Be in the world and not of it? Is that Biblical?

How does one apply "be in the world, not of it"? I think, without
sinning, we need to stay current with the changing of the world. I know of youth pastors who have read Twilight so they can better relate to their youth who were obsessed with it, or to stay current on fashion (when it does not become immodest). Becoming immersed in the world is not an option, but staying clear of it's trends isn't an option either. Just because the world changes all of its ways (usually for the worse) does not mean that we have to stay in ours.

The Bible clearly points out that we are to flee sinful things (such as Twilight) and focus on things that are pure. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." – Philippians 4:8

To focus on vampires for educational purposes of any kind is plain evil. Why do we need to immerse ourselves in evil, in order to abhor and rebuke those entwined within it? Look at what the Bible says about those who eat or drink blood...."'Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood—I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, "None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood." Leviicus 17:10-12

I don't see where imitating the world is advised in Scripture. In fact, all I see is the direct opposite (see verses below). I'm also wondering where this "in the world but not of it" is coming from anyway?

"...the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." 1 John 5:19

"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there." Deut. 18:9

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:17

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. **If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.** As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. " John 15:18-19

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." John 17:16-20 [sanctify means to be made holy]

"Friendship with the world is enmity to God." James 4:4

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.' Awake to righteousness, and do not sin...." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

We need to be set apart for Jesus! Our focus should not be on the world and their ways, but solely on Jesus and HIS plan for our lives. We will be different from the world, and we will be hated for it. Why work so hard on conforming the outside to blend in, when our motives in this world should stand out and be so different?

True Knowledge

Below is an excerpt from my post today on At The Well.

“I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place their child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt.” Martin Luther, A.D. 1537

Martin Luther’s quote is direct, yet honest and full of truth. Since Luther was a lover of the Word of God, His thoughts were likely based on how he viewed the Bible to be the beginning of all knowledge and how we, as humans, are nothing apart from God. Therefore, he determined that we need spiritual teaching above all other academic instruction. Do we need to throw aside reading, writing and arithmetic? Of course not. Since the foundation determines the stability of all else that is built above, we must look at what the groundwork of our children’s education is, as well as what it should be. Without diligent instruction about our Creator God; without a true understanding of what He desires for our lives, True wisdom and knowledge will never be attained.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning [first-fruits; principle thing] of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

What is the fear of God? READ THE REST HERE...

Life in a Family Integrated Church!

I cannot say enough about how much we have spiritually grown as a family since attending our family integrated church 3 1/2 years ago. We are blessed to be surrounded by a supportive church family that meets for worship on Sundays, has a weekly fellowship potluck following the service and has monthly prayer and men and women's accountability meetings, as well as other social events!

Moving to a family integrated church was a big switch for us. Both Mark and I grew up in age-segregated churches and after we married we attended one of the largest churches in Charlotte for 9 years before making the big switch. It was different, to say the least.

However, since we began going to our church, Mark has felt encouraged by the other men to LEAD his family in nightly family worship. Was it natural to him? No. He didn't grow up with family worship. Mark tells of how his father, though a Baptist minister, only opened the Bible for family Bible reading twice a year (Easter and Christmas). This family worship thing was something that Mark learned to do. Is he a perfect teacher? No. But, then again, is anyone? Only Jesus!

All I can say, is that when men are "forced" (er, encouraged!) to lead their families in this regular spiritual mentorship, as God has them naturally programmed to do...WOW! God brings together the family in ways that couldn't be done without Dad taking that nightly spiritual leadership role! Men desire to lead their families, but are either never asked, required or allowed to take on that role.

Since starting regular family worship, our kids are now closer to Mark than ever (we have always homeschooled...he's always been very involved, just not in this aspect). They are learning Scripture and understanding Scriptural concepts that most adults can't wrap their minds around. All this is learned either alongside Mark or a day or two behind him! Mark didn't need to go to seminary. He just needed to study Scripture, read it aloud and explain the concepts as he noticed them. The Holy Spirit does the rest...and oh, how cool it is to watch Him move through our worship and Bible reading times!

