California Trip: People

California has been calling our name.

This December, various members of the Serven Clan traversed the 2000 miles by a variety of transportational methods (car and plane), to see grandparents, family, and friends. Our trip started the Monday after Thanksgiving and culminated right before Christmas, at little short of four weeks long.

We had a wonderful time of fellowship with so many, many families. If we posted on every occasion, this blog post could threaten to become the longest post in blog history, so we are just going to give you photos of some highlights. : )


Looking at family quilts.

Kansas was our first stopping spot. The Hayden family graciously opened their home to us for bed and breakfast. We greatly enjoyed the conversations, impersonations, and improvisations (among other things!).


Lydia and Rebecca.


Finally reported: Missing in Action.

One very notable thing happened while we were staying in Kansas--Joel lost his first tooth!!! Everyone helped us celebrate the occasion wonderfully. Haydens, thanks for taking pictures and helping some of us regain our composure. : )

We drove from Kansas battling strong winds and a narrow road but arrived safely in Albuquerque to spend the night. The next day we drove to the Arizona border to visit our Grandma Macfarlane near the London Bridge.


Getting ready for the Stage Coach.

Los Angeles was our next destination where we visited Mom's mom, Nana. She had many adventures for us including The Nethercutt Collection and Knott's Berry Farm (pictured above).


Some of the Gilberts.

The Pacific Ocean is one of our most favorite spots on the West Coast. We made three different trips to the beach, in Santa Barbara, Cambria, and of course, Serven Beach (a.k.a. San Simeon State Beach, down the hill from William Randolph Hearst's Castle).

Most people wouldn't think of going to the waterside in December, but what a perfect time for a beach trip: no crowds, crisp clear weather, perfect for sand castles, walks, and dipping ones toes in the surf.


California Cousins on the pier.


Aunt Julie, Rebecca and Aunt Cheryl soaking in the sunset.

The Cousins graciously opened their home to us during our stay to be a "home away from home". They were so kind to let us, literally, spread out all over their house. The Macfarlanes are a dear Christian family, fellow homeschoolers, plus our Uncle, Aunt and Cousins. What more could you ask for!?


Looking at Family Pictures.


The moms.

We had fun connecting with our dear friends the Gerhardts, now famous for their mini-farm. : )


The boys.


Memories.

More than 10 years ago, these four stood at the front of a country church, Rick and Alicia joining as man and wife, and Ben and Sarah as a cute flower girl and ringbearer. Times have sure changed!


The Osborne Family.

It was a joy to see how the Lord has blessed their family and is leading them in His ways.


The Pastor Wiemann Family.

It was a special delight to hear how my former piano and choir student (scroll down on the linked page for pictures), Jennifer, has recently started a girls choir of her own. : )


Some Schwartzes and some Servens.

Some of our friends that we visited with went even father back in Serven Clan history. We met the Schwartz family almost 20 years ago when we moved to California's Bay Area. The Schwartz family has been instrumental in encouraging the work of R. J. Rushdoony over the years and Mrs. Schwartz recently wrote a book on homeschooling (it's on my to-read list! : ).


The Family.

We took a quick trip northward to pick up Dad and Beth from the airport then went to visit Dad's parents north of the Bay Area. Grandma was a real trooper when we packed her up for an out door adventure at Muir Woods. The Sequoias were huge!


In spite of our less than desirable camera, I captured this picture. : )


The Kerr and Serven Girls.

Back south again to the central coast, we enjoyed visiting with several more friends including the sweet Kerr family . . .


Beth and Sharon.

. . . . our friend, neighbor, church member, home school compatriot, Sharon : ) . . .


Tea Friends.

. . . the Gibson Family . . .


The whole crew toured the firehouse where the Gibson guys work.


Fast friends.

. . . the dearest Keulen family--many, many sweet times of fellowship . . .


All grown up.

. . . and the Bordonaros, where Beth worked as a friend and part-time nanny.

There were SO many other families that we saw (that we forgot to take pictures of!) and even more that we wanted to visit with that time didn't allow to see.


Nana and Grandpa.

We drove down to North Hollywood (yes, it's that Hollywood) where we celebrated Grandpa Ellis's 90th birthday party and our extended families 91st annual Christmas Celebration. (Sorry, we forgot the camera).


The Swanson Family.

