Overpopulation or Population Implosion?

Here is another excellent Issues, Etc. program. The topic? America's Population Implosion. Yes, you read that correctly, "Implosion." I find it curious that with many hot button topics, we hear the ramifications and reasoning behind one side of the issue, but we don't often hear the full story from people on the other side of the issue. This is one of those issues. Ever since I was a child, I remember hearing about "overpopulation." It frightened me somewhat. Here is the other side. If you are a person who does not want to have children, you can still listen without fear of being shamed. The guest, Jonathan Last, states clearly that he is not trying to talk people into having kids if they don't want to. He is, however, offering some intelligent observations about the consequences of our fertility rate, which is below replacement rate.

Whose Resolution?

Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness, Christ has done away with sadness! Hence, all sorrow and repining, For the Sun of Grace is shining! Refrain, O Rejoice, Ye Christians, Loudly, LSB 897 Happy New Year! Instead of focusing on myself, this hymn points me to the one I will spend all eternity with. That is something to rejoice about in the new year. Today is also Epiphany, when we remember that Christ was revealed as Savior for ALL races and nations of people when the Magi came from afar to visit him, led by the star. Indeed, the "Sun of Grace" shines for all people, shown by His sinless life, His innocent suffering and death on the cross and by His resurrection. He resolved to die for you. This new year, "Let every heart prepare Him room," as the well-known song, Joy to the World, proclaims. "The Lord has come," and will come again. Hallelujah!

Glancing Back at God's Provision

"Do you have a place to live?" asked our admissions counselor, soon after we sold our home. "Well...we have a place in mind that we could buy, but it's not ideal," was our reply. He told us that there was a four bedroom home available in the country, provided that Stan would agree to do his two years of fieldwork at the church next door. They sent us photos of the house, and we said yes. One month later we were in Indiana, driving to our new home. "If you don't like it you don't have to take it," said the pastor. I thought, "The 26 foot moving truck is showing up today. Where else would we go?" We walked in to the house, and.....we loved it. So much so that we are still living there after Stan finished his vicarage there in August, and is now completing his 4th year at seminary. It has been a tremendous blessing to us to live in the same home for our entire time at the seminary. It has relieved financial stress, and allowed us to put down roots. This is one way God has given us our daily bread.

Grandpa was Special

I have been thinking about my grandpa lately. He died about 14 years ago. I adored him, which is evident by the look on my face in this photo, which was taken in his shop. He made me the wooden barn (complete with a Snoopy weathervane, which is cut off in the photo), as well as the big wooden Snoopy. I did a lot of fun things with him on the farm, which included riding in the tractor with him when he worked the fields. It was an enclosed cab, and he made me a bed in the back of the tractor so I could take a nap when I got sleepy. When I was awake, I would sit on his knee while he drove the tractor, and he would tell me stories. Grandpa was special.

Where it's At

It's hard to believe we ready to embark on our 13th year of homeschooling. This will be the last year for my oldest! In fact, she only has one homeschool class to complete; besides that she will be taking classes for dual credit. We have been talking about what practical life skills she wants to acquire over the next year. It feels strange to be thinking how little time I have left with her at home before she moves away for college (we actually might be the ones moving away and she might be staying in the area). Today in church the epistle reading was Ephesians 5:6-21, part of which says, "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." It goes on to explain that God's will is that we are filled with His Spirit, through the hearing of His Word. What does this have to do with homeschool and growing up? Everything. Our time with our children is short, our time on this earth is relatively short (and no one even knows how long). Receiving the Word of the Lord, and his forgiveness therein, is "where it's at." That's where I need to be, along with my family. Out of that grows all of the life skills where my children learn to care for themselves and serve their neighbor.

Not Skipped

I haven't been in the habit of quoting movies here on our blog, but last night we watched the 1968 version of Yours, Mine and Ours. It is based on a true story about a widow with 8 children who marries a widower with 10. Then, she gets pregnant with child #19. When it is time for the baby to be born, as they are on the way out the door to the hospital, one of their teenage daughters is asking the dad for some advice about her boyfriend. Here is his response: Frank Beardsley: It's giving life that counts. Until you're ready for it, all the rest is just a big fraud. All the crazy haircuts in the world won't keep it turning. Life isn't a love in, it's the dishes and the orthodontist and the shoe repairman and... ground round instead of roast beef. And I'll tell you something else: it isn't going to a bed with a man that proves you're in love with him; it's getting up in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful everyday world with him that counts. [Leaving the house, they say good-bye to the little kids] Frank Beardsley: I suppose having 19 kids is carrying it a bit too far, but if we had it to do over who would we skip... you?

Who am I?

This weekend I watched Iron Man 2 with John. I have to say that Iron Man is not my favorite superhero. Although the movie had an interesting plot, Iron Man himself is too cocky for my taste. His highest good is his own pleasure, not the good of others. I got to thinking about it, and decided that he is the perfect superhero for our time. Thinking highly of ourselves is currently promoted as a virtue, with the happiness of self as the ultimate goal. Yet the opposite of a narcissism is not "beating yourself up." That is still focusing on the self. Contrast this with humility, which is an honest self-assessment (which frees the person from self-obsession). So, who am I? I am a poor, miserable sinner, as well as a saint-forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and dearly loved by God. That is a self-assessment I can live with.

