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Bloody Hands and Dirty Fingernails

5/26/2015

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Well, I must say, I sure caught up with myself...after a fashion. I'm talking about the damage I do to myself on a weekly basis just simply from living life on a farm.

It all started with the chicken I butchered before breakfast. (By now you are probably aware that I commit odd actions prior to my morning feed...and I really do prefer butchering not on a full stomach.) 

This particular chicken had a nice, sharp little spur....and, you guessed it, I cut myself on it while skinning her (I'm just skinning these old birds--seven of them left--rather than going through all the trouble to heat water, scald, pluck...). I didn't just cut myself any ol' place, but on my left palm. I tried to get it to bleed a little more than it wanted to, but regardless of that, I observed with interest the different layers of the dermis. By now, I think I'm warding off infection, but you'll probably understand why once I tell you what else I did.

Racing the rain (which it did rain, praise the Lord!), I was scrambling to clear out the grass from around the wee little rhubarb plants and even some of the larger small ones. I started before lunch, hands and knees--and discovered that I weed about five plants every 20 minutes. (Twenty minute intervals between my meds develop interesting trains of thought.)

When I came in to take my last one (for the morning session), I went straight into lunch preparation mode; Mama and Savannah being gone to a doctors appointment and Katherine nose-first in school books. Katherine and I consumed the last of that French turned Italian rabbit I made the other day...and boy was it good! (Sorry if I'm bragging...I get so excited when stuff I make turns out really good.) I cooked up some onions (with a lot of coconut oil) and then slipped the meat in, put a healthy dose of salt and garlic powder on top, and then the finale--cream. There were no complaints from either of us about emptying the skillet. :D (Oh yes, we also had green beans [a Racheal staple] and cauliflower.) 

After lunch and dishes and coffee, I went back out, even more in race mode. The sky was getting cloudier and darker...and the wind had picked up. I actually got wet before I came in, having completed the most important plants--then it really rained a bit later. :)

Anyway, sometime before it started sprinkling, I suddenly felt pain along the upper inside of my right pinky finger. I looked. "I guess I must have gotten a blister and it popped."

I went back to work, a little more gingerly, but still as fast as I could manage without damaging the plants. I lost the skin completely off it--so I had two hands that were hurting more or less. Usually, under calmer circumstances, I probably would have started imagining I was some sort of heroic person from a different generation. Instead, I just stuck to my stubborn streak and ignored it for the most part.

Ah, but the story doesn't end there! Join me at my second to last plant.

I suddenly realized that I had red stuff on my left pinky. Interesting. Nice shade. Wonder how long it's been bleeding. Doesn't hurt. Hurry up Racheal, it's raining a little harder. You only have one more plant to do then you should go in. Your mother probably would have told you to come in when it started to rain to begin with. HA! Done! Thank-you, Lord, for the rain.

All this above is also how I got the dirty fingernails. ;) 

Katherine is helping with supper because there are certain processes I'm steering away from with a sore spot on one hand and a band-aid on the other. See y'all some other time...it sure felt good to work today without keeling over when I was done. :)

      Racheal

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Best Day of the Week

5/23/2015

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I don't mean that in a "thank-goodness-it's-Friday" way (not that it is Friday anyway), but meaning that it's been the day this week that I have felt the best (Tuesday may have been a better day, I can't remember). I have had a rough week this week, health-wise. I have been herxing all week. Not so very pleasant and hardly very productive or helpful to my family. I am still dealing a little with Mr. Icepick, but not as much as I was the past couple of days. (It's worst when I bend over at the waist...not sure why, but that seems to be a pattern.)

However, when I got up today, I tested the back of my neck and decided that I could handle the market no problem. Which I did, if you don't count the little bit of sneezing and nose-blowing I did as I rediscovered that this "yankee grass" does indeed bother my southern sinuses. ;P (To be perfectly honest, and fair, I used to get a little sneezy while mowing the grass down on the ranch.)

For Memorial Day weekend we did fairly well (Holidays/long weekends are always slow--even though you'd think it might be otherwise). Personally, I made 15 bucks from a doll dress. Always a happy feeling. :D
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We got two new 12'x 12' tents. Savannah was right--it is like moving into a bigger house! I like it!

I know you hear about the Farmer's Markets every year, but I don't know if I've ever done much by way of pictures...so here's a few of our stuff and our (three currently) fellow vendors at the local one.

Some of Jo's stuff. I figured she wouldn't appreciate the photos of her that Mama took, so I won't post them. 
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We came home with one of these. :) I helped pay for it so it's partly my tree. ;)
My "next door" neighbors:
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Chuck is as ornery as they come. :D His pretty missus puts up with it so graciously...
And of course, y'all are just dying to see all the merchandise on my tables. ;)
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Honey...NOT out of my hive--yet.
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J-j-jam!! (The stutter is due to the amount of sugar jam contains.)
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Some of the aprons. The rest were on the table.
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Miscellany...
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Doll dresses...in fact, I made both of those right there...
Like I was saying though...today has been my best day all week. After working the market this morning and eating lunch, I felt up to working out of doors. I headed for the rhubarb patch and finished weeding around the plants in the large patch behind the barn. (Next step there is running the string trimmer.) It took roughly two hours and by the end of those two hours, I and my nose were ready to find a place without 18" grass waving under said organ of smell. I wandered over to where Mama and Savannah were planting okra (!!) and said something--I don't remember what, but it was fairly unintelligible. Mama sent me in to go clean up and have a cup of mint tea to combat the stuffies...which I did after peering at my bees and seeing they were out of what and therefore filling up their water pan.