On the drive home to Missouri, we swung by the Swanson's home, for an encouraging visit with this fellow pastor's family. What a great delight to get to know their family better.

We arrived home safe and sound and are happy to be back in the Midwest. If time permits, we'll post a few more pictures of our California adventures. In the meantime, we are patiently awaiting the next snowfall--we missed 7 inches while in the west.

Family Traditions: Six Down, Four to Go*

A Lover of God's Truth: Calvin and Dad.

"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw God's truth was attacked and yet would remain silent."
-John Calvin


Watching the action.


A Father and his arrows.

*"Six Down, Four to Go" refers to the Ten Days of Feasting, the Serven Clan's family celebration during the latter half of December.

Family Traditions: Lining Up

Age Order Please.

No one (exceptions of support staff), can see the tree on Christmas morning. We are all banished downstairs until the apointed time. When everything is prepared, we line up in order of age and Dad calls us to run up the stairs one at a time. The little ones follow instructions perfectly. Near the middle of the line, it becomes a mad dash. By the end through, the procession completes with moderate circumspection. : )

Family Traditions: Caroling

We come bearing gifts.

Our family has always enjoyed Christmas Caroling to our neighbors. For the past several years, we've enjoyed caroling on Christmas Day itself! What a better way to spend part of the day bearing the good news of Christ's incarnation through song?


Practicing.

This year we brought hymnals and a pitch pipe to keep our four part singing on track. : )


Walking down the road.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
Luke 2:14

Family Traditions: Christmas Eve Service

On Christmas Night all Christians Sing

On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring;
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring;
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad;
Then why should men on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad;
When from our sin He set us free,
All for to gain our liberty.

When sin departs before your grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
When sin departs before your grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the newborn King.

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night;
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and forevermore. Amen."

Family Traditions: Star

Putting up the Homemade Variety.

Family Traditions: Ornament Box

Our Dear Mother.

Family Traditions: Ornaments

Glass Blown Ornament.

Family Traditions: More Smiling

Happiness in the Lord.

Family Traditions: Hanging of the Greens

Lights, Camera, Action.

Family Traditions: Good News

The Promise of a Savior fufilled.

Family Traditions: Smiling

Joyful in the Lord's Incarnation.

Family Traditions: Licking

Pure yumminess.

Family Traditions: Decorations

"Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free . . ."

Family Traditions: Gingerbread House

A Cousin Creation, 10 years and counting.

Steady Stream of Registrants

One of the fun tasks upon coming home from our trip, was to run up to the Genevan Foundation post office box.

To our delight, but not to our surprise, the 2008 Men's Leadership Advance registrations are coming in strong. To date, we have men coming from Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, and Massachusetts!

Remember, only the first 75 registrants are guaranteed free accommodations. Sign up now to reserve your spot!

Home, Sweet Home : )

Portraits on the Coast

Mom and her beloved ocean.


All smiles and crinkly eyes.


Watching the sunset.


Cool glasses.


On the wharf.


Sweet Sister.


Lydia kindly captured this picture of the photographer. : )

Covenant Promises

"I will make my dwelling among them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them,
says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. "

2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1

Important Things

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:33

The crazy busyness of our days often threaten to engulf the truly important things.

When you take a step back, looking at the big picture of who and what the Lord calls His children to be and do, all the millions of details that seemed so overwhelming fade into the the background into their proper places.

As a young woman, she can know her priorities lie in developing a relationship with her God, her family, and within her church and community. Her time should be carefully stewarded as a trust from the Lord--not frittered away on things without eternal significance. This might mean setting aside a book for the study of God's Word. Instead of surfing blogs (including the Serven Clans!), she might teach her hands a new skill to bless others.

Many times the things we young ladies find to fill our time are not bad, but we neglect the truly significant things the Lord has designed to make us grow.

Studying Scripture, hiding God's word in your heart and applying it to your life. Stretching your brain and tackling a wise but hard to read author. Cheerfully playing with the little children when your own selfishness is calling. Seeking out your mother and other godly wise women to disciple you. Honoring your father and asking the Lord to help you truly bless him. Cooking a meal for a new mother in your church. Looking for other young women the Lord brings into your life to befriend and encourage. Taking every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ.

If you hadn't learned as a girl to discern between the worthless, the good and the best, when you become a young mother, things only grow infinitely more complex.

