http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:59:00 -0500 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:59:00 -0500 Halloween is like a slaughterhouse. Once you see what’s going on behind the walls, the end product just isn’t as enjoyable as it used to be. In fact, seeing it with your own eyes can be such a revolting experience that you have no trouble saying “goodbye” to what you once held dear. You might even have words stronger than that – “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for your thoughts are not those of the LORD, but those of men.” SEE FOR YOURSELF You can research the origins of Halloween with no trouble. This isn’t some well hidden secret or a fringe conspiracy theory. It’s historical fact. Our modern culture has just wallpapered over it with a pretty pattern of orange pumpkins and black cats. The facts are ghastly, and quite frankly, if they don’t disgust you then you might be desensitized to the point where evil and good are indistinguishable from each other. No need to read any further. So if you’re still with me, please, check it out for yourself. Google “Halloween Origins”. Learn about the Celtic beliefs of the dead awaking on the “hallowed evening”. See how the ritual of “Trick or Treat” began by villagers leaving food outside their front doors so the dead spirits would be appeased and not do the household any harm. Discover the birth of costumes as disguises to fool the malicious fiends. Read of children sacrificed to pagan gods to ward off evil. Halloween is also a high “unholy” day of the Wicca (i.e. Witch) calendar. This is some really bad stuff. IT’S ONE OR THE OTHER I confess. I used to celebrate Halloween. I enjoyed planning a costume, and when I was kid I loved all the candy. As a parent I even practiced this annual atrocity with my two oldest children in their first several years – I once dressed my toddler in a ghost costume! I am ashamed of that now. After my wife and I saw the facts about what Halloween really is, we dropped it immediately. No more costumes, no more handing out candy, no more scary movies. It would be enough just to know the history behind it, but there’s a more compelling reason. This is Satan’s big night. It’s a celebration of death. It’s a playground for demons. I’m not that naïve that I really believe the average American family that takes their children trick or treating is intentionally paying homage to Samhain. But this much is true: they are imitating the traditions of some very evil people from a long time ago. It doesn’t matter if hundreds of years have elapsed. The similarities are so striking that, in effect, you are playing the role of an evil-spirit-fearing Celtic who gives out treats to the demons so they won’t play tricks on you. When you light a candle inside your jack-o-lantern with the terrifying face, it mimics the burning of human-tallow candles of children killed to satisfy the bloodlust of pagan gods. If anyone that claims to be a child of the God of the Bible can knowingly mask that nastiness by dressing the kiddies up as a super hero or a princess and carving a happy face into their pumpkin, then such grievous duplicity could challenge their claim of being a believer. “You are not able to drink the cup of the Master and the cup of demons, you are not able to partake of the table of the Master and of the table of demons.” 1 Cor. 10:21 “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya’al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 2 Cor. 6:14-15 MOVING ONWARD So, let’s say you agree with all that. Maybe it’s always sort of pestered your conscience anyway, and now you have some good solid reasons for not celebrating Halloween. Will your children feel left out? Deprived of a large sack of dental damage? Can you decline an offer to a Halloween party without getting into an awkward discussion where you end up sounding like a religious freak? Friend, if you put any of these concerns ahead of your love and devotion to God, then you have much bigger problems than whether or not to do Halloween. It might not be easy to let it go, but it’s the right thing to do. Is there an alternative? Question: Does there need to be one? I’ve seen some “harvest festivals” and some were even sponsored by churches inside the church itself. People still dressed up in costumes. Candy was handed out as prizes for the games we played. Sorry, but it looks like a thin coat of white wash over those orange pumpkins and black cats. But if you truly desire a substitute event, I do have a more virtuous suggestion you could consider. I like to read the book of Haggai in the autumn. The story takes place roughly between September and December on the Gregorian calendar. It tells about how the Judeans had taken time to build themselves comfortable places to live, but had neglected to repair the Holy Temple where God dwelt. He chastised them (“Consider your ways!”) and warned them of scarcity of provision as a punishment. Then God stirred up their hearts to work on His House. When the work was completed, He blessed the Judeans not only with plentiful food stores but also