A Common Life: 2021

Idiocy in Our Time

If vaccinated and unvaccinated people spread covid, which they DO, and the number of covid cases is 500K now, when FAR more people have been vaccinated than last year, and last year the number of covid cases was 150K, why in the WORLD would anyone think getting vaccinated matters? It literally makes one sound like a total fool. It is truly like we're living in the midst of the book 1984. People say things that are completely illogical and untrue, yet state it like fact, and others repeat it and believe it.

Bizarre.

As we see in history, Captain America movies, 1984, Animal Farm and the like--people will not have their freedom taken without a fight, but they can easily be duped into giving it up by those with malintent.

Rappahannock Family Physicians- Walk-in Clinic

It may be this way at many clinics in VA, but it may interest some to know that if you choose the wrong day to go into Rappahannock Family Physicians, after sitting in your car for up to two hours, you will be lectured if you refuse a COVID test. The almighty PA working when I was there recently did all within her left-leaning- MSNBC- following power to influence, cajole, fear monger, and guilt me into getting a test. To be treated like someone who doesn't comprehend the COVID issue at this late date of Dec 2021 is nothing short of insulting. We all have the same data, we clearly see it through a different worldview.

I don't see the point in continuing to test, quarantine, and feed into the system that endorses an overly cautious response to a virus that is not the strain currently on the rise, and which has a less than 1 percent mortality rate. I'm entitled to my opinion that the response to COVID-19 and its variants has been more damaging than the virus/es. The PA wasn't excited about my having my own business when her near-final attack on my intelligence led her to understand I don't require a test to do my work. Of course, I'm not working over the holiday, but that like so much else, was and is none of her affair. She admitted people often test negative when they have COVID but it was just to point out one needs multiple tests, essentially getting to the fact her outdated view is still to quarantine when sick with anything. Our nation has become weaker by people locking themselves away and not working when they have the slightest sniffle. We need to medicate and press on as we're able, but surely we should not go around the most vulnerable anytime we're contagious. That is common sense. Whether I test positive for COVID or not doesn't impact that reality.

I'm an adult capable of interpreting data and observing the societal fall-out of a politically motivated response to a virus and forming my own course of action. To be lectured while sick by someone who clearly has different views from my own was tiring and insulting. The office in general was surprised about my not being vaccinated for COVID, which is ridiculous considering those with the vaccine get and spread the virus. They were told I've had COVID and currently felt worse than when I had it. There is no data to support my being vaccinated now would lead to me feeling worse if I'm in fact infected a 2nd time with the virus, so there is no logical reason for them to act like I surely would be vaccinated after already contracting COVID. What, am I supposed to fear the virus now that I've had it and thus, get vaccinated? Let's remember the vaccine isn't against the variant on the rise or the prior variant, and again, the vaccinated can get and spread COVID symptomatically or asymptomatically. I finally interrupted the lecturing to confirm this PA wasn't going to treat me for what I went in for and got up and left in the midst of the lecturing. For the record, the PA was following the letter of the law in not treating me as I wanted; she did not value the information I shared as someone who recurringly gets this type of illness if I'm not following a strict diet. Other doctors, especially near Christmas, have prescribed what I would need so I could fill it if I didn't get well. This PA said herself the peak would be Christmas Day or the following 3 days. Essentially confirming I will continue to get worse if this is bacterial. She listens with her black/white mind and COVID testing agenda, not with that part of a physician one hopes for when you are a mature adult who is on no medication and happens to be sick with something you've had a lot of experience dealing with once per year, again, unless on a strict diet.

As a resident of Fredericksburg, VA for over 16 years, I recommend against using Rappahannock Family Physicians, which is affiliated with the Mary Washington healthcare system. Take the time to find a doctor who respects your autonomy over your own health and doesn't lecture you when you are obviously not feeling well.

Bible Questions and Answers, Part 77

Bible Questions and Answers, Part 77:

Please take time to listen to this--especially if you are afraid of dying, or are a man who wants to be married...if you worry about people not wearing masks...tune in. People ask Pastor John MacArthur questions on anything they want. There is excellent help found here.

Respecting Young Men

Young ladies who wish to date a young man, if only you knew what his parents thought of how you dress and act. If it is lovely, be sure it is noticed. If it smells of worldliness or debauchery, be equally sure it is noticed.

