"Outside the Box"

You Are Going to Pay!

2011-11-30T08:08:00.001-05:00

Oftentimes, parents will sit on the fence as to whether or not they want to take the plunge and pay for a private Christian education at Kent Christian Academy. My advice to them is really simple. “Go ahead….because you are going to pay one way or the other. Do it now, while it is cheaper.” What do I mean? Let me show you how you are eventually going to pay.

Just do a “Google” search and you will find that around 75% of incoming college freshman are not ready for college work. Therefore, they are required to take remedial courses. This extends the time they are in college. Remedial courses are the things they should have learned in high school. The parents will pay the same tuition prices; however, it does not go towards the degree. Add to this the amount of time spent in the dorm or at home and as you can see it can become costly very quick.

Now this has borne out true for our graduates at Kent Christian Academy. Two of our four graduates have gone on to college. Not a single one had to take a remedial course. They got right into their college level work. In addition, another graduate went into the Army and qualified for a very rigorous U.A.V. pilot school. He finished on time without one single setback.

I’ll will never forget when one of our graduates called me one day and said…”Dr. Gabbard, 80% of the incoming freshman class had to take remedial courses and I was not one of them!! In fact, I didn’t even have to take math my first semester!”

So it just makes financial sense to pay up front now while it is considerably less expensive.

However, there is another way you will pay…..if you do not pay now. Let me give you a real life example of what happened at our school a few years ago.

KCA teaches a very, very strong sense of personal responsibility. We teach students from a young age that they are responsible for their lives and their actions. If those actions are inappropriate then you must bear the responsibility for those bad choices. It is no one else’s fault but yours.

A few years ago I had a mother that was constantly making excuses for her son. Every time he got in trouble, it was always someone else’s fault.

After a confrontation one day with the student, the mother came to my office and again took his defense. I said to her…”If you continue down this road of bailing him out every time he gets in trouble, then one of these days he is going to end up in jail and…..”

Before I could even finish the sentence she said…”And I’ll bail him out of there too!!!”

At that point, I told her we were done….and to get her son and leave.

A few months ago, she was bailing her son out of jail.

One of my teachers recently said, “I bet she was thinking of you the whole time she was driving down to the jail.”

So, an investment in a good, solid education like children receive at Kent Christian Academy is certainly worth it!!

Remember, one way or the other…..you are going to pay!

The Casey Anthony Verdict: My Opinion

2011-07-06T05:59:00.006-04:00

Let me begin with a Facebook post by the Preacher husband of one of my past college students....Jason Anderson. He is so very right on!!!

Ok, why should we be surprised about the Anthony case. We legalized abortion, which is legally killing an unwanted baby. We teach that there are no fixed right and wrongs in this country, do whatever makes you happy. We teach evolution (only the strong survive and the weak die) to our children as the way life came about. Churches are too busy showing everyone how "cool" Christianity can be and how relevant we are than to teach MORALITY! We teach lawyers that it is good to lie to get a person off for murder. And we dumb down society so that they cannot make good judgments. Who else do we have to blame but ourselves for the way society has become???

Let's break Jason's post down. He's right about the slippery slope of abortion. Let's be honest.....if it is alright to kill a child at anytime while he or she is in the womb.....then what makes it wrong....once the child is born? The same logic that says it is alright to kill a human being in the womb is the same logic that can justify the taking of a human life at any time. Change of location....changes nothing.....logically. (By the way.....notice all the talk in the health care debate about "unneeded medical procedures for the elderly." They are the next on the chopping block.) As Francis Schaeffer predicted in the 70's.....abortion will erode human worth until human life is no longer worth a wooden nickle. WE ARE THERE!!!!

Jason is right when he says there are no fixed rights/wrongs any longer. It is called, "Post-modernism." Post-modernism rejects anything that is propositional truth. Truth is determined by existentialist/feeling oriented convictions...not by historical facts. This plays out in the statement, "Don't push your morality off on me." The ultimate determiner of morality is now, "What makes me happy."

Jason is right about evolution. We teach our children in public schools that they are evolved from animals. So why should we be surprised that human beings sometimes do what animals do in the wild, i.e., consume their young? It is all about survival of the fittest, right?

Jason states that "churches are too busy showing everyone how cool Christianity is." Ah....that's the Emerging Church. The Emerging Church scoffs at the ideal of historical Christianity or propositional truth from an inerrant Bible. It is a sin to them to critique culture but the Church of Jesus Christ is open game!!! "This ain't your grandma's church" is their constant refrain. Too bad!! Grandma's church would have given Casey what she deserved because Grandma's church believed in right and wrong. But hey.....the Praise Band is awesome, right??

Jason pointed out we dumb down society so that kids are incapable of critical thinking. Oh how right Jason is on this one. Our public school system is all about "filling in the blanks"........not about how to THINK!!!!!

So...as Jason so adequately points out.....should we really be surprised at the verdict??

It would appear.....our chickens have come home to roost!

Tribute to "The King!"

2011-07-02T05:51:00.006-04:00

Going turkey hunting on Mother’s Day usually does not score you a lot of “brownie” points with the wife. However, this time, I had her full blessing.

It was the last day of the 2011 turkey season in Indiana and I had put my personal ambitions aside to help both my wife and one of the girls from our archery team collect their first turkeys. I believe my personal hunting time, before that Mother’s Day morning, could be counted in hours….not days.

Under normal circumstances, I may not have had much motivation to drag myself out of bed that morning. It was a church morning. However, on this particular morning we did not have an early service so I decided I would try until 8 AM giving me plenty of time to get home and get ready.

However, this was not a normal circumstance. I was hunting one particular bird. I do not think in my twenty years of turkey hunting that I had ever hunted one particular bird. Usually, it is “set up…call…and see what comes in.”

This bird we had nicknamed “The King” simply because he was THE king of this particular field. One day while hunting with the girl from our archery team I watched a healthy two year old (that my wife shot the next day) run all the way across the field in retreat from the “king.” When the “king” was in the field there was never any other tom within 150 yards of him!!!!

About a week before that incident, the young lady almost got the king. He walked and strutted with his hens towards our blind from well over 200 yards away. He actually came close enough to turn the safety off on the gun. Every time I would send out the softest of calls he would double gobble and strut. He clearly saw our decoy. However, he was too proud to lower himself to walk to the decoy. She was going to have to do the proper thing and come to him. At the last minute, he made a course change and pulled his hens with him out of shotgun range.

One of the afternoons I got to hunt I took my bow and set up in the same place my wife had recently shot her turkey. Sure enough, he showed up with his harem. Like all the other times he stayed far away from the blind putting on a show for me the whole time. (see picture above)

On that Mother’s Day morning, I decided to do things “the old fashioned way.” I was going to “run and gun.” I had not hunted like that in years, especially in the pursuit of my turkey bow slam. That required a lot of hours sitting in blinds. This morning, however, I was going to locate a bird, set up on him, and see what happens. It was obvious the “king” was blind shy.

I arrived at my son in law’s farm well before daylight. It was a perfect morning….clear skies and no wind…comfortable temperature.

I didn’t have to wait too long to hear him sound off from the roost. As soon as he gobbled I began my move. I went half way across the field and set up in the tree line about 150 yards from him.

He was now gobbling from the roost at a pretty fevered rate. I gave a soft tree yelp with my mouth call and he immediately responded. One more time and then I shut up. My silence was irritating him because he constantly gobbled trying to get me to respond. I decided to play hard to get.

Commotion behind me startled me. There were hens roosted that flew into the field. Darn!!! That’s not good.

About 15-20 minutes later he finally made his way into the field about 150 yards away. He spotted the hens out in the middle of the field and went right to them. I called to him trying to deter him but to no avail. He acknowledged my presence, but as usual, he had no intention of coming.

All I could do was sit and watch him as he strutted and gobbled the hens. A fog set in at one point and I lost sight of him although I could hear him drumming. I actually entertained the thought of crawling on my belly, in the fog, and trying to close the distance for a shot. With my luck, however, I figured the fog would lift at a bad time leaving me quite exposed. I decided to stick it out.

I had a lot of time to think as I waited for something to happen. I took in the sights and the sounds around me. I could smell spring. I could hear all the other birds in song as the day continued to awake. It was as if time had stopped for me.

I reflected on previous hunts through the years. In my younger days I would have really gotten impatient and mad by now that this turkey wasn’t coming my way and I wasn’t going to get a shot. It seemed like it was all about “the kill.” The experts on hunting psychology say that is normal when you first start out hunting. I guess I’ve grown up. I actually thought this wasn’t going to happen and I really didn’t care. I was just thankful to be there.

I was brought back from my daydreaming by a gobble that sounded a bit closer. Sure enough, when I looked up, I noticed the hens were moving from my right to left. They were heading for the corner to my left that they frequently entered the woods (except when I had the blind there). The hens were well ahead of the king. As the hens passed, within what I thought was shotgun range, I held up my rangefinder to check the distance. That is when I found out that rangefinders do not work in fog!

I held my shotgun up and held the red dot on one of the hen’s necks just to see how it felt. It felt good. If the king would take the same steps they did, I might get this done.

Finally, he let down from strut and started to follow them. I guess he finally figured out they were serious about leaving the field. He moved to the spot I had put the gun on the hen. I knew this was going to be a long shot. I turned on the red dot and put it on his neck. It felt good. I slipped of the safety. I aimed like a rifle knowing that it was going to be a tough shot. I squeezed the trigger and down he went. I got up, walked a few steps towards him, and put a “backup” shot into him just for good measure. I paced off the distance and it was 50 yards. I had never shot a turkey that far.

I knew when I walked up on him that I had just killed the biggest turkey of my life. The beard was full, thick, and long. When I turned him over and saw the spurs I was awestruck. They were hooks. Later when I took him for check in he weighed in at 25 pounds, had 11.5 inch beard, and 1.5 inch spurs.

It was a perfect end to what turned out to be a perfect season. I helped two ladies, including my wife, get their first turkeys and now this. I really could have walked away that morning with nothing and been happy with life. However, to end like this was almost story book like.

There is no doubt about it. Whenever I hunt that field now, I will always remember that hunt. I will recall the thunderous gobble of the “king” and the way he majestically strutted and ruled that area.

More than that, I will remember that morning as the day that my perspectives about a lot of things matured.

My New Hunting Partner

2011-06-24T05:54:00.007-04:00

When my youngest son Seth left for the Army last October, one of the reasons it was so hard on me was that I had lost the last of my family hunting partners. I enjoyed my times afield with Seth immensely because he is as zealous about the outdoors as I am.

Those first few times afield without him were rough! I had pretty much resigned myself to spending most of my days alone. Trying to find someone as zealous as I am is pretty difficult these days.

Last spring break, as we were on a little get-away, my wife and I started talking about hunting. She has always been very supportive of my outdoor adventures but never really showed any inclination. Her most oft used words were….”Don’t expect me to clean it!”

So imagine my surprise when she said, “I wouldn’t mind killing a hog….maybe a turkey, but not a deer. They are too cute.”

So, my wheels started turning on how to get her ready for turkey season. First, a gun. I knew I did not want her shooting a 12 ga. I also knew that a gun with a red dot scope on it would be the best. I took my son’s 20 ga. and equipped it with a B-Square cantilever mount and an NcStar holographic scope.

The next step was target practice. The long story/short of this is that she is a natural. At target practice, she never missed. I felt confident that out to 40 yards she would get the job done.

We anxiously awaited the start of turkey season. It came and the weather could not have been worse. It constantly rained for the first two days of the season.

On the Wednesday that the season opened we headed out to the woods. We were hunting from a blind so once we got into the blind we would be protected from the elements. We got settled in for what turned out to be an afternoon of off and on downpours. We did see some action and in fact came close to scoring her first turkey. About an hour before dark a tom showed up and fed to the right of us about 100 yards away. I was hoping he would move our way on his way to roost. However, he instead kept directly behind us and never offered a shot. My wife was a real trooper. She sat there for 4 hours in a cold, damp downpour in less than ideal turkey hunting conditions and said she enjoyed it.

The next day we went out to my son in law’s place. The conditions were the same. We saw turkeys but none had any interests in our calls or setups.

On Friday, I took one of the girls from our Academy back out to my son in law’s. The weather had improved and so did the hunting. For the first time I laid eyes on a turkey we called “The king” (discussed later in a different blog). Taylor almost got her turkey that night. The “king”……came our way but passed by with his harem of hens just out of shotgun range.

I decided at that point to move our blind to a corner where we had seen a lot of action that evening. It turned out to be a good move.

The next day I had some obligations in the morning, so we opted for an afternoon and evening hunt. I had my eyes set on the “the king” so I knew we needed to get to the field early. My plan was to drive to the blind. I have found through the years that if there are turkeys in the field or just inside the woods, the best thing to do is drive the field……and then move into your blind. The turkeys will come back. However, if you just walk out in the field, it is likely to keep them from coming back that day.

I drove to the blind and dropped her and the equipment off. As I drove back to the area I park in I noticed a tom in the field next to us. It was not “the king” but it was nice one. Upon seeing the car he ran into the woods behind the blind. “Perfect” I thought.

I made it back to the blind. I put out a single hen decoy. After we got settled, I pulled out my I-Phone and began to look over my sermon for the next morning.

I had barely gotten into it when my wife reached around, grabbed the calf of my leg and dug her claws into it!!!!!!!! I had instructed her that if she saw something not in my field of view to just tap me on the leg. Well, by the intensity of her digging I could tell she saw more than just “something.”

I looked up and she pointed to my left. When I snuck a peak around the corner of the blind I was surprised to see standing there about 50 yards away a tom in full strut on the edge of the woods. It was probably the one I had spooked out of the other field.

I asked her if there was a hen with him and she said no. That was good. I knew he was strutting our decoy. I gave a very low, seductive series of yelps and that was it. Here he came!!

He strutted the whole way in. I told my wife she was going to have to forget about the shooting sticks and shoot the gun off-hand. Fortunately we had practiced this contingency.

Even though at one point I knew he was in range I told her to let him keep coming. He made it all the way to the decoy at about 15 yards. I had also taught her not to shoot when the turkey was looking straight at you in strut so as not to ruin the fan. We waited for him to turn. When he did I said, “Shoot him.” Boom!!! Dead!! No flop…flutter or anything. It was a perfect shot.

I knew I was going to be excited but I was thrilled to see how excited she was too. She is now officially struck with “the fever.”

It was a great turkey….a nice two year old with 10.25 inch beard and 19 lbs.

The next day she said, “When WE go deer hunting this year….” WE???????

It would appear that a bit of a void in my life that developed when Seth left has been filled. I’m looking forward to sharing more time afield with my new hunting partner!

Father's Day Reflection: The Man Nobody Knows

2011-06-19T20:02:00.004-04:00

Today (Father’s Day) brings many mixed emotions. My middle son “Deuce” came over with his wife and fixed me one of my favorite dishes. It’s a shrimp and crab pasta. Lee/Renee and the grandkids were here. I really miss Seth…a lot. There was a definite “bare spot” with him gone. We laughed and ate and watched a movie. Then grandpa baked cookies with the grandkids. Seth called and we got to hear about his “firefighting exploits.”

During the course of the day, for some reason, “Deuce” wanted to go up in the attic and get down the memory boxes. So up he and Carrie went and down they came. There were pictures and poetry written by the kids when we homeschooled. “Deuce” got particular joy out of reading one of Seth’s old poems to him when he called.

Carrie pulled out a picture and started laughing. It was a picture of me in my full high school football uniform with my dad on Parent’s Night. I had not thought about that picture in years.

Renee started rummaging through the album the picture was in. It contained all the clippings from my high school football and baseball days. We had the short cut off jerseys that showed your mid-riff and Renee commented…”Oh to show my midriff again.” Amen sister!!!

I kept being drawn to the picture of me and my dad. No doubt about it, age does things to perspective. The way I looked at that picture and the things I saw were not what I saw 20 or 30 years ago.

Not many people know much about my dad. I have talked about my mother much more than I ever did my dad. I am sure people must wonder.

My dad died by himself on the streets of Tampa, Florida from alcoholism. When I received that phone call on a Saturday morning in October of 1992, it had been probably four years since I had seen him. They asked me if I wanted to come and claim the body and I said no. I did not want to assume the bills that would go with that. The state said they would bury him.

Harsh? Maybe. However, the man I knew as my father had actually died years before that day. Alcohol took him from me bit by bit.

I’m not going to bring up all the hurt I suffered as a child from his abuse of alcohol and all that accompanied that kind of lifestyle. I let that go a long time ago. I don’t hold it against him.

Father’s Day always brings up mixed emotions for me…..and the timing of the picture showing up today of all days cannot be ignored.

On the one hand, I am so thankful for my wonderful family and all the joy they have brought and are bringing to my life. On the other hand I see that picture and I feel robbed. I think of all that could have been.

Sometimes I think people do not understand my “passion” for hunting. I will admit it is not a “pastime.” It is a passion. I want to do it as much and as often as I can. If I’m not in the woods….I’m thinking about being in the woods.

I owe that passion to my father. The happiest days of my childhood were the days we spent in the woods. All we did was squirrel hunt but we did a lot of it. Probably 25% of my meals growing up involved squirrel. I’ll never forget my first shotgun and then my first rifle. I could take you to the very spot in Florida I shot my first squirrel. I could take you the very spot I shot my first squirrel with a rifle. I could take you to the very place my dad shot a rattlesnake I was about to step on one day. It is amazing the things I can recall. I can recall the sounds of squirrels hitting the palm trees as they moved through the swamps. I can remember sitting on logs and talking to my dad about a number of things.

I’m convinced, my love for hunting and the reason I am out there as often as I can is that it is the only link I have back to my father. As the evening sun sets in October and the coolness takes over and the sky turns red it seems like I can smell the same smells and my senses sense the same things I did so many years ago.

I wish I knew for sure I would see my dad again. I simply believe, as Abraham, that the Judge of all the earth will do what is right. Who knows but that possibly my dad in his dying cried out to the Lord for mercy. I just don’t know.

However, on this day I thank him for introducing me to the outdoors. I have tried to pass that legacy on to my children. Some are obviously more enthusiastic than the others. I do hope, that maybe after I am gone, and they decide to go afield….as the sun sets in October….the evening cool takes over….and red fills the sky….they will smell something or sense something that brings them back to fond memories of time spent in the field with their dad. The only difference being, they know we will walk together again.

I share these little insights into my life….so that people who want to….might come to know me a little more intimately than just the shell they see on the outside.

Happy Father’s Day everyone!!

"Tale of Two Goslings"

2011-06-06T05:56:00.007-04:00

I’m not a mystic. I do not believe in mysticism nor the practice of mysticism. I wrote a paper on mysticism in graduate school and while I appreciate their goal, i.e., practicing the presence of God, I do not agree with their techniques nor the starting point of their theology.

That being said, I do believe in mystical experiences. I guess I better give my definition of such. To me, a mystical experience is the point in time where something happens that God allows you to sense His presence in your life in ways not before experienced. Usually the result of such experiences is a feeling of fear followed by peacefulness. This, by the way, was the reaction of those in the Bible who realized that they had been in the presence of God in a way they had not experienced before.

Before the time I am going to tell you about, another instance I vividly remember having one of these experiences was in December of 2009. I was deer hunting in Kansas. That morning as I walked to my blind it was very cold…..single digits with a hard, hard frost. Every step sounded like walking on rice crispies. I did not need a flashlight in the pre-dawn darkness because it was a full moon. When I arrived at my blind, I hesitated momentarily before stepping in and that is when I noticed it. All around me, everywhere I could see, things were glittering. The trees, the bushes, the ground were sparkling with a thousand lights. There is not a Mainstreet in America that could have produced that kind of Christmas light show. It was by far, one of the most dazzling, beautiful things I had ever seen. I felt like time had stopped. The silence together with the cold air sent a chill down my spine. I knew….God was there. My chill turned to a calmness and peace of spirit that is impossible for us to experience in our busy, running here and there lives. The words from Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God” came to mind. I’ll never forget it.

Now, on to my recent experience. Last Saturday my wife and I were on the way to Greenwood, Indiana. The normal way there is to take 256 into Austin…..31 to 65…and 65 North toward Indy. Done it a million times. However, when I came to the corner of 256 and 3…..I decided (with the Lord’s prompting…explained later) to take SR 3…into Seymour. I never go that way. But on this day, the Lord had something to teach me. He wanted me to walk with Him in a new way.

We had just entered into the Crosley Management area. On the left was a small pond and in the culvert on the right my wife and I saw some small birds. At first, I thought they were turkey poults. It is not uncommon to see the turkeys come to the edge of the road to grab some gravel. It helps them digest their food. Upon a closer look we saw that they were baby geese…aka….goslings. I only saw the one that appeared to be crippled, but my wife said there was another one lying down.

I paid no mind and drove on by. About a quarter mile down the road, my soft side got the best of me and I whipped the car around. We came to the spot and pulled the car over and turned on the hazard lights.

Upon further inspection we saw that it was two Canadian goslings and they were tangled together in a bird’s nest of fishing line. (Take your trash fishing line home please.) They had obviously gotten into it while swimming in the pond across the road. In returning to their nesting area…they were unable to climb the culvert embankment.

It was pathetic. They were both pulling against each other and getting nowhere. I did not have a knife so I was getting ready to use my teeth to break the line free when my wife said she had fingernail clippers in her purse. Perfect.

The first one was less tangled. Just his foot was caught. After I loosed him I asked my wife to hold onto him. I fully intended to put them back in the pond. The next one was really entangled. The line had started to cut into his leg thus causing bleeding. However, the leg was undamaged. I finally got that leg free. The line was also wrapped around his wing. While I was trying to get the wing loose, my wife lost control of the other one, and off he went. At first, I was irritated that she didn’t hold onto it…but….then we both realized he was really moving indicating he was in good shape. I finally got the other one loose….and off he took….to join his sibling. I would have liked to got them to the lake….but at least they had a chance now and they seemed to know where they going.

As we were working, two full blown Indiana red-necks pulled up beside us and asked if we were alright. I can imagine now how it must have looked. My wife standing there and me bent over in the grass. The one man said he thought I was sick so he stopped by to see what he could do. When I told him what happened, he exclaimed…”Praise the Lord!” Wow!! That hit me.

As we left, I felt really good and my time of reflection began. Three things hit me about the event.

First, notice it was the blood-thirsty hunter that stopped to help the animals. It wasn’t P.E.T.A. or some other animal rights whacko!! It was a hunter. We hunters are the true conservationist. We have a deep respect and honor for the game we pursue and do not desire unnecessary suffering for any of them.

Second, those guys stopping struck me. The Bible says in Hebrews that people have “entertained angels unaware.” Could those two guys have been some of my guardian angels? Only God knows. I just found it striking that the guy said, “Praise the Lord.” I don’t have religious symbols on my car and don’t wear them. He saw nothing to give a hint that it would impress me. It was genuine…and so out of place….in that place. That is…unless God is present.

Lastly, the Scripture in Matthew where Jesus said that God sees a sparrow when it falls came to my mind. God knew those goslings were there. And God knew I needed to learn a lesson. I don’t believe in coincidences and the longer I walk the faith….the more I know there are no such things. I was God’s man for this task.

Then, in my mind, God pushed me to remember the rest of that passage. After saying that God sees the sparrow fall, Jesus goes on to ask the rhetorical question, “Are you not more important than that sparrow?”

In these difficult financial times, it is easy to become frightened. It becomes easy to hoard and be less giving….more concerned about self survival rather than the community of faith and our financial obligations to God.