issued prophetic promise to bring down the enemies of His people in defeat. So, if we desire an annual tradition every October that we can celebrate in unity, how about one that honors God (instead of Satan)? Let’s do something to repair His House. I suppose this could be something like cleaning and decorating the sanctuary or meeting rooms in the church. What about a congregational leaf rake and cleaning of the grounds (if you are blessed enough to have property)? Better yet, can you find a poorly funded congregation and assist them with a repair or improvement project? And best of all you could prepare a new meeting place where one didn’t exist before! Start small and then grow it. No costumes, no candy - just families putting their hearts and energy into doing some work for God’s purposes. Remember that amazing scene of the Amish barn building in the movie “Witness”? They didn’t even have power tools! Let us consider our ways. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/735549/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/735549/  We are not TV watchers in our home.  We do not have cable or a satellite dish.  My husband even jokes about being a 21st century Luddite.  Truthfully, I can accomplish so much more without the distraction.  My husband and I do enjoy watching a movie on occasion.  We stick to “cleaner” films when we make our choices.  The problem is that even the clean ones have too many things that are just plain sin.  Although I might be able to identify with small aspects of the movie, the majority of events are something that I will never (thankfully) experience.  I will never meet someone on the internet and fall in love, never leave multiple grooms at the altar, never have a heart transplant.   It just is not going to happen.   Recently we watched a video that was different.  The main character (Grant Taylor) and his wife (Brooke) have problems that real people can identify with.  He is a high school football coach who does not make enough money.  Their car breaks down continually.  They long for a child yet cannot conceive.   Then some folks begin trying to get Grant fired.  The couple even has a horrible stench that they cannot determine the source of in their home.    No, these exact circumstances have not happened to us (ok, maybe the unidentifiable stench!)   However, these things happen in normal lives.   These are the days when you feel like you cannot get out of bed and face another day.  It is the days when you cannot imagine another thing going wrong…yet it does.   Do you know how they respond?  Certainly not the way I would.  The trials drive the husband into some deep scripture study.  He realizes they need to love, praise and glorify God no matter what their circumstances.  Win or lose.  Baby or no baby.  It makes me tear up just thinking about it.   It made me realize how easy it is to sing His praises when we get our way.  What about during those dark trials?  Do we praise Him?  Do we thank Him for our very breath?  Or do we focus on all the things He is doing our way?  Are we signing up to be a believer because of what we stand to gain?  Or do we realize what wretched sinners we are?  He sent his Son to die for us….to cover those very sins.  We owe Him our lives.  Watch the movie.  You cannot help but be inspired.         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/690121/ Mon, 18 May 2009 10:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/690121/   Children love sweets.  Ice cream, candy, cookies, you name it.  Something that I learned early in motherhood is that once sweets are introduced, it becomes a little one’s main mission to consume as much as mom will allow.  Suddenly the sweet baby, who only yesterday, was content with baby food, begins asking, sometimes demanding sweets.   We desire our children to consume lots of healthy, God made food.  With this end in mind, we keep the amount of sweets limited.  I serve healthy, flavorful meals.  And you know what?  My children eat them!  Sure, there is the initial training in this area but lots of gentle perseverance has always done the trick.   In addition to providing healthy foods, we also model healthy eating.  This means mom and dad practicing what they are teaching!  (Tip:  If you fill your pantry with junk food, that is what everyone will gravitate to.)   I would like to take this idea of developing healthy appetites and apply it to the area of free time.  Just as children gravitate to sweets over healthy food, I believe they also are drawn to high stimulation activities over simple, God honoring pursuits.  So often  I hear about children within homeschooling that have no interest in reading, board games or the simple pleasure of nature watching.   Perhaps this is the result of developing an appetite for being entertained by television, video games and IPods.  Just as sugar dulls a child’s taste buds, these activities dull their other senses.  It is not so much a debate over whether television and video games are bad.  The matter becomes what these pursuits replace.   One of the toughest things about this issue is the simple fact that children will follow our examples.  