Calvinist or Arminian? …..Sprinkling infant baptism V’s believer’s full immersion? …….Is Charlotte Mason’s philosophy on education better than the Classical method? …….. What on earth shall I cook for dinner?
These are some of the questions that occupy my time. In my spare time, I homeschool my four children, love my husband, occasionally clean my house, read lots, play with my new EOS 1000D, and try to gain a technical knowledge worthy of my I’m-so-in-love-with-it Macintosh G4 power book.
I am a bible believing, old paths, literal six day creationist Christian, with conservative political leanings, a desire to see families strengthened, a thirst for truth, a mild redneck flavour to my view of life, and an inclination to share.
Thanks for visiting.
January 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm
SO! Calvin or Arminius?? I can’t wait to see! How very refreshing to see that someone CAN indeed wrestle with weighty matters AND care for a family. Finding a blog that discusses both spiritual and domestic things is rare and wonderful!
January 14, 2008 at 10:10 pm
LOL! Dandelionmom, if I can definitively answer this side of eternity, I will certainly post it! After a four year examination, so far I am leaning most heavily toward Calvinism, while aware that among greater minds than mine, the jury is still out.
As for theology mixed with domesticity….my husband laughs and shakes his head that my thoughts can shift from ranting about the sale of indulgences to what to serve with coffee. Perhaps you have to be a girl to appreciate the mix!
Thanks for stopping by.
January 15, 2008 at 2:09 am
I am going to like it here! I happen to be a TULIP gal myself (well..except for the L)–My current rant is the emergent church which I still say MUST have started as a joke-a really bad one.
The indulgences thing is really sick too. “The Lord has really blessed me so I can afford to buy my way out of any sin I want”—NOOOT!!!
Oh!–and I’ll have a cookie suitable for dunking with my coffee (extra points if it’s chocolate!)
I’d love to hear why “beyond bluestockings”!!
January 15, 2008 at 7:18 am
Ah, I have been very tempted to post on the emergent church. The reason I restrain myself is that I haven’t yet reached a point where I can be gracious about it. Not even nearly.
The original bluestockings were a group of women who met for discussions on literature, a very progressive group of women. While I love all things literary, and am grateful for some of the freedoms won by our sisters of the past, we need to move beyond our present state of trying to attain the rights and responsibilities of men, and remember our commission to teach the younger women, to love our husbands and children.
I don’t want to go back to any point in the past, but my desire is to see us make the most of the freedom we have, while choosing to submit to the authority of our husbands, placing the management of our homes as a priority over work or entertainment, or supposed “ministry”.
Beyond bluestockings came about because I wanted to share any helpful little things I have learned about being a wife and mother, Titus style:
Titus 2:4
The aged women likewise…….. may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children…
Being easily distracted, or very verbose, (or both!) I have strayed from my original intent for this site, hence the, ah, “extras”!
January 15, 2008 at 9:52 am
THAT was an awesome post–don’t leave it hiding in the comments!! and thanks!
February 7, 2008 at 5:01 am
I would hope that you would read the following article concerning Charlotte Mason.
26-charlotte-mason-for-whose-sake1.pdf
by Aimee Natal
What Charlotte Mason is teaching is pelagianism and because you are aware of arminianism you must see that by using CM you will teach your children the opposite your own beliefs. I hope that you would take this short email as trying to sincerely share the truth…. I have my own blog with similar interests as you (10 shekels is how I found your blog) and similar concerns.
You can check out my blog if you want specifics about Charlotte Mason.
February 7, 2008 at 10:33 am
Dear motherathome,
Thank you for raising my awareness of the underlying beliefs governing Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education – it was a very enlightening, and alarming, read!
Thanks again for bringing it to my attention: I certainly recommend it to be read by all considering following her teaching methods.
February 13, 2008 at 7:33 am
Oh thank you for your response and actually reading the pdf! Truly I cannot thank you enough for just responding. This endeavor has come out from personal revelation after reading some of CM’s books to use this method myself. If you want to really study what is wrong with her method you can also research at this link authorityresearch.com.
