Laurie Bluedorn's Blog, page 4

John G. Paton — departure for Glasgow to begin his missionary internship

Taken from John G. Paton: The Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides[image error], an autobiography edited by James Paton. This passage describes John’s departure for Glasgow to begin his missionary internship.

My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsels and tears and heavenly conversation on the parting journey are as fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday. Tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then whenever memory steals me away to the scene. For the last half mile or so we walked on together in almost unbroken silence, my father, as was often his custom, carrying hat in hand while his long flowing yellow hair — then yellow, but in later years white as snow — streamed like a girl’s down his shoulders. His lips kept moving in silent prayers for me and his tears fell fast when our eyes met each other with looks for which all speech was vain. We halted upon reaching the appointed parting place. He grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence and then solemnly and affectionately said, “God bless you my son. Your father’s God prosper you and keep you from all evil.” Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer. In tears we embraced and parted.

I ran off as fast as I could and when about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with his head uncovered where I had left him, gazing after me. Waving my hat in adieu, I was around the corner and out of sight in an instant, but my heart was too full and sore to carry me further, so I darted into the side of the road and wept for a time. Then rising up cautiously, I climbed the dike to see if he yet stood where I left him, and just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dike and looking out for me. He did not see me and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while he got down, set his face toward home and began to return. His head still uncovered and his heart, I felt sure, still rising in prayers for me.

I watched through blinding tears till his form faded from my gaze and then hastening on my way, vowed deeply and oft by the help of God to live and act so as to never grieve or dishonor such a father and mother as He had given me. The appearance of my father when we parted, his advice, prayers and tears, the road, the dike, the climbing up on it and walking away head uncovered, have often, often, all through life risen vividly before my mind… The scene, not only helped by God’s grace to keep me pure from the prevailing sins, but also stimulated me in all my studies that I might not fall short of his hopes, and in all my Christian duties that I might faithfully follow his shining example.

John Gibson Paton (24 May 1824 – 28 January 1907) was born at Braehead, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and was the oldest of the eleven children of James Paton, a peasant stocking-maker, and Janet Jardine Rogerson. Both parents were of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. John learned from his youth that prayer was to be involved in every part of life. Before John or his siblings were ever punished for an act of disobedience, his father first got on his knees and prayed. This taught them the importance of inviting God into every area of life.

“How much my father’s prayers at this time impressed me I can never explain, nor could any stranger understand. When, on his knees and all of us kneeling around him in Family Worship, he poured out his whole soul with tears for the conversion of the Heathen world to the service of Jesus, and for every personal and domestic need, we all felt as if in the presence of the living Savior, and learned to know and love him as our Divine friend.”

John was a Christian missionary to the cannibals on the New Hebrides Islands of the South Seas. His life was filled with many trials — his first wife and their child soon died after their arrival on the island of Tanna, and Paton had to flee for his life almost on a daily basis from the natives.

Working among the cannibals

John helped treat the Aniwans with proper medicine for their illnesses and dug a well in the middle of the island so that the people could have fresh water.

John Paton lived to be eighty-three, and the Lord’s promise never failed him.

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Children’s books in words of one syllable

We have listed here books for young readers — books which consist of words of one syllable. These books would be ideal for the beginning reader.

