The link I am posting today, ok, 2 of them are sensitive topics for many people, and will possibly make some readers really upset. I am not posting them to create a stir, but simply to give information so that you, and your spouse can make informed decisions.

Both are prevalent in Christian circles, and one especially targets homeschoolers, even producing their own curricula. The other has permeated Christian college campuses since the early 1980's. Recently it was brought to my attention because someone told my son he is a "sanguine" and I had to explain to him what it was. It is unfortunate that many times we fall into the latest fad of Christianity with out understanding the root of it. Neither do we consider the consequences. We are all guilty, including me, of wanting to be "with it".

Bill Gothard

Spirit Controlled Temperament

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Life is a series of trying new things, and failing before mastery is obtained. It is always easy to sit on the sidelines and point out the faults and errors. The question is, can you do a better job? Are you willing to try? Far too often the critics jeer and discourage those who are laboring in the field. When I say the field, I am referring to the LORD's Work wherever it might be. It takes a big man or big woman to face adversity and adversaries and continue plodding along. Sure they will falter, fail, and want to give up. But even if they give up, they are better than we who sit on the sidelines watching, scrutinizing what is done, how it is done, and why it is all wrong. Pointing out faults is easy, lifting up the fallen--edifying and encouraging the brethren to continue marching on is harder.  I fear that so many are destroyers that as time goes by and the LORD tarries, there will be almost no builders left.  Among homeschool moms, we are often conscious of the verse that says, Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.  There is much I could say about that but today I want to address a larger audience. Unfortunately, they probably aren't within a million miles of me.  For purposes of this writing let us consider this: Every wise Christian buildeth the church-Believers, but the foolish (proud?) plucketh them down.  They might not take rocks and throw them, or beat with bats, whips and chains are out of fashion, but with their tongues they assault the body of Christ, of which they are part. They despise the "toe", or the "nose" bcz they are, so they surmise-the eyes, or the neck-which is more lovely to behold than a nose or toe. But a nose or toe can be beautiful, just as much as a neck or eye may be distorted or deformed.  Paul addressed this.  Humility is needful amongst us Sisters! If you are as concerned about mistakes and poor quality among the body of Christ, step up to the plate and get involved. can you do it better? then please show those of lesser knowledge the right way.  It takes alot of courage and guts to fall and get up, err and apologize..etc.  Let us take ti upone ourselves to encourage, uplift, edify and help one another instead of falling for the trick of old slewfoot and cause division. Divide and conquer. We are told not to walk with those who cause division, who walk disorderly. This doesn't mean that we are causing division if our convictions differ, but if we allow ourselves to be prideful in the fact that we believe that our convictions are better than someone elses and we do not let the Holy Spirit work. There are lines that must be drawn, but we have to examine our heart to ensure that we are not lifted up with pride in being right, or more right.  I realize I am rambling but I wanted to express this thought.....  in recent months we have personally been privy to people who choose to berate another persons ministry and the person leading it. There is no debate as to whether this person could have done things better or "righter", but the fact is he/she is doing a work, is faithful, is wearing him/herself out to be obedient to the LORD. Does his/her wrong doing, prior to or even during the time make the ministry wrong? It surely hinders God's Work, but at least he/she is TRYING. It is better to try and fail than to not try at all.

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It has been a long while since I was able to post here. I apologize to all my faithful friends and readers. Though it might seem like my writing is soley for me to vent my frustration or brag about our family's accomplishments, my true desire is to help other homeschool moms.

When we began homeschooling in 1990, my (then) 3 children were all 3 yr. and under. There was no internet, and our family had very few contacts outside our immediate area. At that time we were living in New York City in an apartment on the Lower East Side-commonly referred to by New Yorkers as "Alphabet City". Back then, this area was just beginning to be revitalized after many many years of neglect. Buildings on every block were boarded up, long ago left empty by both tenants and landlord-whoever he/she may have been. There was a movement, in the CITY, for "homesteading". People signed up to have apartments, co-ops or condo's in these run-down buildings, and a instead of paying the market value, they worked so many hours to restore and/or remodel the property to get it up to livable condition. The thinking was that if someone put their time and labor into it, they would be much more thoughtful and careful regarding it's care in the future, and look after it well. It also bred respect for their neighbors properties as well. 

On our recent visit to NYC, we took a drive to our old neighborhood. The change is unbelievable. Dilapidate buildings have been fully renovated, restored, or removed. New schools and buildings about. Vacant lots, once the dump sites of discarded furniture, have become community gardens. They are a site to behold.  An urban meets rural ipex if you will. Little pieces of the country scattered around the city. 

This area, was a mecca for drive by shootings and crime, is now an extrememly desirable place to live. WIth rents and market values to match. 

