A Homeschooling Grandma: I Must be Crazy!
Sep. 4, 2008
My First Week Without MFW Adventures

You thought I had changed curriculum?  No way!  I love My Father's World curriculum. I have used K and 1st and this year Adventures (for 2nd). I ordered it and when I received it, I opened the outer box and dug in the deluxe items that I ordered, but I never opened the inner box with the basic curriulum, because I had borrowed a friend's and had already perused it at length.

Guess what? I opened it and I (somehow) accidently ordered ECC. If I had the money, I would have just kept it for next year, but, alas, I had to return it and am waiting for it to come in. Adventures will focus on U.S. states and significant people and events and discoveries in those states. We will also study the names of Jesus and our music is centered around Tchaikovsky. I needed to start school anyway, so this is what we have been doing this week.

  • Begin with prayer

  • Pledge

  • Bible: Bible Story Flashcards (These were just cards I got cheap and I quizzed him as a review of last year's focus on the Bible stories. (He aced it, BTW.) I will have him memorize a scripture starting Monday until we get the curriculum.

  • Journaling: Junie B. Jones Personal Beeswax journal

  • Art: Finishing Joseph the Canada Goose from How Great Thou Art (I have the new art book, I Can Do All Things, but will start it when we finish this.
    Reading: (to him aloud) The Railway Children, 1 chpt per day. (This is not set in the US, but I realized it too late.)

  • Math: Singapore

  • Math: Math-It

  • Music: Tchaikovsky (a CD I already had, just listening to selections. This year it will focus on his Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty)

  • Music: Little Strummers guitar course for ages 6-10 that I downloaded for free from Homeschool Freebies

  • Science: First Science Series - Make it Move (He is also using this for reading aloud) It has experiments, too. We also picked apples from my trees and made a pie.

    The days have been short, and we are going ice skating tomorrow, but when the curriculum gets here, I will update you on how I like Adventures.


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Aug. 30, 2008
Gustav and Southern Baptists

Today, while watching a FEMA press conference about hurricane Gustav. The representative for the American Red Cross was thanking all of the volunteers that are rallying and readying for this hurricane and he said, "particularly the Southern Baptists."  I was so thrilled to hear that on TV. Southern Baptist cooperate with the Red Cross and prepare the meals that the Red Cross distributes, as well as a nu ber of other things.  He said they were prepared to feed 600,000.  Isn't disaster relief amazing?  People helping people. 

When I say the Southern Baptists, I am talking about volunteers that spend their own money and time to come to the aid of people in need.  This is not the first time I have mentioned Baptist disater relief on this blog.   I am a trained member of a team and I would encourage any Southern Baptist that reads my blog to find out when the next training for Southern Baptist disaster relief is in your area and state will be.  Oklahoma's training are in September  & October.  It might not be Gustav, it might be a disaster near you.  Will you be ready to help?


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Aug. 21, 2008
Dayspring and American Greeting card will replace Hallmark for me

Did you hear that Hallmark now has gay marriage cards "featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. "Two hearts. One promise,"

"It's our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can," Hallmark spokeswoman Sarah Gronberg Kolell said.  I'm sure they never thought of the money they could make in California and Massachusetts.  The thing is, did they think about the money they will lose from people like me that will not by Hallmark cards anymore.  I am really sad about this. No more McDonalds or Hallmark cards for me.

Apparently, American Greeting feels their selection is adequate and says they have no plans to include same-sex marriage cards. I know that Dayspring won't stoop to it.


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Aug. 15, 2008
Rick Warren Interviews Obama & McCain live this Sat.

Here is something you might not want to miss.

Rick Warren will be interviewing both Obama and McCain on FOX news tomorrow night (Saturday) at 5 PM EST, 7 PM CST, 8 PM PST.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/14/warren.forum/index.html

The interviews -- one hour each -- will focus on four areas, according to Warren: the role of the presidency in government, leadership, the candidates' world view and America's role internationally.

According to the Saddleback website, it will also be shown on CNN

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Aug. 8, 2008
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood canceled!

I just read that PBS is canceling Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood from their programming. There are so few wholesome and truly educational shows that don't have a snotty little sister, that this makes me sad. I think Mr. Rogers is a great teacher, role model and father figure. I looked around and found this Save Mr. Rogers site. If you want PBS to reconsider, email them.

http://savemisterrogers.com/

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Aug. 7, 2008
Just what you've always wanted - McCain & Obama paperdolls!