Nursery Lessons in Words of One Syllable

Alice in Wonderland Retold in Words of One Syllable

by J.C. Gorgam

History of England in Words of One Syllable

by Helen W. Pierson

The Life of George Washington in Words of One Syllable

by Josephine Pollard

Lives of the Presidents Told in Words of One Syllable

by Jean S. Remy

The Pilgrim’s Progress in Words of One Syllable

by Lucy Aikin and John Bunyan

Robinson Crusoe in Words of One Syllable

by Daniel Defoe

Swiss Family Robinson in Words of One Syllable

by Lucy Aikin and Johann David Wyss

The History of the United States Told in One Syllable Words

by Josephine Pollard

Aesop’s Fables in Words of One Syllable

Heroes of History in Words of One Syllable

by Agnes Sadlier

The Man’s Boot and Other Tales, or, Fabulous Truths in Words of One Syllable

illustrated by Harrison Weir

Black Beauty Retold in Words of One Syllable

by Mrs. J. C. Gotham

History of Ireland in Words of One Syllable

by Agnes Sadier

Evenings at Home in Words of One Syllable

by Lucy Aikin

History of France in Words of One Syllable

by Helen W. Pierson

History of Russia in Words of One Syllable

by Helen Ainslie Smith

The Life of Abraham Lincoln for Young People Told in Words of One Syllable

by Harriet Putnam

Our Naval Heroes in Words of Easy Syllables

by Josephine Pollard

Recommended — Academic Basics Course

Some years ago, Gary North developed a course on preparing for high school and college by learning how to study — Academic Basics Course (ABC). This course has been available only to Ron Paul Curriculum families since 2013.  ABC is recommended for any student age twelve and up, adults included.

Even if you are already in high school, college, or are a graduate and working, you need this course. If you do everything he says, you are on track to do well in high school, college, and life. I wrote a short review of the Academic Basics Course here. You could think of this course as an academic life preserver.

This week, Dr. North decided to make his 46-lesson course available to all students.

He said this:

“It is my hope that students everywhere can improve their performance by following my guidelines. But I think my techniques work best for homeschoolers.”

Your children can access his course here. (affiliate links)

Big Little Man — It’s never too early to begin teaching children things

Big Little Man

by Amanda Haumesser Wallace

It’s never too early to begin teaching children things, regardless their age. Even before the little ones are walking, Doug and I are including them in our everyday activities — not ALL the time because we’d lose our sanity from the often endless questions and statements, but we involve them enough. I’ll set them on top of the Hoosier while I’m mixing up a meal or washing dishes, or I’ll have them outside helping with one of my building projects, laundry, gardening and so forth. Doug is the same way. He’s got them out there helping him with firewood, tinkering on one thing or the next, and will often have one or several little helpers sitting next to him as he’s working on a vehicle. As a habit, Doug explains things to the kids even when they’re not entirely capable of talking in full sentences yet. He’s telling them the names of tools and what they’re used for and showing them parts of the vehicle and its function as he goes. Most times the little helper is toying with random tools and scraps of wood, but you wonder just how much they’re actually learning or understanding. At first I thought giving them all that info was a bit too premature, but now I’m not so sure.

Will, our five-year-old is almost always right there in the mess of things when Doug is working on the ol’ Durango. So often, he’s running into the house to fetch a tool for Papa and is telling me the names of what he’s looking for. Half the time I don’t even know, so as I’m rummaging through the tool chest with him, I’ll pull out one tool or the next to hand him hoping it’s the right one. But most times he tells me that’s not what he’s after. Finally he’ll spy it and take off with glee.

I will admit, him learning the names and functions of the tools at only five-years-old is impressive, but I had my doubts that he was fully understanding how things worked on a vehicle and how to fix them.

With sumac and elderberry season in full swing, I’m going out every other day to harvest. I’ll usually take a child or two with me to help, so this time I had Will and Sam. About seven miles down the gravel road I started to hear something that sounded like metal grinding on metal on one of our back tires. I’d been hearing that sound on occasions before while I was out, but it would eventually disappear. This time however it wasn’t. I was driving pretty slow in order to spot berries, so I figured I wasn’t causing too much damage. But the sound was unnerving. It sounded like our brake shoes were crumbling into little bits.

Will stuck his head out the window to listen, then stated, “Sounds like there’s a rock between the tire.” He sounded so matter-of-fact, I had to smile. “Sure hope that’s all it is,” I replied.

At the next big patch of sumac we came to along the road, I hopped out with my bucket to pick but Will eagerly got down on his hands and knees to examine the tire. Within a few minutes he shouted, “I found the problem! There’s rocks between the wheel.”

