This Blogger is TEMPORARILY not Blogging

Hi to all of you wonderful regular readers of my blog!

Due to a sudden and unexpected - and delightful - turn of events, I have a pressing need to direct my writing energies elsewhere for a while, and maybe even the next few months. (If you want a hint, check out my tags for this post.) For that reason, I won't be posting on Equip Academy at least for the next fortnight, and probably (God willing!) until around mid-February 2010.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm giving up TV as well. Even though The Office is showing two nights a week at a manageable time starting this week!

Please keep me in your prayers. I look forward to writing for you again in 2010.

Grace, peace and love in Christ,
Sharon

PS If you are hanging out for something else to read online, you might like to check out these blogs, which I will also be reading (some more frequently than others):

Amy Edward's blog Veritas at Home - an American homeschooling mum of four + one in-utero, who loves BSF like me and is a faithful Christian. (Did I mention Amy's blog shares a "birthday" with mine, and we have become great blogging buddies since we met online?)

Meredith's blog The Key to the Door - a fellow Perthite whose husband is a graduate of the same Theological College as mine, Meredith shares insights from her Bible reading and on Christian living.

John Granger's blog Forks High School Professor - for those who share with me a fascination in the deeper meanings buried in by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga.

Kellie's blog Blue House Academy - another Christian homeschooler, whose American family is "touched by Austism".

For other recommendations, please check out the "Blogs I enjoy" and "Friends who blog" links in my left hand sidebar.

Philippians 4 kids' story

Paul and Timothy wrote to the church in Philippi
(Links to: Philippians 1 kids' stuff, Philippians 2 kids' stuff, Philippians 3 kids' stuff.)
Paul was thankful for the Philippians' kind gifts to him - Philippians 4

(I will post the picture here when my dear friend Chrissie D completes it; I'm actually ready with the children's story early for once!)

Do you remember the letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi?

In the letter, Paul told the Christians about how they should live. Paul also thanked them for all that they had been doing, especially the help that the Philippians had given to him.

Do you remember how Paul was in chains in jail?

People who are in jail are stuck in one place. Paul couldn’t get out of jail to go to the shops for a loaf of bread, some meat, fruit, or vegetables if he was hungry. Paul couldn’t leave the jail to buy new clothes when his clothes were worn out, or to buy blankets to keep him warm, either. And with all the letters Paul wrote while he was in jail, he needed paper and writing tools as well!

So because Paul couldn’t go to the shops, Paul’s friends, like Timothy, had to buy these things for him. Paul’s friends brought the things he needed to Paul while he was in jail.

But because Paul was in jail, he couldn’t work to earn any money! So once again, Paul’s friends helped him, by giving him gifts that probably included money to buy what he needed.

It wasn’t just Paul’s friends who were nearby who helped him, either. The Philippian church had helped Paul in the past, when he had travelled to a place called Thessalonica, to tell people there about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And now the Philippians had helped Paul again! Even though Paul was in jail a long way away from Philippi, the church had known that Paul would need help. They had made a collection of gifts, and given them to a man named Epaphroditus to take to Paul. Epaphroditus had travelled a long way to get to Paul, and he had become very sick on the way. But in the end, Epaphroditus had reached Paul at the jail, and given Paul all the gifts from the Philippians.

Paul was very grateful for the gifts Epaphroditus had brought. He wrote in his letter to the Philippians how thankful he was that God had supplied everything he needed, through their generous gifts. Paul wrote his letter to say thank you to the Philippians for all they had done for him, and to tell them that God would surely give them all they needed as well.

:: God uses Christians to help other Christians, supplying all we need.

> We can help other Christians.
> We can pray for Christians in trouble.
> We can send gifts to help Christians in need.

Yes, Anna has asthma as well

That's six out of six.

Philippians 3 kids' story & colouring picture

Paul and Timothy wrote to the church in Philippi
(Links to: Philippians 1 kids' stuff, Philippians 2 kids' stuff.)
Paul forgot what was behind and pressed on heavenward in Christ Jesus - Philippians 3
[This illustration is an original drawing by my dear friend "Chrissie D", one of the ladies from our church fellowship. Isn't she talented? I have only uploaded a 200x283pixel image, because although I think her drawing is wonderful, she owns the copyright, not me. If you love it and would like to use it with your own children or in a church kids ministry, please leave a comment. I'll ask "Chrissie D" if she wants to allow a full image to be available for download to interested parties, and get back to you.]

Do you remember the letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi?

In the letter, Paul told the Philippians how they should live. He also told them all about how he was living. Paul told the Philippians what he thought about his past, and how much he was looking forward to his future with Jesus.

