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First Grade

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Yesterday Tryphena started her 1st grade at Fresno Christian Schools.  We had a convocation in the morning to kick-off the new school year with prayers, praise, and a welcoming speech the the superintendent Debbie Siebert.  What a great way to start a new year!

The theme for this year is taken from Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthyof the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…”

We hope that we as parents made the wise decision to send Tryphena there, even though at times it seems foolish to spend so much every month on tuition while we can send her to a public school for practically next to nothing.  Last Thursday we attended an orientation for new parents, and Principal Bennett who had spent a great amount of time in public schools highlighted the mission of Fresno Christian.  Some of his points resonated with me, “….we are not afraid to teach our students how this nation was built.  It was built based on Christian values, a view that is not popular in public school.”  He also said, “….we teach our students that God created the world and everything that’s in it.  They don’t teach this truth at public school.  They only mentioned, ‘there’s a theory out there’.  Here we teach the Biblical truth, but we also tell our students, ‘there’s a theory out there.’ ”

“We relate everything we teach with the Biblical teaching.  When we teach reading and literature, we relate the story and analyze it from the Christian values.  When we teach Math we remind our students these truths come from God.”

Sending her there however, will place her in the “hallway”, to borrow C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” where she will interact and be exposed to different stripes of Christianity.  We will need to prepare her to walk out from the comfort of Reformed room and interact with others in the hallway.  The praise environment during the convocation yesterday was so foreign to her.  Luckily, however, it was not as cheesy as this video 🙂

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What is Reformed Theology?

Reformation Wall in Geneva
Reformation Wall in Geneva

Many times I met people, even leaders in their churches, who didn’t have any idea what Reformed theology is.  It appalls me to realize that most of the professing Christians do not have any knowledge of their root in the 16th century Reformation movement.  Most of them live in the “here and now” self sufficiency attitude, disconnected from the past and the communal sense of the communion of saints that transcends over time.

A few years ago we had a trainer came to my office to train us on a new software program.  I picked her up from the airport, and during our trip to Visalia we talked about church.  She was a lay leader and a Sunday school teacher in her church- an Evangelical Free Church in Wyoming, but she had no idea what Reformed Christian was. Continue reading “What is Reformed Theology?”

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Children’s Museum

DSC05751 (800x600)Last Tuesday, June 26, we went for a 1-night trip to the Bay Area.  First we went to the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose, then from there we spent a night in Fairfield.  On the following day, before leaving for home, we went to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield.

Tryphena enjoyed her time at the children’s museum where she spent most of the time in the water section and the bubble area.  She also spent about an hour making a corn husk doll.

From there we drove to Fairfield in Napa Valley and spent a night there, courtesy of Inter Continental Hotel.  On Wednesday we went to Jelly Belly factory.  I would like to take a tour to Budweiser brewery located just around the corner from Jell Belly factory, but due to the lack of time and interest from the majority party we didn’t go there.  From there we headed home and picked up Mr. Baron from his hotel.

It was a nice short getaway!  Click here for pictures taken during this trip.

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Finding Christ in the Book of Joel

How many times have you heard sermons on Joel?  In my 40+ years going to church I don’t recall a sermon on Joel, no, not even once.   Perhaps some verses were referenced a few times here and there, but never had I heard a complete sermon on this minor prophet.  That’s not until a few weeks ago when our pastor started preaching on this Minor Prophet book.

It has been very edifying to hear him exegete this book verse by verse, and how, out of the doomsday message that the Prophet brings to the people of Israel, the Gospel is proclaimed! Continue reading “Finding Christ in the Book of Joel”

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Sunday Hymn 01.29.12

On the Good and Faithful

On the good and faithful God has set His love;
When they call He sends them Blessings from above.
Stand in awe and sin not, Bid your heart be still;
Through the silent watches, Think upon His will.

Lay upon God’s altar Good and loving deeds,
And in all things trust Him To supply your needs.
Anxious and despairing, Many walk in night;
But to those that fear Him, God will send His light.

In God’s love abiding, I have joy and peace
More than all the wicked, Though their wealth increase.
In His care confiding, I will sweetly sleep,
For the Lord, my Savior, Will in safety keep.

Spencer Lane, 1879

taken from the Blue Psalter Hymnal, #7

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Happy Birthday, Dearest Daughter

DSC05487 (800x600)It was just like yesterday when she was born, and Tryphena is now 6 years young!  She had been excited for turning 6, she woke up early this morning and couldn’t wait to open her presents!  This also was a memorable birthday for having not only grandma and grandpa here but also one aunt who came from Indonesia.

In the morning I made waffles for everyone using the waffle maker that I just received for my birthday a few days ago while she opened her presents.  Lots of LEGOs and a pair of roller skates from opa! Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Dearest Daughter”

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Happy New Year 2012

(Click here for the sound)

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting, Another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, Another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning Upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training For holier work above.
Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in Heaven, Another year for Thee. Amen.

Text: Frances Ridley Havergal

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Merry Christmas 2011

“Who could do this unless the Son of God should also become the Son of man, and so receive what is ours as to transfer to us what is his, making that which is his by nature to become ours by grace?  Relying on this earnest, we trust that we are the sons of God, because the natural Son of God assumed to himself a body of our body, flesh of our flesh, bones of our bones, that he might be one with us…”

-John Calvin, “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, translated by Henry Beveridge, book II, xii, 2

Dear family and friends:

The new year is dawning upon us, and soon we will bid farewell to 2011 and welcome 2012!  It’s been 12 years since the Y2K madness and yet we are still here, kicking, breathing, well, and very much alive. Continue reading “Merry Christmas 2011”