I would suggest, the next time we become a little tight fisted with God’s money, that we remember the story of two little goslings that God cared enough about one day to send a preacher, his wife, and two Indiana red-necks to meet up in the same place.

Then ask the question, “Am I not more important than these?”

God Is Not Your Daddy!

2011-01-25T09:31:00.002-05:00

In the attempt to make people feel more “comfortable” with God, we have again reduced God to our level. This goes right along with the “come as you are” cultural swing we are currently enduring so that we can all just come and “hang out with Jesus” for a while.

Gone are the days of the feeling of awe when entering the presence of God. Gone is the sense of God’s holiness. Gone is the knowledge of His power. Gone is the attitude of the once doubting Thomas who stated falling on his knees….”My Lord and My God.” No sir!! Now we “stand and give Jesus a hand!”

At the forefront of this “Youth Minister” mentality of God is the new mantra of referring to God as “Daddy.” I call it the “Youth Minister” mentality because this is where it first started in the 1980’s. The problem is that those guys were never taught any better and now they are preachers in pulpits.

The oft quoted verse for justification is Romans 8:15….”For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out ‘Abba! Father!”

The word “Abba” is actually used two other times in the New Testament and we will discuss those latter.

The mistake made concerning “Abba” is a major violation of two axiomatic hermeneutical rules (actually a number….but I will focus on two). Hermeneutics are the rules that are supposed to guard interpretation. The false view of “Abba” is that it is akin to our word “daddy” and, therefore, we are to relate to God in the same we relate to our earthly daddies.

The two rules violated by this view are the “Rule of the Priority of Original Languages” and the “Rule of Historical Priority.”

This discussion is not going to be the “sound byte” of interpretation that so many people want today. This discussion will be in depth with plenty of evidence. So buckle your chinstraps!

First, we must begin by discussing the context of the Roman's passage. We must look at immediate context, and, even before that we have to look at the context of the entire book of Romans.

The purpose for which Paul wrote to the church of Rome was to answer the question, “Who are the sons of God?” This question was causing division in the church between the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews were claiming they were still the people of God. The Gentiles were claiming that God had rejected the Jews, and in fact, they were now the people of God. It is kind of hard to enjoy a good potluck when you look down your nose at each other.

This type of division should not be surprising. For years and years these two groups had lived in absolute hatred of each other. Now, they were coming into the same church and worshipping together. It was a cultural shock that is addressed by quite a few incidents and books of the New Testament (discussed later).

So Paul writes to bring an end to the division in the church. In chapter one he points out that the Gentiles have no reason to boast because they are guilty of sin. Even though they did not have the Law they did have the natural revelation and, yet, rejected it. Therefore, they were condemned because of their sin.

You can just see the Jews, as they read this, saying “Amen!!!” However, in chapter two Paul tells the Jews they had the Law and broke it. Therefore, they were condemned by their sin.
Then in chapter three we have the all encompassing verse 23 which states that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words both Jew and Gentile are under the penalty of sin and no one has a reason to boast.

He proceeds in chapters four and five to show that all have been justified by faith in Christ.
Chapter six actually begins the discussion that continues in chapter eight concerning being released from slavery. The slavery that is being referred to is the Law. The purpose of the Law was never to save but rather to condemn, i.e., to enslave. Therefore, everything that was done under the Law was done out of a feeling of slavery to the Law. It was done out of a sense of “have to” in order to escape condemnation.

This would be a good time to introduce one of the other two instances of the word “Abba.” That would be Galatians 4:5-6: “……so that He might redeem those under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying “Abba Father.” (Parenthetical Note: There are no capital letters in the Greek language. The word “spirit” here is unfortunately capitalized in our modern translations. It stands to reason, though, since most translation teams are largely made up of Calvinist who operate from the faulty theological perspective that man can do nothing good unless God enables them. Whether to cap or not to cap is determined by context. In this context, the small “s” is in order as the word should be properly translated “attitude.” You will see why later.)

Again, notice from the context of the Galatians passage, Paul is discussing the release from slavery (i.e., the Law) and adoption as sons. This is appropriate, again, in light of the context of the book. The letter to the Galatian churches was written to combat the false teachers known as Judaisers. The basic theological premise of the Judaisers was that, yes, one becomes a Christian by accepting Christ. They remain a Christian by obedience to the Law. In short, Paul calls this a perversion of the Gospel, and in fact, states that anyone who teaches this is to be “anathematized” (Greek), i.e., “consigned to hell.” (Try using that kind of language from the pulpit in this culture!)

Alright, let’s reflect on what we have learned so far. The use of the word “Abba” in both Romans and Galatians is in the context of being set free from slavery (i.e., the Law) and being received as sons (i.e., by faith in Christ).

Now, let’s move on to one of the rules of hermeneutics broken by the “God is daddy” folks. It is the rule of “The Priority of the Original Languages.” One of the dumbest things I ever hear coming from pulpits is when a Preacher gives the definition of a biblical word from “Webster’s Dictionary.” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that words change meaning in just a generation…..let alone thousands of years. The only definition that is important for the understanding of the text is the definition that comes from the original language (in this case….Greek/Aramaic).

Here is the official Greek definition of the word “Abba” from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Greek Words: “In the Gemara (a rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title.” In other words, there was a way that slaves referred to the head of the house (i.e., the father) and there was a way that those who were a part of the family addressed the father.

Note, there is not a translation of the word anywhere that has the word “daddy” in it. In fact, entomologically speaking, the word “daddy” dates back to only the 1500’s. If you trace the word’s entomology you will note that it has nothing to do with a “feeling” but rather the fact that often the first two sounds uttered by an infant is “da-da” which then lead to the development of the word “daddy.”

The second hermeneutical rule broken by the “God is Daddy” crowd is the “Rule of Historical Priority.” One the biggest wastes of time in the world is any Bible study where people sit around in a circle, read a passage of Scripture, and then go around to each person and ask, “What does that passage mean to you?”

Let me be clear about this. “What it means to you” has absolutely nothing to do with proper interpretation. Only when one has done the work to understand what the writer of the text (in this case Paul) meant when he wrote it can it be truly said that you have interpreted the text. “What it means” to you is “application”…..not “interpretation.”

So what did Paul mean when he used the phrase “Abba?” Again, it is imperative to notice the contrast…..i.e., slavery vs. adoption. One of the biggest mistakes of the “God is daddy” view is it forces a modern understanding of the term “daddy” on a first century culture that would not have the faintest idea of what you were talking about.

Keep in mind, both Romans and Galatians were written to a Roman culture. (Note: The other use of the word “Abba”, which we will look at later, is in the Gospel of Mark….also written to Romans. Are we beginning to see the trend?) In Roman culture, they lived under the Roman law known as “Patria Potestas” (Latin for….father/power). The father had absolute authority over the child including the very power of life and death. This was eventually done away with in the Roman Empire, largely due to the influence of Christianity.

In Roman culture, just because a child was born to you did not mean they were yours. They were not officially recognized as your children until an official adoption took place, usually around age 11. Shortly after the child was born, the father would hire a tutor to train the child to have the spirit and attitude of the father. At about age 11, there would be a day of testing. The father would test the child to see if the tutor had done his job. If the child demonstrated the spirit and attitude of the father he would be officially adopted. They also had the power to sell the child into slavery or even kill them. It was all legal. Once the father adopted the child he was a full member of the family with all the rights/privileges thereof.

Now, does any of that sound like our modern concept of “daddy?” I didn’t hire someone to train my child. I cannot legally sell my child into slavery (I used them at home….ha!). I certainly cannot legally kill my children (unless they are in the womb, but that is another blog). I never had to adopt my kids. They MADE me take them home!

If I was a betting man, I would bet you all are starting to piece this together. It is so obvious once you understand the context, the historical background, and the meaning of the words. So let’s pull it all together.

In Romans and Galatians Paul is saying the same thing (just for different purposes). The Law has nothing to do with our salvation. In Romans Paul said the purpose of the law was to condemn us so we would look to God for grace. In Galatians Paul used the Roman concept of “tutor” in 3:24 to describe the role of the Law, i.e., the law was the Roman tutor who brought us to our day of testing or readiness for adoption as sons. The law is the “tutor.” It is not that which makes us sons.

Instead, we are now adopted as sons!!! We no longer have a slave relationship with God. We have a relationship with God that allows us to use the name that slaves could not use. In fact, there are only four instances in all of the Old Testament where God is referred to as Father. When Jesus taught us how to pray in the model prayer He made it clear that this would now be the cornerstone of our relationship with God, i.e., God as Father, when He said, “Pray in this way, Our Father….”

This brings us to our third and final use of the term “Abba” in the New Testament. It is found in the Garden Prayer of Jesus in Mark 14:36 where Jesus, in His prayer said, “Abba, Father.” In Romans and Galatians Paul makes it clear we have entered into the same relationship with God that Jesus has. We pray as sons!! We are not THE Son….but we are sons…joint heirs with Christ.

So Paul’s argument in Romans is, “Why do you boast of your confidence in the law? The law made you a slave. However, because of the blood of Christ we are no longer slaves but sons and therefore have a different relationship with God. We do not have the spirit/attitude of slavery but of father/child.” He goes on to explain that this applies to Jew or Gentile. Therefore, the answer to the question of Romans “Who are the sons of God?” is……ANYONE (Jew or Gentile) by faith in Christ.

Paul’s argument against the Judaisers in Galatians was, “The Law had nothing to do with salvation. All it does is enslave. It was the tutor. Since you are now adopted as sons, why would you choose to go back and live under the tutor?”

So it becomes very obvious to those who do the homework. The term “Abba” in the text is not meant to be used as a proper name, but is simply descriptive of our relationship with God in contrast to the enslavement of the law.

There is nothing that even be remotely construed to mean “daddy.” If you want to refer to God as “Abba”….FINE!! Use a Bible name. I have no problem with that.

Problems and divisions in Christianity come when people go beyond what the text actually says. Those of us in the Restoration Movement try to the best of our ability to live by this principle laid out by our founding fathers, Campbell, Stone, et. al….”Where the Bible Speaks, We Speak!....and Where the Bible is Silent, We Are Silent.”

The biggest problem I have with the term “daddy” is the irreverence it shows toward God. Remember, in Patria Potestas….even after adoption…the father was the head and held the power.

God is in control! He is in charge! He dwells in unapproachable light which no man has seen nor can see.

The next time you are in church, ask yourself this question…and answer it honestly. If Jesus walked into your assembly…..would you stand and give Him a hand? Would you yell out….”Yo daddy!”

My guess is…if you are honest….you would have the same exact response I would have. It’s the same one Thomas had. We would fall down at His feet and cry out….”My Lord….and My God!” The great thing is that as sons/daughters, His response to us would be, “My child!”

So if you use the term “daddy”…I guess that’s your business (unless you teach at the school I administrate or the church I preach at). In those cases, it would be my business.

However, do you not use the aforementioned scriptures to justify it. You are not even in the ball park and you actually have to ignore everything the text says to come to that belief. That alone ought to be a concern to any true student of the Word.

Seth's Army Basic Graduation Day

2011-01-20T20:08:00.001-05:00

Today is the day Seth graduates from Army Basic Combat Training. I’m currently sitting in a motel room just outside of Fort Jackson, South Carolina. My tremendous wife of 34 years and our daughter Renee are here with me. I know the rest of my great family is with us in thoughts and prayers. I feel the prayers of my church family surrounding me.

It is hard to believe that just eight short months ago, Seth was walking a different aisle. It was his high school graduation. It is true. Time does go faster as you get older.

I will be proud to be in attendance today. Seth has done well, including, being the top shooter in his platoon of 200. We got to see him yesterday at “Family Day” and he looks great. Like I’ve said before, he was already a good man, but the Army has made him stand taller. When he wears that uniform he is a different person. His jaw locks….his shoulders are upright…..and he walks with confidence.

Now, as proud as I will be today, I must admit, I would rather be somewhere else. What? Allow me to explain.

I really wish Seth had chosen to do something else. I wanted him to go to college. I really wanted him to be a lawyer. Those of you who never saw him in a debate really missed it. He was good!! He was quick thinking, articulate, and convincing. He was passionate.

His mom, however, told me later on, after he left for basic, that she knew I was fighting a losing battle. She knew from the time he was age nine that he would go into the Army; he as much as told her. Whenever Seth’s friends came over to play, it was required that they come in camo. He had an armory full of play guns for dispensing and there was always a “fort” built close by to prepare for battle. Jenny said she just figured she had plenty of time to talk him out of it. It didn’t happen.

What drives Seth? “Why did he go into the military” people often ask me. Well, I have a little insight into that. We have a pretty strong military tradition in our family. I had an uncle who was killed at Pearl Harbor. My father in law landed in Normandy on D-Day. I was in the Air Force.

However, that is only part of it. I asked Seth one time why he felt so passionate about this. His response is nothing short of noble. “Dad….I owe it to this country for providing me the opportunities that I have.”

That played out the day he left for Basic on Sunday, October 17th at 3:30 PM (I remember it that well). I will admit….I lost it. I hugged him and held him as tight as I had ever held him before and told him I loved him. After a minute he pulled away and said, “I gotta go Dad.” It wasn’t a “I’m late and gotta run” statement. It was a statement of moral imperative. This was something he felt he had to do.

So, who am I to stand in his way?

Another reason my wife and I don’t want to be here today, is we know where this is going. We know that eventually we will be saying goodbye for an extended period of time as he serves an overseas deployment. As one military mother told me that is when the real ache in your heart will occur.

However, who am I to expect other parents to do this and feel that mine are exempted?

So here we are today. Very proud! The ache in our hearts will be pushed down deeper. We will smile and hug and cheer.

We will let him know that as long as he chooses this course of action that his family will be his biggest fans!!

Hooah Private Gabbard!

Seth's Graduation Day

2010-05-22T10:31:00.008-04:00

Well….today is the day. It is the day I have thought about since the first day of school on August 4th. In fact, if you remember, I mentioned it in an e-mail that day.

It is the graduation day of my youngest/last child…..Seth.

I need to ask my congregation's forgiveness right up front. I am not going to be myself today. Don't be offended if I seem like I'm off in my own little world. It doesn't seem that way. I am. I knew this going in to today which is why I asked someone I respect very much to speak today. Brian Schulz, Seth's youth minister for the last four years/PE Coach/Chemistry teacher/Asst. Debate and Archery Coach, will be speaking.

I need to apologize up front to my "Man Class." I am not going to be the embodiment of "manhood" today. My "feminine" side is going to show way too much. I feel like such a WUSS. I may have to be dismissed as the leader of the class. I understand.

What I don't understand is….."What is wrong with me?" Today is supposed to be a "happy" day right? Why do I feel like I'm going to a funeral? All this previous week, I would just be driving down the road…and all the sudden here come the tears. I haven't known whether to be angry or "admit" myself somewhere.

Make no mistake….I could not be happier and prouder of who Seth is as person and what this represents concerning his accomplishments. Ask any student of KCA….we do not GIVE diplomas away. They are earned….and those who cannot make it drop out. We had three in April who could no longer hack it and more may be dropping out yet. It takes a lot of hard work to earn a KCA diploma. I will NEVER lower the academic standards….nor the expectations of our students to strive for excellence as opposed to mediocrity.

So as I try to evaluate what the problem is here, I can only come up with one answer. It's not Seth that is the problem here. It is "Father Time." Man I hate him!!

Seth's graduation is forcing me to face some issues that I didn't really want to deal with….(as if I thought I would be exempt). I think the fact that Seth leaves for the Army in October exacerbates the problem.

My beautiful bride and I are about to step off in to the "fall" of our lives…i.e., the "empty nest" syndrome.

Oh yeah….I put on a big show for years…joked about it….said I was looking forward to it. BULL!!! My bluff has been called.

I have had people tell me…."Embrace it."

NO!!!! I don't want to and you can't make me!!!

When turkey hunting in Kansas I shared with Seth a little about what I was dealing with. I was wondering if we would ever hunt in that place again. He tried to comfort me by saying…."Oh Dad….there were be lots more times."

Oh…but it's different now. No longer will I have the ability to say…"Hey….let's load up and go do this or that." No…now it will be…."Well…if I can get off then"….and "No……I got other commitments"….and then, of course, there may well be…."I'm deploying to Afghanistan next week." Gonna be hard for me to "swing by" and pick him up there.

Seth is a special child….not just because he is my youngest. He is the only one created on purpose. Renee and Deuce were accidents. (I wish all my accidents turned out that good!!)

For those of you that don't know….we named him "Seth" because of a child that we lost shortly after Deuce was born. Seth's name in Hebrew is "replacement."

Seth is his father's son……he has so many of my characteristics….good or bad….and I am going to miss seeing him in the halls of KCA everyday. He brought an atmosphere to the school that defines what KCA is and what it stands for.

Well….I gotta go. Time to put on my suit and tie and attempt to put on my "happy face." I'll try to do good….I promise.

I just hope you all at Kent will forgive me and not think less of me.

Oh…and Seth….if for some reason I cannot say the words to you today….I am so proud of you.

Where ever your life takes you in this world don't forget a couple of things…….1) Don't ever forget WHO you belong to….i.e., who bought you with His blood; 2) Don't ever forget from where you came…i.e, the morals and standards you have been taught; 3) Don't ever forget….you are and always will be a KCA Patriot!!!!

I love you son!

(Pic below is Seth standing outside the room at the parsonage in Kansas where he was born 18 1/2 years ago.)

Why We Don't Have A Saturday Worship Service

2010-02-09T06:24:00.007-05:00

Through the years I have been asked why I don't cave in to the pressure and give in to the "cultural swing" to have a Saturday worship service.

Well....first....from a pragmatic point of view.....no one has ever been able to answer this question for me.....By what logic does someone conclude.....if people cannot make time for the Lord on the "Lord's Day'......what makes you think they will make time on one of the biggest party days of the week....i.e., Saturday?

If someone will share their answer to that question with me....I would truly be appreciative. However, answer to that question not withstanding.....it does not change this fact for me. Namely....there is absolutely no evidence at all that the early church met on Saturday night at 6 PM (or any other time on Saturday for that matter). Here are some of the weaknesses of that position.

First.....the early church never operated by the Jewish time schedule. From the beginning, they operated on Roman time. It was a Roman world....and Roman culture. Therefore, the writers of the gospels made it clear concerning the Resurrection....."On the morning of the first day of the week."

Second....those who argue for Saturday worship make the inaccurate claim that Sunday began at 6 PM on Saturday for the early church. This is simply WRONG! Sunday for the Jews would have begun at SUNDOWN....not necessarily.....6 PM. So for a church to be consistent.....they would have to adjust their start times on Saturday nights to accommodate Daylight Savings Time. That would mean for instance, in the summer.....in order for them to follow their position consistently.....they would have to wait till around 10 PM to start worship. Yuck! That's rough on an old man like me that goes to bed around 9 PM. And...what about those folks in Alaska who have darkness six months a year?

Third.....the early church fathers (eg. Eusebius/Tertullian)....were very clear in describing the worship of the church for the first 300 years. The routine of the "Lord's Day" was as follows....they met before daylight on Sunday morning to sing and to pray before going to work (since the majority of them were slaves). Then, at the end of the day, they met for a fellowship meal (called the "Agape Feast"....discussed in 1 Cor. 10-11). During this time they had the Lord's Supper and teaching. You see an example of this in Act 20 where Paul extended his message into midnight.

Fourth....the purpose of meeting on Sunday, i.e., the First Day of the Week, by the early church was to commemorate the empty tomb and what it represented which was discovered on "the morning of the first day of the week."

Fifth....there is not one single shred of extra-biblical evidence for Saturday worship. It is one thing to be "un-traditional." It is another thing to stray from apostolic precedent.

Sixth...since the purpose of our early Restoration Movement fathers (eg. Campbell/Stone/Smith) was to restore the faith and practices of the early New Testament Church....here is a question to ponder....Why is there not one single suggestion in all of their writings to suggest moving worship to Saturday night? For men whose intelligence level was far above mine.....for them to "miss this".....seems, at the least, baffling to me.

Until someone can offer some serious answers to these objections, I feel obligated to maintain Sunday as the designated day of collective worship for the saints.

Another Year....Another Visit with Mr. Caleb Geary....and a New Addition!

2010-02-03T16:37:00.009-05:00

Today marked the second year that I was invited to and made time for an "Appreciation Day" for local ministers at the Indiana Christian Academy in New Albany.

Last year and this year I was invited by Mr. Caleb Geary....son of Rob and Danielle. However, this year....there were two additions.

First.....Caleb's little sister Kirsten, as a member of the Kindergarten class.....was in the program. She was adorable....and I might add...quite the leader. She made sure another student knew where to stand....and I mean...right now!!!!

Second....my Associate/Youth Minister.......Brian Schulz joined me.

Brian and I were both blessed.....not just by these two young folks from our church......but all the young people. Every single one of them shook our hands when we left....and almost everyone of them.....dressed in their pretty dresses and shirts and ties.....grabbed our hands and looked in our eyes when they spoke to us. Something you just don't see from your average young person today.

It again adds to what most of us already know. Education in a Christian institution is well worth it to those willing to pay the price.

Thanks again for the invite Mr. Caleb and Miss Kirsten. Lord willing....I'll be there again next year!

CHOICES!

2010-01-11T05:30:00.005-05:00

Not too long ago I was listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio. I've listened to Rush for years, though not as faithfully recently, since I got my Sirius radio and listen to a lot of Fox News. However, I was glad I turned it on that day as Rush woke me up to a wonderful truth of life. Here it is……"The only limits in life are the ones we place on ourselves." Wow!! What a simple but enlightening truth. Let me tell you the context of that statement.

A woman called Rush complaining about unemployment and the fact that she could not find work. After listening to her gripe and complain for a while Rush said, "Can I ask you a few questions?" "Sure" she replied.

The first question he asked her was, "Are you willing to move anywhere to find employment?" Immediately she responded…."No." When Rush asked her "Why?"…..she began to give her reasons. She had a house….she had family….she had friends…so she didn't want to move away…..etc…etc.

What Rush said to her next may have sounded cold to many people but he was right on the money. He said, "Then you and I have nothing more to talk about. You have made CHOICES….and those choices you have made have limited your options. So please don't complain about the economy and job situation when you have clearly made your boundaries and you have to live within those boundaries and the limited choices that are there."

After the woman hung up Rush then made that wonderful and profound observation…."The only limits in life are the ones we place on ourselves."

I have had Preacher friends throughout life that complained that they could not find a church to serve at. When I questioned them further about why they were having a problem it became clear to me what the problem was. They were looking for open pulpits in a limited geographical location. In other words, their prayers to God would have sounded like this…."Dear God…I'll go where you want me to go….AS LONG AS….it is between this county and this county or this state and that state…or as long as it is near my family…..or around where I am paying for a house." You see…..they put limits on themselves and God…and yet wanted to complain when things did not happen. (By the way…I might add…that I think it is an affront to God to be ordained into the ministry…..which says that you are a servant of the gospel….and then you tell God where you are going to go…..or more precisely….where you WILL NOT go.) Whenever I was looking for a pulpit, anywhere was an open field for me. I've been know to send resumes to Alaska!

Same thing is true with going to college. The simple fact is this, the more education you have, the more doors open for you. I drill this into the heads of High School students all the time. So….don't complain about being unemployed if all you have is a High School diploma. Don't complain if you can't move up in the company because all you have is a two year degree….etc….etc. When you made YOUR CHOICE about how much college was enough…..you then set the stage for your life and what options were available to you. The only limits you have are the ones you place on yourself.

