7 Quick Takes Friday

*1*

We watched "Contact" this week. The classic dialog between science and faith, Much of what was presented by Jodi Foster's characters is the basic response to people of faith where science is concerened, but the conclusion was good. I love the shot after she travels throught he wormhole and says, "It's so beautiful, I can't describe it, they should have sent a poet instead of a scientist." Anyway, her concluding "testimony" was a good harmnization of faith and science. I had the privilege of working for Dr. Hugh Ross eons ago in a land far away and if you're not familiar with Reasons to Believe, you should check it out. It is a science apologetics ministry aimed at revealing how science, hard science, reveals the God of the Bible. http://www.reasons.org/

*2*

Gen 24; Abraham's House of Love. Abraham loved Sarah. His Steward loved Abraham. Issac loved Rebekah. Hearts that sympathized and harmonized with one another, that went beyond the cultural norms of serve, be served, fulfill a role or a duty, I'll get mine. Responses that resonated with a purpose beyond and bigger than each of themselves. Synergy.

*3*

Great thread on TWTM boards on "Getting Smart." Of course, I had to jump in and I want to save a longer response for a separate post. My #1 advice. Stop doing things that create stupidity. Turn off the T.V., quite gaming. Start with Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman and follow up with The Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer.

*4*

Doing math with the notsolittles this week I hit a wall. We are done with school for awhile; I need a break. We spent the rest of the week playing, gardening, mowing, yard work, scrapping and painting the front fence. Soaking up the way-to-short summer rays and scents and sounds and feels of the season. Chatted about simple and all important things like who is stronger Batman or Superman (Cub is, afterall, 9), porch sitting, being together.

*5*

One of our goals as parents has been to create a "Beautiful Family Culture." (see Stephen Covey "7 Habits of Higly Effective Familes") The parenting video we watched this week focused on "creating a culture of honor and respect," creating choices for our kids that allows them the ability to have ownership for their actions at a young age and become internally motivated/controlled rather than externally so. Good food for thought.

*6*

Dried parsley already this week. Fresh parsley smells and tastes so delish. If you haven't grown any, you should, it is super easy and super healthy and one of life's simple pleasures.

*7*

Received "Horatio at the Bridge" by Memoria Press in the mail this week. The study looks great and the poetry is wonderful. It's on the list for next year and will be a good next step after "The Grammar of Poetry" by Logos this year. And speaking of next year, we'll are getting together a group of interested parents to talk about starting a Daniel Academy http://www.thedanielacademy.com/at church. It is a University Model school http://www.naums.net/with some interesting and intriguing twists. We'll meet for 8 weeks and see how far we get.

Have an Grace & Peace-filled weekend! For more "Quick Takes," go to Conversion Diary