This week at HSB's "Company Front Porch," we've been asked to focus on Christmas.  Last week, though, I began a 2-part post about studying the Bible as it relates to Homeschooling Through High School.  In continuing that topic today, I think the Lord will allow me to do both things!  Grab a cup of java or tea, and join me as we take a "mind's eye journey" back to Bethlehem.

But that's NOT where I wish to take us.  I want to go deeper than just that.  I want to go back into the Old Testament, and set the stage for that event which took place out in those fields.  To do this, I'd like to introduce to you a dear friend of mine, Cindy Zeigler, mother of 4 homeschool graduates (all of whom are now married and 3 of whom are missionaries), and author of several of the best Bible studies our family has ever gone through.  In "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," we read the following (note: Cindy uses the NASB translation in her materials, so that is what is quoted here): 

Shortly after the onset of Judah's captivity, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzer.  Then, after the Medes and Persians overtook Babylon, and after the 70 year period of Judah's captivity, Judah was allowed to go back to their land and rebuild Jerusalem, the wall, and the temple.  There were three post-exilic prophets -- Haggai, Zacharia, and Malachi -- each telling of the plans the Lord has yet for Israel.  After the Word of the Lord came to Malachi, the final prophet, there was a long period of silence from Heaven -- 400 years.

The prophecy of Amos came to bear on the Jews.  Amos, after being told by a priest to leave the Northern kingdom and go prophecy in the Southern kingdom (Amos 7:12), uttered these words:

Amos 8:11  "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD..."

So there was silence.

The voice of Heaven was not heard by the ears of earth.

...for 400 years.

...four hundred long years!

And...

A woman who was called barren,

bore a son, and they called him John.

Suddenly a bright light shown in the darkness...

...a star shining in the east.

A virgin had conceived and had borne a Son, and they called Him Immanuel, "God with us."

Then a voice was heard...

...a voice crying in the wilderness

...calling the people to

"Repent for the Kingdom of the Heavens was at hand."

Now, jumping ahead in the study, we come to the First Advent of Christ in fulfillment of so much prophecy...Cindy writes:

Not far from the city of Bethlehem was a place where shepherds were keeping watch over a flock of sheep.  After "Immanuel" was born, an angel appeared to these shepherds.

Luke 2

8     And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.  9  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  10  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;  11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  12  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

13  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

I can only imagine the explosion of praise that erupted from the heavenly host after 400 years of silence...after the end of the waiting in the heavens for this plan from the time of the creation to finally be put in motion...I can only imagine the sheer terror of those shepherds out in the quiet of that field!!!  The NASB translation quoted uses the phrase, "terribly frightened." The KJV says "sore afraid." The NIV offers "terrified."  I put myself out there on a quiet night in the fields with a bunch of sleepy sheep and try to imagine the event...I don't know if "terrified" is even descriptive enough! 

And that brings me back to "Part 2" of last week's post regarding Bible study in the homeschool high school, and the question we began with: "What is God's mind on education?"  Here are God's inspired words: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).  Encourage your high schoolers to dig into the Scriptures, and to dig deep.  Untold riches are often skimmed right over by all of us when we read what to us seems "familiar territory."  I love the way that Cindy and another of my favorite authors, Diana Waring, both keep coming back to the big picture of God's unchanging plan, of His-Story (Diana's word for history), of His promise and His glory.  May we all grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in these remarkable times!  

Lori

PS. Cindy's Bible studies are available free of charge at the link provided above and HERE.  Donations are accepted if you are able, but are not required.  This is a ministry of their church, and the call of God upon their hearts.  Studies are available digitally for download, or you may email and request a hard copy.  In either case, email and ask for a set of any DVD lectures that go with the studies.  The study I've quoted from in this week's post, "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," is recommended as a "prerequisite" and basis for all of the other studies offered.  For homeschoolers, it makes a wonderful one-semester high school study, providing a 1/2 credit (0.5 CU) in Bible.  It is 17 weeks long, with assignments 5 days a week, and a 45 minute video lecture to be viewed after completion of each week's study (we watched our DVD lectures on Saturdays, and looked very much forward to each one!).  Follow this with "Understanding Hebrews," a 16-week study, and your student will have a full year (1.0CU) of Bible for their transcript.  More important, however, will be their spiritual gain: the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy which is understanding.  Whatever Bible study you choose to share with your young adults, encourage them to drink deeply from the well of God's Word!  

