HOME December 08-January 09

As I sit down to write this it is snowing.  Snow is one of those things that despite the coldness and grayness that it brings, it possesses a certain beauty that speaks to the soul.  It speaks of purity and of the hope that comes with Spring.  Sally Clarkson has written about the Seasons of a Mother’s Heart* and in it she speaks of winter being a season of reflection.  A time to ponder and rest in the hands of God.  It is during winter that we gain patience as we wait on the Lord.

It is rare in our modern world to sit and wait, to cease striving. But that is exactly what God wants us to do when we are brought to a season of winter in our lives. Those times when everything seems dead and despair lurks in every corner of our mind.  My natural response is to muster up all my human strength and try to fix whatever it is that I see is wrong – but God has another way and it involves relying on Him for the light that leads to life. (Read Isaiah 50:10-11 it is quite sobering.)

Yet, God does lead us out of winter to the hope of Spring. A season of renewal, a time of new beginnings. Our response should be one of joy but sometimes we hold on to winter. Joy is a choice and a mindset where we acknowledge God’s presence and His work in our lives.  One of the things that God does during the season of Spring is to change our will and align it with His. He is cultivating a heart that is dedicated to Him (Romans 12:1-2). Spring is full of beauty and delight.

Then comes Summer, a season of response, a time for building foundations and working for God’s glory.  Are we building our homes on solid, secure foundations (Proverbs 14:1)?  Are we sowing seeds of righteousness (Colossians 1:28)?  During this season, we are building Godly character into our children and modeling His character to them.  This is the time for us to strengthen our knowledge of and love for the Lord, teaching our children to really engage with the Word.

Fall is a season of resolve, a time to adjust our expectations.  We need to resolve to accept and adjust to the changes that transitions bring.  We also need to live free from guilt over our own limitations and give grace to our children for theirs (Romans 8:1-2).  We can mature in Christ, but who we are is not going to change. 

We are all in different seasons of our lives. Which season do you find yourself in?  Sometimes when you are in the winter season, it is difficult to be around those in Spring or even Summer, but God in His wisdom frequently places people in different seasons together, so that we can share the hope God has given us and be a help to one another.

I am hoping and praying that the HOME group can be a place where you can feel confident in the season God has you in (Phil 4:11-13). Sally’s book is designed to be a group study.  If you would be interested in delving into this topic more by joining a study group, please let me know.

Carolyn Martin, President of H.O.M.E.

 Philippians 4:11-13  Not that I speak in regard to need,  for I have learned in whatever state   I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be    hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 * Most of this article is a synopsis of her book and the conference of the same title.

HOME November 2008

It is the beginning of November and just around the corner is Thanksgiving.  A day that was given to us in order to remember the great and mighty miracles that allowed this country to be born and to prosper.  I pray that my family and yours will continue to acknowledge God’s providence, not only in the affairs of our country and the world, but in our families as well.

     Here are the words that George Washington penned over 200 years ago declaring the first national Thanksgiving Day.  May it inspire you to continue on the path of educating your children in such a way that will honor our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 George Washington’s General Thanksgiving Address, October 3, 1789

     WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

     NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

     And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

__________________________

May God richly bless you and your   family this Thanksgiving!

Carolyn Martin, President of H.O.M.E.

HOME October 2008

The other day I found my son resistant to practicing his piano lesson. He’s just starting out so I thought maybe the drills were getting a little boring, but I pressed in to see what was causing his apathy. Now, if you knew my son, then you’d know that in itself is not an easy task.  Expressing his emotions in words is not something that happens without a lot of turmoil.  No matter how many words I try to give him, the conversation can quickly become exasperating. So, knowing that this could be a time consuming process, I settled in to listen, not only with my ears, but with my eyes and my heart.

When, at last, I got to the heart of the matter he said he was embarrassed.  You see, his next lesson was going to be a group lesson where he would have to play in front of strangers.  Notice that he said he “was” embarrassed – in his mind, the dreaded thing had already happened. The Lord helped me to show him that he was worrying about the future and it was keeping him from doing what he needed to do now. I took him to the verse in Matthew 6:34 where Jesus reminds us not to worry but to seek His kingdom.  We made a deal that he would practice his piano and not think about the next week or the next day; and when that day gets here we could talk about whether or not he wanted to play in the group.  When the day came, I didn’t make a big deal of it, I just let him know it was choice and he would have to talk to his instructor about it. I found out afterwards that he was fine with it and actually had fun!

