Biblical Fatherhood Conference II

Today ends the conference; there was much to absorb. Some outstanding points that stick with me are the following:


The life purpose of a man of faith is contained in Genesis 18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."


Only Christ can turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. A gospel reformation must take place before a family reformation can take place.


Saturday's conference schedule included the following:
1. Expository Reading of the Scripture
2. Workshop in Scripture Reading
3. What Happens When Fathers Turn their Hearts to Home - Malachi 4:1-6
4. Workshop in Scripture Memory
5. How Fathers Escape Laboring in Vain - Psalms 127
6. Q&A
7. Capturing the Greatest Untapped Evangelistic Opportunity before the Modern Church


Today's schedule included the following:
1. Worship at Trinity Baptist Church
2. Fellowship Meal
3. Discussion at the Brown Farm
4. Scrambled Egg Sandwiches and Chocolate Shakes

Biblical Fatherhood Conference

Daniel and I have just finished enjoying a wonderful day at the Fatherhood Conference in Wake Forest, NC. Today's topics were:


1. Finding Yourself on the Roadmap for Biblical Fatherhood
2. Fathers Who Saturate Their Homes with Scripture
3. Breaking Free from the Patterns of our Fathers
4. Understanding and Living Your Life Purpose
5. Workshop in Scripture Reading


Lots of encouragement and conviction for us both to listen to things that directly touch our daily lives. Also good to meet more like-minded men from different parts of the country. Chuck and Thomas Deladurantey are also here.


We spent the evening strolling around the grounds of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which is in Wake Forest. We were both salivating over the architectural details and took quite a few pictures. We interrupted a choir practice in one building, and interrupted a piano recital in another, and then, in our ecstacy over the woodwork, we forgot other people were in the building and walked down in front to lay on the floor to get a shot of the ceiling.


After being escorted off the grounds we...well...okay, perhaps that is stretching it a bit, but you can imagine that we wanted might badly to go down in front and lay down to get a shot of the ceiling!


Here is Daniel in a period doorway after having very carefully looked over the plinth blocks and the jamb casing.



And of course, below is a very important window sill detail, illustrating the correct placement and proportions of stool, sill trim, and jamb casing. Isn't it just thrilling!!

And of course, here is yours truly, in wood trim heaven.

It's Over!

This year Simon and I had the opportunity of

taking a homeschool speech class! Last Monday night was our last class as well as 'Parents Night'. On Parents Night, all of us were required to give a memorized speech with visual aids, introduce a classmate, and give a memorized quote. All said with a mike, on a stage, in front of a crowd of people (The family's of about 21 classmates). This equation equals SCARY for me! Thankfully, both Simon and I got through it, and I actually enjoyed the night! :-)


As well as covering speech-giving, we were taught intelligent coversation, handling a mike, and how to lead a Bible study. This class was quite a challenge and growing experience for me personally, and one that though I'm glad is over, I'm glad that I took!

Simon's speech was titled, "Thick, Gooey, and Hard" and was about fiberglassing homemade wooden boats.


My speech was about baking bread, and was titled " Butter's Best Buddy". I was able to bring our 20 year old Bosch mixer, and our recipe, which is so used that the writing is unintelligable! That was fun to pull out of my apron pocket! :-)


This young lady in the below picture was a sweet classmate whom I enjoyed getting to know! We had many visits about many topics, and I value her friendship. I knew that even if no one else in class listened to my speech, she would (and did!) always smile up at me with a cheerful sparkle in her eyes. Thank-you Mary! :-)

Three New Additions

These past few weeks, God has graciously given us the opportunity to grow our little business , Hills Valley Labradors. Thanks to Him, and a wonderful lady named Kathleen Bailey, we now have three new additions to our family and business! Mrs. Bailey has been our breeding mentor from the start, and in these past few weeks has helped and encouraged us in many ways. Through her and her beautiful dogs, Simon and I were able to purchase two little sisters, Jada and Jewel, as well as a very sweet, almost two-year old, chocolate female! Mrs. Bailey is moving to San Deigo soon, and wanted to pare down on her large kennel, so offered us her Java. After much thought and talk, we decided to go for it. :-)





This is our sweetie Java. She loves her ball, enjoys attention, and is 'Auntie' to Jada and Jewel.




