Peacherino Monthly
A newsletter for Christian Homeschoolers
-By Kiera Sterken, Talia DeAndrea, Sam Parker, Kara Siert, and Emma Campbell
world view
"You're a grand old flag, you're a high-flying flag!"
"God shed His grace on thee!"
Sometimes, I forget the reason we have all this. I forget how important July 4th really is, beyond the fire works and the 1812 Overture. I forget the month of February, 1945, when the U.S. Marine Corps struggled a valiant and bloody battle on Iwo-Jima to conquer the slopes of Mt. Surabachi World Trade Center U.S.
"From the halls of Montezuma..."
And along the lines of sacrifice, there is another important event that I often don't think a whole lot about. Oh, every Sunday perhaps, for a few hours I focus on it, and ponder it deeply. But then I move on. The death of Christ doesn't seem as if it would be hard to remember, does it? I mean, it's iconic. But it's not the first thing on my mind when I sit down to a pile of school papers. It's not the first thing that pops into my head when I pick up a good book. And it is DEFINITELY NOT the first thing I think about when I get into an argument. When I want something, or I "need" something, the cross is not my first thought.
"Oh, that old rugged cross!"
But that is not right. The cross should be my centerpiece. It should be the most important aspect of my life, and it should SHOW. But it doesn't, or at least, not always. Maybe I should think about that. Maybe I should start considering taking a different approach to my life. Maybe it's time that I glance up from my own life, my own ambition, and my own desires to take a look around, and notice the sacrifice going on around me everyday. My parents work to keep a roof above me, and a bed below me, the military risks life and limb to keep my own life and limbs intact, and Christ...well, Christ was scourged, mocked, flouted, spat on, and finally, was nailed to a cross...in my stead. Wow. So pick this apart. If it weren't for sacrifice, I would be homeless, destroyed by my enemies, and finally, crucified on a tree. You know, when you put it that way, it makes having to wait an extra 15 minutes for your turn on the computer seem bearable.
"Glory, glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on!"
Before I Go...
A Quick Blurb
I learned the hard way that you shouldn't fish for compliments: I caught the wrong fish. I was fishing for compliments, and i came out with a large trout. And I'm not a big trout fan. I would of preferred a nice salmon. Or maybe a tilapia. Anyway, it just goes to show you where compliment fishing can lead.
Back Yard Missions
Look around you...missionaries are everywhere. Some serve across the world. Some serve in our neighborhoods. But they all serve the same Father: Christ
I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Josie Parker (my sister), and one of my very good friends, Nick Fights, and talk about their missions trip to Muncie , Indiana
1. On how many missions trips have you been?
Josie: This was my first.
Nick: Three, I think.
2. How did you guys earn the money to go on the trip, and how much was required?
Josie: $115 was required. I babysat, and both my brother, Ben, and Nick here made a donation to me. Thanks, by the way, Nick.
Nick: Yeah, you're welcome. I mowed lawns to get the money.
3. Who did you guys go with?
Nick: Well, let's see, we went with lots of people...
Josie: We went with a service group called Service Team Six.
4. How did you guys reach your desired destination?
Nick: In a car. With wheels, and an engine. (laughs)
5. Where is Service Team Six based?
Josie: Tabor Baptist Church
6. What was the main purpose of your trip?
Nick: To serve in the inner-city Muncie
7. What jobs did you and your friends undertake?
Nick: Oh you know, moving bricks, sawing trees, sweeping, mowing, clearing lots...moving naked mannequins down the street... (laughs)
Josie: Yeah, Clearing lots, polishing floors, pulling trees down with ropes.
8. How long were you guys in Muncie
Josie: I was there for five days.
Nick: Um, I was there for five as well.
9. Did you guys enjoy the trip?
Josie: Yes, I did.
Nick: Yeah, it was great.
10. What was your favorite part?
Josie: Pulling down a tree with a rope.
Nick: Scaring women in the wee hours of the morning. (laughs)
11. Where did you and your friends stay the nights?
Nick: In a really creepy attic.
Josie: The girls and I stayed in the Muncie Mission warehouse nursery.
12. Would you guys consider doing something like this again?
Nick: Yes, I'm already signed up for next year.
Josie: I'm as signed up for next year as I can be without actually being signed up.
Nick: Me too, I'm actually not signed up.
13. You went to serve Christ. Do you feel that you did so fully?
Nick: Yes.
Josie: Definitely.
14. Did you get to share the gospel story with anyone?
Nick: Through our actions, we were, yeah.
