Self Education Encouragement

BEN FRANKLIN

Photo By: Designkryt

I read, The Autobiography and Other Writings of Benjamin Franklin as part of my Summer relaxation by the pool.  It is a small hobby of mine to learn what people thought and what influenced them to think a certain way; Ben is a big character to tackle. Despite the plethora of information about this multi-talented man I wanted to focus on his views of education.

This year is a big year for my daughter and me. Fifth grade will commence with school held right here under my own roof. We've taken the leap, started something fresh and we feel the gamut of emotions typical of a new adventure. I thought reading about Ben's successful accomplishments may just give a morale booster as we prepare for the unknown.

First, let me list some of those accomplishments. Keep in mind he only had two years of formal schooling and the rest of his education was self taught.

• Printer and Tradesman (He was so successful he retired comfortably at the age of 42)
• Alderman; councilman, Burgess, justice of the peace (elected member of Municipal Council) 
• Founded public institutions: fire company, militia, college and hospital
• Inventor, Scientist: Electricity is his best known interest but he also dabbled in; Medicine-yellow fever, cancer. Weather -astronomy, The Gulf Stream,  formation of raindrops, hot-air balloons. Studied- sleep, magnetism, surface tension, demography, heat absorption. Invented- tool for retrieving books from high shelves, a 'copy' machine for handwritten devices. Writer of various topics- Agriculture, chess,military strategy, literary style, silkworms, ice boats etc... He wrote pieces for his brothers newspaper under the name, Mrs. Silence Dogood' at the age of 16. He also wrote Poor Richard's Almanac.
• Post Master General
• Public Library Founder
• Received by five Kings
• Awarded Honorary degrees by six Universities
• Philosopher
• Founding Father
• Ambassador to France

This information tells me quite a bit. It tells me with the proper motivators and self discipline education will happen naturally. 

A letter written to Ben Franklin from a close friend (Benjamin Vaughan) encouraging him to write his autobiography explains the gusto behind Ben's large success. Vaughan calls this, "man's private power..and goes on to say, "But your biography will not merely teach self education, but the education of a wise man.." ( pg. 80) essentially he is advocating personal responsibility.

Although Franklin never comes out and says it in plain terms, thinking for oneself is a virtue. (Critical thinking in today's terms)

Vaughan compliments this thought with his supportive statement, "School and other education constantly proceed upon false principles, and shows a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark; but your (Franklin's) apparatus is simple...."

The simplicity of the thought that learning should be enjoyable and unhampered with agendas is refreshing. Finding out for oneself, taking responsibility, asking questions, observing other's with foresight are all virtues to aid in our upcoming adventure in homeschooling.

Franklin's list of accomplishments is a bar to be admired I can only wonder at what we will accomplish?

Holiday Goodies

Photo By: Kakisky


Upon pondering Christmas time
I like to think of cheese and wine
but this year I could not yield my mind
from thinking of the sugary food we wield.
We chew and gorge on dainty delights
as our waistbands grow and pants get tight.

There is one Holiday icon who fits the bill
eating cookies til' he gets his fill.
We endear our children to his jolly girth,
his 'belly full of jelly', his laugh 'full of mirth'
See how we use such 'cute' phrases when describing
a fat man on a road to health malaise's.

Why don't we say, "Here comes the man with junk in his trunk."
or ask rhetorical questions about the chimney size and his ba-dunk-a-dunk?
Maybe it's a ploy of the politically correct,
full of hypocrisy and word dialect.

Ahh!

It doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the long run.
Just enjoy all the goodies until the Holiday is done,
and revel in the spirit of Christmas fun!

Now go grab a cookie!

Doggerel provided by: Chandra Brown

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Coyote

Let me tell you about young Emily Robbs, Emily Robbs was 10 years old  and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robbs who owned a ranch in Colorado. One thing that the Robbs were not pleased to see, was a coyote. That is exactly what this story is about. One day, young Emily saw a beautiful fright; out side her window was a gleaming white coyote clothed in a scarf and booties. Poor little Emily thought she was loosing her mind. She pinched her thigh, she slapped her cheeks and put ice down her shirt to see if she was dreaming and finally she came to realize the coyote was really there starring at her right in the eyes. She backed away in fear, the coyote cocked its head then prowled away. Of course young Emily never told her parents about such things or they would think she was messing with coyotes. Then something caught her eye, she had noticed that her advent calender was at the 24th. "It's getting late," she said, "I better get to sleep, Santa comes tonight."
 
BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP!!! she awoke to her alarm clock in a flash and gasped, "Santa came!!!!!!"  She found a letter in her stocking along with all the toys it read:

Dear sweet Emily, I know you want to be a Veterinarian when you grow up so I am assigning you to help one of the most special animals in all the land, the Christmas coyote, she will lead you to her problem.
Thank You!
From, Santa Claus

Christmas Coyote With Her Pup
Photo By: Alex Brown

Straight then she knew that the coyote she saw that day was the special Christmas coyote. Emily dashed to the window and there it was. Legend has it that every year the Christmas coyote would go around and decorate the peoples yards and  it would choose one child to give a special gift to. Immediately, she grabbed her vet kit and trudged outside in wonderment even though she hadn't had her breakfast yet. She followed the coyote into the deep forest covered in snow.

Nervously she spoke, "I'm sorry but Mrs.coyote its been an hour already and I'm awfully hungry."
She turned and shot her a look, that said, 'We're almost there, so please don't argue.' Finally, Emily arrived at a bloody trap and inside it was an adorable, pudgy coyote pup. "Awe, it's so cute," Emily said, "Is he yours?" The coyote nodded with a painful yes, then whapped Emily on her thigh with its tail. Emily huffily asked,"Ow, what was that for?" The coyote looked at Emily then at the injured pup. "Right," she exclaimed, then she pryed open the trap and gently pulled the pup out and wrapped its wounded leg and gave it to the Christmas coyote. She picked it up as fast as lightning and trotted away, as Emily shouted, "Don't I get a thank you?" to the coyote who was about 30 meters away. It just went on plodding off into the woods. Emily turned to head back home with a happy heart that she was able to help.

After getting away from worried parents she slipped into bed and went to sleep. The next morning Emily awoke to a scratch at her door, she opened it and found a little coyote plush identical to the pup she had saved. It was from the Christmas coyote and this year Emily was that special someone.

Emily Finds the Christmas Coyotes Gift

THE END

This Christmas tale was written by: Alex Brown

Hook, Line and Sinker

Photo by: Chandra Brown
 

I took this picture over the Summer while fishing on Town Lake with my daughter. It struck me as funny but also a little sad. I imagined the scene vividly; happy angler on the shore balancing his rod gently tilting it backwards getting ready to cast, then suddenly the pole tugs on his arm as the line gets stuck in the branch just out of eyesight above his head. Realizing his dilemma the smile on his face turns to concern. His arm starts to tire wrestling with the tangled mess. Finally, he succumbs to defeat, flips his hat on the ground in disgust and pulls his knife from his pocket to cut the line. He didn't even get his bait in the water. Not exactly a relaxing day fishing.

I sat on this picture and post for months. I took the photo knowing there was a post behind it but I wasn't ready to write it until last night when I was pillow talking with my daughter. We were discussing Luke 5:1-11. We read the account from her new Pre-teen Bible she specifically asked for so she could know Jesus better.

Jesus uses Simon's boat to teach a lesson from the shore, after He was done speaking he tells Simon to go out into the deep and cast his net. Simon is skeptical because they fished all night and caught nothing but is obedient. The boat overflows and he calls James and John over to help with the bountiful catch because the nets were splitting and the boat was sinking. Simon repents of his unbelief and Jesus uses this event to invite Simon to become His disciple. Simon, James and John were smart, it says, "they left everything and followed."

After we read the account, I asked Alex what did Jesus mean when He said, "..from now on you will fish for people."

Her answer was spot on, she said, "I can explain it in kid terms, Jesus is going to teach them the truth so they can go out and tell others."

I asked her, "What 'truth' would Jesus teach them?"

And this is where I get excited about her answer...she said, "Jesus is going to teach them about Himself."

A parent has never been so proud. I couldn't stop kissing her forehead. That is IT! Jesus wants us all to know the truth about who HE is, why HE came and then tell others. Sadly, this simple truth is lost in this day and age because people don't know who He is. They go fishing in their own way and end up a tangled mess, they are so encumbered with the world they can't even get the bait in the water. They are caught up in the world just like the branch catches the line in the picture.