Here is Simon holding his girl Jada. Jada is a little snuggler who loves her master!







Jewel is my little girl. She has been a joy to raise so far, and I'm looking forward to start training her soon.


Blessings,

~Sally

Our little sunshine

Here are a few recent photos of our precious little girl. :-) Jaelynn is very expressive already and we oohed and ahhed over every adorable little face she gave us. She lights up our lives!

Spring . . . the season of new life!

You can see it in the budding tree's, the powdery blossoms, and the fields of vibrant orange wildflowers. You can smell it in the fresh, 'after the rain' breezes. You can feel it in the downy soft fur of little squirmy puppies, and in the warmth of the sunshine on your face. You can hear it in the jubliant tones of nature; the birds, the crickets, and the frogs in the pond across the field. You can taste it in the fresh sweetness of Spring fruit, in the feeling of anticipation and wonder . . . Spring is here, my favorite season, and we at the Parish Ranch are enjoying it to it's fullest. New life is bursting forth everywhere I look!


Spring brought 50 downy soft chicks to our home to raise up for meat in 8 weeks. However, Ranger, now fully recovered from his accident, decided that eight weeks was far too long to wait. Late one night, he snuck into the barn . . . somehow the door was left open . . . (?) and devoured all but 16 of them! It caused quite an uproar, but nothing was to be done except to be far more vigilent with keeping the door closed! We hope to order replacements soon. :-)


Spring has also brought numerous rolly polly little dumplings in the form of puppies once again to our home! We have a batch of 3 week old 'halflings' (see the post about Ranger farther down for more details) plus, two little sisters who we bought from another breeder, to add to our Lab family! Simon bought Jade, and I, Jewel. They have both delighted us with their cuteness, and earned thier place outside after Mom stepped in mess one too many times!


Spring has kept my family quite active! I am now driving *grits teeth* which brings in a whole new set of adventure and well earned grey hair. (So sorry!) Thankfully, I am surrounded by experts, (especially my two younger brothers) who are only too happy to help me master the art of the automobile. :-p
Last weekend, we had the privilage of attending the Bakersfield Youth Symphony to hear Tyler Rowland play a solo on his violin. We have really enjoyed the time we have spent with the Rowland family, who, it is evident, loves the Lord, and serves Him! Tyler's violin piece was beautiful, and we enjoyed the evening very much! It was wonderful to enjoy fellowship with our Bakersfield brethren afterwards at a resturant, and later, in the Rowland's home. Praise the Lord for fellowship with those who love Him!
When the evening was over, we headed on down to L.A. to spend the night and next day with Daniel and Kendra, and our precious little darling, Jaelynn. She is growing so fast, that every moment spent is precious! If you'd like to check out Dan and Kendra's new blog, the address is, www.laparishs.blogspot.com Our day with them was short, but very sweet . . . just wish I lived a little closer to my big brother, sis, and sweet little niece! :-)


May each enjoy the wonderful season of Spring!

Accomplishment!

I now have the great pleasure of removing one item from my 7x7's under "Things I can't do well." However the fact that there are many more items competing for that spot eliminates any temptation to boast about it!


The one thing I can do a little better now then when I penned my 7x7's, is understand God and time (key word: little). To whom or what do I owe this elucidation? The long desired book "Time and Eternity: Exploring God's Relationship to Time," written by William Lane Craig. If you are a little strange like me, and find boring things like philosophy and logic stimulating, and if you have deep nagging questions concerning how God relates to time, I would highly recommend this book. I will spare you all the juicy details, but will leave you with Craig's conclusion, with which I concur.