I Just Don't Understand

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. Psalm 71:5-6

What beautiful verses from God's Word. When I read them, I immediately thought of the notion that some people have that "we can't know when an embryo or fetus is really a human being, so we can not call abortion the taking of a human life." I can not wrap my mind around that notion. If a person believes that the Bible is really God's Word, and not just pious platitudes, how can he believe that abortion does not take a human life? If the author of this psalm (David), could say by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that before he was born he leaned on God, how could he not have been fully human before birth? Some might respond, "Well, that was later in the pregnancy, when he looked like a baby so we know he was human then." My response would be, "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?" (Romans 9:20). Shouldn't you be more careful of tampering with human life if you don't know when it begins? I believe that at the moment of conception, God has created a human life and we are not to tamper with it. But for those who don't have that aspect settled, I can not understand why they believe they get to decide at what point this new creation counts as human. I say this respectfully, not just "trying to be right" or trying to bring on "fire and brimstone." I speak as one in anguish that 1/3 of my generation has been snuffed out by abortion. The supposed "freedom" of abortion has done nothing but increase the number of abortions. That makes it way easier for a man to "have his cake and eat it to"-meaning, he gets to have sexual relations with a woman without having to take responsibility for the outcome. Overall, people have rejected the procreative aspect of marriage, and have separated sex from its natural outcome-children. What do we have now that we didn't have prior to the 1973 Roe Vs. Wade decision? More broken families, more children born to single mothers, and less children born overall (children who could be baptized into Christ, who could be filling churches, schools, and playgrounds, and could be contributing members of society-doing things such as paying into Social Security). I don't understand why no one talks about the negative affects that abortion has had on our society. I just don't understand.

What's Happening with the Palmers

Since I didn't send out a Christmas letter, I thought I would give a short update here. We stayed here for Christmas; since Stan is a vicar this year he is directly a pastor-in-training, and pastors do not get holidays off! We had a nice Christmas here, holding our annual waffle party with our dear friends who have become like family to us. We enjoyed the various services offered at church throughout the Advent and Christmas season. We had our own family Christmas here in the late afternoon after Stan was finished with his vicar duties of the day (that was a long time to wait to open presents, but the kids are old enough to be up to the challenge). Stan continues to enjoy his work very much, which we are thankful for. Homeschool is coming along nicely, although the end is in sight for my oldest student/daughter. What's up with the kids: Elise: continues her organist position at an area LCMS church, and likes it a lot. She will be taking the ACT and SAT soon, and will be finishing her homeschool work this year. Then it will be time to take classes at a local college. It's hard to believe. John: is playing basketball with our homeschool group, and continues to enjoy his piano. He accompanied the children who sang in the Christmas program. He also won our homeschool group's spelling bee, and will advance to the local level in February. Lindsay: is enjoying her piano, books, science, and any outside time she can get. We haven't had much snow, and she can't wait to go sledding! Bethany: started piano in the fall, and tries to keep up with her siblings. She likes school a lot, as well as playing chess with her brother (or on Dad's laptop). Stan's vicarage will last until August. As much as we miss our family and friends back home, this is home for us now (or perhaps I should say, for now). I am thankful to feel at home here, and glad that my family is settled. God will lead us to the next place. We will keep you updated on the adventures of the Palmer family!

Not Left Behind

I am glad that I do not have to worry that I am not holy enough and therefore might be "left behind" when Jesus returns. Jesus reigns now in the church and the one time when He returns He will judge the living and the dead, make all things new, take me to Himself. He is my righteousness, not any moral acts I do. Even the believing is a gift, nothing that I contribute.

And because of him [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1Corinthians 1:30-31

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

The "Left Behind" theology, aka "Dispensational Pre-millenialism", is a relatively new way of looking at end times. It began in the 1800's, and it robs Jesus Christ of His central place as the Redeemer of fallen man, and instead shifts the emphasis to man being ready enough to be raptured away before the tribulation, as well as looking to current events and the re-establishment of the temple in Jerusalem as a means to predict Christ's coming. Lutherans historically have held to the "a-millennial" position, that Christ is now reigning in His church, and will come back once for judgement, then make all things new, as I mentioned above.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

True Comfort

Where do Christians find true comfort when struggling with a decision or are disappointed or fearful about their performance? A certain phrase comes to mind that has been offered as a source of comfort: "God knows your heart." This could be taken to mean that God still loves you because you are trying your best, or that He knows you love Him and want to please Him. But is that why God loves us and accepts what we do? What does God think about our hearts?

The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it.
I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, Jeremiah 17:9-10a

The fact that God knows my sinful heart strikes terror into it, so there is no comfort found by pointing myself inside. The true comfort is found in the objective, external Word of God: Jesus Christ given for the forgiveness of my sins!

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2Thessalonians 2:17.

The World According to John

Today John commented to me,
"It's a good thing this isn't the 1800's. They would never put up with all the squealing that goes on at our house. They were pretty strict."
We have had many 1800's discussions lately, since we are enjoying The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a read aloud. Although I think that in some areas we all are guilty of "chronological snobbery"-thinking that since the way we do something is newer, it must be superior, I am glad that I do not have to train my children to be "seen and not heard" for them to be socially acceptable. However, I must admit there are times, especially at the dinner table, when that rule sounds pretty good to me.....:)