By the way, this is what I get for weeding (on my knees) in a knee-length skirt:
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Obviously, any callouses I ever had on my knees are gone just like the winter...
Somebody remind me not to do this again anytime soon. ;) At least not until they stop being sore..

Incidentally, speaking of soreness, I would so thrilled if I could find a lipstick the exact shade that my wind and sun-chapped lips are right now. It's red without looking dorky like red-lipstick (on me)...

And now, with that very female train of thought...I'll bid ye adieu and go stare into the refrigerator and see if I can guess what someone else might have had planned for supper. (I think we will be having rabbit for the third meal in a row. Yesterday I fixed all the bunnies that Daddy had removed from circulation. So, we've been eating "Racheal's spin on a French recipe"...I think, humbly {you may laugh me to scorn}, that it's the best rabbit I've ever had.)

     Racheal

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Mr. Icepick 

5/21/2015

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No, not this Icepick:
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Mr. Icepick is an euphemism for the pain I get in my stomach when my Lyme flares up. 
I have been pretty useless the last two days. I spent yesterday afternoon with my headphones clamped on, writing...and writing...and writing. I made progress on one of my stories, so I guess I did not exactly waste the day. In the morning, I had worked on audio editing...but by lunch time I knew I couldn't take any more.

Today I spent largely in bed reading. In between I washed dishes. I folded a load of laundry. I put clean sheets on my bed. I fed chickens. Wonder of wonders, I got my bedroom floor vacuumed. Yes, I did!

Along with Mr. Icepick gleefully jabbing the lining of my stomach I have had Mr. Blah visiting. Also, an element of stiffness in my joints. I'm surprised I only dropped one egg today. Then of course, let's not neglect Mr. Odd-man Cramps (don't want to hurt his feelings, you know). He kept pinching me in various odd places. That left bicep though--that hurt. I had a sensation of being feverish at some point today, but I didn't take my temperature because I had just had something in my mouth--which throws the temperature read off either up or down, depending. 

So yes, sometimes one's visitors are not always of the pleasant sort--unlike the "real" Icepick who lived in the story realm of Magnum P.I. 

     Racheal

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Monday Mishaps...

5/18/2015

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Right, so the whole day wasn't full of mishaps, but there was potential mishaps and actual mishaps today.

First, I spent the morning (and right after lunch), back working on The Cow Cavalry. Jordan sent me the very last voice over clip Saturday (I think it was...maybe it was Friday evening) and I "knew" when I got up this morning that I was going to work on it today. I spent awhile feeling frustrated and complaining to various sympathetic members of the family about the quality of the audio. I was even talking about starting completely over with the unedited audio clips--not that I really wanted to do that...

Finally, after getting Jordan's clip dropped in and the AE made for it and in place, I started working through from the very beginning again. Roughly 15 minutes in, I wasn't feeling nearly as frustrated. Turns out, it really doesn't sound as bad as I remembered--except for half a dozen clips. I will work on those again; probably starting tomorrow. I think it would make sense since my head got re-established into the project again today.

In addition to that, I began (during renders and letting the computer catch up with itself) to design how I am going to put the Cow Cav rosters up on the the website. I also got sidetracked chasing down a fellow my great-grandfather used to play poker with...history is too much fun sometimes!!

After I washed the lunch dishes, I headed out to see if I could help Mama any--even though I really didn't feel like working very hard. After planting a few peppers, I came in to get the next med on the schedule and bring her out a grapefruit. I also switched hats since I had decided that I was going to mow the yard.

Well, I had gotten roughly half of it done when I had to dip my head to keep my cowboy hat from flying off the back of my head (ribbons tied under buns don't help that much when the wind is from the front) and I turned at the same instant...and hit this old telephone poll in the junk pile with the deck. AND...I bent the cowling in and the blade got hung up in it. It took me another few feet to realize that something was wrong. 

I turned the PTO off and put the machine in neutral, throttling down. I crawled off the machine and reached under. Nope...no go. I couldn't turn the blade on that one side. I didn't realize until I had the thing up on the ramps that the blade was actually poking through the cowling. Daddy saw me stop and crawl around on my knees, so he came and looked it over. He fixed the bent cowling and I gamely went off--first to fill up my gas tank...and then before I switched the PTO back on, Mama asked me to get her another jug of water...so it was probably around 5-10 minutes later that I started mowing again. Almost immediately I quit. That side was still not mowing. Yes, sirree...I broke the pulley!! Seriously. This is only the second time I have mowed this year and this is already the second time I have broken the mower!! 

I helped Daddy take the pulley off and he sent me into the house with it...and while I was going, I heard him laugh. :) He said he wasn't laughing at me...but I guess I deserved it even if he was.

So you see, I really did have a Monday mishap...

     Racheal

P.S. I didn't read Authentic Christianity yesterday because I was having a Lymie day where my brain was on minimal function mode.
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Check out the Bee Project page!!

5/15/2015

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Probably self explanatory... :)

There should be another post sometime around Monday or Tuesday...

     Racheal

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Front Walk Tune-Up

5/14/2015

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Sometime earlier this week (I think it was), Mama asked me if I thought that I could re-work the area up to the front door. You must admit...it needed it:
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(I had already gotten started before I remembered to get the camera.)
This morning, Daddy reminded me and so, after writing a letter with my morning tea, I set to work. That edger in the above picture worked fantastically as a pry bar. Thankfully, it wasn't necessary to use it on each of the stones.  

At some point during the collection and stacking of the stones, a mama Robin flew up and sat upon her nest up on the light fixture by the front door. There she stayed until Katherine opened the door quite a bit later.