Don't complain about your job or the hours you have to keep or the travel you have to do. The job you have is the one you have because of the CHOICES you have made in life. If you are bound and determined that you are never going to move from your hometown, then fully expect that you are not always going to have a job that you are happy with. Business and industry are changing. They move in and they move out. You either have to go with the flow or make the CHOICE that you will go where the job is that you do want. I believe the national average is that the average American changes careers four times during the course of their life.

I could go on and on but I think the truth is obvious here. We alone are responsible for our happiness. Most of our circumstances in life are the result of CHOICES we have made.

Often times in life the CHOICES we make are not "good" or "bad." They are just CHOICES. However, we must realize that whatever choices we make have advantages and disadvantages. Happiness in life is measured by us learning to live with the consequences of choices we have made. If we are unhappy then we simply need to make different choices. However, realize when you do that, there will be advantages and disadvantages to those choices.

The point is, we are more in control of our life then we think we are. It is so easy to blame the government, big corporations, the bad economy, and those darn Chinese!! However, Rush's simple truth is so apparent….."The only limits in life are the ones we place on ourselves."

Think about it! The more you do the more you will see how true it is.

Merry Christmas 2009 from the Gabbard's!

2009-12-24T06:29:00.001-05:00

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/ElMkkdlKX2SIdHH6

Tiger Woods/Intimacy/Sex/and My New Book!

2009-12-11T09:09:00.004-05:00

By now, I'm sure most of us have wearied of the "Tiger Woods" story. Hardly a day goes by that another woman doesn't step forward or a new "Tiger Woods Joke" is sent to me via e-mail.

I'll be honest, I follow Tiger Woods so little that I wasn't really sure whether or not he was married and I sure did not know that he had children yet.

For those in the know, I am sure that Tiger's wife is receiving plenty of sympathy. "Oh this must be devastating." "How hurtful this must be." "I hope she takes him to the cleaners!"

It is true she is probably hurt. There is little doubt she will not have to work another day in her life. However, I'm here to ask the question, "What about Tiger?"

The current Tiger Wood's soap opera, in my mind, is just a very public manifestation of a deeper problem in many marriages. That problem is the lack of intimacy and the sexual relationship that is borne out of that intimacy.

Did anyone ever ask, "Why did Tiger feel the need to do this?" Did anyone ever stop to consider that maybe Tiger's wife was not fulfilling both his emotional and physical needs? (Boy I can see the lady's reading this steaming right now.) Hear me out ladies!

Statistics show that the vast majority of men who hire prostitutes are married and that most often the prostitutes are hired to serve more as "companions" rather than just sexual toys. Often times they are hired because the husbands are not receiving the fulfillment of a particular sexual act in their marriage. Since there is no "intimacy' in the marriage, there is no comfort level with "talking about it" so rather than deal with the hassle the man simply seeks a prostitute. He loves his wife. However, his wife has contributed to an atmosphere that makes him uncomfortable talking to her about his sexual needs.

I have been doing marriage counseling many years now. I have seen more than my share of divorces and I can tell you that at the forefront of the vast majority of those divorces is unfulfilled needs for intimacy and sex. Women suffer the most from the lack of intimacy and men suffer the most from the lack of sex (and yes men….there is a difference between "intimacy" and "sex").

My research has shown that having sex once or twice a month is the norm for far too many couples. I'm not talking "old folks" here. I'm talking the average younger to middle aged couple in America. To put it bluntly…..that is not natural! Physically speaking, especially for the man in general, he is ready for sex every 48 hours at a minimum. A woman that is in tune intimately with her husband will have that same drive. Any couple whose normal sex life does not include the desire for sex at least two to three times a week needs to examine the reasons why because if you don't…..there will be problems down the road. Trust me.

Now we must ask…"Why?" Why do so many couples have trouble with intimacy and sex? I cannot answer for everyone. However, I can answer for many in the church.

The problem, again, is two-fold…..Intimacy/Sex. Concerning intimacy I would like to ask, "What ever happened to romance?" My wife and I have been married for almost 33 years and we still have a "date" night once a week (or at least try). "Date" night means no kids!!! It means getting dressed up and going to a sit down dinner and talking and sharing without the interruption of day to day living. I don't answer the phone….I don't care who it is.

This was highlighted a few years ago when my wife and I went out for Valentine's Day. We went to a very fancy, very expensive place for dinner. We were shocked when we went in there to find young couples coming in with…..their children!!!!! My gosh….forget the fact that they even brought them on what should have been a very romantic night………but I want to know….what's wrong with McDonald's???

I watched the women in both scenarios all night long as they struggled with the kids and I can assure you of this…….there was no sex that night in that household and if there was it was nothing to steam the windows about!

What about romantic get-ways? What happened to those? I've been to Disney and I see what a family vacation is. I'm not impressed. There are kids yelling and screaming, throwing tantrums, falling asleep on the floors and throwing up. I can just see the motel room that night. The kids finally get to bed. Dad has the sparkle in his eye. Mom looks at Dad with disgust, "Is that all you think about?" (Well…yeah….pretty much.)

Family vacations are fine but men your lady is craving a romantic get-away. It doesn't have to be long. Two days--two nights is all it takes. It doesn't have to be expensive. A little "Bed/Breakfast" a few miles away in a different town. Give her the romance and the intimacy she desires. Do that and watch how the steam builds in the engine room! However, most men don't have a clue when it comes to intimacy.

The second part of the problem is the issue of sex. In particular, I lay the blame for much of this at the foot of the church. Is there another subject that is more of a "hush-hush" than sex in the church? Now don't get me wrong. We spend a lot of time telling people what they shouldn't do. We are great at the "THOU SHALT NOTS AND IF THOU DOEST THOU SHALTEST GOEST TO HELL!" (That's my attempt at KJV humor.) However, we spend no time telling people what they CAN do!

You would be amazed through the years of the questions I have gotten from church members asking if a particular sex act was alright. You might be equally amazed that all those questions, every single one of them, came from……..WOMEN!

I know what happens. The husband desires a particular sex act. The woman either consents and feels guilty and thus needs to clear her conscience…..or….she tells her husband she will think about it and then calls me. The most common word used by the women in those conversations with me is…."dirty"…i.e., "I had always believed that was dirty."

When did the word "dirt" get thrown in with sex? A number of years ago, Christian song writer Geoff Moore, in response to those bashing Christian rock, wrote a song entitled, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" Well…I would like to ask the question, "Why should the Devil have all the good sex?"

The church has a history of following a lot of bad traditions of the Catholic church. I've noticed in the Christian Church that I'm a part of, for instance, we have some traditions surrounding the Lord's Table that has nothing to do with Bible, but everything to do with Catholic theology of the Lord's Table.

I think we have followed Catholic teaching in much of our view of sex. We have followed the Catholic dualistic thinking that because sex is physical, by nature, there is something inherently wrong with it. We try to convince ourselves that it is OK with God. However, we always have a nagging feeling about it.

In fact, I think many follow the thinking of Catholic scholar Peter Lombard of the 12th century who said that "The Holy Spirit leaves the room when a couple has sex." Much of the Catholic teaching on sex has centered on the premise that sex is only for procreation. Time does not permit here, however, there was even a time in Catholic history where they tried to control when and how often a couple would have sex.

It was Martin Luther, the Reformer of the 16th century that began to change some attitudes about sex. He once even wrote a newlywed friend of his that he would have sex with his own wife that evening so he could enjoy the same feelings that his friend would be having that evening. Wow Preacher!! Try telling that to the groom you just married off!!

However, the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era seems to have locked us into a mentality of sex that we are having a hard time breaking out of. Listen to how one Victorian woman put it….."One cardinal rule of marriage should never be forgotten: give little, give seldom, and above all give grudgingly." --RUTH SMYTHERS, Instruction and Advice for the Young Bride (1894) My experience and research tells me a lot of women are still following this advice!

Someone I know has just written a very good blog about porn. He points out how many Christian couples are looking at porn and he is right. Statistics don't lie. However, I do not think their intentions are always evil. Many are looking for answers and porn, in their minds, seems to be the only place they can get answers. The sad truth is, they are probably right.

There is no doubt that they get answers. However, as with anything the Devil is involved in, it is never the answer you need. Whatever answers that are arrived at come with a price tag attached and many inherent dangers.

So what are Christian couples to do? Where do you go when you have straight forward, very intimate questions about sex?

And now we come to the announcement of the book I'm writing!!
The title of the book is……ROMANCING SARAH'S DAUGHTER: A STRAIGHT FORWARD CHRISTIAN GUIDEBOOK FOR INTIMACY AND SEX ©
(Dr. Danny R. Gabbard, Sr., Kent, Indiana)

My book will cover the two topics of intimacy and sex. (Again guys, the two are not the same. I have to keep telling men that.)

I already have the chapter divisions done.

In the section on intimacy I will discuss the reason for the loss of intimacy in marriage and how to rekindle and keep the fire of romance ablaze for a lifetime. I think it is sad that a few years back our local newspaper featured an article that showed that most high school students in our area were convinced they would not find love for a lifetime. They fully expect divorce to be the norm. Much of the attention in this chapter will be directed towards men. You don't have to teach a woman how to be romantic….just responsive.

In the section on sex…..I will probably lose my job and may never be hired as a preacher again. That's why I'm struggling with when to release the book after I finish it. My goal in the book is to be so frank and honest and straight forward (my typical nature) on the topic of sex that couples will no longer have the need to look at porn. I'm going to cover anything you can imagine on the topic of sex…..all the way from sexual fantasies to male impotency……from positions to orgasms…..from role playing to toys. All those things you have been "hearing about"…..we will discuss whether it's "myth or truth." We will discuss the reality of sex versus the porn image.

My goal in the book is for couples to rediscover their "Garden of Eden." The premise that drives my book is the same one that guides my Christianity….i.e., if it is not explicitly forbidden in Scripture…then enjoy it! Couples need to learn how to "play" again. We take sex far too seriously!!

The title comes from 1 Peter 3 where Christian women are urged to be the "daughters of Sarah."

So pray for me as I begin this journey. I'm not sure how long it will take to write and I do struggle about the release of the book. I have to balance the concerns of my future with my concerns for the hurting couples out there.

You might help me by dropping me a line of encouragement….or by telling me to put you down early for two copies.

Also, feel free to send me your questions about sex. I will answer you immediately and I will use your question in my book (respecting your confidentiality of course).

I really believe if I had written this book sooner, there would have been fewer couples in my office on the verge of divorce through the years. I believe every year I procrastinate brings couples closer to the edge.

Well, I gotta go. Things to do today….and tonight is date night!!

Swine Flu!! Oh...the Sky is Falling!!!! Obama Save Me!!!

2009-08-28T17:19:00.001-04:00

Check out this video by Texas Congressman.....Dr. Ron Paul (that's right...he's a medical doctor).

And before you discount his words......REMEMEMBER....the words of Rohm Emmanuel, President Obama's Chief of Staff who said earlier this year......

"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

Remember that folks...before you allow them to stick you with a needle!!!!!

Now watch the video......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u81Amqt_UpQ

This Is Who Will Replace Your Family Doctor If Obama Gets His Way!!!

2009-08-12T11:16:00.004-04:00

Video Games...OK...I GET IT NOW!

2009-07-06T13:21:00.003-04:00

As most of you know…..I ain't no fan of video games (my apologies to the English teachers at KCA). However, a current book I am reading is making me rethink my "hardcore" line….especially for boys and men.

Let me say from the outset…..I still think the following about video games….

1. The amount played by children and teenagers should be closely monitored and restricted by parents. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable concerning the physiological and educational development in children who spend too much time in front of the video games.

2. Concerning adults playing video games……MODERATION IS THE KEY. There are far too many emotionally starved wives and children out there who need dad to spend more time with them. ALSO……read a book once in a while!

Now….with that being said….let me say now, that even though they are not for me….I see the attraction of men and boys to video games…..and they are attracted to them.

Current stats show that 62% of all gamers are male. 38% are female and that number is rising. Interestingly, that number is climbing in conjunction with the rise in female violent crimes. (I do not see the two as unrelated….but that's the subject of another blog.)

Historically and now, however, the largest group of gamers are male. Why? I now know the answer.

I'm currently reading a book entitled…."Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow. In this book he talks about why church for many years has been so "unattractive to men" and he suggests ways to reverse things in your church and draw more men.

I would suggest…..what draws men to video games is the same reason they will be drawn to church.

First….we must understand that God created men with the following characteristics…..strong, heroic, adventuresome, risk-takers, conquerors, builders, victors, destroyers of evil, protectors, providers, fun lovers, competitive, masculine, aggressive, and physical….just to name a few. (By the way.....notice how I just described most of the great men of the Bible!)

In other words….all the things YOU DON'T FIND IN CHURCH….and in fact….everything that is now "played down" in a society that encourages men to "get in touch with their feminine self." In church we reward the "meek and humble!" GAG!!!

On the other hand….where is one of the last places you can find an outlet for these God designed characteristics?? VIDEO GAMES!!

In video games men and boys get to……be strong, heroic, adventuresome, risk-takers, conquerors, builders, victors, destroyers of evil, protectors, providers, fun-lovers, competitive, masculine, aggressive, physical…and yes I'll say it…"studly!!" (Look at the hard stone carved bodies of most of the male heroes in video games!)

So guys….I get it. I really do!! Not only do I get it…..but in moderation…I approve. Go for it! Video games are one of the last places men can live out and pursue these God given characteristics. Now all we have to do is take some of the ways the video games meet those needs and translate them into church!

Like I said…they are still not for me. I find that fulfilling my "hunter" instincts satisfies my primal male God given urges.

But for the "gamers" out there!! God bless ya! Go for it man!!

Am I a Prophet or What!?!?!?

2009-06-19T14:28:00.003-04:00

First.....for those of you who have the courage to "think outside the box" by reading this blog.....let me remind you of what I wrote on June 11th......

Mark my word on this one!!!......Obama will now offer huge tax incentives to individuals who buy one of his "Obamobiles" in the guise of "Patriotism" and helping your country out (global warming...etc..etc).

NOW......

........what do we have on the front page of today's local Madison Courier? Here's the headline......Cash for Clunkers....Consumers Could Get Up to $4,500 toward a new car

Oh my goodness....I scare myself!!!!

Here is a link that tells you the details of the plan......

http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/

For now....you are not limited to GM/Chrysler products. BUT COME ON!! Are the "sheeple" so naive as to not know that this is laying the groundwork for that next step?? (i.e., tax incentives for govt. built vehicles)

Has this administration seen a spending bill it would not sign yet?? People are going to buy new cars now...and their grandchildren are going to be paying for them!!!

Not to mention....how in the heck did this get attached to an "Emergency War Spending" bill??

Is anyone out there besides me blind to what is going on?? Are you happy to see your government now controlling everything you do including the cars you drive??

No doubt....some of you readers will jump on this opportunity. You will rationalize it with......"Hey...I've paid my taxes!!"

Let me also remind you of what I said back on June 11th.....

Don't do it folks. Don't sell "capitalistic" American principles out for a few more bucks in your pocket!!!

I just finished reading Thomas Paine's "Common Sense".....written in February of 1776 to urge the signing of the then debated "Declaration of Independence." He said....

"Commerce diminishes the spirit....of patriotism."

How sad.....and true!

How did we go from a great capitalistic nation........to the very throws of socialism??

For the answer to that....read my other blog entries......(or make it simple and just check out the textbooks your teenagers are bringing home from High School).

Be that what it may.....try as you might like....you can no longer say I don't know what I'm talking about!

No...I'm not a prophet. However....I am a student of history and logic....and the road to the left...ALWAYS....goes in only one direction.

No Comment Needed

2009-06-15T08:56:00.001-04:00

http://patdollard.com/2009/06/teacher-fired-school-affiliated-web-site-was-too-patriotic/

My Prediction About the Economy

2009-06-11T12:53:00.006-04:00

Since people are always asking me about the present state of the economy and what I think....here goes......

First....Unemployment....during the best years of the robust Bush years the unemployment rate was 4.1%. To me....those people represented a group that are never going to work...i.e., the welfare mentality folks. Therefore, with the national rate currently at 9.4%.....that means there are only 5% truly unemployed. Of that 5% the vast majority are high school graduates.....or high school drop-outs. Of the total unemployment figures...only a small percentage are those who went to college and advanced their education. Now listen...I realize that if you are unemployed right now.....these facts don't help you much. However, they should encourage you. I tell kids in the Academy all the time....the more education you have the more doors will open for you. This has been proven statistically. An individual with just an A.A. degree will earn 1 million more in life than a typical High school grad. Add to this the fact.....that many companies that are hiring right now....are struggling to find QUALIFIED workers. Thus many are turning to people overseas to come to the US and fill positions. I've been telling kids at the Academy for years now...."No longer are you competing just against Johnny down the street for your job. You are competing on a world market....i.e., Juan, Achmed, and Yin Yang. " If you are out of work right now....it might be the perfect time to advance your education and better your bartering power in the job market. Again...if you are one of the unemployed I know it is hard to accept....but the fact is....things are not as bad as the "crisis" driven administration would have us believe so they can spend another trillion $$$$$.

Second....Future of the Recession.....I believe we are at the end of the freefall. The only thing mitigating against that is gas prices. It would appear the speculators are back in the market driving the prices up. That's right...speculators...not market factors, i.e., supply and demand. Demand is down...way down worldwide...and yet the prices are going up. Many are now admitting (that would not last year) that the market is being tampered with. Congress could do things to change this.....but let me say here....THEY WILL NOT. Why? Last time we had a president who didn't care what we were paying. Now we have one who wants us to pay more....way more....so that we will be forced to buy his "Obamobiles." Be that what it may.....if gas prices don't throw things too far out of whack...I believe the freefall is over.

HOWEVER....I do not expect a recovery of any significance before possibly the fall of 2010....and only if one factor occurs. That is.....a rush of conservative politicians in office to hold Obama at bay. (Notice I said "conservative"....not "Republican." There is now a difference.) You see...right now people are afraid of their government therefore they are afraid to invest...in anything. How do I know this? The savings rate is currently the highest it has been in 30 plus years. The money is there. But people do not want to invest it....for fear the government will tax so much of their earnings. Businesses are afraid to hire....and invest......because they know higher taxes are probably coming. Until there is a government in place that seems to be on the side of the "producers" in society......the economy will basically "flat line" until then.

Last.....Obama and GM......this was a great tragedy. Because GM went under? No!! Because for the first time in history....the courts said...and the Supreme Court backed up the assertion by not hearing the case....that a contract doesn't matter. When you buy bonds in a company....that is a contract. That contract says that if the company liquidates...the first ones to get paid are those who actually invested in the company. Not this time!! The courts reversed that....and said....THE UNIONS would get paid off first. (Funny how that works out since it is a well known fact that Unions vote the majority of times with the Democrats!)

Mark my word on this one!!!......Obama will now offer huge tax incentives to individuals who buy one of his "Obamobiles" in the guise of "Patriotism" and helping your country out (global warming...etc..etc).

Don't do it folks. Don't sell "capitalistic" American principles out for a few more bucks in your pocket!!! If you buy a GM product from this point on.....YOU....are part of the problem.

Buy vehicles from folks who said "No thanks" to government intrusion and decided to make it on their own. Those are the true Patriots!

So for those of you who thought you could sit on the sidelines during the last election because "it doesn't affect me".......I hope you have had your "wake-up" call. Your vote....does make a difference.

You need to start reading.....watching some news (hopefully Fox News so you get the truth).....know what the issues are.

Because some of you have found out the hard way.....what happens in Washington....eventually does come to bite you in the..........................

I inserted this blog....because like I said....people ask me about what I see the future holding. Now I can just point them to the blog.

However...I have other reasons. First.....to keep people optimistic. If your Preacher can't keep you optimistic....who will. God does not forsake the righteous. Second, this is the third recession I've lived through. I've been in the "sky is falling" atmosphere before so I believe I have some perspective.

"god?" You Have Got to Be Kidding Me!!!

2009-06-09T14:22:00.004-04:00

Yep....the mainstream media is now even referring to Obama as...."god."

I kid you not. Check it out.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4VZ8xCzOg

Obama: The Closet Muslim

2009-06-03T07:15:00.003-04:00

In January of this year Obama said in a speech to Turkey.......

"We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation......"

And yet.....in an interview yesterday with Laura Haim on Canal Plus, a French television station, Mr. Obama stated that US could be considered as......

“one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”

Do you remember during the campaign how he shyed away from any reference to his Muslim background? Do you remember how he did not want people using his middle name..."Hussein?"

Well now.....as he continues his "World Apology Tour" to the Muslims in Cairo, Egypt....one of the most radical Muslim regimes in the world.....sources close to the administration are saying that he is going to bring his Muslim background to the forefront. We are now going to hear about other Muslim relatives and ties that he has.

Those of you who took my class on Islam.....I want to ask you....."Did I not predict this is exactly what would happen? Didn't I???"

Further evidence??

As soon as the baby killer George Tiller was gunned down......Obama immediately....and rightly so....condemned the act.

However....yesterday.....two American military recruiters were gunned down in Arkansas by a Muslim.

Where are the remarks from Obama?? He has been as silent as the Tiller abortion table is today.

Again folks.....WAKE UP!! The Babylonians are being catered to and even invited in! We are losing our country and 2010 may be the last vestige of hope to halt the march toward destruction.

If You Won't Listen To Me.....Will You at Least Listen to the Former Soviet Union??

2009-06-01T17:54:00.005-04:00

It is a well known fact that most people, despite the brilliant logic and hard-core facts that are shared....think I am a blow-hard.

This is especially true when it comes to the following topic....the move toward socialism and the place of public schools in that move.

Fine!! You dont' want to listen to me? Then would you at least give an ear to a newspaper columnist from the former USSR (which stands for the UNITED SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC...for those of you in public school who failed geography and history)? Of course, they are simply known as "Russia" since their turn to democracy under the Reagan era (the last real president we had).

Here is the article. You will hear him say many of the same exact things I have been saying for the last two years. I will put in blue print things I have said on this very blog. Here we go......

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.
First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

And lest you think I made this up.....here is the source......
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/

The columnist goes on to say that America no longer has any right to lecture Russia on the topic of "freedom".....to which I must say...."Amen!"

I beg you folks.....YOU HAD BETTER WAKE UP!!!! The road to slavery is being constructed quickly!

Don't shoot the messenger!

Church Shopping????

2009-05-04T06:22:00.005-04:00

A recent survey poll showed that 42% of Americans choose their next church by "church shopping." That is....they approach the selection of a church in the same way that they shop for clothes, food, music, or other entertainment.

So in light of that.....a friend of mine a number of months ago sent me a little ad that shows how "Barbie" has now gotten in on the act to help out that 42% of Americans. Here you go......

Successful Merriam's Turkey Hunt in South Dakota!!

2009-04-18T06:54:00.020-04:00

My serious pursuit of a "Turkey Grand Slam" with a bow began in 2005. I was unsuccessful at taking a turkey at all in 2005 with my bow. I took a Rio in Kansas in 2006......and an eastern in Indiana in 2007. In 2008 I took another Rio and an Eastern but did not have a chance to hunt elsewhere.

My last attempt at a Merriam's turkey was in Colorado in 2006. Even though it was a great hunt, I failed in my attempt to take one with a bow. I had a shot at five yards.....only to have the arrow catch the bottom of the blind and foil that attempt.

This year I decided to give it another try. However, I knew I did not want to go back to Colorado. While it was nice, they did not have the number of birds I think that bowhunting them requires. Bowhunting turkeys is a numbers game. That is, the more birds there are, the greater your chances of success.

As I began to research, there was one place that constantly came up as a prime Merriam turkey bow hunting location. That place was Double K Outfitters in Gregory, SD. This place has been used as the "field research" location for the team at DoubleBull Blinds for years.

