Thursday 21 February 2013

ice skating

When we say, let's take the kids Ice Skating, what that translates to is,
 "let's carry and pull the kids around a rink until we/they are tired of it." 
Lydia is just holding on for the slide-ride.  

Since ice was not a big part of my growing up years, I am just glad I can skate at all.  But look at that....thing....in the background!            It's a wooden pole with handlebars, and a heavy base that slides across the ice.  Doesn't tip over.  Kids can sit on it and be pushed, OR little kids can use it as a "training help" to learn how to skate.                                             One little kid Lydia's age was out all by herself, skating along with one of those contraptions.  Do we have that in America??

Did you know that 3 year old ice skates are really small and cute?  
And the helmet is both tough and cute at the same time. 

Daniel, on the other hand, is like a fish in the water with ice skating...it's obvious we grew up in totally different climates!

Monday 11 February 2013

Day care vs. stay at home moms

Over at my sister blog, "an American's view of life in Sweden," I have plenty to say about the swedish day care system.

http://amerisvenska.blogspot.se/2013/02/is-it-really-better-this-way-day-care.html

Is it really better this way? Day care vs. stay at home moms



I have written before on this topic, but several recent articles drive me to re-emphasize my point.

Let's take it story by story...

http://www.gp.se/nyheter/debatt/1.583949-en-familjepolitik-som-gor-barnen-psykiskt-sjuka?ref=fb

"The first generation born under the new conditions in Sweden has been at the preschool from the age of one year, and during his first six years spent most of his waking life with preschool staff."

Although they give it as a result of evolution, this article from Göteborgsposten allows for a complementarian view of men and women.  In other words, men and women are not identical and women are especially better fit to take care of children, especially in their earlier years.

In Sweden, parents are penalized for having their children at home, and while they could send their children for free for a limited amount of day care, they recieve little or no benefits at all for keeping them at home.

http://www.svd.se/opinion/ledarsidan/staten-ska-lasa-sagor-for-barnen_7904478.svd

Sweden is playing a game that Socrates wrote about for many hundreds of  years ago.  Let the state control the children, and you strengthen the state.  The state knows better than the parents, etc.

Get people to believe that this is not the state pushing to have more control, but something the parents themselves want. Socrates believed that within the second or third generation people would be brainwashed enough to hand their kids over blindly.

And now the Social Democrats want to have obligatory day care for our kids, starting at infancy.  The question is, how brainwashed are Swedes in this matter?

http://www.helagotland.se/ledare/artikel.aspx?articleid=8309420

This article says something along the lines of, it is for everyone's best to put your kids into daycare as soon as possible, because, among other things, this will help your kids become better students in the future.  Unfortunately, according to this article, the facts do not back up that statement.

Ultimately...

God gave us a beautiful gift as parents, to raise our children, teach them of the Lord, teach them how to be a better person and love them abundantly.  A day care with one teacher to a couple of students who are not her own children will have a very very hard time competing with a mother who loves and wants her children's best.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it
.
Deuteronomy 4:9  “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s childre

Psalm 127:3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Thursday 7 February 2013

From troendeibergsjön

From my sister site, http://troendeibergsjon.blogspot.se/, comes a new update about progress in reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.

Go look!

Systematic Theology Review, Part 7


Sowing seeds already?

In Gothenburg, you have to take the bull by the horns when it is still snowy and cold outside, because it seems like it takes a looong time to warm up here. 
According to this article from Blomsterlandet, now is already the time to start sowing seeds, and sowing can continue all the way into May.  blomsterlandet's article 
Last year I was too late in starting to sow seeds and get things going on our tiny little apartment balcony.  
It seems like things had just gotten started when it was getting cold and dark again!

 So, unlike all the places I have lived in in America, this little cement corner is what I have to work with in terms of enjoying plants and the great outdoors from my apartment.  You take what you got, right?
Here are a few more websites about when to sow seeds here in Southern Sweden: 

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Systematic Theology Part 7.


Systematic Theology Review, Part 7

Go see the previous parts here: http://troendeibergsjon.blogspot.se/2013/02/wayne-grudem.html

And now we are on the second part of Chapter 3

The NEW TESTAMENT in THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE (i.e. the list of all the books that belong in the Bible)

The New Testament's development starts with the writing of the apostles.  Who are these guys and what makes them so special? 

