Awesome Bumper Sticker

Ross and I are on our way to Tennessee, and we saw a car with a bumper sticker which read

I (heart symbol) my Wife

Now there's a bumper sticker that I would (will) put on my car one day.
~Paul

The Bride of Christ

"I do."

Those are two words which I look forward with great anticipation to saying, to know and be known through and through by a woman with whom I can share everything that I am, every hurt and every joy, every laugh and every cry. And yet, how much more should we long for that kind of relationship with our Lord? Ultimately, that's the purpose of marriage; to portray to the world the kind of relationship that we will have with the Son. He is the ultimate Bridegroom, and we, The Church, are the Bride of Christ.

This is one of the reasons why divorce is so destructive . It's not just two people breaking a convenient that they made before the Almighty God, but because their marriage is so much more then that. God didn't institute marriage simply as a means to propagate the human race, nor to make us happy. He designed it to be a picture of something that is much more, something beyond us. Marriage is a picture of the relationship that the Son will have with his Church! This is the reason why there are such harsh punishments for people who divorce and who commit fornication, it's a blatant violation of the marriage covenant, and what the marriage represents!

The culture has really lost sight of the holiness and sanctity of marriage in our day and age. So let us be the shining lights in this dark world of what marriages should really look like!

Paul

Ladies First

Those are two words I don't hear very often in the outside world (I.E. outside of the Christian homeschooling crowds that I live in). The feminists have done a very good job at what they think is equalizing women, namely, elevating women, because according to them, working a 9 to 5, is so much more prestigious then being a homemaker. But what they've really done, is pull men down, and try to make them switch rolls. They may say that they simply want equality, but if that were really the case, then you would expect that at least half the time, they would be holding doors for men. But no.

In they're minds, 'equality' means 'identical', or ('congruent' to use the math term). Yet you can ask any doctor, any counselor, or any married person for that matter, and (if they're honest) they will have to admit that there are differences. Try as one might to mask it, their always will be. But is that Bad? Let me ask you this, is an ax head more important then the handle which holds it? Is the trim on a house more important then the studs which support it? They are both vastly different, and yet, they both need each other. If the studs in a house decided that they wanted to be trim as well, then the whole house would come down. Yet if it had no trim, the house would simply be a building. neither would be very comely to look upon. If the ax handle decided that it wanted to be a head, then both would be useless. They both need each other. God designed the genders to be complimentary. Equal, yet distinct. 
This blog has some really good insights into feminism, I've found it to be really helpful, he has some really good insights.


Anyway, Back to the title of this post. I thought about all of this because I was at a business lunch the other day, and when the waiter came to take our orders, she said "Ladies first" and started with the woman at the table. I was pleasantly surprised when she did so, it's not something I hear often at restaurants, probably because the waitress's are concerned that they might offend the feminist demographic. But I think that the lady at the table was appreciative.
So go hold a door, offer your umbrella, and be generally courteous to the women in your life, wether they're 5 years old or 85 years young, they'll appreciate it.
~Paul

The Value of Family

I sit here in Michigan, the house is empty because my older brother has yet to return, having just finished reading through the list of blogs that I follow, and I'm stuck by how much I miss my family. One of the blogs I follow is by a mom who's blog posts are almost always pictures and stories about her family. What they've been doing, the good and bad things that have happened, things like that. I love they're family, and reading about what they've been up to, but not as much as I could ever love my own! I know the phrase "you never miss it till it's gone" it cliché, but it still rings true. My days now consist of sleeping, reading my bible, working, blogging, math, piano, working on my car, and various others minor things, so my time is filled (maybe too filled, I've already worked 30 hours this week, and it's only Wednesday), but even though I'm busy, several times a day, I'll be doing something, and it will remind me of what a family member has, or would do in that situation. Or I'll be working on my car, and be searching the internet because I can't figure something out on it, and I'll think "I bet dad would know how to fix this, to bad it's 5am back home". I know that I often took them for granted, but now, where I only get to see them on short vacations, it makes my time with them so much more valuable. One day all my siblings will be married, we'll all live in different houses, and we'll only see each other on occasion. But right now, accept for Ross, they're all conveniently living in one place. I can't wait until this march when I'll get to go back and visit.
So I guess what I'm trying to say with all of that is this: God gives us a limited amount of time with our families, and we don't know when that time will pass, so appreciate it right now! Don't wait until tomorrow to tell your mom that you love her, or your dad that's he's awesome, do it right now! They have sacrificed more then your or I can ever imagine for they're children, and a quick "I love you" can be remembered for years to come.
~Paul