About Josie:
Age: 15
Family: Sue and Brooks Parker (mom and dad), Sam (13), Ben(11), Anna(7), Matthew(4)
Lives: Anderson , Indiana
Likes to: Read, play piano, and play soccer
About Nick:
Age: 15
Family: Lisa Fights (mom), Noel(11)
Lives: Anderson , Indiana
Likes to: Bike, play soccer, operate his lawn care business
About the Blood N' Fire:
Blood-N-Fire is an active Christian Community that intentionally embraces diversity and seeks out creative ways to express worship to God. If you are searching for a deeper connection with God, we invite you to come and experience His love through music, discussion, arts, service, and fellowship. To read more about Blood-N-Fire ministries, visit them at www.bloodnfiremuncie.com
To see pictures of the Service Team Six Muncie gocubsgo914@hotmail.com .
By Sam Parker
bible corner
For this issue’s Bible corner, I’d like to share something with you – something that happened to me…and changed my life.
It started at church camp. It was the last night – campfire night. We all sat around the fire, and our youth pastor told us to be quiet and look at the fire and just think about the week – what we’d learned, what God had showed us during the sessions and our quiet times. After that, we did worship, and I began to cry. I wrapped my arms around myself as I shivered. Sure, I was physically cold, but my heart and soul were warm. It was like God Himself was wrapping His loving arms around me. When we started singing "Grace Like Rain," something happened inside me. "Amazing Grace" is a song that touches my heart like no other song does. I prayed as I sang and thanked God for being so good and always being there for me, even when I neglect Him – which I do so, so much. My heart was filled with joy as I cried.
After worship, our youth pastor told us his testimony, which was really amazing. Then he opened it up for anyone to share what they had learned that week, what God had taught them and showed them through the sessions and our quiet times. To my pleasant surprise, a lot of boys talked about what they had learned, followed by a couple of girls. When my friend shared her testimony, I cried again. It kept going through my head that God is so amazing.
After that, we crowded closer to the fire, and our youth pastor held a light-up disk and said to pass it to someone and say something about them or to them. I cried during part of this, too. What people said to me and about me touched my heart, and what people said to others touched my heart as well. One boy who used to be a goof-off had been listening closely and seriously taking notes during the sessions that week. I cried as people said that they were proud of him, that they could tell he was taking it seriously. One of our pastors had the disk, and he gave it to a boy who goofs off a lot and gets in trouble a lot. He said, "I see a lot of potential in you, but I don’t think you see it in yourself. I don’t think you know how much Christ loves you." I agree completely with what he said. It was an amazing moment.
So, in closing, the night was amazing and the week was amazing. It wasn’t just a "camp high." It was real. God is real. God is amazing. And His love is real. And that week, I learned that if I want God to use me for His glory and His purpose, I need to be willing to say, "I will follow you," even though I don’t know where He will take me, even though it will most likely be outside my comfort zone, even though it will be hard. God says that it won’t be easy – it’ll be hard. But He promises to be with us the whole way if we trust in Him. And that week I was reminded of just how amazing God is, how amazing His salvation is, and how amazing grace is.
By Talia DeAndrea
Things you don’t know about…
Popcorn
Definition of popcorn-
Pop·corn (pŏp'kôrn')
1. A variety of corn, having hard kernels that burst to form white, irregularly shaped puffs when heated.
2. The edible popped kernels of this variety of corn.
1. A small piece, as of polystyrene, used in quantity to protect items during packaging and shipment.
EVERYONE knows what popcorn is but not everyone knows many facts about it! I asked a few people what they knew about popcorn and here are some responses I got.
“Um, it can come in different colors.”
“IT’S CRUNCHY!!!”
“Indiana
“The smaller the kernel, the BIGGER the taste!”
Those facts are pretty bare bones, but all of them have SOME truth to them.
DID YOU KNOW…
> Popcorn can pop up to 3 feet in the AIR!!!!
> Americans eat 1.12 BILLION pounds of popcorn a year!
> Out of five different types of corn, only popcorn pops!
> Popcorn sales go wayyyyy up in the Fall!
> The world largest popcorn ball measured 12 feet in diameter and had 2,000 pounds of popcorn in it, 40,000 pounds of sugar, 280 gallons of corn syrup, and 400 gallons of water!
> The most popular way to cook popcorn is in microwaves. Most microwaves have a “popcorn” button!
> If you made a trail of popcorn from New York City Los Angeles
So, next time you grab a second handful of popcorn, remember…
Popcorn kernels
In the pot
Jump and dance
When they get hot.
In the pot
Jump and dance
When they get hot.
When they've
Carried on enough,
They do a flip
And turn to fluff!
By Emma Campbell
poem
His face is marred by a wrinkle in his forehead
Premature for such a young man
He sits and thinks
From the time he could listen he accepted what he was taught
He’d never questioned it before
He sits and thinks
But his new friend showed him things in a book
They didn’t flow with what he’d been taught
He sits and thinks
Maybe Jesus was more than a man and a teacher
What if he’d been wrong?