When parents carefully raise their tender little baby boy through the rough and tumble toddler years, into the fun and active boyhood years, and then into early manhood, there are many snares to warn about. A young man who loves the Lord desires to please Him. He must wage the daily battle in his mind to keep his thoughts and actions in line with God. He is learning how to lead and will need time and patience to fully realize that important skill as opportunities present themselves. Some days this young man will seem fully independent, working hard and long hours, often without many breaks for food or rest. Other days he will need to talk and be around the house with those who love and care for him. What he never needs are scantily clad females flirting with him. He and his parents can spot what a girl is about a mile away, and while it may cause him to struggle mentally, that will not win his affection. A girl who isn't striving to please her parents and the Lord will certainly not gain the approval of this sort of young man or his parents. Rebellion comes in various shades, but it is always spotted, and a godly young man's parents will certainly steer him away from it and will train him to steer clear. Please love your brothers in Christ enough to cover yourself up and treat them as you hope ladies will one day treat YOUR son--who you have spent your life raising in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Be the girl a man will want to MARRY, not get a cheap thrill from looking at or interacting with from time to time. Be serious about your relationship with the Lord, dress modestly (when in doubt: don't), smile and be friendly. That is how to show a young man respect and gain the approved notice of his parents. ♥

Voddie Baucham: You're a Hypocrite to Tell Your Kids to Submit , If You ...

https://youtu.be/hM-I-aX-6rk

Contains excerpts from Voddie Baucham from a decade or so ago. Worth considering.

Lower Expectations

There is probably a post on this blog about lowering expectations, but here is a recap. If you find yourself often disappointed with others or perhaps frustrated or hurt by them, it may be time to look inward. It is said that when we are bothered by others it is often because they are not respecting what we 'worship'. Do we idolize something we shouldn't and then when other's don't, it makes us mad? The issue there is with ourselves more than the other person. Likewise, when we are often bothered by another person, it may be we have too high of expectations. It would be nice to expect greatness from those who dwell in our midst, but the reality is, we don't meet others' expectations as they don't meet ours. When we have too high of a view of ourselves, we can have too high of a view of others. Expect little and be pleasantly surprised when that is exceeded--to put it another way. This truly helps relationships and aids our being more steady as people. We react to OUR expectations, not the actions of others. Being part of a godly church, this can be seen in the leadership, and it is a powerful tool. Just another reason we should be in church (though God saying it is more than enough).

Warmth

Warm people--those who take time to say just a little extra so their response is comforting. When you contact them with a problem, they take the time to be compassionate. Perhaps an emoji of a hug or a heart, or the kissy face that nicer phones have accompanies their words. These things add up over time, and they help us understand when someone doesn't have or take the time to be gentle or sympathetic.

A loved one of ours used to call these sorts of warm people a 'soft place to land'. We can't always be a soft place to land, but we should certainly try. We want people to come to us with their problems and find comfort and direction.

It is a challenge to continue to interact with those who seldom, if ever, respond sympathetically. Mechanical responses are a true turn off. It is tempting to write cold people off, but we should continue to love the less loveable and try to help them be more gentle. Most of all, may we look to ourselves to determine if we are being loving and gentle when others need it.

Guilt by Association?

At what point, living in a sinful world, are we as Christians culpable in the sin of others? The covid shot has people suddenly aware that vaccinations can and often do get tested on cell lines from aborted fetuses. I wish this were not the case, for the covid shot or any product.

Abortion is heinous. No real follower of Christ can endorse it. But is it endorsing a past sin to use a product tested on those lines? This is a personal issue to weigh out with the Lord.

Is it possible the argument of some of the newly enlightened people is convenient because of the outrage over being forced to do something against their will and better judgment? It is a blessing when we become aware of a new sin we should avoid or repent of, but my question is more about our sincerity. Are we under the impression that China values the unborn or do we buy products made there, thinking what they do isn't on our shoulders, even though they actively abort babies all the time? When am I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, culpable in the sins of others, bearing in mind this is a sin-stained world we live in?

Parents who are choosing not to vaccinate your children-this is a weighty matter. The affluence of our society and the lack of children with serious diseases has surely made it easier to not vaccinate. We ought not judge other Christians who feel it is worse for them to not vaccinate when the option is there, though.

Do I wish nothing in society had any connections to abortion? You bet. Did I do all I could to avoid vaccinations tested on fetal cell lines for my children? I tried. Do I believe I'm guilty before God for using a vaccine tested on fetal cell lines? No. Do I believe I'm guilty before God for using the multitude of products produced in wicked countries, by people who promote sin, by companies who hate God? No. Do I try to avoid what I can that doesn't honor God? Yes. Do I pray for the unborn and for God to help me avoid companies that are against Him and products? Not enough.