The thing is, I am a worry wart.  I worry about whether they will ever understand fractions, will they get fired from their first job because they sure aren’t very diligent with their chores, have I ruined them for life, how much worse can our culture get, is there something I should be doing that I’m not– just to name a few.  Now, just so you don’t have the wrong idea, I don’t sit around thinking about this stuff all the time – but it does cross my mind and I don’t always lay it aside or let “tomorrow…worry about itself.” It is not always as easy as laying it aside and trusting that the Lord will take care of it. There are things that He has assigned for me to do today. But, I do need to check myself often. Am I living in the here-and-now or always looking to tomorrow?  Am I doing what I can do, today, to point them towards the Lord despite what might come tomorrow (or should I say to prepare them for what might come tomorrow)?  My son still has to practice his piano and I still need to seek His kingdom daily and align my priorities to His. 

How are you doing?  If you find yourself worrying about tomorrow, don’t forget that it is busy worrying about itself and we don’t need to be burdened with doing that!

Carolyn Martin,  President of H.O.M.E.

  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will  worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

I've been negligent in keeping this blog up.  I hope to remedy that now.

 September 2008 HOME Front Page Article

Watching the Olympic athletes compete is always exciting and exhilarating.  They have trained so hard and quite often faced great difficulties.  Certainly, they and their families have sacrificed much to be there.  Their goals are worthy goals, but the Bible says there is an even greater goal, an eternal goal.  Reaching our goal involves much training, the kind that keeps us on our knees and in the Word, and requires great sacrifice.  Christ is our trainer. Our hearts and our children’s hearts are His training ground.

Do you ever wonder what those Olympians do when they have a bad day?  Well, they wouldn’t be Olympians if they just quit.  I think they surround themselves with people who will encourage them and who share their same goals.  While watching the   swimmers and the gymnasts compete, I noticed that the energy they displayed when they were on a team was exponentially more than when they were competing alone. In fact, it seemed they spurred each other on to do better than they ever thought possible. 

At H.O.M.E., we hope and pray that we can be the kind of support and encouragement  to each other that spurs one another on to fight the good fight and run the good race!  Please know that you are not alone as you and your family run the race to receive the crown that will last forever. 

Carolyn Martin,President of H.O.M.E.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

 1 Corinthians 9:24-25                               

Hosted by H . O . M . E .  (Helping Our Members Educate)

a Christian Homeschool Support Group, established in 1996

at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel

4285 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918

(near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Blvd.)

9:30 am                     Introductory Meeting for New Homeschoolers or those curious about

to 11:30 am              homeschooling.  Begins with a 25-minute DVD from HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association).  Followed by an hour and half-long question and answer session fielded by a veteran panel of homeschool parents.

Lunch Break            On your own

1:00 pm                     Representatives from area enrichment activities will be available to answer

to 3:30 pm                your questions. Includes area co-ops, classes and lessons for homeschoolers

by homeschoolers.

Area Support Groups will be represented so that

you can find just the right group to bless your family!

Please join us for all of the day, or the parts that interest you.

Your children are welcome to attend with you in the afternoon.

Leave a comment with your email for information.

The Corinthians struggled with the secular nature of their environment and how to implement their faith and practices in such a hedonistic society.  Paul writes two epistles to them to help them focus on the proper things and to learn how to be “in this world, but not of it.” (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15)

Although homeschooling has grown and become tolerated in some sectors of our society, it is clearly a denial of the established patterns of our society in that we do not rely upon the “experts” to guide us; instead we rely upon THE expert, our Lord and Savior.

Standing firm in the face of disapproving relatives, friends, acquaintances and society in general is difficult.  Sometimes we face disapproval from other homeschool families when we aren’t doing things like they are or as they deem appropriate.  We all want to be liked and enjoy stress-less relationships, but that’s difficult when something as big as our worldview and how to raise our children for Christ comes between us and others.  It definitely is an opportunity for us to grow in prayer (Mark 4:26-20) for them and for our families and ourselves.