Once I got the stones stacked neatly on the steps, I was ready for the next step--which meant defining the edges of the area a little and either pulling or scraping the weeds out.
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A pre-shot...
Anyway, once I got done with that, I tramped off to get the sand out of the barn. There were two bags of the stuff (one partially used) and I used both of them. I carried the first one all the way from the barn (along with the square pointed shovel which wasn't necessarily smart), but took my mother's wise advice of using the go-buggy for the second one. The complete bag weighed 60 pounds. I suspect the other one was about 45-50 pounds. I think my already stiff shoulder muscles are going to be worse tomorrow. ;}

Due to the atmospherics in the barn, both bags had set up fairly solid (this is a concrete sand mix), so I took that shovel and beat the daylights out of the stuff. I was unable to totally smash it back into sand particles, but I did a good enough job to do what I wanted to with it.
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Something about the perspective of this pictures is weird...
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Leveled out as well I was going to get it.
By this point, Mama had finished what she was doing in the garden and was pulling weeds around the driveway. While I was finishing up with the sand, she went into the attic and brought down cardboard boxes--for this:
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Once Mama helped me lay out the plastic, she went into to make lunch.
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I started re-laying the stones and after a bit someone arrived to take pictures. :)
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This is one of those classic pictures that remind me of the days when I was rather small and Mama would get onto my for always wearing out the knees of my pants. (Apparently, I did a lot of crawling about when I could have used my feet instead.)
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I dunno...is that a Rooster face?
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Job done. Now all we need is to repaint the front door....
There is still an element of "wave" to the stones, but at least it is better and there is no grass and flowers growing through the them! 

Now...this afternoon I am going to try to finish up weeding the strawberries. I worked on them yesterday and still didn't get finished. I think I should be able to manage it without too much trouble...

     Racheal

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Hair-brained...

5/12/2015

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Or a least, that is rather how I take my sudden notion to straighten up my desk. The piles have been growing taller and less dignified and I guess I finally had enough of it. I even went so far as to clean out three of the drawers and rearrange them--which brings me to my next point. 

I keep folders and scribbles tucked in one of those drawers...and I actually counted up the number of different stories and/or scripts I have "in the works" (which doesn't necessarily mean that I work on them at all regularly, but that they are 'there' in the back of my mind and I fully intend on finishing them at some point). There are ten of them. Just to give you a little taste of Racheal's flair for story-telling and what interests me, here's an insider's peek into my desk drawer.

In the purple folder on the bottom: Two stories. One by some friends which I really don't know if it will go anywhere further. The other, my novel set in "Reconstruction" South Carolina. That one is going to take a lot of research...I haven't worked on it in ages, but it's one that I want to write.

Next up, a cheerfully hued red folder which also holds two stories:"Mr. O'Brian" and "Bedford". "Mr. O'Brian"s initial script draft has actually been written--it would fall into the 'mystery/thriller' category--if I could just get it a little 'thriller-ier' I would be tickled. 
"Bedford" is supposed to be a biographical film on none other than General Nathan Bedford Forrest. I even know how it starts. :) Much more research is needed though before that gets really underway.

Next is a shooting script for the first of Katherine's "Francis Justice, P.I." series.

Following that is a yellow folder with "Mr. Dobbs" scrawled across the front. "Mr. Dobbs" is a western that really should probably have a different name than it does. Mr. Dobbs is an important character, but not the protagonist. This is one of those stories that I told myself while working on the Colt's Foot...and actually remembered huge chunks of it. I still do, and the rough outline I scrawled out helps me to remember. I like this story and will eventually get it written I suppose. This folder also holds the beginnings of a romance that probably will go nowhere else.

Oh, and then there is "James and Burke". I'm afraid those engaging families have seen little of their authoress of late....

I find myself faced with yet another yellow folder. This one holds the initial notes and scribbles for Freedom's Light Films' next project(s). I suppose I really ought to be working on that rather than musing aloud here. (I'm still not officially announcing it, but I will tell you that it's also about the WBtS in one fashion or another.)

Next in line is a green folder that is just beginning to get a little ratty around the edges. It contains something that I never thought I would write: a dystopia. You read that right--dystopia. This non-fan of dystopian fantasy is writing a dystopia. I got to thinking one day, not long after hearing something about Divergent (supposedly written by a Christian girl). I confess that I have neither read the books nor watched the films (nor do I plan to), but from the things that I heard/saw I didn't see how it was much different than The Hunger Games (likewise I haven't read the books or seen the movies; however, my younger sister did read the first book and she informed us that they were most certainly not from a biblical perspective). Like I said, I got to thinking...and the outcome of my thinking along the lines of "why can't/won't somebody write a self-consciously biblical and reformed worldview dystopia?" That accusing finger I was pointing at no one in particular turned around and jabbed itself at me. "Who me?? But I don't even like that kind of stuff." "Yeah...as far as you know. What if you're just being self-righteous and stuck up over it?" 

Okay, that may not be exactly how it went, but the end result was that I, Racheal, who has never read a dystopian novel or watched a dystopian film decided to counter attack the popular stories with a story that is self-consciously from a biblical worldview. I'm a little stuck on some dialogue at the moment and I am still not completely sure how I am going to end the story, but I am actually surprised at the stick-to-it-ness I have shown on this project. I rather figured when I started it that I would lose interest and fizzle out on it. I haven't. I don't work on it ever day, or even every week, but it is getting written--which is, I admit, kind of a neat feeling. (By the way, this one is not intended as a screenplay.)