Help me think of ways someone might want to use these. Can you think of some ways besides:

*Presidential Candidate collectibles
*An Election Unit study for school
*Dart board

What do you think? Is there some creative way to use these on election night with the family?

http://www.doverpublications.com/McCain-Obama

Photobucket
McCain Paper Dolls Obama Paper Dollsby Tom Tierney by Tom TierneyThis commemorative set of wonderfully designed paper dolls features Senator John McCain—the Republican candidate for 44th President of the United States—and his wife, Cindy, plus casual and formal outfits they wore during his campaign. This colorful edition includes a brief biography, descriptive notes, and a bonus "Election Night Scorecard."

Photobucket

Make the most of a key moment in history with these beautifully rendered paper dolls featuring Senator Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters. The set includes a wardrobe of authentic outfits worn by the couple on the campaign trail. Features brief biographical notes and a bonus "Election Night Scorecard."


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Jul. 14, 2008
My MFW Adventures Planning so far

I have not ordered my curriculum, yet (perhaps today!)  I did borrow a friend's for a week or so to get a handle on what we would be studying this year and started doing some shopping and researching.  I am excited to study the U.S, states and some of the prominent historical characters. We probably will not start Adventures until after Labor Day.

One of the things I really want to include in our plans is a couple of "adventures" into America and many within my home state of Oklahoma.  Oklahoma has a rich, if short, heritage - wild west, cowboys and Indians, famous outlaws, ghost towns, etc.  I want to explore, explore, explore, not only on paper and in books, but in the RV!   Our first trip is next week to Louisville, KY and then to the Creation Musuem just West of Cincinnati.  We will take some side trip stops and, if they relate, I will post about them. (If you live between Tulsa, Louisville and Cincinnati and know of a fantastic side trip that would be good for Adventures prep, let me know.)

I tend to like to accumulate related extras if I can get them free or cheap.  I also like to add some things that we are interested in or need work on.  MFW curriculum doesn't really need any extras, it is great all by itself.  I admit that I had 17 years of being a curriculum junkie, so my small purchases and veering are my concession for finally finding the perfect curriculum 3 years ago.

So far, my extras, ideas and plans (besides library books):

Week 1 - Watch The Vikings Who Don't Do Anything, just for fun.  Buy a poster with the pldege so he will learn it quicker.  Let him listen to Red Skelton's explanation of our pledge (There are many versions via video on Youtube). Geo-caching would be fun for mapping.  Watch the Columbus video from Nest Entertainment.

Week 3 - Spend some time singing songs about the Name of Jesus, like "There's Something about the Name" and "Praise the Name of Jesus." (We love music!) I purchased ($3) the Focus on the Family radio theatre "The Legend of Squanto."

Weeks 4-5 - Spend more times in the stars.  I love H.A Rey's books.  Yes, he did write more books than Curious George.  I have his, The Stars. It is an old hard-backed discarded library book.  I bought his paperback version of Find the Constellations at the Planetarium.  I recommend them.  The way he connects the starts to make the constellations makes a lot more sense than the elaborate pictures that they overlay on the stars in most books. I bought this at the planetarium.  We will probably not make the planetarium this year as we went last year, but I am planning on inviting a star gazer, creationist speaker with an 11 inch telescope to visit our support group, either week 4 or 5.  We may or may not watch Disney's Pocohontas since it took so many liberties. We will sing songs about Jesus being the Light of the World, This Little Light of Mine and many more. I have found that the Names of Jesus give you a lot of material for Christian music. Also, I got the free CD from American Vison.org called, "America: The Untold Story."  I think this will be too old for 2nd grade, but I may find some exerpts. Williams Bradford, Nest Video. I'd like to visit the Cherokee Heritage Center and maybe the world's largest totem pole or possibly Gilcrease Museum.  We could also visit a local candle manufacturer for a "light" field trip.

Weeks 6-7 I will explain about Ellis Island and tell of our ancestor that came to America.  I will explain what the bread is in the Lord's Supper.  We will make homemade bread and possible go to a bakery field trip.

Weeks 8-9 We will sing "Rock of Ages," I Go to the Rock," "Praise the Name of Jesus," "The Cornerstone," and any other "rock" songs. We will re-visit the story of the Wise and foolish man.  We will get out our rock collection and try to add to it.  I want to take a trip to a local rock museum and we will also fly a kite (no key!). The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere is a favorite of mine, but we will discuss the discrepancies in it.  Benjamin Franklin and George Washington and Paul Revere Nest videos. We will also be electing a US President so we will read, "Woodrow for President."

Weeks 10-11 Songs about thirsting and living water - "As the Deer,"  The Nutcracker will probably begin about this time, but it is not cheap.  We may go see it, or may just get the video from the library. Will schedule a field trip to a pumpkin patch in the next few weeks.  Save a gourd on a vine for use on weeks 20-21.