After talking a number of times with Dave Keiser, the owner, I booked a hunt in February....and off I went on April 13th. I decided to forgo my annual trip to Kansas to hunt turkeys and do this instead.

After spending the night in Yanktown, S. Dakota I arrived in camp about 10 AM. I was met by Dave who encouraged me to get my things squared away and get ready to go hunting. Sure enough...a few minutes later my guide Josh and the videographer Bob showed up. Josh, my guide, is a well known videographer himself having worked for many big names in the hunting industry. Bob, in addition to being a videographer has guided for elk in Idaho for a number of years and is a Field Staff member of Flambeau outdoor products maker of Feather Flex decoys. At 68......he still carries his 80 lb. guide pack around like a young man. In fact, it was everything I could do to stay up with him.

Our first setup was in a beautiful draw full of oak trees. While we never saw anything....it gave me a chance to "get into the mood".......eat a sandwich...and "wind down." The sun was shining, the sky were clear.......and it was peaceful.

After about two hours.....Josh got a call from Dave that he had spotted some gobblers in another field owned by Brooks Johnson (co-founder of Double Bull Blinds). So we headed that way. We met Dave who instructed Josh where to set up.

We set up on the edge of an alfalfa field bordered by a woodline with a small creek running through it. About thirty minutes into our setup......we were greeted by a gobble response from down in the creek to one of my calls. I called again. I looked down to adjust something on my bow and when I looked back up there were three black bodies moving through the tall grass towards the field. Could this be over so quick?? When the turkeys stepped into the field we saw that they were just jakes and therefore were safe with me. Double K allows the shooting of jakes but I was going to pass and hold out for a big tom.

We watched them strut around the decoys until they lost interest and moved off. We sat there for about another hour and half and then decided it was time to move to our evening hunting spot.

Our evening hunting spot was in the middle of a stand of cottonwoods where two big toms had been seen flying down from that very morning. The plan was to simply ambush them on the way back to their roost. Well....you know what they say about "the best made plans." We saw nor heard nothing! However, it was a beautiful evening. Huh!! I arrived at 11 AM and had already put 8 1/2 hours in hunting!!!

We were greeted back at camp with a hearty meal of Swiss steak. I was beat so I headed to bed to get ready for another non-stop day. There is no "coming back to camp for nap." These guides work all day and you hunt all day!!

We were roused from bed at 5 AM. As my guide Josh had a friend coming in to hunt I was hooked up with another guide by the name of Jeff. Jeff told me we would be hunting in a spot where he had put 6 longbeards to bed the night before. Sounded good to me!!

The spot was basically a tree lot right next to a farm house. We parked the truck on the road. When Jeff told me "The longbeards are right in those trees" I couldn't believe it. Should we be parked so close?? Then to top it off.....Jeff had us set up the blind only about 50 yards from the trees. I thought to myself "Man...you would never get by with this at home." But...when I thought about it....it made sense. Roosting next to the farm house they see people moving around all the time.

We got set up....got in the blind....and since we were about 30 minutes from "show time".......we both caught up on a little bit of rest.

When the first gobble sounded off....it sent off a crescendo of gobbles down the tree row. There were obviously more turkeys in the roost than just the six longbeards. This music went on for almost 30 minutes before the birds began flying down. They came in like dive bombers....one after the other. There were somewhere around 30 turkeys altogether......longbeards, jakes, and hens. Problem is....not a one flew down to our set up of 2 hen decoys and a Pretty Boy strutting tom. They all landed in the field next to us.

For thirty minutes we watched a show of strutting toms, jakes chasing each other....and hens yelping out instructions to the flock. The only turkey courteous enough to visit our set up was, of course, a jake. After this, the flock moved into the woods line....to the dirt road to pick up gravel (at which point I realized if I was at the truck I would be filling my tag). Then they moved across the road. It went from pandemonium to silence!!

Jeff put a call into Dave who told us where to relocate. We went back to the field owned by Brooks Johnson. Dave had just spotted a number of longbeards in there.

We set up in a different location than the day before. We followed the creekline to the edge of a woodlot where the turkeys were. Fearful of bumping the turkeys, we set up in a spot that was less than ideal. We paid the price for that. About an hour later a longbeard and three jakes showed up. Though the birds were in my effective bow range.....a shot was impossible due to the heavy brush.

Jeff called Dave and told Dave we were going out to a place he had been wanting to get to. Dave gave him the "go ahead" and off we went. The wind that morning had been blowing between 35-45 mph. Jeff said the birds on this particular farm would be in a shelter belt that was lined with pines. He had gone in a few days earlier and cut out a path in the pines that would allow him to sneak in there and pop up a blind undetected.

Once we confirmed that the birds were in the shelter belt, including at least one nice tom.....we made a big circle and came in on the back side of the shelter belt. We had to walk through a foot of snow to get to our spot!! They had a blizzard the previous weekend that dumped 14 inches of snow.....and what we were walking in was the remnants of the wind drifts. Jeff peeked into the shelter belt and said we we would have to be careful. The turkeys were just down from us towards the road about 50 yards. We popped up the blind and Bob and I crawled in. Jeff said he would wait out by the road in his truck to discourage the turkeys from crossing the road. He told me not to call often but just enough to let them know we were there. He said they naturally walk up and down the shelter belt....so there was no need to un-necessarily arouse their suspicion. We did not put out decoys.

The whole time Bob and I were getting settled, I could see and hear the turkeys chasing each other around. When Bob gave me the go ahead I began calling. I simply would give a series of yelps about every 15 minutes. I didn't "cut loose"......just a few soft...."Hey...I'm over here....come and visit" type of yelps. They would look but never respond. They just kept chasing each other around. So Bob and I decided we would just have to wait.

Some time later I looked up to see deer moving through the shelter belt. There were seven of them just milling around with the turkeys. A few minutes later I see the deer jerk their heads up to look at something. I see it it too. It's a rooster pheasant running through the shelter belt. For some reason, the deer thought they should follow him. I guess they thought he knew where there was a good source of food. So all seven of them paraded by our blind while we prayed they did not wind us or get spooked by the blind thus alerting the turkeys to the danger. When the last one passed by we breathed a sigh of relief.

I pulled out my HS Strut "Cuttin 2.5" mouth call and gave a series. I was cut off by a gobble!! Awesome!! That usually means...."I hear ya and I'm comin." I called again and the gobbler responded.....closer!! I decided to shut up.

A couple minutes later, after hearing nothing, I lifted my head to look above some cedars and sure enough just thirty five yards away and getting closer I saw a full fan heading our way. Showtime!!! I reached for my bow and hooked on the release. Bob turned on the camera.

When the tom stepped out we saw he actually had a buddy with him. I now had two longbeards at 25 yards. Bob whispered....."Hold off a little so I can get some footage." I told him I would draw when they stepped behind a tree that we had ranged at 25. When they stepped behind the tree I drew and waited. The birds continued on their path that took them into a clearing. The clearing was between the tree I had ranged at 25 yards and another I had ranged at 20....so I guessed about 22.5. I just have started wearing my glasses when I shoot and I must admit it made a big difference. The sight picture was clear and as a result I was having no "panic." I settled the pin and let fly at the lead bird who was standing upright. The arrow was perfect. He was slightly quartering away.

Picture of where the turkey was standing when I shot him. The thick tree to the right with all the heavy limbs hanging down is where the turkeys walked behind when I drew my bow. When they walked into the clearing dead center in the middle of the picture is when I shot.

The arrow hit right behind the wing butt, went through the chest and out of the neck. He tried to fly but couldn't because the arrow was still in him. He made a sharp turn right, tumbled and went down just 40 yards from the blind!!

This is a picture from the blind looking at the spot where the turkey dropped. Even though you can't see him he's laying about 40 yards out.

The other turkeys had no idea what happened. They continued to strut around the blind and chase each other around. Not wanting to spook them so that other clients could hunt there, Bob snuck out the back side to go get Jeff to drive the truck up to drive them off....which he did. They all paraded behind my blind. There were probably 40 turkeys including 7 longbeards and 2 hens with eight inch beards. Once they were gone I finally got to go see my turkey.

My bow killed Merriam's!! 25 lbs.....9.25 inch beard!!!

Shot on April 15th.....2:15 PM in Gregory, SD. Gear: Browining Verado set at 56 lbs. Carbon Force Stealth Hunter 300's tipped with 125 grain Rocket Steelhead's.

Me & Guide Jeff

Me along with Bob Mussey, videographer

Jeff not only congratulated me but made my day further by informing us that he filled his tag while waiting for us. Some jakes kept ganging up on a big gobbler and running him off....so Jeff grabbed his bow and waited for the next time they ran him out of the shelter belt. When they did it again Jeff let the air out of him at 30 yards!!

Me and Guide Jeff's turkeys!!

So it was a great hunt in South Dakota. I now have three down and one to go (my Osceola) for my bow grand slam. I'll be going after that next year.

I cannot say enough good about Dave Keiser and Double K Outfitters. If you are looking to finish a slam.....OR....simply want a great place to bow hunt turkeys......check out their website and give them a call.

CLICK HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE

A Brilliant Defense of the 2nd Amendment

2009-04-10T05:05:00.003-04:00

Please check out this YouTube video of a Dr. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp giving testimony on Capital Hill about the purpose of the Second Amendment.

Her parents were both killed back in the 80's during a mass shooting at a restaurant in Texas. You would think she would be "against" an assault weapons ban.

However, she gives one of the most articulate and historically accurate defenses of the Second Amendment that I have seen in recent times.

Every American who truly believes in the Constitution.....MUST.....watch this video clip.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

Great Editorial

2009-03-30T17:06:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to a great editorial from our local newspaper.......

http://madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=181&SubSectionID=966&ArticleID=50033

Bravo!!!!!! Someone has finally called out the Democrats and teachers's unions on the fact that the education of children IS NOT....NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN at the top of their agenda.

I'm almost ecstatic!!! I may renew my newspaper subscription early!!

At our academy this year we will have no problem getting in our 180 days....PLUS....teacher training days....PLUS.....Parent/Teacher Conferences.....AND....we even took a full week off for Thanksgiving Break.....AND....a day off for the State Archery Tournament.

But then again...we get paid to make sure the education of children is a PRIORITY!!!

Today...Obama Continues His "Pro-Death" March!

2009-03-09T11:56:00.004-04:00

As I type this....President Obama is signing the executive order that will allow stem cell research to be done on human embryos.

Do not listen to the rhetoric. This is not about science. It is about his being held in the groin by the "pro death"-- "pro abortion" movement.

Evidence? No problem. The fact is....just in the last two months scientists have discovered new sources of stem cells that replace the need for embryonic research. Those sources are.......testicles, mice, and the human heart.

So again...it is totally un-necessary. Obama has never seen a pro-abortion/pro-death bill he did not love to sign.

Under the Obama reign of terror.....the female womb has once again become the most unsafe place in the world.

I hope the "Christian" folk that voted for him are still feeling pride.

All I feel is a great deal of sadness and the desire to pray that God will have mercy on the United States of America.

Don't Cash That Check Yet!!

2009-02-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

For all of you who are licking your chops that Obama is "sticking it to the rich" like they deserve......and he has you convinced that you ARE NOT going to have your taxes raised.....and that in fact.......your taxes are going to be cut.......PLEASE.....PLEASE.....for the sake of your financial health....DO NOT CASH THAT CHECK YET!!

I will give the Obama administration credit for one thing......they did tell the truth yesterday for those willing to listen.

I was busy doing something else so I did not catch a name....but I had the TV on and was listening to a White House Spokesman point out in essence.......that "Yes"......our utilities and other forms of energy costs are going to go up......due to their environmentalist wacko policies (sorry...those are my words)......but that it will be offset with the tax cuts.

ALRIGHT.......well there you have it. IT'S A NET ZERO GAIN PROPOSITION!!!

You ARE NOT going to have any more money in your pocket under the Obama administration. That's what she said!!!

"But I'm gonna get free health care!!" NO YOU ARE NOT!! The cost of your foods and taxes on your income......and taxes on everything else are going to go up.....so that in the end.....you will be no better off.

And what's worse.....because we are fastly becoming a "nanny state"........there will be no where for you to turn to improve yourself and your position in life.

Well......at least Obama has proven what most of us already knew.....he is a typical "tax and spend" liberal!!

So much for the "Agent of Change."

Michael Phelps Is a Spoiled Brat!!....but.....

2009-02-18T06:06:00.008-05:00

…..unfortunately he is representative of far too many from that generation. And who is to blame? Parents!! Let me explain…..

As you know Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimming champion has recently been caught smoking dope. Of course, he is sorry now. However, let's be honest. He is only sorry for getting caught and losing a major endorsement. This is actually the second time he has been in trouble….the last time being a drunk driving incident.

That is not what bothers me. I expect that from "sport's figures" anymore. What bothers me is the attitude of several media outlets who excused Michael's behavior in this way (and I quote)……"Hey…he's only 23 and it's just a part of growing up."

ONLY 23!!!! ONLY 23!!! ONLY 23!!!

We now come to one of the major problems with today's younger generation…i.e., it is taking longer and longer for them to "grow up."

I had a hunch so I did a little research. My hunch proved to be true. I sent out a request to men of my church to tell me what they had accomplished by the time they were 23. I believe the ones who responded to be pretty much representative, if you will, of the older generation…i.e., 30's-50's. Here is what my research revealed…….THE MAJORITY HAD……

1. Been living on their own for 5 years…..(in fact, all respondents had)
2. Been happily married for 4-5 years.
3. Had children (not child…but children).
4. Had worked for 5 years.
5. Had attended at least one year of college.

And check this out……of those who responded…….100% were still married to the "wife of their youth"….with one half of those who responded 30 plus years!

Why is it that it is taking longer and longer for American youth to grow up?

I'm glad you asked. It's because parents do not know or will not teach their kids self-discipline.

At the Christian School I administrate……we have teenagers whose moms still make their lunch for them!! We recently had teenage boys who had to serve detention and clean bathrooms…..WHO HAD TO BE SHOWN HOW TO CLEAN!!!

These kids cannot do a simple task like organize a notebook……because……"Mommy has always done it for me."

And here is the problem folks…..if you cannot do a simple task such as organize a notebook……then how in the heck can you organize your thoughts?

The answer is….YOU CAN'T!!! These same kids who cannot organize a notebook….cannot stay on track for longer than five minutes before you have to constantly "call them back."

Oh….we make all kinds of excuses for them….i.e., A.D.H.D….A.D.D…having a bad week….blah…..blah…..blah. We tell them "It's not your fault"….and then we put them on drugs. (One fifth of American youth have already been diagnosed with so called "mental problems" and drugged with anti-depressants. The school shrinks are doing a fine job.)

And what do we get??? MICHAEL PHELPS!!!

What else do you get?? Kids still living at home in their late 20's and 30's because "they don’t know what to do with their life"….and even if they did….they wouldn't have the discipline to it.

I told a mother at our Christian School once, that if she stayed on the same path she was with her son that she would still be bailing him out of jail when he was in his 30's. Her response? No problem! I told her our relationship was over and the two boys were expelled later that week. No need wasting our time and her money.

Dr. James Dobson is right on about this one. He says…."Do not do ANYTHING for your kids they cannot do for themselves."

My kids at home always…..cleaned their own rooms….made their own lunches……..etc.

At our Christian School….parents are not allowed to come in and help the kids carry their backbacks and hang up their jackets. From Pre-School….they are taught to do that on their own.

And it works!!! Just this week I had a parent thank us. She used to get up every morning and fix her teenage daughter's lunch. Now the daughter will not allow her to do it. She gets ups and does it herself. We have parents who tell us the children get up for school and are urging the parents to hurry up so they can get to school on time.

My friends…that is "self-discipline" and that is life!! You do what has to be done when it has to be done….regardless of whether or not you like it.

I have to brag on one of my parents. Their son is on our school "Debate Team." They had a debate this last Monday……and he lost one half of his work to a computer virus the night before. He told his mom he wanted to call me and ask to be "let off the hook." His mom….WOULD NOT LET HIM DO IT. (She said…besides Dr. Gabbard is not going to let you off the hook. She was right!) He wants to be a lawyer….and she told him…"What if you had a big case tomorrow morning. What would you do?" You see….she refused to let him take the easy way out.

She stayed up with him till 11 that night helping as much as she could. She finally went to bed…..but he stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to get it done. He came through with shining colors! He's only 12 years old!!

You see Mr. Michael Phelps…..that's what a grown up does!

If you read this and feel the need to write me and let me know how much discipline it requires to accomplish what he did…..save your breath. No one doubts he is a swimming machine. However, no one ever taught him how to grow up. This is really less about him and more of society's willingness to "overlook it."

Let me leave you parents with a gem of wisdom that was given to me. This is priceless! Are you ready?? Here it is……

Either teach your kids self-discipline OR leave them two million dollars. They are going to need one of those to get along in life.

A Guest of Mr. Caleb Geary

2009-02-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

Today I was the guest of Mr. Caleb Geary at his school's "Pastor Appreciation Day." Caleb is in Kindergarten at the Indiana Christian Academy in New Albany.

Let me tell you how I ended up going today.

I literally get dozens of invitations every year to "Pastor Appreciations" for everything from the Gideons to various book publishers, colleges, etc. They all go in the "Round File Cabinet." So...when I opened my mail a week ago Monday and saw the words "Pastor Appreciation" I immediately tossed it aside on my desk. I was en route to another task and did not even have time to throw it away.

However, when I got back to my desk at a more convenient time, for some unknown reason....I picked the letter up and began to look at it more closely. On the next page after the form letter was a hand written letter that said this.....

"Thank you for telling me about Jesus. Please come to my school as a special guest. Love Caleb"

WELL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

I responded RSVP as requested and made my way over this morning. I was greeted with a very nice breakfast and then treated to a program of appreciation by the student body.

There was much to appreciate about the school. The size of it...no doubt made me envious. They have band, basketball, wrestling, choir......you name it. They had a hand chime choir that played beautifully. We were treated to beautiful singing, a wonderful band, and well articulated recitations.

As wonderful as all that was......there were three things that stood out to me.

Number one.....the love for Jesus and the love for the importance of Christian Schools that came out of every band leader, administrator, and teacher. They believe with all their hearts that in this post-modern era......the church, the home, and the school must work together to raise young people in the Lord. It simply can no longer be "two out of three."

Number two....(related to #1)......there was hope in every single young person's eyes!! I saw probably 200 plus students today and they were beaming. That's surprising isn't it in a world where there is so much doom and gloom right now? Yet....every single day they are reminded that Jesus is their hope and they need to strive to be the best. That kind of hope is not government induced!

Number three......the young people from Kindergarten through 12th grade......were reminded when they greeted us and thanked us they were to.....(and I quote)......"Shake their hands and look in the adult's eyes!!" PRAISE THE LORD!!! HALLELUJAH!! I thought I was the only one who believed that anymore!! Lack of eye contact by young people is nothing more than lack of respect for authority.

And they did. Caleb did not know that I had circled around him....and when I said "Hey Caleb"....he stood up....held out his hand.....looked at me and smiled!!

My gosh I melted!!.....(and boy was he handsome!)

Thank you Mr. Caleb Geary for inviting me to your school. I'm sure I would disagree with some fundamentals of educational philosophy....but one thing is for sure.....we have the same goal.....that is....CHILDREN OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE KING OF KING...AND LORD OF LORDS!"

Put me down for next year Caleb!!

A Study in Contrasts

2009-02-04T05:51:00.003-05:00

We can learn some valuable lessons from a study in contrasts.

First Contrast......

KENTUCKY ICE STORM VICTIMS VS. KATRINA VICTIMS: Have you heard residents of Kentucky whining?? Have you heard them on TV crying out, "Where's President Obama??" Have you heard them demanding $1,500.00 credit cards from the federal government? THE DIFFERENCE?? The spirit of Independence and making your own way that made this country great.....as opposed to....whiners, cry babies, and wimps!! My hat is off to you Kentuckians! Your spirit is what founded this great country! (And by the way.....where has President Obama been? Don't most presidents visit disaster areas and offer "HOPE?")

Second Contrast.....

AVERAGE AMERICANS VS. OBAMA'S CABINET POST APPOINTEES WHO DO NOT PAY THEIR TAXES: Well....we have finally discovered why DEMOCRATS love to raise our taxes. THEY DON'T PAY THEM! Geez...."the change we can believe in." Yeah...here's the change. If I did the same thing....I would have to pay huge amounts of penalties and interest. They did not.

Final Contrast.....

"SULLY" THE US AIR PILOT THAT LANDED THE PLANE IN THE HUDSON SAVING ALL 155 PASSENGERS VS. THE TAX CHEATERS: Just a few days after the landing he called a public library. Why? To report to them that the book he checked out from the library was lost in landing and they would not be getting it back. He wanted to pay the appropriate fees. Need I say more.

Most Powerful Pro-Life Ad I Have Ever Seen!!

2009-01-29T05:33:00.003-05:00

Check it out............

CLICK HERE

One must once again thank our Catholic friends for their fight for life!

Man....I'm Tired Of Being Right All the Time!!

2009-01-27T09:56:00.003-05:00

I hate to say...."I told you so!!" (Well....actually....no I don't.) But in this case....I hate being right. I really do. Because by me being right again.....it means our nation is in serious risk. I predicted this in the class I taught on "Islam."

Check this out.....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28869185

1 Timothy 2 says we are to pray for our leaders to do things that will help us as Christians live in peace. PRAY FOR OUR PRESIDENT!! He is headed down the wrong road (which many of us knew before the election).

Couple Quick Media Corrections

2009-01-16T08:34:00.005-05:00

Allow me to make a couple quick corrections of the media this morning. I do this to help you out so that you can carry on sound, rational, discussions with folks through the day and week about the subjects.

THE SURVIVORS OF THE PLANE CRASH IN THE HUDSON BAY WERE NOT THE RESULT OF A "MIRACLE": According to FAA officials……the plane was designed to land on water. The pilots continually train for water landings The rescuers were so well trained there were very few commands given. Everyone just did their job. The media even contradicts itself. In the same breath they will say……"Thanks to the pilot it was a miracle everyone survived." Wait a minute…..if it's a "miracle"……what does the pilot have to do with it? Another example of how our society does not have a clue about what a true miracle is. Was it amazing? Absolutely! Is it a tribute to the pilot and rescue folks? No doubt. They are heroes!! However….it is in no way, shape, or form a miracle. NOW….if the plane hit the river in a fiery crash…….155 plus bodies floated to the surface dead….and then people got up and walked on water back to the shore………ALRIGHTY THEN….we have a miracle!

BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS NOT THE FIRST "AFRO AMERICAN" PRESIDENT: He's half white. His mother was white and he was raised by white Hawaiian grandparents in Hawaii. I don't think Hawaii qualifies as "the hood" does it?? Before he had aspirations towards the presidency…..many blacks would consider Barak an "Uncle Tom" who had no understanding of the black experience. And besides……do I not recall back when Bill Clinton was president a number of black leaders saying "Bill Clinton was the first black president?"

NO ABRAHAM LINCOLN: President Elect Obama likes to liken himself to Abraham Lincoln. First of all Mr. President Elect……Mr. Lincoln was a REPUBLICAN. I have read about Abraham Lincoln. I have met Abraham Lincoln through the history books. Mr. Obama….you are no Abraham Lincoln!!

PREDICTION: Hang in there folks. Much of the doom and gloom of the economy is "media induced." I predict….after the "Messiah" is sworn in on Tuesday……we will begin to see the media reporting "small turn-arounds"….that will eventually lead to greater turn-arounds by the summer……and finally a complete recovery by the end of the year. Praise to the Messiah!! Anyone want to wager a lunch???

