Posted in Books

I have recently finished reading The Second Mayflower.  What a powerful book.  This is a book that has the potential to shift paradigms and inspire change in the hearts and lives of readers.  In the times in which we live, it is so easy to become fearful.  As we look around us at such matters as rising food and oil prices, the moral decline of our culture, the rights of Christians being taken away on every front, and the uncertain outcome of the upcoming presidential election, it is tempting to become pessimistic about the future.  However, as Kevin Swanson, the author of this excellent books reminds us, God is in control and His Kingdom will ultimately prevail.

In his book, Mr. Swanson puts forth a vision of victory for Christ's people and Kingdom which is inspiring and solidly Scriptural.  After briefly cataloging the facts about the sad state of our current culture, he harkens back to the time of the Puritans and Seperatists, recalling the vision of the first Mayflower and what the Pilgrims fathers set out to accomplish as they settled in the New World.  He then goes on to cast a vision for what he calls a Second Mayflower, a movement in which Christians will act as salt and light in changing the culture for the Kingdom of Christ.

"The Second Mayflower starts today where the first Mayflower started--in the hearts of those who envision something better than this world.  It starts with those who cannot live with the status quo, nor can they live without a dream for something better.  It starts with those who can see where they are and have set a vision for that 'something better' by the standards of God's transcendent law."

"Those who play the part of the Pilgrims and Puritans will see the stark contrast between what is and what ought to be.  If the First Mayflower gives birth to the second, some part of the vision will be discernable from the original founding of this nation.  But not all of it.  Indeed, the vision to which we chart our voyage cannot be a replay of the First Mayflower either geographically or idealogically.  We do not face the identical problems nor do we share the same geo-political and social situation as the early founders of this nation.... Times have changed, but the ultimate standard of truth and ethics has not changed.  That standard is the law of God.  According to Proverbs 29:18, our vision comes by the law of God.  And that vision is clarified only as we come to understand God's truth and walk in it."

This vision is for our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.  We are laying the foundation; they are the ones who will someday see the fruits of our labor of today.  And the foundation starts with the education of our children.

"Our children's education must begin with a heart attitude of fear towards God....  For the Chrisitan, the process of education must be centered around fear of God, faith in God, love for God, and the character that flows out from these things.  If God is reality and He has created man for relationship with Himself, education will be far more focused on discipleship rooted in relationships than in learning the bare facts about geography, geology, and geometry."

The foundation continues in a proper understanding and appreciation for the specific God-designed roles of men and women.  It grows in the strength of the family as the basic building block of society.  The covenental unity of family-life and the proper function of each member within the home is essential to the vision of the Second Mayflower.

Kevin Swanson's vision is encouraging and inspiring.  It is purposeful and powerful.  It is a vision for the future triumph of Christ's Kingdom through the commitment of His people to follow His Word in their own lives.

"Without reformation of heart and life, there will be no Chrisitan community; there will be no 'city on a hill'.  Spiritual maturity will come by way of the powerful, convicting preaching of God's Word in the church (2 Tim. 4:2), the daily study of God's Word in the home (as individuals and families), and, of course, in the application of it in our lives.  It comes by faith in Christ's salvation and passionate love for Christ and His kingdom."

"In truth, [the Second Mayflower] is nothing more than living life the way God designed to be lived in family and church.  It is simply returning to the sufficiency and life relevance of God's Word, and incarnating it into real life and real relationships....  It is a life of victorious Christan living!  It is a life of blessing."

The Second Mayflower is a book many Christians will read and find fresh hope in.  It's message is timely and necessary.  It is a clarion call we cannot afford to ignore.

Posted in Books

I am a person who likes books.  Reading has been one of my favorite pastimes since childhood.  I simply love to read.  I like to learn new things and be informed in areas of interest.  So I read--a lot.  For the last two years, I have kept a record of the books I have read.  I didn't realized how much I read until I started writing down in a journal each time I finished a book.  I like looking back at the list of books I have read; it is valuable to be able to keep track of the sorts of reading I am doing.  It helps me choose which direction I want my reading to continue in and which books I should choose in the future.  Of course, I also keep a running list of books I want to read--I'll let you guess which list is longer.

My husband has assured me that posting 2007's book list would be interesting to some.  So, per his suggestion, here it is.  I warn you, it is rather long.  And I completely understand if you choose to skip over it--I'll just blame my husband for having the idea.  I probably wouldn't read the entire list of 52 books someone else read in a year, either (then again, maybe I would; it might give me some good ideas for books I would want to read).

