Peacherino
Monthly
A
newsletter for Christian homeschoolers
Worldview
This is a
very exciting time of year. The weather
is warming up; the temperature is going from chilly and brisk to warm and
sunny. Leaves and flowers are budding on
the trees; the grass is greening rapidly, and growing just as fast. Step outside and you will catch the scent of
freshly mown grass, the smell of charcoal and hotdogs cooking on the grill,
hear the gentle hum of a distant lawn mower.
And if you live where I do, you get to watch the enormous tractors plowing
the empty cornfields and sowing new seeds.
Yes, Spring is quite thrilling.
And in its beauty, we can discern a story.
The
progression of the seasons does tell a story, if you know where to look for
it. Think about it. Start with Spring: life. Spring tells the story of birth, young animation,
and gradual, beautiful maturity. Summer
rolls around, and we see a full-grown existence. The verdure is fully grown, and warm sunny
days are in their prime. Then comes
Autumn. We see the slow decay of
life. Gradually, living things pass
away. The trees become bare, and the
days cool rapidly. Finally, winter. Winter is the story of death. Green is a thing of the past, a color of
bygone imagination, too far away to remember and intangible to comprehend. Wouldn’t it be sad if the development and
evolution of the seasons ended here? It
would be a sorrowful thing if death were the end of all, the final part of the
act, the last leg of the journey. Life
would have no meaning, there would be nothing to pursue. But there is spring again. Spring seemed so far away that it might never
have come. But of course, as always, it
does. Life is in the air again. More hot dogs and grass clippings. And the cycle goes on. It’s a beautiful story, and, I think, a
familiar one.
Along with
the miraculous beauty of spring comes several holidays. These holidays tell the story of
deterioration, death, and then new life.
On Good Friday, we observe the death of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior. For crimes he didn’t commit,
Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross by his own people. For hours he hung in agony, stakes driven
through his hands and feet, speared in the side, suffocating slowly. But that wasn’t even the worst part. Jesus had to experience full separation from
God, His Father. After all, he had to take
the punishment deserved by human beings in full; human beings, by their sinful
nature, deserved full, torturous severance from God’s holy, perfect
spirit. Jesus, the Son of God, died a
pagan criminal’s death. Winter set
in. All who had known and loved Jesus
were devastated. There was nothing they
could do, nothing they could have done, to save their God; unbeknownst to them,
He had been born for this very purpose, for human sacrifice to save all
mankind. Miserable and alone, the
disciples, who now felt their lives were pointless, had no knowledge of what
they should do. This winter was a cold,
harsh one.
But we’ve
seen this pattern before, again and again and again. Birth, life, death… and then
resurrection. After three days of
misery, Mary and a few others found Jesus’ tomb empty, Roman guards asleep
‘like dead men’, and the enormous stone rolled away from the mouth of the
burial chamber. Two angels greeted
them. By now, they were probably a bit
freaked out. I mean, the body of their
God was missing, Roman legionaries, notoriously strong, hearty, fearless men
were rendered unconscious, and supernatural, rather powerful beings were at the
scene of the ‘crime’. The angel told the
women: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has risen!” (Luke 24:5)
Now the women are REALLY excited.
They rush back to Jesus’ disciples and tell them all of the things that
they had heard. The disciples, however,
did not believe the women because their words seemed ‘like nonsense’ (Luke
24:11). But Peter and John sprinted to
the tomb (Peter was a BIT faster) and found things exactly as the women had
said. The Bible says: And he (Peter)
went away wondering what had happened (Luke 24:12).
Meanwhile,
Jesus made his first appearance since his resurrection, as he approached two of
the disciples making their way along the road to Emmaus. However, these men were kept from recognizing
Jesus (Luke 24:16). Jesus engaged in a
very interesting conversation with his new companions. They told him of all the things that had
happened in the recent days, and of their doubt regarding Jesus’
resurrection. Jesus listened, and then
rebuked them for their lack of faith.
The men still did not recognize the Lord walking with them, and
hospitably offered to let Him stay with them.
Jesus accepted. As the three were
eating, Jesus ‘took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to
them. Then, their eyes were opened, they
recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” (Luke 24:31) Now, they knew exactly what was going
on. They hurried back the way they had
come to inform the others of what was happening.
At about
the same time that these two men were informing others of Jesus’ appearances,
Jesus himself confirmed these rumors by showing Himself to the 11
disciples. He greeted them pleasantly,
as usual. However, the disciples were
panicked, for ‘they thought he was a ghost’ (Luke 24:37). Jesus proved to them that He was indeed flesh
and bone, eating solid food and pointing out his scars and wounds from his
recent ordeal. Jesus then ‘opened their
minds’ (Luke 24:45) and began to teach them from the Scriptures. Afterwards, Jesus led his disciples to the
vicinity of Bethany, where he blessed them.
He then ascended, where he currently sits in glory with the Father.
