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posted by Daniel on 09/2/08

We could not believe it was already time to leave! The six days with the Van Essens had been full of fun and activity, and, as is the case any time you visit good friends of like faith, the time had flown by.
We were so thankful for the encouragement, fellowship, and hospitality the Van Essen family had shared with us, along with a glimpse of the beauty and majesty of Ontario.

But as we packed up the van and said our final farewells, we had one last adventure to look forward to. Just before crossing the border into the United States, we stopped to see Niagara Falls. As we approached we could hear the thunder of the water crashing over the falls in the distance. Drawing nearer, the magnificent view opened up before us, and we soon understood why this is such a popular tourist attraction. We made sure to  get a family picture since all 10 of us were there.

Our entire family being together and the drenching spray, cool steady breeze, and breath-taking view all combined to provide a spectacular climax to a fabulous family vacation!

6 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Daniel on 05/19/08

Recently David, Jonathan, Michael, Esther, and I went on a short fishing trip with the Elliots and Pitcocks, two other families in our home school group. This event was unique because, believe it or not, it was the first time I had ever been fishing!

Though the weather seemed a little chilly at first, it
turned out to be an excellent day for fishing. After Mr. Pitcock, an experienced fisherman, explained the basics and got me started, I threw my first cast into the lake. From watching everyone else it had looked simple, but I soon began to see how much “skill” there really is to fishing. My first cast splashed into the water just a few feet from shore. I couldn’t help but think how silly it must have looked, and quickly began reeling in the line before anyone could see what I had done. However, I suddenly noticed it was becoming harder to pull in. To my surprise, I found that in the few seconds the bait had been underwater a small bluegill had bitten the hook! “Beginner’s luck”, they say - but I think “beginner’s blessings” would be more accurate. That was definitely a memorable first catch.

Fishing with lights and nets is usually compared to witnessing, and
I’m sure there is an abundance of analogies which could be drawn to illustrate effective ways to share the Gospel. But Satan also is a fisher of men. While we were fishing, I couldn’t help but think how similar the lures we used were to his temptations. This was the first time I’d had a close look at the many different sizes and types of lures that are used to deceive the fish. Whereas younger, smaller fish may fall for a simple worm, it takes something larger and more deceptive to seduce a bass. Satan also has different temptations which he uses for separate purposes, and a variety of methods to employ on Christians of differing maturity levels. Sometimes the roaring lion adopts the garb of a fisher-man, and patiently waits along the shore, “seeking whom he may devour…”

When responding to the next temptation the
master deceiver dangles before us, may we look past the attractive lures he offers to the deadly consequences which lurk behind them.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Daniel on 11/20/07

Hunting season has finally arrived. Knowing it is always wise to sight in your gun and check it out ahead of time, Dad decided to get our his muzzleloader, 44, and 308 last weekend for some target practice as a family. James and Dad made a target and nailed it up about 50 yards behind the barn. Then we opened fire!

Both Jonathan and David’s shots were remarkable! I didn’t really do that great, but overall everyone did very well. Dad and Michael agreed that of the 25 or so shots we fired, almost all of them would have brought down the deer.

We were all grateful for the opportunity to familiarize ourself with Dad’s firearms, prepare for hunting season, and just enjoy the thrill of pulling that trigger. We were also reminded of how fortunate we are to be able to exercise the freedom granted us in the 2nd amendment, and how thankful we should be for its supporters.

We are all itching to get out in the woods and do some real shooting!

2 Comments » | posted in Tidbits

posted by Daniel on 10/5/07

A few months ago I received a gift from a cousin for participating in his wedding. It was a medium-sized book by C.S. Lewis. Not expecting much, I started it that evening, but little did I know how strongly it would enthrall me from the very first chapter.

With a comprehensive vocabulary and astounding way of describing things, C.S. Lewis outlines his intellectual and spiritual journey through the early years of his life, telling of his espousal of atheism and return to Christianity. In this autobiography of a conversion, I was continually amazed at C.S. Lewis’ literary genius and ability to put into words thoughts and feelings we have all experieneced, and which I’ve been aware of but never attempted to define before!