The more a Mom looks for outside sources to support her lack of time to understand and apply these places will be more likely where her resources will come from
like Ambleside school. Since CM really intended her method as school education the influence from support outside the home is going to be less maternal oriented, as it appears from a homeschool perspective, and more theory, philosophy focused. You should read this now from someone supporting CM
Charlotte Mason: An Introductory Analysis of Her Educational Theories and Practices by J. Carroll Smith
Susan Schaeffer Macauleys father Francis Schaeffer has a video on youtube that describes universals and particulars that J. Carroll Smith says CM used to develop her philosophy.
Again thank you.
March 23, 2008 at 1:18 am
Ladies, you have my attention… Certain elements from CM are being implimented here, but we do public school so we restirct CM to her philosophy about “real books” instead of Twaddle or watered down… but I am quite taken with Francis Schaeffer and will make time to see the video… and read your links…
Now off to attend to the masses…
Greetings from Germany,
Anitz
July 7, 2008 at 11:15 pm
PLEASE read this beautiful, thoughtful and true response to Ms. Natal’s article:
http://lejardinfeerique.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-whose-sake.html
-Nancy
July 9, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Nancy, thanks for your comment. I have read the article in your link, and remark with interest the mention of Charlotte Mason worship, by an author of a comment on the article.
This is something that puzzles me within the Christian homeschool community. I have several times come across people who are so passionate to follow the philosophy of this woman who;
a) had no children herself,
b) was rather young and untried to be making so great an impact on educational practices,
c) was a proponent of Darwinism.
To decide that the Bible cannot be taken literally, that it is errant, that creation was not, as the account in Genesis claims, a six day process, and that there was no ONE original man, makes a mockery of the work of Christ, and Christianity no salvation at all.
Romans 5:18,19
Therefore as by the offence of ONE judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by ONE man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
If we evolved, there is no sense to be gained from the glorious truth above. If there was no ONE man, from whom all inherit sin and death, then the scripture cannot promise, through the righteousness of ONE (Christ, the sinless sacrifice), to make all righteous.
While I am not saying that Charlotte Mason had nothing worth while to add to educational practices, it would be with extreme caution that I would listen to her ideas on child training.
From a Biblical perspective, it is the position of the “older women” to teach the younger women how to love their husbands and children, rather than the reverse, which would be the case, when elevating Mason to the status she enjoys today. It would also be, surely, a grave thing to place too much weight in the words of someone who was so easily swayed by modern thought (of her time). The theory of evolution was “the wisdom of men”, which the Bible calls foolishness. Mason relinquished her faith in God as Creator, and the Bible as inerrant, to fall into line with the “thinkers” of her day.
While the article you have linked to is very emotive, if I were to present to you today as a model of home education practices; someone who was young, trained by worldly educators, believed in evolution, and taught in institutional school systems…I am sure you would look at me askance. Yet somehow she has gained an almost cult following.
Again, it is not to say that I disagree with everything she has to say; I believe in great books for children, rather than mind candy; I think nature study is part of an ideal childhood, (although I fail to see it as a virtue, as some homeschoolers have elevated it to); and I think narration is a skill that will prove profitable for life. However, it remains a concern to me that CM followers appear just that: a follower of the person, rather than simply making an educational tool part of their overall approach to child training.
July 10, 2008 at 12:07 pm
All concerned Ladies,
The Good and Evil Nature of a Child
Charlotte Mason said,
As for moral lessons, they are worse than useless; children want a great deal of fine and various moral feeding, from which they draw the ‘lessons’ they require. It is a wonderful thing that every child, even the rudest, is endowed with Love and is able for all its manifestations, kindness, benevolence, generosity, gratitude, pity, sympathy, loyalty, humility, gladness; we older persons are amazed at the lavish display of any one of these to which the most ignorant child may treat us. But these aptitudes are so much coin of the realm with which a child is provided that he may be able to pay his way through life; and, alas, we are aware of certain vulgar commonplace tendencies in ourselves which make us walk delicately and trust, not to our own teaching, but to the best that we have in art and literature and above all to that storehouse of example and precept, the Bible, to enable us to touch these delicate spirits to fine issues. Vol.6 pg.59
My thoughts; it sounds like she is playing with the ideas of
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and
lean not to your own understanding,
acknowledge the Lord in all of your
ways and He will make your path straight.