How are we spending our time?  Our first priority as believers should be to love and glorify our Creator.  Do our activities show this?  Let us store up our treasure in heaven and not here on earth.    Have you ever seen one of those charts that are designed to help you make healthier choices in regards to your diet?  One side shows the unhealthy food while the other side suggests a healthier alternative.  In keeping with the developing healthy appetites theme, I would like to offer such a list for activities.     Television/videos                       → Reading exciting books Video games                               → Board games that require thinking skills Popular music                            → Classical music Pursuing things of self interes   → Helping others Peer dependency                      → Family relations Disney World                             → Missions trip Excitement                                → Joy Entertainment                          → Productive learning     May you and your family find joy in developing God honoring appetites. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/686308/ Wed, 6 May 2009 14:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/686308/   When I take the time to observe our children doing chores, I am truly amazed.  In general, they complete their chores every day.  Only occasionally do I have to call someone back for a redo.  I do not remind them or nag them that it is chore time.  We sure have come a long way.  It is amusing to think back to our chores in the early years.  Sometimes we would go several days without doing chores.   Other days we would partially complete our chores.  So how did we make this change?  Well, the real change came to my attitude and level of consistency.   In the early years, the children’s chores were so small.  It did not seem like a big deal if they were missed. Oh how short sighted that was!  As a mom with only small children, I failed to realize that it was not really about the chores.  It was about order, consistency, and diligence.  A little boy that frequently skips chores becomes a big boy with an identical habit.   I made a set chore time and stuck to it.  The children were trained in their chores and chore inspections took place.  On occasion consequences were given.  This might sound like an awful lot of work.   Well, yes and no.  It definitely took a chunk a time and energy.   However as I look back at that period of life, that amount of time and energy expended was extremely small compared to the dividends it pays out today.  I now have five children.  There is no end to the things I must do, but household chores are only a small fraction of it.  My children clean readily and joyfully.  The youngest ones come up with their own chores because they see what an important part of the family chores are.  They want to be important.  All of this frees me a lot of time that I can spend elsewhere.  All it took was a little bit of patience and an initial time investment.                       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/683421/ Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/683421/ I have been contemplating what education is.  The first thoughts that came to me are to consider what education is not.  I have some fond memories of my public school education.  There certainly were some bright spots along the way.  I remember a few people that made great role models. Most definitely though, my strongest feeling was how much I wanted to get through the day, week, year.  There is a mistaken notion of one set of information that everyone needs to know before they graduate.  The department of education brings this scope and sequence to us.  It seems this is almost universally accepted.  So a curriculum publisher makes sure the information is sifted, chewed and digested until it becomes a group of dull, lifeless, often unrelated facts.  At this point, an educated professional must spoon-feed all of these facts into their students’ brains.  Meanwhile, most of the students feel like I did…there must be something better than this. This cycle plays out year after year.  Each year starts out the same way.  The first six weeks of the school year, (sometimes more) is dedicated to reviewing the previous years’ knowledge that either was lost during the summer or never really stuck in the first place.  After this, it is time to delve into the required knowledge for this year’s grade level.   Of utmost importance is being sure to get into each brain everything they will need to know for life. I graduated in the top 10% of my high school class.  When it was all said and done, I could read well, perform higher-level math and at least write clearly enough to make my point.  I did not remember the vast amounts of facts that I supposedly need to be called educated.  I could only vaguely recall some bits and pieces here and there.   Probably if I could go back and analyze the information that did stick, it would have been due to some personal connection that I made to that particular information.  