I was asked why I like this particular design of a dove. Well, I began following Jesus as a young gal whilst attending Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on Saturday nights. Then, when Greg Laurie began teaching at Calvary Chapel Riverside, I began attending both, then finally rested at home at CCR. That was back when we'd meet in downtown Riverside and in a tent on the same property CCR, now Harvest Christian Fellowship, presently gathers. God has lead Greg through so much in his years with Him.
Here's a quote from Chuck Smith when I looked up info on the dove, "The dove was designed by Kerney Erickson and it is a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending upon the church. Taken from the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended and lighted upon Him."
I know it as the Maranatha! dove which symbolizes Jesus' return. It's a symbol of life, comfort, peace, hope, and so much more. I had it embroidered on my letterman's jacket, created it on our wedding rings, use it on most published materials, etc. It symbolizes my roots in Christianity and hope for the future.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Lord, if . . . John Collins on Grief
"Lord, if you had been here . . . "
These are the words of Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus in John 11.
There, at that moment in time, when death was cruel and vile and heartless, they stood before what seemed an unbreakable valley of darkness. They wrestled with grief, and the grief was unbearable and unbeatable because grief can never be beaten, only experienced.
And so when Jesus came to them, they said it, "Lord, if . . . "
They both said it, at different times, but to His face. We get the sense that they most likely had said it among themselves, too.
"Lord, if . . . if you had only done this or that . . . "
It is the perfectly human response of a heart that is broken because hopes have been dashed and their world shattered. Someone they loved has been taken away. Life as they knew it was now different. They stood on the cliff of that dark valley and peered into the blackness and thought, "Lord, if . . . "
This morning, as I write this, my pastor and his wife stand on that cliff. They are suffering the loss of their eldest son, who was taken from this earth quickly and tragically Thursday. They are battling the unmerciful giant called grief and, like Mary and Martha and every human soul who has waged that battle, they are losing.
It is painful to watch for the end is not near, and with every merciless blow they cry out, "Lord, if . . . "
I have been in that ring before, but only as a young man of 16. My father had died of cancer. The last night of his life, I left the hospital with the words, "I'll be back to watch the World Series game with you tomorrow."
There was no tomorrow. I had missed those precious last hours with him. And I grieved, "Lord, if I had only stayed with him . . . "
"Lord, if . . . " is the cry of every forsaken moment, every unsaid word, every failure to perfectly love the ones we love and now can only remember.
"Lord, if . . . " is how we ask God, "Why?", when we know He won't answer, when we are unsatisfied and frustrated by "seeing through a glass darkly."
"Lord, if . . . " echoes in the darkness and, like all echoes, it returns with no answer. The price of life and love is death and separation. As C.S. Lewis once said, "That's part of the deal."
So where is Jesus? We ask, "Lord, if I must drink this cup of grief, where are you?" To that, we have an answer in Psalms 139:8–12:
"If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you." (NLT)
For Mary and Martha, the darkness and grief for Lazarus was temporary. Jesus allowed it so that His power over death could be made known at the resurrection of Lazarus.
Jesus was there, orchestrating His plan. Out of the darkness of that tomb came a foreshadowing of his own resurrection, which would give light and hope to all the world now that death was defeated.
Where was Jesus? He was there in the darkness of that tomb. And before raising Lazarus, He was with Mary and Martha, weeping with them!
Where is Jesus? He is forever in the midst of our darkness, in the black caverns of our life. He sees the grieving widow. He sees the grieving father and mother. He sees our pastor and his wife and He visits them in their grief. He knows the pain of the journey.
Isaiah said, "He is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV). It is comforting to know that our sorrows are His sorrows and that He knows the aching sense of loss and grief. God never promised to remove our grief, only to give it purpose.
Mary and Martha were united with Jesus in sadness, the grief of loss. And Jesus entered into that grief.
