tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post7052112105622799483..comments2023-06-10T06:31:14.117-07:00Comments on viva Vox Dei: Outsourcing your children: Deal or no deal?vincit omnia veritashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07129530005436270157noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-56114817872114940652007-11-26T03:35:00.000-08:002007-11-26T03:35:00.000-08:00hi vincent, just chanced upon your blog while tryi...hi vincent,<BR/> just chanced upon your blog while trying to find a link between reformed theology & betrand russsell and this outsourcing struck a chord in my heart. but first let me confess that I am not a good mom, cos it's dinner time and I am reading your blog when I should be having dinner with my two children (they have been outsourced to my parents tonight :P )<BR/> cos i am a struggling phd student with two young toddlers and a non christian husband who brings in the bacon and we go to a church that's trying to be charismatic which is quite frustrating.<BR/> personally, for a mom to be totally committed at home with the children, she first needs her husband's support, so practically, i would say both the couple would really need to pray very hard for them to be able to live on one income only.<BR/> secondly, she needs to be mentally prepared to be totally committed, it's no point staying at home, drinking coffee and reading novels and delegating jobs to the maid. if she's not prepared to 'slog' it out, it's no point staying at homw too. <BR/> thirdly, staying at home takes great faith, because with the burden of taking care of two sets of parents, it alright in good times, but when any grandparents falls seriously ill, the crunch comes.<BR/> lastly, it great to read your comments but if you meet a mom who's really keen to stay at home but the husband does not agree for whatever reason, don't be too harsh :)<BR/> btw, any recommendation for quality websites that may shine some christian perspective on Bertrand? am first timer on bertrand and am quite upset with his work, yet don't really know how to voice it out :(<BR/><BR/>harrietAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-53379122279598888482007-05-29T03:17:00.000-07:002007-05-29T03:17:00.000-07:00You may know this, but Germany, I believe, has ban...You may know this, but Germany, I believe, has banned homeschooling. Part of a socialist agenda, but also the "anti-God" environment that is so prevalent in the West has led to this. <BR/><BR/>Singapore is OK with homeschooling? That is news, but for how long? As someone said to me once about Singapore - we are just 2 steps behind the West in "immorality".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-44545582737226266242007-05-28T15:51:00.000-07:002007-05-28T15:51:00.000-07:00Hi Jenson,Your “watch it!” is well justified. This...Hi Jenson,<BR/><BR/>Your “watch it!” is well justified. This issue was the “baby” of the independent fundamental Baptist in Singapore, and a few Baptist pastors had discussed this with me back in 1999-2001. The truth is, we can only work with principles from Scripture on this issue, and much wisdom is needed.<BR/><BR/>Singapore does not ban home schooling. In fact, I know of several families - including my brother-in-law – who were home schooled! But this is unusual in Reformed circles. I wonder why. One has to apply to the Ministry of Education for approval.vincit omnia veritashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07129530005436270157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-37414544300149749292007-05-28T14:29:00.000-07:002007-05-28T14:29:00.000-07:00I think you can start by telling us (esp. me!) if ...I think you can start by telling us (esp. me!) if homeschooling is banned in Singapore.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure it is frowned upon by society, but I am wondering if the government would actually ban this practice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-2847327471319880122007-05-28T14:27:00.000-07:002007-05-28T14:27:00.000-07:00Hi Vincent,Watch it with the homeschooling issue, ...Hi Vincent,<BR/><BR/>Watch it with the homeschooling issue, it is a hot potato here in Europe! <BR/><BR/>I spent far too much time studying the issues (incl. buying books from America, emailing 2 seminary professors, sitting in my pastor's office for 3 hours, etc) when my first child was born. <BR/><BR/>That was 2 years ago, and I am not any wiser!