I spent 13 years in the system to learn reading, math and some writing. It seems like my time could have been better spent.  Today in many areas our country scores far behind other industrialized nations, sometimes even in the ranks of the poorest countries.  Close to 50% of our population is functionally illiterate.  The public school system is failing miserably.  I do not want to copy this system.  My goal is to ensure that our children’s school years are better spent.            http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/674133/ Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/674133/   In previous posts, I have referred to our schedule.  I would like to explain why I feel so strongly about schedules as well as how we design and implement ours.  Schedules are great tools to maintain order in our home and ensure the most important tasks are completed.  They provide a sense of peace for Mom and children alike, as we can know what to expect for the day.   Everything in our created world has a rhythm to it.  Some examples of this are seen in the seasons, night and day, and the tides.  Our bodies too have a rhythm and function more efficiently when we cooperate with these rhythms.  It is amazing the difference this seemingly unrelated change produces.   The idea of a schedule frequently gets bad press but think of a schedule as a friend.   This friend has the job of reminding you what is important to accomplish.  In fact, this is the first step to making a schedule.  Make a list of all the things your day needs to hold.  This is best approached with a lot of prayer, as it is important to spend our time where God desires for us to spend it.    The next step is to start filling in an excel spreadsheet with your activities.  You can put the time down the left column and the days of the week across the top.  Things might vary from day to day but it is important to keep some core anchors the same.  These would include things such as wake time, bedtime, meals and chores.  It is also a sanity saver to leave white space in your schedule to ensure a bit of margin in your day.     Here is where some tough choices need to be made.  I have talked to many people who give up at this point due to discouragement.  Something to think about is that you have to make this choice one way or another.  Without a schedule, the choice is made on the fly and perhaps without thinking it through.  Why not make the choice ahead of time so your choices can be bathed in prayer?   Some things I have found helpful: 1)      1)Rank your activities good, better, and best.   Some activities might not be wrong but they might not be the best use of your time.  It is important the “best” things get in that schedule first! 2)      2)Remember it is your schedule.  Some people like to plan things down to the nearest 15 minutes while others prefer a looser format.  Find what works for you. 3)    3)  Schedules work great for children too.  It helps them to know what to expect.   If scheduling is new to your children, go slowly.  It is best to start with the main anchors and stay there until your children are managing them well.  Then you can add things a little at a time. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/674131/ Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/674131/   In my family, we consume almost entirely whole grains.  About the only things we use white flour for are cakes and sugar cookies.  This means our breads, buns, muffins, pancakes, cookies (other than sugar cookies) and yes, even our pizza dough is whole grain!  For many years, people have wondered why in the world I would bother.   Prior to the twentieth century white flour was confined to royalty.  There was not an economical way to make white flour for the masses.  What is white flour, you ask?  White flour is the refined, denatured product that remains after removing the truly nutritious part of the grain.  The germ and bran is removed.  It is bleached with chemicals and then enriched to make up for the now missing nutrients. Moreover, enriching white flour does not make up for the loss of Vitamins B, E, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium and fiber.  There are two reasons for this. 1) Only some of the nutrients are returned. 2) Adding synthetic nutrients does not compare to the original nutrients the Creator provided for us.  Is not that just like mankind to think we can do it better than Adonai?   In the late 1800’s the steel roller mills were invented.  Making white flour suddenly became efficient.  Now white bread products could be manufactured and sent all over the country without the fear of spoilage.  There was no longer a need for local stone-grinding mills or the local baker.  Media, in recent years, has talked much about whole grains as an option for a healthier lifestyle.  Manufacturers have jumped on this bandwagon.  They now produce “white” wheat bread.  It is comprised of white flour with a small amount of whole-wheat flour thrown in.  Another common deception is the labeling of white flour as wheat flour.  Technically, it is true as white flour did come from wheat.  