How sweet and comforting to know our God is with us in our moments of desperation. He is the King who bears the full, blunt force of our "Lord, ifs . . . " and then sits next to us with a loving arm around our shoulder and weeps.
It is in these moments with Jesus that we come to know that the darkness only hides His face. One day, when the darkness is gone, His face will be the light of heaven.
My heart breaks for Greg and Cathe. I have come to know Jesus through Greg's faithful teaching of the Word of God. I watch and wince at every blow of grief, but I am confident there are blessings in the buffeting and grateful that Jesus is with them.
(John Collins is Administrative Pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship.)
These are the words of Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus in John 11.
There, at that moment in time, when death was cruel and vile and heartless, they stood before what seemed an unbreakable valley of darkness. They wrestled with grief, and the grief was unbearable and unbeatable because grief can never be beaten, only experienced.
And so when Jesus came to them, they said it, "Lord, if . . . "
They both said it, at different times, but to His face. We get the sense that they most likely had said it among themselves, too.
"Lord, if . . . if you had only done this or that . . . "
It is the perfectly human response of a heart that is broken because hopes have been dashed and their world shattered. Someone they loved has been taken away. Life as they knew it was now different. They stood on the cliff of that dark valley and peered into the blackness and thought, "Lord, if . . . "
This morning, as I write this, my pastor and his wife stand on that cliff. They are suffering the loss of their eldest son, who was taken from this earth quickly and tragically Thursday. They are battling the unmerciful giant called grief and, like Mary and Martha and every human soul who has waged that battle, they are losing.
It is painful to watch for the end is not near, and with every merciless blow they cry out, "Lord, if . . . "
I have been in that ring before, but only as a young man of 16. My father had died of cancer. The last night of his life, I left the hospital with the words, "I'll be back to watch the World Series game with you tomorrow."
There was no tomorrow. I had missed those precious last hours with him. And I grieved, "Lord, if I had only stayed with him . . . "
"Lord, if . . . " is the cry of every forsaken moment, every unsaid word, every failure to perfectly love the ones we love and now can only remember.
"Lord, if . . . " is how we ask God, "Why?", when we know He won't answer, when we are unsatisfied and frustrated by "seeing through a glass darkly."
"Lord, if . . . " echoes in the darkness and, like all echoes, it returns with no answer. The price of life and love is death and separation. As C.S. Lewis once said, "That's part of the deal."
So where is Jesus? We ask, "Lord, if I must drink this cup of grief, where are you?" To that, we have an answer in Psalms 139:8–12:
"If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you." (NLT)
For Mary and Martha, the darkness and grief for Lazarus was temporary. Jesus allowed it so that His power over death could be made known at the resurrection of Lazarus.
Jesus was there, orchestrating His plan. Out of the darkness of that tomb came a foreshadowing of his own resurrection, which would give light and hope to all the world now that death was defeated.
Where was Jesus? He was there in the darkness of that tomb. And before raising Lazarus, He was with Mary and Martha, weeping with them!
Where is Jesus? He is forever in the midst of our darkness, in the black caverns of our life. He sees the grieving widow. He sees the grieving father and mother. He sees our pastor and his wife and He visits them in their grief. He knows the pain of the journey.
Isaiah said, "He is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV). It is comforting to know that our sorrows are His sorrows and that He knows the aching sense of loss and grief. God never promised to remove our grief, only to give it purpose.
Mary and Martha were united with Jesus in sadness, the grief of loss. And Jesus entered into that grief.
How sweet and comforting to know our God is with us in our moments of desperation. He is the King who bears the full, blunt force of our "Lord, ifs . . . " and then sits next to us with a loving arm around our shoulder and weeps.
It is in these moments with Jesus that we come to know that the darkness only hides His face. One day, when the darkness is gone, His face will be the light of heaven.
My heart breaks for Greg and Cathe. I have come to know Jesus through Greg's faithful teaching of the Word of God. I watch and wince at every blow of grief, but I am confident there are blessings in the buffeting and grateful that Jesus is with them.
