Cogent Commentary

To be effective teachers, Christian homeschooling parents need a regular diet of cogent commentary on important issues of our day. It is crucial, though, that the commentary comes from reliable sources that share a biblical worldview.

Bojidar Marinov, missionary to Bulgaria, has such a reliable perspective. I call your attention to two articles I've read of his in the last month, The True Origin of Foreign Missions and the one exercepted below, Woody Allen Wants to Make Obama Dictator in Chief.

In its flight from God and His Law, the Left didn't find freedom from religious beliefs, neither did it find wisdom. To the contrary, the Left rejected the ordered house of the Christian religion only to live in the jungle of primitive creature worship and superstition; and instead of wisdom, it got irrationalism and stupidity. Woody Allen is an end product of this process.

Irrational superstitious creature-worshippers do not build civilizations. They can only live as parasites in a civilization created by those who worship the Creator. Woody Allen's faith is dying across America, and his brilliant famoser Kerl will go down in history as the worst President America ever had. God is not to be mocked.

God Has His Witnesses Everywhere

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Driving Miss Dorothy

For the past eighteen-plus years, my daughter and I have spent countless hours with each other. Even though she will reach her eighteenth birthday in a couple of weeks, I date our relationship from the day I went to the local pregnancy center for a pregnancy test. Having been a supporter for years, it seemed a fitting location to confirm that my third child was on the way.

Yesterday, that “baby” passed her driving test and today she took her first solo voyage, since the restriction of driving with a licensed driver in the car has been removed. I vividly recall my angst when my two older children reached this milestone. Maybe it is the passage of time or a better sense of how things go, but today angst was not among the emotions I experienced.

One of my observations about this transition is how different the parent/child relationship becomes when children no longer need to rely on parents for transportation. And although it will be pleasant to sleep in sometimes and not spend huge blocks of time chauffeuring her around, there are things that I will miss.

I will miss the study time I enjoyed while waiting for her piano lessons or golf practice to be over. I’ll miss the time I spent knitting and listening to audio sermons during those waits. Most of all, I will miss the bonding time that came when we travelled to and from her classes, tournaments, or lessons. I will miss her help with shopping runs we made on our way home. Somehow, sitting side by side rather than face to face often allowed for greater freedom in sharing important topics. With my older children, I never fully appreciated how much I needed to replace those car times with times for us to catch up on the events of our day. With younger children still requiring transportation, I didn’t notice the negative effect of that lack soon enough.

One of the most precious aspects of the homeschooling life is the opportunity to develop strong relationships within the family. As we reach milestones, the years of growth and nurturing turn into years of maturing friendship and respect. With a good foundation, change can foster growth rather than inhibit it.

The Roots of Planned Parenthood

This ad first appeared during the 2008 presidential campaign. However, its message is as timely as ever.

Minimizing the Work of the Holy Spirit

Many feel that young children cannot handle difficult Biblical doctrines like the doctrines of hell, eternal damnation, predestination, and election. They choose to emphasize the "more pleasant" elements of the faith, such as storing up treasures in heaven, ministering angels, and letting one's light shine. They do not want to present a "negative" view of God because they are afraid that would discourage children from choosing to follow Jesus.

However, when children do not learn early that they possess an inherited trait that puts them at enmity with God, they blissfully "float" through childhood without being aware of the spiritual dangers they face. For Christ's work to have cogent meaning for them, it is imperative that they learn in their tenderhearted years what a tremendous price was paid by Jesus for sin and that apart from Him they have no hope of rescue. Our Savior had so much confidence that children were able to receive His teachings that He presented children as examples that adults should follow as they entered the Kingdom (Mark 10:15).

The shielding of children from these strong, sobering doctrines and the reluctance of adults in children's lives to "tell it like it is" points to a greater problem, namely a serious minimizing of the power and influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Because twenty-first-century Christendom is replete with antinomianism, easy-believism, and syncretism, many Christian parents don't expect to see the transformation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of their children. Could it be that they don't expect to see it in the lives of adults either?(read more)

"Science" Catches Up with the Bible

Students of the Bible (specifically Romans 1) already know what a Yale University psychologist has concluded. The headline reporting his finding reads: Babies know the difference between good and evil at six months, study reveals

At the age of six months babies can barely sit up - let along take their first tottering steps, crawl or talk.
But, according to psychologists, they have already developed a sense of moral code - and can tell the difference between good and evil.
An astonishing series of experiments is challenging the views of many psychologists and social scientists that human beings are born as 'blank slates' - and that our morality is shaped by our parents and experiences. (Read more)

As Clear as Mud

Homeschooling parents/teachers are always on the lookout for ways to improve their children's writing. I encourage them to focus on content first (something worthwhile to share), clarity of expression (easily understood), and then work to improve the grammar and syntax (conforms to writing conventions).  I suggest that they view it as a work in progress.