Why I Feel Like A "Comrade" and Not a "Patriot" Today

2009-01-13T10:48:00.009-05:00

Boy am I disheartened. I just completed my taxes for 2008. Between my wife and I we earned an additional $3,458 last year. She went from 1/2 days to full days.....and I have now been doing what I do for 28 plus years....thus the increase. In other words, we worked harder, longer, and stuck with it.

Of that increase in income....Federal and State governments are going to take back 33% of that!! My effective tax rate went from 3.28 to 6.16 percent (almost double).

That's an example of how our current system punishes hard work and incentive and I fear it is only going to get worse. I spoke with a "cattleman" out west today who says that Congress is currently drafting a bill that will tax cattlemen $125 per head for every head over 80. It's the "flatulation tax." (I'm not kidding!) It appears that the "bad gas" of cows is contributing to "global warming." Good grief!! If we are going to tax "hot air" let's start with Congress!!

In the words of this cattleman....he will have to cut his herd by 40....and then there will forever be a ceiling on what he can make. "Ain't it lovely" he said. He also said...."If you think steak is high now....just wait."

I dunno. It is getting harder and harder for me to smile and tell kids that hard work will pay off in the end. Ours is a culture that punishes hard work and rewards irresponsibility.

Yeah I know. I know what you are thinking and I know what I have to do. Regardless....I have to wake up each day......and keep instilling hope in our children that one day.....maybe they will be the ones to bring about "real change." I have to remind them everyday that this world is not our home. We give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

However, it does grieve me to see what this country is becoming as there are more and more people "in the wagon" and fewer of us "pulling the wagon."

Well.....I guess I'm doing my part to "spread the wealth!"

With that I say...."Ado Comrade!"

A Very Memorable Hunt!!

2008-12-18T18:14:00.021-05:00

Tuesday, December 16th.....has to rank up there as one of my most memorable hunts............EVER!

It was late season muzzleloader in Indiana. I knew there were big ones out there.....but after weeks of busting my butt....sitting for hours in stands passing smaller bucks.....being shot at (yes!!...both me and the deer!!).....and a less than spectacular Kansas trip....my enthusiasm level was pretty shot. I was running on empty...and fighting a cold wasn't making it any easier.

However, we had a nice two inch snow that day and it stopped by 1:30. It was one of those days you just "knew" you should be out. So I decided to go out....if nothing else to enjoy the peace and quiet after a snow. I knew the deer should be feeding after the snow...and the impending cold. But....the deer SHOULD HAVE been doing a lot of things this year.

I got home from the office about 2 PM...and realized I had not purchased my muzzleloader tag. Got online....filled everything in....and when I got to the "submit" button...I hesitated. "Do I really want to spend the money? After all I have a bow license...and bow is open as well." Knowing that I usually regret not doing stuff like that...I pushed submit...and got the license. The printout read...."Purchased at 2:04 PM."

Next question was "where?" I had been perusing a book on hunting "Post rut" bucks. The author said that you must hunt the thickest cover you can find near a food source. Well....there was one place I was aware of that has served me well through the years. It's a ridgetop lined on one side with lots of honeysuckle. It's so thick...the rabbit beagles struggle in it. That honeysuckle served two purposes....food and cover. So...I decided for the ridgetop...although this year I had seen ZIP up there! However....it just seemed the logical place this time.

I got my gear together. As I walked out I told my wife..."I know I'm forgetting something since it's been about two weeks since I've been out...and I'm not in the groove right now." (Prophetic words!)

I pulled into the field...and the turkeys were everywhere...scratching up the snow...looking for something to eat. When I stepped out to start getting my stuff together...I noticed how nice and quiet it was....and how soft the snow was. I decided I better "hunt" back to my stand instead of just "getting there." The wind was in my face....perfect!

I walked slowly to my stand....noticing how well you could see a good distance with the snow on the ground. I crossed the creek bottom and began my ascent to the ridge. I started noticing a lot of tracks....which due to the snow had to have been made in the last two hours.

As I climbed...there were more and more tracks. I began to feel real good about my decision. When I reached the crest...I started moving real slow looking through the honey suckle where I could. Within sight of my stand now...I caught movement down to my right. It was a doe feeding along. She had no idea I was there. I decided I better watch her for a bit...at least till she moved out of sight so I could get to my stand undetected. As she fed....she would keep snapping her head back to the left of her. That meant there were either other does in there....or maybe a buck. Since she was a yearling doe....she could have been attracting attention. I never saw anything.

After about 15 minutes...she moved out of sight...and I progressed to my stand. When I got to my stand...I realized what I had forgotten.......hangers....to hang my gun and pack on in the tree. It was a ladder stand. Normally....I'll climb it with my muzzleloader capped...because I've got somewhere to hang it on as soon as I get up there. But this time for safety sake....I decided to "uncap" until I figured out what to do.

So I "uncapped"...and began my climb. I laid my gun against the seat...laid the pack on the seat...and climbed under the shooting rail. I took out my seat cushion and sat down. I had a problem. I had nowhere to hang my pack. So I decided to get everything out I needed and simply hang it upside down on the shooting rail. Normally....I leave everything in there and just hang the pack on a hanger off the tree where it is easily reachable.

First I pulled out my gloves....then my neck gaiter...and then my knit cap. So here I am....gun between knees (uncapped)....contents of backpack in lap....back pack on top.

I catch movement out of the corner of my left eye. I turn to catch a deer's rear end...because it's behind a big tree...but moving steadily toward me. When he stepped from behind the tree I freaked out!! "O man....that's a good one!!" (I determined this year I wasn't pulling the trigger unless I had that reaction.)

The buck is in that "buck in rut" trot. His tongue is hanging out and he has obviously been "chasing." (That's what that doe had probably been watching!)

He's now 20 yards away...in front of my stand...moving to my right. I'm able to get my gun up. Oh...no!! No cap!! I rip open the zipper to my handwarmer pouch....and pull out the 35mm bottle full of caps. He doesn't notice all this noise and movement. He's on a mission!!

I decided to forget about watching him and concentrate on getting the gun capped. I figured if I hurried up....I could catch him within a 100 yards.

I finally got the gun capped. When I looked up to locate him...he was 50 yards away to my right....beginning to move downhill. As I turned in my stand to put the gun on the shooting rail...I can't believe what happened next. My pack and all my gear fell out of my lap and hit the ground with a resounding "whap!"

That was the best thing that could have happened. He stopped dead in his tracks...slightly quartering towards me trying to figure out what that noise was. I settled the crosshairs of my .50 cal. muzzleloader on him...."Boom!" Right on!! He ran downhill favoring his right front leg so I knew the shoulder was broken. He disappeared...but I knew right where to find him. Same spot we have recovered a number of deer through the years.

I sat there in my stand in a state of shock trying to figure out what just happened!! I had only been there 5 minutes. After hours of sitting in various stands this year...and now it's over in 5 minutes!!! Bought my tag at 2:08....and filled it at 3:30!! Unbelievable!!

Like I said, the deer ran downhill out of sight....but I knew the snow would make an easy tracking job. Here is the sight I was greeted to.....

This is my third best deer ever! He is a main frame 7....with a kicker. Gross score is 130 & some change. He has the widest spread of any deer I've shot at 21 1/4 inches.....and the G-2 on his right side is a foot long.

I'm a blessed man!!

Encouragement!!

2008-12-07T17:44:00.002-05:00

It is so easy in these days to develop the "only I am left" syndrome. You know what I'm talking about. Elijah had this feeling as he hid in a cave from the evil Jeezebel who was seeking his life. When God asked him what was wrong Elijah cried out…."Only I am left!" Then….God showed him where he was wrong.

In the midst of life's battles Satan would have us believe….."Only you are left. No one cares what you think. You are out in left field. You need to get in with the flow of the crowd."

However….God has a way of showing us where we are wrong. Others have walked and are walking the same path.

This week, while on vacation my wife shared some quotes with me from two sources that were a huge encouragement. Allow me to share them with you and hope that they offer you the same encouragement they gave to me.

The first is from education reformer Marva Collins who left the public school system and started her own school. The school started with a few kids meeting in her house. The school has now grown so large that there is a waiting list of hundreds.

Here are two quotes from her that I understand intimately……….

In reality, every time I save a child who has been written off in the public school system, or saved a child who had been measured, ink-blotted and Stanined (sic) into failure, I made another enemy. Every time I made a "lifter" out of a potential "leaner," I only created more animosity. Every time I made a child feel good about himself and his world, I created a label of being "controversial and a liar." The price and membership fees in the Club of Caring is very expensive, and now I know why the membership is so exclusive and the members are few.

Later she wrote…..

Few people are willing to brave the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of society, the scorn of the critics to say, "Enough is too much." The few individuals today who declare that we are a nation in decline often find themselves in alien-camp, and they become a bit battle fatigued, and so they too join the journey into oblivion.

This last quote is kind of humorous….not because of what it says….but who said it. When I first looked at the quote I thought…."That's awesome…I wonder who said that?" Then my wife revealed a startling truth to me. "You did Danny….in your Restoration History syllabus." Here is the quote….

It is one thing to announce a difficult principle, something else to intellectually comprehend and courageously pursue that principle.

I made that statement (probably because somone made it to me) as an analysis of what happened after Barton W. Stone and I think 13 others signed the "Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery"….in essence killing that denomination and beginning the Restoration Movement. Of the 13 plus men who signed that document…..only a few remained true to the principle. The majority returned to denominationalism.

I need to listen to my own quotes…huh??

The path of starting, and pursuing a Christian School as the number one way for the Church of Jesus Christ to purposefully and lastingly affect society and ensure its own future has taken more courage than anything I have ever done in life.

At this point in life I have more enemies than I do TRUE friends. I have people who are "friendly" towards me…..but only because they need/want something. However, TRUE friends are a rarity.

I so vividly remember Dr. Roger Chambers saying…."Any Preacher worth his salt should have a good number of folks at his graveside saying…."Whew! I'm glad he's gone." (I must be worth a pound of salt!)

However, I am not the only one left. Others have walked/are walking this road as well. May this blog entrance help you to find the courage to walk where the majority chooses not to so that God's kingdom may be strengthened and expanded.

Thanksgiving Smorgasbord

2008-11-22T05:11:00.006-05:00

Just as on Thursday we will be gathering together with family and friends to delight ourselves with a cornucopia of a Thanksgiving smorgasbord……allow me to entertain you with a cornucopia of my thoughts on current events......

First up….AREA BASKETBALL…..yesterday's local newspaper included a 20 something page insert that went into great detail about the local high school area basketball line-up. Those of you who know me know…I could care LESS. However….here is what I find intriguing. You would think that the way the newspaper played it up that basketball launches hundreds of college scholarship opportunities and that NBA players from this area are a dime a dozen. Yet, in a report from the same newspaper about two months ago……basketball did not even make it to the top four of providing college scholarships. Football, golf, baseball, and volleyball…..were ALL ahead of basketball. Baseball has produced the most professional athletes from this area. Yet…you will have to strain to find much write up about baseball in this area….and unless you saw the lights occasionally on a Friday night you would forget there is area H/S football. Again…..you may be wondering why I care. Priorities….it's all about priorities. I actually had a dad tell me last year he would not enroll his son in our academy because…..and I quote…"He wanted his son to have a chance to play basketball…he deserved that." Really? In light of the area results….I would think your son has a far superior chance of being successful in life with a good education as opposed to playing basketball. Another example of a parent living out childhood fantasies through their children....and another example of our children being sacrificed to the "false idol" of sports.

Second…..OBAMA AND CHANGE??.....is it just me….but did I not hear President-Elect Obama campaign on the promise of CHANGE? Did he not say….he was a Washington outsider? Did he not say he would change the way Washington operates? Did he not say the establishment is the cause of all the problems? If I did in fact hear him say that….then can someone please tell me why every single one of his cabinet appointments is a "Clintonista?" Obama, in every single instance, has appointed the most Washington entrenched, partisan individuals imaginable. At least half of the numbskulls who voted for Obama….should at least now…if they could think logically…..be scratching their heads and saying…"Now wait a minute…didn't you say…..???"

Thirdly…..THE HYPOCRISY OF THE LEFT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CONTINUES…..Well we just were informed that President-Elect Obama's children WILL NOT BE ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOL. Surprise, surprise!!! They will be attending one of the most expensive private schools in the area. AND PLEASE….let me stop you. Don't give me the B.S. (Barbara Streisand) about security details and etc. Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, attended public school while she was there. Could it be that Mr. Obama knows the truth he is not allowed to admit in public? Namely, that public schools in America are a dismal failure and that anyone who wants a superior education for their child needs to do something else. AND YET….Mr. Obama refuses to allow poor folk to have the same opportunities his children have at a superior education by being against vouchers that would allow people to choose the education that is best for their children. So in other words, Mr. Obama, along with 40% of American public school teachers believe that public education is good enough for YOUR children….but not theirs. That is hypocritical!!

Fourthly……BILL AYERS….My oh my….hasn't he become "talkative" AFTER the election???

Fifthly….THE ECONOMY……everyone needs to take a breather. It's alright. The sell off on Wall Street is really not much more than people's uneasiness about the "spread the wealth" mindset of President Elect Obama. Think about it…..let's say you had a car to sell. You were told if you sell it right now you could keep 85% of the sale price. However, after January 28th, you will only be able to keep 70% of the sale price. What would you do? So it is simple. Big board people are selling their stocks so that they can keep more of the sale price. Obama has made it clear that increases in capital gains taxes are coming which means folks will keep less of the sale price of their stocks. Until the markets, and the world, can get a handle on what Obama is going to do…..there is going to be uneasiness. But…isn't that the CHANGE people wanted?? (Note: sarcasm)

Lastly…..NOTHING NEEDS TO BE SAID….Here is a video supplied by one of my readers that goes in my "Told you So!!" category. Watch it. No comment necessary except to say…."Told you so!!" Here is the link…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bvqmY1eM-s&feature=email

The Liberal's Investment Pays Off

2008-11-05T05:22:00.003-05:00

I'm writing this a little less than two weeks away from the election. By the time I release this I presume Barak Obama will be President of the United States based upon poll numbers and the sentiment that seems to be sweeping the country.

As I ponder that, I cannot help but realize that the liberals of this country have finally received their "payday." For years they have realized that the battlefront for the hearts and minds of the children were the public schools. They have poured every ounce of effort and finances into running these "training camps" of liberal socialism. It has paid off in a big way for them.

Now granted, there have been other things that led to the demise of John McCain such as the failing economy. I also think McCain was his own worst enemy by refusing to pursue Obama in his weakest areas such as his affairs with the likes of Marxist William Ayers. (By the way…..that is not an "ad hominem." That is Ayers own view of himself. Do the research.)

Obama has succeeded because socialism has and is being taught with a religious fervor in every single public school system (yes…even in your "little town"). My wife and I have a standing challenge…..bring us a copy of the public school history and social study textbooks….and we'll show you the socialism.

One of the things socialism needs to survive is a lack of patriotism. Note how in public schools children on a regular basis are taught that America is an evil place. They are taught that America has and is doing bad things. The average high school student graduates with almost zero knowledge of American history. The majority could not even tell you who the first five Presidents of the US were. Most could not tell you what the Preamble to the Constitution is. Most could not tell you what the three branches of government are. Oh no….but they could tell you how we are all going to die if we don't do something about global warming!!

The other thing socialism needs to survive is "multiculturalism." Our children are routinely forced to accept other cultures as equal to or even superior to western culture and especially American western culture.

Take note of how Obama's campaign was mostly supported by….the youth…i.e., the recent graduates of the socialist "training camps." His website contained video of youth pleading with their parents to vote for Obama. The hidden message of the video is….."You are the old way. We are the new way of social change."

Two recent events give evidence to this. I was recently in the home of family with a 5th or 6th grader. The parents asked me about who I thought was going to win the election and when I mentioned probably Obama….the child threw up their arms and went "Yeah."

In another incident, our youth minister recently did a "secret ballot" to see how this Jr/Sr High class would vote. Eleven ballots were cast. Four voted for Obama and seven voted for McCain.

You are probably thinking…."Well that's good!" Before you get too excited…here is what you need to know. In the class…..four kids were from public schools….the other seven were from KCA (our Christian school). Anyone want to bet on who voted what way?

Now I understand that a private Christian School might be a little bias. However, I thought public schools were supposed to be "neutral?" Far from it!! As I stated earlier….they have become little more than the "training camps" for the far left.

If you think otherwise….wake up and say "Hello" to your new socialist President….Barak Obama. As my wife said…"We went to bed capitalist last night….and we woke up this morning as socialist!"

It's time for revolution….and that revolution must begin in the church. Will we continue to send the "children of light" into the "training camps" of liberal socialism?? Will we give up the false dichotomy of "We'll send them to public school to get their education and we'll take care of their spirituality at home and church??"

In other words....will the church wake up and realize....we are losing this battle?

Will we become as wise as the serpents (i.e., the liberals who have poured money into public education)? Will we take back our children....and thus our country.....and thus the future of the church?

May the election of Barak Obama be a wake up call....and....may God help us these next four years.

Why You As A Parent Should Care About William Ayers

2008-10-23T09:20:00.004-04:00

If you have been following the election, you have heard a lot about Barak Obama's association with the domestic terrorist William Ayers. We have constantly been told by Obama and his willing accomplices in the media that this is "just a distraction" and not important.

Parents….I beg you for your time. Please take time to read this. William Ayers IS important to you!

First….a little about Ayers……gained from an article by Phyllis Schafly entitled "Bill Ayer's Scary Plans for Public Schools"……(you can find the whole article by "Googling" it)……

Ayers's expertise is training teachers and developing public school curriculum. That's been his mission since he gave up planting bombs in government buildings (including the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon) and assaulting police officers.

Ayers brashly admitted that he was "guilty as hell" in planting bombs in the 1970s, and that he has no regrets and feels that he and his Weather Underground associates "didn't do enough." After successfully avoiding trial and prison because of legal technicalities, he picked up his Ph.D. at Columbia Teachers College for a second career, landing a tenured job as distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Ayers's political views are as radical now as they were in the 1970s. "Viva President Chavez!" he exclaimed in a speech in Venezuela in 2006, in which he also declared, "education is the motor-force of revolution."

From his prestigious and safe university position, Ayers has been teaching teachers and students in rebellion against American capitalism and what he calls "imperialism" and "oppression." The code words for the Ayers curriculum are "social justice," a "transformative" vision, "critical pedagogy," "liberation," "capitalist injustices," "critical race theory," "queer theory," and of course multiculturalism and feminism.

That language is typical in the readings that Ayers assigns in his university courses. He admits he is a "communist street fighter" who has been influenced by Karl Marx, as well as Che Guevara, Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X.

Ayers speaks openly of his desire to use America's public school classrooms to train a generation of revolutionaries who will overturn the U.S. social and economic regime. He teaches that America is oppressive and unjust, socialism is the solution, and wealth and resources should be redistributed.

In Ayers's course called "On Urban Education," he calls for a "distribution of material and human resources." His left-wing notions would be very compatible with those of Obama, who publicly told Joe the Plumber that we should "spread the wealth."

Ayers's books are among the most widely used in America's education schools. Ayers even uses science and math courses as part of his "transformative" political strategy to teach that the American economic system is unjust.

Ayers is an endorser of a book called "Queering Elementary Education" by William J. Letts IV and James T. Sears, a collection of essays to teach adults and children to "think queerly." The blurb on the cover quotes Ayers as saying this is "a book for all teachers … and, yes, it has an agenda."

Now….I know what some of you are thinking. I've been around you enough to know exactly what you are thinking. Here it is….

"Oh come on Danny. He's a left wing radical. No one listens to him. He's marginalized. He has no impact in what happens in "our little town."

And to that I say…..and especially to the Church of Jesus Christ…..you need to get your heads out of your rear ends!!!

LISTEN TO THIS…..

Bill Ayers was just elected to the Vice Presidency of one of the largest organizations of education school professors and educators. In other words….this is the group that advises the training of public school teachers and curriculum development in the United States!! His election to the Vice Presidency certainly means the Presidency in the future!!

The name of the organization is the "American Education Research Organization" and you can find them and read about them and their socialist agenda by doing a "Google search."

Here's a question.....with his association with Barak Obama will this mean a possible appointment to "Secretary of Education?"

Whether it does or not….one thing has become clear. Obama and Ayers views of public education are EXACTLY THE SAME! Remember, they worked together on various public school initiatives in Chicago!

Come on parents!! Does it not bother you that an UNREPENTANT TERRORIST is in the mainstream of public education??

Socialism has been taught in our public schools with religious fervor for the last 30 years. This is why our kids know so little of American history. Most graduate high school and cannot tell you who even the first five presidents were, what the Preamble to the Constitution is, or what the three branches of government are.

However, they have been taught that unless something is done to curb capitalism in this country we in America are going to destroy the world with global warming!

The radical environmentalists of the '60's did not get their way. So what did they do? They went to school, got PH.D's and are now working in government environmental agencies that regulate private land ownership. Mission accomplished!

The radicals like Ayer's did not get their way in the '60's…..so what did they do? They went to college and got PH.D's in education and are now teaching teachers….how to teach children radical ideas. Mission accomplished!! Barak Obama will probably be the next President…and even if he isn't….the fact that it's a close race….means they have succeeded.

You see….Ayer's an avowed Marxist…..realized what Karl Marx did…i.e., you have to get to the minds of the children in order to control them.

There is little doubt this socialistic teaching will be accelerated under Obama….especially when you have large education associations such as the AERA backing him and receiving support from him.

I really don't care about that. I gave up on public schools years ago. It's has been and is….a sinking ship.

What does concern me….and I will be prophetic about this…..is……one thing socialism cannot tolerate in order to survive is patriotism and independent thinking…..especially if that thinking is religious.

Therefore, I predict that during the next four years of the Obama administration there will be intensified scrutiny of home-schooling and private Christian schooling. Now they will do it under the guise of "improving education."

Baloney!! They will do it…..only because it is a threat to their agenda.

For you Christian parents who refuse to sacrifice your children to the gods of the state…….get ready. Start praying. They will come after you. (I hope I'm wrong...but probably not.)

As God told Joshua….I tell you…."Be strong and courageous!"

Throw the Rascals Out!

2008-10-04T04:31:00.004-04:00

It is time for another "Boston Tea Party!!" However, instead of throwing tea overboard….we need to throw as many politicians as possible overboard!

Poll after poll showed that between 80-90% of Americans were against this "bailout" (rescue my foot)! Congressional and Senatorial office servers were overloaded with calls from angry constituents warning not to pass this bill.

BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAY!!....complete with all the pork…..such as no more taxes on making wooden arrows for children. (I'm serious.)

All to supposedly (and the key word there is "supposedly"…..because they don't know)…..to keep us out of recession.

Folks…there is another word for "recession." It's called…."adjustment"…specifically "market adjustment." I've lived through two of them in my life. There are worse things.

All this bill did was delay the inevitable. Only problem is…..when the inevitable happens…now it will be worse.

Economics aside….this bill is bad for two reasons. First…there is no doubt it is unconstitutional. If someone would challenge the bill (which they won't)…..I'm sure the Supreme Court would overturn it. The Constitution makes it clear that Congress will pass no bill that "favors" any particular business. They just bailed out the banking industry. Therefore, in order to be Constitutional….they now have to bail out every business that is going under. We now have the government deciding which businesses succeed and which ones fail. Hmmmm….what governmental system does that? Oh yeah…..SOCIALISM!! (Seems like all those public school textbooks teaching socialism are bearing fruit again!)