This is
the story of Easter.
Jesus
still lives, and, because of this amazing story, we can live to. Before this amazing act of mercy and love,
men were doomed to live in death. The
cycle ended in an eternal, deserved winter.
The changing seasons would never finish.
But now, because of our loving God, spring comes again. And it is an eternal spring, one that will
never end.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
•
And on the cross, when Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied!
Before I
Go...
A Quick
Blurb...
English rules...
1. 'Fat chance.'
'Slim chance.' Fat and slim are opposites, but those two phrases
mean the same thing!
2. 'That's cool!'
'That's hot!' Hot, cold, OPPOSITES. But, again, those
previous phrases mean the same thing.
3. (If you have
parents who grew up in the 80s, they'll understand this one): 'That's good!'
'That's bad!' You know where this is going... good and bad are
OPPOSITES... so why the darn heck can they be used to mean the same thing?!
Because ENGLISH RULES!
But really, since
when does "break a leg' mean good luck?
--Sam Parker
Bible corner
One-of-a-kind
“Who
am I?”
The
question dawned on me when I was eleven years old. Who was I? What was my purpose?
Who was the real Talia? At the time, I didn't know.
Around
my friends, it was extremely difficult for me to be myself – whoever that
was. All I knew was that the goofy girl act I pulled in front of them was not
me. But for some reason, it was hard not to be that way when I was
around them. “Hyper” was the word that described my “friend face,” the mask I
donned when I was around my friends.
But
then something changed. God reminded me of a Bible verse my summer camp leader
the year before, Nora, had shared with the whole cabin:
Jeremiah
29:11
“For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God
showed me that I am me – creative, talented, unique, one-of-a-kind me,
and I don't have to be anyone else. He showed me that everything I truly am
makes up the real me – what I like to do, what I believe, what I don't like,
and so much more. I don't have to pretend to be someone else to try to
please people or get them to like me. I realized that I was looking for my
security in other people, in what they thought of me. But God showed me that
what others think doesn't matter – what He thinks matters. I asked God
to make me genuine, and each day He is doing just that.
Did
you know that you are one-of-a-kind too? God made you with dreams, ideas,
thoughts, hobbies, interests, dislikes, and so many more attributes and
qualities that make up YOU! You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not
to try to get people to like you. If they don't like you for who you truly are
– a one-of-a-kind creation of God – then that is their loss.
I
love who I am, and not in a conceited way. I know that God is where I find
eternal security and worth and love, and that I will only be truly complete
when I am resting in His arms.
--by Talia DeAndrea
Things you don’t
know about…
The Flower Color
Wheel
Flowers
are blooming everywhere during spring time. They are used as decorations and
are put in rooms as air fresheners. But flowers are mostly used as gifts for
various holidays and occasions. Many people don’t know that the different
colors of flowers have their own special meanings.
Red- a red flower symbolizes love
Pink- a pink flower symbolizes happiness and
joy
Orange-
an orange flower symbolizes excitement and enthusiasm
Yellow- a yellow flower symbolizes friendship
and lightheartedness
White-
a white flower symbolizes innocence and humility
Purple- a purple flower symbolizes dignity and
pride
Blue- a blue flower
symbolizes peace and openness
If
you were one of these flowers what color would you be?
Now
you know the different meanings of these beautiful colors. So next time you buy
a flower for a friend or family member, remember that the color of your flower
can make a world of a difference.
--by Emma Campbell
Sports
Ahh football, I miss
football. I almost miss football as much as I’m excited for the next football
season. (Did that make sense?) Oh yeah! Speaking of football; the ‘finesse
goody-goody’ New Orleans Saints were caught setting bounties on their opposing
team’s players. That means the Saints were paying (giving bonuses to) their
defensive players to deliberately injure the opposing teams players! The
players and the defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (who was the master-mind
behind the whole thing) were pooling their own money to pay the bonuses!
And they lied about it for three
years!
The Saints got hit hard with punishments: a one year suspension without pay for the
Saints head coach Sean Payton, Ex-Saints defensive coordinator and current
defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams Gregg Williams suspended
indefinitely, 500,000 dollar fine for the organization, the General Manager
Mickey Loomis was also suspended without pay for the first eight games of the
2012 season, the assistant head coach Joe Vitt is is suspended without pay for
the first six games, and finally, the
Saints forfeit their second-round draft picks for 2012 and 2013!
As I’m writing
this...word is spreading across America that the future Hall-of-Famer Peyton
Manning (a former Indianapolis Colt) is now a Denver Bronco! The Broncos then
traded their beloved Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.
In the NBA...the Chicago
Bulls and the Miami Heat are dominating the Eastern Conference, and the
Oklahoma City Thunder are leading the West. Also, in an odd turn of events, New
York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni up and resigned midway through the season.
Aren’t you excited
for the upcoming baseball season?! Okay okay, you probably not. But I am! I’m
also probably the only 14 year old in America that has a Fantasy Baseball team.