I thought I would share the text of the warning label that accompanied the new water dispensing unit we purchased today. I offer it as an encouragement to those who are distraught over their children's writing level. I'm sure none quite hit the nadir of the following directive. I have not changed one word!  Really, I haven't.

ATTENTION 

1. This product is not intended to be used by the people who has the disfigurement on their body, sense organ and intelligence. Also for the one who is in lack of experience and common sense (including the children). Only in condition that they are payed enough attention by the person who is responsible for their safety can these people use the product under the instruction of their guardian.
2. WARNING--Do not use flammable appliances inside the food storage compartments of the appliance, unless they are type recommended by the manufacturer.
3. To avoid a hazard due to instability of appliance, it must be fixed in accordance with the instructions.
4. In the back of water dispenser there is a fixing sheet, consumers should connect the fixing sheet with the wall or unmoved object by themselves, in order to avoid it fall down.
5. WARNING--Do not damage the refrigerant circuit. 

I'm still trying to figure out where the food storage compartment is in my water dispenser!!  My husband asked me honestly to assess any disfigurement he may have on his intelligence.

Hit the Road

One of the biggest accomplishments of the Roman Empire was its very travelable roads. Thus the expression, “All roads lead to Rome.” Conversely, all of them also led away from Rome. Originally constructed to facilitate Roman conquest, roads were the providential infrastructure that allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to be propagated throughout Europe and Asia Minor.

Today’s internet superhighway, laid down for purposes other than the sharing the gospel, is having the same effect. Social networking pages, websites like Chalcedon’s that promote dominion-oriented Biblical worldviews, and live chat sites shrink the globe and allow the people of God to travel while remaining physically in one area.

The implications of this are huge, if we put on the glasses of Scripture to see what a blessing these technologies can be as we further the Kingdom of God. The structure is there; it is our calling to make use of the gifts and talents we’ve been given and adapt them in our time to make disciples of all nations.

If you don’t know how to use a computer, figure it out or get someone to help you! If you email friends and family regularly, be sure to attach some sound Biblical reading material for them to consider. When sharing on networking sites, boldly proclaim your point of view. We have a means by which to exercise our dominion mandate in ways that were unimaginable just twenty years ago.

So, maybe it’s time for you to hit the road!

A Mother's Day Message

The following essay, The Mother's War by Vox Day, first appeared on the WND website in May of 2007. With the permission of the author, I included it in my book The Homeschool Life.

Mother's Day is, to be honest, somewhat of an annoyance. It's manifestly one of those tedious Hallmark holidays wherein everyone is supposed to run out and support the revenue stream of cardboard manufacturers in the name of expressing gratitude to mothers, fathers, grandparents and anyone else to whom we might be related.

I imagine it won't be long until Sept. 18 is declared Anonymous Sperm Donor's Day, which will probably be celebrated by giving matching card sets to one's two mommies and lighting a candle for dear old anonymous sperm donor, whoever he might be.

Mothers are not only important, they are absolutely vital due to their position as front-line shock troops in the ongoing, centuries-long struggle for the survival of Western civilization. Despite the fact that their maternal instinct has been harassed, criticized, mocked, belittled and subjected to a 40-year effort to indoctrinate it out of existence, our mothers stubbornly continue doing the only thing we actually need women to do in order for our civilization to survive, bearing and raising children.

We don't need female doctors. We don't need female scientists. We don't need female entrepreneurs. We don't need female producers of PowerPoint presentations. And we really don't need female politicians.

While we can argue about whether such luxuries are beneficial or detrimental to society, there is no arguing the empirical evidence which proves that civilization has survived without them before and could easily do so again.

But without mothers, there is no civilization. Without mothers, there is no future for the civilized.

Europe is in the process of discovering what a world without mothers is like. It is an ugly picture, a brutal picture. It is a probable future that promises to be much worse than the most exaggerated images of past patriarchal oppression ever painted by Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinhem. Without mothers, there is only barbarism and the choice between the brothel and the burqa.

Motherhood is a sacrifice. It may mean putting off a college education and a career, or even giving them up entirely. It may mean sacrificing a flawless figure. It may mean sacrificing dreams. It definitely means putting two, three, four or more lives ahead of your own. But motherhood is also an expression of hope. Motherhood is a vote of confidence in the future of mankind. Motherhood is the brave voice of a woman saying, "I will not live life for today. I will create life for many tomorrows."
Cards, gifts and flowers are no adequate expressions of gratitude for this living statement of faith.

In the ongoing war against Christian civilization, it is the mothers who matter most. The sterile secularists don't fear Christian intellectuals or Christian pastors, they regard the former as petty annoyances and there's little need to worry about one weekly hour of Christian teaching on Sundays overcoming 40 hours of secular reprogramming from Monday to Friday. But they fear our mothers who can create children faster than they can manage to indoctrinate them. And they are downright terrified of our homeschooling mothers who rob them of their primary means of creating a new generation of secular barbarians.