"It therefore follows from our arguments that God is (present tense) in time. He exists now. But on the Christian doctrine of creation, the world had a beginning, though God did not. Did time exist prior to the moment of creation? Is God, existing alone without creation, timeless or temporal in such a state? I presented three arguments to show that (metric) time is finite in the past, so that God existing without the world must exist either in an amorphous time or, more plausibly, timelessly. In short, given the reality of tense and temporal becoming, the most plausible construal of divine eternity is that God is timeless without creation and temporal since creation."



Agreement? Disagreement? I'd like to hear your thoughts.



-Max

Expository Preaching Conference

Max and I were very blessed last weekend to attend the expository preaching conference hosted by Vision Forum in Wakeforest, North Carolina. Some 25-30 men attended.


The conference was a wonderful help to me. It challenged some presuppositions I had about preaching from the past. I had a negative view of improving my "technical preaching skills". I now see the benefit of it. I will never read the scriptures in the same way. I was skeptical about the "sample sermons", but they were real and were effective, as the Word, in my own heart, even in that setting. I have been humbled and had my mind changed.


I so appreciated that these "technical skills" were firmly connected with the exhortation to seek God's face for help, illumination, and conviction. I rejoiced to see that. May the two never be separated.


We were both thankful for the opportunity to meet and connect with likeminded men. We will both benefit from these relationships.


At right is a picture of the famous swing in the Scott Brown home. We enjoyed an afternoon and evening of further discussion and fellowship, including scrambled egg sandwiches and chocolate shakes.


Together we all memorized Psalms 119:92 - Except thy law had been my delight, I would have perished in my afflictions.


Scott

Update!

No, the Parishes haven't died . . . they've actually been on vacation! A splendid vacation as a matter of fact, at home! Have you ever vacationed at home? If not, you should! While Max and Mr. Parish flew off to North Carolina to attend Vision Forum's "A Workshop on Expository Preaching," their family kicked back to try a thing never before done in their household. Since every single one of us has been snagged by a nasty bug of some sort, (Thanks for starting it Max!!!) we have been blowing our noses raw, watching movies, (last night we watched one about a family with 20 children! Quite a few being adopted special needs children. Twas' incredible to say the least.) reading, and enjoying ourselves and each other! We have one problem though, whenever Simon and I try to laugh, we begin to hack pitifully, causing us to laugh harder, thus hack harder! Tis' quite a predicament to not be able to laugh! :-)

So we look forward to the returning of our men, enjoy our vacation, and attempt to get well! :-)

Wishing you all beautiful days . . .

~Sally

Quote of the Day!

" The highest and most desirable state of the soul is to praise God in celebration for being alive." ~ Luci Swindoll 

Volleyball Victory

Today's volleyball game is one that should be recorded for posterity.


With Mom, Max, and Jeremy on the West team, and Dad, Simon, and Sally on the East team, the West team won 15 to 14.


What was remarkable about the game is that every point was gained on the serve, and not one point was made on a volley...on either side.


That should give you a glimpse into the volleyball skills of the Parish family. Watch out for Mom when she is serving.

Simon and the Tractor

Our tractor has been out of commision for over year, the engine having reached the end of it useful life. But Phil Seymour worked his magic and this morning he brought it back to us, completely overhauled.


If you know Simon, you will see the anticipation just oozing out of him. He is just itching for the chance to hook onto the bush hog and go for it!

Max's Meager 7's

Here are my lists. I thought I'd wait until the 7x7's craze died down a bit before posting mine. Of course, pressure from fellow bloggers has a way of raising the priority!

7 Things I'd like to do before I die:
1. Be involved in a ministry that uses apologetics as a tool for evangelism.
2. Be able to defend Christianity from an exegetical, philosophical, logical, and existential basis in the face of skepticism and hostility.
3. Travel the world in connection with point 1.
4. Rejoice with a godly wife, and raise many godly children.
5. Become well versed in and write about subjects such as: culture, philosophy, world religions, logic, history, literature, etc...
6. Be a tool used by God to bring many people to the knowledge of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. Learn to be unselfish.