I like to contemplate what kind of fisher woman I am? Am I caught hook, line and sinker into the world's philosophies or swallowed up in the truth of Jesus and able to share the bounty with others?

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Photo By: Chandra Brown
Ingredients for Dry Laundry Detergent
 

Who knew laundry detergent could be so cheap?

Borax                    64 oz. (approximately 9 cups)     $2.99
Ivory Soap            10 count   (3.1 oz.)                       $4.25
Washing Soda      55 oz. (approximately 7 Cups)     $7.35

*Baking Soda       64 oz. (approximately 9 Cups)     $4.67

Ingredients: Makes approximately 36 loads (1/4 cup per load)
3 cups Borax
3 cups finely grated soap  (1 bar) (Ivory, or other natural soap)
3 cups washing soda

Mix together, Voila!

I spent about $3.03 for 36 load homemade, allergy-free detergent. Compare that to All Free and Clear 36 load detergent for $7.25.

When I first started the ingredients seemed out of reach at local chain stores but with some gumption I was able to find everything needed.  Washing soda seems to be the hardest ingredient to find locally but there's a trade secret with a simple chemistry twist that makes this task simple as pie.

*How to Make Washing Soda:
Pour 3 cups Baking Soda into a large glass dish. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake, stirring frequently until powder turns to crystal form. Three cups takes approximately 1 hour baking time. Store in a tightly sealed jar. Label it. Baking the soda changes the chemical composition; for explanation of how this change happens, click here.

Tips:
Many users of homemade detergent say they achieve best results with warm water.

You MUST finely grate the soap. Larger flakes tend to clump in the washer. Fine grating assures dissolution.

It is also recommended to start your washer, let it fill with some water then add detergent and give
the water a swirl before adding clothes, this helps the soap flakes dissolve better. Or for those with more modern machines that add the detergent in the cycle; do not overload the bin with clothes for best results.

If you have hard water, add more washing soda. This will help soften the water. (1/2- 1 cup extra washing soda, you may have to adjust amount higher or lower)

If you want to have a scent, you can add a few drops essential oils of your choice to the soap flakes before mixing with powders.

Make sure you click on the highlighted words throughout the post. They give you other uses for these ingredients as well as what the ingredients are made of. One of the uses I was drawn to and plan to try is the dishwashing detergent. The recipe is simple 50/50 of borax and baking soda. Can you imagine the savings on this product?

Let me know how you end up using Borax and Baking Soda. I think we'll be surprised at the simple brilliance of these natural products.

Happy wash day! I have never been so excited to do a load of wash.

If you want some inspiration and motivation for making household changes. Watch Chemerical, a documentary about your average families journey to rid toxic products from their house.

Learn What This Means

Matthew 9:12,13 has played a big role in my tutelage under the Holy Spirit these past months. This is the passage of scripture where Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector to follow Him and Levi decides to do so. Jesus proceeds to eat and hang out with more publicans and sinners and the religious icons of the day (Pharisees) question Jesus' motives. Jesus response always hits at the heart of the matter as He states His answer which cannot be refuted.

Before I go further I'll quote the text, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Verse 13 is rich with lessons. I was able to experience these lessons through specific circumstances. The Lord decided to take me on a field trip of sorts. I was somewhat flung into a world I did not particularly want to take part in. I knew from the first it was a test. I wanted to pass it so I knew I had better pay attention. I passed and failed at the same time, yet, the failure was meant to ram home a very important point; so maybe it wasn't a total failure because I did learn what I was supposed to.

To learn in this passage is is the word 'manthano' and means to desire to learn through experience. The word for mercy is 'eleos' and concerns special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of sins. God's mercy is extended to alleviate those consequences.

Oil and Water
By: Brainsik

This worldly experience fit the teaching criteria perfectly. Let me explain. As a follower of Christ, I know I am consecrated, set apart (Hebrews 3) for holiness. I am to be in the world but not of the world (Romans 12:2) I found myself in a struggle. How do I act, what do I say when I have made every effort in my life to reject what these worldly people were doing. Why am I here when I do not have anything in common with them. There were even times of disgust and thinking, "why am I waisting my time here?" I was a little confounded at first, this oil and water thing was uncomfortable. Religion tells us to stay away and don't intermingle with this crowd, yet Jesus did the opposite and was called a glutton and wine bibber for it. Then I remembered, Jesus is a stumbling block (I Corinthians 1:23) He came into this world and caused people to make a decision. He cast His pearls before swine (*Matthew 7:6; Mark 2:17). And this was MERCY!