Let's be sure we are inconvenienced by our anti-abortion stance, if our religious exemption is based on the covid shot being tested on fetal cell lines (leaving J&J out of this discussion). This should probably lead to people researching and ceasing to use other items tested on fetal cell lines--and perhaps think of all of the bad companies producing things we use. It's wrong to play games just because the left lies and because they have no right to ask us to get the shot. They are overstepping our human right to make our own decisions about what we put into our bodies for no good reason. Everyone spreads covid, and if I want to risk a more serious reaction by not having the shot, why do they think they get the right to force me? I'm not a child, imbecile or animal. I'm an adult who can make my own decisions based on my own research and convictions.

My point in this post is to point out we live in a wicked world and we're impacted by sin all the time, whether we like it or not. Too many people are zeroing in on this one thing as if they are wearing blinders, and in reality, we can't possibly avoid everything that is connected to something bad. We should not go around judging our brothers and sisters in Christ over the abortion aspect of medications or any of the other things like Amazon Alexa--knowing full well Amazon is not a morally upright company with what they endorse (hello banning books that warn about the danger of transgender).

You can find companies who are actively promoting anti God positions on this blog.

Other links regarding fetal cell lines--this one gives the varied views a Christian might have.

https://www.rehumanizeintl.org/post/fetal-cells-in-the-cosmetics-food-and-medical-industries

Simpler list:

https://cogforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/fetalproductsall.pdf

More details about J&J covid shot (Please note the fact a Catholic is giving moral opinions does not add to my viewpoint. We don't justify the means by the end. This link does a concise job sharing how the Johnson and Johnson vaccine differs from the others)

Martin Luther

If you have never taken the time to watch the 1953 movie Martin Luther, perhaps this can be your year. Many do not realize the critical nature of what God used Luther to accomplish. Many misled Catholics could come to the saving knowledge of Christ if they simply paid attention to the truths of Scripture shared in this movie. The Bible is clear--man is saved by grace through faith.

Plagiarism at West Liberty University by President W. Franklin Evans

It is very disappointing that West Liberty University in West Liberty, WV has continued to keep their plagiarizing president, W. Franklin Evans, on board. He should have immediately resigned out of respect for the integrity of higher education and for his own personal reputation. Since that didn't happen, he should have been terminated from his post after he was caught being dishonest. The standard of having a PhD is laughable if one considers the Board of Governor's at WLU's position, and W. Franklin Evans should not be taken seriously among his peers. It isn't getting caught that is the problem, it is the PLAGIARISM that is the problem. It is using other people's words and facts and claiming them as your own by not giving proper credit. To do this once could be a mistake, to do it multiple times and be dishonest about it is an entirely different matter. It is irrelevant that 'we all make mistakes'. Of course we do, but how we handle those mistakes MAKES the MAN.

Is West Liberty a serious academic college or not? They have a terrific dental hygiene program, but the concern is that it's reputation, along with the faculty, staff and students' reputations who come on board going forward, will be dragged down to the place of schools that are not serious academic institutions. How can a university that gives a pass to a lying president hold the students accountable for being honest in their endeavors? Even if somehow they can, the message has already been communicated that once you have "arrived" academically and professionally, HONESTY and integrity are no longer important.

Inside Higher Ed has done a great job keeping the public abreast of this most serious situation. That link is to the Oct 11th story and this one is for the Oct 14th story. Inside Higher Ed only lets readers who aren't registered look at 5 free articles per month, so if you can only pick one, go with the Oct 14th.

We at ACL feel the only way to save WLU's reputation is to remove Mr. Evans from his position and bring on an entire new Board of Governors who have supported this giving Mr. Evans a pass. The current Board and W. Franklin Evans get a vote of No Confidence from ACL.

Our hearts sincerely go out to the excellent faculty and staff that oppose the actions of the university in regard to Mr. Evans. Hold YOUR heads, high. Your own reputation will speak for itself as you continue to oppose what the 'leadership' is doing.

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Uganda and Child Sacrifice

Did you know in some parts of the world, precious children are sacrificed by witch doctors? These children are put in trash bags, bleeding, mutilated and sometimes, still clinging to life.

We can get so spun up about our personal safety, our rights...is it possible the liberals aren't the only ones being controlled and distracted from reality by all this COVID propaganda? Is God still sovereign? Is He or is He not still in control of when He calls His children home? Vaccine, shot or not.