These apostles had a special ability given by the Holy Spirit, to recall accurately the words and deeds of Jesus and to interpret them rightly for subsequent generations.

These apostles even claimed an authority equal to the Old Testament prophets.

They are so validated as God's spoken word, that in 2 Peter 3:16, Peter was willing to classify all of Paul's epistles with the "other scriptures."

1 Timothy 5:17-18 also quotes, "as the scripture says," and then goes on to quote both Deuteronomy and Luke together.  This is giving Luke the validiay of being "scripture" or a part of the Biblical canon.

 So most of the books of the New Testament were written by Jesus' apostles, and the few exceptions, including Mark, Luke, Acts, Hebrews, and Jude, had a historical process of being included based on their close association with Apostles or even with Jesus brother James.

Hebrews was urged to be included as it was probably written by Paul, but that is not certain.

As Wayne Grudem says, "The majestic glory of Christ shines forth from the pages of the epistle to the Hebrews so brightly that no believer who reads it seriously should ever want to question its place in the canon." 

Interestingly, Mark, Luke, and Acts had the personal testimony of a living apostle to confirm that what was written was true and solid.

So, in 367 and in 397, the eastern churches and western churches (i.e. Alexandria and Carthage) agreed on the same New Testament canonical list of accepted books.



Can we expect any more books to come in the New Testament?

Hebrews states very well, "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world" Hebrews 1:1-2

So this is a clear contrast of prophets being used "of old" and a final culmination of the Son, Jesus to speak to mankind.

Grudem says, "the New Testamet writings contain the final, authoritative, and sufficient interpretations of Christ's work or redemption."

Revelations 22:18-19 continues in saying, "I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

This verse refers to the book of revelation itself, but as Grudem says, "it is, however, not accidental that this statement comes at the end of the last chapter of Revelation, and that Revelation is the last book in the New Testament."

How do we know that we have all the books that we need in the Canon of the New Testament?  Grudem says that our confidence is based on the faithfulness of GOd.  "We know that God loves his people, and it is supremely important that God's people have his own words, for the are our life."

Some other candidates for inclusion in the canon of the New Testament have shown themselves to be contradictory to the rest of Scripture.  The encourage, among other things, the necessity of penance, the possibility of forginveness of sins at least once after baptism, that the trinity only formed after Christ was taken up into heaven, "Let Mary go away from us, for women are not worthy of life." , etc.  Here's a photo apparently of some gnostic books according to this website: http://bibleopedia.blogspot.se/

Gnostic Books

And so we can rest in God's faithfulness to provide us with his word in a complete manner so we are able to know him and understand our redemption through his word.


Here is a much better summary of what I have just written:  http://life.biblechurch.org/slifejom/nurturing-audio-video/2293-the-canon-of-scipture-new-testament-by-dr-wayne-grudem.html

Up next, The Authority of Scripture, "how do we know that the Bible is God's word."

And one last thought.  What if all "Christians" really did believe that all of scripture was God breathed and right and true?

We might be despised even more by the world, but isn't it ALWAYS worth it to be in right standing with God?  Accepting the whole word of God might not be easy but it is RIGHT, and it is not our place to question or explain away things that are clearly written there.



Monday 4 February 2013

Christmas and snuggling

Before christmas is toooo far away, I wanted to post a few photos from our sweet time. 
Lydia chose a sweet princess dress that she got from Saudi and looked better decorated than the christmas tree itself!
Markus had fun with his little cousin ....can you see any resemblance?  Two almost bald headed cuties.
Even babies get to dress up (and look so grown up, sniff sniff) for Christmas day!
Lydia enjoyed helping with dealing out presents...
But it takes a lot of work and time because the family is so big, and she soon gave up...
One of her favorite gifts was a barbie car from Grandpa!  And now she even lets Markus touch it too. :)
There was plenty of time to let people read her books and stories...
And snuggle...(with Uncle Jonas)
And always a lot of dishes to be done, right Sara?
Oh, the sweet Swedish Christmas trees...they don't have our American twinkle lights, but rather little electric candles.
There is always work to be done when there are duplos laying around.
Farfar is just waiting for Markus to be big enough to go fishing and roll up snowballs to make snowmen...you have a wait a few more years though!

