Fireproof: The Movie

Check it out!

Happy Home School week!

WHEREAS, The State of Nebraska desires to promote excellence in education; and

WHEREAS, Dozens of studies confirm that children who are educated at home score significantly above average on national achievement tests; and

WHEREAS, Studies demonstrate that home-educated students excel in college; and

WHEREAS, Home education has a long history of success in this country, helping to produce such notable Americans as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Marshall, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Booker T. Washington, Thomas Edison, William Henry Harrison,
John Tyler, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Irving Berlin, Rembrandt Peale, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, John J. Pershing, Standing Bear, Roscoe Pound, Edward Creighton, Willa Cather, William Jennings Bryan and Bertram Goodhue,
architect of the Nebraska State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Home education strengthens the family and promotes the highest standards of honesty and morality, which are essential elements in the preservation of a free society; and

WHEREAS, Home education promotes good citizenship and positive socialization; and

WHEREAS, The State of Nebraska recognizes the fundamental right of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children; and

WHEREAS, Home educators view the cost of their children’s education as their own responsibility and do not add that cost to the burden of the state; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate that home educators be recognized and commended for their dedication to excellence in education and for their significant and vital contributions to our society.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dave Heineman, Governor of the State of Nebraska,
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM
the week of March 30 – April 5, 2008, as
NEBRASKA HOME EDUCATION WEEK
and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and cause the
Great Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed this Thirteenth day
of March, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight.

And all I can say is: I thank the Lord I live in good old Nebraska, and not California!

Rebelution Book Bomb

Read more here

If women are spaghetti...

The other day an interesting discussion was sparked among the teens in our family as we discussed the difference between girls and boys. My sister Emily and I were prodding our very neutral and un-expressive 14 year old brother to open up and explain to us what he was feeling inside; since nearly every question in regards to his feelings is answered with “maybe… I don’t know… I guess” and it never ceases to aggravate those of the opposite sex.


Just what is it that men are keeping bottled up in their systems? And why ever don’t they explain themselves and tell us what they’re thinking and feeling? My sister and I were eager to know just how men and women feel things differently, but maybe we’ll never really know. My brother, however, did proceed (after much prodding and teasing) to give his opinion on the difference between the way men and women show emotions; in an effort to prove that men really do have them.


Instead of waffles and spaghetti, think of men and women as glass boxes. A woman’s box is clear and you can see all the many complicated and emotional objects inside. (According to my brother, there is no spot or blemish anywhere; every content of her box is open and displayed for everyone to see.) A man’s box, however, is clouded over instead of clear; we can’t see inside to know how many objects there are, of if it contains any at all. We are told with great insistence that there are contents in the box; we just aren’t allowed to know what they are.


Quite the philosophical puzzle, isn’t it? Men and women are totally different and unique creatures. As hard as we try, we will never quite be able to understand our different motives, drives, passions, and yes; emotions. Not to scorn one sex and elevate the other; for we are all equal in God’s sight.


Now, despite the truth that women’s boxes tend to be much more clear than men’s, we all have thoughts and feelings and heart issues that we hide away deep within that others do cannot see. A truth that may be startling to realize, though, is that no matter how hard we try, male or female, we cannot cloud over our hearts before God. He sees clearly within our boxes and it truly should strike remorse, fear, and trembling not when mere men see a glimpse here and there, but when the Lord; the awesome and mighty judge, examines the intents of our hearts.


As much as I wish my brother would tell me what he is feeling and thinking about things; what his desires are, it is much more crucial that he search those out and confess them to God. How amazing it is that the perfect, pure, ultimate judge, who sees far more imperfection and flaw than man can realize we embody, is far greater in his mercy and forgiveness towards us! Why we turn to the cruel and negative perusal of the world instead of a merciful Father is beyond logic or reason.


What’s in your box?

Blogger meetup

Lincoln, Nebraska State Capitol

Tuesday, February 26th

A young lady in a purple sweater stood against the brick wall as the chamber doors opened and parents and children of all ages poured out into the capitol rotunda, her face intent and her eyes scanning the moving crowd. Not quite sure of the details on her contact, she stood discreetly to the side, unnoticed by the hundreds of people filing past her.

