Ready to Party!!!
Mark Shea has a charming reflection on “Why Very Earnest Christians Don't Get Invited To Parties.” This involves a review of the Veggie Tale Movie by a woman who finds it just..........wrong. I should be so lucky to have my biggest media concern be the Biblical truth of a children’s movie about singing vegetables.

Reading this review reminded me of a homeschooling catalog that I receive, but dislike using because of their dour attitude and occassional outright anti-Catholicism. These may be ‘good’ people, but so cheerless and earnest that I certainly wouldn’t want to be in an elevator for 30 seconds with them, let alone invite them to a party. (If they would even go to a party.....)

For example, they sell a music tape for children Hide ‘em in Your Heart -This series by Steve Green has everything we could want in a tape; for what song could be better than pure Scripture set to music? ............... If you feel that hymns alone are what a family should listen to, then this tape is NOT for you. If, however, your first criterion for selecting music is “what are the words?,” then this is a tape you must consider! The songs are simply God’s words put to music. I know our children have quickly memorized all of the songs. What a painless way to learn Scripture as a family! Oh, to have only hymns sung in my home. To have Steve Green as the ‘edgy’ musician. That would be .......... strange.

If you dare to teach visual art, they offer God and the History of Art
There will never be a greater artist than the Lord God Himself. Yet when we talk of studying the history of art, we rarely refer back to this Master Artist. Instead we examine the lives and abilities of the creatures, and not the Creator. And here is the complication, because many of the great masters did not arrive at that label due to moral conduct, such a historical study can often leave a Christian family feeling sullied.

However, because we do know that studying the world's greatest artists is an important element of becoming a capable art student, we are pleased that there is now a curriculum that resolves this dilemma. God and the History of Art offers us a unique blend of art and history. With a main focus on Christian artists who have inspired fellow believers through their work, and the use of many hands-on assignments, your child will finish this 4-year curriculum with a great foundation pertaining to art history. Well, duh, I don’t dump a lot of facts on the kids about Michelangelo, Caravaggio or the like. But studying them does not really make us feel sullied. Unless I just got too sullied in my college days and am totally oblivious. We’re looking at Caravaggio - not inviting him over to babysit. Of course, this is a step above another art book that a catalog had and recommended that parents put Post-It notes over the ‘naughty bits.’ My children just aren’t cooperative enough not to look under the Post-Its.

Then comes the advice on Christmas Throw out the Christmas tree. Of what spiritual significance is it? However, what do you do if you want your home to reflect the real reason for the season, and keep the sentimental value that a decorated tree often has. A creative alternative for our family has been collecting nativity sets. From handmade to porcelain, pewter to plastic, each set has a special memory for our family. Other families can collect angels, sheep and shepherds, or camels and kings. As your collection grows, so will the excitement when you unwrap each year. You’ll never miss decorating the Christmas tree, but if you do, decorate one outside with edibles for the wildlife.

Sack the Christmas stocking. This will be harder for those of you with handmade stockings of emotional value, but consider what a stocking represents. It is an obvious link to the most corrupting influence to this holy season, Santa. While the ancient story of a generous old man may have some truth to it, today’s lies of Santa benefit no one except Satan. Only God knows when you’re sleeping, knows when you are awake, and knows your full sin status. As a mother, it would be tempting to wag my finger and threaten about Santa’s gifts. Far better it is to point my child to God and to daily make real His gifts to us, to say nothing of the gift of eternity that Santa could never deliver on. Blah, blah, blah. Instead of modifying fun customs and keeping them within reason and appropriate to the real meaning of Christmas, just exorcise the whole kit and kaboodle. Sorry folks - I would miss my Christmas tree. It is not what Christmas is all about. But I would miss it. Is that so wrong? We don’t spend much on Christmas - gifts are much more expressions of affection and symbolic of the giver and receiver. I don’t really think Satan is gaining too much from our family Christmas celebration.