Every time a woman says "I do," every time a wife turns to her husband and says "let's have another baby," every time a mother hugs her child and says "how would you like me to be your teacher?" she is striking a powerful blow in defense of her faith, her family, her church and God. We should celebrate these bold decisions -- these audacious acts -- as victories, not just for the family and the faith, but for civilization and mankind.

It is not enough to thank our mothers. We owe them a debt that cannot be repaid. But we can, and we must, love them, honor them, support them and sustain them as they faithfully continue to wage their mother's war.

Even Camels Get Tired

One of the best aspects of mentoring homeschooling moms is having the opportunity to help women who are so eager to do right by their children. Helping them become the best teachers they can be while remaining"on the job" is rewarding. I now have mentorees (is that a word?) on three continents: North America, Europe, and Africa who are actively studying biblical law and how it pertains to all areas of their lives and families.

One woman who is on the mission field with her husband and three children sent me this picture of a typical day in Mauritania.

For more information about the Chalcedon Teacher Training Institute, visit http://www.ctti.org/.

Persevere

Joe Morecraft speaking at Carroll County TEA Party from Aubrey Boles on Vimeo.

Do the Math

As a result of an excellent weekly class that I'm am taking under the direction of Mike Winther of the Institute for Principle Studies, much of my extra reading has turned to the subject of economics. A book I had heard about for years but never read through, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? finally made it into my library. It provides an interesting perspective on "two-income" families.

Until the 1970s, most families were able to improve their standard of living with only one adult working outside the home. In the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, mothers and wives got paying jobs ususally on the assumption they were helping support their families.

Try this. Add up the total taxes your household pays: state and federal income tax, sales tax, property tax, and any others you can find (remember that many taxes are "hidden taxes" that aren't easy to identify). Compare the total taxes paid with the total wages earned.

Chance are you will find that one spouse is supporting the household, and the other is supporting the government.*

My husband and I came to the same conclusion back in 1979. When I added up the cost of putting my son in daycare, additional transportation costs travelling from my work to where he was during the day, lunches out, drycleaning bills etc., the net gain after taxes was $37.00!

Homeshooling families regularly make ends meet on just one income, or supplement it with work the mother/teacher can do from her own home while maintaining her role as her children's teacher. Sure it takes some creativity and good adminstrative skills, but the rewards of the one-on-one opportunity to train your children in the ways of the Lord is not only worth more than a paycheck, it allows you to store up treasures in heaven!

*page 85 of the 2004 edition.

His Heartbeat for Women Interview

Listen to a discussion of my newest book The Biblical Trustee Family on the podcast "His Hearthbeat for Women."

Our Systems Are Crumbling

Another clip from the INDOCTRINATION documentary. For more info, visit the website.

The Relgion of Humanism in Public Education

This is a clip for the upcoming documentary INDOCTRINATION by Colin Gunn.  You can find out more by going to the website.

Concerns & Excuses

This is the time of year when parents customarily make their education choices for the upcoming fall semester for their children. It is also the time that those considering homeschooling begin to get “concerned” about the challenges they will face if they pursue home education. Here are some of the concerns/excuses that I hear time and again, along with my answers.

Q. If I take my children out of school or don’t enroll them in a public school, I may be contacted by my school district? What do I do then?

A. Join Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and receive the benefits of expert legal advice and referrals to local homeschool leaders.

Q. With so many curriculum choices, how do I know what will be best for my children without having to spend a lot of money to find out?
A. Connect with the Christian Home Education Association (CHEA)* for your state and register for a convention in your area. Spend time in the exhibit hall and get some hands-on experience with hundreds of choices before you purchase. There are also excellent convention workshops for you to attend.

Q. I’m not sure I’m capable of teaching my children?
A. Get copies of my two books Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling and The Homeschool Life. They will give you perspective on what it takes to be a homeschooling parent. You can also consider a mentoring program to help assist you with “on the job” training.

Q. But what about the socialization? Won’t we be isolated from other people if we homeschool?
A. A quick internet search should put you in touch with many dedicated support groups in your area. There are also many homeschool forums where parents exchange information and ideas, not to mention many opportunities for extra curricula activities.

Q. I know homeschooling is a great choice, but I’m scared. Haven’t you read about families, in our country and internationally, who face harassment and sanctions because they teach their own children at home?
A. Surely you do not think we are the first group of believers ever to face oppression and opposition? Ask God to help you in your unbelief and trust in His provision. And, consider this passage from the Epistle to the Hebrews:

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
(Hebrews 11:23-29)

Contact me at lessons.learned@yahoo.com if your concern/excuse was not addressed in the above list.

* I will be at the April 30th/May 1st CHEA Bay Area Convention at the Chalcedon booth located immediately inside when you enter the exhibit hall.