7 Movies I enjoyed watching:
1. Through the Gates of Splendor
2. Luther
3. Horatio Hornblower series (have you guessed it's a family favorite? :)
4. P&P (BBC)
5. Q&A, Volume II, Ravi Zacharias at Univ. of MI.
6. Flywheel
7. North and South


7 Things I say often:
1. Aw man
2. Ssuch is life
3. How do you know that's true?
4. What's this pill for? (see Sally's preoccupation with health in her 7x7's)
5. I'm so glad I'm finally home!
6. Well...it's about that time. (bed time!)
7. ???


7 Things I'd like in a wife:
1. Loves God with her whole being, and has a heart for children
2. Has a cheerful dispostion, but is not superficially "bubbly."
3. Feels a personal call to, or (at the very least) is willing to follow me in a ministerial life
4. Considers punctuality important
5. Enjoy's and knows how to use humor, but is not bothered if life is not a constant laugh.
6. Is practical, hardworking, and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
7. Also has a taste for the poetic, romantic side of life. (I haven't seen many ladies that lack this, but hey, I think it's important!)


7 Things I can't do well:
1. Finish every book I start.
2. Get myself interested in financial matters.
3. Keep my desk organized
4. Cook
5. Understand God and time.
6. Keep my dirty clothes hamper empty.
7. Juggle 4 balls (or five for that matter)


7 Authors/books I like:
1. G. K. Chesterton - Orthodoxy, The Everlasting Man
2. Ravi Zacharias - Jesus Among Other God's
3. C. S. Lewis - A Pilgrims Regress (and others)
4. Gordon H. Clark - Various
5. Martin Luther - Bondage of the Will
6. C. H. Spurgeon - The Soul Winner
7. Francis Schaeffer - The God Who is There


7 People I tag:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. (this tagging can't go on forever!)



Well...it's about that time...

Moms 7x7's

This has been a good excercise for me! Here it goes....

Things I would like to do before I die.

1. Learn how to effectively tell people about Christ and Salvation.
2. Become an effective older woman "helping the younger"
3. Have a godly influence on my children, grand, and great-grandchildren.
4. Raise more children
5. Know God more intimately and fully.
6. At the end of my life, to have God's blessing of "well done thou good and faithful servant."
7. Turn our place into a glorious garden that is a paradise for adults and children alike.

Things I cannot do well.

1. office work
2. keep things organized
3. remember historical dates and details of events
4. be cold
5. wallpaper
6. remember birthdays
7. put up with mice in the house

Things I say often

1. alrighty then....
2. Good job!
3. I'll see you when you get home! (on the phone to Scott)
4. Really?
5. For Petes Sake!
6. glory be...!
7. Sis! (calling for Sally)

7 movies I like

1. Pride and Prejudice 1995 version
2. Flywheel
3. I am David
4. North and South
5. Wives and Daughters
6. Secret of the Vine
7. A Journey Home (in the film festival movies of this year)

Books I have enjoyed

1. Nourishing Traditions
2. Feed Your Kids Right
3. Harold Bell Wright Books
4. Stepping Heavenward
5. Emily Barnes Books
6. Marriage to a Difficult Man
7. Homemaking

Things I love about my husband

1. He has always kept me and family first.
2. Loves the Lord with all His heart.
3. Is passionate about truth, and has vision.
4. Is generous with his money.
5. Does his part in disiplining and rearing the children.
6. Is not rash.
7. Is intelligent.

