I LOVE JESUS!!!! He's so cool. He's my hero, seriously. The miracles He performs in people's hearts is just amazing. He has performed a miracle in my heart within a year!

I've been struggling with some issues in my preparation for teaching the principle approach (PA) to my children this coming year (starting Sept. 4). Last year, almost nothing was resolved and I was very bitter. I could feel it, but I didn't know what else to do. I kenw it wasn't right and that what the PA teaches is more godly than anything I've been taught, so I set my heart to be reconciled to God over these issues I had. I prayed, read literature from the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE), talked with other mothers (both from my perspective and another perspective) and it's just now that I'm realizing the work God is doing in my heart. He has used all of these things to give me a new heart concerning those issues!!!! It's amazing. Things that used to bother me about the PA don't bother me anymore! God has given me a new perspective! I just relized the change was occuring when I went back to read some things I had written a year ago! I thought someone else was writing and started correcting them in my head as I read, only to find out that the author was me! How's that for an epiphany? It's been amazing. God has also been so gracious as to allow me to travel this road to deeper understanding with a friend. It's so amazing and wonderful! I'm all excited to start the new year. I'm continuing to study and read and pray. I'm just so thankful that He's put me on the right path. I'm so glad He is working in my heart! I may not be the most popular person because of my newfound perspective, but I have God with me and having His approval is so much sweeter!!!!

So, to anyone who's been wondering about the PA, I can vouch for it and say that it does work. I can only imagine the effect on my children if this is what it's doing in me! Praise the Lord for revelation!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blessings, Violet

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This book is wonderful! I received it from Paper Back Swap (PBS). Since I'm about to start teaching from the principle approach, I'm becoming interested in what having a Christian worldview really is. I never heard of that word growing up and I'm just now learning what it is. It's totally different from everything I've learned so far, but it seems like common sense. Actually it's godly common sense.  For instance, I always believed that dinosaurs really did live millions of years ago because that's all I was taught. If I use my godly common sense, I'd realize that is ridiculous seeing that the world is only as old as Adam (give or take a few days there)! I also used to believe that dinosaurs lived in a different time period than humans and that si also ridiculous! Didn't God make all land animals on the same day including Adam and Eve? So there's my godly common sense developing my Christian worldview which is starkly against this world's view. The questin is not what came first the chicken or the egg? The reality is that God prepared this earth first, then placed his animals and people in it to enjoy (WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!!! I'm so glad He saved me so I don't have to be in the dark)!!

Okay, so back to the book. This book lays it all out. I've learned that big government is not God's way of ruling a nation. Over taxing the rich is not the answer. Our country was founded on godly principles of government. Even the word government is totally different in the godly term than in this worldly term. Government in the godly sense of the word refers to all forms of government: self, family, church, local, statewide and national. I've never head it put so plainly! This book is putting a lot of things into perspective for me. Now that I kow what's the right way to go, my question is what do I do about it. I know our national government is screwed up everywhere so there's no one "right" party to affiliate with....I guess I just decry the lies wherever and whenever I come across them and try to stick as close to God's Word as possible. I recommend this book to everyone!

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This is my first attempt at trying to understand math from God's point of view. I'm developing the lesson plans I will be using with my children as we learn math through the principle approach (PA). These are just my first ideas (all PA teachers out there PLEASE add your thoughts):

The foundation of math is that God wants us to know Him
1. We know Him by studying His creation (scripture of the earth sings of God's glory)
- God wants to reveal Himself to us (scripture about that)
- All nature reveals who God is: forestry, geology, astronomy, etc.
- God reveals Himself to us in nature through math (fibonacci sequence, golden ratio, golden spiral, etc.)
2. To understand the universe we need to study the relationships of things on earth  and in space (called math)
- is math all about relationships?

For those PA'ers reading this I was following the preparation listing in the math curriculum guide (pg. 100), which led me to this (pg. 80). I'm going to flesh this out fome more, but this is all I have so far.

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 SDS = Self-Directed Study in the Principle Approach   

     Yes, yes, it's been a while. I have been busy though. Trying to understand the principle approach (PA) and how God watns to use it in our home school. Each home school looks different even though we all may use the PA in our teaching, so I'm renewing my mind so I can discern what God's plan is for how our home school will look using the PA.

     So, I'm doing the SDS and have read Miiko's take on word study format and came up with this for my word study on the word "renew":

RENEW', v.t. [L. renovo; re and novo, or re and new.]