(John Collins is Administrative Pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship.)
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Christopher Laurie died today, July 24th, 2008
Please pray for the Laurie family.Pastor Greg Laurie was my pastor as a youth and through my college years. My roots as a Christian are deep in the Harvest Christian family (Calvary Chapel Riverside was what it was called when I was a kid). Christopher, one of Pastor Greg and Cathe's sons, died in a car accident today in Riverside. He, his wife Brittany, his daughter Stella, and his daughter-to-be (due this November) have been living in Huntington Beach, California. Chris was 33 and served as the art director at Harvest for the past three years.
Strangely, this is today's devotion from Pastor Greg:
"Many people are surprised to find that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. The day that you decide to follow Jesus Christ, you begin to face opposition from the devil. He doesn't want you to grow spiritually. He doesn't want you to move forward. So he will use every trick up his sleeve to try and pull you back.
We must recognize that to follow Christ means there is a price to pay. We may lose some friends. We may have to give up a few things. It may be difficult at times. But certainly, it is worth it."
It goes without saying how very much he will be missed, how stunned the Calvary Chapel family is, and how many of us are crying at the feet of Jesus.
Evie's Poolside Celebration
My mom (Sharon), My Godfather (Bob), and Me:
It was great to be with so many people who loved Evie throughout her 86 years of life. It was especially wonderful to see, touch, listen to, and be with my godfather, Bob ~ or "Nate" as he's known by so many. Katy's hugs were full of love, warmth, and appreciation for everyone and every story they shared about her mom. We shared endearing memory after memory about our loved Evie and how she touched each one of our lives in a special and personal way.
Oh, how I wish I had all my belongings unpacked so I could share a picture or two of my Evie. I'd love to share pictures of her kids and their families too, but those are still packed away in boxes, awaiting their discovery.
Jim looked the same as always (why do some men never age or change?), his wife Christie was gorgeous and delightful as usual, and their baby girl (okay, so she's in her 20's now), Claire, lit up as she talked about Evie.
Bob and Evie's second son, John, was hard to find with his facial hair (that would have driven my Gigi nuts), but his blondness gave him away. I saw his wife, Gloria, right away and couldn't wait to tell her how proud Evie always spoke of her as a mom of two (now 22 and 26) and wife to John. I hadn't see their kids, Kimberly and Robert, since they were babies, so to see them all grown up was quite a shock!
My favorite (sorry guys) is Katy. Maybe because I know her better, or because I spent more time with her when I was young, but most likely because she has always reminded me of her mom, my godmother. Their facial expressions, voice, vocal inflections, interest in others, and so much more make me think of them more as sisters than mother and daughter. Evie was very artistic and the reason I pursued art as a young girl. When I lived with my Gigi, she gave me a gift of art classes that Katy was teaching so I'd paint some pieces of furniture for her. That's when I learned I could make money doing what I loved to do ~ art! Katy did it, Evie did it, and my Aunt Natalie did it. I wanted it too! Enough of me.
Two others I really wanted to see were there too, Snets and Clive. I got to know Snets over the last year because of some business related to my Gigi, so it was fun to meet him in person and his wife, (I need to remember her name...). Snets and Bob have been best friends since USC fraternity days. I was also hoping Clive would be there (Katy's first husband) and he was! We got to visit and hear stories, and meet his wife, (darn, I need to be better with names). Bob tells us how they loved Clive so much, so they figured out a way to keep him in the family. Christie has a best friend who they hooked up with Clive when they were both available. That was it! All in the family. : )
There's so much more I could share, but it's personal and I find warmth and comfort in keeping some things between Evie and me. I hope I see her in Heaven. XO
Claire, Bob, and Christie are arm in arm as Katy shares letters from several who loved her mom, Evelyn:
It was great to be with so many people who loved Evie throughout her 86 years of life. It was especially wonderful to see, touch, listen to, and be with my godfather, Bob ~ or "Nate" as he's known by so many. Katy's hugs were full of love, warmth, and appreciation for everyone and every story they shared about her mom. We shared endearing memory after memory about our loved Evie and how she touched each one of our lives in a special and personal way. Oh, how I wish I had all my belongings unpacked so I could share a picture or two of my Evie. I'd love to share pictures of her kids and their families too, but those are still packed away in boxes, awaiting their discovery.