Jesus lived this day in and day out, whether he was in the synagogue or eating with a publican. He came to the worldly to alleviate the consequences of our sin. He was pure, holy; the answer in living flesh come down to live out and tell us the good news so we could be free to KNOW Him and redeem us from our due wages; death. (Romans 3)

My experience was not meant to focus on the worlds ways contrasted to holiness, but to focus on speaking the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for a hurting, lost people. My failure through this experience was not opening my mouth a bit wider, a bit louder and proclaiming the Gospel clearly at every opportunity. I was able to speak some truth as I grappled with the circumstance, show truth through actions but not on the scale that was needed. Sometimes when you're learning something you bumble with it before you really get the fullness of it. The failure was a cleansing. It helped me rid more religious thought and take on Christ likeness.

The time for this circumstance came to an end through the Holy Spirit's direction. Honestly, I was relieved but I was also melancholic. Not that I missed their worldly ways but that they were so far in them and didn't seem to understand their need to abandon them. I saw their misery in sin clearly and was saddened. Contrasting this with Levi's actions is powerful. He heard Jesus, obeyed and was changed.

I'll conclude with this last simple statement, Jesus never missed an opportunity. I pray these lessons have made their impact so I won't miss the next one as I traverse through the world and walk the narrow road.

I Peter 2: 7-12

*Thank you Ken Brown for the exegesis of Matthew 7:6...God was using you!

Why I Love Reading The Bible

The school year is back in session and my daughter is now in fourth grade. Back to school night is behind us and we are off to a good start. I've noticed writing will be more of a focus. I decided to make myself do my own writing exercise; hence, my 'fourth grade' title.

I am not an intentional eaves dropper but when the word 'God' or 'Bible' is used in others' conversations I just can't help but let my ears perk up. Sometimes I do get to be that solitary fly on the wall buzzing in and out of people's conversations. I hear off-hand comments which describe various opinions and it gets my brain brainstorming in all different directions. One I recently heard was, "The Bible is so boring." Another I see posted alot on chat sites is, "It's so contradictory."  I sigh when I hear that and want to butt in to the conversation but I have some social grace and leave the rude behavior as an after thought and buzz off to do the next thing on my list.

This particular theme could have chapters so I'll try to make it succinct. First, I would like to say (get ready to pull out your dictionary) The Bible is sui generis, the author is proof of that. He uses real life events; with real people to declare who He is. The Bible is a biography, auto-biography, historical non-fiction, mystery, romance with multiple themes that support a main plot. Every good author knows how to draw in their audience and make them relate to the characters demise or triumph. If you allow the author to lead you, He uses His word to graft your own story into His masterpiece. It truly is a pluperfect work of art.

Secondly, I find no contradiction in God's Word. Humans get hung up on the polygamy of the Old Testament, Abraham willing to do in Isaac, God telling Elijah to kill the prophets of Baal. When these so called 'contradictions' arise we need to stop and look around us. What is the reality we are all living in (from ancient time to modern)? I'll answer that for you; we live in a fallen, sinful world. The beauty of the Bible is it shows How God chooses to deal with us in this fallen state. He shows His utter perfection, we fail to heed to it and in our own power we can not attain his demands of it yet He still exhibits patience, mercy and justice. I challenge you to ask the author about these "twists" for the full detail. Then apply the lessons to your own life.

Lastly, each and every account given of the lives and events of the Bible point to the One hero who sacrifices dearly for Love. The Bible is an epic love story that extends through all space and time. Jesus is the climax, but it doesn't end there; the fulfillment of all that He promised, has accomplished and will do is ours to share in with Him forever.

I was succinct, there's a lot in these paragraphs, for those that understand I don't have to remind them there is adventure in following Christ and being submitted to His will. I think they'd agree, reading of others' experiences before us only leaves The Iliad and the Odyssey in the dust.

What Bible account has impacted the way you walk with Christ?