I stumbled on Candy’s Blog, Keeping the Home, a few years ago when I put together my Home Management Binder. She had this GREAT tutorial up on how to put it together complete with pictures and detailed instructions. I really learned a lot and I’m glad I got the info back then because she has since wrapped it up in an e-book for purchase on her site. Anyway, on to the review.
What’s GREAT about Keeping the Home:
1. Candy’s recipes are really good and they work. I’ve made several recipes that she lists on her sidebar and they’ve all been delicious. I even made homemade buttermilk and her “Amazing Bread”. The best is the Baked Oatmeal. YUMMY!!
2. She recently completed a “Home Management Binder University” where she really got down to the nitty-gritty about putting a binder together. It was a long series and very detailed. I didn’t always read everything, but I think, for someone who doesn’t have a HMB, this would be a great place to start in putting one together.
3. Candy often gives us glimpses into her daily life that I find intriguing. She has a very wide readership and people are naturally interested in her “castle” and what a day in her life looks like. She periodically posts pictures of her home and takes us through “a day in the life” which I really like.
4. She is really devoted to her husband and it shines through on her blog. Its refreshing!
What’s NOT SO GREAT:
1. She writes a lot about theology and, well, let’s just say that I think she needs to stick to homemaking. Her independent Bible church background comes out loud and clear through her KJV only-ism, anti-Calvinism, and her “I’m not a part of any denomination!!! I just follow the Bible!” attitude. I disagree with her a lot and I don’t find her theological articles to be very instructive. I just think she needs to stick to what she knows best and does best and that’s homemaking.
2. She is a big fan of the Pearls. ‘Nuff said.
Overall, if you are looking for homemaking information, I think Candy’s blog is a really helpful place to go. DO NOT go over there for theological instruction. Its not just because she’s anti-Calvinist. Believe it or not, I can live with that. Its just that her theology is bad and her hermeneutic is seriously lacking. She moderates comments, so if you disagree with her on anything, frame it nicely or don’t bother commenting. Hers isn’t a debate blog and that is just fine.
I recommend visiting for some things, but I’d stay away from the theology.
Cally, I too am about the strongest anti-Calvinist you can find. I think Calvinism is an evil and sick doctrine that nearly destroyed my faith and mocks misery. So, on that point I agree with Candy whole-heartedly. As for the rest, thanks for sharing.
Well, Jennifer, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one
Calvinism (or what I would call the biblical doctrines of Grace) saved my life a few years ago. Without a doubt, I would be dead were it not my belief in the absolute sovereignty of God. One of my church’s doctrinal standards, the Heidelberg Catechism, starts out by uplifting those who are in misery:
Question: “What is your only comfort in life and in death?”
Answer: “That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.”
Anyway, its fine that you’re anti-Calvinism. You don’t have to be Reformed to hang out here. Look at Anne- she’s a Roman Catholic LOL! That’s about as far from Reformed as you can get. Although I will make this qualification- all Reformed are Calvinists, but not all Calvinists are Reformed (such as Doug Phillips for example). Just wanted to throw that out there
Hi, Cally. I do believe in the sovereignity of God, but I believe this means God bringing good things out of bad and prevailing in the end, NOT causing all things. I’d rather believe there were things that God couldn’t stop (even though I don’t!) than believe that God willed every filthy and evil thing that occured on this earth. Satan has told me and others unbelievably filthy lies and nothing in heaven, hell or earth could ever convince me that God willed this to happen. In fact, He told me that He did not!
Thank you for your sweetness
Jennifer – I believe Job addressed your concern when he answered these very concerns from his wife: (Job 2:10) “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”
And in case anyone may have thought that Job has said something in error here, the commentary is then given: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
No, Job did not answer my concern. You forget: getting trials from God is not the same as God ordaining all evil and vile things. Furthermore, accepting adversity in life does not mean accepting the notion that it all comes from God. I know what God has told me and I would only be a foolish woman if I mistakenly believed that all Satan’s filthy doings really came from the pure Lamb.