Now what bothers me about what she says is that she elludes to the scripture allowing you to fill in the blanks in your mind reminding you /me with some words of the scripture BUT she is NOT saying what the scripture says at all. So what does she say to trust…..?
Well, Art and Literature of course, then on a side note the ”storehouse of example and precept,” the bible. She has just added more reading to her list for examples but that is so different from knowing the Lord and the work of the Holy Spirit.
I would pass her work for what it is which is confused ramblings. For in a multitude of dreams and many words there are also diverse vanities: but fear thou God. (Eccl. 5:7) But she insists upon bringing scripture into her teachings and then working it out through her understanding. This is troubling.
My Conviction
The Glory Of Christ
John Owen
Some talk much of imitating Christ and following his example. But no man will ever become ‘like him’ by trying to imitate his behaviour and life IF THEY KNOW NOTHING OF THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF BEHOLDING HIS GLORY. pg.21
Education Philosophy vol.6 Again CM speaking here;
It is a wonderful thing that every child, even the rudest, is endowed with Love and is able for all its manifestations, kindness, benevolence, generosity, gratitude, pity, sympathy, loyalty, humility, gladness; we older persons are amazed at the lavish display of any one of these to which the most ignorant child may treat us.
THE RACE IS ADVANCING …..either we are waking up to what is in them, or the children are indeed advancing in the van of the times, holding in light grasp the gains of the past, the possibilities of the future. It is the age of child-worship; and very lovely are the well brought up children of Christian and cultured parents. Vol. 2 pg. 75
If this is not a direct attack on Gods word it is at the least an insult and mocking of God’s word by implying children are little gods. I do not get the impression she was meaning affection for children but a way of seeing children able to save the human race, they would deliver the human race out of the threatening way of thinking in her day. This of course would be acheived through her vision, her lifes work developing her educational method. I have read it to be referred to as the Education Gospel, go to this link then scroll to number 40 entitled a Few Recollections.
I believe CM perpetuates a false hope.
Consider this,
Sinfulness of Sin
Ralph Venning
……as God is Holy, all Holy, only Holy, altogether Holy and always Holy so sin is sinful, all sinful, only sinful, altogether sinful, and always sinful. (Gen. 6:5) In my flesh, that is, in my sinful corrupt nature, there dwelleth no good thing (Romans 7:18). As in God there is no evil, so in sin there is no good. God is the chiefest of goods and sin is the chiefest of evils. As no good can be compared with God for goodness so no evil can be compared with sin for evil. pg.31
Men judge our inside by our outside, our heart by our work; but God judges our outside by our inside, our works by our heart.(eccl.12:14)pg. 230
…….know this, that of yourself you are not sufficient to think one good thought, nor to subdue one evil thought….pg 231
Or my favorite;
The Glory Of Christ
John Owen
Who can measure the distance between that which is infinite and that which is finite? It cannot be done. So, the infinite, essential greatness of the nature of God, with His infinite distance from the nature of all creatures, means that God has to humble himself to take notice of things infinitely below him.
God is so infinitely high and lofty, so inhabits eternity in his own eternal being, that it is an act of mere grace in him to take notice of things infinitely below him. Therefore he does it in a special way. He does it by taking special notice of those whom the world despises, ‘the humble and the contrite ones’. (Isaiah 57:15)
God is infinitely self-sufficient both in himself and all he does. Man is continually seeking for self-satisfaction. But no creature can find eternal blessedness or satisfaction in itself, for no creature is self-sufficient. pg 40
Posted in Charlotte Mason, christian education, homeschool.
My personal reflections;
http://charlottemasonsbeliefs.wordpress.com/
July 10, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Children are a public trust HOME EDUCATION she says….
Now, that work is of the most importance to society is the bringing up and instruction of the children-in the school, certainly, but far more in the home, because it is more than anything else the home influences brought to bear upon the child that determine the character and career of the future man or woman….. 1 her volume one Home Education
continuing on page 2 she says;
a parent is not free to say, “I may do as I will with mine own.” (Wow did it take a village then too?) The children are in truth, to be regarded less as personal property than as public trusts put into the hands of parents that they may make the very most of them for the good of society. And this responsibility is not equally divided between the parents: it is upon the mothers of the present that the future of the world depends, in even a greater degree than upon the fathers, because it is the mothers who have the sole direction of the children’s most impressable years…..