A suiters questions

Earlier today, I was reading through my blog list, as I am apt to do, and I came across this post.
Courtship Questions for Potential Suiters Over at "Your Sacred Calling". It's well worth reading for any of you guys reading this (and gals too, it's helpful to know what were thinking about). I really found the spiritual list convicting, and helpful. I can't answer many of the bullet points, and some I am able to answer well. List's like this can be very helpful, in that they can show us our weak points, so that we can strive to strengthen them. When it comes to doctrine, and what I believe about "x", I am very weak. I had a discussion with a very Godly father a couple of weeks ago, and he really showed me how little I actually can say "This is why I believe this". So I'm on a journey, studying the bible, and filling in gaps. Do head over to Your Sacred Calling, and poke around. There's lots of things to be learned from wise people like Mrs. McDonald.
~Paul

Courtship Interviews

Ross and I had an amazing opportunity to participate in a documentary that it currently being filmed about courtship! I won't give you all of the back story, because it's not particularly interesting, but in summery, Ross was put in contact with this family (the Wrights) by one of his other friends in the area, and when they found out about Ross's views on courtship, told him that they were in a documentary that was being made about courtship, and asked if he'd like to come over for a visit and be interviewed for it! Well it just so happened that around this time, I came out to Michigan, so I got to come along and participate.

I was expecting to be interviewed by the producer, and have my responses video taped. But what actually happened was that as Ross and I walked in the front door, and they all greeted us, off to the side, hiding in the shadows, was the camera man filming us. I immediately realized that this wasn't going to me an interview driven documentary, but more of a reality TV style, where it looks like all the people aren't even aware that there is a camera in the house. So after I saw the camera, I did my best not to look at it, even though it was a really nice camera. Throughout dinner, and the conversation afterwards, the camera was floating around us, sometimes close up, sometimes off in the corners. It took a little bit of focus at the beginning to act normal, and resist the temptation to look at the camera, but after a little while, it wasn't such a distraction, and the conversation flowed naturally.

Now before I go any farther, you all would probably like to know who this mysterious family is that we were visiting. They look like a pretty normal homeschooling family on the outside, but on the inside, they're much more! It became apparent after just a short time that they all love each other so much, and they have so much fun together. They laugh and joke together, often telling us interesting (and occasionally embarrassing) stories about the different members of the family, as well as deep, heart touching stories about they're life, how Mr. and Mrs. Wright met, the trials they'd had in they're marriage, and how they got saved. They have a website called "Before the Kiss" which is a compilation of books and recourses on courtship! They have two daughters, as well as a 'somewhat' adopted daughter. (I say 'somewhat' because her parents are still living,but in another state). Read their story on they're website here:

http://www.beforethekiss.com/about.html

So for most of the filming we sat around the dinner table, eating a delicious meal, and talking about home churches and courtship. They're working on starting a home group, so we talked for awhile about our experiences with our home church, it's strong points, and it's weak points, and then we moved onto courtship. It was mostly an ongoing dialog between all of us, rather then them simply asking questions, and us answering them. It was a great time. The producer and camera man left at about 11pm, but we kept talking until about 1am. Ross had originally planned on driving back home that night (about 2 1/2 hours), but he decided that it was a little late for that, so he asked if we could sleep on the floor and leave in the morning. They said that would be fine, so we got to spend the night. Ross was planning on being out the door by eight the next morning, but after they got up, we started chatting again, and then they made breakfast (eggs and hand made sausage), and we kept talking until we finally left a little behind schedule, about noon.

I am really looking forward to going back to visit them some time soon, they're such a great family to be around!

~Paul

P.S.

The Producer is about 6 months into this project, and she said that ones of this length usually take about three years. So I'll keep you updated.

How you treat your Mom...

...Is how you'll treat your Bride.

I’ve heard is said many times, 'how a young man treat’s his Mom, is how he’ll treat his wife". “Wait, What!?!?” you might think “But my mom’s so much different then who I’d like to marry!” It still rings true! It’s taken awhile for this to really sink in, but It really has been these last few weeks. It’s so easy for me to imagine how I’ll treat my future bride. “I’ll be one of the best husbands ever!” I think. That’s all well and good, but what about when things get tough? Am I really willing to make the choice, even when it can hurt? What if my wife would really like to have “blank”, but I can’t see why? Am I willing to put her desires above my own? How can I know? How can I prepare? Can I know?

Enter “Mom”.

God’s design for marriage and raising children so amazing. He give young adults someone who we live with,who is very forgiving, who is much, much wiser then us, to teach and train us how to treat our future spouses. They also know you inside and out, and will be able to spot a bad attitude from a mile away. So when they are giving instruction, give them your full attention! You won’t regret it later!

It also allows us to see how other people will treat they’re future spouses. In my case, when a young lady catches my interest, one of the first things I’ll want to observe is how she treats her father. Is she rude and short tempered? Does she just kind of blow him off? Or does she treat him with kindness and respect? Similarly, my Mom is the perfect proving ground for how I will treat my wife!