However, I believe it is done under the guise of fooling people into thinking they are buying a healthy product when in fact they are buying the same white flour product in a new and improved wrapper.    If you are looking at labels, look for whole wheat as the main ingredient.   Refined products such as white flour are large contributors to the escalation of many diseases that we have seen in recent history.   I want to provide the best food for my family to grow on.  I want to know that I am adding to their health and not helping them to have disease in the future.   Plenty of people have had the experience of using whole wheat from the grocery store and realizing that their food tastes like cardboard.  The answer lies in using freshly ground flour.  This can be accomplished by purchasing your own grain mill.  I personally use the Whisper Mill.  Another tip is to know the difference between hard and soft wheat.  Hard wheat is higher in protein and gluten making it the best choice for bread products with yeast.  Soft wheat is lower in protein and gluten.  Another name for it is pastry wheat.  It produces light and fluffy baked goods.  It is best for anything without yeast.  I cannot promise there isn’t still some adjustment when switching to whole grains, but freshly ground flour does make lighter, tastier bread products.    Making your own bread is really more of an art than a science.  There are so many factors to take into consideration.  A good book about this is Wildflour.  The beginning of the book provides quite an education on the bread-making process.  Another option is to find someone who has already been baking with whole grains.  Ask her to mentor you!   The following recipe works best when prepared in a Bosch.  I realize the tools to get started are quite expensive.  However, it does not take long to recoup the money spent, especially if you have a large family.    Prepare 18 cups (approximately) of fresh ground hard wheat. 6 cups warm water (120 degrees) 2/3 cup honey 2/3 cup oil – can use olive oil.  I prefer coconut oil. 5 cups of the milled flour 2 T.  dough enhancer 2 T. vital wheat gluten 3 T. SAF instant yeast Mix the above slightly.  Cover and let sponge 15 -20 minutes.   Then add: 1 ½ T. salt Add the salt and enough of the flour to clean the sides of the bowl.  Knead in Bosch for 5-7 minutes.  Shape into 5 greased bread pans.  Cover and let rise until it is about 1-2 inches above the pan.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/668417/ Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/668417/ The next step that I find helpful is to evaluate problem areas.  Do you have closets, drawers, or cupboards that are bursting at the seams?  Does every flat space in the house continually fill with "stuff"?  Whatever the problem area is, I find it essential to make a list that includes each area.  Then one by one (be patient!  This could take months to do this.) you can go through the list and evaluate. There are many possible solutions but here are some things to keep in mind: A. If closets and drawers are still too full, perhaps you didn't go deep enough during the "dejunking" process.  That is ok.  Make multiple passes if necessary.  If you keep more stuff than your house will reasonably hold you will continue to battle your possessions on a daily basis. B. There are many helpful storage options out there.  I love the IKEA Expedit series.  I also frequently use different size plastic bins to maintain order.  They are great for childrens' toys.  Another organizational tool is the Trofast system, also from IKEA. C.  I find a filing cabinet to be extremely helpful.  I have a folder for all sorts of topics.  Examples are: coupons, insurance, school subjects, crafts, catalogs.  For every piece of printed material (magazines excluded) I receive, I try to handle it only once.  I either toss it, file it or deal with it.  Filing and tossing are fast and can fit it just about anywhere.  The ones that require action need to wait sometimes so you can create a file folder to keep these "action" items.  Just be sure to include a weekly time in your schedule to keep this folder in check. D. Store things as close to where they get used as possible. E.  Consider whether you have a training issue (yours and your children's) on your hands. F. Children's toys can easily get out of hand.  If after getting rid of excess you find this area to be a trouble spot, try the rotation method.  Divide toys into two or three groups.  Put one group away in whatever place you store toys. The remaining groups go into boxes or bins.   They can be stored in a closet, garage, or basement (if you live outside of Texas!)  You can determine the appropriate interval for rotation based on your children's ages.  For young children weekly might work well.  Older children sometimes get involved with bigger projects with their toys so monthly might be good, but pick what suits your family.  When the time comes, rotate one group out and another group in. There are numerous answers to dealing with your problem areas but by listing them out and making a plan, you are taking steps to eliminate them or at least get them under control.  