God, help us do the work of loving people and sharing the blessed Good News as long as YOU give us life.

Friday's chapel service, Sept 24, 2021--

https://www.cedarville.edu/Chapel/Watch/Exposing/uIBzfGwk1EyIccuZux2UMQ

Exposed See the recent chapel service at Cedarville University where the Executive Director of Kyampisi Childcare Ministries educates us on what is going on and what he's trying to do about it.

Please join us here at ACL in prayer for the salvation of the children and witch doctors, for Peter to find the children and help them, for safety, for the gospel to radically change Uganda.

Written in My Bible

We want change, but we won't change. 1-30-11

Life without Jesus never delivers what's "promised".

You will never live by faith unless you make yourself live by faith. 6-13-12

During suffering, the sovereignty of God and His providence is a little piece of Heaven. Such comfort to know God is in control and at work in our lives. Darrin Wright 4-29-20

The ends do not justify the means. i.e. the church being worldly to get people in church. Church should always look like church and ACT like it. 6-3-12

When there is a gap between God's ways and wisdom and our understanding of God's ways and wisdom, we must fill the gap with trust. Ken Collier of The Wilds, NC. 10-18-20

The delays in prayer being answered are not needed to change God, but to change us.

Remember our blessings, forget our burdens, and leave it all up to the Lord. Pastor Reid 12-27-20

Security of the believer: Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Your mind will give you back exactly what you put into it. James Joyce

We sometimes can't hear God's direction because we have failed to follow a previous instruction.

Faith is belief that changes behavior. The life of faith reveals more of God and less of the man. Giants of the faith learned to lean on God because it's His power who gets us there. 1-19-08

I will not get discouraged trying to determine the success of my witnessing. 7-25-10

God uses His word to clean all of the unnecessary things out of our lives. We are pruned by the Word.

I gave Jesus my sin; He gave me His righteousness. 3-25-12

Now to Him who is ABLE...Ephesians 3:20 and Jude 24

CDC Pediatric Flu Deaths v COVID Deaths

Project Veritas-Federal Whistle Blower

Truth Be Told

There will be important COVID vaccine information coming out tomorrow, Sept 20th, from James O'Keefe with Project Veritas. Those who aren't deceived by the liberal mainstream talking heads of CNN and MSNBC know we are regularly lied to. Big Tech censors information all the time on Facebook and other social media sites, and there is a narrative the non-journalists of the day subscribe to and repeat over and over in order to push people into thinking one way about things like the COVID vaccine.

But, you ask, why would people lie?! Man alive, read some history! Throughout the ages mankind has had wicked leaders who want control, and there are prescribed ways to get it. Authoritarian rulers, totalitarian rulers, communists---they always have a very small contingent of people who are touted as smarter and/or the most capable of leading. Those leaders want brainwashed followers who will do what they say, follow without question, and turn in their fellow man. People who believe God made men free are not welcome. It always goes back to foundational beliefs, aka worldview. What is a person's foundation laid on? It is either God, or man, and that determines the rest of the story.

Here is the Link to Part 1

C.S. Lewis Regarding the Tyranny of Good Intentions

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals."

-- C.S. Lewis, God In The Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1948)

Satan Moves Men's Wicked Hearts

The judgment of God Almighty is in full force in America. Those who were moved by the Devil to vote for Joe Biden helped usher in this judgment in fuller force.

Why does the government get to tell me what is best for me? The whole point of LIBERTY is that I get to decide what is right for me. America is supposed to be the land of the FREE. But the tyranny of Joe Biden and the entire left shows they do not want America to be as it has been.

Do you, Liberal Democrat, realize you have been the tool of Satan? You think you are free, but you are either on God's side or A.G.A.I.N.S.T. it. Only those in Christ are free.

God hates abortion. Voting for an abortion-minded President puts you on the opposite side of God. If you get that issue wrong, you are getting many other things wrong. Christians should always be on the side of not murdering innocent people.
God hates lying.
God hates feet that run rapidly to evil. The lemmings in America who do not know how totalitarianism works are racing to the finish line on this one. They don't see what is happening and they eagerly follow those in charge, who they have put in the place of God.

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV).

The lies and distortions being told to the American public about covid-19 are deplorable. It is a nasty virus, but those who are vaccinated as well as those unvaccinated can spread it.