I'll also say that our pastor has a wonderful way of speaking to all ages. There are concepts that our children don't understand...that's okay. They'll either ask us later (they take notes and write down their questions) or they'll catch what they can for their age and that's exactly what the Holy Spirit had in mind for them! It's kind of like when we have the littles sit in on our history or science lessons. We call it the "school bus stop approach". They listen and their brains "get off the bus" after they have exceeded their attention span. Does that mean it was fruitless? On the contrary...they learn MUCH MORE than we assumed they were able. Same with a family integrated church...we always underestimated the Holy Spirit's workings in our children's hearts and minds! DUH...they have the SAME Holy Spirit we do! ;)

I could go on and on, but I will leave it at that. Oh, and just a few weeks ago...the fathers and sons are on our church's father and son retreat! While they were there they called to say that they were having a blast and that they were all learning so much from the teaching that all the dads were doing throughout each day! I LOVE that!

For those who need idea starters on how to do family worship, here ya go! It's not difficult. It just requires a committed, godly man to take up the natural, God-given leadership role that he hungers for whether he realizes it yet or not (and in the absence of the man, the woman can take up that role in her family). For more information on how to find a family integrated church in your area, click here! To see how we teach our children to listen and learn in church, check out this blog post from a while back!

How do you celebrate Reformation Day?

Q. Where do you go in town to celebrate Reformation Day? Is there a party nearby?

A. Well, we just do our party at home. We watch this Reformation video ahead of time and the children make a village and act out various roles, mainly of the Reformers. Though the Reformers were mostly men, our girls act as their wives and/or town people. They all dress in period costumes to the best of what we have on hand. They make "indulgences" ahead of time to sell to one another, along with a long piece of paper with the 95 theses on it! We usually have homemade bread or some treat with spiced cider, too. Here is a great link on how to make your own Reformation Day Faire!

Another fun part of the night is when we light ALL the candles all over the house to remind us of the following verse (particularly the part about what fellowship does "light have with darkness" part).

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God...Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'"

I hope that helps a little. I found that since we prepare the day before, as well, by taking off of school that the kids REALLY look forward to planning the events of the evening. It might be just our family, but we have a blast! HERE are photos of how our family celebrates Reformation Day! Enjoy!

Easy Way to Teach and Learn The Ten Commandments!

60% of Americans cannot name even five of The Ten Commandments. Are you one of them? Have you always had trouble recalling which commandment was what number? Take THIS test or THIS test to see how well you fair and then watch the video below on how you can better recall each commandment in order!

This is an ingenious way of remembering them using mnemonics, which is a learning technique that aids memory! Sit down with your children and watch this 11 minute video and you'll forever remember each of The Ten Commandments in order! Very cool...

Here are some additional activities to do with your children as they learn The Ten Commandments!

Coloring Page of Moses

A maze

Spelling Lesson on The Ten Commandments

A Lesson in Hebrew on The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments Craft

If your children learn The Ten Commandments, they can send away for a FREE reward manget HERE!

Equip Your Children and Do It Anyway...

"[Our children have] learned to go on the offensive; to confront
evil; not to entertain it [evil], but to defeat it...We have got to provide outlets to serve the Lord and have impact in our nation." Rusty Thomas

The video below shows why we home educate and this is why we take our children out to these places of sin and destruction! We INCLUDE our children in the family vision! We do not separate the family-world and the ministry-world. Instead our children observe - for themselves, firsthand - the difference between good and evil; right and wrong; life and death! We must teach our children that all in life must be discerned as to whether or not something is right and good in the eyes of the Lord, and not what is acceptable and "normal" in the eyes of the world.

Equip your children! Do not TELL your children only what NOT to do, but train them up in righteousness and SHOW them what TO do!

Are you scared to step out like this and "come out from among them" [2 Corinthians 6:17]? DO IT ANYWAY! God will enable you and equip you, but FIRST you must step out in faith! Enjoy this great message from Rusty....

Ear-splitting Rejoicing in Church...is it appropriate?

I have listened to and commented on the numerous, and sometimes heated, discussions about a local church that removed a 12 year old boy with cerebral palsy from a Resurrection Sunday service because he gave an "amen" at an inopportune time. Bottom line...I wasn't there. However, if it happened like the article I read says it happened....how dare they remove someone (especially a handicapped person) from a service because of their vocal worship of their Lord!

During the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus' followers and disciples made many loud and apparently obnoxious "amens". The Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His followers. But how did Jesus answer? "I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!" If His followers had not rightly and properly celebrated aloud the Messiah's coming, the very rocks would have been given a voice by God.

The Hebrew transliteration of the term used to describe how the rocks would have cried out is: (krad'-zo); to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, i.e. to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat). So, had the followers not given Jesus the CORRECT welcome He so deserved, the rocks would have shrieked, calling aloud in praise!