A Call to Dunkirk

A Strong Foundation for Academic Success

Many young families are hesitant to pursue homeschooling because they feel the task is overwhelming. I regularly point out that once a child learns how to read, the rest of the education process is a matter of that child interacting with books and learning from authors worth reading. Thus, one of the most important elements in education is building a strong foundation in reading.

Over 23 years ago I came across a simple, yet highly useful phonics program that I used for both my daughters. Sam Blumenfeld’s Alpha Phonics was the no-nonsense method I implemented to build a foundation for excellent reading skills. Having utilized a number of other programs for my first child, I was looking for something without distracting bells and whistles – one that would focus on building a “reading reflex” without adding other confusing elements. Both girls ended up being very capable readers and never, ever was the refrain heard in my home that “I hate reading.” For them, that would be like saying, “I hate breathing!”

Back when I was using it with my girls I also helped a grown man who had struggled with reading since his school days. Far from being stupid, this man had practical knowledge and skills that rivaled many of his peers. Yet, he felt stupid when it came to having to read something and learn it. I had a number of sessions with him using the Alpha Phonics program and I could see the “lights go on” for him. Just recently, I re-connected with this man (via Facebook) who moved clear across the country 18 years ago. In catching up with each other, he let me know that my tutoring had served him in good stead and had provided the motivation for him to continue working at it. His “thank-you” meant the world to me.

This is the time of year when families make their choices for schooling in the fall for their little ones. For those considering homeschooling, I whole-heartedly suggest they look into this gem of a book to help build the foundation for future academic success.

The Chickens Are Coming Home to Roost

The story below indicates that women who have believed the lies that abortion and contraception are not linked to cancer, ought to think again.

["National Cancer Institute Researcher Admits Abortion-Breast Cancer Link True" (January 6, 2010) by Steven Ertlet of LifeNews.com ]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Cancer Institute gained a reputation for putting politics over science when it did everything possible to deny dissenting opinion during a meeting to establish whether or not a link exists between abortion and breast cancer.

Now, the main NCI acivist who got the agency to deny the abortion-breast cancer link has co-authored a study admitting the abortion-breast cancer link is true, calling it a "known risk factor. (more)"

New Release -- The Biblical Trustee Family

From the back cover of The Biblical Trustee Family....

God's basic institution is the family, and the Biblical family lives and operates in terms of a calling greater than itself - the Kingdom of God. In an age when the family is disparaged, warred against, and treated as a mere convention, it becomes the duty of Christians to bring God's plan for the family to listening ears. That's what Andrea Schwartz has accomplished in this collection of essays on The Biblical Trustee Family.

Stemming from her long years in homeschooling. Andrea elevates the Kingdom mandate as the driving purpose behind God's creation of the family, and the family's central task: education. Her passion is to equip Christian families - especially homeschooling mothers - not only with the tools of learning, but the tools of dominion.

Be Prepared?

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts were compatible organizations. As the story below demonstrates, in today's culture they stand for radically different things. After all, when is the last time you heard the mainstream media doing negative stories on this "feminist" organization?

A new campaign by the Girl Scouts, with the help of Planned Parenthood, is offering girls ages 10 to 14 the inside details on how to be "hot."

This week, the World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides held a no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations in which Planned Parenthood distributed a brochure entitled "Healthy, Happy and Hot." (more)

Problem Learners? Inspect What You Expect

I regularly receive phone calls from homeschooling moms who are referred to me by mutual friends. Often they are calling because of a student who does not finish academic assignments or takes an inordinate amount of time to do so. The frustrated mom will “confess” that she is considering sending her child to public school where there are “experts” who know how to deal with problem learners.

By asking many questions and getting a grasp of the particulars of the situation, I find that the issue often boils down to an unclear vision of educational goals along with unrealistic expectations on the part of the homeschooling parent. A child who daydreams does not do so because she is homeschooled. Teachers in day-school classes deal with the same issues. Since all children don’t learn at the same pace, a younger child who struggles with a subject that an older sibling breezed through is not proof positive that homeschooling isn’t the correct choice. I regularly assure mothers that their dilemma is not extraordinary, and rather than “jump ship,” they need to make some procedural changes.

In my book, Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling, I devote a chapter to the epiphany I had one day when dealing with my reluctant, smart-mouthed son/student. It was then the concept that “learning is privilege not a right” was crystallized. I realized that I placed a higher priority on academics than on developing godly character and he noticed that fact and was exploiting it. I share this incident with my distraught callers to assure them that negative responses from their student(s) are more indicative of the fall of man than of their inadequacy as teachers.