Do you not see, oh deceived ones, that it is nonsensical to say, "We care about you so much we'll force you to take a vaccine in order to protect you, and if you don't take it you can't work, so you'll die." Everyone who hasn't taken the vaccine doesn't want to for one reason or another and that is our choice. We've weighed the risks and prefer to keep that vaccine out of our bodies for a reason. The wicked ones forcing us are being moved by evil forces. Those supporting them are blinded. Thousands of people have had the virus and have better immunity than the vaccine would give them, but that science is buried. The legacy media only reports what suits its liberal agenda.

Why does the government get to tell me what is best for me? I should get to decide what is best for me.

Forcing people who are used to freedom slowly changes the mentality of that culture. People fight oppression less and less when the government exercises its tyranny over them. It is easier to comply. Those who do not understand sin and the ways of Satan cannot comprehend why men would want to be oppressing others... Aren't people loving and kind in their souls?

Are you kidding me? "Wake up uneducated nation!! Do you know nothing of Stalin, Lenin, Hitler, Mussolini, Castro, Batista?"

People recognize God Almighty on the throne and the One who has the right to govern the affairs of men, or they seek to put a human on the throne--themselves or some other inferior leader moved by pride and evil.

Voting with Your Dollars

In this age of politics sadly encompassing nearly everything, as a Christian, I want to do what I can to make sure the money God entrusts to me isn't actually funding things He hates. We can vote with our wallet in many ways. It is not possible to avoid all the bad things, but that isn't an excuse to do nothing or put zero effort into where we do much of our consuming.

As with what we put into our bodies, nothing is a free ride for a follower of Christ. You'll find some here are on the top "Christian list", but might not deserve to be there based on other things they support. It is hard to find lists that cover every category of what matters to a Christian. A company might not support LGBTQ they say but they do support BLM, which is pro trans/Marxist/anti fathers. Clearly there is thought involved in what you want to strive for. Pray for God's help and guidance.

Major Brands Donating to BLM June 2020

My compiled list of decent companies versus those openly anti-Christian from other websites:

Worth supporting-

Hobby lobby
Cook out
Tyson foods
Curves gym
In-n-out burger
Forever 21 clothing
Dr. Pepper for soda appears least offensive. Not owned by Pepsi Co. or Coca-Cola

Top Faith-based brands, keep in mind that isn't an endorsement of those faiths. My goal is not support 'other' faiths, only Christians. This is from another website; I have not vetted each company personally.

Academy Sports
Aldi
Bed Bath and Beyond
Bass Pro Shop
Cabela’s
Chick-fil-A (I personally don't go here anymore due to them no longer supporting Salvation Army and 2 other conservative groups as a result of pressure from the LGBTQ crowd.)
Cracker Barrel
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dillard’s
Dunkin Donuts
Flowers Foods
H-E-B grocery
Hobby Lobby
Honda
Lenovo
In N-Out Burger
Interstate Batteries
Jack in the Box
Krispy Kreme
Lowe’s
Marathon
Samsung
SeaWorld
Sony
Subway
Thrivent Financial
Toys R Us
Trader Joes
Tyson Foods
Walmart
Wendy’s

Companies openly anti-Christian that are worth trying to avoid expanding with my own wealth, whenever possible-

Amazon
AT&T
Apple
Aetna
Anthem
Barnes and Noble
Ben and Jerry's
Facebook
CVS
Con Agra Foods (chef boy r d, parkway, Rotel, pam)
Dropbox
Colgate
Coca-Cola
GE (various tv networks)
General Mills (Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Green Giant, Chex, Bisquick)
Google
eBay
HP
Johnson and Johnson (worst covid shot for pro-life people)
Kellogg co (Pringles, Eggo, Cheez it, Keebler)
Kimberley Clark (Kleenex, Scott) :(
Kraft foods (Velveeta, cracker barrel cheese, Jell-O)
Levi Strauss
Office Depot
PepsiCo (Tropicana, Doritos, Lipton, Quaker, Fritos, Aquafina)
Pfizer
Staples
Starbucks
Target
Twitter
Verizon
Walt Disney co.
Warner bros
Wells Fargo
Xerox
Zillow

Please Start Thinking Rightly About the Novel Coronavirus

Welcome to the Forever Pandemic by Ben Shapiro

The World Has Lost Its Mind

At some point you hope that people realize COVID is a virus and all of the ridiculous methods of trying to mitigate it spreading, fail. Approaching this new variant like the original virus is short-sighted and unwise. We've seen devastating economic, mental and emotional, spiritual, and educational fall out with how it was handled last year, and yet people want to lockdown, quarantine, mask up and contact trace afresh. States that were super locked down had the virus spread despite efforts (hello, Michigan). Here we are Aug 2021, and those who wanted the shot, have gotten it. About half of Americans fall into that category. The others have had the virus and are relying on their natural immunity, or they prefer to live life sans the vaccine (whether they can't take the shot for other health reasons or don't want it).