Week 12 Birds, Birds, Birds!  We are big bird watchers.  We may go down to the lake and look for Eagles that nest in the winter here.  Song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow." I know a man that has a garage full of canaries and also a man that trains homing pidgeons.  We will read about Maria Tallchief, Indian primadona ballerina (Nutcracker/ballet) who lived not too far from me.  Might travel to her home.

Week 13 Thanksgiving, pumpkins, pilgrims, food!

Week s14-15 Songs about Jesus being the Way the Truth and the Life (Looking for Masterlife songs, anyone?)   Birds again, see week 12 activities. Wk 15, I will do some things on the Erie Canal, sing the song and I am trying to find the old movie about a girl and her father who lived and worked on the canal.

Weeks 16-17 I think this Immanuel week will fall after Christmas for us, but we will sing the songs anyway. I would like to find a weather school going on or a field trip to a local weather station or find a storm watcher that will give us a talk. This would also be a good time for a trip out of state, maybe to Daniel Boones stomping ground, Mammoth cave and Casey Jones for next week (TN)

Weeks 18-19  Sing songs about the Lamb, "Behold the Lamb." See trip above.  Watch SGT. York old movie.  Sing some cotton-pickin' songs like Cotton Eyed Joe or Negro Spirituals. January is a bad time to visit a ranch, there is no sheep shearing going on.  We'll have to do that later, probably April.  Ahh!  Johnny Appleseed.  There's not apple trees blooming or bearing and we can't even plant one, but The Value of Love, the Story of Johnny Appleseed, one of the ValueTale series is a favorite of ours.  We might even wear a pan on our head for the week - not!  There is a lot of Lewis & Clark stuff on the net because of the recent anniversary.  I did get a Jim Weiss CD called, American Tall Tales, with Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and Pecos Bill on it.

Weeks 20-21 Sing songs about the vine.  I can only think of one and it was also a Masterlife song.  I wish someone would help me find where I can get hold of the Masterlife scripture songs. We will definately sing "The Battle of New Orleans."  It is a fun song. I will buy a poster with the national anthem words. We'll watch the Swan Lake ballet and dance around with it.  Not a good month to plant anything.

Weeks 22-23 Human Body studies.  Still looking for my old favorite book about this.  We will watch the movie, "The Miracle Worker." Ranger Bruce at the yahoo group, SequoiaMinistry has some interesting kid friendly stories from an old, out-of-print book about the Poney Express.  We'll watch the Nest video, Helen Keller.

Weeks 24-25 Songs about King Jesus.  We will probably watch "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."  Good time to watch Little House on the Prairie or find the video series cheap. I wish the circus was in March.

Weeks 26-27 The song, "Lord, Make me Like You," comes to mind.

Weeks 28-29 "The Lord is My Shepherd, I walk with him Always," song comes to mind as well as "The 90 and 9." and "Savior, Like a Shepherd led us."  Abraham Lincoln, he could not tell a lie!  I have a ValueTales book about Abraham Lincoln, called Respect.   There is also a Nest Video about Lincoln. Appalachian Music and the movie "Christy."(WV),  Field trip to the Little House on the Prairie in Kansas.

Weeks 30-31 Another MasterLife song, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."  Waaah, I wish I still had my book.  Trains will get a lot of our attention this week.

Weeks 32-33 Songs about the Word, "Thy Word," "The B-i-b-l-e." The Pledge to the Bible. We'll probably do another volcano experiment, it's always a kick.  It might be a good time for another extended trip out West - Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore. Week 33 is our homestate.  Plenty to do here.  The re-enactments of the Land Run take place in April.  The movie, "Far and Away" has the most fantastic scenes of the Land Run and is about Irish immigrants, but it is not a children's movie.  I will skip through it and explain the times, the poverty, the American Dream, the Sooners and watch the Land Run at the end. We will extend the Oklahoma study into the summer with field trips to see the outdoor musical, "Oklahoma!," Pawnee Bill's Wild West show in Pawnee, Frontier City in OKC, Cherokee Stip Museum in Perry, National Cowboy & Western Hall of Fame in OKC, Fort Gibson, Woolarc, Will Rogers Museum, Frankoma, Harn Homestead 1998er Museum, Rose Hill One Room Schoolhouse and more.  The Wright Brothers and Edison videos from Nest will be watched also.