Jim looked the same as always (why do some men never age or change?), his wife Christie was gorgeous and delightful as usual, and their baby girl (okay, so she's in her 20's now), Claire, lit up as she talked about Evie.
Bob and Evie's second son, John, was hard to find with his facial hair (that would have driven my Gigi nuts), but his blondness gave him away. I saw his wife, Gloria, right away and couldn't wait to tell her how proud Evie always spoke of her as a mom of two (now 22 and 26) and wife to John. I hadn't see their kids, Kimberly and Robert, since they were babies, so to see them all grown up was quite a shock!
My favorite (sorry guys) is Katy. Maybe because I know her better, or because I spent more time with her when I was young, but most likely because she has always reminded me of her mom, my godmother. Their facial expressions, voice, vocal inflections, interest in others, and so much more make me think of them more as sisters than mother and daughter. Evie was very artistic and the reason I pursued art as a young girl. When I lived with my Gigi, she gave me a gift of art classes that Katy was teaching so I'd paint some pieces of furniture for her. That's when I learned I could make money doing what I loved to do ~ art! Katy did it, Evie did it, and my Aunt Natalie did it. I wanted it too! Enough of me.
Two others I really wanted to see were there too, Snets and Clive. I got to know Snets over the last year because of some business related to my Gigi, so it was fun to meet him in person and his wife, (I need to remember her name...). Snets and Bob have been best friends since USC fraternity days. I was also hoping Clive would be there (Katy's first husband) and he was! We got to visit and hear stories, and meet his wife, (darn, I need to be better with names). Bob tells us how they loved Clive so much, so they figured out a way to keep him in the family. Christie has a best friend who they hooked up with Clive when they were both available. That was it! All in the family. : )
There's so much more I could share, but it's personal and I find warmth and comfort in keeping some things between Evie and me. I hope I see her in Heaven. XO
Claire, Bob, and Christie are arm in arm as Katy shares letters from several who loved her mom, Evelyn:
Friday, 18 July 2008
My Godmother, Evie: March 4, 1924 - July 8, 2008
One of the dearest people I ever knew was my godmother, Evie. I just received word that we will no longer be warmed by her presence. She was an inspirational artist in several mediums and my reason for pursuing art since I was young.
A close friend of Bob and Evie's (Robert Snetsinger) told me that Evie died of liver cancer. It was only a matter of a few weeks between her diagnosis and her death. "She had been sleeping more and more and getting steadily weaker. When they got her to the doctor she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Bob advised me of the diagnosis that day, as well as the treatment they were instituting - chemo and radiation which, at first, appeared to be working. Jim was helping out because Evie had become so weak. Unfortunately, she just got steadily weaker and died... She was increasingly weak, but apparently not in pain." Thank you "Snets" for your encouraging news, knowing Evie was not in pain. She was 84.
My godfather, Bob, continues to paint and is teaching art classes whilst in his 80's. I'm looking forward to seeing him next week.
This is a portion of the letter Bob sent me. This part was also printed in an Orange County newspaper:
Evelyn Cline Moodey
1924 – 2008
Evelyn Cline Moodey was born and raised in San Bernardino. She was a direct descendant of America’s historical figures Captain William Bradford and also of Miles Standish, who came to North America on the Mayflower. Her ancestors were among the first to venture west. As a teenager her great grandfather walked behind a wagon train from Illinois to Walla Walla, Washington in the mid 1800’s.