Last, but not least, is a stack of "stuff"around an inch thick. This is, of course, as you might be able to guess, my Cow Cavalry stuff. It certainly isn't all my research scribbles and printed pages, but it is all that I need for finishing my project. Speaking of which, I still am waiting on a voice over...then...oh then! I can be done! Lord willing and I don't decide to pull my hair out over of the quality of the audio. *sheepish grin* I fear that I am most disappointed with that, but also that I am quite ready to say it's "good enough" (even if it's not) because I do not like audio editing and I happen to know that I will probably just booger it up worse than ever if I keep at it. 

Anyway, there you have the contents of my 'currently in-progress somehow or another' drawer. I could list you off even more ideas if I dropped down into the next drawer and pulled out my fat "idea book". ;) However, I will spare you the pain and now go and do a few little things that I really must do before my bees arrive (probably tomorrow?)...

      Racheal

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Adoption, Repentance, and Sanctification, Part 5

5/10/2015

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It's been two weeks since I last addressed myself to this, but I'm back...and picking up where I left off--someplace in the middle of a discussion of sanctification.

When then, is the concern of sanctification?
Sanctification has a two-fold concern in the life of the believer. The Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries would speak of this two-fold concern as mortification, i.e., the putting to death of old sinful ways and tendencies remaining in the believer, and vivification, i.e., the cultivation of the fruit, gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit in the new life we have in Christ....Jay Adams, the father of nouthetic counseling,165 speaks of this two-fold concern of sanctification as dehabituation, i.e., stopping and changing sinful habits, and rehabituation, i.e., practicing and establishing holy habits of life from the heart...In sanctification, God’s Spirit works to accomplish two goals in us: (1) the restraint and elimination of indwelling sin (Rom. 6:4–7; 7:4; 8:13), and (2) the restoration of the image of God (Rom. 8:29); enabling us to die more and more to sin and to live more and more to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24; Rom. 8:1–4; Gal. 5:22–24; Rom. 6:12–14; John 15:1–4). (110-111)

The inner warfare between the Spirit and indwelling sin continues in the believer, but he is supported in this conflict by the blessed assurance that complete deliverance will come, decisively, gradually and totally, through the presence
and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. (112)

Instead of always being defeated by the sinful habits and impulses of “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Gal. 5:19–21), the Christian gets the victory over them in the
power of the Spirit and by obedience to the Word of God. He lives a victorious life, although not a sinless one. His life is marked by “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (5:22, 23), which qualities are called “the fruit of the Spirit” because only the Spirit of God can produce them in our lives. (114)

The purpose of the suffering and death of Christ was that His people might be “utterly alienated” (απογενομενοί) from their sins which had alienated them from God. (115)
The question arises, "what does it mean to die unto sin'?
It is “to have the power of sin, in our nature, so far destroyed as not to obey it, but to hate it in heart, and abstain from it in life.”168. James Fisher, The Westminster Shorter Catechism Explained (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work [1753] 1911), 191. (116)
Dr. Morecraft goes into greater detail via short sections on the 1) reasons for mortifying our sin, 2) the universality of this duty, 3) the goal of this duty, 4) the definition of it, 5) the power by which we accomplish it, and 6) advice on how to put sin to death.
1) The believer will involve himself in this continual work because indwelling sin in him remains active. It is always seducing, conceiving, deceiving, tempting. There is not a day but sin ruins or is ruined, prevails or is prevailed upon. As John Owen warned, "Cease not a day from this work, be killing sin, or it will be killing you!" ...
Indwelling sin is ambitious and persistent. If it is left alone in our lives, it will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous and soul-destroying sins. (117)

2) The putting to death of sin is not the duty of unbelievers....However, it is the duty of EVERY Christian, without exception, the carrying out of which is a sure evidence of our new birth and possession of salvation, for “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24). (117-118)

3) Therefore, Paul can say, “If we mortify the deeds of the body we shall live.” The meaning is obvious. If we have real, saving faith, we WILL mortify sin in our
lives. If we do not mortify sin in ourselves, it is clear evidence that we are not regenerate (Rom. 6:14–16). (118)

4) The putting to death of sin is an intense, continual, daily, habitual work of fighting against, resisting and overcoming sin in our lives as believers, for Jesus’ sake and with the help of His Spirit....To mortify sin is not simply to divert it or to fight against it spasmodically, but constantly, unmercifully and ruthlessly to reject
all practices, thoughts, words, actions, feelings, etc., that are sinful. (118-119)

Putting sin to death is a making room in our hearts for the fruit of righteousness and love to grow and flourish, by continually plowing up the hard ground and pulling up the weeds of indwelling sin that would sap our strength. (119)

5) Only the omnipotent Holy Spirit of God can sanctify us and mortify sin within us. That is why it is declared that we, believers, can mortify sin, only by the help and power of the Spirit of Christ who indwells us and who exerts within us Christ’s resurrection power to deal with and to kill our sin. (120)

6) First, keep your heart well supplied with gospel motives and principles, which are rooted in the grace of God, the perfection of Christ’s work and the glory of His Person. Permeate your mind with meditations of the glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. And set your affections on Him, as the One from whom you receive your highest joys and greatest pleasures. ...
Second, keep your conscience sensitive to the guilt and danger of your particular besetting sins. ...
Third, avoid all known occasions of sin, such as the indiscriminate watching of television that can encourage lust for sin or doubt regarding God’s word and providence, or irregular sleeping patterns which irregularity causes a foul temper, or being left alone with a person of the opposite sex, if you are particularly weak in this area. ...
Fourth, strike at the first rising of sin in your mind. Nip the sinful thought in the bud. ...
Fifth, look constantly to Christ for the killing of your sin, and expect Him to come to your rescue....This constant looking to Christ for relief engages the heart to attend diligently to all the ways and means whereby Christ gives Himself and His love to the hearts of His people, e.g., Bible reading, listening to Bible preaching, observing the sacraments, praying, worship.
Sixth, be content with and agree with the chastening purpose of God in the day of your afflictions (Isa. 27:9). “[C]onnect every affliction with prayer that God would follow it with his blessing. God kills thy comforts from no other design but to kill thy corruptions.”176 Flavel, The Method of Grace, 462. (121-122)
This then is the meaning of dying to sin. What then does it mean to 'live unto righteousness'?
It is to be made alive in Christ and liberated from the tyranny of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit so as to love and obey the commands of God found in the Bible. (122)