It takes courage to step out of the familiar and take tremulous steps down a new pathway whose ending we can’t quite see or guarantee.  In faithful obedience, we begin this journey of homeschooling because of the proclamations of our Lord, trusting in Him (Proverbs 3:5-7).  Courage is hard to find at times because of the difficulties assaulting us and the many stress-filled situations we find ourselves dealing with.  Our resolve can be tested and we grow weary in well-doing.  (2 Thessalonians 3:13)  But as we turn to the Word, we find hope and inspiration that God uses weak sinful people to accomplish His purposes.  You can begin anew each morning (2 Corinthians 4:16) with His promise of forgiveness and hope.  (Ephesians 2:4)

Strength isn’t always about being mighty and able to physically subdue others.  It comes from an inner resolve to do what we know is right no matter the circumstances.  As others speak to you and cast doubt upon your decisions about your children and your choice to home educate them, it can sometimes seep into our confidence and cause our resolve to falter.  Sometimes we are plagued with those same doubts pestering us.  We need to speak clearly as Jesus did when He said, “Get behind Me, Satan!”  (Matthew 16:23)   Jesus was banishing Satan from interfering with His purpose on earth, whether Satan came in a direct attack or by way of those close to us.  Our strength cometh from the Lord (Psalm 19:14; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 37:39, Psalm 118:14; Habakkuk 3:19.)

Accomplishing all the above with Christian love and charity can be a hard task when we, as our old Adam nature constantly reminds us (Romans 6:6), want to avoid the situation or not confront it as it is too time intensive to invest in trying to come to a Biblical understanding of the issues.  But God calls us to fellowship with each other (Hebrews 10:25, 1 John 1:3) and so we need to make certain that we are handling those issues as we should with our fellow Christians.

All this takes times and thoughtful consideration and prayer.  Soon, however, with the help of the Holy Spirit, it becomes part of how we interact with others naturally.  Of course we are subject to failure due to our own sinful nature poking through enough times to keep us humble and reliant upon the Lord for our wisdom, strength, courage, and faith.

My prayer is that you will always turn to Him for all your needs, in repentance and thanksgiving.

Peace be with you!

Paula Anderson, President of HOME

I Corinthians 16:13-14

Homeschool moms' time is at a premium since we juggle so many vocations all at the same time!  Wife, mother, daughter, sister (perhaps), teacher to our children, friend, and others!  For me that means that I need to consolidate my efforts often.

I LOVE The Old Schoolhouse Magazine because it's many things all in one.  It provides encouragement, information, support, resources, continuing teacher education, laughs, and a dose of reality, all from "regular" homeschool moms just like we are.

TOS is providing leaders with an incentive to share information with their groups via their electronic means of communication.  This incentive is in the form of some gifts along with the opportunity to win a laptop!  Wouldn't that be fun!? I shared this information with you because I wanted to be completely up front about this.  However, even if they weren't providing those marvelous incentives, I would share their offer with you because I just flat out believe that TOS is the best homeschooling magazine available today and we recommend it to other homeschool families often.

I have appreciated TOS's generosity in sharing with the homeschooling community in various ways.  Let me share with you how they've blessed people I'm involved with. 

I coordinate the CHEC High School Seminars and have requested magazines from TOS to share with the attendees.  TOS has generously shared -- completely free to us! -- their high school edition, published in Fall 2006. 

In my capacity as Support Group Leader Liaison with my husband, Mike, for CHEC, we've also shared with leaders near and far the helpful special learning needs edition, again provided free from TOS, published in Summer 2007.

These resources have blessed countless homeschool families throughout Colorado!

Please consider TOS's subscription offer below.

This link will show you the pictures of your free gifts plus give you all the details - it's over $500 worth of FREE curriculum items for you when you subscribe. The magazine sold out two months early last promo. Last year you had to buy a two year sub to get the gifts - this year you pay less - just a one year sub gets you IN. Hurry if you want to claim your stuff! They started out with 3000 packages and more than 1/3 sold out already.

