Becoming Virtuous

A blog sharing my thoughts on life and what God is teaching me

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  • “More on Politics” by Jasmine Baucham

    In this article, Miss Baucham does a wonderful job discussing the issues before us.  I encourage you to follow the link and read the entire article.  But I wanted to copy some of it here as it addresses a subject I’ve debated with some people in recent times.

    ~Tee-Kaye

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Is it odd that we Christians, commanded to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 2:5) feel like our “hands are tied” in this election, that we are forced to vote for the lesser of two evils, that the vote otherwise would be “wasting” our vote? I think it is.

    It boggles my mind to think that, if Christians would not, in good conscience, vote for John McCain in any other instance, would rally together and vote for a man who really espoused the values they hold dear… we may not win an election, but the numbers would certainly get people’s attention.

    …

    Will my candidate win? Most likely, no, he will not. But a vote for a third party in this case is not a vote for Senator Obama -it is to vote according to principal. I cannot fill out that ballot in light of the future of our country and vote any other way. It couldn’t be a republic if my hands were tied. I won’t stand before God and say my hands are tied. My hands -my mind -are free to make whatever choice that my conscience will allow. 

    Best of all, whatever the outcome of this election, we serve a sovereign King! It causes me to utter the most satisfying sigh of relief just thinking about it. 🙂 Praise to the Father, who is working this out according to HIS purposes and for HIS glory; whether it’s President Obama or President McCain (or, wonder of wonders, President Baldwin or President Paul down the line 🙂 to HIM be the glory; He certainly wont’ be surprised.  …

    (To read the rest, follow this link. http://joyfullyathome.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-on-politics.html )

  • More on woman VP

    Mr. Phillips over at The Vision Forum has been posting a lot of really good articles on Sarah Palin running for Vice President.  He also included a video of Mr. Baucham being interviewed on CNN concerning a woman running for VP.  It was really good!  I hope you go and check it out!  Also read the other articles on there too!

     http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/

    http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/09/4331.aspx

    Someone wrote a comment on the interview that I thought was interesting.  Part of it said, “The decision we make this election year will cut to the core of our worldview.  How we vote will show who we fear.”  Another comment spoke about how we vote will reveal whether we fear God or man.  Before ending this I would like to include a verse that Mr. Baucham mentioned on the interview.

    Isaiah 3:12

    “Youths oppress my people, women rule over them.  O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.”

    I pray that all of you will seriously think and pray over who you will vote for next month.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Cool quotes

    I was looking around monergism.com and saw a Charles Spurgeon quote.  I thought it was really good, so I looked for some more on the Internet.  I’d like to share a few of the ones I found.

    “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

    “Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.”

    “You might not always get what you want, but you always get what you expect.”

    Now for two that I believe are quite relevant to the upcoming elections.

    “We have come to a turning point in the road. If we turn to the right mayhap our children and our children’s children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word.”

    “Of two evils, choose neither.”

    Have a blessed day!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Another sad day

    I just found out this morning that yet another of my friends is moving away.  They decided two days ago, and are going to move to Florida on Friday.  I’m in complete shock!  I don’t know what to think.  They are moving to Florida because they have some grandparents there.  They are wanting to help take care of them as they are aging, and also witness to them as they are not Christians.  This is highly commendable of them.  But I weep for myself as I lose another good friend.  I feel like all my good friends are deserting me.  Last June one moved, then another in January, now in September another one, and next summer another is moving overseas.  I don’t have many good friends left in town!  I’m nigh onto crying out

    “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.” (Psalm 88:18 )

  • A Woman VP?

    Last week there was an announcement that, I believe, shocked the U.S.  It was the proclamation that Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska and mother of 5 young children, was going to be John McCain’s running mate for the upcoming Presidential elections.  The reason it was so shocking was because, first of all, no one really thought that McCain was considering her, and second that she is much more conservative then the liberal McCain.

    Mr. Phillips brought up an excellent point on his blog.  He said that now “Christians must consider whether to encourage a mother of infant children to de-prioritize her duties and obligations as wife and mother in order to possibly become the chief executive of America.”  (To read the whole article, follow this link. http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/ )  The Bible clearly teaches against female magistrates.  Mr. Phillips included in his post five points from a speech by Pastor Bill Einwechter.

    (1). The biblical doctrine of male headship applies to each governing institution.

    (2). The biblical qualifications for civil rulers forbids female magistrates.

    (3). The biblical role of the woman is against female magistrates.

    (4). The biblical lament of women ruling over men is against female magistrates.

    (5). The biblical example of Deborah is not an endorsement of female magistrates.

    Now Christians will have to choose if they are going to support a candidate who not only does not hold to Christian ethics and political platforms, but now has chosen a mother of very young children (the youngest being only around four months old) as his running mate.

    I’m curious to see what they will decide.  To go with the “safe” answer and vote for someone who is clearly out of line with the Bible, and is willing to give up her responsibilities to her family to wrestle with Washington.  Or, are they going to go with a less popular, but Biblical approach when going to the polls this November?  I sincerely pray for the latter!

    For further reading on the subject, here is an excellent article by Jasmine Baucham. http://joyfullyathome.blogspot.com/2008/09/ten-reasons-why-i-dont-want-to-be-vp.html  It is entitled “Ten Reasons Why I Don’t Want to be VP When I “Grow Up.”  I strongly urge you to check it out.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Happy Birthday!

    Today is the birthday of my littlest sister!  She is such a sweet little girl of three.  She is always ready to give a hug, loves to entertain us, tends to dance or run wherever she goes, and has a overall joyful temperament.  I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in her and through her as she grows older.

