ABOVE RUBIES NEWSLETTER #2, Mar 2010
Dear Above Rubies Reader,
We finished packaging and sending out Above Rubies # 78 by the last weekend of February. Hopefully, you have already received and are enjoying your magazine. If not, don’t despair. Sometimes they take longer to arrive. If you haven’t received your magazine in a couple of weeks, give us a call or email.
I returned home from Texas last night. We had a wonderful Above Rubies retreat over the weekend. The ladies loved having Serene, Pearl and Meadow to sing to them too. If you live in Texas and missed out, there is another Ladies retreat in Houston, Texas, 16 – 18 April. I will be off this coming weekend to Olympia, Washington.
They loved hearing Meadow sing her song about Freedom which she wrote recently…
DON’T TAKE IT AWAY
The preacher’s saying to do more praying
‘Cause America is heading for a fall.
People are stating, “Freedom is fading”
And if we don’t stand up we may just lose it all.
What will we become if it all comes undone?
CHORUS:
I wanna have what my father had,
What our troops have died for needs to last!
Freedom… don’t take it away.
And I wanna live the American dream
Where the eagle flies without broken wings,
Freedom… I need you to stay.
There’s a road that’s breaking, one we should be taking,
So build it up and our foundation will stay true,
But with all this changing, there’s an awakening
To realize what this nation could come to.
What will we become if it all comes undone?
CHORUS:
I wanna have what my father had,
What our troops have died for needs to last!
Freedom… don’t take it away.
And I wanna live the American dream
Where the eagle flies without broken wings,
Freedom… I need you to stay.
BRIDGE:
God, help us come around,
Don’t let it all fall down.
HOME NEWS
I am looking out the window and see six grandsons, all in army gear, standing at attention and then doing runs to keep fit. They have stuck their American flag in the ground and it is flying high in the breeze as they practice their drills and do their exercises. It is a sight worth seeing!
The other day, three of Evangeline’s young boys, dressed as usual in their army gear (I think they even sleep in it!), arrived carrying the flag on a high pole and said they had a song to sing to me. I went outside to see them stand to attention by the flag and sing this little song they had written…
Where the soldiers be
When they’ve finished
the war for me
Liberty, Oh Liberty
That’s what you’ve
won for me!
It’s great to see their spirit of liberty. May it never be taken from them.
Sunday 28 February we celebrated Purim. It was such a fun night. All the children came dressed as a character in the book of Esther. Most of them did not have any costumes but creatively improvised and all looked amazing. Evangeline’s husband, Howard told the story of Esther . He is such a great story-teller and everyone, children and adults were hanging on every word. And yes, listening for the word Haman when they all had to boo—and for the word Mordecai when they all had to cheer.
Last week, 2 March, Colin and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. There are so many people here at our home that we decided to celebrate by eloping for the night.
We are now in the midst of our annual ladybug plague. They are covering my window, in and out of my keyboard and lighting all over me! Life is never boring, is it?
PDF FILE OF “FAMILY TREES”
In this latest issue of Above Rubies, my husband has written an article called FAMILY TREES. If you have received your magazine, you will see that it shows a picture of a great prolific tree, revealing the lineage of the Steiner family. It also shows what the tree would look like if limited to four children and then to two children. The pictures are powerful and some have asked if they could have a PDF copy of this article to share through their blogs and emails to get the message out across the nation and the world.
In response, my Design Artist, Duane Dominy has kindly put this together. If you would like to send it out to your readers and circle of friends, you are welcome to email me and I will forward it to you. Or you can go to the webpage, www.aboverubies.org and go to ARTICLES AND STORIES and then click on FAMILY PLANNING and you will find it.
MEAT FOR MEN
Last week I posted Colin’s first message in his new series, PRINCIPLES FOR PRESERVATION IN DIFFICULT TIMES. This is a message that needs to be spread across the nation.
You can pick it up on the webpage, www.aboverubies.org at MEAT FOR MEN. You are welcome to forward it on your blog or email newsletters.
Remind your husband that he can now receive these messages every month by sending a blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CORRECTION ABOUT “THE DAILY LIGHT”
When I mentioned THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH in the last Mini Above Rubies, I mistakenly mentioned it was the NIV version. You will be pleased to know that it is actually the NKJV. I wasn’t able to get the King James Version here in the States, so the New King James Version is the closest.