A young lady with brown curly hair and brown eyes, wearing a green sweater caught her eye briefly before walking past her to wait at the corner. They stood there with their backs to the cold brick wall, watching… scanning… waiting. Then a young lady not too much unlike the one in green (wearing a pink shirt) smiled as she and the purple agent reunited, after having met one another at a super secret clandestine meet up a month prior.

But wait; the agent in pink also happened to be the blood relation of the agent in green standing off to the side; and unbeknownst to the two reunited; agent purple’s own contact! Greetings were exchanged and top secret information shared before agent green and agent purple discreetly melted off into the crowd once more, on their mission to save the world and restore sanity to a culture of chaos and disorder.

You can read agent purple’s secrets here

You can read agent green’s secrets here

Looking for cracks? Try our public schools.

On Tuesday, February 26th, 1,300 homeschool parents and children gathered at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska; setting a record number of attendance for any bill hearing in Nebraska’s history. The reason for such a crowd? With a proposed bill that takes away the freedom of a family to choose their form of education, parents concerned over the spiritual and physical well being of their children made sure that our Legislature hears our opposition.


One large chamber and five overflow rooms were filled with men wearing suits and ladies wearing skirts as homeschoolers gathered to watch the opponents and proponents (of which there were only 3 out of nearly 25 who testified) on TV screens. Among those testifying before the Education Committee against LB 1141 were UNO professors, HSLDA attorney Michael Donnelly and several homeschooling parents with their own stories of past struggles in the failing public school system.


The opponents spoke well, clearly and calmly stating facts proving the unconstitutional restriction of the bill over families who choose an education based on Christian principles. Senator Schimeck’s support for her bill was weak in light of the statistics brought forth showing the wide success of homeschooling, and the widespread failure of public schools. The concern for those children “falling through the cracks” has been pinned down on the minority; those who choose to stay at home, when the high numbers of dropouts and failing grades are in not in the home but in the State’s own government schools. It is clear to see that this bill was born out of an atheistic and non-biblical perspective, as Schimeck herself stated that it is the State’s responsibility to insure that children are receiving a good education.


HSLDA attorney Michael Donnelly said “This was an incredible work of God and an amazing testimony to Nebraska homeschoolers. Thirteen hundred people in attendance is an overwhelming number, and the decorum and behavior of all reflected greatly on the homeschool community. It is such a privilege to serve the people of Nebraska, and I pray that the Education Committee can see that there is no need or public demand for this legislation. Homeschoolers do an incredible work even as they fund the public schools without much complaint through their taxes. All they want is to be left alone to continue turning out successful graduates.”


Truly, the best our senators can do is recognize the success of homeschooling in Nebraska, and focus their “concern” on the failures in public school. One is tempted to wonder with all this attention to the successful minority, if this is something besides a genuine concern for homeschooled children, such as a desire for money and power over those who have chosen not to follow the crowd. Hitler also chose to exercise his power through the schools and children, and the similarities between his reign and the direction our government run schools are going is not a little unnerving.


So, Nebraskans, we had a good turnout.


Now what?


While we wait a week to hear which direction the Education Committee votes, what can we do to keep up the pressure, and insure that bills like this are not passed (or even proposed) in the future in our Legislature?

1. Keep up the phone calls and letters!
2. Pray that the Education Committee would vote against the bill; that they would not be blind to the needless and negative affects the bill would have.

Read HSLDA’s report on the hearing

I want YOU for the homeschool movement...

Last Wednesday, on February 6th, six hundred homeschool students and their parents attended the second annual Legislative Day at the state capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. Though the number in attendance was lower than the expected 1,000 (because of the ever-present snow) the capitol building was filled and senators kept busy. From 10:00am to 4:30pm, students listened to senators' thoughts on LB1141, met with and spoke to their own senators privately, and listened to various speakers on the importance of being involved in our Legislature, such as Al Riskowski of the Nebraska Family Council.


All in all, it was a very good turnout, with this being only the second year for NCHEA to hold Legislative Day at the capitol. Governor Dave Heineman stated that he would veto the bill 1141 if it reaches him, while many homeschoolers pray that it will not go that far. Senators that spoke strongly against the bill, and in great support of homeschoolers and the advancement of Christ's kingdom, were applauded and greatly appreciated. It's encouraging to see and be reminded that there still are Godly, convicted men still in office today, despite the decline in upstanding or backbone among our senate.