Again, I had to smile. He sure was being cute even though I was thinking how ironic it’d be if it actually did turn out to be the very problem he’d said it might have been. He wanted me to come take a look, but I was in a thicket so I told him he’d have to wait until I came out to dump my bucket.

By the time I did, I’d already forgotten about it until Will excitedly reminded me after I’d emptied my load. I got down and he pointed to a gap in the wheel. Sure enough! There were several irregular, small pieces of gravel in there that were rolling about as we’d drive and were getting crunched between the tire rim and the brake drum. Most of them were loose, but there were a few that were still wedged between the metal. I still had my kitchen scissors that I’d been using to cut sumac, so I stuck them in and hammered at the rocks. They came free easily but I couldn’t get them completely out of the gap. I couldn’t push them out the back so they had to be taken out from the front, but I couldn’t get them to slide forward.

As I mumbled about what I was wanting to achieve, Will intelligently suggested I use the blades of the scissors to grab the rocks and pull them out. I tell you, by the time the task was done, I was feeling rather dimwitted having a five-year-old guide me through the whole thing. But I sure was proud of him though. When we arrived back home, Doug was out chopping firewood and as soon as Will saw him while we drove past, he was shouting out the window with great enthusiasm how he’d fixed the rig.

So now I’m pretty certain that instructing children at an incredibly young age is beneficial and not at all a waste of time and effort. There’s no reason why fathers need to wait to teach their sons how to work on a vehicle until they’re teenagers. Or on anything for that matter. And that goes for us mothers as well. My mom started me so young in the kitchen that I don’t even remember learning it. I was making biscuits while having to stand on an old milk crate in order to roll the dough out. I think it’s so much easier that way and you can be so much more ahead of the game learning something before you can even recall the lessons.

If you would like to receive Amanda Haumesser Wallace’s newsletter and further essays, email her at thesonseeker1 @ gmail.com.

Gary North and Ron Paul explore the benefits of homeschooling

Homeschooling may not work for everybody, but the remarkable Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum, explained here by Dr. Gary North, has amassed an incredible track record guiding young people to academic success in just a few short years. Feeling that something is really wrong with the state school system? You won’t want to miss this edition of the Ron Paul Liberty Report!

Homeschooling Benefits

by Ron Paul

For newcomers to homeschooling, my interview with Dr. Gary North will prove useful. The interview took place in early October.

Here, Dr. North and I explore the benefits of homeschooling.

Dr. North put together the Ron Paul Curriculum, beginning in 2013. He produced the four high school literature courses, the American history course, the economics course, the business I course, and half the course on government, for a total of 1,250 lessons. He was busy.

I released this video on my Liberty Report earlier this week. I hope my viewers with children in public schools make the transition. (aff link)

Make no mention

Joshua 23:7 …and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them…

Numbers 33:52 …then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places…

A Brilliant Propagandist

“The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over. Here, as so often in this world, persistence is the first and most important requirement for success.”

–from “War Propaganda,” in volume 1, chapter 6 of Mein Kampf (1925) by Adolf Hitler

Selling books from my library

The Nelson Study Bible NKJV

Black, Bonded Leather, Gilded Gold Page Edges

Brand new, never used, still in box

ISBN 0785207082

$55 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places

by Steve Brill

pb, in very good condition

ISBN 9780688114251

$18 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The Archer’s and Bowhunter’s Bible

by H.Lea Lawrence

ISBN 978-0385422215

pb, good condition

$10 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong: Moral Illiteracy and the Case for Character Education

by William Kilpatrick

hb with dj, very good condition

ISBN 978-0671758011

1992

$10 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Thirty Days to Better English: Learn to Speak and Write More Effectively–in Only Fifteen Minutes a Day!