I want to encourage you again about this book. I’d love to see one in every home in the nation. Many families struggle with what to do for Family Devotions. This book makes it so simple. Even husbands who do not feel adequate to lead in Family Devotions or feel they don’t know what to do, can pick up THE DAILY LIGHT and simply read the Scriptures listed, which are put together in a specific theme. It takes all the stress out of it.
Colin and I love it because we are reading the Scripture, not someone else’s words. And it is not too long. Devotions should never be boring, but full of life. Colin always asks questions as he reads to check if everyone understands. Children love questions and they learn so much this way.
Our reading last night was the theme that God is ABLE—
ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think
ABLE to make all grace abound to us
ABLE to succour us when tempted
ABLE to save to the uttermost
ABLE to keep us from falling
ABLE to keep that which we have committed to Him
ABLE to change our bodies to be like His glorious body.
The references to the Scriptures are listed next to the Scripture in THE DAILY LIGHT. I am making available to you. However, in the one we use and the older copies, the Scripture references are at the bottom of the page.
MISSIONARIES FROM CHINA
When Colin and I were first married, we lived in a little home in Whangarei, New Zealand that was owned by the China Inland Mission. When we moved out of this home to go to the mission field, a dear old couple moved in. They had served the Lord in China until China’s doors closed and then moved to Formosa which is now Taiwan today.
They were in their eighties and dear Mr. Beard was bent over with age. But what a privilege to meet this couple. They became our friends until they passed on to glory. They loved the Word of God and Mr. Beard used to read THE DAILY LIGHT every day. He became so familiar with the Scriptures that when he read THE DAILY LIGHT he would cover the Scripture references at the bottom of the page with his hand and check if he could remember where the Scripture was found. Most times he knew the reference to the Scripture.
The Word of God was so powerful in his life. While he was out in China he got cancer, but he read the Word of God daily over his body, OUT LOUD! And the Word healed him of his cancer!
I remember him coming to stay with us in Palmerston North, New Zealand, after we had returned from the Philippines. His wife had now passed away. He celebrated his birthday while he was with us, but instead of waiting for us to give him gifts, he bought presents for all the children. He always thought of everyone else before himself.
MEDITATION ON THE WORD – A LOST ART
I’ll type for you the Introduction to this book…
“THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH is one of the most beloved classic devotionals of all time. It was prepared by Jonathan Bagster and other members of his family. The patriarch of the family, Samuel Bagster established a strong tradition of daily family Bible reading and meditation on the Scriptures. His descendants drew from the well of this heritage as they compiled this devotional for the benefit of other believers.
One of the unique features of this devotional is the order and presentation of the Scripture verses. Each reading is designed around a central biblical theme and includes verses specifically chosen to give you insight into the theme as you read, meditate on, and apply the Scriptures to your life.
Meditating on the Word of God—deeply pondering its meaning over a period of time and absorbing its truths into one’s inner being—has almost become a lost art in our day. In THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH, each Scripture was chosen with great care by the Bagster family to give the greatest spiritual insight and to inspire the greatest devotion to God. As you read the selections, you will see connections between Scriptures and themes from various books of the Bible, both Old Testament and New. This will help you to reflect on biblical truths in the context of the entire Scriptures and to see associations you may not have noticed before. A deeper and broader scope of the Scriptures will open up to you.
Through the juxtaposition of the verses, you will see the Bible’s themes, promises, and purposes as a whole and not as isolated pieces. You will see the nature of God, His great love for mankind, His unfolding plan for humanity, his way of salvation, and our future hope, with new and enriching insights. Most of all, you will reach out to God in true worship and gratitude as you are refreshed and taught by His Word.
May you be blessed daily as the Word of God permeates and transforms your life, bringing salvation, faith, hope, love, healing, wisdom, and an ever-deepening personal knowledge of God the Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”
You can go to the webpage to order, THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH or you can call 1 877 279 9861 to order by credit card. Don’t forget, you are getting $4.00 off the retail price.