Singing some christmas carols, complete with guitar, piano, and flute.
Having fun together...
And one last snuggly photo of Lydia being read to.  My parents are good readers, and hopefully Lydia will become a good reader too!

Saturday 2 February 2013

Let girls be girls and boys be boys

Sweden is all about taking away the diversity of gender between boys and girls.

Some kids toy catalogs have been changed to show girls with boys toys, and boys playing barbie (or something like that).



They are considering introducing a new word, HEN.  It means neither He nor She but rather a gender neutral way to speak about a person.

And here is a recent article I read that responds to all this gender-neutral focus.

I usually don't like Aftonbladet, but this Psychologist said it pretty well.

Aftonbladets article

A bit more orderly...

I am for sure not known as an "organized person."  But it was high time to do something here. 

So, now I will be posting the following kind of stuff on a side blog: 


1. Wayne Grudem's systematic theology
2. A deeper look at some Swedish worship songs
3. Updates and what I've learned from church services, Bible studies, etc.
4. Bible memorization progress.
5. Related books and articles that are challenging and encouraging in my walk with the Lord.

You can go see it here:  http://troendeibergsjon.blogspot.se/

The latest two blog entries are about Bible memorization and my slow but sure reading of Wayne Grudem's systematic theology. 

Enjoy! 

Wayne Grudem

I am not teaching anything here, but rather just summarizing the words of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology.

This is a heck of a book, almost 1,300 pages long.  And I am somewhere around page 75 now.

But it is exciting to get a stable foothold of how to look at all aspects of the Bible in a better way!

Here is where you can find the previous sections I have written:

Part 1: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/05/book-reviewsystematic-theology.html

Part 2: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/05/book-review-part-two-grudems-systematic.html

Part 3: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/05/book-review-wayne-grudem-part-3.html

Part 4: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/11/book-review-wayne-grudem-part-4.html

Part 5: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/11/systematic-theology-review-part-5.html

Part 6: http://andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2012/11/systematic-theology-review-part-6-see.html

Part 7:  

Friday 1 February 2013

Anki update

Let's start with something that I have been really enjoying.

Anki!

(You can read the original blog here:
 http://www.andthentheywerethree.blogspot.se/2013/01/its-you-anki.html)

Well, January has just finished, and here are the verses that I have had a total joy to memorize.  It's working, and it is fantastic to have the word of God filling my thoughts.

And before you start thinking, "well good for you,"  this is not my attempt to boast.  But rather to encourage others that this idiot over here who has never been able to memorize scripture can by the grace of God, enjoy his word, and you can too!

1 Samuel 16:7 / But the Lord said to Samuel, b“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his 
stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward 
appearance, cbut the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 2:2 / “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like 
our God.
2 Corinthians 4:18 / as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For
 the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Timothy 1:7 / For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 3:16 / All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for 
correction, and for training in righteousness.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
  / Psalm 90:14
Eph.5.15-16 / Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the
 time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 2:8,9 / For by grace you have been saved through faith—and this not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not a result of works,  so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 3:20-21 / Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
 according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
 all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Exod.15.2 / The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, 
and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Gen.1.28 / And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and 
 subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every
 living thing that moves on the earth."
Hebrews 10:25 / not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
 and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Isa.53.6 / All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD
 has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
John 10:10 / The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 14:6 / Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
 except through me."
John 15:13 / Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 1:1 / In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2-3 / He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was
 not any thing made that was made.
Joshua 22:5 / Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant 
of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his 
commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 24:15 /  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will 
serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites
 in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my   house, we will serve the LORD.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 / The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end
; they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.
Luke 19:10 / For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Matt.16.24 / Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take 
 up his cross and follow me."
Matthew 10:2-4 / And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, 
to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are 
these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John 
his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus,
 and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Micah 6:8 / He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? But to do 
justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.
Proverbs 29:17 / Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
Ps.103.12 / As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Ps.139.16 / Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the
 days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 118:24 / This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 4:8 / In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Romans 12: 11-12 / Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be
 patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 3:23 / for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 / For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
 Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 / For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, neither things present 
 nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
 separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 1:9 / If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
 unrighteousness.

Systematic Theology, Chapter 39

*Just a reminder that this study of Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology, is not by any means me teaching, but rather a simple sum...