(1 Samuel 11:14) Then said⁵⁵⁹ Samuel⁸⁰⁵⁰ to⁴¹³ the people,⁵⁹⁷¹ Come,¹⁹⁸⁰ and let us go¹⁹⁸⁰ to Gilgal,¹⁵³⁷ and renew²³¹⁸ the kingdom⁴⁴¹⁰ there.⁸⁰³³

חדשÑ châ?dash khaw-dash'

(Psalms 51:10) Create¹²⁵⁴ in me a clean²⁸⁸⁹ heart,³⁸²⁰ O God;⁴³⁰ and renew²³¹⁸ a right³⁵⁵⁹ spirit⁷³⁰⁷ within⁷¹³⁰ me.

(Isaiah 40:31) But they that wait upon⁶⁹⁶⁰ the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ shall renew²⁴⁹⁸ their strength;³⁵⁸¹ they shall mount up⁵⁹²⁷ with wings⁸³ as eagles;⁵⁴⁰⁴ they shall run,⁷³²³ and not³⁸⁰⁸ be weary;³⁰²¹ and they shall walk,¹⁹⁸⁰ and not³⁸⁰⁸ faint.³²⁸⁶

לף châ?laph khaw-laf'

(Isaiah 41:1) Keep silence²⁷⁹⁰ before⁴¹³ me, O islands;³³⁹ and let the people³⁸¹⁶ renew²⁴⁹⁸ their strength:³⁵⁸¹ let them come near;⁵⁰⁶⁶ then²²⁷ let them speak:¹⁶⁹⁶ let us come near⁷¹²⁶ together³¹⁶² to judgment.⁴⁹⁴¹

(Lamentations 5:21) Turn⁷⁷²⁵ thou us unto⁴¹³ thee, O LORD,³⁰⁶⁸ and we shall be turned;⁷⁷²⁵ renew²³¹⁸ our days³¹¹⁷ as of old.⁶⁹²⁴

(Hebrews 6:6) If they⁽²⁵³²⁾ shall fall away,³⁸⁹⁵ to renew³⁴⁰ them again³⁸²⁵ unto¹⁵¹⁹ repentance;³³⁴¹ seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh,^{388, 1438, 3588, 5207, 2316} and²⁵³² put him to an open shame.³⁸⁵⁶

̓?ακαινί?ω anakainizō? an-ak-ahee-nid'-zo

̓?ά? ana an-ah'

αινό? kainos kahee-nos'

(Romans 12:2) And²⁵³² be not³³⁶¹ conformed⁴⁹⁶⁴ to this⁵¹²⁹ world:¹⁶⁵ but²³⁵ be ye transformed³³³⁹ by the³⁵⁸⁸ renewing³⁴² of your⁵²¹⁶ mind,³⁵⁶³ that ye⁵²⁰⁹ may prove¹³⁸¹ what⁵¹⁰¹ is that good,¹⁸ and²⁵³² acceptable,²¹⁰¹ and²⁵³² perfect,⁵⁰⁴⁶ will²³⁰⁷ of God.²³¹⁶

----After I looked up "renew" I went back and defined a couple key words in the definition.----

DEPRAVATION, n.

Principle I: Renewing comes from repeating ("If at first you don't succeed, try, try again)

Principle II: The process of education is to renew a child from foolish acts to a more glorified disposition (?)

-(Proverbs 22:15) Foolishness²⁰⁰ is bound⁷¹⁹⁴ in the heart³⁸²⁰ of a child;⁵²⁸⁸ but the rod⁷⁶²⁶ of correction⁴¹⁴⁸ shall drive it far⁷³⁶⁸ from⁴⁴⁸⁰ him.

-(1 Corinthians 13:11) When³⁷⁵³ I was²²⁵² a child,³⁵¹⁶ I spake²⁹⁸⁰ as⁵⁶¹³ a child,³⁵¹⁶ I understood⁵⁴²⁶ as⁵⁶¹³ a child,³⁵¹⁶ I thought³⁰⁴⁹ as⁵⁶¹³ a child:³⁵¹⁶ but¹¹⁶¹ when³⁷⁵³ I became¹⁰⁹⁶ a man,⁴³⁵ I put away²⁶⁷³ childish things.^3588,

Principle III: When we remember we renew our minds to that which we are remembering

-(Numbers 15:40) That⁴⁶¹⁶ ye may remember,²¹⁴² and do^{6213 (853)} all³⁶⁰⁵ my commandments,⁴⁶⁸⁷ and be¹⁹⁶¹ holy⁶⁹¹⁸ unto your God.⁴³⁰