We are no longer slaves of sin, therefore we no longer live as if we were still slaves. This means three things.
First, by grace we are not to let physical instincts, needs, passions, emotions, and moods, dominated by sin, control us, or be top priority in our lives.
Second, by grace we are not to place the members of our bodies, i.e., any part of ourselves—our brain, eyes, tongues, ears, sexual parts, etc.—at the disposal of or in the service of the enemy, so that he can use them as his weapons in the war he is waging against God and against us. ...
Third, by grace we are to keep on placing ourselves at God’s service, putting ourselves as His disposal....In the war with the enemy we must give all we have and are to God’s side. We must enlist in God’s army. We must allow all our powers
and energies to be used as God’s weapons of righteousness to destroy sin and unrighteousness in ourselves, in our societies and in our world, so as to bring in the kingdom of light, glory and truth....A Christian is a crusader, a conqueror, a victor, because he is a weapon in God’s hand, by which God “will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations” (Isa. 61:11). (123)

“Under grace” is the guarantee that sin will not have dominion and victory over the servant of Christ. (123)
What does God's grace enable the believer to be and to do?
First, it must be recognized that although being under grace delivers believers from the Law of God as something that condemns them, it in no way releases them from their obligation to obey that Law, rather, it strengthens that glad obligation (6:15). ...
Second, a person under grace hands himself over to be God’s slave of righteousness. ...
Third, having been freed from sin’s bondage and dominion, the believer is enslaved to righteousness. This does not mean that he simply admires righteousness, or that he merely desires righteousness, or that he is merely trying to be righteous. It means that we have come under the power, control, dominance and powerful influence of righteousness, i.e., conformity of heart and life to Biblical Law for Jesus’ sake....Although we are not free from sin absolutely and perfectly holy in our behavior, nevertheless righteousness dominates our thoughts, plans, responses, desires, activities, conversations, relations, and everything else about us. (124-125)

Put all your abilities and energies at the service of your “Commander-in-Chief.” The word, “presented,” is a military word, literally meaning “presenting arms.” And, it is in the present tense, denoting continual, daily presenting of yourself to God to be his “weapon of righteousness,” which is the literal translation of the Greek word for “instrument.” (125)
Having seen the concern of sanctification, we may ask, "What is it's nature"?
Sanctification takes place throughout the whole person, in his mind, personality, spirit, heart and body: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23)....It affects our understanding, memory, conscience, imagination, will, and emotions....Even our “bodies are members of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:15), and, therefore, will be affected by sanctification
(Rom. 8:11). (126)
Sanctification is a gradual process, as is shown by what follows:
Sanctification is a gradual, progressive, life-long process, which concludes with the soul at death and with the body at resurrection (Rom. 8:23; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; 1 John 1:8–10). It is never complete in this life, although it does make significant advances toward maturity (Phil. 3:12–14; Rom. 7:18, 23). Once it is begun in us, it is never stopped, lost or reversed: “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). (126-127)

That sanctification is progressive, that is, it gradually advances the believer to more consistent holiness throughout his life, is taught in the Catechism....the Shorter Catechism Question 35 says that by sanctification we are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (127)

The Bible’s argument is two-fold: (1) It teaches that sanctification is progressive; and (2) It commands believers to progress in holiness. (129)

First, the Bible teaches that sanctification is progressive, enabling believers to die more and more unto sin, and to live more and more unto righteousness. It pictures this growth in terms of the branches of a vine bearing fruit increasingly....This increasing fruit-bearing includes abiding in Christ and His Word [John] (vs. 7), answered prayer (vs. 7), the glorification of God by our lives (vs. 8), abiding in Christ’s love (vs. 9), keeping God’s commandments (vs. 10), full joy (vs. 11), loving one another (vs. 12). (129)

In his first epistle, the apostle John brings out the different levels and phases of spiritual growth and development in the Christian life by speaking of those who are in their progress toward Christian maturity as “little children” (2:12), “fathers” (2:13), and “young men” (2:13). It is obvious from the emphasis of the entire paragraph (2:12–17) that these are not physical categories, but spiritual classes
of those at different stages of sanctification, from spiritual infancy to some measure of spiritual maturity. (130)

[2 Corinthians 3:18] Notice in this text these truths: (1) In those who are seeing by faith the glory of the Lord in the face of Christ, God is carrying on a work of spiritual and moral transformation....(2) This transformation of the believer is a gradual, on-going process throughout his life on earth....(3) The goal of this transformation is the full restoration of the image of Christ in the life of the believer, which will be finished in glorification at the return of Christ. (4) The agent
of this transformation in the believer is Christ by His Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer. (5) This gradual transformation is also a progressive transformation. It advances “from glory to glory.” (131)

Second, the Bible not only teaches that progressive growth toward spiritual maturity is the experience of all Christians, it also commands us to grow in grace, knowledge and holiness. (133)
Sanctification is a growth in grace and knowledge in the Lord...but how are we to grow? For that matter, how can we tell that we are growing in grace and knowledge?
First, the very idea of spiritual growth implies spiritual life. There can be no growth without birth and life. Therefore, this exhortation presupposes the new birth, and addresses only those who have received the new birth.
Second, life leads to growth, which is always a characteristic of life....
Third, growth is a vital and mysterious process. It is not something that can be observed directly, although a person can be aware that it is taking place....
Fourth, the process of growth is progressive and gradual; growth is never sudden and instantaneous... (133-134)