She married Robert Nathan Moodey, grandson of R. D. McCook, founder and president of American National Bank. After gaining her bachelor’s degree from University of California Berkeley she returned to San Bernardino where she entered into partnership with Jane Lounsbury forming a business in Interior Design. She was a member of The Assistance League and Chairman of The Festival of the Arts.
Evelyn and her husband moved to Newport Beach in 1970 where she again became involved in Interior Design. She was an early member of The Newport Harbor Art Museum and later became a docent. Evelyn joined the real estate firm of Howard Lawson where she had a successful career for ten years. In her later years she started her last business called Special Finishes and didn’t retire until age 80.
Evelyn’s passion was her family and friends, she and her husband of 61 years, also enjoyed sailing; they sailed the coast of Mexico, the Caribbean, Lesser Antilles, and Puget Sound. She also loved travel; with her daughter she hiked Machu Picchu and sailed the Galapagos Islands. She enjoyed two safaris with family and friends, one in South Africa and one in Kenya, she and her husband also traveled extensively through Mexico and toured Europe.
She will be missed by her husband, Robert Nathan Moodey and their three children; John Claire Moodey and his wife Gloria Dundee Moodey of Yucaipa, James Thayer Moodey and his wife Christie Nitteberg Moodey of Anaheim Hills, and Katy Leakey and her husband Philip Leakey of Kenya Africa and her three grandchildren, Robert Nathan Moodey II, Claire M. Moodey, and Kimberly Lynette Moodey.
Evelyn wishes anyone wanting to contribute make donations to: “Godparents Youth Organization”, 6230 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. The family invites friends and relatives to celebrate Evelyn’s life at a pool side gathering near their home, 336 Otero, Newport Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.
A close friend of Bob and Evie's (Robert Snetsinger) told me that Evie died of liver cancer. It was only a matter of a few weeks between her diagnosis and her death. "She had been sleeping more and more and getting steadily weaker. When they got her to the doctor she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Bob advised me of the diagnosis that day, as well as the treatment they were instituting - chemo and radiation which, at first, appeared to be working. Jim was helping out because Evie had become so weak. Unfortunately, she just got steadily weaker and died... She was increasingly weak, but apparently not in pain." Thank you "Snets" for your encouraging news, knowing Evie was not in pain. She was 84.
My godfather, Bob, continues to paint and is teaching art classes whilst in his 80's. I'm looking forward to seeing him next week.
This is a portion of the letter Bob sent me. This part was also printed in an Orange County newspaper:
Evelyn Cline Moodey
1924 – 2008
Evelyn Cline Moodey was born and raised in San Bernardino. She was a direct descendant of America’s historical figures Captain William Bradford and also of Miles Standish, who came to North America on the Mayflower. Her ancestors were among the first to venture west. As a teenager her great grandfather walked behind a wagon train from Illinois to Walla Walla, Washington in the mid 1800’s.
She married Robert Nathan Moodey, grandson of R. D. McCook, founder and president of American National Bank. After gaining her bachelor’s degree from University of California Berkeley she returned to San Bernardino where she entered into partnership with Jane Lounsbury forming a business in Interior Design. She was a member of The Assistance League and Chairman of The Festival of the Arts.
Evelyn and her husband moved to Newport Beach in 1970 where she again became involved in Interior Design. She was an early member of The Newport Harbor Art Museum and later became a docent. Evelyn joined the real estate firm of Howard Lawson where she had a successful career for ten years. In her later years she started her last business called Special Finishes and didn’t retire until age 80.
Evelyn’s passion was her family and friends, she and her husband of 61 years, also enjoyed sailing; they sailed the coast of Mexico, the Caribbean, Lesser Antilles, and Puget Sound. She also loved travel; with her daughter she hiked Machu Picchu and sailed the Galapagos Islands. She enjoyed two safaris with family and friends, one in South Africa and one in Kenya, she and her husband also traveled extensively through Mexico and toured Europe.