From significant to trivial, it can be difficult to sort though the many demands on a mother's time. Keeping the house, running children to this activity and the next, trying to bless your husband, develop hobbies, or sort through conflicting directions by various home-educational philosophies. How do you discern where best to invest your time? And where can you even find a moment of sanity to think about it?!

Everything is competing for your attention and claims to be the thing that will fix your life, make you a better Christian, daughter, wife, or mother. How do you wade through the myriad of directions and seek a purposeful stewardship over your life?

In stopping to consider the things that truly matter, the things that have eternal significance, you must let other things fall by the wayside.

Seeking to develop your relationship with God by praying throughout the day. Reading Scripture while nursing the baby. Speaking God's covenant promises to your children when lovingly disciplining them. Stopping short and smiling when you are ready to pull out your hair in frustration.

Forgetting about "school" for a morning when you all go for a walking adventure enrolled in the "school of relationships". Reading a story aloud with your children all squished around you trying to see the pictures. Putting a candle on the table and pouring the milk in a pitcher.

Running outside at dusk with your husband and children to catch the first June fireflies. Greeting your neighbor across the street, in your church and around the world through hospitality. Praying for and with your husband. Following his lead, supporting and encouraging him. Growing together in the Lord.

Soccer games, piano lessons, ballet practice, home-school classes, the newest novel, movie, biography, child training or self-help book, quilting group, ladies get-together, the Internet, the evening news, gardening, sewing your own clothes, garage sale-ing, cooking, shopping, cleaning . . . all fade into the background. These things are not the substance of our life. Some of them are important, yes. But others are extraneous to the relationships God has called us to nurture.

It is vital to use God's wisdom in His word and Christian prudence to consider the things that the Lord is calling us to do. The source of all truth is in God's Word. We must use Scripture to measure every "thing" in our life, and apply His truth to our particular life situation.

Our faithful Father has ordained the number of our days. Our desire should be to live each day to the fullest--purposefully seeking to reflect His glory every moment of the day, remembering that our souls are eternal. Our children's souls are eternal. All this stuff of life will pass away. But the substance of things is Christ.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"
Psalm 90:12-17

Back at the Beach

Playing in the Surf.


Ocean Art.


California Cousins.

Praying for our Sanctification

"Despite our earthly limitations, there remains one kind of petition we know with certainty matches heaven's will. The Bible says, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified" (1 Thess. 4:3). God always wants us to become more like Jesus. We can pray with confidence for the increase of our faith, for the improvement of our obedience, and for the furtherance of our dependence on our Lord. The answer to all of these prayers, of course, requires obedience to God's Word. God does not increase our holiness in any other way. Necessarily, prayer for our sanctification asks God to strengthen our understanding of the requirements given in his Word--and to give us the strength to do them. Prayers in Jesus' name are essentially prayers for God to make us more like Jesus . . .

We must remember that we pray to a loving and wise God for our sanctification. While he may choose to prune the wayward branches of our behavior to encourage fresh spiritual growth, he is too wise a spiritual gardener always to prune. He enriches the soil of our lives with blessing, water our roots with outpourings of love, and bandages our brokenness with his grace. His most frequent answers to prayers for our sanctification is a shower of extraordinary mercy that softens the heart and makes joyful devotion sprout from the driest soul. Even when our sanctification requires God's discipline, his fatherly purpose is only to bring us closer to him. Enfolded in his embrace, we discover greater satisfaction than any sin provides (Heb. 12:11)."

Excerpt from Praying Backwards, by Brian Chapell, Chapter 8, "Praying In God's Will".

Glorifying God in Harmony

The replica of the Old North Church at Forest Lawn.

Romans 15:4-7

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grand you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

An Unusual Collection

Cars . . .

As you may have picked up from our previous posts, some of the Serven Clan members are on an adventure.


Instruments . . .

One of our stops was a little unusual. Our Grandma surprised us and made arrangements for us to visit this spot. Can you guess where we were? You'll probably need the Internet for researching this one. And yes, these pictures are from the same location.


. . . And some of us.

Our visit made us think of some verses from Ecclesiastes. "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Ecc. 1:2), and "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecc. 12:13-14).

