The CHAP Convention is coming fast! It is held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA on Fri & Sat, May 11 & 12! The Early Bird Registration Deadline is here--Thursday, March 15th! Register before the deadline and save on the convention fee! Register online at www.chaponline.com.
Cabin Fever? Spring Fever? This time of year gets complicated for many homeschooling families. Cabin fever has had its effects and spring fever is just around the corner. Tests, papers, projects, portfolios and evaluations are already in process. And along with all that, a sense of satisfaction that some of the seeds planted are growing into good fruit.
Working Outdoors With God's Creation. This month's CHAP eNews features two men who have worked in the outdoors with God's creatures and have learned a few lessons in the process. Both men are favorites of PA homeschoolers and will be presenting at this year's CHAP Convention. First is Lew Sterrett, who is known for the lessons of leadership and life that he teaches from the back of his horse. Lew adds some new perspectives to the subject of vision.
Next you'll read a classic memory from the life of Mark Hamby as he learns the real life definition of shepherd. Mark's experience gives a whole new meaning to "pressing on toward the goal."
The wisdom of Solomon tells us that without a vision people will perish or go unrestrained. Indeed, a clear vision defines the disciplines and essential steps to accomplish a large goal. It is often said that the difference between fantasy and vision is that one has legs. The theme of this year's CHAP conference is pressing on toward a goal. It is not only an appropriate theme for home education, but also can be clearly illustrated through horse training. The more clearly defined the end product is, the more likely it would be achieved. This would be true with the design of a building, the definition of the character of Christ, the exact footfalls of a performance horse, or the quality of good education.
To press on toward the goal requires a three-dimensional, 20/20, and x-ray vision. Three-dimensional vision sees not only where we should go, where we have been, but also where we are. 20/20 vision evaluates reactions in light of potential, so times of stubbornness and fearfulness become opportunities to develop determination and faith. Leaders with x-ray vision will not only see the needs of others, but also their own blind spots. Using the analogy of the horse allows us to step outside our context and see the good and purposeful intent of the trainer. The horse doesn't see it at the moment, but the audience does. They see the patient, persistent pressing on toward the goal so that the horse will experience the joy, freedom, and greater accomplishment. The result of our experience is that we want to cooperate more with our trainer the Lord Jesus Christ.
The trainer is so impassioned and determined to help the horse that he endures much questioning, and difficulty. His goal, first of all, is that the horse would become free of his fear and be able to trust. It is the trainer's hope to turn the horse's focus from the difficulty to the opportunity. Only when these two elements are accomplished do we see the ability for the student or the horse to become faithful in the work they are doing. The question is how can we turn their focus to that which is productive. There would be no need for Paul to challenge us to press on if it was an easy assignment! This will be the emphases of my 4 workshops during CHAP 2007.
The ultimate goal of the trainer is to not only capture the horse's interest, but to discover and unleash his potential. This wholehearted pursuit is God's desire for His creation. It is the concern of parents that their children come to a place of delight, wholeness and motivation that would enable them to surmount every barrier. The ultimate goal is not self indulgence, but love. The apostle Paul in Philippians 1 prays that our love may abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that we may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ. May together our efforts of training and education provoke others to wise and discerning choices, and that they might learn to love with excellence and purity of spirit.
One of my most memorable experiences as a shepherd was the day that my sheep followed me for the very first time. This event, however, didn't take place overnight. For five years I hated my sheep and my sheep hated me! They ran from me, they stamped their feet at me, and they were an embarrassment to me. But they followed my seven year old daughter. They knew her voice and they ate out of the palm of her hand. But me? One look at me and they gave a loud bleating sound that sent shivers up my spine, especially when visitors were around.
To make matters worse, Rambo (that's what we named him for obvious reasons) tried to kill me several times. You can be sure I didn't take this lightly. Since strangulation didn't work, there were several times that I had the scope on him, while aiming from my bedroom window. I often employed this method of using the scope on my rifle to check the sheep in the upper pasture. I found that when Rambo came into sight, my finger seemed to find its way to the trigger! No, I never did shoot him, but if I could do it again, I might just hold on to that trigger a little more firmly. Now for all you animal activists, no letters!
