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Training for The Race – “Parenting From The Eyes of a Child”
Having been a participant in track during my high school years, I visualize the Christian race on a runner’s track. Hebrews 12:1-2 says “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfector of our faith…” ESV
However, to begin the race, we do not approach the starting line unprepared. Preparation is imperative for a successful race. When does this preparation or training begin? Training begins with future parents and parenting begins with future spouses. When looking for that spouse, choose someone whose number one goal is Heaven. Having a spouse with the goal of Heaven strengthens the endurance of the Christian race and keeps the focus on the finish line. Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”KJV
As a couple becomes parents the priority of running the Christian race is already set. Therefore, the preparation for the child’s training has already begun. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up an child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Ephesians 6:4b “…but bring them up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord.”
As a young child, I remember attending church services at every opportunity. This was a “get to go” not a “have to go.” God was the center of our family. Christianity was the way of life. It was there in every aspect. We began our days with prayer and ended our days with prayer. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and whou liest down, and when thou risest up.” It didn’t matter how busy we were, supper was usually eaten together. Conversations almost always included Biblical discussions from what happened at school, to where we wanted to go, or what we did at home. Dad and Mom had a book, chapter and verse for everything. II Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” I Peter 3:15 says “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Many people think of Christianity as a religion filled with “DO NOTS. “This perception can make for a sad countenance. Dad always said “Christianity is a religion of “DOs.”
For example:
DO obey your parents. Ephesians 6:1
DO pray. I Thessalonians 5:17
DO study. II Timothy 2:15
DO tell the truth. Proverbs 12:19
DO have respectable friends. I Corinthians 15:33
DO keep yourselves pure. James 1:27b
“DO all in the name of the Lord.” Colossians 3:17
Having the “DO” mind set resulted in happy Christian parents with a happy home. The happy home was another step in the preparation for the children’s upcoming race.
When does the Christian race begin? At baptism. I was baptized into Christ at age eleven. I was at the starting line! The race had begun. Did the study and parental training end? No, personal study increased and parents cheered me on with love and support.
Being a young Christian can be a challenge. The devil is waiting on the sideline of the track with many distractions and obstacles. One of these obstacles is peer pressure. Peer
pressure comes in many forms. Talk like this, dress like that, date that boy or go to this place. But what does God say? “Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 I remember times when temptation was strong and the words of my Dad would echo in my head, “Remember who you are.” “Bring honor to the family
name.” Who do we belong to? We belong to God. Whose family name are we to honor? The physical name yes, but more importantly the spiritual name of Christian. Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” We are to honor God and wear the name Christian.
One of the biggest hurdles of the race was leaving home. The devil waits for the children to leave the protection of the Christian home. I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” But suited up in the Christian armor, the child, now adult is ready to face life’s challenges. Ephesians 6:13-17
I am thankful to have grown up in a happy Christian home, which began with my parents being raised by Christian parents as well. It is however, a sobering thought to now be in the parental position. God has blessed my husband and I with two children who are now Christians themselves. Our oldest is now a senior, is about to leave home for college. I know the devil is waiting to “pounce” on him and every other young Christian as they leave the protection of their Christian homes to make their own way in the world. I pray these young adults stay the course, run with endurance, and keep their armor on and their eyes on the finish line. Look to Jesus!
Through prayer and daily study we can all stay focused on the finish line and the reward of Heaven. So that when we cross the finish line, like Paul, we can say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” II Timothy 4:7
By Sheri Folkes
Spring 2013 Issue N6 V3
The 100 Scriptures Project
We interviewed one mom who has challenged her young children to memorize 100 scriptures. Read one to find out how they did it and why.
Cari, tell us about having your children memorize 100 scriptures:
What motivated you to do this? Why was it important to you? What did you want the outcome to be? Did you wish to accomplish more than just memorizing? As a mama, I worry about how much time I have left with my children to teach them and to prepare them for the world. I want them to have the tools and the wisdom that they will need in life to combat temptation and doctrinal error. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were bringing my eldest child, Savannah, home from the hospital, and now she is nearly 9 years old. I know that all I will have to do is blink and she will be headed off to college. What will happen when I’m not there to guard her against false doctrine? What will happen when my children are out on their own and faced with temptation? Will they be prepared? The psalmist said in chapter 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” How do I prepare my children? I must put the word of God in their hearts!
