Driving a tractor

This weekend we went on a church retreat, and Elisabeth tried her hand and driving a (stationary) tractor.

Big grin

Talking straight

At long last I have discovered someone who is willing to speak directly to the cultural issues of performance gaps.

"Ronald F. Ferguson, a black scholar and Harvard lecturer, has long studied racial achievement gaps in public schools. Complicated as those issues are, Ferguson boils them down to one: 'The real issue is historical differences in parenting. that is hard to talk about, but that is the root of the skill gap.' According to Ferguson, black households traditionally see schooling as a job for teachers, while white families are more involved in schooling the child or paying for special services." (The Read Aloud Handbook p xv)

I'm convinced that he is right that the skills gap has everything to do with parenting, and that there are current cultural differences in understandings of parenting that often fall along racial lines. However, while I am no historian, I think that I would differ with Ferguson slightly. I would say that in the past forty or so years dependence on 'the system' to educate children has emerged. My understanding is that in the pre-civil rights era, the African American family was much stronger, and much more active in parenting, and produced the likes of Ruby Bridges.

So as a parent and an educator (having taught almost exclusively in an African American environment), I want to learn how to encourage, and inspire (with their own history!) my neighbors to express their love to their children by reading great books to them day after day after day.

Climbing

Practical wisdom on family worship

Yesterday I listened to two segments (part 1 & part 2) of John Piper's sermon on Educating for Hope. Two pieces of practical wisdom jumped out to me:

1. Dr. Piper said that from the time his children were very small, they taught a morning 'quiet time'. He even suggested it can be as simple as propping up an infant with a pillow, and playing some worship music. I had assumed that the practice of beginning the day with Scripture and prayer would begin when a child started to read; Piper reminded me that it can begin long before.
2. For those who feel that they don't have time to lead their family daily in worship, he suggested a simple ten-minute routine:
• Read a verse or two from the Bible, and briefly explain it.
• Ask a question from a good catechism (and discuss its answer).
• Pray together.

I love receiving practical wisdom from others on how to be wise parents!

Climbing a spiral

Public truth

I have posted a number of times on public truth. Now, I'm excited that there is a new organization in New York that is engaging social issues through the Gospel with the conviction that this good news is for all, and is the core of addressing social issues. They have a kick-off meeting next week that includes Jim Wallis, for those in the area.

How kids think

My sister-in-law just put me onto an intriguing new blog called How Kids Think that is exploring how to teach a biblical worldview. I have many questions about how to do that, and so I plan to be a regular reader - and thought other parents might be interested too.

Morning routine

Each morning on our way to preschool I ask Elisabeth a few questions to prepare her for the day. I ask her, "What is your major job?" to which she eagerly replies: "Listen!" I also ask her, "Why do we go to school?" to which she answers, "To learn what is good and true and beautiful."

So yesterday I asked her the questions on the way to school, and when I asked her why we go to school, she answered:

"To learn what is good and true and beautiful and right and fun!"

I think that captures well the spirit of true learning, and virtue.

Can we go for a run?

I love to run with Elisabeth in the running stroller. And while she is a great passenger, I am still usually the one convincing her to go for a run rather than vice versa.

Yesterday morning Elisabeth woke up and poked her head out of her bedroom door.
"Can we go for a run?" she asked. I had gotten up early to run that morning, for the first time in nearly two weeks, and was still dripping with sweat.
"I already went running this morning, sweetie," I explained.
"I'm still feeling tired, and I want to go for a run so I can rest," she returned.
Finally I convinced her that we didn't have time to run, eat, shower and dress before preschool, and she capitulated.

This morning, while I was out for a run, Rebecca said she heard a little sleepy [and apparently still asleep] voice come from the bedroom:

"Can we go for a run?"

I love it that she's even more ready to go than I am!

Riding a horse

Sunday was Elisabeth's first time ever on a horse! She had such a good time, and was ready to do it again.

Sleeves getting longer

Fall is on its way in, and Elisabeth is moving toward long sleeves. (These are 3/4 length - perfect for transition!)

Will she remember it?

I do a lot of things with Elisabeth. We go to zoos, parks, museums and libraries on a regular basis, and we have a fantastic time. Yet on more than one occasion, I have had friends ask me, "Will she remember any of this?"