<BR/><BR/>As the heathen would say - "Good luck"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-26358260134850550372007-05-28T08:17:00.000-07:002007-05-28T08:17:00.000-07:00Vincent,Thanks. I certainly hope I would be willin...Vincent,<BR/><BR/>Thanks. I certainly hope I would be willing to change any held position that is later revealed to be contrary to God's word. <BR/><BR/>I would actually be pretty interested to hear your views on homeschooling. I've read a little on it, but it would be interesting to see a Singaporean perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-18406949588107239252007-05-27T20:44:00.000-07:002007-05-27T20:44:00.000-07:00Wow.... I've been away for only a few days and lot...Wow.... I've been away for only a few days and lots of activity... Haha.Daniel Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678184721218949112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-10571881283966762002007-05-27T16:20:00.000-07:002007-05-27T16:20:00.000-07:00Dear Vincent, Enjoyed reading your blog and the la...Dear Vincent, <BR/>Enjoyed reading your blog and the last few entries are no exception. Also enjoy the the very in interesting exchanges.Spiritual Israelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10200319633775230921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-48485523094574151762007-05-26T16:46:00.000-07:002007-05-26T16:46:00.000-07:00Vincit,I agree with your comments. I do NOT think ...Vincit,<BR/><BR/>I agree with your comments. I do NOT think it's good to outsource your children to someone else to raise them. <BR/><BR/>Would Picasso "outsource" his brush to another painter to work on one of his masterpieces?<BR/><BR/>Would Bach "outsource" some of his composing to a hired musician? <BR/><BR/>I don't think so! Each masterpiece- a painting, a musical composition or a child is a work of art intended to be finished by the one who birthed the vision, the sound, the child.<BR/><BR/>If someone else raises your child you will get someone elses values and beliefs engrained into a work of art you are responsible for finishing.....<BR/><BR/>Just my thoughts. Thanks for all the great posts lately.Mike Messerlihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09898765959699944927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-64167839377515464612007-05-26T16:24:00.000-07:002007-05-26T16:24:00.000-07:00Hey, Mark,You made some good points. To put things...Hey, Mark,<BR/><BR/>You made some good points. To put things in perspective, we actually agree on most parts. But as stated by you, there are still finer points of disagreement. I think as the years go by, and life heaps upon ourselves the trials and tribulations so necessary for Christian growth, each of us will gradually mould our thoughts closer to the Scripture. I leave the final jurisdiction to our Savior, and I welcome you to contribute to these discussions on my blog in the near future. Have a blessed time in Australia!<BR/><BR/>Yours truly,<BR/>Vincent Chiavincit omnia veritashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07129530005436270157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-23253307905080135872007-05-26T10:18:00.000-07:002007-05-26T10:18:00.000-07:00It is about "Priorities". If a woman can look afte...It is about "Priorities". If a woman can look after her children and home, and yet still find time and energy to work, fantastic! She is a Proverbs 31 woman!<BR/><BR/>My point of contention would be this - <B>more often than not</B>, the reason why a woman works is to maintain a family lifestyle that is unbecoming of the Christian faith (nice holidays, new car/home every 3-4 years, latest plasma TV/computer, etc...). <BR/><BR/>"Hired help" over here in UK cost about £700 - £1500 per month and both parents will need to work in order to afford these services. <I>[As a guide, I am a scientist at a University, I earn ~£2000 per month]</I><BR/><BR/>I believe it is a lot cheaper in Singapore, so Mummy need not work, but can use the "hired help" to cook and wash - not to bring up the children. At least, if I were to be in Singapore, that is how I would do it. Hey, I might even encourage my wife Esther to work from home as an English tuition teacher, to earn some pocket money!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-73184758246509486752007-05-26T09:20:00.000-07:002007-05-26T09:20:00.000-07:00Vincent,Yes, I am indeed a Singaporean, though not...Vincent,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I am indeed a Singaporean, though not in Singapore at the moment. If you want to email me you can mail at mmsze_81@yahoo.com.<BR/><BR/>I am afraid that in the end I will have to admit to taking a more ‘liberal’ stance than the one you do. However, I think you already knew that from reading my comment. : )<BR/><BR/>However, let me make some quick comments to clears some things up. <BR/><BR/>I do believe that a woman with young children (or even one young child) ought to be at home full time for the most part. I believe I said my position was that the ability of a woman to work depended on if she could fulfill the duties at home. So yes I do think that generally the presence of a young child at home will require her full commitment and leave not much (if any) time for any significant outside pursuits. <BR/><BR/>Most of my post I must admit, when I asked the question ‘Can a woman work?’ I was writing from the perspective of either an unmarried or childless woman. Reading your posts again, I realize that was not the primary focus of your writings, but being an unmarried person myself, I guess I naturally tend to think from my point of view.<BR/><BR/>Regarding Aquila and Priscilla, I think you read a little more into what I wrote than I intended. My purpose is bringing them up was to answer the question: ‘May a woman have a vocation other than that of homemaker?’ I believe the answer is yes, and my point of bringing up this passage was simply to point out that here was a godly Christian woman and what was her occupation? She was a tentmaker. You are right in saying we know almost nothing of their specific situation. Maybe they had no children. Maybe their children were all grown and married. Or maybe… well, like you say, we don’t know.<BR/><BR/>Outsourcing… Fair enough, bad choice of words on my part, particularly in reference to childcare.<BR/><BR/>About Gal 4:1-2; I certainly wasn’t implying Paul was giving parental advice. My point was simply to say here was a cultural practice of how a father treated his children that Paul compares to the way God treats his church. The implication being, that there was no sin in that cultural practice, or Paul would not compare God’s working to it. <BR/><BR/>I am not student of ancient Roman culture, so I can’t interact with the sources you gave. At the moment I see no error in taking those verses for the general proposition that fathers would give tutors and governors, trusted servants care and responsibility over their children. I am not sure if you meant to say that the application of that verse was completely to do with children whose parents were dead. In any case, as I said, I am unable to interact with that line of thought now. <BR/><BR/>Well, its getting late over here (Australia). That’s all for now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-23901044336518087012007-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:002007-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:00Dear Mark,I’m afraid not all UFOs are welcomed her...Dear Mark,<BR/><BR/>I’m afraid not all UFOs are welcomed here. But you are an exception. I usually do not like comments from non-traceable sources (i.e. sources without reasonable accountability e.g. emails, blogs etc). The truth is, I really appreciate your comment, which honestly should be a blog post all by itself. It is well written, except for the typos J.<BR/><BR/>One reason why I encourage folks to include their email address (or their blog address) is this: there is always an opportunity to interact on a private basis in the event that some discussions reveal more heat than light (as my friend Jenson likes to put it).<BR/><BR/>By the way, I wrote a hasty reply just before I left home for work this morning. So, there are typos too.<BR/><BR/>Oh yes, I’m sorry if I sounded skeptical. I had debated this issue with MANY reformed folks in reformed churches in “reformed” Singapore. But I believe I guessed correctly you are Singaporean?<BR/><BR/>Chastise me if I’m wrong.<BR/><BR/>Yours truly,<BR/>Vincent Chiavincit omnia veritashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07129530005436270157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27989891.post-75711655409088315722007-05-26T05:28:00.000-07:002007-05-26T05:28:00.000-07:00Hey,Perhaps you need to slow down a bit... You pos...Hey,<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you need to slow down a bit... You posted your reply to my comment sometime this morning (or late last night), that's not a whole lot of time for me to reply. <BR/><BR/>You seem a little, well more than a little, skeptical about my identity. I really have no idea where this is coming from. You said in your other comment you recognized my writing style. I have commented maybe four or five times on Daniel Chew(sp?)'s blog... which is the place from which I found your blog. Apart from that, I am pretty sure we have never met, either in person or online. Mark is my real name, if you care to believe me. I don't have a blog or website, so that's all I can offer. <BR/><BR/>I will try to reply to your other comment tonight, if UFOs are welcome here. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com