Week 34 We can't make an igloo in May, but maybe with sugar cubes.  We will discuss the Idititod, Sled dogs, watch, "Iron Will" and "Snow Dogs" and maybe "8 below."  We will listen to a CD of "The Call of the Wild."  We have been to Hawaii, so the pictures will come out.  Maybe we will learn the hula.  I'll be there is a video at the library to teach you.

If I can schedule half of the field trips that I want to do with our support group, I will be happy.  I have already told my husband that we need to start socking away gas money for this year.  Next year, in ECC, I don't foresee any trips to other countries.

Believe it or not, there are many more places that I want to go and do this year.  I want to keep that RV humming. 

Non-specific to weeks:

I got "The Star-Spangled Statebook" on a free download.

Oklahoma History checklist download from Cindy Downes website, Oklahomahomeschool.com.  She has many great Oklahoma resources on her website.

Patriotic Songs Copywork from CurrClick.com

Birds Notebooking Pages from CurrClick.com

Presidential Election Lapbook from NotebookLearning.com

We will finish up Joseph, the Canada Goose art book.

I bought Singapore 1A and 1B to do in this summer, but we have not done it so we will be behind.  I also bought Math-It for games

I still have not decided whether to use Spanish of French and how much of a curriculum I want to buy.  I have seen a cute calendar with a word a day that make a sentence every week, Flip-flop foreign languages, The Easy Spanish/French and more.  I have Rosetta Stone, but I don't think I will use it yet.

I think journaling/diary will become a part of our homeschool this year. No corrections on spelling or sentence structure, just writing about feelings and activities.

I'll start sharing what we really end up doing after school starts.  Can't wait!


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Jul. 12, 2008
Woo-hoo! Convention Seminars Free Online

I have seen this link posted on several groups lately.  I guarantee that if you look through the list, you will find a topic or speaker that you want to listen to.  Free to listen, purchase to download. It is an awesome resource! - Just look at some of the speakers! http://hche.org/listenOnline.jsp

Some of the one's that caught my eye:
Managers of Their Home - Teri Maxwell
The Ideal Homeschooling Mother - Marcia Washburn
Shepherding a Child's Heart-Scott Somerville
Education is Conversation - R.C. Sproul, Jr
One Father's Aspirations for His Children - Gregg Harris
Parenting Teens - Debra Bell
Genesis and the War of the Worldviews - Doug Phillips
Reaching the Reluctant Writer - Andrew Pudewa
Wise, Not Just Smart... - Jeff Myers
Biblical Budgeting Basics - Bob Coruzzi
Build a Man - Shelley Noonan
Raising a Mighty Man of God - Kevin Swanson
Family Worship - Voddie Baucham
Passing the Baton... Jeff Myers
Homeschooling Teenagers... Chris Klicka
and  Dianne Craft, Ken Ham, Lorrie Flem, and many more


Oh, my!  You will HAVE to book mark this page!


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Jul. 1, 2008
Planning my school year

Planning my year, hmm.  I start thinking and planning before the end of the school the year before. I have already decided what curriculum I will use. Most of it is planned out for me, but I always like to see what week we will be studying what so I can plan relatable field trips, library books, buy extras for reinforcement, etc.  I am not required in my state to have any written lesson plans, but it is good practice for the high school transcript years.  It also makes a good keepsake to utilize for future students. 

I spend a lot of time online, researching things like foreign languages and math curricula.  I download online books and worksheets about things we will study.  (I really should go ahead and print these, as many times I realize that we studied something and I forgot to find it on my computer.) I keep a lookout for CD's, DVD's and Videos that will go along with our studies.  Some, I purchase and some, I check online at the library to see if they carry it.  My little notes about these things tend to get lost so I am probably wasting a lot of time.  I need to have it all in the same place and create a habit of using it.

I have tried, in the past, to keep up with journals, notebooks, planners, but have not stayed with it.  i tried Flylady and keeping a notebook of when to clean what.  I have to say, it works, but I've yet to find one that I will continue with.

I am finding more and more that I need to plan my schedule better.  Not so much the school schedule, but to plan the school schedule and the rest of our life together.  They are too segmented.  I would love to have at my fingertips what I need to buy for a school recipe or craft on my grocery or errand list.  since gas prices are so high, I try to schedule all of my errands together and to have it all in one place would be nice - no, necessary.

Maybe I'll have this thing figured out eventually.

 


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Jun. 23, 2008
"Homeschoolers are only good for cleaning toilets"

I'm sure this will raise the curiosity and ire of many on Homeschool Blogger.  American Vision is asking for homeschoolers to respond on their blog to the guy that said this. They want to know what your homeschoolers are doing since graduation and other things.  Oh, and the guy also said something about their "retard parents."

