Andrew's View

Hello there! This is Andrew here.

While everyone else is going crazy about the Men's Advance, I am doing other things.

On Wednesday, I helped clean the house, delivered food to the church, and after that, I played dodge ball and blind mans bluff with the H. children, who take piano lessons from Rebecca, and then I went to bed.

Today, I had Greek eggs for breakfast, and had a good lunch. Later we wrapped silverware in napkins, and watched some creation movies. Then, I ran around inside, and a little bit ago Ben and I were writing this blog post.

That's all Folks!

Drew

P.S. Please leave some comments. : )

AGS

The Men's Advance First Kitchen Recruit Arrives!

Some of the fruit of this afternoon's labor.

Our first Men's Advance Support Staff member arrived this afternoon--the very sweet Miss Renée DeGroot. We have greatly enjoyed our visit this far, and she graciously jumped in to the flurry of preparations. Today's task? Cookie baking, among a myriad of other things.


Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chocolate Chunk.

Behemoth.com

FREE.

Did your eyes light up when you read this word? If you are a homeschooler, they probably did. ; )

Behemoth.com the Christian media download site is offering some incredible deals for FREE. All you have to do is create or use your existing account to download the complete recordings from the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, and while you're at it, you can also download Jonathan Park: Volume 1. Also for FREE. Go to this blog to find out how to download the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp set. Go to this blog to find out how to download Jonathan Park: Volume 1.

Benjamin

www.Behemoth.com

Working on the Men's Advance

Calender: Scheduling flights for the week of the Advance.

One of our kind readers asked if we might post some pictures of our preparations for The Men's Advance. Well, preparations have been going on for months and months. However, the preparations are those that are the sort where it is hard to take pictures. Or rather, the pictures aren't that interesting. : )

But, the preparations are many and varied, scattered all over the St. Louis area and beyond. People are e-mailing, making arrangements, calling, studying, planning, talking, and praying.

Many of you are making your own preparations to attend Advance. We are so looking forward to seeing you this coming week! Remember, there is still time to sign up for the Advance and/or Concert.


The door to Dad's study: studying to present God's truth to the men.

We received this encouraging e-mail a few days ago:

" . . . My husband will be a first time attender to the Men's Advance this year. God has laid it on my heart to be in prayer over the weekend for all the participants, speakers, and helpers. I thought it would be worth passing on. What a wonderful thing if other families would join me.

Matthew 18:19,29 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

The children and I will be praying over the weekend. This is our plan . . . "

What a testimony to God's grace. We appreciate this family's prayers and yours too, as the Lord brings it to mind. The flurry of preparations continues as the days draw closer!


The brains behind the operation: correspondence, communication, and coordination.

Valentine's Day Tulips

Spring is coming.

These beautiful tulips showed up at our door Valentine's Day. They were a sweet gift for Mom from our dear brother Peter. : ) Aww, what a thoughtful brother we have.


A bouquet of color.

Working on the Wedding

The All-Important Blue Notebook.

Free Americana Concert!

The Lautenschlager Family. Trying saying that five times fast. : )

Calling all Local Missourians!!
Looking for a delightful family activity that is free? That's right folks. We know how budgets can be tight and fun stuff is pushed off for another month. Well, this February 28th in Troy, Missouri, you have the opportunity to enjoy a Americana Folk Song for free. F-r-e-e. So, come on down for the concert, invite all your friends, and join us for an unforgettable evening with the blue-grass music of the Lautenschager family.

If you want to make a night of it . . . consider attending the all-family dinner immediately prior to the concert. With meals that run $5.00 a person with a max of $20.00 per family, it's a bargain. Make sure to send in registration and payment for the dinner if you are thinking of eating with us.

If you want to make a weekend of it . . . fathers and sons, join us for the whole event--The Men's Advance. Registration $75 per person. Pastor Kevin Swanson and Marcus Serven speaking. More information here.

*****************

Americana Folk Concert
Saturday, February 28th, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

With story and song of pilgrims, patriots and pioneers, The Heirs of Baird is essential American entertainment.This multi-talented young quintet performs the music that has defined America, weaving Celtic and American fiddle tunes, ballads, hymns, and unique stories into an unforgettable folk music experience.