So we had one good turnout, but the fight for the killing of this bill is yet continuing, and requires even more attention and work than ever before Saturday the 26th, when the bill will be discussed at a hearing. This is a serious encroachment of the rights of homeschoolers, and I urge my readers, even those outside the State, to take action and make your voice heard.


Here's what you can do to fight LB1141:

• Write a personal letter to senator/s voicing your opposition

• Give them a phone call

• Write an article for your local paper

• Let your friends know; spread the word

• Pray and alert your Church

• Keep informed and up to date (join NCHEA and sign up for their newsletters)

• Attend the hearing at the capitol on Saturday, January 26th (where HSLDA attorney Michael Donnelly will be testifying against the bill)

Get out there and start fighting this! You may not be “into politics”, or concerned for the present, but I can assure you that if this bill goes through, your children and their children will be harrassed and restricted by it. This bill will not only bring to pass the harsh control that it spells out, but will open doors for harsher and even more restrictive bills to be passed. Join the army. Pick up your sword (the Word), and march with us into battle. The Lord wants YOU to join his army, and defend the God-given rights of the family.


Lex, Rex

600 passionate, conservative home educators all in one room. Quite the experience.

We met with our senator, Kent Rogert, to voice our opposition to LB1141. It was disappointing that he did not know much about the bill, or give us a clear answer as to whether or not he would oppose it.

Go here to read an article and watch the video of Lincoln's coverage for Legislative Day, as well as leave your opinion in the lengthy comment section.

Declaration of War- Nebraska

When the President sent troops overseas to fight the Taliban after 9/11, people made a fuss over the fact that we had not officially declared war. However, despite that fact, we were, indeed, already engaged in war with Muslim extremists. It wasn’t something we wanted, it wasn’t something we asked for, but it was something we were thrown into without a doubt of the intentions posed by our enemies; kill the infidels and destroy the moral foundations our country was founded on.

Only a few weeks ago, war was declared in Nebraska. Only this time, M16’s and grenades were replaced for the Sword of the Word and the armor of God. On January 23^rd, Nebraska State Senator DiAnna Schimek introduced LB 1141 that would, in essence, make homeschooling in our State nearly impossible. Below is a list of what the bill would require from homeschoolers (the entire list can be found here):

• Have to submit to discretionary approval by the Commissioner of Education.
• Gives the Department of Education (“NDE”) approval authority over whether homeschoolers may file under Rule 12 or 13 and over their curriculum;
• 
  

• Have to submit to intrusive and ill-conceived annual assessments.
• Requires an annual in person evaluation, at the parents’ expense, but by a person of the Commissioner’s choosing and at a time and place determined by the NDE. Parents may be allowed to observe as long as they are “under the supervision of the Commissioner or designated staff person.”
• To avoid the NDE’s required annual in person evaluation, a homeschooling parent would have to submit extensive documentation to a certified and approved teacher, including a complete written record of all the educational activities a child has been involved in and a portfolio of the student’s work, and the results of any assessments conducted. And even then, the teacher’s positive report would merely create a “presumption” that adequate progress was being made.
• Requires that assessments be conducted against standards created and approved by the NDE and based on age/grade levels of their peers in public schools;
• 
  

• Have to submit detailed attendance records every year.
• Requires homeschoolers to submit attendance records annually to the Nebraska Department of Education (“NDE”);
• 
  

• Have to test before you start.
• Requires first time homeschooled students to take an NDE-approved test for “baseline educational data” (presumably this test is to be used by the NDE to determine whether or not “progress has been achieved”);
• 
  

• Give the Commissioner authority to hold your kids hostage in public schools at his discretion.
• Require homeschooled children to attend an accredited public or private school if they do not make adequate progress as defined by the NDE and would prevent the child from being homeschooled until the NDE approves.

Before I go on to make my readers presume that Nebraska is in a unique situation, I would hasten to remind that Senators and Governors across the United States are working for the destruction of the structure in Christian families, just as our own beloved Senator Shimeck is here in our own Red State.