Go and post: http://74.255.56.30/blog/?p=113


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Jun. 4, 2008
Political Correctness = Cultural Marxism

This is what I believe about PC.
Political Correctness is really "Cultural Marxism". In 1933, a group of German intellectuals, who were Marxists, where invited to America by John Dewey and assisted by Edward R. Murrow. The Frankfurt School intellectuals were placed at strategic colleges with the goal of spreading their worldview of cultural Marxism to America's two most influential institutions; education and media. Tolerance, feminism, diversity, multiculturalism, affirmative action and radical sex education are all products of political correctness. The goal of these cultural Marxists was chaos, disruption and the break-down of the family. Anything that would create chaos would allow for the massive growth of government to "solve" the cultural problems. Listen and learn what few Americans really understand. It is not too late, learn how to fight back against political correctness which is really Cultural Marxism. ~Brannon Howse
At least take a brief look at this article. There are links to 6 chapters from a book at the end of it.
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork...ArticleID=3577

There is a very good radio show at this link, if you can get through the 4 phone calls at the beginning.
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork...EpisodeID=6428


In 1960, Nikita Khrushchev said: “We must rest on the position of coexistence and non intervention, and eventually Communism will be in force all over the earth.” He’s the guy who beat his shoe on the table at the UN, and made some sort of angry remark to the U.S. that the Communists would take over the U.S. without firing a shot.

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May. 13, 2008
Horton Hears a Who and Intelligent Design

I just saw, "Horton Hears a Who."  Am I the only one who saw many similarities between the movie, Horton Hears a Who" and the Intelligent Design debate?  From the mayor's point of view, there is someone out there beyond the clouds that wants to be their savior.  The people don't believe and think he is a kook.  He tries to warn the crowd that danger lurks and that they should prepare for it, but the influential town council mocks him and tries to get others to do the same.

In the larger world, Horton, who tries to convince his world that there is another world, is also viewed as a kook.  The mother kangaroo, who happens to be the bossy, overprotective, home-pouching mother (Me thinks that was a jab at homeschoolers?) won't allow her son to play with Horton because he is a bad influence.  He might open their eyes to something more than their own community standards that the concensus has decided is truth.  She works the crowd to be against him, she hires the big-gun vulture to destroy the idea that there may be something beyond their world.  She fights to keep Horton and his ideas squelched and ridiculed as a nonsense.

The mayor's son is the final loud voice that breaks through the clouds of Whoville and reaches Horton's world, so they were able to open their minds to this new idea that has been taboo.  The little joey is the person that had an open mind that finally heard the Whos and saved the day.

I was thinking that Ben Stein (Expelled: The Movie) could either be the mayor's son that was the almost-too-late voice that breaks through barrier (clouds - or in Expelled, the wall).  Or could he be the open-minded joey that finally heard the voices and believed, saving the idea from extinction?

If Ben Stein was not the joey, then we need to pray for a joey, who is part of the consensus, but with an open mind, that has enough clout to shake up the powers-that-be (scientists, educators) to cause the scoffers to believe that an idea, such as Intelligent Design, is a valid theory and should be allowed and taught.


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May. 9, 2008
Ten Ways to Help your Children Love Missions

Do you want to encourage your children toward missions? Some of us have missionary stories built into our curriculum, but many of us don't. I can tell you that if you only did number 2, on this list, your child would have a different understanding of missions and love for people and desire to please God.  There are no better adventure stories than these! And don't forget to treat yourself, too!
 
If I had it to do over, I would have required my kids to read 6 of these a year.  I do read my 7 year old grandson the Kids of Courage newsletter from Voice of the Martyrs and he can't get enough of it.  Teach them to love missions when they are young so they will be equipped to  accomplish the Great Commission that Christ gave to us. Matthew 28:19-20
 
Here is the list, but the complete article from the Desiring God blog is the link below.
  1. Pray for missionaries.
  2. Read missionary biographies to your children.
  3. Supporting missionaries financially as a family
  4. Find a missionary kid pen pal for your child 
  5. Welcome missionaries into your home. 
  6. Take risks as a family.
  7. Encourage the traits that missionaries need
  8. Teach your children to be world Christians. 
  9. Read missionary prayer letters to your children. 
  10. Use missions fact books and resources.

Desiring God blog on 10 Ways


Some links to missionary stories:
WMU: (At the very bottom of this link are some free stories that you can download and print off.)
 
 
VOM:
 
Kids of Courage: my favorite missions resource for kids:
 (Be sure to look at each tab at the top.  The feature story also has an activities tab.  The archives have many stories and the opportunity to sign up for the ability to download the free activities books for each country EXCELLENT RESOURCE! And under the resources tab you can sign up for the free newsletter for kids, another excellent resource.