Sometimes as we go along  in our homeschooling, we are in a bad neighborhood, things are run down, or old or simply don't work. It may look like it is hopeless. Don't despair. You may need to step back and get a different perspective. Yes, it is awfully hard to set aside books, and programs that cost hundreds of dollars. But if it doesn't work for your child or family, something must be done.

Our old neighborhood reached a point where it had to be changed or it would only get worse. This is true of our methods in teaching our children. Within the same family, each person is an individual with a personality, and intellect of their own. They may resemble one another, or mimic each other, but what worked for child #1 may be the undoing of child #2.  As Moms we need to pray for wisdom to discern the difference between carelessness and rebellion,, and true comprehension problems. . It is not easy. Child A doesn't want to get it but could; child B wants to get it but can't! This is where we have to step in and make changes. We might have to remove old barriers (methods, books ideas) and replace them with new materials, or refurbish some old materials. 

The point is, if we are able to determine how each child learns best, and cater schooling to meet their needs, they can excell academically, though not necessarily above average (like so many magazine families lead us to believe is the usual result of homeschooling).

Part of the reason we chose to homeschool was to teach our children, to make sure they get it, and give them the best education for them, for them to become productive Christians and Citizens of this nation.

For many years I cried over my children's frustration and lagging academics, and I thought that we were the exception, that we were the odd ones. It took a long time for us to realize that those families featured on the magazine covers-THEY are the exceptions. Their children may have excelled above the average student no matter where they were schooled. The trouble is, when you read the magazines looking for guidance, you figure that the exception is the rule, when it comes to homeschool that is.

I really believed that by homeschooling my children I would create super genius's. They are all far more intelligent than they believe, but none are genius'. We don't have any protoge's.

What we DO have are terrific children who LOVE THE LORD, who want to serve Him with their lives. They can't quote Aristotle, or speak fluent greek and latin, but they can quote Scripture and they know how to lead a lost soul to the Blessed Saviour. Not one of us really knows what calculus is, but does that type of math really come into play when you balance a checkbook or go grocery shopping?

God had been, and is always, so good to us.Our original goal of homeschooling was that we wanted our children to be able to read, write and balance a checkbook correctly, but mostly we prayed that they would desire to serve the LORD their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.  The pursuit of academics for the sake of appearances, or prestige of for academics sake is vain. But finishing our course for Jesus sake is not. 

Perhaps you, like me, got so wrapped up in pursuing academics that you've lost sight of the real prize--training a Servant of Jesus for service in whatever capacity the LORD chooses. Lessons in Math and English take precedence over learning to win souls,  or memorize Scripture. 

Take a few steps back from your programs and methods and prayerfully seek God's will and leading, ask Him for wisdom to hel pyou train up your child in the way he should go--the way God wants him to go. He will lead the way if you are willing to take His hand and go along.

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When my children were all small, one of their favorite things to ask was, "what ya doin'?"  After hearing all the preachers, teachers, parents and books warning about children asking WHY I was completely unprepared for this.  To me, it was always obvious, but to them vague.  In their defence, most of the time they were too small to get a good view of what I was doing. They only saw movement, or me putting something in or on, or taking someothing out...etc..you get the picture. Eventually they started to figure out what I was doin' and why. 

Now that they are all 9 yr. and up, they might not ask this questions aloud anymore, they wouldn't be human if they didn't ask it to themselves about me, my husband, their siblings and friends, and themselves. 

What ya do is part and parcel of the legacy of your life. It is when we make quick decisions and don't take time to pray and wait on the LORD that we make mistakes, we sin, and mar our testimony-if to no-one else but ourselves. Once we repent He remembers it no more, but we seem to have an elephant like memory of all our sins, failings, etc.  In Scripture, David, whom God calls a man after His own heart, shed innocent blood and committed adultery, but God forgave Him and still used him. No doubt David battled his own mind to let his past go. Paul admonishes us to forget those things that are behind and press toward the mark of the prize of hte high calling of God. 

Most of us haven't committed any history altering acts, nor have we been true black sheep of our families before or after getting Saved.  Therefore, our legacy, though marred here and there by scratches not visible to the naked eye, will be a goodly heritage for our children, and grandchildren.

It is funny how that when the children were small, we had such rough days, and I know that many a night I went to bed and cried because i wondered what they would remember when they grew up about the days where all I did was correct, and say No, and apply the board of education to the seat of understanding.  Guess what?  They remember next to nothing of those days.  They can relay to me tales of all sorts of htings they did, bad things that I didn't catch, but the rest is all a haze. BLESS GOD!

I'm not saying that my legacy is spotless, or perfect. It shows it's age, and there are more flaws than i care to know, but keeping myself focused on the fact that what I am DOING will dictate the legacy I leave behind keeps me focused on doing the right thing when I would rather not.

Sooooooooooo.... What Ya doin?

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