If you can stand yet another Christmas cookie recipe, here's a very simple, yet tasty one:

Sugar-N-Spice Cookies

 1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup cane juice crystals (or other sugar of your choice)

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 cup organic unbleached flour (plain unbleached flour is fine, too)

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

dash nutmeg

Mix butter and sugar together.  Stir in vanilla and egg until smooth.  Mix flour and spices together and then stir into butter mixture until well blended.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until edges just begin to brown and tops start to crinkle and collapse.  Cool on pan 30 seconds, then move to wire rack to cool.  Enjoy! 

May I encourage you to spend some time this week asking Jesus what He would like for His birthday?  The answer may surprise you! 

Perhaps your family could join ours in baking a batch of these cookies to share with those less fortunate than us who could use a bit of Christmas cheer this season.  Be sure to tell them the reason for the gift ... It's Jesus' Birthday!

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.   Matthew 25:34-40

I pray your family has a blessed Christmas. 

Catherine

Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they seek to live a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

This site has Bible readings, art history and appreciation, history, geography, music, book suggestions and just plain fun.  All of these offerings are rooted in Christmas and Advent.  The first page gives you a calendar of the Advent season (the site has not been updated since 2008 but it is still usable.)   When you click on a day, it gives you a plethora of ideas and readings for that day.  Most days  revolve around a theme which make us theme-oriented moms happy. 

This is an awesome site and it is used to full capacity by  our family,  year after year.  Our Advent season would not be complete without ideas from this Advent site. 

Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband,  homeschooling her 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more at her blog.

This morning I received an e-newsletter from CollegePlus!, in which an article by Lauren Bleser titled, "A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education,"  was shared.  Ms. Bleser's opening paragraph reads,

In 2002, I graduated with my Master’s degree as a reading specialist after having finished a teaching degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta. I was fast on my way to a full and busy career in the public school system when I was caught off guard by a homeschooling parent who asked if I could explain God’s mind on education. I had never really considered that before, always taking it for granted that we simply go through the system, memorize the information required, and graduate. This challenging question led me on a quest that changed the course of my life.

Bless that homeschooling parent, whomever he or she was...what a question!  It is one that every homeschooling parent should ponder.  Can you explain God's mind on education?  God's mind can be an intimidating thing to probe.  And yet, He desires us to do just that...by diving into the Scriptures. 

We are preparing our young adults, at this point in their lives, for independence.  In case you haven't taken a good, long, focused look at the world out there lately, you really ought to.  I'll warn you...it isn't pretty.  I know--I spend one hour a day, 4 days a week sitting in my local community college cafe or study lounge while waiting for my 16 year old son's German class to finish.  I do not have the "gift" of being able to simply "tune out" people's conversations.  I'm verbal.  I listen, whether I want to or not.  Words do not escape me.  The standard fare of conversation around me is typically what I would call "disgusting."  Often times the spiritual darkness that lives and thrives in this place feels stifling, oppressive, suffocating.  This time of week, I push myself to write this blog in the midst of the chatter.  Other days, I sit in front of my computer, or walk the halls, simply praying.  But I digress...

• Is your study of "Bible" in your homeschool viewed or treated by your student as a subject he must study and check off the "to do" list, just as history and math are? 
• Are you studying the Bible with a curriculum workbook that has them reading articles which explain the Bible to them, or tell them what the passages mean?  Are questions given in such a way that much of the answer is already given, with just a few "fill-in-the-blanks" required? 
• Is the time your student spends studying "Bible" going hand-in-hand with their history course?

None of these things are bad in and of themselves...it is vitally important that our students understand the Bible's role as a source of true history.  BUT...do they develop a hunger for and love of God's Word in our young people?  Do they bring about the things that our young adults are going to need in order to survive their first steps into independence--spiritual maturity, wisdom, and a consistent and close walk in obedience to Jesus Christ?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

We'll end here for today, and continue next week.  May God bless you and your homeschool this week!

Lori

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.