At one point, when describing a situation from his own life, he makes an interesting observation: “Nothing, I suspect, is more astonishing” (and, may I add, more exciting) “in any man’s life than the discovery that there do exist people very, very like himself.” This fact is, I believe, the reason this book was so thrilling for me to read.

The central motif of his story is the course of “Joy” in his life, which he defines as “the sublime experience of the transcendent” and must be strictly distinguished from both happiness and pleasure. It is that “unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction”, and which, when experienced, becomes of incalculable importance and causes all else to appear insignificant in comparison.

It is at the culmination of the book when he discovers that this “Joy” - that fleeting glimpse of the eternal - is actually a harbinger, a precursor of a greater Something (or rather, Someone), and finds true satisfaction in a fulfilling relationship with That which Joy was pointing towards.

I had previously associated C.S. Lewis exclusively with “The Chronicles of Narnia”, but reading “Surprised by Joy”  has broadened my understanding of him as an author. If his other works are as spiritually and intellectually rich and engrossing as this one, I certainly anticipate reading them!

6 Comments » | posted in Book Reports

posted by Daniel on 09/4/07

Recently I have been fascinated by the great composers and the music they produced. A while back Mom recommended I read an excellent book titled “The Gift of Music” which first introduced me to the lives of these great musicians from a Biblical perspective. I noticed that at the end of each chapter it had a list of recommended pieces to listen to for that particular composer, so I began searching on the internet for a way to listen to these and get a better understanding of each composer. Robert kindly introduced me to a splendid site he had found earlier which has a considerable selection of downloadable MP3’s of classical pieces (warning: however, this site is perfectly unreliable and the quality is only usually excellent, so if you ever decide to reference it be prepared to have your expectations slightly frustrated ).

I was astonished at the benefits of hearing and critiquing each composer’s music for myself. First of all, I learned to recognize the characteristics of the different musical periods and that of the great classical composers. It also helped me understand better what I had read or heard of them in the past. Often it contradicted with what I’d previously thought, so evaluating their music for myself clarified things and gave me a more concrete, personal opinion instead of relying on the conclusions of others. This is a very rewarding activity and one I recommend wholeheartedly.

From my experience so far, the top three composers on my humble list of favorites are:
1. Beethoven (mainly because of his many excellent piano sonatas, especially numbers 8, 14, 21, and 23 - not to mention his symphonies, piano concertos, and many other brilliant works)
2. Chopin (some favorites were: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Fantaisie-Impromptu, Nocturne 19-op.72, and his 1st Piano Concerto, to name just a few)
3. Mozart (had an unbelievable output of consistently good pieces)

As you have assuredly guessed, my list is undoubtedly biased towards those great composers whose sole or favorite instrument was the piano. This is because I appreciate their music to a greater degree since this is the only instrument I have learned to play. I know there are many other favorites besides these. But at least this is a tentative beginning of a list which will most probably change as I learn more. What are your thoughts? More than ever before I am aware of how little I know, so I would gratefully welcome the suggestions and opinions of those of you who possess such greater erudition than I on this subject.

One of the outstanding principles I learned while going through Sound Foundations was that music will draw you towards its source. Music which portrays the character of God (possessing such attributes as orderliness, beauty, majesty, purpose, etc.) will glorify God and draw you closer to Him. Another concept they taught from Scripture was that God is a musical Being. Therefore, since this type of music is in harmony with His nature, all this recent research and study of “music appreciation” is not just a fun, godless hobby, but rather a fascinating learning experience on how to more skillfully glorify the Lord through music! This is especially exciting in a day when Satan is conducting an aggressive attempt to distort music and rob God of the glory due Him. God is searching for those who will use His gift of music for the purposes that He designed it for!

7 Comments » | posted in Tidbits