Reflections about My Father

My father Dr. Anthony John Letterese (June 1911 – February 2009) was one of seven children born to Italian immigrants. He became a medical doctor, served in the army in World War II, and upon his return home set up a general practice in New York City. He married my mother in 1948 and fathered four children, of which I am his third. People used to comment how much I looked like him and that I was very much like him.

There were many instances as a child and young adult where my actions and attitudes deeply hurt my dad, cutting across the fabric of his beliefs. However, like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, my father was ready to embrace me again and treat me as his child, never abandoning hope that I would repent. I cannot recall a time that I felt he acted hypocritically or inconsistently with his beliefs. My father was a man of integrity

Daddy played a significant role in the lives of my three children despite the fact that we lived 3000 miles away from each other and saw each other infrequently. He remained up to date on the goings on in our household and became a part of our homeschool environment, rewarding the children when they made use of the dictionary (most likely his favorite book after the Bible) by paying them for every definition written out and returned to him. There were times that my son, feeling the pinch for funds, would quickly write out definitions to put in the mail knowing his reward would soon follow.

My father was among the smartest men I have ever known. He was well read, spoke a number of languages, and could tell great stories. I wish I had faithfully recorded his recollections about his family and his career as a general practitioner. He lived out his pro-life convictions, never prescribing anything that would end a pregnancy and encouraging women who were contemplating abortions to have their babies. He was supportive of our family’s pro-life work and always maintained that God was the Giver of life.

My father was no longer able to care for himself in 2000 and would often become disoriented. Yet even at times when he could not see or found it hard to remember immediate things, I could recite the opening lines of Psalm 23, The Lord’s Prayer, or the Apostles Creed and he could finish them without flaw. These words were truly hidden in his heart. His favorite passage of Scripture came from John 11 when Mary and Martha speak to Jesus after Lazarus’ death:

"Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

My father no longer sees through a glass dimly, but sees Jesus Christ face to face. He has entered into the joy of the Lord.

As Meek as The Lamb?

In today’s world, the stereotype of a good Christian is someone who is reserved, unassuming, and would not hurt a fly. This “meekness” is very different from how Jesus uses the term in Matthew 5:5.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

RJ Rushdoony’s soon-to-be released book Sermon on the Mount* has this to say regarding the passage:

The word translated as meek is praos. When we look at the origins of this word in classical Greek, we find it used …in the sense of making mild, taming, bridling. It was used of gentling a horse, or breaking him to harness and bridle. If we forget this fact, we lose the meaning of the word. The meek are not the impotent, nor are they the timid and mousy ones. They are the strong ones who have been broken to harness, gentled by the Lord and His Spirit, and made fit for the Lord’s use.

The word meek is the opposite of unbridled anger and passion; it refers to the bridled man.

It is the purpose of the law-word of God, and of the Holy Spirit, to bridle a man. The untamed and evil nature of unregenerate man leads to “the works of the flesh,” i.e., of fallen human nature (Gal. 5:19–21). The fruit of the Spirit includes, among other things, meekness (praotes), the humbling and taming work of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).

It is the tamed of God who shall inherit the earth. They have both faith and stability.… To “inherit the earth” must be taken seriously and literally. Only those who are harnessed by God’s Spirit to His law-word have the stable, disciplined, and Spirit-governed capacity to rule the earth. The calling of Christ’s saints is to judge or govern the earth. The word judge is used in the Old Testament sense of to govern, as in the Book of Judges.

We are made meek by the Spirit, and broken to harness, in order to be usable by Him, and to rule in Him. (p. 21-22)

Christian education is the means by which we instill Biblical meekness in our children. This is no small concern since the meek are destined to be the heirs of the earth.

*(copyright 2009 Ross House Books)

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Another Name for an Ugly Reality

What is missed in the discussions of Nadya Suleman and her octuplets is the ugly reality of embryo reduction that customarily takes place in cases of in vitro fertilization.

The normal practice is to implant all the fertilized eggs and then, based on a preference factor, "reduce" the number to what the patient wants. Thus, some babies live and others die based on the patient’s idea of a dream family -- two girls, two boys, a boy and a girl, or just one of a particular gender. The medical community often stresses the health of the mother in recommending options, but in the majority of cases, many babies are placed on the “hit list” and never see the light of day.

We have seen the erosion of the value of life for the past 4 - 5 decades with abortion that it hardly makes news. Make no mistake about it: embryo reduction is an abortion practice that goes on day-in and day-out in our affluent society. Doctors get around calling it abortion because they claim that in abortion a pregnancy is ended, yet in embryo reduction, pregnancy continues.

Although the octuplet story is one with bizarre twists, the bright side is that none of the eight babies had to face the "firing squad" of an abortionist's knife and have lived to see the light of day.

Jaded Heroes

Our culture celebrates the celebrity. Advertisers run to sign up the next big wonder whether it is in sports, film, or music. Is it any wonder that the top-rated show in America has all its contenders vying for the title of idol? Whether you look at the modeling industry, the film industry, or the sports industry, you see that many parents are priming their children for notoriety and glory from a very early age. When five and six year olds have agents and their contemporaries have personal trainers, you know that people are chasing that carrot called fame. Fame often translates into dollars (albeit inflated ones), and some adults are all too willing to have their children make any sacrifice to earn them. The results often include the absence of a reliable moral compass.