I heard a good quote the other day:

Sew a thought, reap a desire. Sew a desire, reap an action. Sew an action, reap a habit. Sew a habit, and reap a lifestyle.

And one that is a little more well known:

Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor they father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord has thy God giveth thee.

In conclusion, think about how you can bless your parents today. Maybe some kind words, maybe doing the dishes without being asked, maybe a note, be creative. It’s a very rewarding process. Having a close relationship with your parents is one of the biggest blessing you’ll ever have!!

I could not have said it better Continued

…continued from part 1

6/ We love your scatter-brained craziness and some of the insane things you do like rolling down grassy hills or leaping around the living room to yur favourite CD (and getting the words wrong!) or twirling in your skirts and dresses!  The twirling thing is an absolute charm!

7/ We absolutely adore it when you wear your feminine clothes like blouses, skirts, dresses and shoes that don’t have a certain swoosh or motif in the side. And you don’t necessarily have to adorn yourselves with all the latest accessories, jewelry and other enhancements.  Maybe some of us guys aren’t intelligent, articulate or kind enough to compliment you on how pretty you might look; maybe we’re afraid you’ll suspect our motive for saying something nice.  But if we comment negatively, here’s a piece of advice:  ignore us.  Whatever you do, don’t stop dressing like a girl… it helps to define you.

8/ You look so loveley whenever you wear some of those full skirts.  They can be any kind, circular or pleated, but their volume and fullness gives you a romantic presence that has untold power.  You look so beautiful and graceful when, as you take a seat, you skirt seems to flow everywhere(!) and the sound it makes whenever you move announces the presence of a real, genuine, feminine woman.

9/ How magic it is to walk beside you when you wear your skirts and dresses!  You look so pretty and feminine as you swish along with us. You make us feel like men – gentlemen if we’ve got any sense.  And if we’re lucky the breeze will catch your hem and brush it gently against us. Phew!  I’m in the presence of a woman!  Years ago, on a date with my soon-to-be wife, I remember that I couldn’t have imagined being with anyone prettier as strands of her hair drifted in the breeze and her dress swished, flowed, splashed and rippled as we walked along the beach.  She made a beautiful picture

10/ You can steal our hearts without knowing it!  We can sometimes remember even brief encounters with you years after they’ve happened. Why?  Because of the powerful impression you made.  It could have been something as simple as a smile you tossed over your shoulder when you said “See you later!”,  but you can’t imagine the effect as your hair and clothes twirled outward.

You are so distracting.  Who on Earth should a gentleman live for other than his girl?

I could not have said it better

I found this as I was rabbit trail blogging (finding a blog, and then clicking a link on it to another blog and then doing that about 5 or 6 times). So here it is:

Greetings, Ladies

Christa asked me to be a guest blogger on her Empowered Traditionalist site and so for the first time here is an article which, whether you see yourself as a girl, woman or lady, I hope will encourage, inspire and dignify you.

Ten Things Guys Love About Girls

Before I begin there are a few things that I should mention. First of all, a little-known truth:  there are so many things about you which enchant us guys (those of us who are in touch with the higher brain functions ^_^) that this article will never be complete. I would be unable to speak on behalf of all men.  So, perhaps I should just add to it from time to time whenever I think or hear of something that we men love about you.

If you’re trusting and hoping that God will bring you a suitable man one day, then be encouraged, because you have so many ways of leaving us spellbound without even knowing it!  You may not consider yourself to be that attractive but you can win our attention without even trying.  You’re a girl, therefore logic and the law of probability dictate that sooner or later you will deeply impress a man, just the way He intended.

1/ We love your expressive behaviour, particularly the way your eyes smile and sparkle when you laugh.  We love that wide-eyed expression of yours when something excites or amazes you.  And to be truthful, we love that cute “puppy” face you use on us (come on, girls, you know the one I’m talking about! ^_^) when you want something – and what’s so infuriating is that it works! ^_^

2/ We love some of the mannerisms which you take for granted.  It might be something as simple as tucking a lock of hair behind your ear.  Such a “feminine” thing to do.

3/ We love what you do with your hair:  slide-combs, clips, grips, pony-tails, plaits, curls, waves, fringes, braids, bows and (a personal favorite) ribbons that flutter and dance behind you in the breeze when you walk around.

4/ We love your frequent willingness to help or “problem-solve” in any situation.

5/ We love that confident but gentle way you carry yourselves.  Your poise and grace and the way your voices can sometimes have a soothing tone. Your uncontrived, guile-less manner so unlike the attention-seeking, manipulative ditziness of some others.

part 2 coming tomorrow….

I don't think there's anyway I could have been more descriptive then this young man. You know, most of the things he mentions are things that I find to be true, I just wouldn't have noticed them.
I think I'll leave it at that. Part two tomorrow.