Duck Season has opened

Always be sure to wear orange while hunting Ducks.


Levi finished his hunters safety course this morning with the field day. Congratulations Levi, and let's go hunt some (Oregon) Ducks!

Harmon Killebrew quote

A few years ago, I was reading an issue of Modern Reformation magazine on the importance of fathers in the lives of children, and saw the following quote from baseball legend, and fellow Idahoan, Harmon Killebrew:

“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass"; "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys."

While my baseball memorabilia collection has shrunk considerably over the years, one of my prized possessions is still the ball he personalized for me. Thanks "Killer" for the ball, and the great reminder of importance of fathers in the lives of their children. May us men renew our interests this Father's Day.

Porch Update II

I finally got off my butt and bought the trim for our new windows and got it put up. And, we're getting a little bit closer to having the porch done- it's taking on a little more character. Lord willing, the Zoo Keeper will finish by the beginning of June.

Porch update

Well, the Zoo Keeper has been trying to fit time into his busy schedule for working on our porch, and I am happy to report that he is getting closer to finishing! Today, he installed the rails and we are very pleased with the work thus far. He still needs to do some work on the gable, finish the railing (dress ups, painting, etc.), stain the deck, add the hand rail and stain, and then build the steps. We've also started to look at colors for a fresh paint job once he's done (if we have any money left over, Lord willing!).
We're also discussing what we want to do in the future as far as the exterior of the house. While we will probably leave the front of the house stucco, we will probably add new siding to the rest of the house. We're also discussing adding rock to the bottom part of the front (opposite the porch). This, of course, is all conditioned upon having the money to do such work. Hopefully, we will be blessed with another nice tax return next year so we can continue on this face lift and scream in unison, "Move that bus!!"

New Sandra McCracken Tunes

I received an email today which is promoting the soon to be released Sandra McCracken CD. For those of you who may not know who this lady is, she is the wife of one of my two favorite recording artists, Derek Webb (of Caedmon's Call and solo fame). Not only has Mrs. Webb recorded some great solo stuff, she has also written some great stuff which has been included on Caedmon's Call, Indelible Grace, and the City on a Hill CDs. You can listen to some samples of her Folky/Americana brand of music at the following site:
https://www.noisetrade.com/sandramccracken#

Good Stuff!

Hard Work

Imagine my surprise when I can home today to find out that "Hider-Man" got to help Mr. Zoo-Keeper as he was working on our front porch area.

Good thing the Zoo-Keeper was able to have some help with that heavy piece of equipment!!

J. has been doing some work around here for us, and things are now and will be looking different out front.

This is just the beginning stage of our project-tomorrow the steps and stoop will be gone!

We will soon be able to conduct class outdoors on our new deck. The kids are looking forward to it (as is mom!)- well at least Hider-Man and Mom are. Bed Bug thinks she'll need the sound of the "chain-saw" in order to focus (some neighbors were running one today as the kids worked out in the front yard).


Tonight, after we finished our history lecture and discussion, Levi took to working on his math assignment and his "Gulliver's Travels" reading assignment for tomorrow so that he can help Jason with breaking out the concrete. Do we have a future jack-hammer operator? Better start eatin' the potatoes, boy!

Perpetual Adolescence

There has been for some time now an alarming trend with the males in our culture-it is called Perpetual Adolescence. As the father of two "teen-aged" boys (I despise that term, it's nothing more than an invention of Madison Avenue), I am particularly disturbed about this problem, and need to be constantly reminded that they are prime candidates for this attack on young men. Our culture seems to feed the monster, so much so that we now have "boys" who are in their late 20s/early 30s who fail to grow up into mature men. Don't believe me? Just turn on the television or visit the big screen, and you will see what I mean; it's as ubiquitous as the buffoon husband/dad that Hollywood likes to portray. We in Christ's church should be very concerned about this, as it is just as prevalent within as it is without. Could this be linked to the great numbers of our youth who are leaving the church once they are out of high school? How do we combat this? I suggest we begin by discipling them as we are commanded to by our King. There's at least one church who seems to be taking steps to do just this, and after listening to this study, I've been convicted of my own failings as a father in the discipleship of my own sons. For anyone interested in reading further on the subject, there's some very good material available to help in this process and with implementing family worship to help further nurture our children.
Future Men- Douglas Wilson
Standing on the Promises- Douglas Wilson
Thoughts for Young Men- J.C. Ryle
The Case for Family Worship- George Hamond
A Good Start- Charles Spurgeon
Family Practice- R.C. Sproul Jr.
The Family- B.M. Palmer and J.W. Alexander
The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions- Terry Johnson
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life- Peter Leithart

There's a plethora of other titles, but these are all ones that I have read and have found helpful. Any other suggested titles would be appreciated...

Of course, if it's controversial and applies to the church, then you know Al Mohler will take it head on during his radio show. Dr. Mohler speaks on this very subject on his radio program and blog:
http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2009-03-20
http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2009-04-13
http://www.ralbertmohler.net/blog_read.php?id=836