I think it is likely that she won't have any distinct memories of these years when she is older (I don't have many distinct memories of my preschool years), and yet I am convinced that these years will define the rest of her life. The fact that she may not remember the particulars later on doesn't stop me from living each day to the fullest with her; in fact, knowing that these years are so defining in her social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive development makes me want to do them all the more. That she may not remember these days does not mean they are unimportant.

In this respect of memory, I think there is a real parallel between early childhood and life, and life and eternity. Though we remember very little from our preschool years, our development during this time has a massive impact on the way we experience the rest of life. In much the same way, from eternity the years of our life will appear as but a whisper - but they will define the degree of our joy to all eternity. We live fully now, knowing that what we do matters even if we won't remember it when we see Christ face to face. That glorious truth makes each day full and reminds me that it is still as nothing compared to what will be.

Where did I grow up?

Tonight we were playing with Elisabeth's favorite online map. She found my home state and said excitedly:

"Daddy, I found where you grew up! Where did I grow up?"

I love that she thinks it is in the past tense!

Gospel Humility

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.” (Romans 9:29)

I think this is the key that unlocks gospel humility. In fact, I don't know how to receive this in a way that is not shattering. All that we can say for ourselves is that if the Lord had not intervened, we would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.

I very often look at myself and think that I am doing well. Perhaps I don't boast out loud, but the proud attitude is just as deadly. This word from Isaiah, repeated by Paul, is the cure for my arrogance, if I will believe that it speaks the truth. But far too often I flatter myself in my own eyes so that I don't see or feel the weight of this truth.

I want to live daily in the wonder of this reality: I, who would have run down the path of Sodom and Gomorrah, have been forgiven, released and reconciled to the God whom I had offended! He called me when I was His enemy, and purchased my repentance because I would never have repented. He has established the way of perfect, unshakable (because it doesn't depend on me!) joy, and destroyed every boast that is not boasting in Him.

Just as much, I want Elisabeth to taste this from childhood. I want her to be in awe and wonder at our God who justifies the wicked, and makes His enemies into friends. I long to save her from the folly of pride and arrogance that have ensnared me. I want her to feel the reality of our rebellion, and the unfathomably good news of Christ. This, I believe, is what it means to love my daughter.

Reading about Noah in public

Yesterday I found myself reading the story of Noah in a Doctor's office while I waited for an appointment. As I read aloud (and thought about the people overhearing it), it struck me how revolutionary the story is. Although the story involves an enormous boat, lots of animals, and a rainbow (all kid-friendly themes), it is ultimately a story of sin, judgment and mercy.

Tonight at dinner I asked Elisabeth some questions about the Noah story to see if the main point of the story was registering with her. I asked her, "Why did God send the flood?" She replied,

"Sometimes the forecast is for rain, and sometimes the forecast is for sun."

It made me happy that she sees that God is the author of everything, including the weather, but it also made clear that the flood as judgment hadn't impressed her. So we talked a little bit about why God sent the flood as judgment and why in mercy He told Noah to build an ark. The expressions on her face changed entirely as she began to see what the story was really about.

This encounter was even more vivid to me, as I had read in my devotions just yesterday that this kind of wickedness was not limited to Noah's time. God said through Ezekiel that the people of Jerusalem were so faithless that "even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God" (Ezekiel 14: 14). This was not the only time that wickedness reigned, or that judgment came!

It is becoming increasingly clear to me that reading the Bible on its own terms is revolutionary. Reading aloud in public was the gracious occasion of this realization: the message with which we are entrusted simply is not polite dinner conversation. It is the message of sin, wrath, judgment and mercy. The reason for the ark was the flood; the reason for the cross is the wrath of God against sinners. I needed to be reminded of that.

Swinging

Preschool highlights

What's the best part about preschool? I asked Elisabeth at the end of her first week, and she answered:

"I get my own cubby and my own mailbox!"

Her delight hasn't worn off yet!

No school on Saturday?

On Saturday, Elisabeth asked when she was going to school. We explained that she would be going to preschool again on Monday. She had such a good time during the first week that she was pretty disappointed not to get to go on Saturday and Sunday.

In my estimation, that means the teachers are doing a great job. I wish all of my students had looked forward to Monday the way Elisabeth does!