I HAVE A MISSION
I have a mission! I stand corrected. I should say, I have a burden from the Holy Spirit to encourage the families of this nation and the world to come back to reading the Word of God together and praying together in their homes. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”’ If our homes belong to the Lord, they will be houses of prayer. There has never been a more urgent time to pray for our nation. Who is going to pray? Some are praying as individuals but there is great power in corporate prayer.
Church prayer meetings are not very well attended. The greatest opportunity for corporate prayer is for families to pray together. Imagine if Christian families all over this nation began to pray together DAILY for this nation. We would see a mighty turning back to God. God has promised that if we humble ourselves and pray that He will heal our nation. Is this why Satan distracts us with everything else in life to get us away from the most powerful weapon we have in our hands – to pray!
I have now set up another heading on the webpage, www.aboverubies.org Go to ARTICLES AND STORIES, then click on PRAYER IN THE HOME and you will be able to read some new articles that will inspire you about prayer.
By the way, have you checked out the articles in BIBLE IN THE HOME?
BLESS A NEW MARRIAGE
There is nothing more exciting than seeing God draw a couple together. I know God loves it too. The writer in Proverbs 30 says that one of the things that is too wonderful for him is “the way of a man with a maid.” We all get excited and God smiles.
Here’s an idea for you. Give a couple of books to start the couple off on a great foundation. THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH is a wonderful treasure for a married couple starting off. They can start reading it together as a couple and continue to read it to their family as their children come along.
Also, BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY. I believe that every married couple and every couple thinking about marriage should read this book. It takes you into the Scriptures to see what God says about having children. To go into marriage without understanding this truth is not only negligent, but disobedient. The fruit of the marriage union is the blessing of children, and yet so few understand God’s plan regarding this subject. There are plenty of opinions about it, but anyone who is truly honest and wants to walk in the ways of the Lord, must be open to search the Scriptures to see what God says. This book reveals God’s heart on the subject
You can give these books as Engagement or Betrothal gifts, Bridal Shower gifts and to add to the Wedding gift.
Go to www.aboverubies.org or call to purchase by credit card at 1 877 729 9861
Our daughter, Mercy has put THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH in her Glory Box, ready for the time when she will be married.
WHAT IS A GLORY BOX?
Well, it’s actually a HOPE CHEST. But the folks who live Down Under call it a Glory Box. I think it is such a wonderful thing for a girl to have a Glory Box, or a Hope Chest. Both are lovely names.
I’ll share with you a poem I wrote for Mercy and Psalmody when we gave them a Glory Box each for Christmas a year or so ago.
MY GLORY BOX
I dream of the day I’ll walk down the aisle
In a pure white dress with a beautiful style!
I pray for my man that he’ll be righteous and true,
Hard-working, faithful and really “true blue”!
I pray he’ll love children and have a father’s heart
And from our marriage covenant never depart!
I will wait with patience for this godly man
And while I am waiting I’ll prepare and plan.
I’ll make myself ready in every way
Purifying my heart and character each day.
I’ll seek to be honest in all that I say
To keep my marriage from going astray.
I’ll fill my “glory box” with goods for my home
And make it a place from where we’ll never roam.
I will gather treasures, useful and rare
To make our home a place that is fair.
I will be ready to make my home a delight
Filled with God’s presence, His love and light,
Enhanced by the assets I save in this chest
To make our home a “glory”, the very best!
And here are a couple more stories from Down Under about Glory Boxes.
A GLORY BOX PARTY
My eldest granddaughter, Calais, was about to turn 13. I thought back to when I was that age. What were my ambitions in life? You guessed it; I just wanted to be a mother and a wife. Was that wrong? Were these natural instincts unhealthy for me? No one pressured me. I don’t recollect any conversions or any determined actions of my mother to make sure I walked this path. After all, God made us this way. It is the most natural and honest heart’s desire we can have. To deny these maturing feelings, we in fact, embrace a lie.
My heart aches for the precious young ladies of today’s society who are laughed and scoffed at if they should be brave enough to voice their heart’s desire for marriage and motherhood. Instead, they are encouraged into a career with the boon of extra income and to satisfy immediate desires offered by a materialistic and selfish society.
