Encouraging Our Daughters to Enjoy Childhood

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Lisa Botts

j0178643In this day and time our children are being pushed into adulthood long before they are emotionally ready. I won’t go into the myriad reasons for this because I have no wish to start debates with people who want to justify it. There is a difference in teaching a child responsibility and expecting them to behave like adults.

A very dear friend of mine has a granddaughter who will be seven years old in a couple of weeks. I carefully selected her gift to be something age appropriate and that encourages girlhood from a Biblical perspective. I’ve written her a letter to include with her gift but I felt the need to share this letter with other young girls and their mothers.

Dear Sweet Hannah Grace,

Happy Birthday! Seven is such a wonderful time in a little girl’s life. You have already learned so many things but it’s just the beginning. There is a whole world full of wonders out there waiting for you to discover them.

For your birthday, this is my special prayer for you:
That you will always love God – He always loves you.
That you will love and respect your parents.
That you will love and protect your baby brother.

I know you may not understand all of this right now but one day you will. Do not be in a hurry to grow up. Ride horses, swim, sing silly songs at the top of your lungs, swing as high as you can on a swing, run, play, catch lightening bugs in jars on a summer night, spin around until you get dizzy, make daisy chains, share secrets with your friends and laugh until you get the hiccups. Hang onto the sweetness that every day of this precious time in your life holds.

I also want you to know that you are surrounded by family and friends who want only the best things in life for you and will always love you.

These activities might seem immature to some but they are the activities that filled my own summer days in the South when I was a little girl. I long to see my grandchildren experience these things for themselves.

Let’s stop encouraging our daughters (sons too, for that matter) to grow up too fast. Encourage them instead to do the things I wrote above to this sweet little girl. Help them to maintain their childlike innocence just as long as possible. For once innocence is lost, it can never be recovered.

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Manhood – A Hazardous Journeys video

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

Vision Forum Ministries has long been a favorite resource for building a Godly family and raising young men and young ladies into mature, Godly adults. The Hazardous Journeys Society is a part of Vision Forum. Our society has embraced the idea that childhood is a “never ending story” and that real responsibility is too great a burden to place on the young. That brings to mind the way my father, as Scoutmaster when I was a Boy Scout, would talk to the Scouts. He talked to us as men. We would be standing as a troop in formation and he would say, “When we get to the camp site, I want you men to get with your patrol leaders and set up a neat and orderly camp under their direction.” For young teenagers trying to learn our place in the world, this would be the first time many of us were treated as adults. Our reaction was that if he treated us as adults, then we must be adults and act accordingly. To not act as an adult would be to show that we were not worthy of being treated as men, and no one wanted to let that happen.

This short video illustrates a boy’s entry into manhood; it requires no words.

The Hazardous Journeys Society (HJS) was founded to give glory to God, not man, as part of an exciting effort of world exploration. The purpose of the HJS is to provide teams of intrepid adventurers, photographers, students, scientists, journalists, and naturalists with an opportunity to engage in journeys of discover around the globe and to interpret their findings from a perspective that honors the Creator.
External Links

www.hazardousjourneys.org

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Lessons from The Titanic

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

TitanicChivalryFollowing is an email that I received from Vision Forum – an organization that I have the highest respect for. It wasn’t until their coverage of the moral aspects of the sinking of the Titanic that I fully understood the importance of that event – and how sadly lacking that level of character and courage is today.

This April 14 marks the 101st anniversary of the sinking if the R.M.S. Titanic, one of the most highlighted moments in history in which men and boys sacrificed their lives for women and children.

One year ago, families from all across the country came together to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. It was an incredible event and one which gave glory to God for His hand of grace on the lives of the men who sacrificed themselves on that cold April night. With more than a hundred reenactors, soul-stirring messages, many live performances that highlighted the music of the era, and a memorable dinner cruise, we have been told by many that it was one of the most moving events in the history of Vision Forum Ministries.

The hundred-year mark of Titanic’s sinking truly stands as a place holder in a culture which has forgotten what it means to act nobly, to willingly give your life for another, and to honor women and children. At the heart of the forgotten notion of chivalry is the biblical doctrine of male sacrifice. This was exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ who gave his life for his “Bride,” the Church.

But the legacy of the men of the Titanic may not be ignored and left to end after its centennial mark. Click here to view a collection of more then thirty music, message, and performance clips from the Titanic 100.