Florida has thrived, despite liberals who have flocked there to get away from the policies they voted in or supported in the states they left. The hypocrisy of liberals moving to Texas and Florida is sickening and frustrating. But that is another issue. The topic in this post is how long will the insanity of illogical decisions reign?

Vaccinated and unvaccinated people get and spread COVID. Is the answer for everyone to wear a mask? Wearing masks never flattened any curve, so it makes no sense. Forcing people to get vaccinated--this is a serious red flag in a land that has typically valued freedom, especially when the death rate is so low among the majority of people who contract COVID, AND vaccinated and unvaccinated get it and can spread it. Is getting COVID really a major issue when the majority of people recover from it? When in the history of mankind has ZERO incidence of any virus been the benchmark? People get sick and people die. The response to COVID doesn't match with the rate of death. The response is destroying our culture and dividing families. It feels very much like the work of the devil. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. How much time and effective living has been stolen? How many relationships have died or people at their own despairing hands? How many jobs have been lost, businesses closed, and people's will to work destroyed due to all of the stimulus money handed out? Minimum wage is at an obscenely high rate. Businesses can't get enough workers. THIS IS NOT A NECESSARY EVIL OF COVID. It is the direct result of terrible, liberal leadership. I've heard it said, and we agree with it, that if you get abortion wrong, you get many other things wrong. Biden and Harris are the most pro-death leaders this Nation has ever seen. No genuine Christian could have voted for them. Their policies of destruction for America, the free America we've all known, are setting us up to be taken over as a nation. (Biden's reckless, short sighted, uncaring, irresponsible withdrawal from Afghanistan has destroyed our standing in the world as a trusted and powerful nation which can be relied on for protection from tyranny. It follows his idiotic approach to COVID nicely in setting the stage for us to be permanently at the mercy of stronger nations. Add to that CRT and it's infiltration into our pro trans military--we are doomed).

So COVID spreads....how many people have it doesn't matter. They have it and most recover. One of the most inane statements I've heard is that someone was "battling COVID-----asymptomatically". BATTLING??!! Do we also no longer understand what it means to battle illness? In the history of the world a battle against illness involved pain, risk, medicine, a genuine struggle, and it implied a factor of TIME. So some people have long term issues after recovery. Does this warrant shutting down society, hindering the closeness of social interactions with friends and family, ruining businesses and living in fear? Fear is never of or from God, yet it is a regular tool from the left to control society. It is effective, especially for those that think mainstream media is unbiased news. 😳

Christ followers have a responsibility to stand for truth. We must be gospel minded, loving, and involved with others. We are to be shrewd and discerning, and motivated by love for others, not love for ourselves. We must stand for truth. Buying into deception and lies does not help anyone draw close to God. It harms people and separates us, which makes us vulnerable to attack.

The Church Has No Fellowship with the World

The Church Has No Fellowship with the World: sermon worth listening to! By John MacArthur

Good morning, everybody. Wonderful to be together and to talk about the state of the church. Obviously a lot could be said, and I know you who are in ministry are always analyzing that—not only your...

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Key to Well-Trained Young Children

In looking back at posts written here at ACL about motherhood, there is one where the value of work is listed as a critical component in raising children. Hard work and its value is tantamount with child rearing on the whole, but what about infants and young toddlers? Is hard work still the most important thing to instill? After a child training discussion with our own older children while on vacation recently, it came to my attention to share in writing what we lived and what we teach our kids. It is important for daughters and sons to understand child rearing, even though they will have different duties than their spouses. Being on the same page as parents means having the same foundational views on all the things.

It is the opinion of ACL that a set schedule is the most important thing for infants and young children. It won't cure all ills nor will it work exactly as hoped for every child, but it provides needed structure to clearly see areas that may need special attention. Chaos brings more chaos. Order can only help. It is in that spirit this post is dedicated to my children.