And when we look at how this very instance of crying out was predicted back in Zechariah we see this..."Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." [Zechariah 9:9] The transliteration for the word "shout" in the above passage actually means "to split the ears with sound", while "rejoice" literally meant "to spin around under the influence of great emotion".

Since Jesus and His Word show us that those who were present at his entry into Jerusalem were supposed to give him that kind of loud, "ear-splitting" exclamations upon His arrival, how should we then imitate in the same way when worshipping Him on a Resurrection Sunday (or any given Sunday), when we recall His gift to us through salvation? I just don't see why anyone could condemn this type of action, when it is so well grounded in Scripture!

Can we display true reverence (deep respect tinged with awe) while also being vocal with our praise and adoration? Apparently we can, because Jesus thought it was not only permissible, but also required.

Biblical Homeschooling - Is there an absence of God in your schooling?

Q. I really respect your blog and wanted to know what you think about this...I am just starting to homeschool my son and have been connecting online with other local moms. The question of whether we should form a co-op has come up. I felt led me to ask whether the co-op will be Christian and Bible-based. Of the responses I received, some said that they would really prefer it to be Christian based but didn't want to exclude people of other faiths...that we didn't need to have all subjects Bible-based, like sewing, art or cheese making (thought that last one was funny!).

And it's interesting that I had just read your posts about associating with those continuing in sin and the scripture about bad company breeds bad company. I was also just looking now at your Philosophy of Education post and reading about how you want to instill godly principles within your children.

I think my thoughts on this is that I'd rather it be Christian based. And yes, sewing is not Christian (as odd as that sounds), but its the whole approach and application that needs to be Christian based, focused and directed, and this is where the real teaching is. Also, wouldn't there be logistical issues when we are trying to decide whether school will be closed for Ramadan or celebrating birthdays (issue for Jehovah Witnesses..) etc.?

So anyhow. what are your thoughts and sorry for the ramble. - Erin

A. Well, before I could respond to Erin's question and comments, I read her wonderful blog post on the subject.

...on the need for exclusivity within a homeschooling co-op

It's well worth the read! I encourage all of you to take the verses she refers to in the post and file them in your long-term memory so that you can access them for when you face a similar situation.

Each parent instills a worldview in their children. Whether this process of instilling a worldview is purposeful or accidental on the part of the parents, a worldview is passed down to their children nonetheless.

Be careful which pair of worldview spectacles you choose to look through. Which pair of glasses do you regularly choose to look through from the pile that the world (and the devil) has to offer? Do you consider how the influences that surround you affect the way in which you see the world? If you surround yourself with sin (even in small amounts) or things that have an absence of God and His principles, then you are doing a variety of worldview-altering things.

First, you are telling yourself and others that God is boring or that His ways, commands, or instruction somehow waters down true wisdom and knowledge. Second, you are desensitizing yourself to sin by allowing God's principles to be pushed to the backburner and the world's principles to take presedence, which allows you to become more and more accepting of that which God hates. Lastly, your choice to engage the world in the ways that you do, pushing God into the shadows, demonstrates to your children that God is not the center of life, and that God is not interested in the "small" things that we enjoy or learn about in life. You are telling them that it is okay exclude God (which is what you are doing by allowing Him to remain absent) as long as we are doing something beneficial for acquiring "wisdom".

What is wisdom? Solomon, the most wise man that has ever or will ever live tells us in Proverbs 1:7 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." Our knowledge or wisdom in life begins when we learn to fear or display reverence for God. The Bible says also, in Psalm 111:10, "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments."

So, what does God, Whom we fear, command? "This is the command...Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." [Deuteronomy 6:5-9] We are to teach our children to fear God, to love God with all our being and to TEACH this to our children...when? ALL THE TIME.

So, tell me...how can you separate this command from walking in the Truth of God's Word every minute of every day? You can't. We all need to search for God's truths in everything we do, learn about, and explore. There is no end to where God and His truth can be found! This is His world. All within it points to the Creator. If God is the supremecy of all human knowledge, why in the world would we want to look for knowledge anywhere else to begin with?

Associating with Homosexuals Regularly - Is it Biblical?