The Legacy and Ongoing Work of the CBMTS

More than fifteen years ago, my father founded the Christian Boys’ & Men’s Titanic Society (CBMTS) to promote the biblical understanding of “Women and Children First” to future generations. Our goal is to study the many spiritual lessons which can be derived from the sinking of the Titanic and to apply them to our lives today, both spiritually and practically. Since that time, the CBMTS has come together for one evening each year to commemorate the legacy of the Titanic and to remind boys and men of our duty to carry the mantle of sacrificial manhood.

Last year, for the one hundredth anniversary celebration, my father passed the baton of leadership for the society to me. My desire is to see this important work advance. This next week, a group of men and boys will be gathering in San Antonio, Texas, headquarters of the Christian Boys’ & Men’s Titanic Society, to continue to honor the men of the Titanic and to commit to living sacrificially as we remember this monumental event with our annual dinner.

An Appeal to You: Gather a Dozen Friends and Hold Your Own Titanic Dinner

This year, I also would like to encourage each of you to begin a similar tradition. It doesn’t need to be big; it doesn’t need to be complicated. Just gather a few or many of your friends together for an evening meal of prayer, thanksgiving, and commemoration as men. What a wonderful thing it would be to know that, in dozens of places around the country, men are gathering to honor those who went before us!

How to Host a Dinner

The elements are simple:

  • Gather your friends (men and boys).
  • Eat out or in, but make it a memorable feast.
  • Read excerpts from The Sinking of the Titanic or other historical accounts.
  • Let each person share a Scripture, prayer, poem, or toast.
  • Exhort each other to noble leadership and sacrifice.
  • Leave a record of your gathering in some form or another for the future.

Remembering the legacy of an event from so long ago is not just about getting together, but it is about gathering, giving thanks, and applying the lessons to our own life.

For Women and Children First,

Joshua Titus Phillips
President, The CBMTS

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Leaving The American Sector

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

CheckpointCharlie
Checkpoint Charlie was “ground zero” of the Cold War. On one side was the Western culture known everywhere as “America”. On the other side was the world of razor wire and gun towers, grey concrete buildings, and the complete repression of the human spirit. It was Communism. It was the final destination of the cult of egalitarianism. It was where America is now headed. The sign at Checkpoint Charlie said it all – “Leaving The American Sector”.

Three things come to mind as I consider where this country is headed – and where we are being dragged against our will. The first two are signposts along the way. The last is a look back at the culture and civilization America is leaving behind.

• The ban on women in combat has now been removed. Since the Old Testament days, the idea of sending women into combat was simply unthinkable. For thousands of years of human history, we had the good sense to understand the different roles of men and women in society. No civilized society worthy of the name would even consider such an idea. But then, we no longer are a civilized society, are we? The military is no longer a force to defend against foreign enemies and a deterrent to aggression. With this following in the footsteps of embracing open homosexuals in the military, our armed forces are now just another instrument of social change.

• The Boy Scouts of America have announced that they may lift the ban on homosexual Scouts and Scout leaders. The Boy Scout Oath ends with the words, “To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.” Those are words that helped guide untold thousands of young boys into manhood – including myself. Those are words that will no longer have any real meaning if Scouting caves in under the pressure of the Cultural Marxists now in charge. One of the few remaining institutions that stood for what is good and right appears about to crumble.

• In contrast to those two items, our church just finished its 15th annual Bible Conference. One of my roles during the conference is to take photos to post on our church web site. As I snapped photos of the people during this four-day event, I was struck by the stark difference between what I saw there and what is now celebrated as the norm of present-day American “culture.” There were individuals and families (some spanning three generations), the ladies were all dressed modestly, the men were neatly dressed and well groomed. Everyone was as kind and polite as can be. People pitched in to help in any way they could. It was a slice of Norman Rockwell Americana. It was the way life is supposed to be in a civilized Western society.

Find and cherish the enclaves of our culture. Nurture and care for them. We are truly Leaving the American Sector.

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Southern Generosity

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

Mint.com has released a map showing the amount of charitable giving by state. It should come as no surprise that, as a region, Dixie has the highest rate of giving. Some outliers are Utah and Idaho, which have high numbers of Mormons with their enforced tithing requirement. There is also a very strong correlation between generosity and level of religious commitment – again, there is a reason that Dixie is also known as The Bible Belt.

There’s just something warm and friendly and giving about our Southern culture.

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Bright Sunny South

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

Bright Sunny South is a hauntingly beautiful ballad of The South. While believed to have its roots in Celtic culture, its origins are uncertain, with some attributing it to a folks song from Nova Scotia. There are several versions of the lyrics, but those shown below are the most widely known. The video features a rendition performed by Bittersweet and Briers.