The most important reason it is bad, however, is Congress did not do its job….i.e., to do the work of the American people. The American people said…"Don’t do it"….and they did it anyway.

We now have something our Founding Fathers never envisioned…i.e., professional politicians....... with so much power and money they feel no threats whatsoever and feel they can do whatever they want to do. They do not follow the Constitution, they are not capitalist, and they do not listen to the people.

So…in light of this…I would like to encourage you….and rally you to do what I do on Election Day. Forget "Democrat" or "Republican." This week has shown that the difference between the two anymore is the difference between "twiddly dee" (and in their case)…."twiddly dumb." When I go to the election booth….here is my criteria for voting….

ARE YOU IN? Then you are out now!!

HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN IN? Well you are now!!

Barak Obama is right. It is time for a change. (Unfortunately…..he's not the agent of change. He's the same old liberal Democrat of the last 50 years).

No….the change I'm talking about is….completely new blood.

Honestly….I think Obama is going to be the next President. I believe McCain blew it by signing this bill. He is not a "Maverick." He's more like a "My Little Pony."

So we better make sure we put in a bunch of brand new Senators and Congressional leaders. Otherwise…it is going to be "business" as usual. The only difference is…with Obama in office….we are going to be less safe….internationally….and in our wallets.

In other words folks….go to the polls and "THROW THE RASCALS OUT!"

Christian Teachers in Pubic Schools: Fact vs. Fiction

2008-09-27T21:20:00.004-04:00

I really weary of hearing it! It has become little more than a feeble attempt to A) put up a smokescreen for what is really going on; or B) trying to straddle both sides of a fence (ouch…that has to hurt!).

What am I talking about? I'm talking about those who continue to speak about the Christian teachers and Administrators who "share their faith" in the public school system.

Folks…it ain't happenin'!! And if it is….we are not being told the context of what is going on.

NOW IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO FACE THE TRUTH…..AND YOU CAN KEEP THE STEAM IN BETWEEN YOUR EARS LONG ENOUGH TO THINK LOGICALLY…..then continue on with me as I present an important FACT to you.

You ready…here we go…..IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A TEACHER OR AN ADMINISTRATOR TO SHARE THEIR FAITH WITH STUDENTS! Period.

Don't take my word for it. Go to the following website…..

http://www.freedomforum.org/publications/first/teachersguide/teachersguide.pdf

There you will find a guide for teachers concerning the teaching of religion in public schools. Please take note in the opening credits of those organizations that it is approved by……

The National PTA and the National Education Association (the most power teacher's union in the United States)

Take note especially of Section 11 which, among other things says…..

"Teachers do not have the right to pray with, or even in the presence of students during the school day."

"Teachers who wish to pray or engage in other religious activities….should do so outside the presence of students."

The educational pamphlet goes on to say that "faculty members" may pray together….but must be careful that there are no students observing them. Religion can only be taught in an "academic" way and only in the context of pluralism.

So if you are one of those who likes to talk about having friends who are teachers or administrators that "share their faith" in the public school…..for the sake of the truth….let's make sure we tell the whole story. Yes…they can share their faith with other administrators and faculty PROVIDED it is consensual. HOWEVER, at no time can it be done in the presence of students.

This carries right along with a teacher we have in the congregation where I currently preach who, after a little girl in the school had tragically lost her parents, was specifically told in a memo that teachers were in no way to mention "religion" in the context of counseling or comforting this little girl.

In California, a public school teacher wanted to teach about the "peacefulness" of Islam so she borrowed Korans from the local mosque. She was allowed to do it.

I asked one school official in our congregation at a study one night what would happen to him if he took some Bibles from the church to teach kids about the "Prince of Peace." He said, in front of a church house full of folks…."I'd be in trouble!"

Let's add the gentlemen in North Dakota who was fired last year (2007) for showing a film to help his students see the seriousness of drunk driving. He even admitted that the film was more religious than he would like….but it was the best he could find. That wasn't good enough. He was fired!

Let's add the gentlemen in Ohio who is currently battling to keep his job. His crime?? He simply had a Bible on his desk.

All I'm saying is this. Defend the public schools if you must. However, quit using the illogical and weak argument of "all the Christian teachers and Administrators who share their faith."

It ain't happenin'!

Why My Boys Are Not Preachers

2008-09-17T05:37:00.004-04:00

Through the years I've been asked if my boys were going to become Preachers….."Just like their Dad." My middle son, while in Bible College, was constantly pressured by one professor in particular to become a Preacher. My youngest at home has no desire. He is really looking hard now at becoming an Indiana DNR Conservation Officer (i.e., a Game Warden). If people did not outright ask it……I’m sure others wondered if my boys were going to become Preachers. My answer has been to folks….and continues to be…."I don't know…but I doubt it." There are fundamentally three reasons.

First…..I never pushed it. I never said…."You have to go to Bible College"….and I certainly never said…."You have to follow in my footsteps and be a Preacher." Many, many, Preachers do this and I believe it is wrong….and many times it turns out be a disaster. Let me give you just one example…….

In an earlier ministry, I had a youth minister (let's say his name is George)…….who after six months or so with us it could be said that he was doing a "mediocre" job. Don't get me wrong. George could attract a crowd of kids…..especially young ones. However, the Elders were concerned, and rightly so….that there appeared to be no depth to anything George did. There appeared to be no strategy for conversion and spiritual growth. I was asked to address this issue with George.

When the time came, I sat George down and explained to him our concerns. His response was not what I expected. He immediately broke down and started crying. Turns out…he had never really wanted to be in the ministry. His father…..who had been a very successful Preacher…with a long tenure in one church…..had pretty much pressured and expected him to follow suit. So he went to Bible College and "did the dance." I counseled George that he needed to be his own man and quit worrying about his father's (or anyone else's) expectations.

George resigned soon after that and worked in a local department store for years. I found out later that he took a job as a "Camp Coordinator" and he was very happy. I'm glad. I hated seeing someone in turmoil like that.

You see….ministry has got to come from the heart. If you don't feel "called" to do this….you will never last. (Could this be why the average Bible college graduate in our brotherhood leaves the ministry after five years?) I have no right to demand that my kids do something…..for which God may have different plans. Their personality may not be made for the ministry.

If at some time in the future they decide, for whatever reason, they want to be in the ministry…..then it will be THEIR choice.,,,Not their Dad's. Only in this way…..will they be able to stand the rigors of the ministry.

Secondly……I believe the Baptist have had it right all along. In the Baptist Denomination (and many others)……you go to a regular secular college first….then you go to Seminary for your religious training. Their motto is….."Go to college and learn a skill and we'll teach you how to be a Preacher." I think now that this is extremely wise.

I feel cheated that I'm 49 years old and basically have no skills. I have devoted 11 years of my life to schooling for the church and in the end basically have no marketable skills. So at times…I feel stuck. (There are some who would argue that's a good thing….i.e., it makes you tough it out.) There may be some merit to that….but when I look at the leaders in the Bible….even the prophets of the Old Testament….they had….other skills (Amos….the grower of figs for instance.)

I know there are many men like myself in the same boat….and the question becomes…..So what do we do when the church has used us up and discarded us (and they will). We can't go in the unemployment line and collect benefits. (40 weeks now isn't it?)

Ahh…..but if we had learned a skill……or got a secular undergraduate degree first….things would be different.

So that's what I encourage not just my boys….but all young men considering the ministry now to do. Go to college and get a degree first with a marketable skill……then if you feel God calling you to ministry……Go for it!

The third and final reason my boys are not Preachers can be summed up in the words of my middle son when asked by this professor I mentioned earlier why he was not going to be a Preacher. He said…and I quote…."I've seen too much."

At times I'm amazed that my kids are even still in church. But I'm happy they are. It means my wife and I have done a decent job of getting them to separate the actions of people who confess to be Christian…..from the reality of the Lordship of Jesus Christ,

But you see…that leads back to my first point. To see what my kids have seen…..and still want to go into the ministry……will have to be their conviction…..and their personal call from God…..if they want to be "like their Dad."

Until then and "if"…….God also needs Christian computer techs….and Christian Game Wardens……and Christian moms at home.

I don't need my kids to be Preachers or be married to Preachers….to be proud of them.

I Told You So!

2008-08-15T18:53:00.004-04:00

Well….chalk this up to yet another one I'm right about. (I know…it's a gift!)

Let me refresh your memory by quoting from my July blog entitled "This and That":
"…….my wife and I had yet another dinner ruined by unruly children. The worst part in these scenarios is the parents think it's cute. Fortunately, this time, it was not a "higher end" restaurant. You remember how before the smoking bans in most areas, restaurants offered "Smoking or Non?" I see in the future restaurants offering the option of "Children or Non?" They'll get my business!!"

Well take note of this. From the StarTribune.com……..

An online survey reveals the frustration that airline passengers sometimes feel when seated next to an active child or crying baby. More than 80 percent of respondents to the survey said airlines should reserve a section of the plane for parents with babies and smaller children. The unscientific survey, conducted by the airfare-monitoring website airfarewatchdog.com, drew more than 17,000 votes to this question: Should airlines have a section of the plane reserved for parents with babies and smaller children?

So in fact, airlines are now taking a closer look at having a "family section" where parents with children will have to go. (One respondent suggested…"the wing.")

Also, you ever had a movie ruined by parents who think they just have to bring the new six month old to the movie theater? For some reason, I guess they think we want to hear the child scream and cry for half the movie. What about kids running up and down the aisle, throwing things, and talking out loud? This…while the parents are sitting there and ignoring it. I guess, they figure since they have learned how to tune their kids out…so has everybody else.

Well, because of this movie theaters are in the process of considering "Child Proof" balconies for families with children to sit in. The room will be encased in sound proof glass. That way, your kids can scream at the top of their lungs……and…..I don't care!!!!

And the list goes on and on and on. Don't believe me? Do a "Google" search "misbehaving children in public"…..and see how many hits you get. People are really starting to get angry….and I for one…..don't blame them.

What we currently have is a generation who has kids and yet does not want to sacrifice any of their freedom. I mean when my wife and I had small children we understood that meant that for a number of years we would be slaves!! We didn't go out much. We stayed at home. Did it bother us? No!! We realized that was what being a parent meant. And when the opportunity did come for us to go out……we hired a baby sitter. However, that was a rarity (usually just our anniversary or Valentine's Day)….because that was one of the other things we sacrificed for our children…namely….money.

Slowly as our children got older…..we gained our freedom and we're happy.

So….I get more than a little miffed when some couple thinks I ought to share in the joy of their children jumping off the seats in a nice restaurant.

By the way, the growing anti-child sentiment in society also underscores what I've said for years, i.e., you ought to raise children you LIKE….and not just children you LOVE……because if you don't like them, neither is anyone else!

Think about it…..if parents do not teach children to respect the rights of others….should we be surprised that children grow up today with no respect for authority?

It's so simple!

This is why the Academy I administrate focuses first and foremost on "character training." If there is no discipline there can be no love. And if there is no love….there can be no learning. I also want our kids to stand out from the crowd for their good behavior....and I'm very proud to say..."They do." And they will stand out to prospective colleges and employers as well.

One other thing. I hate to say this....but Oprah Winfrey predicted what I'm talking about a number of years ago. She said on one of her shows that this was what society was going to come to (i.e., "children or non-children") if parents do not get their children under control.

She was correct.

Oh……and if the airlines do initiate the family section….and if the movie theaters do put in the "sound proof family rooms"…..I'M THERE!

Climate Cops: One More Thing Public School Parents Have to Watch Out For!

2008-08-04T06:23:00.007-04:00

Well as the kids prepare to go back off to public school….there is yet another thing that parents have to keep a watch out for…..CLIMATE COPS!!!! That's right! Straight from our friends in the UK…..and now available in America….there is a new website (www.climatecops.com) that encourages your children to spy on you and the neighbors wasteful energy habits that are destroying our planet. In their words….

Climate Cops spearheads a broader green program developed by npower and links to the Government's national framework for sustainable schools. The program aims to engage and excite children and show them how they can be heroes in tackling the causes of climate change, both in their homes and in their schools. The children’s section of this site introduces them to the important concept of saving energy through three exciting, interactive games that are designed to teach: 1. What is energy waste? 2. How can you prevent energy waste? 3. Why are we saving energy? In addition, there are lots of fun downloads that the children can access to engage them further in the Climate Cop program and which can also be used as part of homework exercises.

Yes the site comes complete with downloadable teacher resources…..AND…..a poster the kids can download that says….."Leaving a cell phone charger plugged in is a SIN!" (see picture above)

Oh my….what a world!! Homosexuality is not a sin….but leaving my charger plugged in is???? Well….I must confess…I'm sinning right now as I type this and it feels…ohhhhh so good. (By the way…..does this remind anyone except me of the "Hitler Youth Program?")

Well….what's wrong with this? Oh my....where do I start??

1) Is it the government's place to encourage our children to "spy" on us…and call us out? I think not. What will they have them rat us out on next? That I didn't vote for Barak Obama??

2) The whole theme of the discussion is that productivity and energy use are bad. (In fact…you folks that work at coal burning power plants ought to check the website out. You more than anyone else, according to them, are responsible for the destruction of the planet!!! Remember that when your kids or grandkids think you are bad for working down there.)

What I want to instill in my children is that there is nothing more beautiful than the smoke stacks of a power plant…..an oil refinery….a nuclear plant…..a tree being cut down. Why?? Because it means productivity and properity. Oh….but I forgot. Public schools are against that. They have an agenda of socialism.

3) Of course the final thing is….don't public schools have better things to do? You know….reading…writing…math.

Like I've said a million times parents…..if you want to send your kids to public schools…that's fine. But at the very least…you have to agree…it's taking more and more of your time to keep them on the straight and narrow.

The sad reality is.....fewer and fewer parents are taking the time.

Random Thoughts for July

2008-07-21T06:12:00.008-04:00

Since I didn't have a particular item in mind I decided to just throw out some random thoughts I have been having the last few weeks…….

MY GLORY??....It is has become rather common place, either directly or indirectly, to suggest that in my ministry I'm seeking "my glory" as opposed to "God's glory." REALLY? Wow!! I sure have gone about it the wrong way haven't I? I mean…it sure seems that I have at least as many, if not more, enemies than I do friends. The membership of the church has declined about 10% in the last two years because of stands I have made. If this was for "my glory" would I not be less "confrontational" and more "get along at all costs?" THE FACT IS…..EVERYTHING I DO IS FOR GOD'S GLORY. As Paul states in Galatians…if I was trying to please man than I would not be following God's word. So think of that the next time you want to take a cheap shot and accuse me, directly or indirectly, or any other of God's leaders……of seeking their own glory. People that seek their own glory will do it at the expense of God's word. I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO POINT OUT ONE SINGLE TIME I HAVE EVER COMPROMISED ON GOD'S WORD. JUST ONE.

OBAMA……during the course of the last few weeks Obama has been moving to the "center" of the political arena. The political pundits love to point out that "this is what all candidates do for the general election." True!! But wasn't Obama supposed to be the candidate of "change?"

TONY SNOW….I guess it's true. Only the good do die young! He will be missed.

"CHILDREN OR NON?"……my wife and I had yet another dinner ruined by unruly children. The worst part in these scenarios is the parents think it's cute. Fortunately, this time, it was not a "higher end" restaurant. You remember how before the smoking bans in most areas, restaurants offered "Smoking or Non?" I see in the future restaurants offering the option of "Children or Non?" They'll get my business!! By the way parents……take them to McDonald's. Why do you feel the need to drag them into a restaurant where meals start at $18 per person?

PREACHER OR TEACHER?......I was recently was told by someone in the church that an individual who had left the church during my tenure said the reason they left was because, and I quote…."I was more of a teacher not a preacher." Again….biblical ignorance is not bliss. There exists no such dichotomy in the New Testament between preaching and teaching. The Greek word for "preach" means…."to proclaim"……and the word for teach means to…..well….teach. One cannot proclaim…without teaching…..nor can they teach without proclaiming. Translated this person meant…."He didn't do like the preachers in the past and come over and burp me when I got mad." That's true. I haven't…..nor shall I ever. If you have a problem with me….than do what the Bible says and come talk to me about it. Most people who have….are pleasantly surprised at what a wonderful person I am to talk to. However, I have said…if you are going to challenge me….you better have your facts straight. I don't change my mind because "You said so." I change my mind when considerate, Christian people, show me.

THE FAILURE OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS…..my wife, in working on her Bachelor's just finished a class on Christian Education. The author of her textbook pointed out that all major denominations have suffered a decline in Sunday schools for about 20 years now. That doesn't surprise me for two reasons: 1) Most people who teach Sunday school use "public school methodology" in their teaching…(and we know how well that is working out for them.)….2) There is a loss of intimacy. What do I mean by that? Simply this. If all Sunday School consist of is getting together on Sundays……eating a donut….and having a "Bible story"….it is doomed to failure. The most successful Sunday school programs and classes are the ones that see their Sunday school classes as a "shepherding group"….i.e., a family unit. They regularly have activities outside the church be it picnics, ball games, or simple get togethers at class member's homes. People are simply not going to be inspired by…..something else they have to attend. So….we need to improve the way we teach…..and we need to increase the intimacy. That will make a difference. (BTW…..this is why "home study groups" or "small groups" that meet during the week are so popular.) All you have to do is apply the same methodology to the Sunday School class.

JESSE JACKSON AND THE "N' WORD……it has been amusing to watch blacks and other liberals defend Jackson's recent use of the word in reference to Obama by claiming that it means "something different" in the black community which is why they are allowed to use that word but whites are not. Hmmmmm……wonder why they did not apply that same thinking to the state of Georgia (or other individuals) who fly the Rebel flag? Sure…..we from the south understand it means one thing to blacks…..but it has a different historical perspective to whites. The Civil War was NOT primarily about slavery. That was a side issue. The real centerpiece of the Civil War was states rights and limiting the arm of the federal government that even in our day has become too far reaching. So…..you folks that like to fly the "Rebel" flag…..go for it!! And when you are questioned….simply say…"Oh…well historically it simply represents the Constitutions affirmation of state's rights." See how that goes over. Personally…..I agree with the fact that the "N-word" means one thing in the black community and another in the white. All racial groups throw little "in race" jabs at each other…..kind of like me calling another white "cracker." So I think the Jackson thing is much ado about nothing. What I DO find amusing….is the double standard. However, it's just the "norm" is this "politically correct"/culturally ego-centric society.

STOP WHINING? ……I really like Ben Stein….but last week on a business news report he told Americans to, and I quote, "Stop whining….and start buying." My immediate reaction was…."With what Ben?? Start buying with what??" Ben's remarks shows the continuing and deepening divide between the rich and not so rich in this country…..and the continued erosion of the middle class….(which by the way was one of the constant condemnations God had of the nation of Israel). Read the book of Amos for instance. Until us "average" folks can be assured we are not going to pay 40% more in fuel costs over the next six months as we have in the last six months…….my money is staying locked up.

What Did You Expect?

2008-06-26T06:57:00.004-04:00

Usually…..our brotherhood's magazine, The Lookout doesn't hold much appeal to me.....but this morning it was handy so I looked at it. (OK…I was in the bathroom!!)

While perusing I found an article that at first held great promise and then towards the end left me as disappointed as a record book white tailed buck passing just outside of my effective bow range. Both situations leave me empty handed and frustrated.

What I found timely about the article was that it comes right on the heals of someone asking me at Bible Study last night…."How did we get to this point?" The person that asked the question asked it in light of the fact that he was not sure if Hitler was alive today that this generation would have the moral fortitude to defeat Nazism. I went on to explain perfectly how we arrived at this point. Our culture no longer has a clear set of right/wrong and that mindset begins in the public school system. When parents send their kids off to school they can no longer rest assured that their personal value system is upheld. It is not. In fact, from day one….everything a parent teaches their child is held up for critique and review.

Thus…..we end up with the children described in the following article from The Lookout.

In the May 25th, 2008 edition, there is an article entitled, "Another Generation Grew Up" by Dr. Tim Woodroof. In the article, he very perceptively points out the following ways in which our culture has had a negative affect on our children and the way our children now see things differently than we do.

He points out first of all what children are not. They are not….."growing up in the way they should go." They are not being as heavily influenced as you would like to think by your love, wisdom, insights, convictions, and example. There have been, as he says…. "other significant influences in their young lives." He goes one to say…."Perhaps you have assumed….they've adopted your faith and your viewpoints pretty much as a whole." Then he nails it when he says, "If that is what you think…..then limit your discussions with your children to a surface and polite level." In other words….do not dig any deeper because you are going to be sorely disappointed.

If you do dig…..he says this is what you will find. The world has profoundly influenced their lives. Their values have been shaped by the world. They have a much more flexible attitude about what is right and wrong. The language they use, the humor they enjoy, the lifestyles they accept, the behaviors they yawn at would "give us hives" he says. They do not see absolutes. They view our ethics as antiquated, rigid, and simplistic. To them "sin" is no longer "homosexuality" or "abortion." To them sin is "Global Warming" and "World Hunger." (John Dewey would be proud!)

Our children distrust authority. They don't trust systems, companies, governments, committees, and yes….even the Church. They are pluralistic. They have embraced the notion that there are "many paths" to truth and spirituality. They find Christianity "judgmental and embarrassing." Our children have little use for church. They don't get why the church matters.

As I was reading this I was elated! Finally….there is someone else who gets it. There is someone else who acknowledges…."Uh Houston….we have a problem!"

Ahhhh…but just as the buck passes right outside of my bow range thus not allowing me to make a killing shot with a mystical flighted arrow from my longbow……the author blows it in the last one third of the article.

He actually thinks…..THIS IS A GOOD THING!!! Why? Because….in his words…."Our children are teaching us how to speak "faith" in today's world." Oh goody!! I didn't know how to do that until the bad company of the world corrupted my children. Great!! Now that they are corrupted…..I can learn to speak "world language."

NOW HERE IS THE SAD PART…..Dr. Woodroof….is a preacher. Ah great!! Yet another example of a preacher who has allowed the culture to change the church rather than the Scripture mandated commission for the church to change the culture!! Geez!! It's a good thing I was already in the bathroom!!

Well, at least I can be thankful that yet again I have been proven right. At least Dr. Woodroof agrees that the world is having a dramatic impact on our children.

And what does the church of our day do to counter it? One hour of Bible school with any teacher we can find to fill the slot….and a regular "Pizza and Pop" night for the youth. Afterwards….the kids go to 40 plus hours per week of public school to have their views of the world shaped by the children of darkness and then we wonder why after the kids graduate….there are only two left of the twenty something that used to come to youth group meetings.

I mean Dr. Woodroof….what in the world did you expect? What did you expect when the "children of light" allow the "children of darkness" to raise their children?

High Gas Prices: The Silver Lining

2008-06-09T07:10:00.002-04:00

It seems you cannot have a talk today without someone whining about the gas prices (myself included). There appears to be no end in sight…..not because something could not be done…..but because we have a bunch of clueless politicians who probably have never even put their hands on a pump nozzle to fill their cars up. Nope!! They are driven everywhere they go….in limos paid for by us and gas paid for by us. Unfortunately, there is really nothing in place, at this time, to stop gas from going to $10.00 a gallon. That's reality……and whining about it accomplishes pretty much….nothing.

However, there is a silver lining to all of this. The bottom line is this…..for most of us…..we are upset not because gas prices are going to cause us to starve to death or go without a meal (which some of us could afford to miss a few). They are not going to cause us to miss a house payment, utilities payments…..or payments for the kid's braces. We'll still be able to replace the washer or dryer when we have to. Certainly, we will continue to fill our vehicles up. We will still be able to afford to send our kids to a Christian school or home-school them (especially now since in this competitive market…..kids need an extra edge to excel). If it is a priority in our life……we'll still be able to give to the Lord's work.

