This blog world is funny. Lots and lots of witty, pithy, entertaining women putting it all out there, writing and sharing. But it has been my observation, and maybe I’m just not getting around enough, that most of these women are, well, may I say, much more liberal (Gah. I hate that word.) than I. This is fine. Really. It takes all kinds, right? But when I say, leave a comment or something, asking about an issue. Maybe for clarification, or OK, maybe I’m being an eensy weensy bit beligerant, and feel somewhat compelled to well, point out a contradiction in there thinking, I am sometimes deleted. Washed right off the comments board. Poof! As if I never was. Why? I promise I was nice. Just not in agreement.
I may be awhile here.
Like at The Queen of Spain. Now maybe I just accidentally hit delete, instead of post, but when I asked if she saw any contradiction in these two posts, my comment seems to have vanished. Basically, I was asking about her thinking that her SIL was around the bend for having trouble with the potential message that Barbie sends young girls, but she had a later post about trashing a toy tank given to her son becauses she didn’t like the potential message it could give him. She thought her SIL was being pretty ridiculous. I was just wondering. OK, I was goading a bit.
I see 2 camps out there. One is the sort of blog described above, which I think is entertaining, and often well written (just my humble opinion). Funny women. Women willing to hang their dirty laundry out there. Discuss their anatomy when applicable. Tell it like it is when their four year old smears his boogers on the ceiling. But often, although certainly not always, these blogs are by women that will generally clash with my core set of beliefs. That’s fine. It’s just that I like to read good writing at interesting sites. And if I go looking for blogs that are, well, more conservative or let me just say it, Christian, typically what I find is bland stuff covered in quilted duck prints. Does believing in Jesus = Hummel figurines and teddy bear back grounds? Whassup with that? Does having witty prose and a dynamic site = anti-faith and a firm belief that any spanking is child abuse?
I know I could be over generalizing here, but I’m telling you, I see it over and over and over. And from previous experience, I can say with certainty that if you decide you’d like to speak your mind, and it’s *gasp* conventional, or even worse, your best interpretation of Biblically based, buckle up. You are poo poo for a swarm of flies out there.
On the other hand, often (I’m trying hard not to paint with too broad a stroke here), if you’d like to agree that porn with your husband is fun (I could link sites here), or gay marriage should be legal, or that there are no consequences to shacking up and not marrying, then bring it on sister. We’re all in this together. Unless, of course, you’re a Jesus freak. It’s about the only kind of freak not allowed. Because we aaaallll know that means you condemn, hate and use that worthless piece of antiquity, otherwise known as the Bible, as an excuse to stay atop your high horse. You may disagree with others’ choices all. day. long. Unless your reason for disagreeing is in some effort to walk out a faith that calls us to something higher than doing just whatever feels good whenever we want.
I’m still sounding this out. Go take a break if you want. Pee. Get a drink. Or go on to another more important task in your day. I’m just saying my piece.
There has been a firestorm among homeschool bloggers this last couple of weeks. A tragedy happened in North Carolina. A small boy was killed by a clearly disturbed care giver, in an effort to make him stay in bed. She claimed parenting advice gleened from a ministry in Tennessee, No Greater Joy, suggested such tactics. No matter who suggests what, no balanced parent or care giver would have gone to the lengths this woman did, resulting in this little boy’s death.
But now, light has been shined on No Greater Joy. And in an attempt to just summarize here, they believe in and advocate spanking, training, and teaching children actively. As a parent, we are responsible for their well being, and how they turn out. D’uh. But in doing this, they advocate certain tactics that bristle quite a few people, and sometimes me, as well. But in general terms, their message is one I believe in. We are the ones to prepare our children for the world, and for the role to which the Lord is leading them. We train them. Train seems to be a very bad word among many bloggers now. Why? We say potty train, why not train to teach manners, respect, how to tie shoes, zip pants, say excuse me, not hit a sibling, and on and on. But the worst part is that the Pearls, the founder of NGJ, advocate spanking. With an object. Like a small, thin, line of plumbing pipe. Or a switch. Or maybe a wooden spoon. If the first makes you blanche, I understand. But if you consider spanking OK, then consider that a thin piece of something delivers only a swift sting, while a hand, to get the point across, can be heavy, and bruising. I can practically hear the anger bubbling all over the blogosphere over this comment. Homeschoolers are up in arms, and dividing right and left, literally, and battle lines are being drawn. Are the “pro-spankers” spitting on the “anti-spankers” (these terms are ridiculous) Nope. It’s the other way around. But don’t get me wrong. I am not enamoured with Michael Pearl. I think he’s arrogant. But if he’s suggesting that I may need to spank my child, I’m in agreement. Even an 8 or 9 month old who can crawl and touch something dangerous is completely capable of understanding a pop on the hand each time she does so means no. More bile rising, I’m sure.