Paul told the Philippians that before he became a Christian, he had put his trust in all sorts of things. Paul was an Israelite (that is, a Jew), and he had been well known for his passion for keeping the Jewish Law. Back then, Paul had thought the important thing was to be the son of a son of a son of a long line of sons descended from the first fathers of Israel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul thought that was the only way to be one of God’s chosen people.

But now that Paul knew about Jesus Christ, Paul didn’t think those things were important any more. He knew there is only one way to belong to God’s chosen people. It isn’t anything to do with things we might think make a person important. Having lots of money or even treasure doesn’t make you important to God. Being very clever, or very beautiful, or being able to tell the best stories or run the fastest in a race doesn’t make God love you.

God loves Christians, who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Paul knew that being a Jew wasn’t important any longer, even though it had been in the past. What the Jews had been looking forward to, all the years they had lived in and out of the Promised Land, had now come true! God had sent His Son Jesus to be our Saviour. Being a follower of Jesus Christ will always be important in God’s opinion.

So Paul told the Philippians he wasn’t paying attention to all those things he had thought were important before. Paul said he forgot what was behind him.

Paul wrote to the Philippians that the only thing that was important to him now, was how fantastic it was to know that Jesus was his Lord and King. Paul wrote that he pressed onward to take hold of Jesus’ promises. He wrote that he stretched forward towards heaven, where he knew Jesus was waiting for him. Paul knew that Jesus would keep His promise to return one day and make all Christians perfect and glorious.

Paul told the Philippians to follow his example. And we should, as well.

:: God wants Christians to focus on Jesus and the promised glories of heaven.

> We can forget about the things other people think are important.
> We can look forward to being with Jesus and pleasing Him.

WG Bible Study Philippians 4

Questions for Home Study

Friday: Paul gives advice on living in the peace of God

1. Read Philippians 4:2-7.

a) Context (4:3) What had Euodia, Syntyche and Clement done in the past?

b) Context (4:2) What were Euodia and Syntyche doing at the moment?

c) (4:2-3) What did Paul want Syzygus (“loyal yokefellow” to do about the women’s problem?

d) (4:4-5a) What two pieces of advice did Paul give Euodia, Syntyche and Syzygus?

e) (4:5b-7) How does knowing that Jesus is near, and praying to God, help our hearts and minds to be guarded against disagreements and division by God’s peace?

f) Connect What relationship do you need to pray about? So pray!

Saturday: Paul writes of good thoughts, his good example, and God’s presence

2. Read Philippians 4:8-9.

a) (4:8) Think about all you have learned about the gospel this year. What is true and right?

b) (4:8) Think about all you have learnt about holiness this year. What is pure, noble or admirable?

c) (4:8) Think about all you have learnt about godliness this year. What is lovely or excellent?

d) (4:8-9) Think about the example of Paul and the other apostles, such as Peter, that we have learnt about this year. What is praiseworthy?

e) Connect How can you “put into practice” any of this in your own life, knowing the God of peace will be with you?

Sunday: Church!

3. How did the teaching or preaching you listened to today complement what you are learning from Philippians this week?

Monday: Paul is content in all situations

4. Read Philippians 4:10-13.

a) Context (4:10) Also read Philippians 4:18. What is Paul rejoicing and thankful for?

b) (4:11-12) What does Paul say about his own contentment?

c) Connect What areas of your life do you need to be more content?

d) (4:13) What is “the secret” of Paul’s contentment?

e) Connect How can Paul’s “secret” and his advice in Philippians 4:6 help you to be content?

Tuesday: Paul thanks the Philippians for their gifts sent through Epaphroditus

5. Read Philippians 4:14-23.

a) Context (4:14-16) What have the Philippians done in the past (and again now) to help Paul?

b) (4:17-18) What is Paul looking forward to on the Philippian’s behalf?

c) (4:19,20-23) How does Paul reassure the Philippians?

d) Connect How does Paul’s reassurance inspire your confidence in God for your situation?

e) (4:20) What is the ultimate aim of Paul’s letter to the Philippians?

Wednesday: Review

6. Re-read Philippians 3.

a) What was the main thing you learnt from Philippians 4 this week about how you, as a Christian, should live?

b) What was the main thing you learnt from Philippians 4 this week about the God of peace?

Thursday: Women’s Gathering!

7. In your Prayer Triplet: Pray that our lives will reflect the peace God has given us. Pray also that we will be content in our circumstances and ready to help others in their circumstances.

Tony Abbott the new Leader of the Opposition

For the first time in my memory, Australia has a parliamentary leader - albeit in opposition -who is a loud and proud Christian. Abbott is unlike previous and current leaders who are nominal Christians, publicly acknowledging their faith, but seeming to choose to limit the way this affects their political decisions (as with PM Kevin Rudd and ex-PM John Howard). Abbott is a professing Christian (he is a practicing Catholic) who is very open about the impact his faith has on his life and political direction.