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Apr. 16, 2008
You Might Be Emergent If...

Posted in The Church


I have never tried to pretend that I am a writer.  I blog to share things - mine or someone elses.  This is one of those "someone elses" that I thought was humorous and sad at the same time. 

Quote - You Might be Emergent If... (exerpt)

After reading nearly five thousand pages of emerging-church literature, I have no doubt that the emerging church, while loosely defined and far from uniform, can be described and critiqued as a diverse, but recognizable, movement. You might be an emergent Christian: if you listen to U2, Moby, and Johnny Cash’s Hurt (sometimes in church), use sermon illustrations from The Sopranos, drink lattes in the afternoon and Guinness in the evenings, and always use a Mac; if your reading list consists primarily of ...

...if you love the Bible as a beautiful, inspiring collection of works that lead us into the mystery of God but is not inerrant; if you search for truth but aren’t sure it can be found; if you’ve ever been to a church with prayer labyrinths, candles, Play-Doh, chalk-drawings, couches, or beanbags (your youth group doesn’t count); if you loathe words like linear, propositional, rational, machine, and hierarchy and use words like ancient-future, jazz, mosaic, matrix, missional, vintage, and dance; if you grew up in a very conservative Christian home that in retrospect seems legalistic, naive, and rigid;

Read in full here.


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Apr. 12, 2008
Baptists meet needs

It is interesting to me that with all the negative press and negative blogs about Baptists, that it is usually the Baptists that come to the rescue.  I am a member of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and I have seen how Baptists are the first ones on the scene to help in disasters and the last ones to leave.  Today I read an article that said the First Baptist Churches of El Dorado and the First Baptist Church of San Angelo are ministering to the women and children of the polygamist compound in Texas.

Many "emerging" church leaders are quick to point out how the traditional church is not "missional."  I just think they are blinded by their bias.  My experience with Baptists is that when they find out a need, they try to fill it.  Different churches have different ministries in the scope of Christian missions.  We can't all do everything, but we all can do something.

Here is the brief article: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=75445

 


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Apr. 9, 2008
Rainbows

Everyone loves a rainbow.  Here is one that we saw in October in Louisianna. I'm no photographer and we were moving in a car.  I did not have a wide angle lens, but you could follow this rainbow all the way from the ground on one side, up into the sky and back down to the ground on the other side. It covered a huge distance.  It is the first time I have ever seen one like it. 

I don't know about you, but just like the Bible says, it reminds me of God's promise to Noah and all generations after.  Never means never.

This next picture is a rainbow, or prism, that we made on the floor of our schoolroom when we were studying about Noah.  It was about 8 inches across.  It was a good one. We just had water in a jar and the light coming in the window was right. The picture doesn't do it justice.  You could see every color perfectly.

I have seen several double rainbows.  Now, that is a sight to behold. I have also seen a rainbow seem to end on top of a house and thought, that would make a great picture, especially if someone was trying to sell it!

I hope that rainbows remind you of God's promises.


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Mar. 20, 2008
Purim celebration

Posted in Homeschooling


I am not Jewish and I am a Southern Baptist, but our curriculum (My Father's World 1st) just happened to be the story of Esther today.  As I understand, this year, Purim is on the 20th and 21st of March. I read up a little on it and we decided to make a celebration.  We made challah using this video recipe. The top picture is painting the egg on the smaller loaf.

While we were waiting for the bread to rise, we also made hamentashen, a sort of fruit tart that is shaped like a tri-cornered hat - supposedly what the villian, Hamen, wore.

We read the story of Esther while my grandson booed and hissed at the mention of Hamen's name.  He dressed up like a king.  We took some clothes to the poor (Salvation Army drop box) and gave some food to someone.  Tonight we will eat the challah and hamentachen and watch One Night with the King.

Christians can celebrate God's providence and protection of those called to his purpose, as well as a reminder that He has and will reward those that do His will.


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Mar. 20, 2008
He's Alive! - Celebrate the Resurrection

Posted in Christian Ponderings



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Mar. 5, 2008
In Word or in Deed

Posted in Christian Ponderings


Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. ~Col. 3:17 (NAS95)

What does this verse say to you?  What about as related to the elections?  Can you obey this verse and vote for any of the top candidates and have peace that you did it in the name of the Lord?  I am struggling over this as I am sure others are, too.

What should we do, write in a candidate or vote for someone that is still in but has no opportunity to win (Ron Paul) knowing that your vote will make it easier for someone you don't want to win?  Why is our vote about who can win and not who should win?