From the bright sunny South to the war, I was sent,
E’er the days of my boyhood, I scarcely had spent.
From it’s cool shady forests and deep flowing streams,
Ever fond in my mem’ry, ever sweet in my dreams.

Oh, my dear little sister, I still see her tears.
When I had to leave home in our tender years.
And my sweet gentle mother, so dear to my heart,
It grieved me sincerely when we had to part.

Said my kind-hearted father as he took my hand:
“As you go in defense of our dear native Land,
“Son, be brave but show mercy whenever you can.
“Our hearts will be with you, ’til you return again.”

In my bag there’s a Bible to show me the way,
Through my trials here on earth and to Heaven some day.
I will shoulder my musket and brandish my sword,
In defense of this Land and the word of the Lord.

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The Southern Hog Roast

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

PigRoast_IMG_9850_cr

Subscriber “UK Fred” sent a link to a BBC radio program about Southern food – specifically about the Southern Hog Roast. You can listen to it here – the section on the hog roast is from 16:35 to 20:50. This reminded me of a hog roast that was held at our church on New Year’s Eve last year.

The fire pit was built from concrete blocks stacked up. There were no specific plans – we just stacked blocks until it looked about right. The hog was split down the middle and laid out on a metal rack built for the purpose. A section of light weight field fence was placed on top of the hog and fastened with twisted wire to hold it in place.

I don’t recall how long the entire process took, but it was pretty much an all-day affair. A group of us took turns watching the fire, adding wood as needed, raising or lowering the hog depending on the heat, and adding sauce using a mop and a bucket. When more heat was needed, we would also place a section of corrugated metal roofing over the top of the hog to help hold the heat in. While the meal itself is often viewed as the highlight of a hog roast, the fellowship involved in the all-day cooking is where the real Southern tradition lies. A hog roast – like most outdoor grilling, is strictly a man’s world. While the ladies prepare the side dishes and make sure that everything else goes smoothly, the men stand around by the fire while discussing the best way to roast a hog and other matters of great importance.

Later that evening, when the “senior hog roaster” decided that it was ready, it was taken off the fire, cut up, and placed in metal serving trays. Between the church folks and the crew from the county fire station next to the church, we came pretty close to finishing the entire hog.

The Southern hog roast is one of the great traditions of Southern culture. If you are ever invited to one, don’t pass up the opportunity – and be sure to take a turn at the roasting pit.

Some terminology
Hog – a swine weighing over 120 pounds.
Pig – a very young swine.
Butcher Hog or Market Hog – a swine weighing from 220 to 260 pounds, usually 5 to 7 months of age.
Barrow – a castrated male swine that is the basis of the pork industry. In case you’re wondering, uncastrated male swine (boars) have an unpleasant taste (known as “boar taint”), they gain weight more slowly, and are more difficult to handle.
Feeder pig – a young swine usually between 40 to 70 pounds, produced by one farmer and sold to another farmer to feed out to market.

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Thoughts on Monarchy

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Stephen Clay McGehee

princessmadeleineIn previous posts, I have mentioned my sympathy – and support – for some form of monarchy as being a good way of governing a nation and preserving its culture. Considering the current state of America, I think we can agree that the American “bright and shining city on a hill” is more mythology than fact.

There are, of course, many forms of monarchy. What comes to mind for most people today is an absolute monarchy where the king lives as some sort of cartoonish, villainous character as often portrayed in movies. I suppose there is an example of that somewhere in history, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. No, we’re talking about men and women who have been raised from birth with the objective of leading a nation; who understand the realities and the give-and-take of any leadership position; who are motivated not by what they must do to get elected and re-elected, but by a sense of duty and responsibility.

Do phrases such as “constitutional monarchy” or “libertarian monarchy” sound contradictory? If so, open your mind a bit and consider what America has become – and what might have been a better choice. Consider it an intellectual challenge rather than a political proposal.

The Mad Monarchist is a blog that I read regularly. Today’s post is titled Rebutting Republican Myths and is a good starting point for an open-minded look at how government works. The author addresses the following objections raised against monarchy as a form of government, and then rebuts them:

  • Monarchies are un-democratic!
  • Monarchies are too expensive!
  • Hereditary monarchy just isn’t fair!
  • Monarchies are dangerous! What if the monarch is incompetent?
  • Monarchy is an archaic throwback! It’s simply out of date!
  • What about cruel monarchs like Nero or Attila the Hun? Surely no benefits could be worth risking leaders like that!
  • Royals are too out of touch. They have no idea how regular people live.
  • At best, monarchs are unnecessary. A president could do just as good a job.
  • Monarchies must be bad or else there would be more of them!
  • Monarchs are so set apart, they cannot represent ordinary people.
  • Republics bring progress, monarchies only oppress.