My Seattle Mariners are kicking of the 2012 season the 28th of March IN JAPAN!
--Athletically Yours,
Nathan
Woodruff
Photography
Music…
it means so many different things to so many different people. For me, music is
a getaway from my normal life, escaping to a place of beauty… all of the
instruments above are my own, and each one puts me in a different mood. How does
music influence you?
--by Kiera Sterken
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Short story
Part
VI.
A man has just convinced the people to ignore the magical boats, and
find safety inside the shelter…but Meredith knows he is wrong.
Meredith looked around her, as the people swam into the shelter and
disappeared inside. She watched helplessly as one by one, they left her
as if she no longer mattered.
Tanya turned to Meredith, seeming distressed. “I’m sorry,” she
said. “I have to go with them.”
Meredith shook her head in disbelief.
“You have to come too,” Tanya said.
“No!” Meredith cried, her voice suddenly strong. “I will not go
with those…those ungrateful people! I am not their leader and I am not
meant to be! It’s time for me to go home.”
The oars began to row again, taking her farther and farther
downstream. Tanya watched from inside the shelter, seeming sorry to see
her go.
“Goodbye!” Meredith called, feeling guilty. Tanya waved her hand
in friendship; Meredith nodded, turned around, and didn’t look back.
* * *
Meredith jerked awake. She’d fallen asleep? She didn’t
remember.
She found herself leaning against a gnarled tree, sitting in soft
green grass, the wind rippling through her hair. The family orchard grew
all around her, and the blue sky stretched out across the horizon, calm and
comforting.
Meredith stretched and found her sketchbook lying beside her.
She picked up her pen and paper, and aimlessly as her mind wandered
elsewhere. Hadn’t she dreamed of something? And someone?
Glancing down at her paper, Meredith realized she’d drawn a
castle. Adding a few finishing touches, she turned the page and drew a
river with a building beside it. The picture seemed to be missing
something – she added in a rowboat for good measure.
“Meredith!”
She heard her mother call from far away. Grabbing up her
sketchbook, she ran towards the house and arrived just in time for dinner.
* * *
Meredith slept in the next morning, uncharacteristic of her usual
rule-oriented self. Instead of rising at 6:30 as she always did, she hit
the snooze button and slept until 9:00. She reminded herself that it was
summertime.
Stumbling out to the kitchen in a bathrobe, she poured herself a bowl
of cereal and grabbed an orange. Sipping a glass of juice, she reached
into her bag of library books and pulled out the first one she found. Meriel.
Strange. She hadn’t checked out that book. But the book
looked interesting, so she opened it.
The book was blank.
Well, not exactly.
The centers of the pages had been cut out, so the book was
hollow. Inside, there lay a letter.
As if abruptly remembering something from long ago, she opened the
letter with an peculiar sense of dread.
Meredith,
We’ve been captured by rebels soldiers. If you are willing,
come. If not, I forgive you.
Tanya
Everything rushed back to her. She’d forgotten Meriel…but now,
her choice to leave the people at the shelter had come back to her. And
yet, despite her mistake, Tanya’s letter seemed to offer her a second chance.
Meredith stared at the letter, her face troubled. Inside
herself, two voices warred against each other.
Why should she go to Meriel? It was not her country. She
was not supposed to be its heroine. Why should she be responsible for
people she cared nothing for?
Why shouldn’t she go? How could she choose to miss an
opportunity to help others? They needed her. Finally, she was
needed and wanted. And now she did not want to go.
Meredith physically shook her head, lost in the decision she must
make. Time in Meriel seemed different than time on Earth. What was
happening now in Meriel, to Tanya and the people? Perhaps it was already
too late.
Then you don’t have to go, one
voice said.
Then you must hurry, the
other urged.
Meredith ran to her room, planning to turn up her favorite classical
music, curl up in a chair, and try to sleep. But she tripped over a
barricade of books in front of her doorway.
Then she remembered. Before she’d rushed outdoors, she’d decided
to rearrange her bookshelf in alphabetical order. So, she’d pulled every
book out, and laid it on her floor. She tripped over a stack, which avalanched
over. One book in particular fell open and slid right in front of her.
The book was her Bible.
Open to Philippians.
Philippians chapter 2, to be exact.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but
each of you to the interests of others.
There was her answer.
“All right,” Meredith said aloud, as if making a solemn vow to
herself. “I’ll go back.”
To be continued…
--by Kara Siert
Word of the
month
fusty
\FUHS-tee\
adjective:
1.
Having a stale smell; moldy; musty.
2. Old-fashioned or out-of-date, as architecture, furnishings, or the like.
3. Stubbornly conservative or old-fashioned; fogyish.
2. Old-fashioned or out-of-date, as architecture, furnishings, or the like.
3. Stubbornly conservative or old-fashioned; fogyish.
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