John Owen on How We View Ourselves

Let, then, thy soul be exercised by faith which such thoughts and apprehensions as the following. I am a poor, weak creature; unstable as water, I cannot excel. This corruption is too hard for me, and is at the very door of ruining my soul; and what to do I know not. My soul is become as parched ground, and a habitation of dragons. I have made promises and broken them; vows and engagements have been as a thing of nought. Many persuasions have I had that I had got the victory and should be delivered; but I am deceived; so that I plainly see, that without some eminent succour and assistance, I am lost, and shall be prevailed on to an utter relinquishment of God. But yet, though this be my state and condition, let the hands that hang down be lifted up, and the feeble knees be strengthened. Behold the Lord Christ, who hath all fulness of grace in his heart, all fulness of power in his hand (John 1:16; Matt 28:18): he is able to slay all these his enemies. There is a sufficient provision in him for my relief and assistance: he can take my drooping, dying soul, and make me more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:38).

Why sayest thou, O my soul, 'My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known, has thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding; he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint' (Isa. 40:27-31).

He can make the dry, parched ground of my soul to become a pool, and my thirsty, barren heart as springs of water; yea, he can make this habitation of dragons, this heart so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations, to be a place for grass and fruit for himself (Isa. 35:7).

So God stayed Paul under his temptation, with the consideration of the sufficiency of his grace: 'My grace is sufficient for thee' (2 Cor. 12:9). Though he were not immediately made partaker of it so far as to be freed from his temptation, yet the sufficiency of it in God for that end and purpose, was enough to stay his spirit. I say then, by faith be much in the consideration of that supply, and the fulness of it that is Jesus Christ; and how he can at any time give thee strength and deliverance. Now if hereby thou doest not find success to a conquest, yet thou wilt be stayed in the chariot that thou shalt not fly out of the field until the battle be ended; thou wilt be kept from any utter despondency and a lying down under thy unbelief, or a turning aside to false means and remedies that in the issue will not relieve thee. The efficacy of this consideration will only be found in the practice.

Excerpt from The Mortification of Sin, by John Owen, Chapter 14.

Tomorrow is . . .

. . . the last day for Genevan Foundation Christmas orders.

"London Bridge is Falling Down, Falling Down . . . "

". . . falling down, London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady!"

Actually, the lyrics to the nursery rhyme are a little outdated. London Bridge is sturdily serving people in a state near you. Make your guess for the location (state and town) where London Bridge is now located (no cheating with Wikipedia!). Just make an educated guess and leave your comment below. : )


Serven Clan Members pose on the famous bridge.

Rushdoony on "Civil Governments"

"Percy Greaves, with his usual incisiveness, stated the matter thus:

Government, by definition is a monopoly of force. It represents the combined strength of the community in suppressing those things which the community opposes. In the long run, the government must always be popular. There is no such thing, in the long run, as an unpopular government. In the long run, we get the governments we deserve. No matter what those in political power may think, they cannot long do things that are not popular. We should remember this when we criticize some of those who are in office, because their powers to act are always limited by what the public is ready to accept.

A civil government is thus a moral reflection of its people and society. It is a moral irresponsibility to treat a civil government as a morally responsible while we exempt ourselves and our society from the order the state has created. Our indifference to civil affairs, our unconcern with God's law, and our treatment of law as a thing to be made by man, are at the heart of civil dereliction. This is why God's judgement falls on such an order. This too is why, when the consequences of our moral failure begin to overwhelm us, God's word tells us, " And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which you have chosen you (i.e., a ruler and a law other than the LORD); and the LORD will not hear you in that day" (1 Sam. 8:18).

The Lord will not hear us, if we refuse to conform ourselves to Him and to His law-word, to be His people. Then, we are told, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

Excerpt from Larceny in the Heart, by R. J. Rushdoony, Chapter 13, emphasis mine.

Roadside Adventures

Petrified Wood and Happy Explorers.

Rushdoony on "Perfection"

"In a central sentence of the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord declares, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). The Greek word translated here as perfect means mature, fully grown, not, as the modern connotation would have it, sinless. The perfection of God is an absolute one, that of uncreated Being. Our perfection is to be different, a creaturely maturity. To be perfect in this sense requires growth, the process of sanctification. The Preamble to the U. S. Constitution uses perfect in this older sense: "a more perfect union: means a more mature union."

Excerpt from Larceny in the Heart, by R. J. Rushdoony, Chapter 15, "Sin and Perfection".

Cold Boys on a Midwestern Morning

Friends and Fellow Soldiers.