Reposted from 2008

If you believe that associating with homosexuals is just the same as associating with any other type of sinner, I am urging you to consider these verses and warnings about associating with the sexually immoral! The Bible is very clear on this. I have concluded that God would have us to present the truth to an unbeliever and try to persuade them, but if we remain in their presence after the Gospel has been rejected, we are taking the chance of being brought down by them and/or becoming desensitized toward that sin.

I am certainly not saying that we should isolate ourselves from the world. If we are spiritually mature *AND* trained appropriately in how to minister to people with particular sins we should mix with unbelievers in the world to minister to them and help them. But we should not be living or working with the same unbelievers for an extended period of time, if they refuse to repent and believe. It is good to mix with unbelievers to love and convert them (our family does this regularly). If you can share Jesus with them, then you can happily yoke together. We should revisit some people even if they don't believe at first, as conversion can take time.

Jesus did the right thing by loving and mixing with sinners and tax collectors for the purpose of converting them. But he did not yoke, work and live with the same people if they did not believe. Jesus and the Apostles moved on if people did not believe, and met other people, trying to convert them. **The fact of the matter is that Jesus did not CONTINUE to spend time with sinners (tax collectors, prostitutes, etc.) if they refused the TRUTH presented to them.**

The following passages refer to the sending forth of Jesus' disciples to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Obviously, Jesus was teaching his disciples that if some people will not listen to the message, their time could be better spent going to someone who will listen. **The Greek/Hebrew direct translation in parenthesis in order to better understand the words literally. **

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NIV): Do not be yoked together [associate; befriend] with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship (associate) can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

Acts 13:51-52 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

..... to shake the dust of any city of Israel from off one's clothes or feet was an emblematical action, signifying a renunciation of all further connection with them, and placing them on a level with the cities of the Heathen. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (reprehend severely; rebuke; convict).

James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred (hostility) toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy (hostile) of God.

[Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world] How strange it is that people professing Christianity can suppose that with a worldly spirit, worldly companions, and their lives governed by worldly maxims, they can be in the favour of God, or ever get to the kingdom of heaven! When the world gets into the church, the church becomes a painted sepulcher; its spiritual vitality being extinct. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

Regarding associations with perpetual sinners who call themselves believers....

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 "I have written you in my letter not to associate (keep company or be intimate) with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat (directly translated that we are to not eat, "not even in a continue negation"). What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel (remove) the wicked man from among you.'

It is vitally important to understand that we are not to judge those who are outside the church (non-professing Christians), but we are to remove those who practice homosexuality from our Church body (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). We cannot "police" the homosexuals (that's not our job), but we can remove them from our presence, as stated in the aforementioned verses.

Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Psalm 26:4-7 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Proverb 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

This is crucial........

1 Cor. 15:33 "Do not be deceived (led astray): ‘Bad company (companionship) corrupts good character (habits, customs).'"

There is no difficulty in this saying; he who frequents the company of bad or corrupt men will soon be as they are. He may be sound in the faith, and have the life and power of godliness, and at first frequent their company only for the sake of their pleasing conversation, or their literary accomplishments: and he may think his faith proof against their infidelity; but he will soon find, by means of their glozing speeches, his faith weakened; and when once he gets under the empire of doubt, unbelief will soon prevail; his bad company will corrupt his morals. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)

Now before everyone jumps in to say how wrong I am....please do not attempt to debate without Scriptural references that refute the verses I listed above. Sola Scriptura! May we strive to please Jesus in all we do!

Homeschool Failure - A United Vision

After you have chosen how to record your homeschool’s mission and vision statement, choose a quiet place and time to develop a united vision with your husband or support person. List the ideas that sparked your interest in homeschooling and led you to believe that this was a positive choice for your family. List the academic benefits that homeschooling offers, as well as what skills and character traits you desire to see your children attain by the time they graduate. And, most importantly, secure that firm foundation by listing your Biblical reasons which support your decision to homeschool your children.

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - Recording Your Vision

If you were to embark on a long-term home improvement project, you would certainly have a finished result envisioned before you even thought to pick up the phone to call a general contractor. If this project was to build a house, you would need blueprints that depicted the inside and outside of the structure. It would be essential that you had an end to which the team you hired would be working toward.

Neither you nor the professionals you hired would just pick up some lumber and start hammering away. Where would you be without a plan; without blueprints; without goals? If that was to happen, no one on the team would have a unified vision of what was to be built and complete chaos would ensue. Soon enough you would become disheartened and discouraged at the lack of progress that had been made. The homey cottage you envisioned would look more like a dog house for good ol’ Rover. Sure, you might be able to pick up the pieces and make something of your effort. But how much pain could you have saved yourself if there had been a vision, a plan, and goals in mind? Vision is needed, and a vision needs goals.