Principle IV: The ultimate goal of renewing is to be able to understand completely what God likes for us to do in our individual lives

-(Romans 12:2) And²⁵³² be not³³⁶¹ conformed⁴⁹⁶⁴ to this⁵¹²⁹ world:¹⁶⁵ but²³⁵ be ye transformed³³³⁹ by the³⁵⁸⁸ renewing³⁴² of your⁵²¹⁶ mind,³⁵⁶³ that ye⁵²⁰⁹ may prove¹³⁸¹ what⁵¹⁰¹ is that good,¹⁸ and²⁵³² acceptable,²¹⁰¹ and²⁵³² perfect,⁵⁰⁴⁶ will²³⁰⁷ of God.²³¹⁶

Principle V: Everything in our lives that doesn't line up with God's goal (will) for us (individually) needs to be renewed

Principle VI: We should not continue in a lesser state (decay), but continue in God's (understood) plan (will) for our lives (individually)

     I know it’s not finished yet (kinda like decorating. You get insights and more ideas later on), but that’s as far as I can go right now.

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Blessings, Violet

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ACE = A Guide To American Christian Educaton for the Home and School by James B. Rose    

PA = Principle Approach 

     I've been meaning to do this for a while. I read about this a few months ago and don't really understand it, but it's my next lesson in Christian government.

     I wanted to know what is a Christian government and how can America say she was founded as one. In my ACE James Rose tells me:

"Our Founders were also vividly aware of man's fallen nature, which causes him to abuse the privilege of exercising governmental powers, and that a pure democracy or an absolute monarchy is not only impractical but ungodly because of the ignorance and selfishness of unredeemed men. However, they also saw that there is a Christian alternative to a secular monarchy or democracy - a Christian Republic, based on the Biblical principles of representation, separation of powers, and a dual form of government."

ACE pg. 51

     So from this I understand that it's the way our government is set up that points to a Christian influence. I wonder if the Bible can be searched and another Christian form of government can be pulled out. The government we have today is just our founders' interpretatoin of the principles they found in the Bible at that time that applied to establishing a country. In my understanding of the PA, different families can arrive at different principles gotten from the same scriptures. I guess that's a question to ask the bp group. The book goes on to elaborate on exactly how those three parts of our government are Christian (I'm still waiting to understand what a republic is). I'll probably make those my next entries (whenever that is), because I'm still trying to understand it all. There are other books that are wholly devoted to the study of Christian influence in the making of our government. They are called, The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America: Christian Self-Government and The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America: Christian Self-Government with Union both by Verna M. Hall. For now, I'm just going to try to digest what Mr. Rose was talking about.

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Blessings, Violet

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     My studying in the PA is becoming fascinating. I'm eating this stuff up and it's actually changing me from the inside out. One day I read the studies of another PA Mom and for the next few hours after that I was more gentle and less aggravated. I had a peace that pervaded my soul and affected my actions. It was amazing! If that can happen just by reading someone else's studies, imagine what God will do with me once I really get into studying this out!!!

     I'm so excited and grateful for what God is doing in my heart. Just recently I've been aware that I'm focused on the wrong thing in our home school. I've been focusing on the product. I've been teaching with a public school mindset. Just pour in the facts and regurgitate it on a test (or for us, in Mommy's hearing). I'm abhorred by this way of doing things and yet I don't know any other way. I'm learning a new way, but I don't know enough just yet to affect in my heart and mind so that I can share it with my children. I have a long way to go but I give God a crazy praise that I can see a difference. I know that something is wrong! I can discern that things are not going as godly as they could be. There's room for improvement!!! WHOOO HOOO!!!! That's excites me because now I'm looking forward to seeing how the Holy Spirit changes me and our home school. The outcome is glorious!!!! God is in the change!!!! I can only get better!!!  All that good stuff....

     So I embark on this week of refreshing with vigor!!! I shall be changed in Jesus name!!! (By God!)

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Blessings, Violet

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PA = Principle Approach

ACE = A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School: The Principle Approach by James B. Rose    

     Did you know that a nation isn't truly Christian unless it consists of a Christian form of gov't? I didn't know that before I started reading up about it in ACE.  They've also talking about it lately on the bp yahoo group. I've been really informed about the differences of what we have now and what the founding fathers intended for us to have. Our lives as Christians are totally different than what we used to be at our country's founding. That's really what PA is all about. Getting back to our roots as a country. We have a rich heritage of God intervening on our behalf to win the Revolutionary War. God wanted us to be an independent country. The citizens back then used to pray and fast when in a national crises. Our leading officials used to call for days of prayer and fasting. How far we've come.