Books Read in 2007

Let Us Highly Resove by David and Shirley Quine*
Ever After by Karen Kingsbury
Beloved Bride by Bill Potter*
100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy
SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken
Family Unplanning by Craig Houghton
Home Educated and Now Adults by Brian Ray
Family-Integrated Church by J. Mark Fox
Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch
Forever by Karen Kingsbury
Uniting Church and Home by Eric Wallace*
Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman*
Is Jesus Coming Soon? by Gary Demar
Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God? by Keith A. Mathison
Last Days Madness by Gary Demar*
Homeschool Heroes by Christopher Klicka*
A Heart Promptly Offered by David Hall
A Merry Heart by Wanda Brunstetter
Homeschooling for Eternity by Skeet Savage*
A Critique of Modern Youth Ministry by Christopher Schlect*
Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul*
Looking for a Miracle by Wanda Brunstetter
The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elizabeth Elliot*
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey*
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell
Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury
A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick
A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury
Family Worship by Kerry Ptacek
Educating Your Gifted Child by Vicki Caruana
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper*
Courting Trouble by Deanna Gist
Handbook of Denominations by Frank S. Mead & Samuel S. Hill
"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman
The Mom Walk by Sally Clarkson*
Summer by Karen Kingsbury
Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper*
Family-Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham*
The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer
Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally
Shop, Save, and Share by Ellie Kay
To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Passionate Houswives: Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald*
What is a Family? by Edith Schaeffer*
Cowboy Christmas by Catherine Palmer
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible by Jay E. Adams
The Spontaneous Spread of Home-Discipleship Christianity by Henry Reyenga, Jr.
A Church in the House by Matthew Henry*
Winsome Womanhood by Margaret Elizabeth Sangster
Escape From Reason by Francis Schaeffer
We Would See Jesus by Roy Hession*

If you read through the entire list above, you must love books as much as I do!  Please be aware that I do not necessarily endorse all of the books on the list.  Some are better than others.  The use of discernment is essential in choosing reading material.  I have marked with an astrisk (*) those books I would especially recommend.

Happy reading!

Posted in Books

I like books.  A lot.  Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an understatement.  I suppose it could be said that I am a fanatical booklover.  I love the feel of a book in my hand.  I love the smell of books.  One of my favorite outings is a visit to a bookstore.  There is just something wonderful about being completely surrounded by books.  I take my children to the library at least once a week.  Just last week, we dragged home from our town’s little library a bag laden with almost a dozen books.  Yes, I definitely like books.  

I have an ongoing problem directly related to this obsession.  You see, I never seem to have enough places to put all the books I own.  God, in His kindness and providence, saw fit to make me the wife of a cabinetmaker.  Handy, isn’t it?  Whenever I get really desperate for shelf space, I just say, “Honey, could you please build me another bookshelf?”  And my very talented and generous husband whips one right up.  In fact, he just installed a brand new bookshelf in our schoolroom over the weekend.  I spent most of Saturday afternoon, as well as some of today, reorganizing my many volumes and placing them on my (at present) three floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.  The trouble is, now every shelf is full, including the newly-installed set.  (Hmm, I think I’m running out of walls to place bookshelves on…)  Of course, I could never simply stop buying books—what fun would that be?  I’ll just have to keep my husband busy in his shop on the weekends....

Posted in Books

I would have guessed fanatical, although the Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm thing seems to ring a bell.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Non-Reader
Fad Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Posted in Books

I have recently finished reading the book So Much More by Anna Sophia Botkin and Elizabeth Botkin.  Here's what the Vision Forum website has to say about this book:

"This book is not another Christian-teenage-girl “survival guide.” So Much More shows how Christian girls can wage war with the world and win. The Botkin sisters focus on how young women can rise above their God-hating culture and change it for the better."

This is the kind of book I wish I had read when I was a young woman.  It would have reinforced many of the beliefs I held dear, but at times felt very alone in expressing.  Though written for girls in their late teens and early twenties, I believe every Christian woman can benefit from reading this book.  The message of the book is incredibly powerful, and the Botkin sisters do an excellent job putting forth a Biblical view of many topics relevant to Christian young women, such as the question of college, dating vs. courtship, the authority of the father in the home, and how feminism has affected Christianity.  They are not afraid to tackle tough subjects, and do so in an extremely clear and well-written way.