by Norman Lewis

pb, in good condition

ISBN 978-0451161918

$7 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Ten Philosophical Mistakes

by Mortimer J. Adler

pb, in good condition

ISBN 9780684818689

$8 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Joe’s Book of Mushroom Cookery

by Jack Czarnecki

ISBN 978-0689114502

1986

hb with dj, very good condition

$18 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee

pb, very good condition

1994

ISBN 0897500482

$17 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Brown’s Lawsuit Cookbook — How to Sue and Win

by Michael H. Brown

pb, good condition

ISBN 9780879473679

$13 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Fax This Book: Over 100 Sit-Up-and-Take-Notice Cover Sheets for Better Business

by John Caldwell

pb, in fair condition — all fax sheets in good condition

ISBN 978-0894808074

$14 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

translated by Samuel B. Griffith

hb with dj, very good condition

ISBN 0195015401

$15 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Investing for the Future by Larry Burkett

hb with dj, very good condition

ISBN 978-0896938892

$10 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Become the Arrow — The Art of Modern Barebow Shooting

by Byron Ferguson and Glenn Helgeland

1994

pb, good condition

$8 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Tesla: Man Out of Time by Margaret Cheney

hb with dust jacket, very good condition

1989

ISBN 0880294191

$8 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The Random House College Dictionary, revised edition

1975

hb, very good condition

ISBN 0394436008

$13 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The New Roget’s Thesaurus in Dictionary Form

edited by Norman Lewis

hb, very good condition

1964 edition

$13 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The First Book Atlas

by the editors and cartographers of C.S.Hammond & Company

hb, good condition

ex lib

1960

$15 with free U.S. media mail shipping

The Anabasis, or the Expedition of Cyrus

Literally translated from the Greek of Xenophon by Rev. J. S. Watson

The Students’ Literal Translations

hb good condition

1920

$15 with free U.S. media mail shipping

St. Elmo, or, Saved at Last by Augusta Jane Evans

first published 1866

new edition by Seven Stars

hb

very good condition

$14 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Time-Honored Norwegian Recipes Adapted to the American Kitchen by Xan and Marstrander

illustrated

plastic-comb bound

82 pages

good condition

published by Norwegian-American Museum, Deborah, Iowa, 1974

$7 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Scandinavian Christmas Traditions by Daniel B. Nystrom

plastic-comb bound

A Twin Rainbow Press Publication, 1987

32 pages

good condition

$6 with free U.S. media mail shipping

University of Chicago Readings in Western Civilization

#3 The Church in the Roman Empire

Edited by Karl F. Morrison

1986

pb

good condition

ISBN 0226069397

$11 with free U.S. media mail shipping

University of Chicago Readings in Western Civilization

#2 Rome, Late Republic and Principate

Edited by Walter Emil Kaegi, Jr. and Peter White

1986

pb

good condition

ISBN 0226069370

$11 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Readings in European History: A collection of extracts from the sources chosen with the purpose of illustrating the progress of culture in Western Europe since the German Invasions

by James Harvey Robinson

Primary sources from the Barbarian Invasions to early Twentieth Century

published 1906

HB

tight binding

good condition

$12 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Stories of Famous Ships by Frank Knight

illustrated by Will Nickless

ex-lib

HB

published 1966

tight binding

good condition

$10 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Little Journeys to the Homes of American Statesmen

by Elbert Hubbard

richly illustrated with black and white plates

published 1898

binding loose

fair condition

$10 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Antique school primer

The First Step to Learning antique school primer

London: Yorkshire J.S. Publishing and Stationery Co. Limited; Agents: DEAN & SON, 11, Ludgate-hill, Wholesale Warehouse — Otley, Yorkshire

Paperback

10 pages

good condition

around 1860 (penciled in)

$8 with free U.S. media mail shipping

Periodic Table of the Elements Poster by Time Life Books (1986)

illustrated with photographs of the actual elements

out of print

fair condition

30X50 inches

$9 (free U.S. media mail postage)

515-249-3611 or bluedorn@triviumpursuit.com

Photo of the Day

Who knows what this is?

My organic nurse this week — she won’t let me eat any sugar

Me and Ava