How long did the whole project take? How old were your children when you started? Will you continue on past 100? We have been memorizing scriptures for well over 2 years now. Avery was probably 5 and Savannah, 6. I will probably wait until Grayson is at least 5 before I start with him. We learn one new verse every week, starting on Mondays. I write the verse on a notecard and make them say it daily, along with the ones that they’ve already learned, so that they do not forget them. They must also tell me where the verse is found. We do this Monday thru Friday, like any other school subject, and then take a break on Saturdays and Sundays. We do, however, do this thru the summer as well. We are definitely continuing past 100.
How did you introduce each scripture? My kids really like the flashcard system. On Mondays I introduce the new verse that they will be learning, along with where it is found, and usually by Thursday or Friday they have it well-memorized.
What did you require of them? (Did you require them to be able to tell you the whole verse and the book and chapter/verse numbers? Did you require that the verse be exact word for word? To tell you what the verse means or is in reference to?) Yes, they must be able to tell me the entire verse word for word, along with the reference. I usually do my best to explain the verse to them. I realize that sometimes their depth of knowledge or understanding of the verse will not be the same as an adult’s. As they grow and mature, their understanding will mature as well.
Once it is memorized, did you require them to tell it to you again later? Can they now tell you all 100 verses? How long in one sitting does it take for one child to tell you all 100 verses? Yes, they currently have 103 verses memorized, and they are required to tell me all 103 (along with the references) daily. On a rough day, it usually takes each child about 30 minutes to get thru them.
What version/translation of the Bible did you use? Any specific reason as to that version/translation? We usually use the NKJV or the KJV. Sometimes Savannah’s Bible class teacher will assign her a verse to memorize, and I think she likes for the kids to memorize using the KJV, so that’s what we do for those verses. When her Bible class teacher assigns her a verse, then that’s the verse we work on for the following week.
How did you motivate your children in this? Did you ever get into a battle of the wills over memorization and how did you handle it? When we first started memorizing scriptures, I told my children that when they reached 50, I’d reward them by taking them to Chuck E. Cheese. They apparently thought this was a very good deal, because they did not require much more motivation than that. We kept all of our flashcards in a notecard box with Chuck E.’s picture on it. Once we reached 50, I made good on my promise. Over the summer, my children really wanted to go to Six Flags. I told them that Six Flags was rather expensive, but once they had memorized 100 verses, I would take them to Six Flags. When Six Flags opens in March, we will be taking our first trip there! Somedays my children aren’t so enthusiastic about saying their scriptures. On those days, Avery entertains herself by saying her scriptures with a foreign accent or even singing them at the top of her lungs. Although I think she is well aware that this drives me absolutely crazy, I try not to complain HOW she says them, just as long as she says them!
Did you ever get stuck or “fall off the bandwagon”? What did you do to get started again? The mere thought of them forgetting all of their scriptures after we’ve put that much work into learning them pretty much keeps me on the bandwagon.
Not everyone is good at memorizing, did one child have an easier/harder time than the other? What did you do to help the one struggling? I used to tell Avery that she was allowed 3 hints. Once her hints were used up, that’s all she got! This motivated her to think hard until the very end, and then usually she’d get down to the last 3, grin, and say, “Okay, I need my hints!” (I’m pretty sure that she really DIDN’T need them, but I gave them to her anyways.)
What scriptures did you chose for them to memorize? How did you go about choosing scriptures? I started out trying to find scriptures that would pertain to their youth or that they could easily relate to…”Let no one despise your youth…” (1 Timothy 4:12) or “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right.” (Proverbs 20:11), “Children obey your parents in the Lord…” (Ephesians 6:1-3),”Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…” (Eccl. 12:1) “Do all things without complaining or disputing.” (Philippians 2:14), “And be ye kind to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32), etc. Sometimes I make them learn a particular scripture just so they can get a Biblical definition of something. (Q: What is “truth”? A: Thy word is truth. (John 17:17). Q: What is “death”? A: For as the body without the spirit is dead…(James 2:26) etc) Sometimes we learn verses regarding the plan of salvation, and sometimes we just learn verses that the Bible class teacher assigns. Sometimes the preacher quotes a scripture that I find rather profound, so I scribble it down in my Bible and when I get home I stick it in the “scripture box” for the kids to learn later. They’ve probably memorized more verses out of Proverbs than any other book. Once we started this whole process of memorizing scripture, I started requiring them to write down any familiar scripture that they heard the preacher use in a lesson, and then after the lesson was over they had to go and inform the preacher that they heard him use it, and then quote it to him. I cannot begin to emphasize how beneficial this has been to my children. They are more in tune with the lesson, and they know that if I hear the preacher say a verse that I know they know and they miss it, then I’ll know that they weren’t paying attention to the lesson! They get so excited when they hear the preacher quote (or even reference) a verse that they know! It’s my hope that this not only helps my children, but that it also encourages the preacher to know that they weren’t goofing off or coloring pictures during his sermon, but instead were paying close attention to the lesson that he worked hard to prepare.