She will be missed by her husband, Robert Nathan Moodey and their three children; John Claire Moodey and his wife Gloria Dundee Moodey of Yucaipa, James Thayer Moodey and his wife Christie Nitteberg Moodey of Anaheim Hills, and Katy Leakey and her husband Philip Leakey of Kenya Africa and her three grandchildren, Robert Nathan Moodey II, Claire M. Moodey, and Kimberly Lynette Moodey.
Evelyn wishes anyone wanting to contribute make donations to: “Godparents Youth Organization”, 6230 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. The family invites friends and relatives to celebrate Evelyn’s life at a pool side gathering near their home, 336 Otero, Newport Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Praying for Sheila, part 2
Sheila's test results from yesterday came out negative for Lyme Disease. The lyme specialist put her on an antibiotic as a challenge to bring out the lyme if it's hiding. Lyme can hide inside cells, so in three weeks, she hopes to know more with another blood test.
We're joining her in prayer that she doesn't have MS, but that she has Lyme Disease. The symptoms are very similar.
Better yet, let's pray for complete healing!!!
We're joining her in prayer that she doesn't have MS, but that she has Lyme Disease. The symptoms are very similar.
Better yet, let's pray for complete healing!!!
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Jihi's Dad Left Us Today
Jihi received a call at 2:11am this morning that her dad passed away. She's thanking God that he's with Him now, but it's incredibly difficult (as most of you know) when you lose someone you love dearly.
She is asking for prayer for
* Her mom who has two cancer masses in her liver - no treatment desired
* Her cousin in Texas who finished her second round of chemo for breast cancer
It's important to pray for those who've requested prayer. Please, let's not forget all those in need of support.
She is asking for prayer for
* Her mom who has two cancer masses in her liver - no treatment desired
* Her cousin in Texas who finished her second round of chemo for breast cancer
It's important to pray for those who've requested prayer. Please, let's not forget all those in need of support.
Praying for Sheila
Sheila goes in for specialized testing tomorrow in Santa Monica. We're all hoping her symptoms are Lyme disease related and not the MS diagnosis she received earlier this year. The doctor she will be seeing is able to test her in ways CA doctors are not. It's like CA doesn't want to admit they have a Lyme problem. Please PRAY! She is now zooming around in a motorized cart with a numb right leg. She is not getting better.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Update to March 27 entry re: legality of homeschooling
Permission is given to reprint this document or distribute it by email in its entirety without alteration.
Roy Hanson's HELP Tree
Private and Home Educators of California
P.O. Box 730
Lincoln, CA 95648-0730
Fax: (916) 415-9470
contact@pheofca.org
Update in the Rachel L case:
The juvenile court has dismissed the "L family" case, which means that it terminated jurisdiction over the two youngest children. The case is still pending before the appellate court at this time and we will update you with news of any of their future actions. Because there are two different courts involved, there has been some confusion about exactly what the new decision means.
The L family has been before the juvenile court in an action related to alleged abuse or negligence of their youngest two children for two years. At the juvenile court level, the judge had refused to order the children to attend a different school because he ruled that the parents have a constitutional right to homeschool. Juvenile court actions are "closed," so the proceedings of that court were unknown to the public until last February 28, when the appellate court, Third District, issued a ruling on a writ that had been filed in the case. In that writ, the appellate court had been asked to order the L children to attend a school where they would be in regular contact with mandated child abuse reporters, so that the children's safety could be monitored.
The appellate court responded to the writ with their now infamous ruling, in which they basically stated that homeschooling in California is illegal unless the parent has a valid California teaching credential. The appellate court later agreed to a rehearing on the matter, and that rehearing took place on June 23, 2008. The appellate court now has 90 days from June 23rd in which to issue its new ruling.So what does yesterday's decision in the juvenile court mean? First, it means that a motion can be made to the appellate court, asking them to drop the homeschool issue completely since the matter for the L family is now moot. Mootness results when a court's decision will have no binding effect upon a party and here, the appellate court's decision would have no effect on the L family since the juvenile court has terminated its jurisdiction.