Here are some tips for running a successful, well-oiled homeschool:

• Be sure you are clear on your academic goals. Articulate these goals so that each student knows what he is expected to accomplish each day, week, or month, depending on the age of the child. It is beneficial for everyone to know where you are headed.
• Make it a point to “inspect” what you “expect”* in order to avoid bad habits and failures to complete assignments. It is important to catch these early rather than have them go on for weeks or months.
• Be flexible in re-ordering your plans for a particular subject if the student is working at too slow a pace, too fast a pace, or needs another mode of instruction to help him grasp the material.
• Pace yourself, create a schedule that you can stick to so that you are not running a race even superwoman would lose.
• Make it a priority to include life-skills into your homeschool that are not academic.
• Involve your husband with the day-in and day-out realities of the issues you face and listen to his counsel and perspective. Remember, homeschooling is a team effort by both parents.
• Pray without ceasing that your focus remains on furthering the Kingdom of God.

One reason why children may become lackadaisical about their academics is too much free time on their hands, concluding that there is no reason to meet deadlines. From the time my children were eight years old, they were required to do their own laundry, prepare their own breakfast and lunch, and occasionally make dinner or help in its preparation. Additionally, they learned how to grocery shop, working off the list I gave them. Four times a year they were involved in helping my husband with his mailers to customers. Piano lessons, athletic endeavors, and outside play were also part of the mix. In other words, my children had more responsibilities than just “book learning.” Our academics, which included liberal amounts of time for good reading, were not always considered drudgery. Because there were many things on the day’s agenda, it became obvious when schedules and deadlines were not being met. By the time they were older and earning money outside the home, their employers appreciated how responsible and reliable they were.

One of the biggest mistakes that can be made in a homeschool environment is to fail to appreciate the uniqueness of the home education situation. The main benefit of home education is the ability to have integrated learning where the needs of the family are not subservient to academic requirements and the Word of God can be at the center of all activities. Then, rather than becoming perpetual students, children are discipled and become productive adults ready, willing, and able to work.

* This was a phrase my husband originated and continued to remind me of throughout my homeschooling career.

Studying Your Children

Mothers are uniquely prepared to become “experts” regarding their children. Many will tell you that they recognized traits in their children even in the womb. That certainly was my experience. My second child was destined for activity, as she would do what appeared to be somersaults that would produce energetic shape changes in my abdomen. She is also the child who kicked through much of my labor! My third was mellower in the womb but had the habit of tapping and tickling me with her fingers. Both girls manifested these traits after birth. I was getting lessons about them before they were born. Through the years, I observed other distinctive things about my children.

~ When my son was at the age of needing a nap, he would often pop out of his room early and announce that he had finished his nap. However, I was a keen observer and noticed that when he had napped his eyes were a deep royal blue. When he waited in his room until he felt enough “nap” time had passed, his eyes were pale gray. Because I observed him day-in-and-day-out, I knew when he still needed to nap.

~ My second child had a very acute sense of direction from the time she was very small. Her ability to direct us home on trips far surpassed that of her brother, almost seven years her senior. I learned to rely on this ability because of my propensity to get lost.

~ My youngest, almost from the outset, had a strong connection with music. I only appreciated how pronounced this was when we watched movies at home. Every so often, she would exit to the kitchen. Almost immediately, something scary happened in the scene. Before long, I realized that she was reacting to the change in music and was sensing that something dangerous or frightening was about to happen. Not wanting to experience that, she removed herself from the room. Even today, I can tell when something fearsome will happen in a film. I just look at her body language and I am prepared to be scared!

A mother who spends lots of time with her children learns their strengths and weaknesses very early. These are important lessons that she can use to help them develop positive character qualities and overcome areas of difficulty. The expression “a mother knows” may not always be quantified scientifically, but it is usually very accurate when it comes to predicting a child’s behavior. The more time and opportunity she has (as a stay-at-home mom), the better she will be in training her children in the way they should go.

Mothers should also be schooling themselves in the important matters of Biblical law and its application across all disciplines. Then their observations and conclusions will be better informed and alert them as to whether they need to seek outside counsel from a friend or mentor. However, whether or not a mother ends up being a homeschooling teacher or oversees the Christian education of her children in a day school setting, she should remember that when it comes to dealing with the experts, her own experience and observations should be consulted first!

Getting a Headstart

More and more mothers of very young children are seriously considering homeschooling as a future educational option for their children. It is encouraging to be asked by mothers of toddlers what curriculum they should order so they will be ready to begin schooling when their children are older. It takes awhile for these mothers to embrace the concept that they have already begun to homeschool. Because they equate education with academics, they mistakenly devalue the important lessons they are currently imparting to their children.

A learning environment is one where the authority of the teacher is respected and the learner accepts his responsibility to learn. The earliest lessons for little ones include teaching them to do what they are asked or told to do, giving them opportunities to develop patience, and providing experiences that give them a sense of achievement and success. When obedience is demonstrated, children should be given praise and encouragement. Positive responses should not only recognize the child’s cooperation, but should plant the seeds for future good behavior. For example, “Thank you for being an obedient child. Mommy appreciates it when you do what you are asked.” Or, “Wait until I share with Daddy what a helpful little girl you were today.”