Romans 13:1-2 teaches that every "authority" (KJV "power") is ordained by God. That does not mean that he governs in the will of God, but that is is set there by Him.  He can take him out at His desire, so who are we to fret about who we vote for?  Isn't our responsibilty to vote our conscience (according to God's principles) not the lesser of the evils?

I have been very guilty of this, but I am struggling with the vote in November.  I pray that all of us will show our faith in God by voting for the right man, whether he is on the ballot or not.  I believe that what we say and do (word and deed) by signing the ballot is the same as saying outloud that you endorse a person to be president even if he stand for things that are anti-God.

It is a grave responsibility, but we are not individually responsible for the man that God sets in the seat of authority, but we are responsible for our individual actions (what we say, do, write, vote etc.) to God. If I cannot wholeheartedly vote for a person that I believe is God's man, like David, a man after God's own heart, should I cast my vote for someone else?  It's a dilemma.


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Mar. 5, 2008
VBS

Posted in The Church


from Tony Kummer's Ministry-to-Children.com email newletter

1 in 16 US Children Attended a Southern Baptist VBS

According to an article by Baptist Press, Vacation Bible School is alive and well in Southern Baptist churches. This is encouraging news. The article goes on to say:

“We enrolled more than 2.9 million people in VBS [in 2006] and about 2 million of those were ages 5-12,” Marler said. “When you realize that there are 32 million children in America who are between ages 5-12, it’s staggering to think about 1 in 16 children in that age group was enrolled in a LifeWay VBS in a Southern Baptist church.”


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Mar. 2, 2008
Very interesting info about Easter

Posted in Interesting Topics


(Originally sent by a minister)
I've been doing some research for my sermon Sunday, realizing how early Easter is this year. As you may have heard me say, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
 
Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.
 
Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:
 
1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 o r older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

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Feb. 28, 2008
School Choices for Christian Kids

Be sure and click the links within this American Vison article, especially "last week."

Here is a sample paragraph from the article:

Before reading on, please take a moment to review my last week’s article. Remind yourself of how forever unfixable and anti-God the U.S. public schools are. (And here’s  a bonus warning about one of their newer nefarious schemes. It’s called the International Baccalaureate program. Anti-God to the core, it’s humanism on steroids with “social justice” (100% govt. control over you) and world government propaganda  being force-fed under the radar to vulnerable young minds.) Remind yourself of the 20th century church’s misinterpretation of the expression, “we’re no longer under law but under grace,” and how this error has convinced thousands of parents to ignore God’s Old Testament commands; commands (especially those on youth education) that are still entirely valid for today. Review Romans 7:1, 12 and 22. Remind yourself of what Rom. 6:13, 15; 1 John 3:4, 5:17 and James 4:17, taken as unit, teach, and that a Christian who knows righteous behavior but doesn’t behave righteously (e.g., leaving his children in the public schools) has transgressed God’s law and has sinned.

http://www.americanvision.org/articlearchive2008/02-27-08.asp


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Feb. 27, 2008
Pray for the persecuted church

"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." ~Hebrews 13:3

Fire for the Nations: http://www.fire4thenations.net

Voice of the Martyrs: http://www.persecution.com

The first girl speaker/2nd dancer is the granddaughter of a friend.

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Feb. 20, 2008
1925 Moral Code for School Children

Posted in Homeschooling


Moral Code for School Children

In God We Trust


Collier's, The National Weekly © 1925

http://sequoiaministry.samsbiz.com/userimages/scan0002.jpg?rand=1171500\
960


If I Want To Be a Happy, Useful Citizen I Must Have:

Courage and Hope

I must be brave—This means I must be brave enough and strong enough
to control what I think, and what I say and what I do, and I must always
be hopeful because hope is power for improvement.

Wisdom

I must act wisely—In school, at home, playing, working, reading or
talking, I must learn how to choose the good, and how to avoid the bad.

Industry and Good Habits

I must make my character strong—My character is what I am, if not in
the eyes of others, then in the eyes of my own conscience. Good thoughts
in my mind will keep out bad thoughts. When I am busy doing good I shall
have no time to do evil. I can build my character by training myself in
good habits.

Knowledge and Usefulness

I must make my mind strong—The better I know myself, my fellows and
the world about me, the happier and more useful I shall be. I must
always welcome useful knowledge in school, at home, everywhere.

Truth and Honesty

I must be truthful and honest—I must know what is true in order to
do what is right. I must tell the truth without fear. I must be honest
in all my dealings and in all my thoughts. Unless I am honest I cannot
have self-respect.