What are you waiting for?  Head on over and get your subscription today!

My time as the leader of HOME is drawing to a close. I have been grateful for the guidance the Lord has provided through various ladies in leadership. Their caring, giving spirits have been Christ-focused, and their counsel discerning and wise. I trust in their continued faithfulness to this group and its members under the helm of Carolyn Martin. I pray that you will give them the opportunity to establish their own way without comparisons to the past. This is the leadership that God has provided for this time, and I pray you will be grateful for their sacrificial service to HOME and its members.  Colossians 3:15 ~ Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Linda Kracht has served HOME in various capacities throughout the years.  She has been the Field Trip coordinator, Veterans Day coordinator, Talent Show coordinator, and HartS coordinator, among other fields of service.  She has also served as Vice-President these last three years.  Her energy and positive attitude are contagious and inspiring to others.  Linda is retiring from leadership, but will still serve as the HartS coordinator.  I hope you will take the time to let Linda know how you’ve appreciated the many ways she has served HOME and its members throughout the years.

My thanks to those who have taken the time to express their hopes and prayers and appreciation to me and the other leaders.  Since we live in the temporal world, we have need of encouragement and I thank you for it!

Each of the leaders has families who give also, so that they can serve you through HOME.  Mine is no different, and I am indebted to them for their support which has enabled me to serve HOME.

To God Be the Glory – Great Things He Hath Done – He so loved the world that He gave us His Son!

Paula Anderson

Philippians 1:3-7 ~ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved

Barbara Frank has a wonderful post about a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill who is using his position to spout his position about life.

We are all God's creation, even those with Down's Syndrome.  That professor's opinion is heinous!

Joseph Farah, who writes for World Net Daily, has an article out that I believe is worth your time to read.  It's about the sad state of affairs in Britain and America where real historical people are mistaken for fictional characters, and where fictional characters are mistaken for historical figures.

God, our Father, loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our stead to give us eternal life.  As Christians we are familiar with many facets of love, all expressing themselves in a myriad of ways — each helping to reflect the love of Christ.

Familial love is a facet of love that develops when families experience daily life together.  That richness of time that homeschool familes are blessed to spend with each other helps to develop the deep and abiding love within our families.

The great commandment of Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves is a  facet of love that develops when families come together as support groups, growing and encouraging each other along the way.

Servant leadership is another expression of love that we see in those who volunteer for various responsibilities within our support group.

There are areas within our support group where we are in need of servant-minded volunteers.  These areas are:  Talent-Show Coordinator,  Promotion Day Coordinator, Yearbook Coordinator, and Field Trip Coordinator.  If you are led by the Holy Spirit to contribute your time and talents to these areas, please contact Paula.  A general description of the positions is available if that will help you as you pray about whether this is an area of service that you can assume.

All volunteers for HOME must be able to agree with and embrace our Statement of Faith and complete a volunteer application.

May God bless each of your homeschool efforts with His abundant and sufficient grace and love!  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paula Anderson, President of HOME

1 John 3:1a and 11  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!   For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another…

Copyright January 2008, all rights reserved by Paula Anderson

A few sections of this article really piqued our interest.

Such as these two lines:

"Responsible for "getting the law to favor parental rights?"

Since when did the Constitution not favor parental rights?"

Good reading for those who just don't understand why we must remain vigilant in protecting our rights to homeschool and our rights as parents.

As they say at Independence Institute, beware, the legislature is in session!

For information about homeschool issues and parental issues being addressed in the current legislative session please visit Treon's blog.

Helping Other Parents Educate (HOPE) Workshops

By encouraging one another along the way…

The end of January and beginning of February is a traditional time of discouragement for homeschool families. 

HOME has gathered some incredible local speakers to encourage and uplift Christian homeschool families on Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 9 am—3 pm. The HOPE Workshops will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2215 N. Wahsatch Ave, Colorado Springs

There will be three tracks.