Descended from an American patriot named Baird, Zach and Amy, Daniel, Katie and Shonny Lautenschlager celebrate a culture of Liberty and Family with their music. Their full, early American sound includes twin fiddles, flat-pick guitar, banjo, upright and bowed bass, hammered dulcimer, concertina, pennywhistle and Celtic harp.

The Lautenschlagers make their home in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They give music lessons, engineer and produce their own recordings, work together on public policy projects and are dedicated homeschoolers. Shonny is pursuing his highschool education. Katie teaches violin and is learning photography and graphic design. Daniel is the founder of Living History Adventures and is currently building a museum of WWII vehicles. Amy is married to Zach, and is a busy wife and mama. Zach leads the band and is the Communications Director for South Dakota Gun Owners.

All Family Dinner
Saturday, February 28th, 2009, 5:30 p.m.
This year, we welcome whole families to join us for the Men's Advance closing dinner. Please indicate on your registration form if you will be joining us for the family dinner. Registrants to the Men's Advance have no extra cost for the dinner—this meal is included in your initial registration fee of $75. The extra fee of $5 per person (max $20 per family) is to cover expenses for additional family members who will be joining us at the closing dinner.

Ben

Building a Tool Bench and organizing the garage.

To my chagrin, recently, one of our readers noticed the fact that there hadn't been very many Ben pictures lately. Oh dear! That surely isn't because of any reason, other than my photo-posting-negligence. He certainly has been busy around here lately, blessing the family in a myriad of ways, and continuing to learn and grow in his pursuits. We'll try to keep you better posted on Ben's adventures. : )


Ben made a hanging rack for the large tools.


Playing a game with Beth and Jon during a recent visit.


Careful . . .


Voila!

Random Readings

To the making of books, there is no end.

Our family loves books. We read them, we talk about them, we pass them around, we have them lining many of the walls in our home. Usually, I try to just have one book that I'm working though, so as to actually finish it! But sometimes, there are weeks like this one--a plethora of miscellaneous subjects all pertinent to the projects at hand. I thought you might find it amusing to see the things I've been reading and referencing this past week.

- Rebecca

The Bible, ESV. Psalm of the day, Proverbs of the day, a little in Romans.
The Trinity Hymnal, accompanist version, published by Great Commission Publications.
Woman: Her Mission and Her Life, by Aldophe Monod.
So You Want to be in Pictures? by Ted Baehr. Chapter on Screenwriting.
A yet un-published manuscript, written by a friend.
Voice of the Martyrs, February 2009 issue.
First Organ Book, edited by Wayne Leupold.
"Don't Make Me Count to Three!", by Ginger Plowman.
Faith for All of Life, February 2009 issue.
The Organized Home, by Koll and Ellis.
The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing.
Edvard Grieg's Lyric Pieces, Op.71, No.2 (listen here) and Lyric Pieces, Op.62, No.6 (listen here).

First Machine Sewing Lessons

Threading the machine to make a doll skirt.

Our First International Registration!!

The Men's Advance goes international with our first registration from Canada! And we don't even know the family. : ) What an honor!

Keep in mind, there is still time to sign up for the February 27-28th conference, The Men's Advance in Troy, Missouri. Pastors Kevin Swanson and Marcus Serven will be speaking.

And if you are a local family in the St. Louis metro area, don't miss the opportunity to attend a Free Americana Folk Concert with the Lautenschlager family!!! Concert is Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. held at St. Stephen's Methodist Church.

And the winner is . . .

Samuel!!

Congratulations on winning the drawing for our recent guessing game. : ) The answer to the question, and I quote Samuel, "It must be the 99.1 Classical music station in Clayton, Missouri? And you were there for Pastor Marcus Servens Birthday." Precisely.

Samuel, let us know which CD you would like as your prize from Genevan Foundation!

Epistemologically Self Conscious Home Design

The law and the gospel: the cross and the two tablets of the ten-commandments.