At ODonnel Web, he has pointed out:
GMALASHEP
It’s pronounced Ga-Mala-Shep, and it’s apparently some sort of secret organization that is organizing the boycott of Homeschoolblogger. It’s just a tool they are using to spread their anti-Christian message far and wide…BTW, it stands for Gay, Marxist, Atheist, Libertarian, ACLU Supporting, Home Educating Parents.
And the primary venom is being aimed at Christians. Because some of us, although while not suggesting any child rearing book should be read without prayer and a giant dose of salt, do feel spanking is perfectly appropriate. If not just necessary. And we believe a whole host of other stuff that riles the above self described. Spanking just seems to be a hallmark of which side of the fence you sit on, modern and enlightened, or convential and of grandma’s school.
I’m of grandma’s school. And I try my best to be of God’s. I must not be enlightened. And if the current culture of children is the result of such parental enlightenment, Lord help us all.
I am a believer. In Christ as the son of God, and in the Holy Trinity of their existence as Father, Son and Spirit.
And in the redeeming love and grace of Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross.
I try to live my life according to this principle the best I can.
I believe that next to being a child of God, that my privilege of wife and mother is the hightest calling I could ever have.
I believe that am in a supportive, partnership role with my husband. That I am here to help him be the best man God is calling him to be. And that he is here to love me, as unconditionally and sacrificially as he is able with God’s grace.
I’m not embarrassed to be a “help-meet”.
We are created differently, as God intended men and women to be. But complimentary, as He also intended.
No ship can have 2 captains. If we just can’t come to agreement, I’ll defer to him, in the knowledge that every decision he makes is the best prayerful one he can. In honoring him, I honor the Lord.
I do not believe the public school are adequate to prepare our children for the rest of their lives.
Most private schools would not be able, either.
We homeschool not for the best education in subjects like math and history, but for the best preparation of their hearts and spirits.
Yes. It is like brainwashing. Someone will, it better be us.
I believe our children should be, brace yourself, obedient. And respect us as their authority, in an exercise to learn to submit to the authority of our Lord. I know, radical.
Although we often like to give explanations, I believe in because I said so.
I don’t think shacking up before marriage is right.
Or sex before marriage, either.
I struggle with 2 partners of the same sex adopting or having children together. There is a reason God created the family with a mother and a father.
I believe I can completely disagree with another person’s way of life, or choices in life, and never let any hatred or condemnation enter the relationship. Jesus did it.
I think it’s OK to say no, I don’t choose that for me. And that making that decision comes from a jugdement we are called to make, as believers. Again, that doesn’t mean we act in anything but love towards those we disagree with.
I believe house work and meal planning are blessings to my family, and a high holy calling. And every bit as important, if not more so, than the highest paid job out there.
I’m not just a mom. I am a mother.
I believe pornography is wrong. In any use. Even in consensual married relationships. So what defines porn? I can only say what my definition is, for me. But I sure feel like I can make some broad strokes here.
I believe abortion is wrong, and that it breaks the Lord’s heart. But I’m not at all sure I want it legislated by the government.
I believe there is a real spirtual battle going on . For our children, especially. And God calls us to the battle front.
So that’s it. I’m outed. A bible thumping, conventional thinking, occasional child-spanking, husband-honoring, toilet cleaning, meal making, homeschooling, prayer saying, Jesus freak. And I intend to talk about it as freely as some women do their vibrators.
Thanks, Dani, for a bit of inspiration.
