Saturday, May 30, 2009

Learning About Missionaries

Here is a slide show I put together from a class that I co-taught for our homeschool co-op this spring. I was blessed and encouraged learning from the lives of famous missionaries. Feel free to share this. A mini-study on missionaries using the very short and interesting series we used would make a great summer project for your family.









Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Celebrating Gardening

With the help of a good friend from our church, the kids and I have embarked on a gardening adventure. Debbie has graciously provided us not only with weekly "gardening lessons" at her home in her greenhouse, but she has also given us seedlings, pots and other goodies to help our garden grow.

We have learned about composting, collecting rain water and recycling all kinds of items to help us in our gardening ventures. Chase has become an expert at transplanting our little seedlings and Alyssa is our faithful watering girl.

My husband got in on the act and provided us with a lovely bed after painstakingly running the Rototiller, adding peat and sifting the stones out of our little plot.

We are planting corn, tomatoes, onions, brussel sprouts, watermelon, and potatoes.

We are also starting some herbs: chives, garlic chives, oregano and cilantro.

I am so excited for what the Lord is doing in our lives and in our little garden! I thank the Lord for all of his many blessings on our family.







Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Review: Vision Forum Christian Film Festival

Although I was not able to attend the San Antonio Christian Film Festival sponsored by Vision Forum Ministries, I was blessed by listening to the CD Set of the conference messages and  select performances, titled "History Has Been Made: Moments and Messages From The San Antonio Christian Film Festival".

The messages concerning Christian entertainment and media were especially eye-opening for me.  We consider ourselves to be fairly cautious in the media to which we expose our children but I learned that we could be doing even better.  The message from Kevin Swanson (of Generations Radio) was very informative in that regard.

Voddie Bauchan's talk about the "Journey In Confusion" of the roles of manhood in Hollywood was another excellent message portraying some of the problems with mainstream entertainment in America today.

I never thought that I had a particular interest in filmmaking but R.C. Sproul Jr.'s talk on Christian filmmaking was extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking.  With a challenging yet hopeful message, Sproul highlighted the growing importance of Christian filmmaking today.

Messages about entrepreneurial principles for independent thinkers and launching a radio broadcast via the Internet were of special interest to my husband and I.  We were not only inspired to contribute our creative efforts for the glory of God but to follow practical hints on debt-free financing as well.

One of the highlights of the set is the discussions of Fireproof.
 Kirk Cameron as well as a panel of others involved in the making of "Fireproof" was so powerful, moving and inspirational.  That message alone made the CD set well worth acquiring!

Sometimes, I find discussions about the decline of culture in America to be nothing but depressing.  I was pleased to find that this CD set featured so many positive, uplifting and action-oriented messages that I had no time to get depressed.

Overall, this CD set is both educational and entertaining that I recommend it for anyone concerned about the effect of mainstream media on our culture and looking for Christian alternatives.