Apart from prayer and example, what can mothers and grandmothers do? The one thing in my life that kept me focused (and I didn’t know the Lord then) was my Glory Box. My very first babysitting job for a neighbour scored me my first tea towel and the beginning of my box. I began work at 15 years of age and, from time to time, I would buy things and put them away. It was amazing how much I accumulated over the years.
Whenever someone came to visit I would eventually get around to asking if they would like to see my Glory Box. I loved pulling everything out, wrapping it up and putting it away again. Americans call it a “Hope Chest” and I showed everyone the hope that was in my heart of one day becoming a wife and a mother. When I married at 23 years old my Glory Box was very much appreciated! I had prepared for this since I was 13 years old and at long last I could empty it and use everything! This was my glory.
Sadly, I did not encourage my own children in this. Now, however, I wanted to resurrect this old custom for my grandchildren. Not only that, I longed to make it a family tradition.
Natalie, Calais’ mother and I spent hours planning what we could do. We agreed that at 13 years Calais was already a woman, albeit a young one. We decided on a surprise dinner with a few selected guests who had already been building into her life. Formal dress, waiters, four-course meal, tables set with a full set of cutlery and so on. For this special occasion we decided HOME was the best place. With six younger siblings ranging down to two years it was going to take a bit of ingenuity which larger families never seem to lack.
The formal homemade invitations were mailed out to ladies only. There was a big SHHHhh! on each one to keep it a secret. The waiters were her father, grandfather, brother, uncle and two younger sisters. Calais’ friend, Lauren, and her parents were in on the conspiracy and helped in the surprise. They invited Calais to go with them to a “flash” restaurant which meant everyone had to dress formally. Her first formal dress! Finding a modest formal dress for her age wasn’t easy but was finally achieved.
On the night Calais was duly blindfolded. They set off in the car with vigorous conversations and loud music playing to confuse her whereabouts; then turned around and headed back home. What a surprise to find herself back home with a room full of ladies seated around beautifully set tables.
Aunty Kay used to be a window dresser and what she achieved with a few balloons and ribbons was amazing. She made the most beautiful topiaries as centrepieces and set the table as beautiful as any wedding. We were waited on hand and foot.
During the evening different ones shared advice and gave items. The highlight was the GLORY BOX. My husband Bill, Calais’ beloved granddad, made it especially for her. In fact, as the guests were arriving he was still putting the final touches on it. Guests brought gifts in keeping with the theme. My Scriptures for Calais were:
1 Corinthians 11:7, “The woman is the glory of the man.”
Proverbs 12:4, “A virtuous woman is the glory of her husband”.
Proverbs 18:22, “Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing”.
“From now on,” I encouraged her: “Keep your focus on preparing for that day when you become the glory of one special man whom God has already chosen for you. There is no need to look for him. God will bring him to you. Remember, ‘No fishing’ for the attentions of young men who will no doubt try to gain your attention. Wait patiently for God’s surprise. If you run ahead of God you will miss out on His special plan for your life.”
Inside the box was an album with encouraging notes, letters and poems to Calais that she can reread at her leisure. She absolutely loves it and we now have many families wanting to do the same for their daughters.
VAL STARES
Gold Coast, Australia
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
P.S. Down Under readers use the word ‘serviettes’ for ‘napkins’.
The above testimony was printed in Above Rubies # 58 back in 2003. And the following is another “glory box” testimony which happened nine months later (with some of the same people being mentioned) but is being printed for the first time.
TRANSITION TO WOMANHOOD
When I was very young, my mother gave me the dream of marriage and motherhood. She spoke of marriage as wonderful and having the babies God wants to send as the best way. The seeds my mother sewed into me took root. Throughout my childhood my dreams grew and I started collecting my Glory Box at a young age. I dreamed of the type of man I would like to marry and chose names for the twelve children I would like to have.
Many years passed until the morning of 19th November 1989. I was 47 years old and my dreams had become reality. God had blessed me with a wonderful Christian husband and given us the children He wanted us to have. On that wonderful morning I was once more labouring to give birth. This was my twelfth pregnancy and the ninth baby to make it into the world. I was birthing at home for the first time and Kathleen was born into John's arms and then into mine. As she was born, a cheer went up around the room and the joy was overwhelming.