He sits and thinks
The words in the book made sense
Jesus died for him
He sits and prays
By Jessica Webster
Contest
I’m very happy to announce our first ever contest winner!!! Emma Campbell wrote a wonderful ending to the story! Her ending is in blue. Enjoy!
Noel was washing the dishes like she did every night after supper, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Coming!” she shouted. She hurried to the door, and opened it. To her surprise, there was a very peculiar looking woman standing outside! She had long, red hair, and very pale skin. Her eyes were blue, like the color of a cloudless summer day. Her arms looked unusually long, and her legs strangely short. “Good day!” she said, with a loud, obnoxious voice. “Same to you!” said Noel. “Be a good dear and let me in!” the woman said as she pushed Noel aside and stomped in. “Hey! You can’t just barge into my house like that!” Noel said in pure shock. The woman seemed to pay to mind to her though, and bolted down the hallway toward the living room, Noel close behind. “What’s your name?” Noel said. “Hollingsworth. Gertrude A. Hollingsworth!” “Well that’s… a long name.” “Why thank you, my dear!” Gertrude said. “I think you should get out of my house, though!” said Noel. “Why do you say that?” Gertrude replied. “Because I didn’t invite you in, and I don’t think my parents would like you rummaging through our pantry like that!” Noel said, for it was true that Gertrude had made her way to the kitchen and was tossing things left and right out of the pantry. “Here it is!” Gertrude yelled. “Here what is?” Noel said, slightly annoyed from being ignored. “The box!” Gertrude said, still quite loud. “What bo-” Noel was interrupted as Gertrude suddenly grabbed Noel’s arm and dashed toward the front door. “What are you doing?” Noel shouted.
“I’m kidnapping you,” Gertrude said with a broad surprisingly genuine smile.
“Um, kidnapping me? I DON’T think so”! Noel yelled so loud that she startled herself! With that Gertrude opened her rickety car door, and by habit Noel got in!
“What am I doing?” Noel thought just as Gertrude started the rumbling engine, drove away and began babbling happily “Well since you are kidnapped by me, what do you want to do?”
“What do I want to DO?” Noel thought “What do you mean?” she finally answered aloud. Gertrude looked puzzled… “I MEAN do you want to go to the park or play games or go swimming, or…” Noel tuned out for a second and NOW it was HER turn to look puzzled, Gertrude had covered a lot of ground since Noel remembered… for it just seemed that they pulled out of the driveway and now they were turning at the end of the block!
“This could be REALLY fun,” she concluded (in her head of course). “Well,,,” Noel started, “I’ve always wanted to go to Awesomely Awesome World… A new theme park that opened up just down the road from here…” Gertrude almost jumped up through the roof of the car! Which actually wouldn’t take TOO much effort since the car roof was sagging down at LEAST 5 inches.
“AWESOMLY AWSOME WORLD????” she sounded surprised but Noel couldn’t tell whether it was a good or bad surprised feeling, for she had just met Gertrude and wasn’t sure whether she would like the idea.
“Is that where the new Blasting Wedgie water coaster is at?” Now Gertrude sounded like a kid in a candy store! “Yes, yes, YES” Noel said, Gertrude’s happiness was rubbing off on Noel. “OH MY! Gertrude was ecstatic. “Well then, that is where we will go!!!”
Gertrude and Noel were both VERY happy! When they FINALLY pulled in at the new crazy cool theme park, Noel had just ONE more question. “Gertrude?” “Yes???” Gertrude answered, “Well, I was just thinking, WHY did you need that box from my pantry??”
To Noel’s surprise Gertrude started laughing so hard that the car shook! “Oh Honey,” Gertrude said still tickled by the question, “that was just a box of darn Cheez Its! I got ‘em just for a snack! A girl’s gonna get hungry riding all those crazy rides!” And with that they walked up to the entrance. Noel knew that as long as she was with Gertrude, she was in good hands!
By Kiera Sterken, ending by Emma Campbell
books to check out
Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
“Black Beauty is a wonderful book, about the life of a horse that is very well raised, but is sold from master to master. I very much enjoyed reading it, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a heart for horses!”
-Kiera Sterken -
short story
Meredith finds herself in a medieval country called “Meriel”…where the king claims she is the rescuer everyone has been waiting for.
Meredith kept running through the grass, forcing her tired body to keep moving…perhaps, if she ran far enough the forest would somehow appear, and she would see her home again…
She was not Meriel’s rescuer. She was not the man King David awaited. She was just Meredith, a girl with an extensive imagination and a heart that longed for adventure. But not a full-scale adventure… maybe just… a backyard adventure, one that didn’t involve fighting and battles and blood.
“Stop! Please, please stop!” a voice rang out behind Meredith.
She willed herself not to slow her steps, but somehow, the voice’s entreating won. Meredith turned around to see the young girl, still clutching the blue handkerchief.
“You can’t leave us! There’s no way to go! You can’t go back.” The girl paused to take a breath. “Even if you’re not ready to save Meriel…don’t go.”