However, it is important to understand that the appellate court can grant such a motion or deny it, choosing to issue a decision instead. The appellate court could do this, for example, if it wants to go on record regarding the legality of homeschooling.
Therefore, we ask that you join us first in giving thanksgiving to God for His mercy to the L family in yesterday's tremendous victory. Second, we ask for you to join us in fervent prayer, asking for God to lead the appellate court to now drop the matter.
Regardless of how the court rules, we remain committed to monitoring this issue and keeping you updated. At this point no laws have changed regarding homeschooling and we continue to work to preserve our current level of freedom to homeschool.
(To read additional and more detailed information about the In re Rachel L case, please visit www.pheofca.org. Also visit www.hslda.org for the current status of this case.)
Roy Hanson's HELP Tree
Private and Home Educators of California
P.O. Box 730
Lincoln, CA 95648-0730
Fax: (916) 415-9470
contact@pheofca.org
Update in the Rachel L case:
The juvenile court has dismissed the "L family" case, which means that it terminated jurisdiction over the two youngest children. The case is still pending before the appellate court at this time and we will update you with news of any of their future actions. Because there are two different courts involved, there has been some confusion about exactly what the new decision means.
The L family has been before the juvenile court in an action related to alleged abuse or negligence of their youngest two children for two years. At the juvenile court level, the judge had refused to order the children to attend a different school because he ruled that the parents have a constitutional right to homeschool. Juvenile court actions are "closed," so the proceedings of that court were unknown to the public until last February 28, when the appellate court, Third District, issued a ruling on a writ that had been filed in the case. In that writ, the appellate court had been asked to order the L children to attend a school where they would be in regular contact with mandated child abuse reporters, so that the children's safety could be monitored.
The appellate court responded to the writ with their now infamous ruling, in which they basically stated that homeschooling in California is illegal unless the parent has a valid California teaching credential. The appellate court later agreed to a rehearing on the matter, and that rehearing took place on June 23, 2008. The appellate court now has 90 days from June 23rd in which to issue its new ruling.So what does yesterday's decision in the juvenile court mean? First, it means that a motion can be made to the appellate court, asking them to drop the homeschool issue completely since the matter for the L family is now moot. Mootness results when a court's decision will have no binding effect upon a party and here, the appellate court's decision would have no effect on the L family since the juvenile court has terminated its jurisdiction.
However, it is important to understand that the appellate court can grant such a motion or deny it, choosing to issue a decision instead. The appellate court could do this, for example, if it wants to go on record regarding the legality of homeschooling.
Therefore, we ask that you join us first in giving thanksgiving to God for His mercy to the L family in yesterday's tremendous victory. Second, we ask for you to join us in fervent prayer, asking for God to lead the appellate court to now drop the matter.
Regardless of how the court rules, we remain committed to monitoring this issue and keeping you updated. At this point no laws have changed regarding homeschooling and we continue to work to preserve our current level of freedom to homeschool.
(To read additional and more detailed information about the In re Rachel L case, please visit www.pheofca.org. Also visit www.hslda.org for the current status of this case.)
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Tamie's Service
Tamie's service is today. Douglas Mortuary is very small, but anyone who wants to come is welcome. The service begins at 3pm in El Segundo.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Erin Passed Her State Boards!
My amazingly awesome friend (more like my sister) just passed her NCLEX exam which makes her an official R.N. ~ WAY TO GO ER!!! Not only is she now an R.N., but she became a grandma this year too. She and her hubby, Layne, packed their lives near Idywild and moved to Petaluma five days ago. (Well, Layne will join her when his Sheriff transfer is complete.) Her son, Chris, is in the Coast Guard and her son-in-love, Scott, is in the Navy. Scott and Marlene's baby, Maddi, is the scrumptious baby you see!
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