As I cuddled my baby that day I dreamed of always being with her through her childhood, of sharing every step of her life. That dream became reality as we homeschooled and did everything together. Now all too quickly, the 13 years had gone by.
Because of my involvement with Above Rubies, my daughter, Kathleen, and Calais (Val Stares’ eldest granddaughter) have been special friends. Therefore, when Calais celebrated her 13th birthday, we were among the honoured guests to be invited. It was such a special night and Kathleen was very blessed. As we drove home she asked me if she could have a dinner like Calais' at her 13th birthday which was nine months later. She asked for it to be a surprise, too. How could I give her a surprise dinner that she was already expecting!
As the months progressed, I convinced Kathleen that I was unable to give her a dinner. My friend, Kay, who lives beside me, bought the food and created beautiful decorations at her home. The night before the party Kathleen stayed with her sister, Carmel, who had invited her to a concert the next night. As soon as Kathleen left, our team went into action. Within 24 hours our home was transformed and the food was prepared.
This party was for ladies only--those who had sowed into Kathleen's life, as well as 15 of her friends. We were not only celebrating Kathleen's birthday, but also her transition from childhood to womanhood and our goal was to encourage her to live God's Way. Calais' family blessed Kathleen with her Glory Box and each guest was asked to put something in it and to write an encouraging message to Kathleen. We exhorted her to walk with God through her teenage years, to hold fast her dream to be a woman of God, a wife and a mother and to wait for the man God is preparing for her.
Because this was a ladies' party, Kathleen's Dad and Kay's husband, Ray were in charge of the kitchen (under close supervision from Kay). Kathleen's brother, Mark and her nephew, Dean (who is ten days older than her) were the waiters. Throughout the night her friends took turns at performing items. The evening finished with the older women gathering around the girls and praying for God to bless their lives.
Today the forces coming against our daughters are very much stronger than they were when we were young. Let us take every opportunity to build God's ways into these precious young lives.
“Lord, let Your Kingdom come, let Your will be done in our daughters' lives as it is in Heaven! Amen.”
PAT TWOMEY
Narangba, Queensland, Australia
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BACK COPIES AVAILABLE
I don’t usually have Above Rubies available. Once there are none left of an issue, it is like gold to find them again. However, at the moment, I do have extra copies of # 75, 76 and 77, as well as the current issue # 78.
You are welcome to order as many as you can effectively share with friends, family and people in your church and community. We need to flood the nation with this message of strengthening marriage and family. As marriages and families come back together and strengthen and stabilize, so will the nation. The nation is only as strong as its families.
There are many ways that you can distribute Above Rubies. God to on the webpage, www.aboverubies.org and check out IDEAS FOR DISTRIBUTION.
If you are asking for more copies by email, put BACK COPIES in the Subject Heading and give your mailing address.
I am so happy to send them to you freely, and as many as you require, but if God touches your heart to give a donation for them, that would be a blessing, especially for the shipping. If you have opportunities to distribute them and you are unable to give a donation, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be happy to send them to you. My vision is to get this message out to the families of this nation.
CLOTH DIAPERS
Forgive me, I gave you the wrong website I the last newsletter. This is the correct one.
http://www.weebunz.com/index.php
WHEN SHOULD WE START TRAINING CHILDREN?
I read this excerpt in J. Wilbur Chapman’s When Home is Heaven.
“When should we begin to train our children for the Lord?” was the question asked at a convention of women.
One mother stated that she began with her children at four years of age; and another said she began when the child first began to walk; still another said that she began when the child spoke its first word: finally an old gray-haired mother rose to say, “you are all of you wrong, my sisters, for the time to begin is the generation before the child is born.”
NEW MAGAZINE – PRESERVATION
When I have sent out one magazine, I start working on the next. I am therefore now preparing #79. One of the feature articles I will be preparing is testimonies of preservation through motherhood. I wrote an article about this in Above Rubies #77, pages 16 – 18. You may like to read it again and if you have a testimony to share, email it with the Subject Heading, PRESERVATION. Don’t forget to add your email at the end of your article and to type only one space between sentences.