Especially for Dads Track

Encouragement for Homeschooling Dads with Kevin Swanson

Men Leading in the Home and Leading in the Movement with Mike Cheney

Transition or Commission with Bill Roach

Communicating between Generations with Keith Dorscht

Homeschool Parents Track

Automaticity, Learning Foundations for Success with Bridget Mosley and Peggy Wilbur

An Introduction to Lapbooking and Notebooking with Amy Brown

The History of Homeschooling in Colorado with Treon Goossen

High School Track

Real Life Civics with Sarah Anderson

Christian Ethics in the Business World with Gary Holden

High School Formula, a Record Keeping System for High School with Lesli Selk

Panel of Graduates answers your questions

Treon Goossen will end the workshops with a talk on Current Colorado Legislative Issues.

There is a $10 family registration fee when you register by January 21st ($20 after Jan. 21st).  Lunch will not be provided. Feel free to bring your lunch and eat during the lunch-time Q & A focusing on beginning homeschooling and testing/evaluation options.

We encourage teenagers to attend, but unfortunately cannot provide child care for younger children.  Nursing children less than one year of age would be allowed.

Volunteers needed! Please contact Tina at hickmans(at)comcast{dot}net if you can help!

 Please Copy and paste the following registration form, or email Paula at HOMEinColoSpgs(at)hotmail{dot}com to obtain a PDF form of the registration or a brochure to share with others.

Anyone taking a cursory glance at my day-timer this past month would have seen a wild riot of colors and activities and probably would have surmised that by now, at month’s end, I am running near empty.  And that assumption would be correct.

At times like these, when things slow again, I do my usual reassessment of how to manage my time.  I hope you won’t mind me sharing with you some of my thoughts on that.

Luke 10:41-42 is a vivid reminder that as we fill our days, and day-timers with activities, there is only “one thing needed.”  Focusing on the Lord by daily drinking in His Word, praying, and seeking His forgiveness are the first items I should be penciling in.  These are things that keep me on track with the other responsibilities I have and give me the fuel to carry through my days with His grace.  Matthew 14:23 emphasizes setting aside regular time to be with God as Jesus did.  That sounds like great advice!

Our every need has been supplied by our Loving Father as Philippians 4:19 points out.  There can be a lot of energy spent on seeing to the needs of our families.  What joy it is to have someone to exhort you to remember that God has already done that.  (Matthew 10:27-31, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 31:15.)  I love my vocation as wife and mother and serving my family in His name.  My prayer each morning is that I am a loving example of a redeemed sinner who, with the help of the Holy Spirit, relies upon God for her every need.

The Lord fills me up with His peace (Colossians 1:19-23, 2 Thessalonians 3:16), His love (John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:2) His mercy (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 118:1) and His forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7-10, Colossians 1:13-14) so that I can tackle whatever He has placed before me.  Does that mean my calendar will have more white space next month?  Not necessarily.  But it does mean that as I go about doing those things, He is always with me (Matthew 28:20).

Paula Anderson, President of H.O.M.E.

Psalm 18:1-2

Copyright October 2007, all rights reserved

The Fraser Institute in Canada has just released a study indicating that homeschooling works, especially for those who are taught by parents who have not received post-high school education. 

The study found that "Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools."

Another quote from the news release about the study:

"Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child’s ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.
 
“The research shows that the level of education of a child’s parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child’s academic achievement than it does in public schools.”

The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home."

Just thought you'd want to know and perhaps share the news release with those doubting Thomases that sometimes crop up around you as you journey down the path of parent directed education for your child(ren).

There's an intriguining new movie coming out about scientists who question Darwinism and the severe consequences they pay for thinking that way.

From Rob Shearer, of Greenleaf Press, you can view a short clip about the movie here.

The movie website reveals a subtitle, "No intelligence allowed."  What delicious irony that statement is!

Not only does "Ben blow the horn on SUPPRESSION" he has an area where students and leaders can sign-up to become part of a process to help eliminate this suppression from campuses and return universities to the thinking environments they once were. 

Ben Stein's blog entry from August 21 explains his thoughts in bringing a movie like this to the general public.  Reading through several of the comments you can see that those who oppose this movie use not logic, or evidence to support their claims, they simply are interested in slamming down freedom of thought and especially anything that relates to an Intelligent Creator!

I'm looking forward to the February 2008 movie release.

Paula