One time in particular, Rambo stood on his hide legs and "rammed" me square in the back. As I lay on the ground trying to catch my breath, I thought he had broken my back . I looked up to see the beast was standing above me, ready to finish me off! I quickly rolled and he missed me. But what happened next was the best part. Losing all sense of humanity, I was filled with anger and wrath (this was 10 years ago!), and I began to choke this beast. While I was actually trying to strangle him, my wife, protector of all who stand in my way, yelled down from the back porch, saying, "What on earth are you doing to that poor animal?" While breaking blood vessels in my eyes from this death grip, I retorted, "What does it look like I'm doing!?, I'm trying to kill him; he tried to kill me first!"
I think you have a pretty good pictures of my early days as a shepherd. My relationship with my sheep was a hate-hate relationship. I couldn't wait to have some of them for dinner, but my daughter loved them so much that she threatened never to speak to me again if I touched one of her beloved sheep. So I was stuck. Little did I know that God would use my relationship with the sheep to teach me that I had a problem with anger, and that forceful control leads only to broken relationships.
It was 1994. I was as sick as a dog and, for the most part, on empty. I had been sick for thirteen years, and the possibility of going back to full-time ministry seemed unlikely. To make matters worse, Jonathan, my oldest son, had just told me that he hated me. Without realizing it, I had been treating him just like Rambo-controlling him with threats, anger, and forcefulness. One can only maintain that posture for so long until it turns around and "rams" you right in the back.
After several lambs had died due to the weather and my negligence, my daughter had informed me that I wasn't a good shepherd. My heart was pierced. God sure knows how to get our attention. So I really tried to care for the sheep. Then it happened. I had spent eight weeks in the barn during our third lambing season. About the sixth week, after sheering, de-worming, immunizing, and bottle feeding, I noticed that the ewes were behaving differently toward me. They were observing my movements, and were not as anxious around me. Now, picture this: there I was, sick beyond description, with no energy and little hope; but I was giving these sheep the best care I could give them. I often sat in the hay, reading the Psalms and praying aloud, holding a lamb that nibbled on my finger. I truly began to love these creatures of God, and the mother sheep knew it. Then one day, as I walked to the other side of the barn, all seventy sheep moved toward me. I walked to the other side, and they followed. I quickly opened up all the stall doors and walked up the path toward our house and when I looked back, all the mothers and their lambs were following! As we approached the house, I yelled, "Jennifer! Debbie!!! Look outside!" When my little girl came to the window, I saw a great big smile, and knew exactly what she was thinking: "Today my Daddy became a shepherd." And I did! When the sheep knew that I really cared, especially for their lambs, they began to follow. No more control, no more anger, no more forcefulness.
The CHAP Convention needs you! Over 400 volunteers help to run the CHAP Convention. We desire and need your help to make the Convention a success. As of this writing, we have over 200 already committed to help in various positions. If you would like to help, read on.
Benefits of Volunteering:
A chance to serve fellow homeschoolers
A tuition rebate equal to the tuition of each volunteer
Early bird shopping 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM on Friday morning (Imagine a chance to shop with only 300 other people.)
Online orientation for your position
In order to volunteer you must go to the web page: www.CHAPonline.com. Volunteering can only take place online. Do not mail in the registration if you are volunteering. You must register online.
After filling out the registration form, you will be given a list of volunteer jobs from which to choose. You will know immediately if you received your choice. You will also receive your volunteer orientation online as well. Go to CHAPonline.com, click the Convention tab, then click the registration page to sign up for the Convention and volunteering.
Keep Pressing On! We are praying for your endurance to run this worthy road. Know that you are not running this road alone. Seek out the wise counsel of those who have travelled this path ahead of you! Take time to rest & be refreshed along the way! We look forward to seeing you at the CHAP Convention! Keep pressing on!
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Keep Pressing On! We are praying for your endurance to run this worthy road. Know that you are not running this road alone. Seek out the wise counsel of those who have travelled this path ahead of you! Take time to rest & be refreshed along the way! We look forward to seeing you at the CHAP Convention! Keep pressing on! 