Healthfulness and Cleanliness

I must make my body strong—My eyes, my teeth, my heart, my whole
body must be healthful so that my mind can work properly. I must keep
physically and morally clean.

Helpfulness and Unselfishness

I must use my strength to help others who need help—If I am strong I
can help others, I can be kind, I can forgive those who hurt me and I
can help and protect the weak, the suffering, the young and the old, and
dumb animals.

Charity

I must love—I must love God, who created not only this earth but
also all men of all races, nations and creeds, who are my brothers. I
must love my parents, my home, my neighbors, my country and be loyal to
all these.

Humility and Reverence

I must know that there are always more things to learn—What I may
know is small compared to what can be known. I must respect all who have
more wisdom than I, and have reverence for all that is good. And I must
know how and whom to obey.

Faith and Responsibility

I must do all these things because I am accountable to God and humanity
for how I live and how I can help my fellows, and for the extent to
which my fellows may trust and depend on me.


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Feb. 16, 2008
Two year blogiversary

Posted in Ramblings


I have been blogging here for two years, sometimes more than at other times.  I've had my challenges and have been tempted to try a different blog host, but I really like the HSB community.  I feel safe and among friends.  I enjoy reading blogs here, but lately I have not blogged or commented much. I guess I am more of a doer than a writer (never considered myself a writer).

I plan to be here many more years and I hope you are, too.  Sometimes your blogs have been my sanity and sometimes blogging has been my release, but mostly I am inspiried and encouraged by reading what other people are doing in their homeschool, or how they have conquered a giant, or just family news.

I'm glad to be here and I'm glad you are here, too.


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Feb. 14, 2008
The Homeschool (teacher's) Lounge - join today

Yipee!  Tiany, over at less of Me ~ More of Him has started a Homeschool Lounge for homeschoolers to visit and share with each other.    I seem to have a strong homeschooling worldview as well as a strong Biblical worldview.  Everything in my life is wrapped up in one of those two things.  I envision this to replace some other more segmented or non-homeschooling bulletin boards that I am on. Come on over and join us!  ~Liz

From her blog:

The Homeschool Lounge is a FREE online social network community for Homeschool Moms; the very first of its kind! The vision of The Homeschool Lounge is to connect Homeschool Moms from all corners of the web; get advice, give advice, share, learn and laugh with those who truly understand you. There is something for everyone inside the many pages of this pioneer website so go check it out!


Site Features Include:

  • Create your own space
  • Start or join discussions in our Forum
  • Start or join a group
  • Start a Blog or Promote an existing Blog
  • Create a slide show widget of your pictures for your blog
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Gallery
  • Live Chat
  • Invite other Homeschool Moms, friends and family
  • Members only community ~ All members, all videos and pictures must be approved and only the front page of our site can be viewed by the public for the safety and comfort of our homeschool moms.
We invite you to join us, share tips and advice, and find encouragement, fellowship, and friendship in a safe, fun, friendly environment. Our goal is to provide you with a resourceful and encouraging platform for all of your interests and needs, in order to help create and facilitate the most enriching network for Homeschool Moms on the Internet today. Read more here.
http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/

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Feb. 12, 2008
Baby Steps Back to Religious Freedom

Posted in The Church


The police department in Hastings, Nebraska, has been forbidden by a federal court from interfering with Christians witnessing on public sidewalks. Read more here.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=66731


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Jan. 19, 2008
Mary Pride Talks Politics

Posted in Homeschooling


http://www.home-school.com/news/huckabee.html


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Jan. 17, 2008
Children's Story Bible Give-Away

Posted in Links to Share


Tony Kummer over at his blog, Ministry-to-Children.com, is giving away three of the best children's Bible story books, IMHO.  The Big Picture Story Bible,  The Jesus Storybook Bible, and The Child's Story Bible by Catherine F. Vos.  What a treasure for your children's ministry, homeschool or family.  The contest will be open until February 18th.

http://ministry-to-children.com/recommended-books/story-bible/

childrens-bible2.jpg


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Jan. 16, 2008
A Cry from Iran - movie

Posted in Links to Share


Introducing a new movie.  It is being shown in limited markets, so clickon the tab to see if it will be in your area.  If you click on the previews tab and click the promo video, it is the best one.

Two brothers, a murdered father and an untold story of pain and forgiveness are the inspirations behind a six times award-winning documentary on the secret death of a prominent evangelical pastor in Iran, Haik Hovsepian.
This is the untold story of Iranian Christian martyrs, and Christian converts, who became the victims of their beliefs and paid the ultimate price – their lives...

http://www.acryfromiran.com/index-main.htm


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