Just can’t take “no” for an answer

HSLDA has called this bill one of the worst homeschooling bills ever proposed. Angered and passionate Nebraskans would have to agree. In the 1980’s a similar bill was introduced and passed, which resulted in fathers being thrown into jail and mothers being forced to flee the State with their children, including a couple from our Church. Since then Nebraska had relaxed its laws on homeschoolers, after a long and hard fight, only to have another bill introduced by, ironically, the wife of the head of Government Relations for the Nebraska State Education Association. Don’t even attempt to claim that this bill wasn’t introduced for personal gain!

Consider…

• The State is asking not only that homeschoolers pay outrageous taxes for a failing school system they do not even attend, but that we now ad the costs of annual exams that we don’t even want to take

• The State is assuming that the public school system is the only answer to supposed learning disabilities and problems (why should we hand ours over when they can’t even handle their own?). What happens when children at schools shoot each other, abuse each other, struggle on their tests and show lack of cleanliness and happiness? Then I think it’s time they hand over the kids to the parents.

• The State is assuming the right to protect your child and provide safety and education. One might have to ask, then, did God give my children to me, or to the government? As my Dad says; over my dead body will you walk into my home and assume that God-given right.

As a homeschool senior about to graduate from high school myself, I cannot stress how glad I am that my parents chose to be my teachers, instead of dumping me off at school and asking a total stranger (and in some cases, a rapist or ex-convict) to educate me for the next 12 years. Believe it or not, I am healthy, happy, and not a complete idiot because of it. Homeschooling works, and so well it’s scaring the Board of Education. The growth and success of God’s army is scaring Satan, and he is now visibly taking steps to defeat us through our own government.

So please, brothers and sisters;

• Be aware that wars are being fought all across the States. If LB 1141 goes through in Nebraska, it could very well go through in your State. One thing leads to another and we MUST pull out of political apathy and be constantly aware of what goes on in our legislature.

• Be in prayer for Wednesday, February 6^th. Nebraska will be holding it’s second annual Legislative day for homeschoolers at the capitol. Last year 300 people attended to meet with Senators and go to hearings, and this year, after the introduction of the bill, the expected number blew up to 1,000 homeschoolers and counting. This is going to be an awesome time of witnessing and fighting not only 1141 but the impetus to introduce other such restrictive bills. Be in prayer that the weather would cooperate, and that the senators would be greatly impacted by the turnout, and have their eyes open to the constitutional right they are breaking.

I have great trust in the God who created our nation, and I am totally pumped about attending Legislative Day at the capitol tomorrow. I know God is going to do amazing things through this bill as we work to fight it and have victory in His name.

Soli Deo Gloria…

Links:

(More reasons) why this is a stupid bill

The bill in it's un-translated entirety

NCHEA on 1141

NCHEA Legislative Day Info

HEN on 1141

Rebelution '08

See you there!!

In the name of... compassion?

TRENTON, N.J. — With New Jersey poised to become the first state in four decades to abolish the death penalty, opponents of the practice declared a historic victory and hoped other states would follow suit.

The Assembly voted 44-36 on Thursday to approve the legislation, which passed the Senate on Monday by a 21-16 vote. Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he will sign it within a week.

New Jersey has been barred from executing anyone under a 2004 court ruling that declared invalid the state's lethal injection procedures.

The measure would spare eight men on the state's death row, including Jesse Timmendequas, a sex offender who murdered 7-year-old Megan Kanka in 1994.


The case inspired Megan's Law, which requires law enforcement agencies to notify the public about convicted sex offenders living in their communities. (My italics.)

Read the whole story


- Great idea! Let's protect child molestors, murderers, terrorists and the like in the name of protection and compassion (where was the compassion for their victims?). Justice has nothing to do with it. We find that lethal injections are in any way uncomfortable and we will take men, who rape, beat, and stuff little girls into bags before burying them alive, and tell them it's okay; there's no consequence. Everyone is basically good anyway, right?

On another note, it's sad to say that Megan's Law is one of the most stupid and ridiculous law ever created. Require sex offenders to report where they live so we can supposedly stop them from committing a crime (as if they would include the government in their evil plans!)? Explain to me again just how this is meant to protect citizens... the stupidity of our elected officials boggles my mind. (What a surprise that it was our own Bill Clinton who brought forth the brilliancy of requiring "registry" of sex offenders.)