Another thing that my children are fond of is a “game” where I ask them a question and they have to answer me with a scripture. And Sometimes we discuss various Biblical topics or even various religious ideas in our home where the scripture memorization has proved beneficial. For example, once I was explaining to my children that not everyone who claims to be a Christian believes that baptism is essential for salvation. Naturally my children began to object to this idea, so I told them, “Well, don’t give me your opinion, tell me where the Bible says that!” They went thru a mental list of their scriptures, and started spouting off Mark 16:16 and other scriptures that they know pertaining to baptism. This is where they start to learn to apply what they’ve memorized. Sometimes I will ask them, “What should I do if I need wisdom?” and they will answer, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). Sometimes I will ask them, “How many faiths are there?” and they will respond with Ephesians 4:4-6. I think this little exercise helps them to reason and to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11)
What would you say to other parents that are considering this challenge? I would tell them that in the process of trying to “train up” their children, they may just find that they are training their own minds as well! It’s as simple as one verse a week, and it requires nothing but a Bible, a pen, and some notecards. It’s well worth the effort!
Can you share some of the scriptures you have memorized? Or a list to help us get started?
The list of scriptures is as follows (in no particular order):
1 Corinthians 15:33,
Eccles. 12:13-14,
Eccles. 9:10,
Eccl. 12:1,
Isaiah 41:10,
Isaiah 59:1-2,
Isaiah 55:8-9,
Isaiah 40:31,
Galatians 5:22-23,
Galatians 6:9,
Galatians 3:27,
Mark 16:16,
Acts 10:34-35,
Acts 22:16,
Hebrews 13:5-6,
Hebrews 10:4,
1 John 5:3,
Hebrews 3:4,
1 John 4:15,
1 Timothy 4:12,
2 Timothy 2:15,
2 Timothy 1:7,
2 Timothy 3:16-17,
Romans 1:16,
Romans 6:23,
Romans 3:23,
James 4:17,
James 1:5,
James 1:19-20,
James 5:16,
John 11:35,
John 12:48,
John 3:16,
Matthew 22:37-39,
Matthew 7:12,
Matthew 6:33,
Joshua 24:15,
1 Samuel 12:24,
Psalm 119:11,
Proverbs 20:11,
Ephesians 4:32,
Ephesians 6:1-3,
Philippians 2:14,
John 17:17,
Genesis 1:1,
Psalm 119:97,
Psalm 19:14,
Psalm 121:1,
Psalm 1:1-3,
Psalm 139:23-24,
Psalm 23 (6 verses),
Psalm 100 (5 verses),
Psalm 19:1-3,
Ephesians 4:4-6,
Philippians 2:8,
Philippians 4:13,
Philippians 4:4,
Proverbs 15:1,
Proverbs 23:23,
Proverbs 16:25,
Proverbs 3:5-6,
Proverbs 1:7,
Proverbs 30:5-6,
Proverbs 27:1-2,
Proverbs 23:7,
Proverbs 8:27-28,
Proverbs 15:3,
Proverbs 28:26,
Romans 10:17,
Revelation 2:10,
1 Thess. 5:22
Are You a Diligent Teacher?
In Deuteronomy 5:1, Moses calls all of Israel before him to speak to them the statutes and judgments of God. He tells them to learn them, keep them and do them. These people took the covenant between themselves and God very seriously. It was important for the Israelites to keep God’s commandments because they were about to go and possess the land that was promised to them. The process of taking the land would require their faithfulness for many generations, so teaching the law to their children was of the utmost importance.
Deuteronomy 6:7 says that they were to teach the law diligently to their children and talk about it when in the house, when walking by the way, when lying down, and getting up. In other words – all the time. Teaching God’s laws to their children was to be a full-time job for Israelite parents.
We are no longer under the old law (Galatians 3:24-25). But the writings of the Old Testament were written for our learning and the importance of parental teaching found in Deuteronomy can surely apply to us today.