THE JOYFUL MOTHER
I was challenged as I read Acts 13:52 the other morning, “And the disciples were FILLED WITH JOY, and with the Holy Ghost.”
Paul and the other disciples had just been thrown out of the country for preaching the gospel, but that didn’t get them down in the dumps! They just stayed filled with the joy and the Holy Spirit.
How come our joy disappears when one little thing goes wrong? I wrote in my journal, “If they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit after being persecuted, surely I should be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit when I am so blessed! To be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit should be the normal experience of our Christian life, in our day to day living and even in times of trouble and hardship.”
Our joy should not be dependent on how we feel, or our circumstances, but on the life of Christ within us. Christ who lives within us is JOY. Don’t let problems and joys take your joy away. Thank the Lord that He is bigger than the problem you are facing.
Let’s be mothers who are filled with the Holy Ghost and joy! When we manifest joy, even when things are tough, the presence of God will fill our home. Our children will be blessed. Our husbands will be blessed. And we will be blessed. When we give in to self-pity and the “poor me” attitude, not only are we no good to ourselves, but we are no good to anyone else in our family either.
Psalm 113:9 says, “He makes the barren women to keep house, and to be a JOYFUL MOTHER of children.
“Lord, please help this to be our testimony. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and the spirit of joy at all times, in the everyday grind of life, in the good times and the difficult! Amen.”
A LESSON FOR LIFE
I am currently read the book, Christianity and the Constitution, the Faith of our Founding Fathers by John Eidsmoe. I would love to share with you a lovely story of how August Washington, George’s father, dealt with him on an issue;
One day, George lost his temper and blurted out an unwarranted, extreme remark because his sister Betty did not understand something he was trying to teach her. The quiet, kindly little girl was hurt, and started to cry. By the time August had grasped the situation George was very sorry for what he had done.
With some deliberateness August cut two branches from a bush, then said, “Here are two branches that I have cut from this bush. I want each of you to take a branch and break it into two separate sticks.”
In a moment each child had two halves, each one frayed at the point where it had been broken.
“George,” August then said, “you can you put your two pieces back together, just as they were before you broke them?”
George put the frayed ends of his sticks together, but realized at once the hopelessness of the task.
“Betty, can you put your stick back together, make it as good as new?”
The little girl put the ends together and then ruefully shook her head. “No, Father,” she said, “I can’t.”
“You both agree,” said August, “that you can’t put them together. I can’t either. No human being can. No matter how much we may wish to do so, we can never put the pieces back together. We cannot undo what we have done.”
Then he went on. “These sticks illustrate a very important lesson. Just before I asked you to break them, George lost his temper and said something for which he is now very sorry.
“He wishes, oh so deeply, that he could somehow bring back those words, and unsay them. But no matter how sorry you may be George, you cannot recall those harsh, unwarranted terms. The words are something like the stick. It is broken into two parts and the two parts can never be put back together.”
“One of the rules that I learned at Appleby Grammar School fits our problem very well. It was a simple one, ‘Think before you speak’
“Another Appleby rule also applies. It was ‘Speak no injurious words, either in jest or in earnest.’”
August didn’t need to say more.
MORE BOOKS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION
A couple of readers responded with some more books about the Constitution. I have not read them myself so you will have to take their recommendation:
From Barbara Bronson, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“I just finished reading “Common Sense" by Glenn Beck, and I am currently watching on YouTube a series on the Constitution by Michael Badnarik, which I think is excellent.”
From Garrett Stowe, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“Thank you so much for all you do to encourage, edify and inform the Christian community. My mother has gotten your magazine for many years and has always greatly enjoyed it.
When we received your email today, I was very interested to read your section on the Constitution. I am homeschooled and the oldest of six children. My dad has been walking me through a study similar to the one you have been doing with your grandchildren. I agree with you; it is imperative that American Christians understand our nation's roots and its proper function!
I was excited to see that several of the books you recommended were ones that I have read and enjoyed--Liberty & Tyranny, The 5000 Year Leap, The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, and The Making of America.
I also recommend The Revolution: a Manifesto and End the Fed both by Congressman Ron Paul; FairTax: the Truth by Neal Boortz, and The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek. These are excellent books which have really helped me to better understand some of the many issues which confront us today.”