Don't be afraid to try different solutions!  Sometimes one doesn't work so pick another.  Happy organizing! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/664753/ Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/664753/ This is a poem that I have loved since we began homeschooling.  Enjoy! Once a little boy went to school. He was quite a little boy. And it was quite a big school. But when the little boy Found that he could go to his room By walking right in from the door outside, He was happy. And the school did not seem quite so big Anymore. One morning When the little boy had been in school awhile The teacher said: "Today we are going to make a picture." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make pictures. He could make all kinds: Lions and tigers, Chickens and cows, Trains and boats- And he took out his box of crayons And began to draw. But the teacher said:"Wait! It is not time to begin!" And she waited until everyone looked ready. "Now," said the teacher, "We are going to make flowers." "Good!' thought the little boy. He liked to make flowers. And he began to make beautiful ones With his pink and orange and blue crayons. But the teacher said "Wait! And I will show you how." And it was red, with a green stem. "There," said the teacher, "Now you may begin." The little boy looked at the teacher's flower. Then he looked at his own flower. He liked his flower better than the teacher's. But he did not say this. He just turned his paper over And made a flower like the teacher's. It was red, with a green stem. On another day when the little boy had opened The door from the outside all by himself, The teacher said: "Today we are going to make something with clay." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked clay. He could make all kind of things with clay: Snakes and snowmen, Elephants and mice, Cars and trucks- And he began to pull and pinch His ball of clay. But the teacher said: "Wait!It is not time to begin!" And she waited until everyone looked ready. "Now," said the teacher. "We are going to make a dish." "Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make dishes. And he began to make some That were all shapes and sizes. But the teacher said,"Wait! And I will show you how." And she showed everyone how to make One deep dish. "There," said the teacher." "Now you may begin." The little boy looked at the teacher's dish. Then he looked at his own. He liked his dishes better than the teacher's. But he did not say this. He just rolled his clay into a big ball again. And made a dish like the teacher's. It was a deep dish. And pretty soon The little boy learned to wait, And to watch, And to make things just like the teacher. And pretty soon he didn't make things Of his own anymore. Then it happened That the little boy and his family Moved to another house In another city, And the little boy Had to go to another school. This school was even bigger Than the other one, And there was no door from the outside Into his room. He had to go up some big steps And walk down a long hall To get to his room. And the very first day He was there, The teacher said: "Today we are going to make a picture." "Good!" thought the little boy. "What are we going to make?" "I don't know until you make it," the teacher said. "How shall I make it?" asked the little boy. "Why, any way you like, " said the teacher. "And any color?" asked the little boy. "Any color," said the teacher. "If everyone made the same picture, And used the same colors, How would I know who made what, And which was which?" "I don't know," said the little boy. And he began to make a red flower, With a green stem.                                               -Helen E. Buckley http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/664750/ Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/664750/   Order in our home is an important matter to me.  With seven people in one house, things can become disorderly fast.  I have witnessed how chaotic children’s behavior becomes when the house is a wreck.  Another problem is how much time is lost looking for a needed item.  I am not a naturally organized person.  This has taken some real learning on my part.   Here is my first tip for getting some order to your home: Dejunk your house 1)    We live in a time of serious materialism.   It comes from many sources such as Christmas and birthday gifts, relatives, impulse buying and having things passed on to us for free.  No matter what the source of all of our extra possessions, the common denominator is having more “stuff” than we need or could even use.  So sort that stuff and keep only what you really will use (not all those –oh it would be nice to use this someday –possessions.) Dejunking your house can be time consuming and stressful but it goes a long way towards creating and maintaining order in the home.  It also helps us aim towards the goal of not storing our treasures up on earth!    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/660196/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/torah4life/660196/