But for many of us, our days consist mostly of rushing to get our children to school and other activities on time, supervising homework, fixing meals, and running baths. There is precious little time left to talk to our children about God.
Maybe we can’t all set aside time for a hour-long family devotional every night, but there are small moments each day when we can share a portion of God’s word.
Today, we can teach our children while:
* sharing a quick bowl of cereal in the morning
* walking or driving them to school
* eating an occasional lunch with them at school
* driving to practices or meetings
* eating dinner together as a family
* giving baths
* spending a quiet moment together before bed
Each new day presents new opportunities to teach our children, and we have to be diligent and ready to seize those opportunities when they arise. As we enter into the fall season, let’s turn over a new leaf and make an effort to spend more time talking with our children about God’s word.
By Valerie Enoch
Originally printed in the Fall 2010 issue V3N4
A Vote For Public School
I’m 22 years old and have two younger sisters, 13 and 15, whom I have tried to be as involved with as possible while they are growing up and during the junior high/high school years. However, I have absolutely no children of my own. I feel the need to add this disclaimer so that you may take my thoughts with whatever size grain of salt that you like.
I am a big believer in the public schooling. I went through the public school system and have many wonderful friends who did as well. I think that the best way to learn how to “be in the world, but not of the world” is to be in the world. It offers youth an opportunity of “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). I think children and young adults need to be prepared to stand up for themselves before being thrust out into the world on their own.
However, I think that, without exception, every single Christian parent should home school their children. That’s not to say that I think the home is where they necessarily need to learn their alphabet, geometry, science, history, and so on (although those who choose to take on the challenge deserve great respect for what they are doing for their children). Rather, every child need to learn from their parents what it means to be a Christian.
I’m not naïve to the dangers of public school. As I mentioned, I went through one. For the child that is interested and even sometimes to the one that isn’t, you can find anything you want related to sex, drugs and rock and roll. But we don’t want to send the children into that unprepared. Sooner or later that’s a battle they will have to face.
By Lauren Bookout
Originally printed in the Fall 2009 issue
The Weakest Link
I can remember when I was just a little girl, the wonderful swing that hung on the huge wraparound porch of my Maw Maw’s house. I would swing, sing and play in it for what seemed like hours each time we visited. It made the most comforting sound as it swung, back and forth. As I swung, the cool breeze that blew gently across that big old porch was like none other. I remember sometimes just lying there and counting the links in the chains that supported the swing. Though I thought about it sometimes, I never really worried about the chain breaking. I was too busy swinging my dolls and listening to all the different birds singing around me.
As my mother and I arrived for one of our visits to Maw Maw’s, I ran to her to get my usual hug and kiss. I snooped to see what she had good to eat and then ran straight to the front porch to swing. I was so disappointed when I rounded the corner and found one end of the swing lying on the porch floor. As I walked closer I could see that a link in the chain on that side had broken and let go. Because of the weakness, the broken connection of just one link, the entire chain had stopped functioning as it should, causing every link around it to let go as well. Each link depended on the strength of those before and after it. I’m reminded of the old saying “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link”.
The strength of Christianity passing on from generation to generation can in many ways be compared to a chain. The lack of Christian example and Godly training of our children can result in an entire generation breaking its connection with God. If parents today would have a zeal for the scriptures and train their children to know and love God as taught in the Bible, the church would be stronger and fewer children today would be involved in drugs, sex and crimes and suicide. They would not always be trying to “find themselves”. Instead, they would know the value of life and that they were made in the image of the almighty God who created them. They would know their purpose in life and would pass that knowledge of God and His will on to their children, not breaking the connection of spiritual responsibility. A faithful father and mother has always been God’s plan for a family. The Christian training and influence of a father and mother is priceless.
However, for various reasons, some children have to be raised in a single parent home or by grandparents. Does this mean that one parent or grandparent cannot keep the strength of the Christian chain going for and though their children? Certainly not! It may take more effort, but it can and must be the focus of every parent and grandparent. God will help if we trust in Him and obey Him. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me.”
The world today would have us believe that family and having God as the center of our family is not important. As a result, children are abused and even murdered (in and out of the womb) every day. Children are treated as burdens and instead of blessings in many families. Somewhere along the line a link in the spiritual training of these families was broken, leaving no regard for the souls of their children or themselves.
I and II Timothy tell us of two women that were great examples of being a Christian mother and grandmother. These women (Lois and Eunice) loved God with all their hearts. They knew the importance of passing the saving knowledge of God’s will on to each generation.