There, that wasn't to bad as long as people know that things change and I may remember something more important later, than I wrote down! The people I tag are....Simon Parish,
Tamra Klaty, Chase Klaty, Lydia Neidhart, Natalie Semmens, Susan Semmens, Cathy Neidhart

Heart of the Home

Just as it is woman who makes a house a home, it is Mother who is the heart of the home. When she is gone, there is a gigantic void that a sister and daughter is unable to fill. (As I've found from experience!) Our sweet Mom left Friday afternoon for a weekend retreat up in the quietness of the mountains with Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Pool, sisters in Christ and fellow homeschool Moms. Her cheerful smile, warm and ready hugs, the times she sits and just talks with each one of us, her merry laughter, her zest and energy, are all greatly missed by her family! We pray that she enjoys blessed rest, fellowship, and rejuvenation (sp?) while away, and that she will hurry back to us tomorrow!


Praise the Lord for Mothers!


~Sally Beth

" Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness, nourishment of mind by his truth, purifying of imagination by his beauty, opening of the heart to his love, and submission of will to his purpose. All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest expression of which we are capable."

~ Archbishop William Temple



Lord, teach us how to worship you . . .

Happy Valentines Day!

 

A Picture Update!

Simon and Mr. Marxmiller give us smiles as they pose in the rose garden . . .


Mr. Marxmiller, a WWII veteren, lived just down the road from us two years ago, before we moved. After the war, he and his beloved bride created a unique paradise on their property. Their beautiful land borders a lake, which supports all sorts of wildlife, from wild pigs, to bobcats. He planted a bamboo forest, built a fishing dock on the lake, planted a forest of fruit tree's, created a rock pool where he keeps enormous koi fish, and situated numerous ponds, scattered throughout his land, which swarm with goldfish, lilies, and frogs, which really do sit on the lily pads! :-) In other words, he has been a dream come true for a bunch of adventuresome little neighbors.

As soon as the Daniel and Max reached 'apprenticeship' age, Mom climbed in our squeeky, missing hubcabed minivan, and drove them down to Mr. Marxmiller's house, to see if he needed any help around his place. That one act created a legacy of memories that has been handed down all the way to Jeremy! Simon and now Jeremy also faithfully 'go to work' most Tuesdays, and do whatever needs doing . . . mowing lawns, cleaning out fishponds, clipping roses, sweeping the breezway, raking the driveway, clip bamboo, anything! Every so often, I too am summoned, but instead of yard work, to do what a woman does best . . . clean, scrub, dust, vacuum and the like! :-)

Mr. Marxmiller's influence on each one of us is a precious memory. His war stories, his love for his buried wife, the opportunity he has given each of us to learn how to work for someone else, and his zeal for the outdoors are an inspiration!

He has been one of the many that have taught us what important lessons we can learn from the aged ones among us. How meaningful, encouraging, and important it is to sit at the feet of the elderly, and listen to their wisdom. 

Thanks Jeremy!

Jeremy has recently taken over an important job in our household, washing the car! With his bucket, soap, rag, and scrubber, he can make our family car so clean it sparkles! I remember attempting to wash the car all by myself a few years ago and missed a great many spots! But Jeremy shines it up so well, it looks brand new. :-) If anyone is in need of a wash, just give Jeremy a call at (559) 626-0916!

By the way, has anyone made the discovery that a car washing session provides the perfect atmosphere for a grand old water fight? :-) 

Up on the slopes

Mom, Simon, Jeremy and I were blessed to enjoy another day of skiing/snowboarding up in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains last Thursday. While enjoying the fantastic view, exhilarating exersise, and sparkling sunshine, we met up with quite a few families from a special church up in Oakhurst that God has brought into our lives and hearts. They had driven up, and were enjoying the day also, many for their first time. Here I am at lunchtime with Leah Telian, little Miss Julia Telian, and little Mr. Wyatt Beacker (sp?) We have been so blessed with the Telian's friendship, as well as other families we have come to know through theirs. They made the day truly special! The sunshine glittering off the powdery snow provided a breathtaking view. Praise God for his magnificent creation!


After a hard days ski, we all trundled off to a mountain pizza place. Pizza never tasted so good as when you are coming with exhausted muscles and hungry tummies, enjoying the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ! :-)