From Diane Laverty, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“Hello, I just got done reading your on-line newsletter, which I enjoyed very much. We live in PA and recently went to hear Carris Locher (A Homeschooling Mother, Historian, and more) speak at a Campaign for Liberty meeting. She can be contacted at Ph: 423-775-0774.
I bought several resources from her:
The Trial of William Penn and William Mead
Famous Persons and Papers of the Second Millennium by Carris Kocher
The Americanism of Washington by Henry van Dyke
The Christian Philosophy of Patrick Henry by James M. Wells, Edited by Carris J. Kocher.
We are using the above resources in our lessons currently.
Another resource we are currently using in our homeschool is a booklet of a series of articles by John Silveira Titled: The Coming American Dictatorship Parts 1-10. This booklet covers subjects such as erosion of natural rights, “legal rights", bureaucracy, executive orders, emergency powers, jury nullification laws, professional military, fascism, special interests, and the list goes on. This can be obtained from Backwoods Home Magazine 800-835-2418, POB 712 Gold Beach OR 97444
The other thing we did was to order a case of 50 of our PA State Constitutions from our local Representative to study and hand out to others. We will be studying this line by line (as we did with the US Constitution) after finishing with the other resources.
I also made a list of the Capital Crimes listed in the Bible to use with our study of the US Constitution/Bill of Rights and amendments and the children memorized the 10 Commandments also.
I have been homeschooling for 17 years now. I have five children, one with a BS for Elementary Education, one homeschooled high school grad. (he graduated at the Gettysburg Hotel alongside The EXCELSIOR ACADEMY students as their guest) and three still in training.”
I am really enjoying THE 5000 YEAR LEAP, THE 28 GREAT IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD By W. Cleon Skousen as I read it to the grandchildren.
TEN P’S IN A POD
Kelly Rackley writes, “I *highly* recommend Ten P's in a Pod by Arnold Pent III. It is an excellent book about the influence of reading the Bible on a family. You can order it from Vision Forum.”
I have also read this book and loved it. I was much challenged!
SINGING TO OUR CHILDREN
From Carrie Steffen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“II am writing in response to singing personalized songs to our children. It's not quite as personal as "Oh My Darling", which I loved and will copy, but since the first of our five children was born we have sung "More Precious Than Silver" to them. We sing a little in-between line and then flip the words and sing a second verse:
Lord, You are more precious than silver.
Lord, You are more costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares to You.
And the Lord said...
Child, you are more precious than silver.
Child, you are more costly than gold.
Child, you are more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares to you.
It's always been one of our children’s' favorites and I love hearing them singing it to themselves or each other.
DOWNLOADING ABOVE RUBIES AUDIO TEACHINGS
My webmaster, Joe Goodale has just informed me that he has six of my Teaching series available in MP3 format for you to download from the webpage: (click titles to go to webpage)
BUILDING A STRONG MARRIAGE AND EXCITING HOME
PROTECT OUR MILITARY
Lisa Kelly writes:
“I just signed a Liberty Counsel petition opposing President Osama’s proposed new policy repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and forbid any discrimination based on "homosexuality or bisexuality whether the orientation is real or perceived."
I can't emphasize this strongly enough: This is a potentially disastrous policy change that simply must not be allowed! More than 1,000 high-ranking retired Flag and General Officers personally signed a statement expressing great concern that repeal of the law would undermine unit cohesion, discipline and combat effectiveness! Here is what they wrote.
"We believe that imposing this burden on our men and women in uniform would undermine recruiting, retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse affects on the willingness of parents who loan their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Voluntary force."
I can't say it any better than that.
We are at a crossroads regarding our U.S. military's effectiveness in this time of war. To disrupt their mission with a major policy change on such a sensitive issue for political purposes would be absolutely wrong on many levels. Please join me in signing a Liberty Counsel petition opposing any legislation that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
Click here
http://www.libertyaction.org/312/petition.asp?PID=23762857&NID=1
Thanks for joining with me.”
May you have a blessed day. Remember, there is no greater career than motherhood. You are determining the course of this nation.
Keep passing out Above Rubies.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL