We walk by faith, not by sight. Don’t fall into despair because the humanistic culture is falling apart around us. Instead, focus on the great opportunity you have to teach your children the full counsel of God in each and every subject. Times may be tough, but you get to have a say in the future.
Don’t rely on the network news or even talk radio to get your information. Turn off and tune out those sources that have proved time and again to be mouthpieces for those who hate God and His law-word. Find a truly reliable news source and get your info there. Examine their presuppositions before you accept their conclusions.
If you want to really be informed, I suggest you peruse websites such as Chalcedon’s and take advantage of earlier articles from its Faith for All of Life magazine which delve into the important issues of our day. There are also numerous lectures and sermons available there that are excellent commentaries on the status quo. Check out the newly posted Chalcedon Position Papers that cover a wide range of topics:
Economic Crises and the Bible
Education, Liberty, and the Bible
Judgment, Politics, and the Bible
National Defense and the Bible
Taxation, Liberty, and the Bible
You might even assign some of these to your older students and discuss with them current events from a biblical perspective, ensuring they understand the underlying issues.
Begin to build a library of materials (books, CDs and DVDs) for yourself and your children, with the added bonus of sharing these materials with other believers once your family is finished with them. Consider supplying your children’s children with some of these resources to prepare them for the battles which loom ahead.
If we are going to rebuild and reconstruct this society, we better make use of the effective tools we have at our disposal.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Support
I have many opportunities speak to mothers on the subject of homeschooling their children. Some are investigating and want information about what homeschooling entails. Others need encouragement to stay the course and are eager for suggestions about curriculum, courses of study, or ideas to help a challenged learner. An increasing number come to me in a desperation mode, ready to throw in the towel. Usually this group has become convinced that the reason for their children’s defiant behavior is as a result of how they have chosen to educate them. If only their children were in a “regular” school setting, the reasoning goes, all problems would miraculously vanish.
In my experience, a mom at her wit’s end is suffering from lack of support for her homeschooling endeavors. Often, she and her husband have failed to take the first step toward successful homeschooling: establishing a mission statement declaring why they are homeschooling, what they are eager to accomplish, and how they will measure progress. More often than not they have made their highest priority attempting to get their children to like homeschooling. A better approach is to establish with their children that the homeschooling approach has been chosen after considerable thought. Thus, the method of education does not become a negotiable point. Very few day school teachers would get much instruction accomplished if they had to focus on getting children to like being at school.
In our homeschool, my husband assumed the role of principal and I that of primary teacher and director of academic studies. This worked well, because I did the lion’s share of the teaching. But, like many of the moms I counsel, I would run into times when my children would become openly defiant to a request or assignment and I became frazzled. I would often make the mistake of “reasoning” with them as if the problem was an intellectual one. We quickly learned that these types of issues were moral in nature and that Dad had to be a huge part of the equation as far as the authority structure went. My husband made it clear to the children that disobeying him was going to bring repercussions. However, if they disobeyed me in his absence, the consequences would be more severe. He made it clear that my authority came from him and when they disregarded something I said or disobeyed me, they were in actuality disobeyed him.
Some might say that this takes authority away from the mother, but it actually enhances her position and supports her in a truly biblical fashion. Christian parents are under the authority of God, with the husband as the primary representation of God in the family. It follows that the authority flows from the husband/father to the wife/mother. A family that is on this sure footing will be teaching their children how to be good family members, church members, community members employees, and citizens. Since the family is the first school, workplace and culture, older children will have the opportunity to exercise godly, delegated authority with younger brothers and sisters. This establishes the reality that all people everywhere are under authority.
When approached in this fashion, the inevitable difficult circumstances that arise in family life can be dealt with more effectively without confusing the issue where education is taking place: homeschool or day school. Only when there is a united, biblically orthodox structure in place can it be determined whether an unpleasant or difficult situation stems from rebellion or the need to change a policy or focus.
This concept may sound foreign to families new to homeschooling. That is why it is useful to have interaction with families who have embraced this biblical model. Not only can the veterans serve as an encouragement to the novices, but older children can serve as model/mentors for their younger counterparts in other families. My daughter has often done more to remedy tumultuous times for another homeschooling family just by interacting with the children and giving them a model of a “cool” grown-up homeschooler who doesn’t bristle under the authority of her parents, but embraces it.
Lastly, it is important that the primary teacher in the homeschool gets support as she continues to grow spiritually and in her role as teacher, learning how to incorporate biblical wisdom into each and every subject taught. By studying God’s law-word with an eye to make her a better teacher, she will learn how to differentiate between a defiant child and a confused one. As a homeschooling mentor, I can help. Write me at lessons.learned@yahoo.com.
In my experience, a mom at her wit’s end is suffering from lack of support for her homeschooling endeavors. Often, she and her husband have failed to take the first step toward successful homeschooling: establishing a mission statement declaring why they are homeschooling, what they are eager to accomplish, and how they will measure progress. More often than not they have made their highest priority attempting to get their children to like homeschooling. A better approach is to establish with their children that the homeschooling approach has been chosen after considerable thought. Thus, the method of education does not become a negotiable point. Very few day school teachers would get much instruction accomplished if they had to focus on getting children to like being at school.
In our homeschool, my husband assumed the role of principal and I that of primary teacher and director of academic studies. This worked well, because I did the lion’s share of the teaching. But, like many of the moms I counsel, I would run into times when my children would become openly defiant to a request or assignment and I became frazzled. I would often make the mistake of “reasoning” with them as if the problem was an intellectual one. We quickly learned that these types of issues were moral in nature and that Dad had to be a huge part of the equation as far as the authority structure went. My husband made it clear to the children that disobeying him was going to bring repercussions. However, if they disobeyed me in his absence, the consequences would be more severe. He made it clear that my authority came from him and when they disregarded something I said or disobeyed me, they were in actuality disobeyed him.
Some might say that this takes authority away from the mother, but it actually enhances her position and supports her in a truly biblical fashion. Christian parents are under the authority of God, with the husband as the primary representation of God in the family. It follows that the authority flows from the husband/father to the wife/mother. A family that is on this sure footing will be teaching their children how to be good family members, church members, community members employees, and citizens. Since the family is the first school, workplace and culture, older children will have the opportunity to exercise godly, delegated authority with younger brothers and sisters. This establishes the reality that all people everywhere are under authority.
When approached in this fashion, the inevitable difficult circumstances that arise in family life can be dealt with more effectively without confusing the issue where education is taking place: homeschool or day school. Only when there is a united, biblically orthodox structure in place can it be determined whether an unpleasant or difficult situation stems from rebellion or the need to change a policy or focus.
This concept may sound foreign to families new to homeschooling. That is why it is useful to have interaction with families who have embraced this biblical model. Not only can the veterans serve as an encouragement to the novices, but older children can serve as model/mentors for their younger counterparts in other families. My daughter has often done more to remedy tumultuous times for another homeschooling family just by interacting with the children and giving them a model of a “cool” grown-up homeschooler who doesn’t bristle under the authority of her parents, but embraces it.
Lastly, it is important that the primary teacher in the homeschool gets support as she continues to grow spiritually and in her role as teacher, learning how to incorporate biblical wisdom into each and every subject taught. By studying God’s law-word with an eye to make her a better teacher, she will learn how to differentiate between a defiant child and a confused one. As a homeschooling mentor, I can help. Write me at lessons.learned@yahoo.com.
Monday, November 10, 2008
How to Get Rid of that Bad Taste in Your Mouth
The results of this past week’s national elections have many Christians in a quandary. Some have shared with me about their “Christian” friends who eagerly voted for the president-elect, have no difficulty with the idea of gay marriage or accepting that abortion is a personal choice. The questions keep coming: is it wrong to separate from these people, even if they are extended family members, neighbors, and associates at work? They want to keep people with these wrongheaded views away from themselves and especially their children, for they don’t want their families to get the idea that such views are consistent with an orthodox application of Scripture.
Is this an overreaction? Or, should they figure this “bad taste in their mouth” will subside with time? Should they get used to the status quo and just accept it?
The crux of the matter is differentiating between those who are brothers and sisters in the Lord and those who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. The ONLY way you are going to differentiate between the two is to have an absolute standard. Those who love the Lord hear His voice (His law-word) and respond. Those who are of another sheepfold don’t. Jesus said that those who love Him will keep His commandments. That would include agreeing with Him and His Word as to what constitutes evil and what constitutes good.
Thus, those “Christian” friends are professing Christians without being confessing Christians.
The next issue is to be sure you are differentiating between those who have been taught poorly and those who are indeed wicked. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees knew what the Scriptures said and substituted their own laws and ordinances. They were legalists – trying to obtain salvation on their terms. Jesus correctly identified them as vipers and snakes.
My suggestion to those who are in the quandary described above is to embark on a study of Biblical law so that they will not “struggle” with these issues, but have an effective way to view the law-word of God and teach it to their children. Feelings are a poor substitute for an absolute standard. Feelings can come and go, but God’s Word is established forever.
Fed up with not knowing how to think Biblically? It is time to become an expert in knowing and applying the full counsel of God.
Is this an overreaction? Or, should they figure this “bad taste in their mouth” will subside with time? Should they get used to the status quo and just accept it?
The crux of the matter is differentiating between those who are brothers and sisters in the Lord and those who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. The ONLY way you are going to differentiate between the two is to have an absolute standard. Those who love the Lord hear His voice (His law-word) and respond. Those who are of another sheepfold don’t. Jesus said that those who love Him will keep His commandments. That would include agreeing with Him and His Word as to what constitutes evil and what constitutes good.
Thus, those “Christian” friends are professing Christians without being confessing Christians.
The next issue is to be sure you are differentiating between those who have been taught poorly and those who are indeed wicked. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees knew what the Scriptures said and substituted their own laws and ordinances. They were legalists – trying to obtain salvation on their terms. Jesus correctly identified them as vipers and snakes.
My suggestion to those who are in the quandary described above is to embark on a study of Biblical law so that they will not “struggle” with these issues, but have an effective way to view the law-word of God and teach it to their children. Feelings are a poor substitute for an absolute standard. Feelings can come and go, but God’s Word is established forever.
Fed up with not knowing how to think Biblically? It is time to become an expert in knowing and applying the full counsel of God.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
When Momma Ain’t Happy
As a homeschooling mentor I have the opportunity to speak to many women who share concerns about being overwhelmed with responsibilities. They wonder if the Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute is right for them, considering how behind they feel on a daily basis. They are reluctant to add another “thing” to their “To-Do” list.
Why are they overwhelmed? Are they as delinquent in their duties as they suppose? On the contrary. It is my experience that those who are sure they are underperforming as wives/mothers/home educators are often suffering from wrong priorities rather than deficient character or initiative. That is why becoming grounded in the application of God’s law-word to every aspect of life is a fundamental starting point and a true necessity for the woman of the house. Without it, it is easy to start applying false or skewed standards to day-to-day life. Women will look at Proverbs 31 and decide it is hopeless to even try to attain that standard; so they continue in their tidal wave of frustration and doubt. What they fail to understand is that one doesn’t become an excellent wife or mother overnight. Rather, one grows into the calling as a direct result of sanctification.
Sanctification comes as a result of time spent studying, learning, and applying God’s commandments to all areas of life and thought. A busy mother may think this will have to wait until the kids are grown and homeschooling is over. That would be like saying, “I’ll become a better driver once I no longer have to take the kids to their various activities.” You just might not get to your destination in one piece if you don’t take the time to improve this skill.
For many years, I read the promise in 1 Cor. 10:13 that we would never be tempted beyond what we can bear and that God would provide an escape route, waiting expectantly for some sort of biblical Lone Ranger to come to my rescue and remove my feelings of inadequacy and overload. Then, it dawned on me: the way of escape was contained in the very law-word of God – numerous copies of which sat on my bookshelf. That Living Word was the lamp unto my feet and the light I needed to proceed. What I needed was help in seeing how every word in the Bible applied to me. That’s where Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law became a powerful force. The more I learned just how much of my life I had not turned over to God’s commands, and how much I was operating in my own power, the more effective I became in dealing with issues within the family. The result was so pronounced, that I began to long for my study time the way some women long for a trip to the spa.
My husband likes to repeat the expression, When Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. He has made it a priority in our family life to try and make me happy. True happiness, though, comes to a woman when she is living out her calling under God to His glory. The Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute is designed to help the homeschooling mother evolve into the Proverbs 31 woman God intends for her to be, thereby giving her the reward she has earned -- accolades and praise from her husband and children as well as her works bringing praise from others in the public square (Prov. 31:28-31).
Why are they overwhelmed? Are they as delinquent in their duties as they suppose? On the contrary. It is my experience that those who are sure they are underperforming as wives/mothers/home educators are often suffering from wrong priorities rather than deficient character or initiative. That is why becoming grounded in the application of God’s law-word to every aspect of life is a fundamental starting point and a true necessity for the woman of the house. Without it, it is easy to start applying false or skewed standards to day-to-day life. Women will look at Proverbs 31 and decide it is hopeless to even try to attain that standard; so they continue in their tidal wave of frustration and doubt. What they fail to understand is that one doesn’t become an excellent wife or mother overnight. Rather, one grows into the calling as a direct result of sanctification.
Sanctification comes as a result of time spent studying, learning, and applying God’s commandments to all areas of life and thought. A busy mother may think this will have to wait until the kids are grown and homeschooling is over. That would be like saying, “I’ll become a better driver once I no longer have to take the kids to their various activities.” You just might not get to your destination in one piece if you don’t take the time to improve this skill.
For many years, I read the promise in 1 Cor. 10:13 that we would never be tempted beyond what we can bear and that God would provide an escape route, waiting expectantly for some sort of biblical Lone Ranger to come to my rescue and remove my feelings of inadequacy and overload. Then, it dawned on me: the way of escape was contained in the very law-word of God – numerous copies of which sat on my bookshelf. That Living Word was the lamp unto my feet and the light I needed to proceed. What I needed was help in seeing how every word in the Bible applied to me. That’s where Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law became a powerful force. The more I learned just how much of my life I had not turned over to God’s commands, and how much I was operating in my own power, the more effective I became in dealing with issues within the family. The result was so pronounced, that I began to long for my study time the way some women long for a trip to the spa.
My husband likes to repeat the expression, When Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. He has made it a priority in our family life to try and make me happy. True happiness, though, comes to a woman when she is living out her calling under God to His glory. The Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute is designed to help the homeschooling mother evolve into the Proverbs 31 woman God intends for her to be, thereby giving her the reward she has earned -- accolades and praise from her husband and children as well as her works bringing praise from others in the public square (Prov. 31:28-31).
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