"It has been pointed out that the upper half of the panels in our common doors represents the cross. If the panels are taken out of the cross appears in true and exact proportions. Many persons may have noticed this, but not many know perhaps that this form was purposely adopted in the Middle Ages, and that it is no mere accident of architecture.

Dr.Phelps, speaking of this, says: “It was no fortuitous circumstance or geometric convenience in domestic building. It had its origin in the religious fervor of the Crusades, which make everything that could be thus employed and emblem of the central truths and forms of Christian worship. The same religious tastes which constructed the ancient cathedrals in the form of the cross, and scattered crosses and the instruments of our Lord’s passion everywhere by the roadside, gave structure to windows and doors.

"Windows in mediaeval castles, and in the upper class of humbler homes as well, were divided by the Roman cross, the pillar running perpendicularly through the centre and the cross beam near the top; so that every eye that looked out upon the outside world should look through the type of the central thought of the Christian faith… With the same design the paneling of doors was so constructed as to form the same device.

“From that day to this, this usage of household architecture has remained – a silent witness to the devotion of another age. To mediaeval piety it must have been an impressive circumstance of daily life that every time one passed through a doorway one faced the emblem of the great Christian tragedy. Entering the room where the daily meals were served, or going to the chamber of repose at night, every inmate of the home looked upon the sign of the sacrifice on which the salvation of all depended; and the same token was one of the first images to greet the eye in the morning.

"The Christian home, however lowly, if it rose to the dignity of paneled doors and transom windows, was thus crowded with reproductions of the symbol which the sensitive religious temperament of the age made sacred to all, and which often brought tears to the eyes of many. By such expedients did our fathers strive to make the great thoughts of the Christian faith a pervasive presence with themselves and their children.”

It can do us no harm in these later days to recall and keep in mind the mediaeval piety which sought thus to place a memorial of Christ at the entrance to every room, building into every part of the very house itself the symbol of his great love. The form itself is nothing. It wards off no evil. It brings no blessing to a home.

But if the symbol suggest thoughts of Christ and his love and holiness whenever the eye rests upon it, its influence must be to soften the heart, to check and restrain evil words and tempers, to kindle the spirit of devotion and to sweeten all the life of the home. Anything that helps to keep us in mind of the presence of Christ and of his loving spirit cannot do us harm.

But far more important is it for us to make sure that we have Christ himself in our home. Symbols are nothing unless they are the true pictures of sacred facts.

If Christ be indeed remembered daily and hourly in the home, if his presence be consciously realized and its transforming power felt in each heart, and if everything be done and every word spoke in his name, – the household life will be pervaded by the spirit of heaven, and the home memories will be tender with all the hallowed tenderness of the warmest love."

Excerpt from Homemaking by J. R. Miller. Read online here or purchase here.

Fan Tour

Remember this? Looking up at the KFUO Radio Tower.

Did you know radio station call numbers mean something? In this case, KFUO, the call letters for two local Lutheran stations, mean "Keeping Forward, Upward Onward".

For the past 61 years, this Christian based radio station has sought to bring truth and joy into the lives of millions of people around the world. Centered in St. Louis, Missouri, the one-of-a-kind programming encourages people via radio wave in the metro area, and through the medium of the Internet, around the world.

Most classical radio stations feature obscure pieces, only accessible to the most snobbish of snobby musicians [Editor's Note: I can say this, because I am a musician--hopefully, not a snobby one!].

Classic 99 seeks to "support the growing of the arts and culture" all throughout the community. Their programing is distinctly accessible by each listener. Favorite pieces, beloved because of familiarity, are interspersed with less familiar, yet musically exquisite compositions.


Dad and daughter.

My father absolutely loves Classic 99. Preparing sermons, working on articles, reading and researching, even during pastoral counseling or phone calls, there is almost always a backdrop of gorgeous classical music.

Because of this fact, we knew what a treat it would be to surprise him for his birthday with a tour of the KFUO station. We all piled in the van, and as Dad drove us along, we instructed him as we went--"Ok, turn left here. Now take this road for 2 miles--Now can you tell where we are going??!!"