It is obvious from their writing that these young ladies have been trained to think from a Biblical worldview.  Much care, time, and research was done on their part to present each topic in the book in a well-thought-out, Biblically-minded way.  As a mother of two daughters, I found this book very helpful in cementing certain convictions I have in regards to my girls and what I want for them as they grow up.

A well-expressed book with a powerful message, So Much More has the potential to change hearts and lives, and even our culture, for the glory of God.

Posted in Books

A few months ago, I bought the book Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn.  Though I love Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, I was curious about the classical approach, so I purchased the book with the intention of becoming more informed about classical education.  What I didn't expect was that the method the Bluedorns have laid out in their book is very close to what I am already doing in my own homeschool.  (I also didn't expect that it would take me two months to read the book.)  Though the first half of the book is quite philosophical, it is worth the time and thought it takes to digest the ideas and information they offer.  The second half of the book is the practical side of their philosophy--the "how-to" part.

In the first part of Teaching the Trivium, the Bluedorns explain the origins and history of classical education and how today's Christian homeschooling parent can benefit from using this method.  They also include some excellent arguments for homeschooling in general as being God's design for the education of children.  They describe various aspects of the trivium model and how these apply to child development, as well as explaining the importance of teaching the classical languages and other hallmarks of classical education.  I came away from this particular section of the book with a thorough understanding of Christian classical education.  I also saw clear parallels between this type of education and Charlotte Mason's ideals.  I realized that Ms. Mason was actually advocating a very similar modified classical-type method.  The Bluedorns themselves point out these similarities.  I especially appreciated these similarities  because when something works, it works, no matter what name it goes under.

The second half of the book is a detailed description of how to actually implement the Bluedorn's philosophy.  They cover each stage of child development, giving suggestions on appropriate areas of study.  (This is where the similarities with CM really show.)  Near the end of this section, they discuss their feelings about college and preparing children for life after homeschool.  I so appreciated what they had to say in this regard.  I have long wondered why college was deemed such a "necessity" by so many Christians.  This chapter alone is worth the price of the entire book.

The book also includes a very helpful and extensive appendix with plenty of resources for anyone interested in finding out more about classical education or implementing it in their own homeschool.

In my opinion, this book is a must-read for any homeschooling parent.  If anything, it will convince you that you are doing the right thing and that the goal is more than worth the effort.

Posted in Books

Anyone who has ever been in my house knows I like books.  Okay, I really like books a lot.  My friends would probably say that I am obsessive about books.  Perhaps I am a bit of a bookaholic, but there are certainly worse things to be, aren't there?

In my home, I have a room we call our schoolroom.  It's really more like a library.  (To see pictures of our schoolroom, go here.)  I am blessed to be married to a man who builds cabinets for a living, so I have floor-to-ceiling bookcases on two walls.  It's not enough.  My nightstand drawers are literally full of books.  The top of my nightstand is also stacked with books.  I have a nice comfy rocking chair in my bedroom with a small table beside it.  This table is piled high with books.  I have three bathrooms in my house--every one of them has at least one book in it.  One of the books I am currently reading can usually be found in the living room or kitchen.  We just finished building a sunroom off the back of our house--it already has a couple of books in it.  I even have a couple of books in my car!

So, you are probably asking, "If she has all these books, does she keep buying more?"  The answer is a sheepish "Yes".  I can't seem to help myself.  We make weekly trips to the library, but there nothing like owning your own copy of a book.  Of course, most of the books I buy are for my children's school reading, but I also like to treat myself to a good read fairly regularly.  Hey, I figure it makes me a better teacher because I have a sharper mind (I have to justify it somehow  ).  There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing the UPS man come to my door with a box from Amazon (or Books on the Path, or CBD, or Vision Forum).  Not only do I like to buy books, I have even converted my husband into a book lover.

All of this book mania has created a bit of a problem.  You see, I now have so many books, I don't even know all the books I have.  This realization led me to the decision to make organizing my home library one of my summer projects.  To be honest, I'm a bit scared.  It may take me much longer than the summer to finish this monumental task.  But I figure it's now or never.  I am sure I will be glad I did it when it is all organized and categorized and easy to find.  At least I hope so.

Anyway, that's my big plan for all the "free time" I will have this summer (after the regular care of a household of six and a "light" school schedule).  So, what do you think?  Do I have too many books?