Be sure to read the full Rebutting Republican Myths post.

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Mercy and Chivalry

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Stephen Clay McGehee

Commemorative painting of the Stigler/Brown encounter by John D. Shaw, courtesy Valor Studios.

Commemorative painting of the Stigler/Brown encounter by John D. Shaw, courtesy Valor Studios.


Mercy is one of the great hallmarks of chivalry. Mercy toward one’s enemy is the hardest mercy of all, which is probably why Jesus instructs us to love our enemies.

The following is taken from the Men Who Lead blog by best-selling author Marcus Brotherton. Mr. Brotherton’s post is titled, The Most Overlooked Command Ever. Be sure to take the time to read his original post and add his blog to your regular reading to learn more Lessons in Leadership.

On December 20, 1943, in the skies above war-torn Europe, two bitter enemies—an American B-17 bomber pilot and a veteran German fighter ace—met in what is undoubtedly one of World War II’s most remarkable encounters.

The American bomber, piloted by 21-year-old West Virginian Charlie Brown, was severely damaged. Bullets from German fighters had chewed the bomber to pieces. Others bullets had shot straight through the fuselage, and several crew members had been hit and were near death.

The German fighter plane, piloted by Franz Stigler, was poised to blast the bomber from the sky. It was Franz’s job to kill the enemy. His sworn duty was to triumph in blood.

In fact, encountering a wounded bomber was Franz’s lucky break. Other fighters had already done the initial damage, and when Franz flew up to the bomber, it was the most badly damaged airplane he’d ever seen still flying. That meant an easy target. And in the kill-or-be-killed quest to reach air superiority, the odds against the German’s survival were much worse than the American’s. Of the 40,000 German fighter pilots in WWII, only 2,000 survived.

But what happened in that tense moment when Franz and Charlie came to stare at one another across the frozen skies only can be described as other-worldly.

The American 8th Air Force would, in fact, classify the incident as top secret for decades.

The German military sealed the record as well. Franz was ordered never to speak of the act again, at risk of facing a firing squad.

What happened was, very simply … mercy.

Franz didn’t turn his machineguns on the Americans.

Instead, Franz risked his own reputation, career, and even life, to fly for miles in close proximity to the bomber’s wingtip, providing a “shield” for the damaged enemy plane.

Instead of killing his enemy, the German fighter pilot escorted the sputtering American bomber to safety.

Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown

Franz Stigler and Charlie Brown


Both men survived the war and became close friends.

Both men survived the war and became close friends.

See also the post, Compassion for Others – Even the Enemy.

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Is Obama God’s Servant?

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Stephen Clay McGehee

Nebuchadnessar
Obama

Sam Gipp sends out a regular newsletter from “Friend To Churches Ministries”. His December 2012 issue was titled, We LOST, Deal With It!. While all of it was interesting, one paragraph caught my eye. It is something that I had heard before and thought about, but his explanation was concise:

…Obama may well be God’s man! God called Nebuchadnessar, the King of Babylon, who dashed Jewish babies to death in the streets “my servant” (Jer. 25:9 and 43:10). He was God’s “anointed” instrument to carry out His judgement on a people who had become “worse than the heathen.” We are an arrogant, unrepentant people. Barak Obama may well be the man God has chosen to punish this nation. If he is, then there is no fighting against him.

Is Obama really sent by God to punish America for her arrogance, the slaughter of innocents, the acceptance and glorification of homosexuality, the slash-and-burn attacks on any public display of Christianity? I certainly don’t have the answer to that one, but from a Biblical view, I can see nothing that says he is not. God says of His chosen people, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” (Genesis 12:3). America has not only turned her back on Israel and promoted her enemies, America has elected and re-elected a man who at the very least is highly sympathetic to Islam – the sworn enemy of the Hebrew People.

While it would clearly be a matter of conjecture, I see nothing to indicate that Obama is NOT sent to punish America and preside over her downfall. What does that mean to those of us who identify more closely with our Southern heritage than with what American society is today? Again, I have no real answer; however, a good start would be to make sure that our families are shielded from the wickedness that surrounds us and instill in them an appreciation for classical Southern culture.

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