     In my talking with various people and reading for myself, I find my mind being stretched to accept what I'm hearing. It's all biblically based (in a good way. This term always makes me want to qualify it. There's a lot of stuff in the Bible that's not all good. We're not following, for example, the ways of the Sodomites. We're following the path Jesus laid out. We're also following the path of Jesus' followers and those that looked forward to His coming), but it's so different from what I've been taught. For instance, the need for gov't to curtail or punish the rich people and evenly distribute their monies to the poor is a socialist concept. In the Bible, God makes it clear that He wants us to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it. Also, concerning the welfare program in this country, that is not the job of gov't. The church and individuals should be taking care of their own people and the poor in general. Now all this hinges on the rich and powerful having a biblical mindset as well. Once that occurs, then everything else will be in place. Just like in the first century church. Those that could gave what they had and everyone had enough.

     Just because our society is far from that model doesn't mean we just give up and try to keep our heads above water (by that I mean standing up when everyone can see a wrong being committed but not caring enough to take care of the daily compromises that brought us to that place). The PA is about restoring the biblical mindset to parents first, children second and our own spheres of influence next. Eventually we'll see the necessary revival and get back to where God intended us to  be. It's all about forming a revolution in our homes first and then reaching out and touching all areas of local and civil gov't. Who knows? You may have the next president or representative in your home. It's sobering to think that the next person to change the course of America and the world could be growing up in your own home. Are you training them to affect a godly change in this country and the world?

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Blessings, Violet

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     It's been a while since I've written in here and it directly reflects the studying I've been doing. I'm just now getting back to studying so I'm again writing in here.

     I'm in the first section of James Rose's Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School (ACE). The Providential View of History is a chapter in this first section. It talks about the importance of seeing God's hand in the making and forming of America in the early years (Pilgrims to Constitution) of our government. The point he brings out is that the lack of this providential teaching is what is causing the erosion in Christians lives to make a difference in this country for God. If the children don't understand God's hand in our country they also won't love our country because they won't see God's love for USA or the hope that He instills in us for our country.

     That's a totally different way of thinking for me as I have really never been taught God's hand in our forming nad becoming a country. In my research of the principle approach (PA) I've learned the awe inspiring stories and see how important this is to teach our children. So this is why the PA focuses so much on American history. It's one thing that's been left out of the history books as much as black history has. God has been directing me to re-establish the importance of both of these in our home school.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blessings, Violet Blogging here, there and everywhere (incuding here).You've been reading a Schooldaze post.

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     I recently visited a friend's church near Chicago named Life Changers International Church. After service I looked around the main lobby area and saw a table with the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE) books on it!!! I was so surprised that I took in my breath deeply and nearly scared my friend who was standing nearby. I went over ot the table and the lady introduced me to the church's Christian school called Valeo Academy. They teach the principle approach there and use all the books I need to get! They actually had the books on display for you to browse through as well as the curriuclum guides for each grade and subject photocopied in a big looseleaf with FACE's logo on it!!! I was floored! I had to remind myself that God had called me to teach my own children at home so that's what's best for them or else I would have gotten caught up in desiring what they had! It looks just like the Stonebridge school except that they changed the 7 principles a bit. I wonder if that's what FACE encourages schools to do. I wonder if this school researched the principle approach (PA) and applied the principles how it fits them. That's what I'm understanding you do with the PA so far.

     So anyway, this place is just like us except that it's a school with many children. We're just a school with a few children. One other thing, when I told the lady I was home schooling our children she said, "...and that can be just as good..." I wanted to laugh in her face, then I wanted to pull out my Bible and school her, but I resisted both and just smiled. God and I know what's up, so that's all that matters (wow...I wonder if I can do that with annoying family memebers).

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Blessings, Violet

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   I know I said I was excited about going to the Pilgrim Institute's 20th Annual conference, but I have decided not to go so I can move forward with our curriculum for this year and grow our home school library. It was a tough decision for me, but the tyranny of the urgent won out. I'll try again next year. I'll also just try to focus on growing our library with more red books and other reference materials that support the principle approach. I really just needed to re-evaluate and see what our home school needed at this time.