Lois was the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of Eunice’s son Timothy. Three generations of faithful obedience. The Christian examples of these women and the evidence of Timothy’s faithful life because of their efforts in teaching him, show us as grandmothers and mothers, the importance of planting God’s word deep in the hearts of our children.
Acts 16:2 tells us that Timothy was well-spoken-of even before he went with Paul. This was no accident. Lois trained her daughter Eunice and they both trained Timothy well. What a great influence they were.
Acts 16:1 tells us Eunice was a Jewish woman and a believer. However, she was married to a Greek (most likely a non-believer). Yet, II Timothy 3:15 says she trained her son from his childhood in the knowledge of the scriptures. Her maternal influence was strong and she used it for God. What an example and how encouraging this is for us as grandmothers, mothers and those that are wives of unbelieving husbands. These faithful women kept the truthful, spiritual links in their children and look at the results it had through the life of Timothy. Not only was he a faithful Christian, but he was a great preacher.
Are we as mothers and grandmothers fulfilling our roles as Christian teachers to our children and grandchildren? Is our faith strong? Do we pray for our children and families daily? Are we practicing the scriptures God has supplied for us as in Deuteronomy 6:5-7? “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
To keep our families strong spiritually, we must each do our part in teaching our children and our children’s’ children the work of God. We must teach them God’s word morning, noon and night. A mother’s influence whether good (as in the example of Hannah in I Samuel chapters 1 and 2) or bad (as in the example of Rebekah in Genesis 27) is very powerful in the lives of her children!
Proverbs 22: 6 assures us that if we “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is not a promise that our children will be faithful Christians when they grow up. This scripture is telling us that if you teach them God’s word from their childhood, they will always know the truth. Therefore, if they were to ever fall away they would remember what you taught them and have a better chance of being restored because of the that training.
Let us examine the links of our spiritual chains. Are we doing everything we can to keep them strong? The strength and faith of each link and person is so important. Let us never be the “weakest link” that causes the loss of love, respect and obedience that God deserves from our children. May we not be the link that breaks the connection with God: robbing our children of the blessings He has waiting for them.
by Pam Savage
Homeschooling: Benefit or Disaster
So what’s all the fuss about homeschooling these days? Pros, cons, pluses, minuses; it’s all so confusing! There are so many different opinions out there, how is one to know what to believe? Well, I’m here to tell you the homeschooler’s side of the issue – as well as the teacher’s side of the issue. I can do this because I am a homeschooler – and a teacher. That is to say, I was homeschooled from 1st grade through 12th grade and am now a licensed elementary teacher.
In grade school, I was grateful to be homeschooled, mostly because of the flexibility. I didn’t have to get up early; I could do school in my pajamas; we could go on lots of field trips; and when we did errands, we could do them during school hours before most people were out. But as I grew older, I began to appreciate the reason that caused my parents to homeschool in the first place. Because of the nature of homeschooling, I was never afraid to go to school: afraid of bullies, afraid of guns, afraid of sexual situations. I rarely had to deal with negative peer pressure and was not faced with the moral issues that are so prevalent in high schools. Drugs, alcohol, sex, filthy language, partying, cheating, and evolution are all things that, gratefully, were not in my school. Instead of being concerned with figuring out how I could sneak out to a party, I was able to focus on figuring out my own opinions on moral, political and spiritual issues.
As a teacher, I can see many more reasons for homeschooling. The biggest reason is the one-to-one teacher-student ratio. It is a proven fact that students who are tutored do better in school. Harry K. Wong, a renowned educator, stated that “the average tutored student outperformed 98 percent of the students taught under a conventional form.” (Wong, The First Days of School, p. 243) A homeschooled student essentially is a tutored student. The personal attention the student gets repeatedly shows in the student’s attitude and grades.
Another plus for homeschooling is that you can pull in subjects in which the student is already interested. For example, if a boy is having trouble reading but loves racecars, books about racecars can be used to encourage him to read. If a student has a question about a lesson, you don’t have to wait until you “get to that lesson,” but can go and find the answer right away while the student is still interested. Homeschoolers also have time to pursue personal interests because it doesn’t take as long to cover the same amount of material. In a public classroom, much time is spent in behavior discipline, quietening the class, passing out papers, etc., most of which is unnecessary in a homeschool classroom. This extra time can be used to get ahead in studies or for personal interests.