“I have to go home. I can’t stay here! I don’t even know where, exactly, ‘here’ is!”
“You can run from us,” the girl said, “but you won’t have anywhere to go. Meriel is a large country, but you’ll never find your home again.”
“How do you know about my home?” Meredith asked.
“Don’t waste such valued time arguing! Come home with me. I’ll give you a fine dinner, of roast pig and wine…”
“Wine?” Meredith echoed.
“If you’d rather, we have other refreshments…such as juice, squeezed from the king’s finest fruit. Just stay with us, Meriel…”
“My name isn’t Meriel!” Meredith exploded. “I’m Meredith, just Meredith.”
“Meredith, then,” the girl continued. “Come with me. You can always run away tomorrow.”
Confused, Meredith followed the girl back into the castle; they exchanged only a few words as they walked. Meredith felt the same summer breeze cascading around her; at least Meriel seemed to contain the same air as Meredith was accustomed to breathing.
“Thank you,” the girl said finally.
Meredith looked at her. “I’m not your rescuer. There’s nothing to thank me for.”
Once inside the king’s home, Meredith wondered what the castle’s inhabitants thought of her. First, she’d come into the castle in awe; then, she’d fled in terror; now, she reluctantly returned, escorted by a girl of her own age.
“You haven’t told me your name,” Meredith observed.
“I’m Talya,” the girl said.
“And why were you crying earlier?” Meredith asked.
“Meriel is under great distress. Our country will be lost if our rescuer does not do as she is asked.”
Meredith dropped the subject and followed Talya to her room, where the two girls sat across from each other, each on their own settee. Although outside the air seemed warm, Talya’s tower room seemed cold and dreary. Meredith appreciated the small fire, crackling in a stone fireplace. In-between the settees stood a table, upon which Meredith received the promised dinner.
“What does Meriel need rescuing from?” she asked finally, sipping a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice. From everything on the table – a roasted pig with an orange on its mouth, a tray of strange looking fruit, and something that vaguely resembled sponge cake – Meredith had judged the orange juice safest to drink. At least it tasted somewhat like the juice which accompanied her breakfast every morning, at home.
“Two of our lords have fallen under deep suspicion. We fear they may have accepted lies of an evil power that tempts all of Meriel.”
“That’s it?” Meredith asked. “Some lords are messed up? Why can’t you just…get rid of them?”
“It is rumored that these lords will bring people against King David.”
“Just tell the people not to listen.”
Talya smiled, almost wistfully. “Winning isn’t easy.”
“But who says there’s a fight to win? When King David told me I had to…rescue Meriel, I thought there would be a battle or something. But I think you’re all jumping to conclusions. Can’t you just imprison the lords or talk them out of their ideas? What is this evil power, anyway?”
“The evil power in Meriel has been here, ever since the rebellion long ago. All the people rebelled against the king, but some returned to him. The first king has not been in Meriel for a long time; various men ruled after him, men who would do what was best for Meriel. But if some of the lords form an uprising against King David, then they could usurp him and change Meriel…forever.”
“So what is my role in all of this?” Meredith asked.
“You will help in the battle. You will help King David to remain on his throne.”
“Why can’t you do this?” Meredith asked.
“I have another role to play,” Talya replied. “You mustn’t ask of me what I am not called to do.”
“But how do you know I’m called to do this?” Meredith asked.
“You are,” Talya said simply.
Meredith didn’t argue, instead, daring to try a small bite of the roasted pig. Although the seasoning tasted different than anything she’d ever tried at home – a strange mixture of sweetness and some kind of spicy sauce – she enjoyed the flavor. Meredith was about to ask Talya another question, when they heard a commotion outside the door.
Talya stood up and walked to the door, pausing to listen. “I doubt the messenger brings good news.” She motioned for Meredith to follow her, and the two girls walked outside the room to another part of the tower. Meredith saw the stairs leading down; a cluster of noblewomen who lived in the same tower had already started toward the main castle. Talya and Meredith followed them.
Once they reached the courtyard, the castle seemed to be in an uproar. Most men seemed busy buckling sheathed swords around their waists, or taking up their shields, or examining their bows and arrows. Some of the women were crying; others seemed to be saying goodbye to their loved ones.
“What is going on?” Meredith cried.
One knight stopped to answer her question. “Lord Audemar and Remondin have led their revolt. We can fight against them, but Meriel may well be lost.”
“You must save us,” Talya said. “You see, you’re our only hope.”
Meredith shook her head. “I don’t understand how I can help!”
“Come with me,” Talya said. “I’ll tell you.”
In a moment, Meredith made her decision. She followed Talya into a deep part of the castle, where her part in Meriel’s destiny would be revealed.
To be continued…
By Kara Siert
No comments:
Post a Comment