The above section is similar to Rousseau’s position in CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND except he advocated no fathers influence where CM states only mothers should be involved in the education of the child. Read this view that clarifies what is wrong with parents divided.
Woe to the, oh land when thy king is a child and thy princes eat in the morning. Eccl. 10:16
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. Isaiah 3:4-5
Top of page 3 she continues,
…but Mothers should have something more than hearsay acquiantance with the theory of education, and with those conditions of the childs nature upon which such theories rest.
So her recommendation….the word of God right? Ummmm no. Actually in this case that wouldn’t be enough but it seems this fella, Herbert Spencer, in her eyes had it figured out. After spending time reading CM you get the sense that scripture references really just validate her and she uses them for that purpose. And to further this conviction for me when her comment ”acquaintance with educational theories” is later followed with an endorsement of another educationalist well you decide;
vol.1 pg.3 CM says,
Some acquaintance with the first principles of the physiology and the elementary truths of psychology is indespensible for the right bringing up of children. Really….I thought it is the word of God.
Herbert Spencer she quotes in her book so she must believe this…here it is pg.4
….Here are the indisputable facts: that the developoment of children in mind and body follows certain laws; that unless these laws in some degree are conformed to by parents, death is inevitable; that unless they are in great degree conformed to, there must result serious physical and mental defects; and that only when they are completely conformed to, can a perfect maturity be reached.
Now after one very short paragraph at the beginning of this chapter she upholds the parent and in particular the Mother as wonderful then she proceeds to critique everything a mother is, even today. And to finish it off says that your child really is not yours and if you cannot follow these laws and become fluent in theories of educational theories specifically her preapprovred theories then it seems what this guy says will happen is what will happen to your children …”death, serious physical and mental defects or if full conformity on the part of the parent PERFECT MATURITY.”
Now, for christian mothers she bases her whole inductive reasoning from a false understanding or shall I say from a wrong understanding. No christian Mother believes her child is born as a blank slate. Her writings indicate that if you are neither good nor bad well aren’t you blank even if she says she does not believe this she teaches as if it were so and further judges parents as pressuming the same but condemning it when a parent does. But you cannot believe the blank slate theory and read your bible with understanding. The Holy Spirit will quickly reveal to you the deceitfulness of that thinking. For me this is very telling of her heart she was an educationalist FIRST and all her philosophy of God and the bible filtered through her understanding not scripture. She used scripture to validate her reason, like oh look God agrees with me. It really looks that way to me.
Sincerely,
charlottemasonsbeliefs.wordpress.com
July 10, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Homeforjoy, I appreciate the sentiments of your post “home education and children: a public trust”. I believe this to be quite telling with regard to CM’s underlying beliefs about the validity of the Bible.
This woman seems truly “wise in her own eyes”, and “prudent in her own sight”, ignoring the biblical directive for FATHERS to teach the children, (not the state, for the good of society) and choosing the wisdom of man over the light of the Word.
It comes,I suppose, down to your basic philosophy about life, and why we are here. I believe we are created in His image, and live for His glory. CM believed we evolved, and exist for the betterment of society. It’s hard to get further from a Christian world view, isn’t it?
July 10, 2008 at 1:18 pm
My comparison of Charlotte Mason and Spurgeon from my own experience of round table discussion of CM teaching with other Moms who were trying to apply her methods.
http://charlottemasonsbeliefs.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/what-do-charlotte-mason-and-spurgeon-have-in-common/
July 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Thanks for the link, homeforjoy. It puts it in a sobering light when you contrast CM and Spurgeon, knowing they lived at the same time. I suppose it matters only if you believe that a Creationist world view is essential to your faith. It is sadly ironic in one who placed such emphasis on the study of nature, to deny the hand of the Master Creator, and in one who placed such emphasis on living books, to deny the inerrancy of the single greatest Living Book ever written.
