....and give thanks in ALL circumstances! ~Sue~

A Piece of my joy!

There is no greater joy than walking with my Lord! No greater joy than being with my husband and children! I am blessed! Here are some pieces of our week.

This has been a week of "getting back to normal"...actually, for figuring out what the new normal was! LOL I feel as if I've gotten my joy back again! We've been finishing up our end of the year schooling, planning for next year and getting the house and yard in order. I've loving hanging out clothes on my new clothes line...and enjoying doing it with my girls. I've been enjoying all the tough, "guy" things my son has been doing and helping his dad with . Finally feeling as I'm coming out from under a cloud.

Tomorrow, I'm packing up the kids and driving an hour to spend the day with my mom and step-dad! We can't wait...picking up my niece Tina on the way, having sandwiches and going to a lake to play and walk and just enjoy each others company.

I'm leaving my oldest daughters, Meghan & Sara, there for 4 days. They call it their 'vacation'....they love staying there! Lots of movies, card playing, laughing, cooking and shopping will be going on. I'm going to miss them so much! But, am looking forward to doing some special things with my little ones while the big ones are gone. Life is just moving so fast! Meghan graduates next year, and Sara the year after. Ronnie is getting so tall and is involved in so many activities...hockey, cubscouts, basketball...and he loves working with his hands and nature. Anna is finishing kindergarten and "this close" to reading on her own....first grade will be here soon.

This week we've had wonderful opportunities to spend time with precious friends that we haven't seen in a while...the girls had a sleepover and a leisurely day with the Goettels....and had a special visit today with our friends, the William's.....some of our very best friends.

Had the opportunity to see my special nephew, Shayne, go to his Senior prom today. He looked so handsome in his tux...a little nervous, but so handsome and grown up!

Just been spending time with my family...getting into new routines, focusing on character building, teaching new skills....and enjoying this weather. Learning new knitting techniques..loving some new yarn...have some sewing projects going on....it's almost strawberry picking time! Will be focusing on getting the garden in soon...and looking forward to good friends coming in from Ohio for Memorial day weekend. Many blessings to everyone!
Have a very blessed weekend! ~Sue~

Why I do what I do...

I had such a special, wonderful Mother's Day yesterday! My family...I am so very blessed! At one time, I thought I may never have children of my own...it was heartbreaking, as all I had ever wanted to be was a wife and mother...I never had a 'calling' to be anything else.
My oldest daughter, Meghan, made me a vintage 1940's apron! She "highjacked" my pattern that I had been meaning to sew up (but never got around to it) and found this cool fabric in my favorite color (it has roosters on it), matched it up with the black and white gingham and made this for me in secret. I am so proud of the job that she did! I love it!

My Sara made me a "comfort bag" with a washable 'pillowcase'....I love keeping this in the freezer...it really helps when the pain in my neck gets bad. What a great job she did!

My son...what a priviledge it is to raise each of these children for God! Having a son, and raising him as a Godly young man is a priviledge and a challange...and I cherish him everyday!

My littlest girl....what a gift these last 2 children are! (They all are, of course, but we thought we were done after Meghan and Sara)...My little Anna....she is so precious and brings such joy and laughter to us all!
My mom....my mentor....my best friend! We've always been close and she is the woman that I want to share everything with, do things with , spend time with...along with my husband and children....we just enjoy each other's company so much! I am blessed to be her daughter!

My blessings...at the end of a long, busy Mother's Day....can't imagine what my life would be without being their mother!

~I am reading a book right now called "Worldliness" authored by a number of people and edited by C.J. Mahaney.....I cannot tell you how convicted I am by this book!

I have been taken in by the world so insidiously that I didn't even realize in how many ways! Some questions that just about JUMPED OFF the PAGE this morning were " What worldview is being presented? Am I seeking to escape something by watching/doing this activity? Am I doing it because I am bored or lazy? Is so, what does that reveal about my heart? Am I watching/doing simply because others are? Am I trying to "fit in"? How has my online activity affected my soul? What motivates me to blog, read blogs, Facebook or surf the web?

All of these questions have been leading up to questions that I've been asking myself lately....so (I'm not sure how many readers I have or not), but these questions, I feel are a way of God showing me time wasters in my life...almost "virtual reality" instead of living the life He gave me, for His glory.

Ephesians 4:1 tells us to 'walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling He's given us"....I know that my calling as a wife, mother and homeschooling mom, is the most important calling He has given me...I also admit that time spend on the computer is, for me....basically a huge time waster and (I'll admit) sometimes an 'escape'. Well....I feel as if I've been given a reprieve...a wakeup call....another chance. I am called to be a loving, supportive help-meet to my husband....to build him up, encourage, love and support him. I'm called to love my children...to spend time with them, and I am called to teach them...first about Him and His world & word....then academics...from a biblical worldview. I know that I don't possibly have time to do all of those things if I am blogging, reading blogs, surfing the internet or on facebook.....so...I am not going to say this blog is closed....I'm not going to say I'm shutting the computer down or that I will never be on facebook again....but I feel no "calling" to post on this blog or on facebook right now. Maybe the Lord will prompt me to write something someday...and when He does, I'll obey...for now....I have a new excitement...a renewed spirit to be the woman...wife/mother that God wants me to be...fully present with my family...enjoying the special life He has blessed me with! God bless you all! ~Sue~