Too often parents equate discipline with punishment, omitting the other aspects of discipline -- praise, correction, and instruction. It is helpful to prepare children for obedience by talking about future activities and explaining how you expect them to behave. For example, many parents struggle with keeping their little ones quiet during a church service. If they practiced with their children sitting still for periods of time during the week, and then on Sunday morning reminded the child how he was expected to behave, they would be laying a good foundation for the desired behavior. At first, the child may only last for part of the service, but each week as the mid-week training continues, the child would grow in his ability to sit quietly through a church service.

Book learning is only a fraction of what is taught in a homeschool. By laying a good foundation in the pre-academic years, it will be easier to train up a child in the way he should go both academically and spiritually.

Law & Liberty Study Guide Now Available

Thanks to the generosity of one of Chalcedon's faithful donors, Law & Liberty by RJ Rushdoony is back in print and is offered at a great price. Additionally, a free Study Guide (available in pdf format) is a useful tool for anyone interested in utilizng this concise volume to teach Rushdoony's central theme that Biblical law applies to every area of life and thought.

I have used this short volume with junior high and high school students for over twenty years, as well handed it out as gifts to introduce these fundamental concepts. Now with the study guide's Questions for Thought and Discussion covering all thirty-two chapters, it is even easier to form Law & Liberty study groups geared toward re-establishing Biblical law as the foundation for morality and liberty.

Without law, no liberty is possible for any one! Become an integral part of the solution to the problems facing our culture.

Chapter titles include:

• Can We Legislate Morality?
• The Politics of Pornography
• Law & Academic Freedom
• Law & Government
• Socialism as a Perpetual Civil War

Big Screen Messages

The goal of the Great Commission is so comprehensive that all lawful areas of dominion must be pursued in order to fulfill its command. One area of dominion that often has been neglected by Christians is serious film making. This past week, I benefitted from two Christian movies where the message of Christian hope was effectively presented.

The first movie, To Save a Life, takes on the subject of teen suicide. Set within the context of a public school, the alienation and isolation of many of the students was successfully depicted. While the movie failed to show that the curriculum and worldview of the public schools significantly contributes to this malaise, it did show the difference that committed Christians could make who care to reach into the lives of those who hunger for the love of Christ.

The second movie, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, was more overt in its proclamation that we are all sinners in need of God’s gracious forgiveness. It was beautifully filmed and conveyed the message that people in every stage of life, regardless of their circumstances, are in need of Biblical salvation. By the time the movie ended, I was sad to leave the characters I came to enjoy.

I am convinced that God will use both films to further His Kingdom purposes. I believe that both will have the greatest impact on Christians who desire to share their faith and only need some larger than life examples showing them how. There were aspects of each film that I would have handled differently, and some theological points about which I could quibble. Yet, I walked away from both glad that these Christian filmmakers had put their faith into practice.

This Sunday at church, a young man of the congregation was walking up and down the fellowship area screaming aloud and expressing anger at the injustice in the world. I waited to see if someone would approach him to see what was wrong. No one did. Most were “politely” looking the other way as if to shield him from embarrassment. After having seen two films whose purpose was to encourage and exhort believers to put their faith into action, I could not be silent. I called to him and even though he shouted back that he did not want to talk, I pressed the point and got him to come back and talk with me. Before long, he was calm and sharing with me the reason he was upset. My husband joined us and before our conversation was over, we agreed to share some books and tapes that he might find helpful, and we exchanged contact information so that he could talk to my husband if ever he wished to talk. The three of us prayed together before we left and today I will be sending him some books and tapes to help him better understand God’s justice.

I hope that I would have intervened in this situation even if I had not heard some “movie” sermons earlier in the week. However, it is evident to me, that the Holy Spirit used the impact and message of both to propel me to address the hurting young man in front of me. As both films powerfully portrayed, you do not have to go looking for people to minister to. If you are available to God, He will bring them to you!

Through Heaven's Eyes

Often Christian parents who in obedience to God's Word teach their children at home or send them to Christian schools are admonished for isolating their children and failing to have them experience the socialization process that public school allows. The correct answer to such accusations is "Yes, that is exactly what I'm doing. I have no intention of my child absorbing the norms and attitudes of godless education and the results of exposure to it." However, a real question faces Christian families endeavoring to separate their children from the world and to Jesus Christ. That is, how will they function in the world as salt and light if they have not been exposed to it?

Before tackling this question, it is important to note that virtually no Christian family in our culture can totally succeed in preventing external, non-Christian influences from affecting their families. Most children are exposed to non-Christian people, along with attitudes and philosophies just by accompanying their parents to the supermarket, going to the doctor’s office, or interacting with neighbors and non-Christians in their extended families. Therefore, to assume that in 2010 we can ever achieve an isolated environment is naive at best. The ubiquitous nature of mass media also makes it a virtual impossibility.