October 3, 2008 at 6:16 am
We are having a discussion this week on education on our site and I’d like to invite you to join. Hope to see you there!
October 13, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Beyond Blue, I have a question for you!
(How poetic 8O!)
What is your take on human rights and the church?
Looking forward to reading your thoughts and those of your readers!
Andrea
October 13, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Why is the
not working?
October 13, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Andrea, I will be pleased to give it some serious thought. Just now, all my thoughts are of sleepy time, but I’ll be back
November 8, 2008 at 6:46 am
The Glory of Christ! This book is sooo good, it’s on my book shelf.
Thanks for your comments on my blog and after checking yours out, we serve the same King! PTL!
Great to meet another sister in Christ
Bruce
November 8, 2008 at 8:13 am
Bruce,
I really enjoyed viewing your photos, and it’s a greater joy again to find you love and serve God with me
Thanks for coming by.
November 19, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Do you believe in absolute forgiveness no matter what
November 19, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Anonymous, you’ve presented a very open question. To answer with surety, I would need to qualify what you mean by “forgiveness no matter what”.
I do believe that if you have been the very vilest of sinners, or have committed atrocious crimes against humanity, or even if you have simply lived a ‘good life’ but have not yet submitted your will to God and acknowledged him as creator and Lord, that if you repent of your sin (hate it and want to be free from it) and believe that Jesus took God’s wrath and judgment in your place, then He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. Any sin, no matter how bad.
I’m not sure if that answers your question, as you could be talking about sin committed as a Christian, or you could be asking about forgiveness from family and friends, rather than from God. If I haven’t answered, and you can be more specific about your question, I will do my best to answer.
November 23, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I just stumbled upon your blog – Cherry Ripe Mud Cake caught my eye!!
I’ll be back to read more when I have time.
Fiona
November 24, 2008 at 12:02 am
I’ll look forward to your visit Fiona. Cherry Ripe Mud Cake is certainly a treat I heartily endorse, and can now say with authority that the uncooked cake mix is every bit as delectable as the final product!
November 26, 2008 at 10:55 am
LOL bb! I too am a fan of crm cake, but why bother putting those cherry ripe bars & chocolate in a mix! Scoff ‘em I say!
November 26, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Joel, lovely to see you here.
I (ahem!) don’t consider it to be an either/or situation…
My thoughtful husband purchased the ingredients, and allowed for considerable extra-bakery snacking activity.
December 2, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I came across this site and I came across another site today too.And somehow they are strangely relevant to each other ….(in view of your opening question at the top of this page .So here it is
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/ashes.htm
Love to read your thoughts .
December 2, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Thanks for sharing the link Ang, and for inviting comment on the article.
I have read before that Calvin had ordered the execution of a heretic. Not a pretty thing. But a few things about the article occurred to me while reading, in no particular order;
Moses was a murderer, and clearly, his problem with anger was something he didn’t get over in a hurry. He was disallowed entry to the Promise land because he struck the rock with his staff (in anger) in stead of speaking to it as God commanded. Yet he was chosen to record the history of God’s people, and his words are now scripture!
Peter, another of the Bible ‘greats’ denied Christ – three times, publicly (not to mention cut off some fellows ear with a sword). This is the kind of material God chose to build His church with.
Do I think Calvin did right? I’d certainly hope for more mercy under the same circumstances. But does that invalidate his teaching? Where he’s right, I don’t think so. (that was a nice, general answer, eh?
)
The author of the article attempts to refute his teachings with a few scriptures here and there. And if it was the first article I had read addressing the issue, chances are I would be nodding my head and murmuring my agreement. But I have been searching the issue for a long time now, and am past being a disciple of the last person I read
There is a powerful amount of scripture that can be used on both sides of the divide. Take two learned men and listen to a discussion, and your head will spin. What the article presented in argument to Calvin’s teachings was very simplistic, and really didn’t scratch the surface of the issue.
Personally, I don’t allow it to be an issue that causes contention among those of my acquaintance who think differently to me (I am still leaning more heavily toward Calvinism and a reformed system of belief, although have not embraced all of the teachings).
