Is the Gospel about Self-Esteem?

Robert Schuller has preached that the Gospel is about self-esteem for the last thirty years. He has consistently stated that a preacher should not preach about sin. Rather, preachers should remind people of their great possibility as human beings. He has espoused the "Gospel of Positive Thinking."



Robert Schuller has been and is a false shepherd who preaches a false gospel. There is an interesting story that Al Mohler has addressed in his blog concerning the Schuller family. Take a look at the story here.

The trend in conservative evangelicalism

I love conferences. Over the past eight years, I have attended numerous beneficial and stimulating conferences on subjects ranging from legal issues in the church to the Pastor's Conference at Bethlehem Baptist. But, I must confess that conservative evangelicalism has become obsessed with conferences.

If I wanted (and Kimberly would let me spend the big bucks associated with conferences) I could go to a really good conference each month. When I begin my next pastorate, I want to still attend conferences, but I need to be discerning. Which conference will best equip me and my staff to love the LORD and shepherd His people? Is this for the building up of the church or for my relaxation? Am I becoming a conference-junky?

Feel free to keep me accountable concerning conferences over the years.

New Campaign Poster?

A Redneck Mansion

Kimberly's Shopping List- She's Got Skills

A Chill In The Air

Over the past few weeks, we've awoken to a crispness in the air. That chilly air is like a message each year: "It's time for all things Autumn."

Two weeks ago, we raked leaves as a family. Or, more accurately, as I'm sure you can imagine, Ken and I raked leaves, and the boys played in the piles. And what fun is raking, really, without watching a child dive in and disappear beneath the heap?

The boys' closets are reorganized now with all their warm sweaters handy. And little boys in sweaters are irresistibly cute!

And there's been plenty of fall baking already...

In the past few weeks, we've had a family over for pumpkin pie, other friends over for apple crisp, I've made whole wheat pumpkin bread and sent pumpkin pie squares to work with Ken. I look for lots of ways to share these goods, by the way, because I always have more I want to bake than my family should really eat!

Next on the list is apple dumplings, and still to come will be cranberry cake and sweet potato casserole (Ken will be less than thrilled about that last one, but the kids and I will relish it!).

And, just as of yesterday, a nice big, round pumpkin sits on our lawn chair, waiting to be carved. Ken is hoping it has lots of seeds for roasting. We'll see.

We're already anticipating Thanksgiving. Harvest and thanksgiving hymns have been added to our family worship times, and, each week, the boys and I are checking out more Thanksgiving books from the library, building the excitement towards that special holiday.

A beautiful season ~ Thanks be to God.

~~~

These Boys Make Their Daddy Proud

Calvin is really catching on to the whole question-and-answer catechism conversation. He apparently wants to catechize his brother, though, in matters of football, not faith. On the way to the grocery store today, Calvin and Teddy had this sweet little conversation:

Calvin: Teddy, who does our family like, the Green Bay Packers or the Vikings?

Teddy: Gee Packa!

Calvin: What do the Packers do?

Teddy: Gee Packa take down Vikee.

Calvin: That's right, Teddy! The Green Bay Packers take down the Vikings.

~~~

My Little Bears

Calvin started Awana Cubbies this fall, and has barely taken off his club vest since. He has earned four patches, and is working on Bear Hug 10 this week.

My little Cubbie Bear ~


Proud Mama Bear can't resist adding a picture of my other little bear, my Teddy Bear, showing off his pockets ~

My son, the theologian...maybe not

I was asking Calvin the catechism questions this evening and one question was, "Who wrote the Bible?" Calvin properly responded, "Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit."

Then he added, "And mommy said that it was also written by a man in St. Paul, MN."

Just for the record, Kimberly denies it.

Making Bird Feeders

The boys and I had a project on our minds this morning. We had been inspired by Calvin's Highlights magazine to make bird feeders.

I took the boys for a walk to hunt for pine cones. We found a gold mine under a tree on the next block.

Next came the peanut butter (An awful lot of it went directly into Teddy's mouth!) ~



A bit of bird seed ~

And some garden twine ~

Voila!

~~~

Tough crowd

I was out on a walk with Calvin today. Out of the blue, he asked me, "Dad, you got a job yet?" I said, no, not yet. "You need to get a job dad!"

No slacking for me in this family.

The Things They Say

Teddy has two favorite words these days, and both have to do with dirty diapers.

At the kitchen counter yesterday afternoon, the boys were going back and forth with this sort of talk:

Calvin: You're a poopy pants, Teddy.

Teddy: Poopy pants.

Calvin: No, you're a poopy pants, Teddy.

Teddy: Poopy pants.

At that point, Ken and I intervened:

Kim: Boys, that's enough. No calling eachother poopy names.

Ken: That's right boys. We don't need any more talk about poopy.

Brief silence.

Teddy, with a big grin: Pee pee.

~~~

Have you hugged your pastor this month?

Do you know that October is pastor appreciation month? I want to encourage every reader to send their pastor a note of encouragement this month. You would be amazed at how much a note of appreciation out of the blue encourages a weary pastor's soul.

Any pastors reading this blog, THANK YOU and keep on persevering men!

Milestone

We've reached a new milestone in the Schmidt family: Calvin can now ride his tricycle for family walks. I took him on such a walk this afternoon.

As we started out, he said, "I would like to have some conversation while we're on this walk." My, oh my. How could I say no to that?

I asked what he wanted to talk about.

Nemo and Marlin and Dory and Brucie.

~~~

Calvin is the winner!

Ken has the week off from school. With no work today either, and being the most wonderful daddy in the world, he chose to have special one-on-one time with each of the boys.

This morning, Daddy and Calvin headed off to the "Semi-marry" (as Calvin says) to go swimming. They came back grinning. It must have been fun. Meanwhile, Teddy was Mommy's special helper at the grocery store.

This evening, Ken took Teddy out for a Krispie Kreme treat. Teddy came home still licking his lips. Ken made some great memories with the boys today, for sure.

While Teddy was having his special Daddy time, Calvin and I played games! Calvin crushed me, 3-0 in CandyLand, and 3-0 in cards. And it's all fair and square; I don't just let him win.

I'm crying like a little girl.

Calvin wanted to post his winnings on the blog; he chose the title for this entry as well.

One cute Calvinism of the day: He ran into the kitchen this afternoon and said, "Momma, I just learned a new word: cornucopia!"

~~~

Sweet Sacrifices

I was blessed last week to attend once again a Pendergraph Women's Ministry event. Mrs. Jani Ortlund, author of Fearlessly Feminine and His Loving Law, Our Lasting Legacy, spoke to us about "Sweet Sacrifices: The Challenge of a Woman in Ministry."

Her message was challenging, encouraging, and packed with fresh insights from God's word and from Mrs. Ortlund's life experiences.

She talked about risking your reputation, refining your romance, and relishing your redemption.

After she spoke, we were all invited to Mrs. Mohler's home for dessert. I caught up with many friends while we all oohed and aahed over Dr. Mohler's library. Another special night filled with fun and great fellowship!

~~~

Good Sportsmanship

I taught Calvin a card game a couple weeks ago. It's "Hit The Deck," minus the action cards. Essentially, it's matching colors and numbers and learning to take turns. Oh, and be a good sport and congratulate the winner.

Tonight, I won the first game and Calvin won the second. As we began the third round, Calvin said, "You have a chance to win now. And if I win," he said, a big grin spreading across his face, "you're gonna cry like a little girl."

Obviously, he's learned from his Daddy how to talk smack.

~~~