As we turned into Concordia Seminary's campus, Dad vaguely thought, "Perhaps we were going to the bookstore?" But no. He pulled up in front of a large two-story brick building, and the biggest grin spread across his face. His very own tour of a most favorite radio station: Classic 99.


Our tour guide for the day--director of operations, Dennis Stortz.

Listening and learning.

A tour of the museum room.


An early microphone from the studio.

The original studio. The oldest working studio in existence. As is necessary for sound studios, there is not one square angle in the room.

The birthday Dad, thoroughly enjoying the experience.

A very important piece of equipment that keeps everything running. Teasingly referred to as "the brains behind the operation". : )

Crowded in the recording studio.

Mr. Connett gives us an explanation of running a radio program.

Jim Connett in action.

As the seconds ticked down between the live air time, we started getting a little curious--should we leave the studio so he could give the voice over? No, Mr. Connett just told us all to be quiet and he'd give the conclusion for the song and start the ad sequence. We all held our breath and listened with surprise as the announcer stated,

"Well folks, that was the Concerto No. 3 by Brahms [Editor's Note: Fictional piece used as I can't remember the specific title]. A beautiful tapestry rich with vibrancy, and perfect for this lovely Wednesday afternoon. We actually have some guests in the studio with us--a home-school family who are devoted fans of Classic 99. We've been showing them around the studio. It's a joy to have them here. And now, a break for our advertising sponsors."

Wow! We were on the air. : ) Our 3 seconds of fame!!! : ) A family in our church heard the reference to on the air, and not knowing who it was, wondered, "If perhaps that was the Serven Clan?" They would be sure to do something strange like that. : )

All smiles.

Years ago, while our family still lived in California, I attended a 3 week long music camp. While there and participating in a conducting class, I, along with all the other students, observed a particularly talented young conductor.

The teacher asked him, "How he had developed such skill?" The student explained of a certain classical radio station in his city of St. Louis. Each day, the young man would grab his baton and practice for hours, 'conducting' the music on the radio. His practicing paid off. His conducting had a natural ease only learned from frequent practice.

When I heard this story of a wonderful classical radio station, I lamented the fact that our options in California were so limited. Wonder of wonders, when the Lord moved our family to Missouri, Classic 99, the very station that the would be conductor referred to, was still on the air. What a delight!

At first, this was the main thing that started me loving Missouri. Since then, we've seen a host of reasons why the Lord relocated us halfway across the country, but in those first days, Classic 99 was a sweet gift from the Lord, it seemed, just for me.


The Music Library. Thousands, perhaps millions of recordings!

One staff member explained that while many radio stations have a rule of not repeating songs more than every 1-3 days, Classic 99 doesn't repeat pieces closer than 8 days.

The programmers are sensitive to the everyday life of St. Louisans. If it's a snowy day, they might feature "Sleigh-ride" or "The Snowflake Ballet". Then again, they might take you far away to "The Florida Suite" or "Arabian Nights".

During rush hour traffic, they'll have peaceful songs, or one designed to invigorate as you journey homeward.

At a historical moments of the year they will play pieces associated with that event. The time of the recent presidential inauguration featured songs designed to inspire a commitment to our country.

Whenever significant events take place, the programmers seek to interpret the events with music, giving hope, and sensitivity.

At one point the station attempted to computerize the whole song selection process, but it just didn't work. They needed "a human touch". To this day, the station runs it's programing the good ol' fashioned way. Because of this, Classic 99 has an amazing impact on the community.

Classic 99 doesn't just play the 'classics', per se. Because of their unique angle on providing accessible music to the community, they'll occasionally include movie soundtracks, or even folk songs.

Their regular programming spans the ages of Western music: Gregorian chants, Renaissance motets, Baroque chamber music, Classical symphonies, Romantic piano sonatas, Impressionistic fantasias, well written Modern pieces, while happily staying away from almost all chaotic disjointed post-Modern era pieces!! : )

As the Lord often prone to do, He often "orchestrates the programing" in a certain way, organizing my day of errands so I hear just the song I needed to hear at that particular moment. He is very kind to care for his children so greatly, so as to provide us a beautiful environment of joy.

The entire Serven Clan at Classic 99.