Posted in Books

     Many are aware of the recent controversy surrounding Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code.  That controversy has been renewed in response to the upcoming release of the Hollywood film based on the book.  The book, filled with erroneous claims about the deity of Christ and His relationship with Mary Magdalene, have many Christians concerned about the impact the book (and film) will have on its readers (or viewers).

     In an effort to reach people with the real truth about Jesus, several books have been written to refute the false claims in Dan Brown’s novel.  These books are important, helpful, and a necessary way to help people understand what the Bible says about Christ.

      However, Karen Kingsbury, who has long been a favorite fiction author of mine, has taken a unique approach to the issue surrounding the novel and film.  She has written a novel of her own.  And what a novel it is!

     A modern day retelling of the story of Mary Magdalene, Karen Kingsbury’s Divine brings clarity and insight to the confusion concerning Jesus’ relationship with one of his most devoted followers.  In her novel, the main character, Mary Madison, comes face-to-face with the awesome love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.  She experiences first-hand His cleansing and forgiveness, His unconditional love.  Though she has seen much pain and sin in her life, she witnesses the saving grace and divine love which Jesus freely offers to all those who truly seek Him.  She then shares that love with others in need.

     This gripping and heart-rending novel will remind you again of the power of Christ in the life of His followers.  It will show you a fresh vision of His incredible love for all mankind.

     Whatever else it may be, The Da Vinci Code is an opportunity for Christians to share the good news of the Gospel with those who are seeking the real truth about who Christ is, why He came, and how He has affected those who have believed in His saving love and power to change lives.

Posted in Books

     When I was a little girl, I loved to watch my mother's hands as she worked on a sewing project or made supper.  I followed her around the house.  I would drink pretend coffee with my stuffed animals (my mother didn't drink tea very often).  I wanted to be just like her.

     Now, my own daughter follows me around the house.  She has tea parties (I love tea!) and cooks in her play kitchen.  She helps with the laundry and likes to use the vaccuum and loves to dust.  She even likes to do the dishes.  She wants to be like me.

     A couple of days ago, my daughter and I read a very sweet book together.  The book, Just Like Mama by Beverly Lewis, tells the story of a young Amish girl who brags to her brother that she is just like their mama.  As she follows her mother through her day, trying to do all that her mama does, she realizes that her mama's job is harder than she thought.

     The illustrations, by Cheri Bladholm, are beautifully detailed.  They depict the lovely simplicity of the Amish lifestyle in such a way that the reader is drawn into the lives of this girl and her family.  The illustrations enhance the story, which is wonderfully simple, and yet has a very important message.  A truly delightful little tale, this is a story for mothers and daughters (my sons enjoyed it as well) to share.

Posted in Books

     As a homeschooling mother who loves books, I often find myself reading books on the topics of homeschooling and learning styles.  There is a wealth of information available to homeschooling parents, but where do you go to get a thorough sampling of the best known teaching methods used by fellow home educators?  Homeschooling Methods, edited and compiled by Paul and Gena Suarez, gives an excellent overview of various approaches to homeschooling.  Written by several experts in their own respective categories of homeschooling methods, this particular book truly is, as the endorsement on the cover claims, “a homeschool convention in a book”.

     Although I was familiar with key aspects of several homeschool methods, reading this book was an invaluable learning experience for me.  I found the insights of well-known homeschooling authors and speakers such as Ruth Beechick, Catherine Levison, Douglas Wilson, Christine Miller, Katherine Dang, Jessica Hulcy, Clay and Sally Clarkson, and others to be extremely helpful in developing a better understanding of the many options available to home educators.  I also found it extremely helpful to be able to compare the different methods covered in the book, noting similarities and differences amongst them.  Even more than that, I felt the enthusiasm come through in the word of writers who believe completely in what they are doing as advocates of homeschooling.

     Anyone reading this book will find it an excellent overview of methods such as Classical education, the Principle Approach, traditional textbook style, Unit Studies, Unschooling, the Eclectic Approach, Whole-Hearted Learning, as well as my own preferred method, Charlotte Mason.  Also included are very helpful sections on teaching special needs children and ideas for taking school on the road (known as Carschooling ®).  Having such an overview will help any homeschooling parent be better equipped to choose the method of education that works best for their family.

      Whether you are just starting out, or have been teaching your children at home for many years, Homeschooling Methods is a thorough and informative read.  I would consider this book essential reading for any homeschooling parent desiring to find the perfect style of education for their homeschool.