We can't be cushy and queasy when it comes to punishment. Justice has and always will be an uncomfortable thing to see, but if it takes the death penalty to stop widespread crimes and killings, and the stripping of purity and life from those innocent, then so be it. Unfortunately, it takes a real man to face up to the truth and carry out the hard task of enforcing the law. We are seeing greatly the affects of very few true men leaders in our country today as women and children continue to be hunted and molested.

Lord, raise up an army of mighty men to run for office and restore your Law in this fallen nation! Have mercy on this your ignorant and blind people.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13549?CFID=1317130&CFTOKEN=11476832

Omaha tragedy

OMAHA, Neb. — A man with a rifle opened fire at a busy Omaha shopping mall Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life, police said. Five others were wounded, two critically.

The killer has been identified as Robert A. Hawkins, age 19 or 20, who left a suicide note stating, "I'm going out in style" and "I'm going to be famous."

Read the whole story here

Sadly, the rare events of hearing about Omaha Nebraska on the national news are often prompted by tragedies. Yesterday was a continuation of past shooting sprees at malls and schools this year, of which I would think would cause the question "why" to enter the minds of our congressman. What is the root cause of young Robert Hawkins depression and suicide? Maybe, just possibly, it has something to do with the demoralization and downgrading of our culture, and the diminishing influence of the Church in the lives of families.

The tragedy is that 13 people were shot while others, unarmed and helpless (as were the security guards) by the protection and goodwill of the government, hid watching. What do you think is the solution; that we take guns away from citizens and pretend that threats are enough to stop bad men from attaining them (and they will)?

God forgive our Church and for abandoning those in need and leaving them to the state. We are hurting more people than those we turn away.

You are nothing.... now; be everything

I am nothing. You are nothing. We are here for no reason, and our lives make no difference. We evolved from nothing. We change nothing. There is not a thing in us or of us that is of worth or good background, and yet we must believe in ourselves. Believe… in what? If we came from nothing, and are virtually lawless and without purpose, what is there within ourselves to believe in? That we are nothing? This thought will not in any way produce any impetus to achieve, live, learn, love…

If we have indeed come to live for no main purpose, and (as many do) to die alone, ugly, miserable, and still without purpose, how are we to find any substantiality or depth in the command to look within ourselves to find that purpose? And also, we are told we can be good if only we search hard enough in our souls, when at the same time we are taught that we came from a lowly, stupid creature that has no soul and cannot know good from evil. How can we produce something from nothing? Are we to be expected to have the good in ourselves evolve, just as we are expected to believe we ourselves evolved?

We are not gods. We cannot create something out of nothing. Without a seed I cannot make a tree, because I do not have the power to create a seed by mere thought, out of thin air. Likewise, the idea that I can simply start being good without any seed of moral or righteousness already planted, is a ridiculous and shallow idea that does not hold weight under logical and sane reasoning. I cannot create purpose within myself if I was brought into being by and for no purpose.

If there is no potential, no promise, no starting place to begin with, I cannot build. We are taught that there is no foundation, and yet told to build. Build on what, you might ask? But I tell you there is a rock that has stood for all eternity, and continues to serve as a foundation and beginning for every being that has eyes to see it. There is a seed! There already is a beginning, a purpose; and the good news is that we are not responsible for creating it ourselves. We do not have to search endlessly for something that does not exist! We do not have to spend our lives struggling and fighting and blowing out our brains to believe something that is not true. There is a good and solid truth, faith and foundation already painstakingly laid by the blood of Someone infinitely more precious and good and full of purpose than we can ever be, even while standing on the strongest rock. Why do we choose to torment ourselves looking for something that does not exist, when the answer is right in front of us? This sickness of soul and lack of strength is not necessary to a good and purposeful life! Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 to "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find…" is not simply asking infinitely easier than trying to pull this superhuman, nonexistent power out of ourselves?

This precious, good, full of purpose, paid-in-full seed is all that it takes to lead a life of courage, peace, meaning and fulfillment. Have you been given this seed? Have you asked for it? If so, have you shared it? There is only one life of purpose, and that is a life washed white by the blood of Jesus Christ.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Luke 6: 47-49

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."