It means that because we as Christians have been brought into that realm where grace reigns through righteousness in Christ (Rom. 5:20–21) we are now to grow and develop in that life into which we have been brought by the death and resurrection of Christ, and by His grace to mature, flourish and go forward. (134)

We are to grow in our understanding of the truth revealed in the Bible. Most especially should we grow in our knowledge of Christ, who He is, what He has done, what He promises yet to do, what my relationship to Him should be. In addition to this, growth in knowledge is more that an increase in our knowledge about Christ; therefore, we must grow in our knowledge of Christ as a living
Person in a personal relationship with Him and in intimate communion with Him in daily worship. (134)

We start by admitting that we cannot make ourselves grow, we cannot produce growth....However, we must realize that there are certain conditions that lead to spiritual growth. First and foremost is the Bible, which is the nutritional food of
the heart, which like a baby the Christian craves. Second, the means of grace—the reading and preaching of the Word of God, the sacraments, prayer and worship—are also nutritional food for the heart. Third, we must avoid everything that is harmful to our spiritual life and growth. Fourth, we must apply to our lives and put into practice what we learned from the Word of God. Fifth, we must rest in the
Lord with calmness of soul that comes from entrusting ourselves and our affairs to His keeping. Sixth, we must practice self-discipline. (135)

We can gauge our spiritual growth by self-examination in the light of the Word of God with faith in Christ and prayer for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit....The only way to measure spiritual growth is by the standard of the written Word of God, and seek to discover what it has to say about the Christian person. (135)

If we do not begin with faith in Christ, self-examination will drive us to despair. (136)

What are some of the characteristics of stunted growth? (1) The person is more interested in the personality, method, abilities, and relationship to the one teaching him than he is to the content of the truth taught....(2) He is more interested in experiences than in relationships....(3) He is more interested in gifts than the Giver....(4) He is more interested in gifts from God than graces, such as faith, hope and love. (136)

The characteristics of growth include: (1) An increasing sense of my own sinfulness and my own unworthiness....(2) An increasing distaste for the seductions of this evil world. (3) An increasing grief for the evil state of this world. (4) An intensifying of love for God, of the desire to glorify and honor Him, to please Him, and to obey Him. (136)
We are to pursue holiness.
Believers in Jesus are commanded by God: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16)....as we gradually, continually, persistently and zealously pursue holiness of life, we will in some measure though not perfectly before death, find it, because
without it “no one will see the Lord.” (138)

This is the lifelong task and privilege of the believer, empowered by the Spirit of holiness who lives within him—the perfecting of holiness, the completing of holiness, in the fear of God. This on-going, life-long work implies that we are faithful at perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, we can expect to see some measure of improvement in our holiness of life and of our fear of the Lord. (138)

We are to work out in our daily lives what God’s Spirit works into our hearts everyday: the will and the ability to live for the pleasure of God. The more God works in us the will and ability to please God, the more faithfully we desire to please Him and are successful in our efforts to please Him. (138)
Dr. Morecraft devotes a short segment on the nature and extent of spiritual growth according the the Heidelberg Catechism:
The Heidelberg Catechism, which is an older catechism than those of Westminster, in Questions 113–115, is helpful in understanding the nature and extent of the spiritual growth in sanctification experienced in the believer in Jesus.
"What does the tenth Commandment require? A. That not even the least inclination or thought against any commandment of God ever enter our heart, but that with our whole heart we continually hate all sin and take pleasure in all righteousness
(Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 113)."
"Can those who are converted to God keep these Commandments perfectly? A. No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience; yet so, that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according
to some, but according to all the Commandments of God (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 114)."
"Why, then, does God so strictly enjoin the ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them? A. First, that as long as we live we may learn more and
more to know our sinful nature, and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ; secondly, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 115)."
(139; 141)

In regeneration, the sinner is passive, being dead in his sin and Spiritually raised from the dead; but in sanctification, the believer is regenerate, i.e., alive in Christ, and therefore capable of response and activity. In sanctification the believer works “in cooperation” with the Holy Spirit, although this sovereign Spirit is in no way dependent upon or limited by the believer. The believer, once justified, does not passively sit by while the Spirit controls him, he is not quiescent in this process, because sanctification involves more than subconscious changes in the person. (141-142)

Here is true cooperation and coordination, with the work of God being primary
and most basic; but with the Christian’s work also being essential and indispensable. "Paul’s assertion is the more striking because, rather than
contrasting God’s work with man’s work, he cites the work of God as an incentive for the work of man. God’s work in salvation, in Paul’s view, never absorbs or invalidates man’s work, but arouses and stimulates it and gives it meaning." 199. Berkouwer, Studies in Dogmatics: Faith and Sanctification, 122. (143)
We will continue next week, Lord willing, with a further look into the details of sanctification.

     Racheal

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2015 FCM Conference

5/8/2015

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Even though I was staving off the remnants of my cold (I was pretty miserable on Sunday), I thoroughly enjoyed the conference!

Our trip over on Sunday was uneventful...for which we were glad. 

(Click on the pictures to see them larger.)
                                                                              The Travelers

I had a fever by the time we got there (actually a 99.3--so a real fever), so I was allowed to be lazy about unloading Annabelle. I went to bed fairly early.