However, one thing that does, over and over and over make me think very hard about what I have read of predestination and election, is that people who truly believe that doctrine continue to preach the unadulterated gospel. Almost without exception, those who believe that man can choose God of his own free will, have turned to pragmatism and an easy, soft, less offensive gospel.
So in 10 years, in 20 years, or, should the Lord tarry, in 100 years, those of the inclination toward Calvinism will still be preaching the gospel of “repent and believe”. I can’t even imagine what the emergents and seeker friendly churches will be selling in 20 years time, but I’d almost bet my boots it won’t be the gospel as Paul preached – Christ and Him crucified. (the “repent and believe” version, not the new, “He died to be your buddy” version.)
I think some people make an idol of Calvin, some make an idol of his doctrines. This is obviously not new, as Paul admonished believers for saying, “I am of Paul, I am of Christ” etc. There can be a lot of pride attached to the ‘labeling’ we love so much.
My point in this great big ramble? We should evaluate each and every point in light of several passages of scripture. We should NOT accept something simply because Calvin taught it, but likewise, we should not discard something simply because Calvin taught it.
December 4, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Lost wisdom? One never gets to loose wisdom you loose yourself in a world when you look in the wrong directions…
Faith is more then what you think it is, Debating on religion leads to pleasing the Devil because somehow one can get hurt and this creates anger and hate that same hate and anger is a flame from Satan…
Take the Scripture as it is and “not” how another wants to see it…
December 4, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Dear Alraarooq1,
Should your interest extend that far, may I invite you to read a post I have written titled, “What’s in a Name”? It explains my desire to overcome a feminist education, to learn to love and obey my husband, and to teach younger women to do the same.
The “lost wisdom” my title refers to is the art of mothering, of home making, of joyful submission to and reverencing of the head of the home, and ultimately, obedience to God.
On the issue of debating scripture, I agree that it can be a temptation at times to become embroiled in fruitless arguments. This generally has it’s roots in pride, and yes, is certainly a tool for the devil.
However, I believe that a close examination of scripture, and that in the company of friends, can only strengthen me in my desire to do the will of God.
I also believe in standing firm and declaring the truth when the wolves are clearly teaching heresy to the flock.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3
Alfaarooq1, thank you for taking the time to share you thoughts here.
December 6, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Just a “heads up” on alfaarooq1, BB; he’s more than a tad unfriendly when confronted with the Eternal Gospel of Grace.
In fact he recently condemned me to his false religion’s non-existent place of torment for blaspheming his non-existent false god because I proclaimed the deity of Jesus Christ, the infinite I AM who was, and is, and is to come.
But other than that he seems to be quite a congenial sort of fellow.
In Christ,
CD
December 6, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hmmm, thanks CD. I wondered what had brought Mr alfaarooq1 calling. Perhaps my introduction makes me sound like I am unsure of my faith and a candidate for Islam?
It’s not the case. In fact, I’m betting my eternal soul on it
I have in recent years been led to question much that I’ve been taught, but the deity of Christ was never in doubt.
I did notice a post or two (!) by Mr Alfaarooq1 over at DefCon on my last visit, and you all seemed to take it in your stride.
Congenial was not quite the word that came to mind…
Thanks for coming by,
BB
December 28, 2008 at 4:23 am
You sound great! God is surely working through you.
Keep the thoughts coming.
http://www.mlordi.wordpress.com
January 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hello Marianne
Thanks for your comment. I am recently arrived home from a sojourn in the country (internet free – it took me days to overcome the shakes, lol!) and after catching up with business, I’ll be over to visit your site.
January 26, 2009 at 6:13 am
I placed you to my favourite wordpress sites, do you mind?
See you, Dan.
January 26, 2009 at 9:04 am
Thanks for visiting, Dan. : )
March 20, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Hi wonderful christian woman,
You don’t know the delight you brought to my heart tonight here in australia when I read your encouraging comment about my new blog.It’s so frustrating when you see blogs like yours so filled with info, friends,etc & I look at my puny one & think,’how do I reach people out there?” but you gave me hope (sorry about the spelling errors in the email I sent your daughter)and now I shall prod on & write what the kind Lord teaches me everyday,hoping it will help others in their daily walk,struggles and trials & victories!! what do you think?