Many Christian parents are aware that television is a major factor contributing to a morally bankrupt generation that has little respect for itself or life in general. The deliberate non-Christian/anti-Christian themes of most programming are a good reason to boycott the medium altogether. The same could be said for movies, modern music, the local public library, let alone the internet. However, the diligent parent can make use of selective programming and use it as a teaching tool in explaining the antithesis between godliness and wickedness. Films and programs also can serve as windows into the world of our humanistic culture, acquainting Christian children with what others are being seeped within their learning environments.

Family viewing can be an opportunity to apply worldview criticism to various aspects of programming content. Back when my son was nine, The Cosby Show was a popular weekly situation comedy, just as it remains today in rerun syndication. We would analyze and discuss certain episodes from a Christian perspective and I would ask him to identify the philosophy of life he thought the writers were putting forth. We discussed how, for example, the fifth commandment of honoring one's parents was presented. We would analyze how the various characters, when faced with depression or disaster, would resolve their conflicts. Did they draw on God and His Word or on their own ability to cope? Were the children excused for their disobedience or were they required to make restitution for their offenses? Was God’s Word even a factor?

This may seem like a good way to destroy an evening's entertainment; however, if you fail to comment on the contents of a show, you may leave the impression that you agree with what has been stated. This is especially so during the “holiday season” when attempts are plenteous to define Christmas in humanistic terms. Is Christmas a holiday when everyone should forget his or her differences like so many shows suggest? Or, should it be the time when we remember what makes us different?

I have found that going through this process helps children to obtain a biblical perspective on issues, providing them with the opportunity to ponder relevant matters, long before they are interacting in environments predominantly non-Christian. Once a particular program’s worldview is identified, a child is better able to see whether it is really worth viewing or should be abandoned. I saw this occur with my son, who at about age six could no longer bear to watch the Smurfs with their worship of "Mother Nature." Once he identified the ungodly premise, he had no desire to be entertained by it. Later on, he became adept at spotting humanistic premises and presuppositions in much of what he watched. He was able to identify programs that typified definitions of good and evil that were contrary to God’s Word and depicted the "heroes" or "good guys" solving their problems in a thoroughly ungodly way. In this way, I made use of all the resources at my disposal.

I am not advocating that families make television viewing a central part of their day. For those who do not have a television or who do not watch it regularly, learning about sin and its repercussions can be accomplished in a variety of other ways. However, many do watch television and, as with many other activities, television viewing can be utilized as a learning experience. Good Christian education prepares children for their calling under God, and faith gives them the ability to face up to that calling. Watching selected shows and discussing them allows parents additional opportunities, in the privacy of their homes, to teach the application of God's Word to all areas of life and thought. However even the most "innocent" shows often will come up with situations and subject matter that are inappropriate. If you find yourself inadvertently in such a circumstance, use it as an opportunity to discuss topics such as adultery, fornication, or homosexuality, or whatever else, in light of God’s Word.

There are those who criticize this approach as being too "real" with children — not letting them be children — not giving them time to grow up apart from the harsh realities of a fallen world. The same could be said about the book of Proverbs, and Solomon criticized in a like fashion. He made sure his sons knew and understood the ways of a fallen world and used examples from his culture to establish the Word of God as the only path that leads to life. Teaching your children God's Law-Word and instructing them to measure all that they encounter by God's standard will prepare them to let their light shine before men, that they may see their good works, and glorify their Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Who Says Homeschoolers Aren't Socialized???

College football star Tim Tebow is under attack by pro-abortion feminist groups after CBS agreed to air his 30-second Super Bowl ad celebrating life.

The commercial, paid for by Christian group Focus on the Family, tells the story of his mother, Pam Tebow, and her 1987 pregnancy with a theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." The ad is scheduled to be aired on the Feb. 7 broadcast of the Super Bowl at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida.

Pam became sick during her mission trip to the Philippines, contracting amoebic dysentery. She took strong antibiotics to rescue her from her coma. Pam's doctors warned that her baby would be stillborn or seriously ill. They suggested she abort the baby, but Pam refused. She gave birth to Tebow, who would later win the 2007 Heisman Trophy and help his Florida team to two national championships. (more)

The Teacher as Student

The Homeschool Life -- Segment One

Vintage People

One of the mistakes we can make when meeting elderly people whom we have not known in their younger days is to fail to appreciate their unique personalities. I learned this lesson when my son was little. Since we did not live near either his paternal grandmother or maternal grandfather, we used to visit nursing homes to spend some time with their residents. I discovered how prone I was to stereotype the “grandmas and grandpas” (as my son called them), as though white hair adequately defined them as a demographic I could easily categorize.