Monday morning...(excuse me while I refer to my blue spiral bound that effects to by my journal [yes, you may gasp with surprise, I actually do keep a journal now...even if it does end up with substantial holes in it, I haven't given up this time around])...ah yes...Monday morning, I went downstairs an whole hour early, due to a misprint on the email I had gotten concerning my impersonating. Anyway, I eventually ended up offering to help the lovely ladies setting up the registration table and while I felt more in the way than anything, they did accept the offer. Thus was the slightly awkward beginning to a fantastic three days.

When the time rolled around for myself to actually start my impersonating business, I took up my station (I *ahem* rather put my stakes in right there by that sign). I forget all the people I talked to over the course of next two days as they tried to guess who I was portraying (the impersonators where the clues in a treasure hunt): Mrs. General Stuart. I mean Flora Cooke Stuart, wife of James Ewell Brown Stuart. :) Since nobody knew who Flora was (she didn't do anything spectacular), the means of guessing my identity was really guessing JEB Stuart's identity. I got quite a lot of practice referring to "my husband"--rather an odd sensation to an unmarried woman. :D

Anyway, a few instances stand out to me: the tenacious determination of a blue-eyed boy of about 10 and his reticent little brother (about 6) who had no idea really even who JEB Stuart was (I was really impressed by this kid), the three little girls who would end up being my playmates for the latter half of Tuesday, the young man who won the 18+ age bracket of the treasure hunt, the pretty lady that reminded me of a lady at church, the sparkling blue eyes and dimples of a fellow impersonator (so I'm a sucker for dimples), the rapidity of the two brothers who tied for the win in their age bracket (they made me laugh), the family with all the pretty little girls in their matching dresses and their three brothers. The youngest was missing both his top front teeth and completely charmed me. :D

Well...that seems like more than a few, but you get the idea. I talked to a variety of people and enjoyed it all for the most part. I only fell out of character a couple of times, which I thought was pretty impressive since it was my first time impersonating like this. (Um...did that sound like a brag?) 

Between impersonating, I attended sessions like any other normal conference goer. Monday's sessions:
The Cause of the War Between the States (Dr. Morecraft): The long and short of this one was the theological background; the differences between North and South. Roughly, the South still maintained an orthodox Protestantism whereas the North had accepted "Enlightenment" theology and had become Unitarian. 

The Pirate Lafitte (Bill Potter): Lafitte was a pirate, despite his helping Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans. :D Anyway, Mr. Potter discussed pirates in general a bit and drew the distinction between an pirate and a privateer. Of course, he actually told Lafitte's history! (One of the Summer's sons was impersonating Lafitte...his costume was quite dapper...and he had a great pair of boots. So did his brother... :D [Boot-philia, I think we might call this].)

You Ain't Just Whistling Dixie (Mrs. Morecraft): I didn't take any notes...but I laughed all the way through it as Mrs. Morecraft drew Southern words and phrases out and laid them before her appreciative audience. Dr. Morecraft informed Daddy and myself later that he was watching me (I was in the very back of the room and he was sitting in his wheelchair near the doors) as much as he was watching Mrs. Morecraft. Apparently, I amused him. :D It's really quite a compliment. 

The Industrial Revolution and the Family (Wesley Strackbein): I must have been either hungry or not feeling well, because my notes (and memory) on this particular talk are rather sketchy. However, this (edited) little scribble probably sums things up fairly well: The industrial revolution destroyed the family economy unit; children were up until this point an asset, not a liability--this was switched with industrialization. Technology must be our tool rather than our master.

The Fascinating History of American Music (Geoff Botkin): I immediately thought of one of my brothers when Mr. Botkin began this one. :) Anyway, I did not take any notes for whatever reason...but did find the session interesting, despite my current inability to regurgitate any of it.

Tuesday's sessions:
The War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans (Bill Potter): I do so enjoy Mr. Potter's talks, even if I have a time of it taking notes from him. At any rate, he opened the issue with a discussion on whether or not the War of 1812 was even a just war. I confess I had never thought about the question before. The consensus was that it was a little iffy as to legitimacy; I would have to do a little more research on my own before I would state conclusively either way. (An interesting factoid here...during this war, New England threatened session...just thought you might like to be reminded of that fact. ;]) And...my notes are rather sparse...

Old Hickory (Wesley Stackbein): Of course, me, myself, and I had to go to the session on a fiery red-headed hero of mine! As Mr. Stackbein reiterated a couple of times, Andrew Jackson was by no means a perfect man, but he definitely had traits to emulate. I won't give you his history here though...

Economics, Law, and Liberty (Dr. Raymond): The more I listen to Dr. Raymond, the more I understand why Savannah has such respect for him. This was the first of several of his sessions that I attended. He is such a...vivacious...blunt speaker. Anyway, this talk was essentially on tithing...and the implications of it, etc.

The Social Engineers and What they Designed (Geoff Botkin): At this point I had "lost" my notebook (in the form of handing it to Katherine to take back to the room because I was unable to handle it and keep up with the little girls). Therefore, I obviously did not take notes. 

I missed a session on Tuesday because first I was talking to "Captain Jack" and tying knots...and then because I was talking to a 12-year-old laddie...and then because the little girls descended upon me. I am still not exactly why they took to me the way they did, but I guess my internal "kid-magnet" must have activated. I didn't mind it at all, that's for sure!

Wednesday's sessions: 
Robert Lewis Dabney, a Giant Among Men (Dr. Morecraft): A short history of Dabney.

Principles of Christ's Lordship in the Founding of America (Dr. Raymond): Oh, bother. I simply do not know how to condense this one! He covered too much history! (And ground.) Let's see if this passes: Dr. Raymond demonstrated that these United States were founded on Christian God's Law, not "natural law".