A schedule is important for all people, but especially infants and children. There is a debate over what is nature vs. nurture in the behavior of children. Why are some babies difficult and others not so much? Why do some children sleep fine and others do not? Some of that is nature and some is nurture. Evidence abounds on the importance of sleep and how sleep begets sleep--put a toddler down for a nap and they will go to bed well typically. Waiting until they fall down from fatigue is not the answer, nor is waiting until they say they are tired. As the parent, understand the sleep needs of young children and put them down for a nap when they need to go down for a nap. There are charts to show how much sleep babies and children of all ages require. Strive to meet those goals. Be home so you 'can' meet those goals.

What about very young infants? A schedule is critical, not only for mom's milk supply, but also to help baby be content and confident their needs will be met timely and consistently. Do not make your baby cry before being fed or changed if possible. Remember the sacrifice of motherhood starts with the early days of parenting--your time and dreams are now to be focused on the needs of your baby. Be home, do the hard work of learning your baby's cues, master breastfeeding, and put your baby down to sleep on his/her own early on.

A feed/wake/sleep cycle during the day is ideal to help stretch out feedings and encourage good sleep. Nurse your baby, wake them up by changing their diaper afterward, and then lay them in their crib to settle in for a nap. If they haven't awoken by the time 3 hrs has passed (since your last feeding BEGAN), get them up to nurse if you are in the first 6 wks of their birth date. To wake a sleepy newborn, take their clothes off, change their diaper, and if you have to use a damp washcloth to wipe them off and arouse them, do so. You have to nurse every 3 hrs (give or take) to build up your milk supply. After nursing, change their diaper and keep them up for a few minutes, then lay them down awake in their crib to go to sleep for their next nap. It is fun to nurse a baby to sleep, so you can do that from time to time, but do not let that be the rule. You will quickly find you need a break and if your baby is too insecure to sleep alone, you'll be hard pressed to get the work around the house done-- let alone a shower or just some time to go eat something substantial. Note--the first few weeks be sure to nap when you put your baby down for a nap. Losing the nighttime sleep that is required for a good milk supply means you have to sleep during the day!! If you don't sleep during the day, your milk supply will suffer and so will your mental state. The first 6 weeks post-partum are not a time to show off your skills of taking your baby everywhere you go. Babies do not need to go to the movies and surely you can miss out on that activity. You need to be home-a LOT. Fatigue hurts mom's milk supply; the body needs to recover after giving birth.

This cycle of nursing every 3 hrs goes on all through a 24 day. At night put your baby to bed at the same time, and get them up after 3 hrs. This is for the first 6 weeks. After this point, stick to the same routine, but if they sleep longer than 3 hrs, let them. They will wake up when they need to. Take note if you have too much milk and need to pump a little to relieve the pressure, but try not to pump a ton because then your supply will be too great for baby's nighttime needs. Ideally if you pump it will be when you have ample milk during the day.

This predictable routine communicates to an infant they can count on their needs being met when they have them. Babies are not small adults, nor are they little kids, they are infants. This may seem obvious, but many parents act like they are little adults and drag them all over hill and vale, failing to instill the security and consistency babies thrive on. This is also not the time to try and teach a baby not to be demanding. By consistently and regularly meeting their needs, you are instilling what they can learn at this age, which is that Mom will take care of their needs. You will learn what your baby's cries mean and if they are regularly fed, changed and have slept, it will not be difficult to make them wait a minute or two if they start yelling for something that isn't a critical need, but if you are willy nilly with routine and schedule, you'll respond to every whimper like it is urgent, teaching your baby that in order to get needs or wants met, they must demand them. The transitions between these stages happen before you know it. A very young newborn shouldn't have to cry for needs to be met. A 2 month old should be able to wait a minute or a two for you to come when they cry out for you. Note--early on it is more than OK to hold your baby if they cry for you--they need to know you are always there for them. The early weeks of this behavior pass quickly. The key is to have the right attitude and make choices rather than react. Keep your end-goals in mind and don't be a slave to crying--understand it and do the part you must do quickly and consistently (like nursing before they cry for it, but in the morning or after a nap with a baby that is over a month old, don't rush in as soon as you hear they are awake. Let them enjoy being awake and OK by themselves. When they cry out to say "come get me"--after they've cooed and 'played' for a few minutes, respond. You can say, "I'll be there in a minute." and make it a minute--not 10). You will see when your baby can hold off for you to come, but if you are nursing, do not play games with the feeding time. It isn't a scenario to use for lessons in self-control. Babies need to eat and they need to eat regularly, and they need to know you will take care of it when that time comes. Young children can handle being told to wait and sit patiently. There is a difference.

