For the Glory of God

I am continually fascinated with the story of our nation and the careful work and bloody battles that went into its making.  The dedication and sacrifices that our founding fathers made are really amazing.  

This Independence Day, let's not forget America.  

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But more importantly, let's not forget why America began.


"Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia [...]" - From the Mayflower Compact


"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

- Patrick Henry

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Let's not forget why America is.




"The hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations." - George Washington to Thomas Nelson Jr.


"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." - Samuel Adams

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Do me a favor today, will you? Spend a few minutes praying for America and her future.


"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." - George Washington 


"The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America….Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal." - Ronald Reagan

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Happy Independence Day.

The Best Prize

Here I sit, with dirt under my fingernails.  I smell of dirt and sweat, and my legs are stiff from a long horseback ride yesterday and multiple treks to the woods today. 

I wouldn't trade that feeling for the world.

(However, I also wouldn't trade the feeling of a nice cold shower in summer.)  

I spent today doing what I love - farming.  That is, if farming means chasing chickens and lugging sheets of rotting plywood around and smelling the lilacs by our border.  

snowshoe - my garage sale chicken, currently molting.

i cleared that path through the wreckage of an ex-fort today.  i would have done more but there were fumes of rotten wood and...maybe....a dead skunk....

It was raining earlier, but now there's a warm, almost tropical breeze blowing in from who knows where.  We got the garden planted, got the chickens into the orchard, my brother mowed the lawn, and I cleared out the stuff you see in the picture above, as well as hand mowing a little.

I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't learned how to love work.    Remember, it will be hard before it will be easy.  You have to just jump right in and get started.  (Even if you're jumping in to a tangle of raspberries up to your waist.)

  

So go on - I dare you.  Go work 'til your back aches, get your hands dirty, tie up your hair and roll up your sleeves.  Work for God.

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters [...]

I make that a double-dog dare.

- Ellyn

You Know You Belong in Narnia When...

not my photo

...Whenever you're nervous, you reach for your imaginary scabbard.  Or maybe you really have a sword and scabbard.

...You believe your animals really can talk; they just don't ever feel like it.

...You take fencing lessons - just in case you get attacked by a wolf or a hag.

...After seeing The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, you go into the back of your closet and feel around.  Not just once, either.

...After seeing Prince Caspian, you would have offered a great deal to have it re-done more like the book.

...After seeing Voyage of the Dawn Treader, you buy a painting of a ship and hang it in your room.  You stare at it every so often.

...You listen to the Narnia soundtrack before bed so you might have dreams about adventures there.

...You whisper to the trees when you walk in the woods, hoping they'll whisper back.

...You know C.S. Lewis's full name, as well as the name he preferred.

...You own all the Narnia Radio Theatres, the books, and the movies.

...Your dream outfit is a long and flowing gown or armor and chain mail.

...You take archery lessons and pose with your bow in front of a window where you can see your reflection.

...You're always imagining auditioning for a part in one of the future movies.

...You have a weakness for mice wearing sword-belts.

...You're writing a story set in the medieval time period.

...You can rattle off the names of the Seven Narnian Lords in order according to when Caspian found them.  (I can't do this - yet.)


...You think Aslan is awesome.




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I made these up myself, but if you have any to add, please do! :)

Image of America

During History today, I came across this little song that (supposedly) Andrew Carnegie's parents sang to him when he was a boy.  Anyway, I really liked it.  I wish some politicians would read it over and reconsider some of their programs. :P

It makes me sad that America is not like this anymore.


To the West, to the West, to 
the land of the free,
Where the mighty Missouri
rolls down to the sea;
Where a man is a man if he's 
willing to toil,
And the humblest may gather
the fruits of the soil;
Where children are blessings,
and he who hath most
Has aid for his fortune and 
riches to boast,
Where the young may exult
and the aged may rest,
Away, far away, to the land
of the West.


- From History of US, volume 8 - pg. 13

Eras and Things

In school, I'm reading about the knight/chivalry period, and as I read I was thinking about how different our eras are.  We, in the 21st century, are a lot more advanced with computers, cell phones, overhead showers...but is all that good? It can be.  But it doesn't make everything.

In a way, I wish we could do away with all the sue-ing and court business and just put the guy who sold faulty DVD players in the stocks for a few days, like they did in the old days.  Except without the DVDs.  :)

And what happened to chivalry and hard work, instead of sitting in front of a TV playing video games?

Don't get me wrong, I love the time I live, where girls can wear jeans and run around and have a say in things, and where we can have our own Bibles and proper schooling, and blogs, and et cetera.

But I think we should look back and learn from history in more than the archaeological sense.  In some ways, our society has declined from what it has been.

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Ellyn