Thank You God for this unexpected news! Please use Tony Abbott as a voice for Your will and purpose in the Australian parliament. And is it too much to ask that the next Prime Minister of Australia might be this man, that he may uphold the glory of your Name among the nations? Amem.

Just bragging... and a health update

As of this morning, I have lost over 20kg in just over a year, since I began my quest to return to the weight I was before I gave birth to four children in four years. That's 44 pounds, for my friends in the US. My weight has been hovering up and down for the last few months, but I have finally broken the barrier of my previous weight loss low. *Doing a happy dance*

Although, while I am on the topic of health, yesterday Jeff was diagnosed with mild asthma (he had juvenile asthma as a child) and Abigail was diagnosed with "yes, that's definitely an asthma wheeze". (And I was prescribed a course of prednisolone to help my preventer medication to work better.) So the current status is 5 out of 6 of our family members have been diagnosed with asthma in the last three months. 4 out of 6 have non-mild (but still readily manageable) asthma. Now we just have to get Anna to the doctor, as I suspect she has it as well.

Meyer and her Plain Folks

And while we're on the topic of propaganda, has anyone noticed how blatant Stephenie Meyer is in her use of the Plain Folks technique? She's been using it from the beginning to the end of these books, in comments such as these:
"A huge thank you to... my online family, the talented staff and writers at fansofrealitytv.com..." (from Twilight's Acknowledgements page.)
"And thanks also to my favourite band, the very aptly named Muse, for providing a saga's worth of inspiration." (from Breaking Dawn's Dedication page.)
Not to mention in her (now removed) MySpace site and her ringing endorsement of fansites such as TwilightLexicon.com.

The TwiSaga: a pre-evangelistic treatise for Mormonism?

Aha! The secret has become public! A Mormon has written an article for The West Australian newspaper's "Agenda" segment today explaining some of the most obvious Mormonisms of the Twilight series: "Being a vampire means being powerful, strong and beautiful, with a generous helping of unearned wealth. For Meyer's family of vampires, it also offers a number of payoffs offered by religion, in particular, the Mormon brand: Eternal Life, Eternal Family and Eternal Love." Nothing like sparing use of the propaganda technique of Transfer, is there?

Not only that, the article's author actually went so far as to use Twilight's Mormonisms as a hook to invite readers who can't get enough of the books to "pop in one Sunday to your local Mormon church. They won't bite."

The last two paragraphs in full:
"And while women are beyond exactly placing themselves in Bella's shoes, Edward is the man they want for their husband/boyfriend/ next internet date. Danger arises when, without another Twilight book to read, life begins to feel empty. Readers want to prolong the experience but I believe Stephenie Meyer will resist the temptation to extend the story.
She'll leave Bella and Edward where they belong, deep in the dream of Happily Ever After. Escape your ordinary world in other ways - see the film of New Moon, read the fanfiction on Twilighted.net, or pop in one Sunday to your local Mormon church. They won't bite."
Anyone looking for an exemplar of the Lesser of Two Evils propaganda technique?

I've been waiting for this moment to arrive since I first read the comment below on a Normal Mormon Husbands blog post (it is currently the first of 153 comments on that post). Sandy wrote [my emphasis]:
"Do you think that would work as a missionary line? 'We would like to tell you about a wonderful plan for your family to be together forever...and you DON'T even have to suck their blood! Would you like to hear more?'"

It seems the New Moon movie was just popular enough for Mormons to start deciding they should capitalise on the pre-evangelistic treatise that the Twilight Saga provides. Or given the imminent release of John Granger's book Spotlight, which will expose and explain many of the Mormon metaphors in the Twilight books next month, perhaps certain LDS members feel they should take what evangelistic opportunities they can before Meyer's insistence that the books have nothing to do with her Mormon faith is shown to be complete codswallop.

Or... could the article be a one-off that just somehow managed to get past The West's editors since they needed something to publish in response to the phenomenal box office achievements of New Moon and someone just happened to hand them this piece? I can't work it out. The West's website can't find the article for me, no matter which way I search. The author "Melissa O'Shea", who is apparently real enough for Bill Hatto to photograph her for the piece, is curiously unable to be found by google. (The piece's photographer Bill Hatto is on google. Even I am on google! How in all the sticky wwweb can someone be published in a state newspaper and have a PhD and remain hidden from google???) And while we are on the topic of PhDs, who (according to the author bio at the end of the two-page article) "has a PhD in writing" from an unspecified university?

Perhaps the LDS church aren't so ready to admit to Twilight's religious metaphors after all...

Since it is so mysteriously missing from online sources elsewhere, I am going to include a scan of the piece here, for your elucidation:(Click on the image and then zoom in to read the text yourself.)