No….what most of us are upset about…..and what most Americans are upset about is that gas prices are cutting into our "expendable income"…i.e., our "play money." Personally….I think this is a good thing.

For far too long we have lived such prosperous lives in America that the line between "wants/needs" has become very, very blurred. We have seen our "wants" as a part of "our due" because we live in America. While fifty percent plus of the world struggles to find one good meal a day…..the biggest struggle many of us have is putting the money together for a new gun, bow, flat screen TV, or the latest video game.

However, gas prices are causing this to change. I think for the first time in a very long time…..people….myself included…..are forced to really evaluate the difference between "wants/needs." While I would like to have another half dozen of new and pretty fletched arrows…..the old ones from two years ago will do just fine. The deer doesn't care what stuck it! While those "High Def" TV's look cool…..the old flat screen I bought six years ago still delivers the same news and shows. While I would really like the latest video game on the market…..my life will be no less complete without it. In fact, maybe my kids could do something really radical…..LIKE READ A BOOK! While I would like to go out to dinner AGAIN this week…..for one third of the cost I can fix a nice dinner at home with my family…..and not have to put up with some one's bratty kids next to me who think it's cute their kids can jump off of restaurant chairs like Superman!

So the next time you start whining about gas prices…..stop…and evaluate why you are whining. I understand your anger. It does not have to be this way. We have been backed into this corner by corporate greed and politicians only interested in their self perpetuation. HOWEVER….the bottom line is….we are whining…..because the amount we have to satisfy our carnality is not as readily available.

Scripture says that God will supply our NEEDS…..every one of them. It behooves us then to really evaluate and re-chalk those lines that separate "wants" from "needs." As we do that….I think that not only will we become, as Scripture say, "content in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in"…….we will also start finding happiness in the little things in life again. Things such as a simple family picnic, holding hands with your wife on the back porch as the sun goes down, or shooting them old arrows on the back forty with your son.

High gas prices? "Rejoice in the Lord always….and again….I say Rejoice!"

Sports: Teacher of Character?

2008-06-03T18:57:00.002-04:00

Not too long ago, someone showed me a cartoon that had a picture of two basketball characters. They had names on their shirts. One name was "Public Schools"….the other was…."Homeschools." The "Public School" character was holding a basketball and said….."Well, I guess I'll take my ball and go home."

When the homeschooling movement first started the public schools tried to claim superiority in academics. It did not take long to show the foolishness of that. Then, for the longest time, they claimed the superiority of "socialization." It was claimed that kids cannot learn how to properly socialize in society if they are homeschooled. Time proved that wrong as well. (When is the last time you heard of a "homeschool shooting"…..or a "homeschool drug raid?....or a homosexual being voted as "Prom King?")

So now…..the last thing that the public schools have is……sports. All over the country homeschoolers and private schoolers are having to go to court often times to gain the right to allow their children to play in sports. Let me add…..this is a right that they should be allowed to have since their parents are already paying for it via their property taxes. Some are winning the court cases…..some are not.

My take? Who cares!! Sports is overrated and I would add that it is now a detriment to our society.

"But sports teach character!!" I agree!! Sports does teach character…..BAD CHARACTER!! Don't believe me? Then lets ask the cheaters……Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and the rest of the steroid users. Let's ask the "gangstas"…..i.e., the 21 percent plus in the NFL and NBA who are convicted felons!! Let's ask the "ignorant"…..the 25 to 30 percent of High School basketball and football players who leave school functionally illiterate. Let's ask the murderers……the ones that are willing to kill to get their daughters a spot on the cheerleading squad.

You see the question is not, are sports good or bad, but rather, what have they become in our culture? A good thing? I think not.

Sports teach character? The famous baseball player turned Evangelist, Billy Sunday (1883--92) said that even in his day….."Because it is a life in which morality is not an essential to success; one might be a consummate rogue and a first class ball player."

So the fact is that there is no evidence to suggest that there is any inherent connection between sports and character.

This is an important topic for me to consider as the Christian school I administrate continues to grow. As it does so, there will be a bigger push for athletics which I can justify neither financially and/or philosophically.

If it is character that we are wanting to build in our young people then academics does a far superior job to sports. The study of calculus, Greek, and Latin, Rudyard Kipling, and chemistry teaches far more grit and doggedness than baseball ever will. The study of music is more effective in developing character than is sports.

Does this not simply fly against everything that goes on in this society? Yes it does….which is why I know that I'm right again.

I recently had a young father enroll his youngest son in our Academy. He did not enroll the oldest one. The reason? His son wants to try out for basketball and so he figures he ought to give him a chance. I kick myself for not pointing out the following. I recently have asked several people…."When is the last time someone won a scholarship to a major university in this area for basketball?" I have yet to get an answer. I then asked….in the last 50 years…..who in this area….made it to the NBA. Answer? Nobody!

The simple law of averages says then, that if we want our children to rise above average in society we need to direct them down the road of Academics and forget about sports. However, I'm afraid there are way too many parents whose self esteem is so low that they live vicariously through their children playing sports. So they hold on to the futility.

Am I against sports? Absolutely not! I'm against what they have become in our culture. "Sandlot" is one of my all time favorite movies. Those kids played ball everyday…..no score…no umpires…..just having fun! I'm all for just throwing a basketball in among a group of boys and letting them go at it with no referees, and buzzers, scoreboards, and etc. You know who else believed that? The founder of basketball himself…..James Naismith. In 1914 he said, "Basketball is a game to be played….not coached. Simply throw the basketball in and let them fight over it. This will nurture and develop players on their own." Hey…don’t shoot the messenger. Check out the history yourself!! My guess is Mr. Naismith would be thrown out of most High School games today.

I also agree with the early settlers of our country who said that sports had value only in the sense that it helped one in settling the frontier. In other words, if it strengthened the body it was good in order to cut logs, build homes, and plow ground. The ancients (Egyptians, Babylonians, etc.) all taught archery because it was believed that the same focus it took to guide an arrow to its mark was the same focus needed to guide one to their goals in life....(not to mention it served a wartime purpose).

One of the best things public schools and colleges could do today would be to get rid of sports entirely. Gerdy writes in his book (Sports: The All American Addiction)…."Sports would simply then shift to other local sponsoring agencies. With such a change our educational system would be better positioned to begin the process of serving the broad, long term, health and exercise needs of our nation with the result that the education of students will improve as the focus on academics would intensify." Good idea? Absolutely! Is it going to happen? Absolutely not. Sports is a money maker and it is the only thing public schools have to brag about anymore. In fact, sports has become about the only good thing anyone can say about public education anymore.

The idea that sports produces character (good character) is a potent and pervasive myth without theoretical or empirical support.

The fact is…..the little, unknown teacher in a Christian school, teaching the rigors of Latin and the content of the Gettysburg Address produces the kind of character needed in the world and in the church of Jesus Christ.

Sports will always be low on my list of priorities for the school. Does that mean our attendance will never be large? Probably. But then again, the world has always been changed by the few.

Open Letter to a Parent

2008-05-02T04:28:00.005-04:00

Occassionally I have to write letters to parents who are making a decision about whether or not to continue to enroll their children in our Christian school, Kent Christian Academy. I thought there might be some benefit to others to see what one of these letters look like. Again, doing such....helps you to see where I'm coming from. Here it is....

Dear Parent:

I thought it would be good to give a summarization of my discussion with you yesterday. Of course, as I reflected, other thoughts came to me as well. I pray you will take the time to really read this letter and digest it. Feel free to share it with anyone you like as these are convictions of mine that most people are very aware of. If they aren't….then they should be.

It appeared to me that "socialization" and/or camaraderie (I think was the word you used) was your main concern.

From our perspective, myself, the teachers, and the principles that guide the school……that is the least of our concern. KCA will NEVER be about the numbers. It is about the quality of education. It is about the individual child, a unique creation of God.

I used to literally stay awake at night worrying about who was coming, how many will enroll, who will come back….etc. I do not do that anymore. I have turned it over to the Lord and trust Him that He will bring us the students He wants us to work with…..whether it be……35 or 15.

My three children never experienced a "prom"…..a "homecoming"….."school dance"….etc….etc. I'm pretty sure not a one of them would say they were "deprived." Most importantly…..they received an education which allowed them to be self sufficient very early after graduation without sponging off me. Even more importantly than that…..the relationship that really matters….the one with their Lord…..was cemented for eternity. They have their "ups" and "downs" like everyone else in life. But…I know they are grounded in the things that matter.

By the way, one of the criticisms often laid against homeschoolers is…"But what about their socialization?" Again, here are the facts. Study after study reveals that home-schoolers demonstrate more social skills on a consistent basis than do their public school counterparts. Studies have also shown that today's eighteen year old public school graduate has the maturity level of a 1950's 5th grader. All you have to do is look at the drunken brawls on college campuses to see that.

SO…if those things are important to you….and you feel that your child would benefit from those kinds of experiences…..then I cannot promise those to you at KCA…and thus KCA may not be for you. I understand.

You also expressed concern that the school was not/has not been well received. You were surprised that the community did not swell to its side. Like I said yesterday, the community, overall, has been very warm and receptive….thus the majority of our students come from the outside. In fact, the archery team has received over $750 in corporate donations. This is EXACTLY what was told to us in the beginning. We were told from the very beginning that the least amount of support for the school….would come from within the church. That did not/does not surprise me.

I will admit….I have been taken back, somewhat, by the vitriolic hatred that I have seen demonstrated by public educators. I had always known they were a vicious lot…..I just didn't realize how deep it went. (I have also come to understand why the N.E.A., the teacher's union…is such a feared political force that every candidate strives to get on their side.)

Now that being said….I have adjusted to it….and realize where it comes from. Satan is perfectly happy to allow us to sit back and "play" church. For many years now, churches (including Kent) have played church. Satan loves it when we build buildings and do all kinds of things in the name of "Christianity." However, you start taking his kids away from him…by taking them out of the public school system, where they are indoctrinated with the ways and the thinking of the world (his world)…..then it does not surprise me anymore that Satan unleashes the fury of hell against us.

The simple fact is this. For the last 20 years the church loses 75% of their young people once they graduate High School. You can see it right in our own church. Take note of how many folks attend whose children do not. They used to. They used to come to the youth meetings, Bible school, etc. However, that is not going to cut it anymore. It is not enough to have church a couple days a week…..and leave the building sit empty the rest of the week.

I make no bones about…..I've made it known to everyone I see……that I consider the number one enemy of the church today to be the public school system. They are the ones responsible for ripping our kids away from us. From the day they set foot in kindergarten, everything that kids have learned at home, including their values, are questioned and put on the table for discussion.

I had a parent talk to me just yesterday, and said they didn't worry about the teaching of evolution because, and I quote, "They don't start that till way later on." WRONG!! This individual almost had a look of shock on their face when I showed them a first/second grade book that teaches evolution. Our children are no longer educated. They are indoctrinated.

For me…this is spiritual warfare…….the very thing a Preacher is supposed to be involved in. I literally believe that myself, and whoever else supports the school realizes this is a battle for the hearts, minds, and more importantly, souls of our children.

And why do public school people get so defensive? I have literally begged for debate with them. I will debate anyone on the subject and I'll do it on public school grounds. Why don't they want to? What are they hiding? What are the "dirty little secrets" that will be exposed?

The problem is, they have been so empowered by the Federal Govt. they do not care. That was demonstrated by one educator I "had words" with. Their remark when I challenged them was…."I'm not going to debate you because….I don't care." (I rest my case!)

Like all warfare….there will be causalities. I know….there are people out to get me. I know there are those in the church who are seeking my downfall……whose only reason for coming to church is to see it. I know….there are people in church right now who are probably trying to figure out a way to get rid of me. And….they may be successful. Satan's ways are quite powerful.

But….at least I have made the battlelines…..very clear. At least I stand on principle….and not the shifting sands of popularity. I have made it the rest of my life's work…to point out how public schools (all of them) are destroying the fabric of America……and more importantly…..destroying the church of Jesus Christ. And when America continues on its downhill slide…..and our kids continue to leave the church in droves…..and lead unguided, rebellious lives…..at least people will be able to say…."Well…Danny did point this out to us."

I do consider myself a "revolutionist" and I teach the kids of KCA to be "revolutionists"…i.e., to question everything. I think history reveals what happens to most revolutionist.

HOWEVER…..some people would rather not have their children in the middle of the battle (i.e. enrolled at KCA). I understand. I realize the constant battle folks like you have to put up with to justify your decision. It takes courage to stand against "the system." Not everyone is cut out for it.

Other than that I can't think of much to say. KCA has more than demonstrated that what we do works. The children of KCA are well behaved, well mannered, cultured, and well educated.

That being said…..KCA may not be for you. That's a decision you will have to make. The decision to attend KCA will come at a cost to you….and I'm not talking just finances. That's a given. For the rest of your life, if KCA is a part of it, you will have to stand against the system.

I've made my choice….but I did it long ago. It has cost me. Did you know that I was turned down by two different churches before coming to Kent?? Do you know the reason why?? Because we homeschooled. Both of those pulpit committees had public educators on them. Again, logical thinking people, like yourselves, are forced to ask the question…."What are you people afraid of?"

So I'm quite aware of the cost. I have paid it in the past. I'm currently paying it. There is little doubt it will cost me in the future.

But….I know that I'm right.

However, you have to make your own decisions.

I love your family….and I love you with the love of Jesus!

For the Children's Sake,

Preacher Danny

Jane Goodall: Mother of Socialism/Evolution

2008-03-29T10:02:00.004-04:00

Recently I was asked to inform the parents of our Christian Academy to encourage the students to attend a conference by Jane Goodall sponsored by a local college. Other parents informed me they would be taking their children. Christian people have been "gooing" and "gahhing" over her upcoming appearance.

My answer....."Absolutely not!!!" and so I felt it necessary to explain. It's very simple......Jane Goodall is little more than a spokesperson for evolutionary thought that then manifests itself in socialist/environmental propaganda.

And again.....as so many times....I was proven right.

Take note of the following quotes in our local newspaper....of Jane Goodall's speech the night before. I will highlight the parts in black that I find especially ridiculous and absurd....and make appropriate comments in parenthesis.....

As she does nearly 300 days each year in cities throughout the world, Goodall conveyed a message filled with hope in a world that faces serious consequences from overconsumption and a failing attempt to maintain unsustainable lifestyles. (The problem in the world is not "overconsumption" and it is not even production. The problem is....."distribution." Most third world countries are operated by totalitarian dictators that either will not allow the supplies to get in.....or....they hoard them for themselves. The scientific fact is.....we are producing more food in this world, more efficiently than ever before. Jane uses the same old tired "scare" tactics of the left wing.)

"A recent study indicates that if everyone in the world lived the life of an average American, we would need from five to six planets," said Goodall, a native of London, England. "Unfortunately, we only have one and that one is in trouble."Yet, she sees hope for the future in youth around the world - youth who in her travels she has often found depressed, hopeless, angry - even violent - because of the state of the Earth they are inheriting."We feel you've compromised our future," they tell her of the higher-intellect creatures destroying the planet." (Yep....that's what young people need to hear...i.e., that they are smarter than us.)

"And we have. I look at my three grandchildren and feel their desperation." (Really?? I look at my grandchildren and see nothing but happiness.)

"We're not inheriting the Earth from our parents. The Earth is on loan to us from our children." (Haven't I seen that on a bumper sticker somewhere? Actually....the earth is on loan to us from God.....but as an evolutionist.....that doesn't fit into Jane's worldview.)

"There is much that can still be done, she tells them, speaking proudly of her Roots and Shoots program, which is attracting enthusiastic young people all over the world who "have so much imagination" in helping turn the tide and stop a planet on a disaster course." (Yep! There's the old "gloom and doom" again. But do notice....the target....Young People. This is why your kids spend more time in public schools studying "global warming" than they do the Constitution of the United States.)

"It's not too late. We can stop the acceleration," she said. "We have to stop leaving those decisions up to the decision-makers. Every individual can make a difference every day."Roots and Shoots gets its name from an acorn."It is so tiny, such a life force in that seed," she said. "It will push through brick walls to reach the sun." Its success depends upon the growth of the roots and shoots, a message of hope, she said.According to Goodall, who will turn 74 on April 3, much of the problem stems from a "here and now" mentality."Young people understand that," she said" (Really?? She is obviously not meeting most the young people I meet today.)

"When the indigenous people made decisions, they did so thinking of seven generations ahead. " (And your cited source for that is?????)

"We can't depend on the leaders of today who make decisions based on the next shareholder's meeting three months away or according to a political agenda" (Ahhh....there you have it. The standard hatred for capitalism.)

"First, there are the greedy who are taking too much from the Earth, and then there are the poor who are also destroying the environment to live - just to survive." (Standard, old, tired, class warfare.)

"Goodall was disappointed there was not more talk about global warming at a recent meeting of the United Nations. For four days, the only talk about environment was from the indigenous people representing nine nations," she said.An Eskimo leader aired their concerns about the melting ice in their regions: "Up in the north, we know what you're doing down south. What will it take to melt the ice in the human heart?"" (Well.....maybe Jane should share this information with that Eskimo.......according to reports from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reveals that almost all the allegedly “lost” ice has come back. A NOAA report shows that ice levels which had shrunk from 5 million square miles in January 2007 to just 1.5 million square miles in October, are almost back to their original levels.
Moreover, a Feb. 18 report in the London Daily Express showed that there is nearly a third more ice in Antarctica than usual, challenging the global warming crusaders and buttressing arguments of skeptics who deny that the world is undergoing global warming.)

"Over the years, it has been amazing to see just how much like us chimpanzees are. They are more biologically like us than any other animal. Our blood is the same - we can even get a transfusion using their blood. Our immune systems are alike. Our DNA is only 1 percent away from being identical. Chimps have individual personalities and ability to show emotions. They kiss and they pat each other on the back just like we do. There's no sharp line dividing us. Just the development of a sophisticated language. And we have the intellect to write Shakespeare and compose music, where they react on instinct."Studying them has helped us to better understand our place in the world." (Yes there is Jane....it's called....being created in the image of God.)

So again.....I think Christian parents would do well......in fact...quite well....to redirect their children to someone other than Jane Goodall.....as a hero. A 74 year old lady she may be....but she is still the propagator of an insidious belief that challenges the Christian world view.

I Don't Care Who You Are.....This is Funny!!

2008-02-29T04:29:00.000-05:00

The front page of our local newspaper a few days ago made a big headline out of the fact that one of our local schools had all the teachers attend a seminar on "How to Handle Bullies."

Now....does anyone besides me find that funny? A bunch of "educated" people have to get together to develop a game plan....and/or figure out.....how to handle bullies.

Something so simple......so easy to remedy.....and yet....we have to dimiss the kids from school at tax payer expense to figure it out.

A perfect example of the "world of academia."

In all fairness, however.......I got to to admit...it is not just a public school thing. For the last month, I have been invited by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) to attend a teleconference on dealing with bullying.

I wish they would ask me to lead the conference. I could save thousands of dollars....because it would be the world's shortest teleconference. You ready....here it goes....

"Touch/harass another kid.....and you're outta here!!!"

OK....everyone get back to work now.

"Dirty Little Secrets".....Guest Blog by: Jenny Gabbard

2008-02-29T03:52:00.000-05:00

While the title of my article may seem provocative to some, its intent is to capture attention and ultimately to challenge your thinking. Our society seems to be closing its eyes to the myriad of social and academic problems facing America's youth. We seem to be quite content to allow ourselves to be lead around, "like a pig with a ring in its snout" by those in the world of academia. Even in the realm of private schools the mistake is to merely take public school methodology, attach religion to it and then walk away thinking, "There, we fixed it, all is well." All is not well. It really is no secret that we have raised and continue to raise children who can't read, write and do simple calculations. For years now, I have heard these complaints from people of all walks of life, from stay-at-home grandmothers to the corporate executive. It has only been recently however, that people, other than educators, have complained that even our brightest students can't think logically. How many times have you heard people say, "He has a lot of book knowledge but not a lick of common sense?" I hope this article will provide you with some useful information because let's face it, how many of us can say that we haven't had at least one friend or relative raise a skeptical eyebrow when we chose to privately educate our child?

It also is no secret that our literacy rate is plummeting. However, some people may say, "But the U.S. literacy rate is 98 or 99%." If you research you will indeed see that the United States is listed as having a high literacy rate. The dirty little secret however, is, of that 98 or 99% rate, 90 million can barely read and write, another 40 million have only rudimentary reading and writing skills, 50 million were categorized as having better skills but still inadequate. These are known as functional illiterates. This leaves only about 20% or 34-40 million people who scored high and are able to handle challenging material. (U.S. Dept. of Education, 1993) The fact that these functional illiterates are included in this 99% has literacy groups all across the country upset because these people are not literate and are not getting the help they need. These high illiteracy rates are unprecedented in the history of the United States. In doing research for this article I researched several newspapers from 1910 and depending on the age group studied found that illiteracy rates were as low as 2.2% for ten to fourteen year olds to less than 8% for ages fifteen and above. Keep in mind these children did not have the benefit of schooling and many were immigrants. Today, according to Time Magazine 13% of seventeen year olds alone are illiterate. This is devastating to me, although not surprising.

Respected educator, Dr. Jane Healy in her book, Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think-and What We Can Do About It, gives some even more disturbing statistics. About 90% of young people can read simple material but have difficulty understanding texts above elementary school level. They cannot draw inferences beyond simple facts, follow an author's viewpoint or a sequence of arguments or use facts to support an argument of their own. The NAEP's own report, (a branch of the U.S. Dept. of Education that measures student progress.) shows that only 5% of today's graduates can handle traditional college level material. In other words, they can't handle material that graduates have been able to handle in the past.

Now here is another dirty little secret she reveals in her book. She says that the situation is probably going to get worse. She cites a study conducted by two educators at Kent State University. They interviewed those college students aspiring to be public school teachers. What did they find? "Many students enter our courses with negative attitudes toward reading in general and, more specifically, towards the type of literature that make up the main content of our courses (i.e. "good" books for children and adolescents). More than one-fourth of these potential teachers confessed to a "lifelong discomfort with print," and many acknowledged that they made it through English courses by relying on "Cliff Notes", book jackets, or cursory reading to supply them with just enough information to pass tests…" [Italics mine] Dr. Healy then states a little later that these are the young teachers that are suppose to pass on to the next generation of readers those higher level reading and reasoning skills (beyond phonics) which they have "so handily circumvented." In other words, these young teachers have managed to avoid learning the skills they need to pass on to their students and therefore will not be able to pass them on. Sadly, she then goes on to say that they are also "reflections of the society in which they live." She states emphatically that this has been the case with her own student teachers as well as those of her colleagues. My bookshelf can attest to this as well. It is full of educators who all say the same thing.

Dr. Healy admits in her book that many teachers are not even being trained in the low level skills of basic phonics. Don't be impressed when someone says, "Well my child knows 50 sight words already." The term "sight word," is a red flag to me. As the years go on fewer and fewer phonics rules are taught and even though the "Look-Say" method has not worked the schools seem to be using it more and more. Sight reading does not teach the children the necessary decoding skills that will be needed for higher level reading. Teaching the rules of phonics takes time but in the long run will produce well read, well educated children.