Just as you would require having a hard copy of a plan when building a house, it is just as essential that you have a recorded vision for which to aim, in order to be successful in your undertaking of homeschooling. Whether you are a brand new homeschooler, just starting out, or a veteran with many years served, each and every homeschooling family should record the reasons why they have chosen to educate their children at home. These reasons should be kept in a place where you can reference them without delay. Being able to see these goals regularly will prove to be an encouragement to you, urging you to press on toward the goal when the inevitable days of discouragement stare you in the face.

The first thing to consider is whether you would prefer to record your thoughts and reasons in a one or two-page vision summary or, if you are a little more creative, a vision notebook.

A vision summary can be saved to your computer’s hard drive, edited periodically and printed off as needed. This short synopsis can be hung on the refrigerator or placed in a devotional or Bible as a visual reminder. A vision notebook could contain headings with a bullet point list of goals that fall under that heading. You could also record successes made under such headings as Biblical knowledge, academics, chore training or character development, so that you can easily view the progress that has been made in each area. Other things to consider adding to your notebook are encouraging quotes related to homeschooling or homemaking, encouraging Bible verses or a list of blessings you receive by being a homeschool and stay at home mother.

Consider, also, keeping a running list for each child that includes issues that call for improvement and objectives to achieve. These areas could be related to academics, spirituality, chore training and character traits. You might even list each child’s strengths to encourage and weaknesses on which to improve, as well. As with the summary, this notebook should be kept within reach and should also be easily accessed when the days of feeling like a failure come.

It does not matter which tool you decide to use to record your vision as long as you refer to it often, reminding yourself of why you are doing what you are doing. This will prove to serve as an encouragement and a motivator when you encounter a difficult day or time period in homeschooling.

Homeschool Failure - The Business Model and a Philosophy of Education

When a company embarks in its business venture, the board of directors develops a business plan, which includes a vision statement and a mission statement. The vision statement is a detailed description of what the company desires to accomplish within a set number of years, which serves as a guide for directing the company toward completing the long-term goals listed. A mission statement describes why the company exists, as well as the company’s current capabilities and focus. Essentially a mission statement is where the company is presently, and the vision statement is where the company plans to be in the future. Both of these serve as an important tool in the development of a strong and successful business. Neither of these can be eliminated if the company wants to be successful in their business venture.

Some might think it a bit excessive to develop both a mission and vision statement for your homeschool, but it is not. A business can be defined as serious work or an endeavor that requires an investment with the expectation of making a profit. Could a homeschool be described in that manner? Home education is certainly a serious work that requires an investment of time, money and sweat equity, in which you hope to produce a young adult who is adept in various life skills. The outcome your child experiences is your profit, or positive gain. So, why not plan your homeschool as you would a business? Plan for success and stick to the plan!

Homeschool parents should be in agreement of their homeschool’s objectives and motivations, in order to provide a measure of accountability and to be like-minded in this endeavor. If you are married, your husband, as the head of your home, should either help plan or approve the mission and vision statements of your family’s homeschool. If you are a single parent, you are in charge of your homeschool and might consider seeking outside counsel to assist with accountability and the focus in your mission.

When Mark and I began our own journey of homeschooling we decided to join a local support group, so that we could experience the support and friendships of those who were climbing the same mountain that we were beginning to ascend. This particular support group was somewhat of a pioneer homeschool support group, of which my parents were members when I was homeschooled. These seasoned support group leaders prudently recognized the need for vision and consequently required that each prospective member develop a “Philosophy of Education”. This proved to be an excellent requirement that charged each member of the group to determine and to put in writing their chief objectives behind their decision to homeschool.

Our family’s philosophy of education included similar concepts that one might find in a business’ mission and vision statements. In establishing our own educational ideology we were recording the reasoning behind our choice to home educate. Through this simple, yet inspiring, one-page summary of our thoughts and goals, we preserved our purpose for our family’s home education course. Through the years we have modified our philosophy of education to better fit our family’s revised vision, while continually implementing the principles in our summary. This has proved to be a driving force, compelling us closer to the established goals for our children.