    Also, a little belated, my brother’s birthday was last Saturday.  He is turning into a fine young man.  He has co-started and is co-running a small business (lawn mowing), and is really excelling in his musical talents.  My brother is also very funny, responsible, loves little children (especially babies) and is always encouraging us to better ourselves.  I’m really thankful for my brother, and I pray that God will continue to bless him in the years to come.

    Happy Birthday to two of my wonderful siblings!

    “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

    ”  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Isaiah 3:4-5, 8, 11-15

    “And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.  And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. …

    For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. …

    Woe to the wicked!  It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.  My people— infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them.  O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

    The LORD has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.  The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people:  “It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses.  What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.”

    I would strongly urge you to read the rest of the chapter as well (in fact, America should really hear all of what the prophets proclaimed to Israel), but I really wanted to make a point with these verses.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Back… for good (maybe)

    The last thing on our to-do list for the summer has been completed.  Namely, going to the State Fair.  I had qualified to compete in the Talent Show with my speech that I did in Speech and Debate.

    We got to take a couple of our friends down with us.  Their parents weren’t keen on going to the fair, but the kids wanted to, so we offered to take them.  It was a lot of fun!  Not only because I enjoy their family so much, but for two day, I had an older sister and two older brothers.  It was nice not being the oldest for a change. ; )

    Anyways, I was a bit nervous about the whole competition.  I hadn’t really thought about my speech for two whole months, and when I did it at Nationals, it was definitely not my best performance.  But I was determined to end this speeches career without shame, so I practiced quite a bit last week.  (Well, at least more than usual. ; )  It seems it paid off.  For I got a blue ribbon, a Champion, and a Grand Champion.  Also, something that I was definitely not expecting, I got the award of Best Actress.  It was all rather shocking.  I am glad that I persevered with my speech, and did my best.  Even if I hadn’t won, I would have felt no shame, because I gave it my all.  (I would have been disappointed, ; ) but not ashamed)  Of course, the fact that I won was pretty cool as well. ; )

    Well, I have got to be going.  I haven’t slept real well the past few nights, and I should probably head to be early.

    Good night!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Return from Glorieta

    My family and I got back late Friday night from the Family Camp in Glorieta, New Mexico.  It was a blast!  The schedule was very laid back, and we got to sleep in each morning! (Till 7 or 7:30!)  Personally, I liked how I had to walk everywhere.  At home it’s hard for me to get motivated to get up and move, so the necessity of it was nice. ; )  Of course, I also got to see my good friend Savannah for the first time in nearly eight months!  It was wonderful to see her again.  It was just like old times.

    I also got to talk to some of the girls I know from Reformation Church.  They are such an inspiration to me.  Since we are the first generation in our family with a reformed vision for family and such, it is very instructive for me to be able to learn from the young ladies older than me.  I get to see a virtuous life in action!  (This is also a big reason why I enjoy the Father/Son retreat so much!)  Unfortunately, from differing schedules, I didn’t get to talk with as many people or as long as I would have liked, but I’m thankful for the time I had.

    The topic this year was worship.  Mr. Swanson’s talk the first night was excellent and convicting.  He spoke on wimpy worship and how it is an abomination to the Lord.  This is something that I’ve been recently convicted of in my own life.  You see, I have been blessed, so people say, with a nice singing voice.  This poses a stumbling block during the singing time of our worship service.  I enjoy singing, so I tend to think more of what fun I’m having then on praising and falling on my face before my creator.  To be perfectly honest, I also think of how nice I am to be blessing others with a chance to listen to my lovely voice.  Isn’t that awful?!  So Mr. Swanson’s sermon really spoke to me.  I shouldn’t be coming to Sunday service thinking how I can bring glory to my talent.  I need to come in with humility and trembling to meet my creator.  I need to seek His face.  The worship service is not for me, it’s to bring glory to the only one who deserves glory.  I fall so short of this, which is really not all that surprising when you think about it.  I, as a fallen creature, can do nothing in my own power.  It is only Christ through me that allows me to truly worship God.

    I was also convicted in other areas this past week, not necessarily because of the sessions.  I was convicted that I’m wasting the body (by not taking good care of it), the talents (by not developing them and giving praise to the One who gave them to me), and the life (by not living it completely for God’s glory) God has given me.  I’m such a sickeningly slothful person.  In the evenings, while lying in bed, I make such good resolutions to be better, sometimes even with tears in my eyes.  But when the morning comes, and it’s hard to get up on time and carry through with my resolutions, I almost always choose the easy route.  I’m much like the song by Casting Crowns entitled “The Altar and the Door.”  I suppose I’m just further proof of the fact that we are nothing without Christ working through us.  I literally can do nothing apart from Him.  I pray that He will cause me to love Him will all my heart, mind, soul and strength.

    I am the vine: you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

    Well, I’ll leave you with my downer confession. ; )  I might write more on Family Camp another day. ; )

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • We’re off!

    Once more, we find ourselves hurriedly and frantically trying to get ready for yet another trip. This time we are off for Family Camp in Glorieta, New Mexico. I am quite excited as I will get to see my good friend Savannah once more! She moved away in January and we haven’t seen each other since then. Now we will have nearly a week to see one another again!! Also, I will have a chance to, besides spend time with my family of course ; ), get to know some of the girls in Reformation church better.

     

     

    We are heading out at 7:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow morning. (We are usually ten minutes to an hour late in leaving our house for every vacation. ; ) I doubt this will be any different.) If you wouldn’t mind praying that we will have a safe journey there and back, that’d be great! ; ) Also, that no will get injured in the activities, that we will return refreshed, stronger in our faith and closer as a family.

    I’ve got to go and pack! Talk to ya later!

    ~Tee-Kaye

    (Through a strange series of events, this post was unable to be published when I wrote it last week.  I’m going to go ahead and post it anyways.)