Unfortunately then when children aren't given the proper tools and can't read they are slapped with a label of Dyslexia or some other label. Dr. Healy says Dyslexia has become the "garbage can," for any problem connected to reading. Dr. Thomas Armstrong in his book, The Myth of ADD and ADHD, makes a similar claim for any academic and behavior problem and the latest "garbage can," is autism. The late, Dr. Raymond Moore, another respected educator who was at one time, employed in the U.S. Office of Education, gives just one example of how these labels are misused. The Michigan Reading Clinic took 3,000 children previously diagnosed with Dyslexia, tested them and found that only two had real dyslexia.

I could fill pages with statistics, studies and other empirical evidence of this discussion. Chapter One of Dr. Healy's book would fill several pages alone but I think you get the picture. We haven't even discussed the deficiencies in math and science but the problems are the same as well as the cause. We have not discussed how inaccurate and useless standardized testing is. This deserves an article of its own.

So what suggestions did Dr. Healy give for solving these problems? Listen and see if any of these sound familiar. She suggested that educators stop using workbooks and worksheets and instead have students, "tell back" or narrate what they have read. Imagine my surprise and exhilaration when I read this. The backbone of Charlotte Mason's methodology is narration or the "telling back," of passages read. Dr. Healy says almost word for word what Charlotte Mason believed, that this process of narration forces them to think, to analyze , to sequence, to look at the author's viewpoint and finally, the student can formulate his own argument with what was just read. None of this occurs if the child has to merely fill in the blank, answer true or false, or pick A, B, or C. Many private schools also use workbooks and worksheets, adding a religious workbook thinking this will produce a wholly educated child. As I read on in Dr. Healy's book it got even better. Other suggestions were to return to the use of classical literature. She very clearly shows how today's literature is "dumbed-down." (Her words not mine.) Charlotte called it twaddle but both educators agree that this is why children have such a poor vocabulary, poor writing skills and a myriad of other skill deficiencies. Dr. Healy said to get rid of the bite-sized, disjointed material found in textbooks. She says that this type of material does not teach the children how to make the connections in life. It provides no in-depth study of any subject. Dr. Healy also mentioned that since 1988 textbooks have been written to mimic prose and content of the standardized tests, which also does not educate. Charlotte Mason used the term "scrappy knowledge," when she referred to textbooks. Keep in mind Charlotte lived and worked 100 years ago. She had many of the same complaints as Dr. Healy regarding textbooks. Charlotte Mason also complained that they are "dry as bones." Dr. Healy also believed that certain habits of the mind must be and can be taught such as paying attention. The majority of Charlotte's six volume series was based on the philosophy that "Education is a Discipline" and that teaching children to pay attention was among the first to be taught. By now, as I am reading Dr. Healy's book, I can hardly sit still and I'm asking myself, "Has she got a copy of Charlotte Mason's book on her lap as she's writing?" Then something occurred to me.

Marva Collins was a teacher in the 1970's in an inner city Chicago school. In 1975 she had had enough of the system, retired, took her pension and started her own school. She now has several private schools that follow her methodology, a methodology very, very much like Charlotte Mason's. When Marva left to establish her own school, she said she just wanted to teach "like they used to." It was then I realized that maybe saying KCA is unique is not quite the right word to use. We are perhaps unique in our time and in our area. We just want to teach "like they used to," when children could read, write, calculate and think for themselves. Please realize that Dr. Healy is not a home educator. She's not even a private school advocate. She is a public educator armed with statistics, scientific studies and her own empirical and anecdotal evidence. So why are only a few of her colleagues listening? Why aren't the teacher's unions singing her praises, thanking her for her brilliant research and bestowing awards upon her? WELL…. That is the subject of another article!!!!

Please note that our school library has many wonderful books that are available for you to check out for your own research. The public library has many of them as well. Please don't take my word for it. Read these books for yourself so you know I'm not just "making this stuff up."
Endangered Minds by Dr. Jane Healy

Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gotto

Marva Collins Way by Marva Collins

Ordinary Children, Extraordinary Teachers by Marva Collins

Public Education Against America by Marlin Maddoux

Of Course….all of Charlotte Mason's Educational Series.

The Problem with High School "Vo-Tech"

2008-01-30T05:05:00.000-05:00

In the book, Public Education Against America, radio talk show host Marlin Maddoux tells of a letter that was written to Hillary Clinton shortly after her husband won the White House in 1992. The letter was written by Marc Tucker, president of the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE). Interestingly, the NCEE was financed by the Carnegie Corporation, a driving force behind much of the country's social change through public education.

In his letter, Tucker recommends a "national apprenticeship system," a mandatory national "employment service" to match job-seekers with job providers. This cradle-to-grave system would be coordinated by a "system of labor market boards at the local, state, and federal levels," where curriculum and "job matching" would be handled by COUNSELORS (caps mine) "accessing the integrated computer based program." Tucker's plan would be the fulfillment of the dream of John Dewey and other socialists to CHANGE THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOLS FROM TEACHING ACADEMIC BASICS AND KNOWLEDGE TO SERVING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY THROUGH JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT. (caps mine)

So, instead of children being God created, self directed individuals with exciting, unpredictable potential, America's children would become mere "human capital" in a planned society.

This letter fell on welcome ears with Hillary Clinton. In June 1990, she was on the Board of Directors with the National Center on Education and the Economy. They produced a report entitled, America's Choice: High Skills or Low Wages.

The thesis of the report was that "by the year 2000, over 70 percent of the jobs in America will NOT (caps mine) require a college education." The recommendations in the report fell right in line with the elitist mentality that the country needs a dumbed-down workforce. In fact, on page two of the report it states....."Most employees under this model NEED NOT BE EDUCATED (caps mine). It is far more important that they be reliable, steady, and WILLING TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS" (caps mine).

NOW PARENTS....do you see why your kids cannot think for themselves?!?!?! They are simply being developed into cogs for a system.

In the past, vocational training was provided either in "shop courses" or after High School at vocational schools. Now, however, it is becoming a part of the regular curriculum of all schools, set by planners who judge the future needs of businesses in the particular region of the school.

Parents, do you now understand why there are three degrees your child can get in H/School?? You can get an "Honors" degree (which means you are one of the elite). Or you can get a "standard" degree which means you are "just average." Or, you can go for the vo-tech option which means.....you are not smart enough to contribute to society except in a "factory worker" kind of way.

This whole mentality is sold to our society so as to appeal to the masses under the banner of "Workforce Development."

Does this all sound familiar?? It should. It's been tried before...in the Soviet Union and it failed.

The problem is....how many of our children will it take down before it fails here? How many dreams will be crushed?

I have a child in our Academy who was told in 6th grade that he would never graduate...but that was alright. They would give him a certificate of completion (whatever that is). As I stated before, I have others whose careers were already being decided for them in 8th grade. Others have just been passed through the system because.....well....in the end....they will just be workers anyway.

And again, there are a lot of good, well meaning, even Christian teachers, who are contributing to this and they do not even know it. How? Because they just follow the federal/state mandated lesson plans. They really have no choice in the matter.

My goal is to raise a generation of parents/teachers/students.......who revolt against this system. We want to raise a generation whose minds are freed with knowledge. As a result, they become empowered and make their own decisions for their life. Maybe some will even rise up.....enter the system as law makers and lawyers.....who will make changes that will save the minds and lives of other precious children to come.

But it is all going to come at a cost. On a good number of days.....I think maybe things have gone too far. I'm not sure there are enough parents who are willing to pay that cost.

I hope and pray....that I'm wrong.

An Uphill Battle

2008-01-24T05:16:00.000-05:00

Since my wife and I left the "homeschooling arena" and entered the world of "Christian Schooling" three years ago, we have had to face a number of uphill battles. Since we live in a small town we have had to fight the small town mentality that the schools are bad everywhere else except "in our little town." We've had to fight the "But your teachers aren't certified" battles. We've had to fight the "How do you know where the children are at if you don't test them?" crowd.....and on and on.

However, the most persistent battle we have had to, and continue to fight, is what I call the "factory mentality" of our young people, It manifests itself with statements such as "What do I need to know this stuff for?" (i.e., history, algebra, and Shakespeare). My wife actually had one of her 10th graders say to her a few days before....."I know all I need to know." Wow!! It must be nice to only be in 10th grade and know all you need to know.

My wife and I lose our patience at times with them when they manifest this attitude....but most of all....we have a great deal of sympathy for them. It is not their fault that they think this way. Again, this is what the public school system has done to them. Give me a moment to show you how this happens.

I can best illustrate this with two conversations my wife and I just recently had with school parents. A parent told my wife they want to re-enroll their son for school next year. However, she also wanted to enroll him in a local "vo-tech" program. My wife said, "No".....that vo-tech program would be a violation of the principles we believe in." I'll explain why in just a second. However, let me first tell you about my recent conversation.

In eighth grade one of our current students was sent to a "guidance counselor." The guidance counselor asked this student what they liked to do. Once the counselor heard that, she immediately began to lay out the student's future classes!!!! She told the student, "It's our job to get you ready to work!!"

NOW WAIT A DOG-GONE SECOND...LET'S MAKE THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR......It is not the public school's job to outline the lives of students starting in eighth grade by restricting their career choices by plugging them into "certain classes." It is supposed to be the job of public schools to educate. PERIOD!!

This is why we will not let students participate in "vo-tech" programs. These programs arise, again out of the public school mentality, that tells students....."Well you are too dumb to ever go to college.....so let's make you a worker." Sure, no one outright says it, but the mentality is there if one is willing to put the pieces together.

Does that not sound like socialism? In socialism the state determines how the cogs will fit in the wheel. The majority will be the workers who produce for the few, i.e., the elite, i.e., the smart, the popular, the athletes. In fact, the term used is "utilitarianism." That is.....the potential worker is only taught enough to allow them to produce for the system. Real education is saved for the elite.

Should that surprise us? Was John Dewey, the founder of modern education, not a socialist? Did John Dewey not feel the role of public education was to prepare children for their "social responsibilities?"

The opposing philosophy, the one my wife and I espouse, says that children are created intelligent.....and that it is the role of a teacher to help a child learn how to make a life, not a living. Children that know how to make a life will know how to make a living.

From that belief system we then see our role as exposing children to a well rounded education....one that touches on every aspect of life, i.e., art, music, poetry, in addition to math and science and English.

Then....when a child graduates at eighteen years of age......THEY AND THEY ALONE....will make their decisions about what THEY want to do with THEIR life.

There is nothing wrong with working in a factory or working in an automotive shop. However, that is a decision that a child should make.....NOT THE STATE!!!

As my wife tells her students all the time....."I don't want you to work in an automotive shop. I want you to own a chain of automotive shops."

Begging for Oil

2008-01-15T02:03:00.000-05:00

I just heard that our President is in Saudi Arabia telling the Opec countries that quote...."One of their best customers is hurting." Oh yeah....I'm sure they will call a meeting right away to drop the prices.

Oh my goodness!! Does he really think they care?? China, India, and any host of other countries will be more than happy to pick up our slack. OPEC has us right where they want us...i.e., over the barrell!!

As an American.....I am offended to see the President of our great country over there kissing the sweat off of OPEC rear-ends in order for them to lower the price of oil a little.

Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, even though a Democrat, had this one right. He stated that there needs to be another "Declaration of Independence"......one that takes us away from dependence on foreign oil.

Absolutely!

Why Our Kids Are Being "Dumbed Down"

2008-01-08T05:17:00.001-05:00

The fact that kids in America....and public schools....are being dumbed down.....should not surprise anyone. Among the 20 industrialized nations of the world.....we have gone from number one to number 19 in educational ranking. My wife has a classroom full of Jr/Sr High kids that until she got them.....were functionally illiterate (and one was scheduled to graduate this year)! Many corporations are having to look overseas to find qualified workers smart enough to do the jobs they need done. Some major companies have even bought out and taken over selected public school districts in order to ensure the children are educated.

To take it further......have you noticed how there is so little emphasis on history, geography, spelling, grammar, etc.?? There are many schools who make it clear that they do not worry about spelling or grammar. They do not worry about handwriting. They talk a big talk about hurrying children up to read and yet fifty percent of the students they graduate can barely read their diplomas. (Thanks to "sex education" they can make a baby....even though they cannot spell it.)

Have you also noticed how children today cannot think for themselves? That is the biggest thing my wife notices about her Jr/Sr High class. They cannot think for themselves. (After a almost a year with her they are starting to.) However, in the beginning she would ask them questions and they would sit there like bumps on a log (or should I say....cogs in a system). They could not critically think about anything. They would not question anything. They just took what was shoved down their throats. They relied more on their "feelings" rather than what was "fact." They did not pursue "truth" and seemed to have no desire to do so.

I see all of this (and so do you)....and I ask you.....have you ever asked yourself "Why?" I have. Why is this happening? Why is illiteracy so high? Why are our schools doing things that promote illiteracy? Why are our children being dumbed down?

I found the answer last night.

I'm currently reading a book entitled "Public Education Against America: The Hidden Agenda" by radio talk show personality....Marlin Maddoux. In his book he gives the very clear reason why....and he does it in the best way possible. He quotes the person who is acknowledged by the N.E.A. (the national teacher's union) as the "father of modern public education." I'm talking about John Dewey.

John Dewey was an avowed atheist and socialist. Along with communism he knew the place to reshape America to his view of things was through......the public schools.

However, don't take my word (or any one's word) for this. Listen to the words of John Dewey himself in his essay entitled, "My Pedagogic Creed" (Published in the National Education Association Journal, May 1927, page 134). He stated....(caps are mine for emphasis)

"I believe that the social life of the child is the basis of concentration, or correlation, in all his training and growth....I believe, therefore, that the true center of correlation on the school subjects is NOT SCIENCE, NOT LITERATURE, NOR HISTORY, NOR GEOGRAPHY, but the child's social activities."

It becomes clear, then, that Dewey's goal was to redirect teachers from teaching educational basics such as reading, writing, and math to the new goal of shaping social values.

Have you not seen this in the public schools WHEREVER those schools are? When children spend more time studying global warming and planting trees on "Earth Day"....and less time learning how to spell and write......the goals of John Dewey are being realized.

Have you not noticed how when people defend the public schools....they do not defend the education? Rather, they defend the basketball team, the band, and other SOCIAL activities of the school. Around town, you do not see signs that say, "Way to go Johnny for making the Dean's List." No!! It's "Congrats to the Basketball team."

Oh, I know what you are thinking..."Oh but Danny.....there are good teachers who would never dream of doing what you are saying."

Most people who work for the system....DO NOT....realize what the system is doing and/or what the goals of the system are. It is kind of like the humans in the "Matrix" movies. They did not realize they were being used by the system. Note that it took a "revolution" to break away from the system and gain freedom again.

It is my goal....through both homeschooling and Christian Schooling....to challenge the system. I want to raise up kids who not only question things......but become revolutionary. I don't want to raise "cogs in a system." I want to raise kids who tear down the system and rebuild it based upon the guiding principles of this country.

I want to raise a generation who remembers that "the fear of the Lord (not man) is the beginning of wisdom."

But....it will take courage. It always does. It will take courage from teachers who will give up the security of public school jobs. It will take parents who can stand the heat of ridicule from other parents and from the "system" which tries to convince them they are losing out.

For the church....it will take courage from Preachers/Elders who have the "long-view vision" (Hebrews 11).....to get beyond the modern desire for immediate tangible results and see the security of the church in the future. It will take men who can stand tall in the saddle while the "church terrorists" launch a war of words, threats, and defamation.

Are there people with that courage today? Only time will tell. But I pray everyday that there is. I pray that God will raise up more of them.....and that we will all do it "for the children's sake."

Go Hillary...Go!!!

2008-01-06T16:01:00.001-05:00

I never thought I would say that someone scares me more than Hillary....but I am now. Of course, I'm speaking of....Obama.

Now...let it be understood that when I say "scares me".....I say that somewhat "tongue in cheek." I don't place my faith in politicians.....I place my faith in God.

However, I fear for this country that has given me so much. What scares me is that the mob has been finally "dumbed down" enough that he might actually get elected President.

Before I explain that last statement......let's understand a few things about Obama's past....which should help us to explain him as a person and what he desires for this country.

Obama was born to a black Muslim father and a white atheist mother. At two years of age his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya, Africa....and his mother remarried another Muslim from Indonesia. This is where the family relocated to when Obama was six years old. He attended both a Muslim and a Catholic school. (Obama is very careful to conceal the fact that he was ever a Muslim.)

Obama's handlers are very careful to point out that Obama's real father returned to Kenya and never really had any Muslim influence over him. However, the fact is, it was the step-father who enrolled Obama in a WAHABI SCHOOL in Indonesia.

WAHABI SCHOOLS teach radical Islam which includes hatred of the west, and especially, the United States.

Political expediency caused Obama to join the United Church of Christ to give the appearance of "Christian." However, anyone familiar with the United Church of Christ will note that there is nothing of them that resembles biblical Christianity. They have always been more of a "socialist" movement rather than a religious movement.

Is it any wonder that he has been an opponent of the war on terrorism from day one? Have you noticed that not once, NOT ONE SINGLE TIME, during his campaign has he used the term "9/11?" Could it be that he sympathizes with the terrorists and with Islam? He plans to immediately begin pulling troops if elected....(an act that most everyone agrees is a big mistake).

Again, what concerns me the most, especially after the events of Iowa, is that people may actually overlook all of this and elect him.

And where is the majority of Obama's support? Yep!! The first time voter crowd. The products of our public school system which has not taught them how to "think" but rather how to "feel."

And Obama makes them feel good. Listen to people talk about him. They do not talk about his policies or what he is going to do. They talk about how he makes them "feel".....what an "inspiring speaker he is".....how he is "just like Martin Luther King, Jr."

Excuse me....but isn't that historically what has always happened previous to a dictatorship? People are so desperate for something, for some "change" (I'm sick of hearing that word already this campaign season).....that they were willing to follow anyone who makes them feel good....who promises to take care of them. I'm going to gag if I hear one more "Opraphied" woman claim how "Obama looked in my eyes and I knew he cared."

I'm not fooled. I believe Obama to be a Muslim sympathizer. The Muslims have always said they would destroy the US from the "inside out." Obama as President would be the same as the Old Testament kings of Israel who developed alliances with the enemies of God and future generations paid the price for that.

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS.....would I have thought I would ever say it....but I'm gonna say it......

GO HILLARY GO!!!

Golden Compass Movie

2008-01-06T11:47:00.000-05:00

I have been inundated with Christian people emailing me with "red alerts" about the movie entitled "Golden Compass."

Now I will be the first to admit that I do not know much about the movie, the author, etc. (I'll explain why in just a minute.)

The only harsh critic I have listened to concerning the movie was an individual with the Catholic League on "Fox and Friends" one weekday morning.

Supposedly, the movie is based on a series of books wherein the author describes the classic battle between good and evil. However, in his books, the "evil" is the church (specifically the Catholic Church) that is destroyed and faith in God is seen not as something good.

The emails I received, where everyone thought they were doing a good thing, were intended to keep our kids from seeing something that will cause them to question their faith and even encourage atheism.

Hmmmmmmm.....let's break this down shall we. We don't want our kids to see this movie because it....

1. Fosters unbelief
2. Causes children to question their values (and thus the values of their parents)
3. Twists everything around so that "evil is good" and "good is evil"
4. May produce atheism in them

So....we don't want our children to see this movie AND YET....we will usher them off to public schools for 35 hours a week where they will be subjected to.....

1. Indoctrination of evolutionary theory which is Secular Humanism's vehicle for transferring God out of existence.

2. A questioning of their values including the ones their parents have instilled in them....thus causing them to question their parent's beliefs and values.

3. Twists everything around so that "good is evil" and "evil is good." Let me explain this....I recently looked at the curriculum from one local High School. In a class on World Religions....numerous movies concerning Islam and Hinduism were shown casting a positive light on them. The only movie shown concerning Christianity was "Kingdom of Heaven" showing Christianity in its poorest light (i.e., the Crusades).

4. May produce atheism in them. Have you noticed how many of our young people the church is losing today after the kids leave High School??

It's simple math. A child would have to spend 13 years faithfully going to Sunday School and Church every Sunday, without ever missing....in order to get what they would get in one year of Christian schooling or homeschooling.

The Church is paying "catch-up" from the get-go....and most are never catching up.

Now you understand why I do not see the movie as a threat. Why should I worry about a movie that is here today and gone tomorrow.....when we subject our children to the same thing day in and day out.....35 hours a week...in the public schools?

In order for the church of our day to produce "outside the box" thinkers....we are going to have to take over their education.

Can Christian parents still produce good Christian kids in the public schools? Absolutely!! However, it will require a level of diligence like never before in history.

But I ask you....if you have to work that hard.....why not just do it yourself??

"Quit Criticizing Public Schools!"

2008-01-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

I am routinely asked to quit criticizing public schools and to be more supportive of the Christian teachers that are in the system.

It is often asked of me, "What would happen if all the Christian teachers would immediately leave the public schools?"

My answer....

First....we would then have a nice pool of teachers for Christian schools!!

Second...nothing...absolutely nothing. Just as radical Muslims hog tie and put a hood over their victims....the same is true of the radical educators bent on indoctrinating our children in the religion of Secular Humanism. (I'm not saying the teachers are like this...I'm saying "the system" is like this). When my wife was substitute teaching for two years in the public schools it was made abundantly clear to her to keep her faith to herself. Rarely do teachers make a bold stand....and when they do....they lose their jobs....just like the one in Iowa last month who showed a religious movie to his class. Teachers have no classroom freedoms.

I had a teacher tell me in the last two months he would go to school and lead prayer. I assure you he didn't' do it. How do I know? It wasn't on the evening news and he still has his job. He was covering up what he knew was the truth. He had no freedom to share his faith.

So nothing would change if they left.

My answer to those who ask me why I am so harsh against the public school system....and why do I criticize them is.....

"It's not that I love the public schools less, I love our children more."

Quoted from Marva Collings who quoted Shakespear's Julias Caesar

Welcome to My "Blog!"

2008-01-05T07:45:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this blog is to help me to put into writing my "thinking outside the box." This is actually a phrase I borrowed from my wife. She came up with it and I liked it so much I decided to "steal" it. She seems fine with it.

It sums up accurately what I believe is desperately needed in this society. Whether it be in the fields of education, religion, politics, or just everyday common sense, we have to break away from the current thinking which has become "inside the box." Ours, whether in the church or outside the church, has become a society of "bandwagon jumpers."

People who think "outside the box"......such as myself, are often viewed with a great deal of suspicion. We are seen as a threat to the status quo (which indeed we are). We read, we study, we do not accept the societal norms, we do not drink "kool-aid," we have no agendas to protect, and are willing to sacrifice our job security, friends, and even family.....in order to pursue truth wherever it may lead. It was once said of me by someone in my current church "He marches to a different drummer." They meant it derogatorily....but I took it as a compliment. People either like me or they hate me. Not once when asked if people like Danny Gabbard do they say..."He's alright." It's either...."Great guy!!"....or "I can't stand him."

It takes courage to "think outside the box" and pursue truth. Far too many in our society, including in the church, no longer have that courage. Some have it until it begins to offend their friends, acquaintances, and even family. Once this happens....they back off and fall back in line so as to not rock the cart.

So this blog is dedicated to those who want to "climb out of the box".....think independently......be challenged.....and pursue the truth.

One of my favorite shows of all times was "The X-Files." Agent Moulder had a poster in his office that read...."The Truth is Out There!"
Yes it is!! However, many times to find it you must we willing to think "outside the box."

I'm not asking that everyone agree with me (although that would be good for them). I'm simply asking that you have the courage to think "outside the box."

Dr. Danny Gabbard, Sr.
January 5, 2008