My suggestion is to stick to the feed/wake/sleep routine as closely as possible through the first 6 wks of life. It goes fast and is a sacrifice worth making. Your milk supply should be ample as long as you've been eating well and drinking plenty of water (remember soda and teas dehydrate), and your baby will be well on his/her way to sleeping well later on in life.

A slight off shoot of sleeping routines is to have a routine of using the high chair long before your baby can eat solid food. The reclining high chairs are perfect when baby is awake during meals. We were given a really cool folding travel chair that sat on a normal kitchen chair which we used once the babies could sit up unassisted. As soon as solids are introduced, sitting in the chair alone and picking at Cheerios is a thrill and Mom/Dad are able to continue eating a meal together in peace. Before that time though, the skill of sitting alone needs to be taught. Remember, training your baby starts on day 1, not when they are walking about. Routine, consistency and predictability will help you all. If you aren't planning to feed your 5 yr old, don't feed your 2 yr old--teach them to feed themselves as early as possible. Having meals at routine times is important for adults so keep to that as closely as you can while working around your young infant's needs. Use the reclining high chair, swing or bouncy seat when they are tiny and awake during meals.

After a few weeks, you can put your baby in a playpen while you quickly shower. Start to give them alone time for a few minutes looking at their mobile once they are staying awake for longer stretches. This will increase as they get older so you can do some housework or exercise, and they are learning to focus and be securely alone for up to 20 mins or so. Sit black and white books in front of them when they are very small and build up to primary colored books when they can see those. I don't recall the ages where these things change but you can find it a parenting book or online.

Ideally you will be able to be home full time with your babies while your husband works to provide for you. God will give you ministry opportunities fitting for a full time mother, but be content to heed the calling He's given that is within your 4 walls first and foremost. You won't regret the benefits of nursing, especially once your infant is a few months old. It is much faster and cheaper to breastfeed, just practice being discreet and do the hard work of building up your milk supply in the first 6 to 8 weeks. The schedule you will get your baby used to will serve you well as the toddler years come. The sleep struggles you'll hear about won't be an issue in your home; your child won't have bags under their eyes and you and your husband will get plenty of alone time in the evenings.

I know you will do great if the Lord plans for you to be parents when the time is right!

Love,

Mom

LINK ERROR---Convenient.

I'm not sure how this happened but as with all things computer related, errors occur. I'm sure I must have clicked the wrong one. The link was supposed to go to a story about a virus (monkey pox) on airplanes and the author acted like masks are the answer. It was despicable and clearly geared toward more fear-mongering. The article was poorly written--sensationalist and biased; it was on Yahoo. I can't find the story now (checked Reuters, AP and a UK article) but this link was supposed to go there.

To be clear: we at ACL are all for any pro-life measure and anything limiting the insanity of CRT.

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Do You Really Believe This?

I mean, there is sensationalism then there is this. 🤯🤯🤯

How do people live with themselves?

Mid-July Harvest 2021

Hobby gardening.....no one's living off this but it is fun. The kale is plentiful but not pictured because, well, we eat tons of it and the chard, so it's not special per se. :) I don't do carrots or corn annually, and it's my first Gladiola year.

The Church is Essential

Christians, and those who think they are Christ-followers, will benefit from Pastor Darrin's sermon entitled, The Church is Essential.

I found so much more information than I'd imagined. It took a twist that was unexpected yet welcome.

This world wants to distract us from the things of God. Those things won't look overtly evil if we walk with Christ....that wouldn't be subtle enough for Satan. He goes after the saved carefully, gradually turning up the heat, ensnaring us at our weak points then slowly reeling us in.

"Be sober of spirit, be on the alert, your adversary, the devil, prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour...."

There are prime times we are vulnerable. Keep the church essential in the formal and informal ways. Don't get loose near your vulnerable points, but tighten up more than necessary to ensure you stay covered.

Turn to the Lord While You Can

July marks such a sad time in The Old Dominion State.

Grow a few pot plants, use marijuana recreationally, commit crimes without worry of the death penalty, do NOT release a balloon, and FORGET snow days-those are the things of by-gone happy times celebrating childhood. Finally, as Democrats would say, it is easier than ever to vote early and vote often.

Indiana is in the news....a federal judge will face God's judgment over killing the unborn. Since when is education something to block? Abortion Reversal

Turn to the Lord, only He can be trusted to do what is right and good. Worse is coming. Be careful who you align with and trust.

Patch has a summary