Take a look at our family's Philosophy of Education for some idea starters and tune in next time for more on how to develop your plan and set your goals! Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - A Heavenly Vision

"I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision."
Acts 26:19

Many eager new homeschool mothers, like the one described below, excitedly anticipate and plan for the start of their child’s first year of homeschool. This particular mother, to which many of us can so easily relate, spent month after month researching the many homeschooling methods, attending book fairs, as well as deciding which homeschool support group to join, what extracurricular activities to engage in and which curricula to order. In August, she made her first school supply trip to Wally’s World, rounding one corner to face a spectacular aisle full of lined paper, bright crayons, and themed notebooks for every subject. After she filled her cart and making these purchases, she ran home to find a beautiful big brown box sitting on her porch. While attempting to rip open the box, wrapped securely in many layers of packing tape, she scampered off hurriedly to find the scissors. After finally opening the box she reached in and pulled out various crisp new textbooks wrapped tightly in cellophane. She tore open the wrappers and flipped through each book, envisioning the excited look of her child as he completes each day of assignments with joy and excitement.

After surveying her treasures, she sat down one evening after another mapping out the lessons plans that would strategically guide her every move. She thoroughly studied the teacher’s guides and made countless notes as to how to teach each and every lesson. Upon the completion of her first few months of lesson plans, she felt satisfied. She was confident in the important decisions she had made and in her preparedness for the year ahead.

On the first day of school, this new homeschool mother carefully prepared a nutritious meal fit for her little scholar. After breakfast and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, she carefully placed her pristine and meticulously prepared lessons plans on her desk and arranged the school workbooks and tools on the desk of her child.

A few months later, as the schedule set in and the feeling of drudgery loomed overhead, she surveyed the damage. Before her stood a laundry pile that was close to the size of Mount Everest. She could not remember the last time her family ate a meal that was not brought in from outside world. The rooms in the house needed to be vacuumed and dusted, the dishes needed to be washed, the bathrooms needed to be cleaned. Frankly, the house work was overwhelming and out of control.

On the academic side of things, she had discovered that her child was slow in learning to read. He often seemed distracted and did not want to remain still for very long. Academically, he seemed much better off when he had been enrolled in the local school, and the house was certainly more intact and clean when she did not face the distraction of homeschooling. Maybe she should just throw in the towel, admitting her failure, and send him back to a school where teachers were more qualified to teach and instruct him, and which allowed her to accomplish simple daily tasks without constant distractions and interruptions.

Oswald Chambers once said, “At the beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed into the practical work and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it.” Did this mother formulate good plans? In some ways, yes, she did. She planned the academic work and extracurricular activities with a vision in mind, but she failed to prepare a detailed vision of the end result of years of homeschooling. She focused on the struggle of the here and now, attentive to the bullet points on her list of practicalities, rather than pushing forward while relying on a documented long-range vision of success.

She really was making progress, but she failed to see the progress she was making, because she was rushing around, worrying that she was not able to check off what she viewed as being most important to a well-rounded education. She failed to keep her eyes fixated on the finish line, for which she should have been aiming all along.

Successful execution of a mission, such as home educating your children, demands a resolute and unwavering vision driven by goals. When the goals are established and a method for accomplishing them is developed, the goals create a vision which motivates and sets a finish line for which to aim.

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - A Plan of Action

Over the last few years, I have received numerous visits to my blog after women searched the World Wide Web for articles or websites related to the term, “homeschool failure”. One of the articles on this blog, which mentioned the phrase “homeschool failure”, prompted the search engines to list my blog as the top search result. The many hits I received prompted me to ask myself who was searching repeatedly for articles pertaining to failure in home education. The answer was one of two possibilities. These cyber investigators either consisted of those looking to scathe the respected reputation of homeschoolers; searching the web for a list of people that have given up in their endeavor to educate their children at home, or they were homeschool mothers reaching out to desperately seek encouragement, after feeling trampled in the undertaking of homeschooling their children. My guess is that it was the latter, more often than it was the former.

After seeing these website visits appear again and again, year after year, I began to search on my own for resources that addressed the feelings of these homeschool mothers that felt as though they have failed or are in the process of failing at home educating their children. Much to my surprise, I found that there was little more than a short encouraging word or a to-do list that addressed this issue that faces every homeschool mother at one time or another. While the attempt of the author’s article to solve the problems of these mothers is worthwhile, they were not specifically addressing these concerns with Scripture and realistic solutions that one could apply to many different areas of concern within this broad definition of failure in homeschooling. One of the handfuls of articles contained a concise to-do list, but it still lacked the all-important spiritual foundation on which to firmly plant one’s feet. A Biblical base is something so essential to the survival of a family’s home education journey that I have a tough time understanding just how this watered down information could offer a woman a permanent and long-lasting solution. There was so much more that could have been said about this subject that I felt the leading of God to write a series on the subject of "Homeschool Failure".