This past week one of the idols of our culture was photographed smoking marijuana, and a “friend” who captured the moment handsomely kicked one of America’s sports heroes off his pedestal. (No doubt, the budding photographer did not earn as much as his celebrity buddy lost.) The news reports show stunned anchors, as though they are truly distraught over this “breaking” story. They are all too willing to use the young man’s celebrity status against him, as were the hordes who wanted to attach themselves to him in his glory.

Christian parents need not shy away from having their children pursue activities just because there are inherent pitfalls. On the contrary, Christians should be represented in all legitimate, lawful endeavors with the aim of glorifying God and enjoying the talents and gifts He placed within each person. Parents with stars in their eyes, rather than eyes fixed on Jesus, are likely to lead their little ones astray – valuing the praise of men more than the praise of God. The role of fathers and mothers is to lead their little ones to God. The alternative brings to mind millstones, necks, and bodies of water!

The Pen is Mightier with the Word

In a previous essay, "Why Write," I share my philosophy that teaching writing is a way to glorify God and prepare students for their callings and responsibilities. However, this skill is not something that should be hidden in a vault for future use. It is a tool of dominion that should be used often and deliberately.

Let me explain. When you encounter a policy or practice in your church, community, job, or association that is unjust by God’s standards, take up your pen and write! Communicate your grievance in an articulate, thorough, and God-honoring way. State your case, being sure you are standing on biblical ground and not baptizing your own pet peeve or personal preference, even if you do not state the Biblical case out rightly. By being a voice crying in the wilderness (which is what it often feels like) you will have spoken your peace and allowed someone the opportunity to conform to a more Biblical position.

In the past three months, I have seen policies change in various associations to which our family belongs because of repeated communications in writing. Because I make sure I am on solid, biblical footing before I take on a cause or complaint, and because I am careful to treat my listener (reader) with respect, even a negative outcome has positive benefit. My listener has been alerted to a situation and now cannot claim ignorance, and I have vocalized my perspective and am able to embrace that my Sovereign God has determined an outcome that was not my preference.

These projects need not be grandiose, although I would not preclude taking on Goliaths now and again. What is important is that you do not sit back and resign yourself to the myth that one person cannot make a difference, or that your sphere of influence is too small to matter. Do not be like many who, rather than doing what is before them, self-righteously sit back and lament while our culture deteriorates. Take up your pen and write!

And, here is a little secret for homeschooling parents: as you teach your children to write, you become a better writer yourself! The expression The Pen is Mightier than the Sword can be expanded to The Pen is Mightier with the Word!

Modesty

Do you find it increasingly difficult to go anywhere and not be confronted with females in various stages of undress in film, TV, print ads, mall advertisements, banks, grocery stores, church groups, etc.? Have you noticed how hard it is to get any traction in discussing the subject of modesty these days? The prevailing “cop-out” opinion appears to be that modesty is a word that cannot be defined. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary has much to offer in its definition of modesty; however, the fourth definition is the one that pertains to this discussion.

In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor.

I like that definition because it cuts through the argument that what is modest today would be scandalous hundreds of years ago. By applying the spirit of Webster’s definition, it is much easier to determine how to put modesty into practice.

For years, I have heard mothers lament about the level of dress (or undress) in churches. Some have expressed concern that their husbands or sons might be tempted by the way some females dress for worship services. But my question is why is this just a woman’s issue? Why does it often reduce to one woman being offended by another’s dress? The answer is simply that we have lost the sense of modesty being a character trait rather than an assigned length of hemline, blouse, neckline etc.

In an effort for families to begin a discussion on this subject, I am including a questionnaire that I prepared when I was asked to address this issue with young ladies of junior high and high school age. I hope you will find it a springboard for discussion and a way to examine your own ideas on the subject. Contact me with your feedback @ lessons.learned@yahoo.com

Choose the answer that MOST reflects your understanding and perspective.

1. Modesty is
a. not something that can be precisely defined, but depends on the culture in which you live
b. a vague concept, at best, and its definition changes over time
c. an unchanging principle that can be applied to different cultures and times

2. Modesty mostly pertains to
a. women
b. teenagers
c. adults
d. everyone

3. Modesty has its greatest application to
a. thoughts
b. words
c. deeds
d. all of the above

4. Modesty is a personal, private matter.
a. True
b. False

5. Standards for modesty change depending on one’s circumstances and location.
a. True
b. False

6. The biggest factor in deciding if one is being modest is
a. personal taste
b. adult standards
c. fashion trends
d. Biblical guidelines

7. Dressing and acting in a modest fashion is sure to
a. make you unpopular
b. prove that you are uninteresting
c. win favor with God
d. make people know that you are not loose
e. Other______________________________

8. Current fashion trends make it impossible not to be a little immodest.
a. True
b. False

9. People should get more modest as they get older because
a. they don’t look as good as when they were young
b. it becomes a more serious matter then
c. they should have matured more by that time
d. Other:_____________________________

10. Dress codes only have to do with modesty.
a. True
b. False

11. Modesty is mostly a “girl” issue and guys don’t need to
personally concern themselves with the subject.
a. True
b. False


12. The Bible is explicit about modesty.
a. True
b. False