I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship dear sister,& if we don’t meet here on this blessed earth then we shall surely meet in the glorious Heaven!
Til then keep smiling
smiley77
March 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Dear Smiley77,
I think you will do fine when you find your feet with the computer.
There are still many areas where I need help to work out how to do something new, but you learn with practice, and there is always the forum if you need to ask questions. (You can ask me and I will help if I can, of course, but it may be like the blind leading the blind
)
As you visit other sites and leave comments, you will find people with similar interests to yours, and you will become a part of the blogging community. It takes a little time, just like relationships you would make anywhere else. And just like those relationships you make other places, they can be very rewarding.
With your desire to be an encouragement to others, I think it will be no time at all before the current frustration you are experiencing is a thing of the past, and you are enjoying the benefits of the blog world!
most kindly,
Beyond Bluestockings
March 22, 2009 at 8:32 pm
[...] mother of 4 who lives in Brisbane. And just looking through the comments she leaves on her about page, it’s amazing to see the wonderful work that God does in people, and how easy it is to [...]
April 13, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I have spent quite a while looking over your blog this afternoon. You have a lot of interesting posts and some interesting readers as well.
I am a “calvinistic” (prefer bible believing) christian. I would love to hear more about your church situation. Also wondering who your “teacher” is on the baptism questions? Reformed circles in Australia can be fairly small let alone in Queensland! This may be stuff not really for your blog but if you’d like to email that would be good.
It is true we sometimes can loose sight of the main objective, to glorify God, and get caught up with nit picking both in the church and now on the net. I’ve posted a few times on this sort of thing. Here are some thoughts I had about high mindedness.
http://mummasplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-heart-is-not-haughty.html
Blessings to you and your family.
I look forward to reading here.
Ruby
April 13, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Ruby I am honoured that you would spend your afternoon here browsing. After reading your post and wandering about your site, it would seem we have quite a few ideas in common.
I am happy to email you with details of our church situation – though I warn you it is a funny one!
Thanks for your visit : )
April 15, 2009 at 6:36 am
Hello, B.B.!
Thought after having a “comment conversation” I’d check out your site… and wow! I’m adding you to my “favorites” list!
I realize I have a lot to learn concerning homeschooling, and I’m glad I found someone who shares the same faith as I do to ask questions of.
Isn’t the “blogosphere” a great thing???
April 15, 2009 at 11:11 am
Hi Whitney,
I’m glad you’ve found the site helpful, and I’ll do my best to share anything I have learned with you, or point you in the direction of someone who can answer if your questions are beyond my experience.
The blogosphere is such a great resource! I have learned heaps, and it’s certainly helped me to find people who are interested in the same things. There are also many free resources made available by generous hearted souls who are willing to share their labours with others, and some great review sites to help you know which of the thousands of available programs are worth spending your money on.
Thanks for your visit
July 1, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Hi BB. Since you’ve been so kind as to drop by my blog on more than one occasion now and been very generous both with your comments and your advice (re commenting) I wanted to place my thanks to you here. Best wishes.
July 1, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hello dear Moth Lady,
You’re welcome! Of course, I enjoy your blog not merely for the occasional dry wit, but because I don’t feel nerdy about my propensity for photographing insects when I am visiting you.
Thanks for taking the time to comment here
September 2, 2009 at 7:58 am
Just out of curiosity – what does “Beyond Bluestockings” stand for? Maybe I could Google the answer, but I’d rather hear it from you!
September 2, 2009 at 9:49 am
Cole, that’s easy
http://beyondbluestockings.wordpress.com/whats-in-a-name/
Thanks for your visit!
September 4, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Dear Beyond Blue Stockings,
I love your passion and conviction. I love your ability to think. I love the chicks.
I love the comment, “I’ve gone beyond being a disciple of the last person I read.”
I can’t see a post on the Emerging Church -have you done one yet?
I’ll be back for another look soon.
Smiles to you
September 6, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Enduring Prize, thanks for your kind words. I haven’t tackled the emergent church in a specific post, though you may find sufficient in my occasional outbreaks on other posts to be assured I am not a fan
Thanks for coming to visit, and feel free to join any of the conversations if something takes your fancy.