Big grin

I love overhead shots of tire swings, but I'm not very good at taking them. I loved Elisabeth's expression in this once, but because her shirt and skin tone are so light compared to the tire and ground, she's washed out.

(Yes, I know I need to use spot metering on my camera, but I didn't catch any good grins once I adjusted the settings . . .)

Another in the gardens

Here is another cute one of Elisabeth looking away from the camera . . .

Prosperity

Mark Dever captured something succinctly and clearly that I want Elisabeth to understand as she grows up:

"Prosperity isn't always wrong, but prosperity is always dangerous."
(Preaching the Cross p30)

Just Like Mama

One of Elisabeth's friends who lives in Amish country gave us Just Like Mama to help her understand a little bit about Amish life and culture. It was a fantastic gift from a country kid to a city kid.

The book gives a glimpse into the daily life of the Amish, and a view of the heart from which that life flows. The book is well illustrated and well written to draw readers into a little girl's desire to be like her Mama.

The book also provoked me to think about how good literature leads us to question, and to think. Just Like Mama closes with the mother telling her daughter,

"I have a wonderful-good idea, dear one. Let's be more like the Lord Jesus . . . together."

The question ran through my mind, "How does this lead a reader to the gospel?" I'm not trying to criticize this author in particular, but to get a better sense in my own understanding of how good literature points us, even subtly, to the gospel.

I think that this author tries to show the good fruit that Mama bears: her patience, gentleness, kindness - everything that makes her daughter want to be "just like Mama." And at the end, she points her girl in the right direction: to Jesus. But I wonder if some readers might see becoming a certain sort of person - even like Jesus - as the heart of Christianity, and of the good news. I wonder if readers like that might be drawn to imitate Jesus without knowing Him, or being reconciled to God through Him.

What Just Like Mama helped me to see is that I can't filter for perfect literature. But with good literature (and bad) it is my responsibility to ask the right questions to help Elisabeth see that the center of the good news is God reconciling rebels to Himself through His Son.

First day of school

Yesterday was Elisabeth's first day of preschool! Since we lost the backpack (oops!), we decided to do the mandatory 'first day of school picture' in the gardens instead of at school.

[Real photographers, please forgive me for shooting into the sun on this one. It was the only sitting shot that I caught her with a genuine smile!]

Update: The backpack is found! I feel like the woman in the parable of the lost coin!

Can you read me a story?

Elisabeth just picked up a book and asked me:

Dad, can you read me this story: The Wolf and the Big Bad Children?

I wouldn't be surprised if the book exists, but we don't have it.

Reading John Owen at bedtime

In the past several months, I have found reading John Owen at bedtime to be tremendously rewarding. You may be thinking that Owen is the cure for insomnia, as he is widely charged with being a challenging writer, but I have found him eminently helpful in humbling me, setting my eyes on Christ, and teaching me to be a better parent. In fact, his treatment of our condition and Christ's sufficiency is so rich that I have wondered that some scholar hasn't applied his insights to parenting - for the benefit of all.

Here are a couple of recent bedtime nuggets:

This is the trial and touchstone of gospel light: If it keeps the heart sensible of sin, humble, lowly, and broken on that account - if it teaches us to water free pardon with tears, to detest forgiven sin, to watch diligently for the ruin which we are yet assured shall never ruin us - it is divine, from above, of the Spirit of grace. If it secretly and insensibly makes men loose and slight in their thoughts about sin, it is adulterate, selfish, false (Overcoming Sin and Temptation pp301-302)

Labor, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ. . . . Fill your affections with the cross of Christ, that there may be no room for sin (ibid. p332)

Owen is, in my opinion, one of the wisest counselors of the soul who has put pen to paper. I am deeply thankful for his cutting words, and penetrating insight.

A Tree is Nice . . . but the book is not

I picked up A Tree is Nice at the library because it had a Caldecott Medal. Having read it several times, I fail to see what literary merit the judges saw in the book. The author picked a great theme: accessible to children and important for society. Yet I was completely unimpressed with the literary quality of the book. The language is simple, but not poetic - to the point of being very repetitive. There are no clever twists of plot, because there isn't a plot.

So, for those who haven't read it: Don't worry; you haven't missed anything. For those who have: Can you help me see why it got a Caldecott?

Fun at the beach

Look at those teeth!

Elisabeth was a bit dismayed at the shark's teeth.