ESPN outdoors has a story about the coon dog funeral.  We thought it was such an educational event we checked Keelyn out to attend.  Someone snapped a photo and she’s in the picture accompanying the story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=3666924

We had a nice weekend.  I took this Sunday off and we went down to Tuscaloosa yesterday.

I needed to do some research at the University of Alabama library, so we took Keelyn and Graeme to Moundville after worshiping at the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa this morning.  We stopped by Natural Bridge on the way home this afternoon.

Moundville is really neat, amazing to think of the extensive civilization that once thrived over such a large expanse of land.

Here’s some pics of Keelyn at the President’s house with Denny Chimes in the background, Moundville and Natural Bridge.

Snowman

Originally uploaded by countryparson

Apologies for the dearth of posts lately, we’re still adjusting to the new addition.
We had a rare event Saturday, it snowed! It was the first time we’ve had enough snow stick that we could play in since our wedding eight years ago. We had a blast. Of course by Monday we were in shorts and grilling hot dogs outside.
(Fortunately no injuries, Jeff)

If obedience is not rendered in the homes, we shall never have a whole city, country, principality, or kingdom well governed.  For this order in the homes is the first rule; it is the source of all other rule and government.

-Martin Luther

Happy Birthday to Graeme Hayes Sealy.

Born this afternoon.  18 1/2 inches 6 pounds.

Mom is recovering well.  Daddy and big sister are proud.

My wife and little girl were looking through her baby book this morning and were reminded of an early theological lesson.

“Daddy”, she asked, “does God have a car?”

I did my best to explain that God is everywhere, and that He is always with us and doesn’t need a car.

She responded, “Well does he have a bicycle?”

I’ve been playing around with a cool website Geni this afternoon.  It’s a family tree site that can let other members of your family contribute.  I was adding some of my wife’s ancestors when I made a cool discovery.  I knew she had a famous uncle named Daniel but I didn’t realize she had another uncle who was a famous Baptist preacher. I knew the name sounded familiar, but it took me a while to realize that it wasn’t his preaching that made Elijah Craig famous.

Continuing to work through George Herbert’s The Country Parson:

THe Parson is very exact in the governing of his house, making it a copy and modell for his Parish. He knows the temper, and pulse of every person in his house, and accordingly either meets with their vices, or advanceth theirvertues. His wife is either religious, or night and day he is winning her to it. In stead of the qualities of the world, he requires onely three of her; first, a trayning up of her children and mayds in the fear of God, with prayers, and catechizing, and all religious duties. Secondly, a curing, and healing of all wounds and sores with her owne hands; which skill either she brought with her, or he takes care she shall learn it of some religious neighbour. Thirdly, a providing for her family in such sort, as that neither they want a competent sustentation, nor her husband be brought in debt. His children he first makes Christians, and then Commonwealths-men; the one he owes to his heavenly Countrey, the other to his earthly, having no title to either, except he do good to both. Therefore having seasoned them with all Piety, not only of words in praying, and reading; but in actions, in visiting other sick children, and tending their wounds, and sending his charity by them to the poor, and somtimes giving them a little mony to do it of themselves, that they get a delight in it, and enter favour with God, who weighs even childrens actions, I King. 14. 12, 13. He afterwards turnes his care to fit all their dispositions with some calling, not sparing the eldest, but giving him the prerogative of his Fathers profession, which happily for his other children he is not able to do. Yet in binding them prentices (in case he think fit to do so) he takes care not to put them into vain trades, and unbefitting the reverence of their Fathers calling, such as are tavernes for men, and lace-making for women; because those trades, for the most part, serve but the vices and vanities of the world, which he is to deny, and not augment. However, he resolves with himself never to omit any present good deed of charity, in consideration of providing a stock for his children; but assures himselfe, that mony thus lent to God, is placed surer for his childrens advantage, then if it were given to the Chamber of London.

Short post today as I’m particularly busy this week.

• Note the pastor is not just an example as an individual but as part of a family. This is biblical (1 Tim 3:4) . Coincidentally, I’ve been reading an article about the importance of the minister’s household in the change of protestant church’s stances on contraception in Touchstone.
• I find the importance of guiding the children’s vocational training away from vanities important.
• Finally, Herbert says that giving money to the needy, or doing acts of charity are better investments in our children’s future than an investment account. Have to admit that one hit me. Herbert reminds us to trust in God, even for our children’s future.

Picture is OrtenCountryChurch by StuffEyeSee.

Fishing

Monday’s turn out to be a pretty good day to spend the evening with my daughter. We went fishing again today, apparently the Barbie fishing rod and worms from the flower bed did pretty good. She caught 2 bream, I caught 0.

We’re having beautiful weather today and I got to enjoy my calling to be a father…I took my daughter fishing in our neighbor’s pond.  We didn’t catch anything, we did see one jump at the plastic worm I managed to tangle around some limbs.  But we spent some time together and saw a cocoon, a turtle and a nice sunset.  It was a nice reminder as I work to minister in my vocation as a pastor that I also have a vocation as a father.