It also makes sense to homeschool, because who of all people should want the student’s best interest more than the parents? This means that the parents can focus on providing the student with what he or she needs to succeed. The parents do not have to worry about what 30 different students need to succeed, nor are they distracted by the behavior problems of 30 students. I’ve heard it said that a mother would do anything for her child. This can be applied to homeschooling in that a classroom teacher with 30 students will give up on one student more easily than a parent would. Not to say that a classroom teacher is always at fault – with all a public school teacher is required to do, it is easy, if not inevitable, for one or two students out of 30 to slip through the cracks.
Parents also have the opportunity to instill in their children the moral and spiritual lessons that they would not receive in public schools. As Christians, we are commanded to train our children (Prov. 22:6). It makes it more difficult to train them if our children spend most of their day away from us.
People object to homeschooling for many different reasons. However, I believe most to be completely irrelevant and insulting. The biggest claim against homeschooling is the social issue: that homeschoolers have no interaction with peers in school and thus will never know how to interact with peers. This is ridiculous! Being homeschooled doesn’t mean you are cut off from the world! I cannot count the number of friends I had by the time I graduated high school, including peers, children, young couples, elderly couples and my parents. I actually had a much wider variety of friends than I believe most students have in a standard public school setting. I am as comfortable playing with little kids as I am visiting with an elderly couple at church or having a heart-to-heart with my mom or watching a movie with a college buddy. True, I didn’t get to see my friends every day in school, but the rareness of our time together made it all the more special. I will admit that there are some homeschooled students who have social issues. However, every single person I’ve known who had problems, had worse problems before they started homeschooling; homeschooling actually helped their social problems.
Some also object to homeschooling on claims that the parents may not be licensed teachers or that they may miss teaching something important. You don’t have to have a college degree to teach someone to love to learn. It’s the attitude that is important and many public school teachers are majorly missing this point. Many focus on teaching to the test and covering the material rather than instilling the students with a love of learning. As to leaving something out? There are plenty of sources that parents can use as guides to ensure that the student covers the necessary materials. There is no reason why a homeschooler can’t cover the exact same material as a public school if desired. Most cover much more than public schools.
In closing, I will be eternally grateful to my parents for choosing to homeschool me. I plan to homeschool my children. Do I plan to continue working in the public school systems? Yes. There are children out there who need good teachers. Do I condemn others who attended or send their children to public schools? No. I realize that homeschooling takes dedication, patience and sacrifice and is not an option for some people. And for some parents, homeschooling would result in disaster. But if the parents are willing to take on the challenge, their children can have an excellent experience in school: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
by Beth Kee
Originally printed in the Fall 2009 issue
Resources For Christian Parents
As Christian parents, we must teach and defend the truth of the Bible constantly with our children. Satan is hard at work in the world and in the schools to try to discount God through our children’s text books. Listed below are a few resources that might prove helpful for Christian parents striving to uphold their charge to teach their children the truth.
* www.apologeticspress.org – Apologetics Press has published materials for over 20 years that support the Christian Faith.
* www.icr.org – Institute for Creation Research’s mission is to “equip believers with evidence of the Bible’s accuracy and authority through scientific research, education programs, and media presentations, all conducted within in a thoroughly biblical framework.
* www.discoverymagazine.com – With a 1 year subscription ranging from $8—$12, this magazine makes the perfect gift for children of all ages. Discovery Magazine for Kids is ublished by Apologetics Press and is a “colorful monthly magazine on Scripture and science for kids”. This magazine is targeted to children between 2nd – 6th grade (ages 8 – 12).
* Digger Doug’s Underground - Digger Doug’s Underground “is a children’s program based on the characters from the Discovery Magazine for Kids” published by Apologetics Press. Your child can “explore basic Bible teachings about God, His Word, and His amazing creation” along with Digger Doug and his friends. DVD’s can be purchased at www.apologeticspress.org
* Reason and Revelation – Reason and Revelation is a magazine for adults that includes articles on Biblical inspiration, God’s existence, creation/evolution, the deity of Christ, an many other topics.” Subscribe to this publication by visiting www.apologeticspress.org/reasonrevelation.
* The Reality of God by Gus Nichols— This is an article originally published in Words of Truth on 8/25/1975. A reprint of the article can be found at Apologetics Press.
* Christianity – A Clear Case of History by Edward C Wharton – Discusses historical evidences of Jesus Christ using the inspired Word as well as testimonies of ancient historians such as Tacitus, Seutonius, and Josephus.
Contributed by Sandy Utley
Originally printed in the Fall 2009 issue