Whether or not you realize it, all mothers deal with issues of inadequacy and inferiority on a regular basis. We all feel as though we are failures at one time or another. You are not alone. When beginning to conduct research for this topic, I heard from many mothers who felt as if their shortcomings were destroying all that their children “could be”. They felt their fear of failure encouraging them to pull out of their homeschooling endeavor. These precious moms desperately needed to know that they are not and never will be failures in God's eyes. God has given each of us every tool and resource we need to complete the task placed before us. Each and every homeschool mom – myself included - needs to come face to face with the limited capabilities of our humanness. We must become skilled at continually abiding in God’s infinite power to sustain us in our calling, remembering that there is no such thing as a homeschool failure when the proper foundation has been laid down. You can do this with a focused direction, a graspable vision, a clear plan of action and God’s help!

"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:17

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Charlotte Area HOMESCHOOL DAD'S GROUP!!!

My husband, Mark, has been leading a homeschool DAD'S group from the last few years in Matthews. Please encourage your husband's to at least give the group a try! I really think they'll enjoy it as much as my husband and other fathers have. Feel free to pass this around to other homeschool dads, too!

The Church needs men with a desire to see Christ honored in their families! Our homeschool dad's group meets weekly to give counsel to each other, support each other through prayer and accountability and encourage each other to be the spiritual leaders of our homes, disciple our wives and children and ultimately to see Jesus honored.

We'd love for more husbands and fathers to join us! We meet Thursday mornings at 6:30- 7:30am at Jonathan’s restaurant (next to Target in Matthews). Please e-mail me for more information.

Mark Metzger (mark.metzger@ingfp.com)

Devotions vs. Family Worship

Metzger Family Worship

Instead of using the term "devotions" (which can mean studies in addition to God’s Word that are based on the Bible, but written from human inspiration), we use the term “family worship”. Our church really encourages the men to lead their families in family worship, as they are, biblically speaking, the spiritual heads of their homes. However, we realize that many men come to Christ after their wives or come to the realization of the importance of family worship after their wives come to that conclusion. That said, the woman would need to pray to God about how to best teach her young ones God’s Word, in accordance to Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

A major misconception about family worship is that there are certain rules and regulations; time requirements and restraints. Not true. One family’s worship will look different from another family’s. There’s no biblical layout for Bible reading, except to seek Jesus.

For our family, Mark begins by leading our family in an opening prayer. This really calms everyone’s hearts and minds and prepares us (yes, even our little ones) for time with God. This year we are reading through the Old Testament, following a Scripture reading schedule. Many ask us about the content of what we’re reading in regards to the ages and understanding of some of our younger children. When first beginning this, we were surprised to see and hear just how much our little ones retained from church or family worship. It was very encouraging to see that God’s Word doesn’t ever return void...even to the least of these! We hold true to a few Scriptures regarding reading the Word straight from the Bible to our children.

"There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them. " (Joshua 8:35)

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious eneration, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:1-8, emphasis added)

Following the reading of the Scripture, we sing songs. This is a precious time, as is the Bible reading, because our tiniest ones LOVE to request praise songs. The children all get up and praise God! It is a precious thing to observe as parents who seeks to bring up their children in nurture and admonition of the Lord! After our singing, Mark closes us in prayer and the children head to bed.

Mark and I encourage all families to dig deep into the rich and “meaty” Word of God and to experience family worship for themselves. This is not a ritual or a requirement, but a privilege to approach the throne of God together as a family and to seek His Will for us when reading His Word. It is a precious time of growing together (at different stages) in our spiritual walks. It is a time of training our young ones to regularly seek God’s input on daily matters and to be able to refer to Scripture without forethought, as Scripture pertains to every area of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17)!

Here’s a great article on family worship!

Third Wave of Homeschool Persecution - Be Aware!