We made this a “family affair” and my husband often joined us. Over time, each of us had our “favorite” person to share our time with during our visits. My son was a big hit with the group of women who sat around and played cards. Because he was not a shy person, he endeared himself to them with his jokes and funny faces. I enjoyed my time with a woman who told me about her husband who had been a surgeon and had passed away almost two decades before. She was eager to share about her six grown sons who had followed in their dad’s profession. My husband’s friend, Earl, was quite a character. He would repeat the same stories over and over again about the “good old days” and never failed to express his gratitude for the “ratios.” At first, my husband did not question him about this, feeling as though he should have known what Earl meant. Finally, he inquired, “What ratios?” Earl bent over and whispered in his ear, “The ratio of women to men. It’s great to be this outnumbered; there are women all over the place and I am one of three men!”

These stories came to mind today when I received an email from a friend from childhood. She and I remain friends, having first become acquainted because our mothers were each other’s best friend. She keeps me up-to-date with news about her mom. Aunt Carrie, as I used to refer to her, is now in her late 80s and unable to live alone due to a number of strokes. I have fond memories of summer vacations and holidays spent with her and remember her as a fun-loving, spirited woman with a pronounced sense of humor. As the story below will demonstrate, she hasn’t changed all that much. Her daughter writes,

The other day, I took [my mom] to her monthly “aphasia” meeting at Greenwich Hospital with a group of aphasia patients. Aphasia is the communication problem that people get with words and thoughts due to brain injuries.

Anyway, the group was humming some obscure 1935 song. I think it was called Melody of Love. Everyone was humming and only my mother was singing the words, which actually sounded great. The doctor who runs the meeting said, “Caroline, you knew all the words! That’s wonderful.”

My mother, upon leaving the group, came over and whispered to me, “I made them up.”

Stability in Troubling Times

Twenty years ago, California experienced the Loma Prieta earthquake. I remember vividly sitting in a karate studio watching my daughter’s class when the ground began to shake. I gathered the children and moved them under the doorframe just in time to avoid being hit by all the trophies that were on a shelf above where I had been sitting. It was obvious that this was not your run-of-the-mill quake—something significant had occurred. In October of 1989, there were no cell phones so I was unable to contact my husband or find out how my elderly mother-in-law, who lived with us, had fared. Instability ruled the hour. (more)

A Model City?

Education for Freedom

...[C]hristian education emphasizes that freedom is through Christ’s salvation and in obedience thereafter to the whole Word of God. Instead of teaching freedom as a radical independence from God, the Christian school teaches freedom as a radical and total dependence upon God. It insists on the interdependence of all men under God and in terms of God’s law. It is thus a liberal arts curriculum for which Scripture is the key book, and in terms of which every subject and area is principled and informed. Teacher and student alike are under that binding word; and are free in terms of their faithfulness to it.

…For the Christian, man is responsible to God, and to man under God and according to the Word of God. Freedom is from sin, and therefore it is freedom from ourselves and from other men, and from slavery and bondage to ourselves and to men, to become the covenant people of God in Christ, our Redeemer and King.

Christian education is thus not the curriculum with the Bible added to it, but a curriculum in which the Word of God governs and informs every subject. Only the Christian school, when it is faithful to Scripture, can have a truly liberal arts curriculum.

(Excerpted from The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum by RJ Rushdoony)

The Righteous Are as Bold as a Lion

Friendly Fire

Years ago when I was new to the Christian faith, I was resolute that I needed to be direct and forthright with people when I saw an area of life they were not living according to Biblical standards. At the time I was sure that I was doing the Lord’s work well by pointing out the failings of my fellow man. Later I came to realize that my zeal for the truth was entangled with areas of sin in my own life that needed sanctification.

Over time, I have seen the aftermath of much of my enthusiasm and in many cases, it is not a pretty picture. Instead of showing the patient love of Christ as I talked to people, I wanted to impress them by demonstrating my knowledge of orthodoxy. In other words, my focus was seriously misplaced and often had a detrimental effect.

I remember hearing Dr. Rushdoony answer questions at the end of a talk he gave not long before his death. He was on the platform with two other speakers. Someone asked a question that involved the difficult situation of children being taken from their parents by social workers when it was determined the parents had neglected their children. The other men answered first. Both gave somewhat polarizing answers that left little room for disagreement. When it was Dr. Rushdoony’s turn, he gave a thoroughly orthodox answer but without the divisive tone of the other men. His answer drove his listeners to greater faithfulness to the Scriptures and did not create unnecessary enmity.

Often when Christians embrace a greater understanding of the faith they fail to abstain from firing verbal shots at their brothers and sisters in Christ who seem to lag behind them in knowledge. Many seem to make it a sport, as though they have served the Kingdom by shooting at their listeners. Instead of finding a way to kindly share a point of view, they relish the opportunity to say something theologically biting to demonstrate their greater knowledge and understanding.

Let us never forget that whatsoever we do to Christ’s brethren, we do to Him.