The Geo-Political Ramifications of the Incarnation (Dr. Raymond): My notes on this one were really, really sketchy. Hardly enough to jog my memory. Let's see...God's Kingship should be a fact to us...total comprehensive rule over all nations, laws, people, etc. 

Woodrow Wilson: A Sacred Fool? (Bill Potter): I chose this session over the other two because I really didn't know that much about Wilson, except that he was a progressive and was president during WWI...and that he was from Virginia. Now, I know a little more about him and more about his politics. He really was what we would call a "liberal" and became such by turning his back on the staunch southern Presbyterian upbringing he had had. I thought this little sidenote was interesting: the 19th Amendment granted women suffrage...and the majority of women were actually opposed to the idea. Oh...and the 16th Amendment (Income Tax); it never was ratified!

The Challenge of the Reformation in Modern America (Geoff Botkin): The final session of the conference, Mr. Botkin exhorted the attendees with a list of "mandates" (these may not be quite right, I didn't always get them written down fast enough): 1) Be prepared to walk alone for a season; 2) Providence leads us to hope; 3) Remember what is at stake; 4) Re-learn everything if you  must; 5) Defend, assert, and model what the church should  be; 6) Disciple Christ's men by inspiring them to courage; 7) Stand firm, but do not be formulatic and rigid; 8) Maintain a pioneer spirit; and 9) Be gentle and magnanimous.

However, to drop back in time a little...
We didn't get any pictures Monday...and Tuesday the photos Savannah took of me in my "day clothes" were so bad (somebody forgot to remind me to lift my chin! ;P) that I decided not to post any of them. I do have enough vanity you know. But there were some nice pictures of my sisters, so I'll let you look at those instead!
Tuesday evening was fun! There was the big "reveal" of who was who of impersonators, a costume contest (which I'll go ahead and tell you that I did not win ;]), dancing, and the announcement of the treasure hunt winners. 

There wasn't really much dancing, because all the other stuff took up time, but it was still fun. The last dance I did with a toddler on my back. :) I really do enjoy incorporating small children into the dances. The look of joy in their eyes far, far outweighs any "inconvenience" their ignorance causes. 

Anyway, I'm sure y'all want to see my awful hair-do. Mama saw the pictures and she gasped in horror. Literally. I'm not kidding you.
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I was so impressed that I got "the look" that I left it up and wore it that way in public. The things we will do for our 'art form'.... What was really "funny" about it is that I am the one that cannot stand hair over my ears. I think the only reason I handled it was because the hair is actually poofed off over the ears and doesn't sit tight against them.

Anyway...here are the girls:
I had issues with my skirt...originally, the skirt opening was in the back, but when Savannah stitched the bodice to the skirt to keep them together and spare me the embarrassment of my corset strings doing a jig down the back of my gown, she had to turn it around (for obvious reasons). the pleating is heavier in the that portion of the skirt, so it hangs down differently and therefore I kept stepping on my skirt. Before I wear it again something has to be done. 
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The next day, I returned to my preferred hair style. (And yes, I did wear my Secession Cockade all day long.)

I did my shopping that final day, purchasing several books, though certainly not as many as last year. 

Thursday morning, Daddy and I sat with Dr. Morecraft while he ate his breakfast, along with Mr. Botkin. It seems to me, on the one hand, rather odd and awesome to be sitting and talking to these well-known men...but then on the other, sitting and watching them eat breakfast reminds me that they, like myself, are just regular human-beings. Sure, they may be older and wiser than myself, but they are also just like me, persons created in the image of God, fallen in Adam and redeemed by Christ Jesus.

We pulled out and headed into southern Illinois to pick up our sink...

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Illinois farmland...
After collecting the sink, since we were going through the area, we contacted brother Andrew and met up for a coffee (his pretty sister was unavailable or she would have joined us to!) Unfortunately, we plumb forgot to get any pictures!! 

Thankfully, we got home with no issues...
~~~
I might as well briefly tell you that I mowed today...and that I managed to bend the blades even worse than ever by hitting a stump. However, in the process I learned that I can indeed take the blades off and straighten them--to a degree. If I had worked at it a little longer, the really badly bent blade could have gotten straightened out better. Oh well...

I ate enough dirt today, what with me mowing and the farmers plowing...and the wind blowing. :P 

A'right. Good-night, y'all!

     Racheal

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We're Going to a Conference!

5/2/2015

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After spending yet another day in bed yesterday due to having picked up Katherine's cold (now Savannah is fighting it), I'm sort of back on my feet. I'm not going to really do anything strenuous today. I think that cold got kicked so fast because of all those shataki mushrooms I ate yesterday. If you know me very well, you know that I do not like mushrooms...but I sure will eat shatakis when I am sick because they really do help.

My plan today is to get my 'other-than-impersonator' clothes selected and packed for next week. The girls, Daddy, and I will leave tomorrow from church (I think). I need to get my shoes pulled out to0.

Mama has asked me to help her a little with garden layout (more or less) and I really, really want to get my room vacuumed and straightened a little before I leave for five days. 

I hope to have lots of engaging tales (and pictures!) to share when I get home next week...but until then, you won't be seeing me around. My computer stays home whenever I go someplace like this. (Particularly when the hotel charges an extra $10 per day for internet usage. :p)

Sooo....until then!

      Racheal

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    New post on The Bee Project! 04/26/18
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    The Middle Kid

    I chose to title this blog "The Adventures of a Middle Kid" because that is exactly what I'll be detailing (mostly). I chose 'kid' over any other word, like 'girl' (I am the middle girl so it also would have worked) or 'child'
    (since I am no longer exactly a child).

    I am a middle kid and I will always be a middle kid--even when I'm 80!

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