This article is a MUST READ for every Christian homeschooler! This is the THIRD WAVE OF ARGUMENT that seeks to curtail or crush the homeschooling movement—specifically, the Christian homeschooling movement—is coming. You need to know about it. You need to get ready to fight it. My parents, among many others, fought hard so that we could have the homeschooling freedoms we enjoy today. Prepare to fight for this same right so that your children have this incredible freedom to home educate!

Launching Your Arrows...how are you preparing your children?

"We don’t aim to hold on to our arrows all the way to the target. They’re not push-pins, they’re meant to fly. Our job is to shape and prepare the arrows so when they are released, they fly straight and true on their own. The time is coming when they will leave our quiver and depart on their life’s mission, as we have to prepare then – and ourselves – for that launch."~ Raising Real Men

• What are you doing to prepare YOUR arrows to hit that target?
• Do you have regular family worship?
• How are you discipling your children regularly?
• Are you obeying Deuteronomy 6:6-9 in instructing your children?
• Are you being consistant in enforcing boundaries and rules?
• Is your discipline consistent?
• Are you spending one-on-one time regularly with your children? (even monthly or bi-monthly, but where it's ON your calendar)
• Are you setting high expectations for your children? Do they know that you expect them to aim high? Or are you settling for the world's standards?
• Have you taught your children WHY you believe WHAT you believe? Do they know the Scriptures behind your beliefs and standards? This is real Biblical worldview education!

Time for Christians to Shred Their Bibles

Don't read into this any more than what it says, please (I know some would love to put words in my mouth). That being said, this is so true...we are becomming sheepish slaves of government; we are lambs being willingly led away to our own slaughter! Read the exerpt and then click the link to read the conclusion!



Many of us grew up in Sunday School and church. We have heard the great Bible stories over and over. We heard about the story of how Moses’ mother defied Pharaoh and hid her little baby boy in bulrushes. We heard the story of how Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster defending a Hebrew slave and later became the great deliverer of God’s people. We heard the story of young David going out alone against the Philistines’ greatest warrior, Goliath. We heard the story of how Saul’s servants refused to carry out the king’s order to murder the priest Ahimelech. We know well the story of Daniel who defied his government’s order to refrain from praying. The names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are very familiar to us. We heard our teachers and preachers extol their courage in defying the government’s order to bow to the image of their emperor. We remember that John the Baptist went to prison (and was eventually beheaded), not for preaching the Gospel, but for criticizing the king for his immoral behavior. We certainly recall the story of Simon Peter who bluntly told his civil magistrates, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We know that the Apostle Paul wrote many of his epistles from inside government prisons. We certainly recall that before John penned the Revelation, he had been banished to an island-prison by his civil authorities.

I challenge Christians to objectively look at the great stories of Bible heroes (in both testaments) and observe how many times they are noted for either being martyred for defying a civil authority, or, perhaps, for being delivered from death for defying a civil authority. The stories of defiance to civil government (in one form or another) comprise a great percentage of all the stories contained in the Bible–perhaps even a majority of them.

So, how has it happened that a majority of today’s Christians, it seems, have become such sheepish slaves of government? How has it happened that, for the most part, the concept of courage in the face of government oppression has been totally lost to the average Christian, pastor, and church? For all intents and purposes, it is time for many Christians to shred their Bibles, because the lessons and principles of God’s Word have absolutely no influence over their attitudes and conduct. The Rest HERE....

Should I leave out "difficult" words in the Bible when reading it to my children?

Q. How do you handle reading aloud such words in the Bible as "homosexual", "harlot" and such as that? Do you omit them or do you explain to all your children what those words mean?

A. We attend a family integrated church, where the pastor preaches the Word of God to all ages. No parts of the Bible are omitted and we follow the same principles at home, during family worship. Remember, the “Book of the Law” (the copy of the Scriptures at that time) was read to ALL the people....old, young, children, and even nursing infants. I don’t see how we can seek to imitate the Bible and leave out anything. However, there is a delicate way of handling this....we do not explain the direct meaning of these terms UNLESS we are asked for those meanings. Depending upon what ages are present, we explain on their age level of understanding. The word harlot could mean a person who kisses men who are not her husband or someone who sells s-x for money.....it all depends on the age and understanding of the one asking AND who else is present. We would bring the subject up again, if not brought up sooner, as the child ages and gains more understanding of sin.

It is also good to remember that Joshua read the ENTIRE Book of the Law to the Israelites...young and old. That should be an example of how we should lead our children!

"There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them. " Joshua 8:35

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:1-8, emphasis added).