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Blessings, Violet

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     I'm glad you asked!  I'm making good progress and understanding a lot. I'm getting re-educated in things I thought were so but am finding are lies. It's very interesting.

     For one, I'm learning about where exactly Eden was. This was a big thing for me because I always believed it to be near Ethiopia somewhere. Turns out it's most liely in Asia near the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. That blew my mind as I had never heard another locatoin for Eden ever in my life.

     I love what the principle approach (PA) has to say about mathematics. This is a subject that gave me much trouble in public school so I'm rearing to redeem and restore it in my mind as not just a bum subject. Coming at it from the PA I can actually understand it!!! I'm so looking forward to teaching it to my children. The Noah Plan (NP) recommends that I use RightStart Arithmetic, but in the ACE I've been reading J. Rose recommends Ray's arithmetic so I'm wondering what's the difference. So far I can only see that Ray's approaches arithmetic using principles as RightStart doesn't. That's about all I know, so if anyone out there has more info just let me know!

     I also love the NP art guide. It's wonderful and approaches art in a totally different way than I've ever be exposed to. I think I'll like teaching this to my children and am eager to go to thelibrary and sit and research art from God's perspective so I can teach it to my children.

     While I'm learning all this, I'm also keeping in mind what I'll have to buy and what I might be able to borrow from the library. On the FACE website it says you'll only have to pay $300 a year for all the things you'll need for that year. I'm really looking into this and wondering if it's true or not. I've also looked at amazon.com and cbd.com to see if they have lower prices. Amazon has much lower prices depending on what the item is (some used book sellers don't have what you want). CBD doesn't really have lower prices concerning NP stuff. If it is lower it's only by .20 or something which isn't much to save at all. I might as well just buy the full price. My husband is also into paying full price for things so I might just go to the FACE site and buy all they have for me to buy come next year.

     I am very pleased with everything so far. Even if I'm not pleased, I'm planning on going ahead with the PA. I feel God led me here and did so for a reason and I'm committed to teaching the PA to our children. Whatever problem I may have I'll just have to do some things differently but never forsake the PA. I'm glad I at least have that settled in my mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blessings, Violet Blogging here, there and everywhere (incuding here).You've been reading a Schooldaze post.

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     I got the idea to write about this from Anna-Marie on the bpa yahoo group. I think it's a good idea to get the info out.

     There is a Principle Approach (PA) conference coming up in my state at the end of March. The conference is called the Pilgrim Institute 20th Annual Conference.  The cost is high (for me) so I'm saving my money now. I know a few Moms in my area who are going to go so I hope I can get a ride with them. I'm also going to have to mooch off (jus' kidding of course, but that' always how it feels to me) of someone who lives there because I have no extra money to be staying in a hotel.

     I'm excited to go. I got to talk to a conference speaker at my home a while ago and she just stoked my interest. I'm really glad she talked to me though, becuase I thought it was impossible with the high cost of the registration She calmly alleviated my concerns. Her name is Jeannette Whittaker and she's the only person I know who's an adult home schooled in the PA. Her mother is also going to be speaking at the conference. I'm hoping to get a better understanding from the conference and also get more exposure to others who use the PA. Maybe I'll find someone who lives closer to me.

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Blessings, Violet

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     I was just about finished typing up my nice long wonderful post about what God did for me today and my computer lost it. The browser had to close becuase of an error. I hate when that happens (to say the VERY least). So I’m going to try again, but it’s not going to be as long. From now on I’m also going to write in Word then move it over to the add entry page....

     What I was going to talk about was how God restored something to me I thought I’d lost. I thought I couldn’t use Christ-Centered Curriclum (CCC) because of the way it’s set up. It goes against some principles of the Principle Approach (PA). I thought I’d have to abandon my desire to use CCC (which I’ve had for over a year) and look for something else. That made my heart sink. Last night I read the arithmetic part of J. Rose's A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School (ACE). Something sounded familiar so I made a note to go check it out later. This morning the Holy Spirit urged me to look into it and I found out that the way CCC approaches arithmetic is the same way it’s approached in ACE! That means they’re in harmony and I can use CCC!!!!! I have wanted to use it ever since I read Never Too Early by Doreen Claggett last year. So I’m praising God for resurrecting a dying hope in me. He helped me!!!! He gave me the desire of my heart!!! I must be delighting in Him....WHOO HOOO!!!! This is so cool!!!

P.S.- If any of you are confused after reading that post, it’s not your fault. I didn’t go into detail like I did the first time I wrote it. I can’t write exactly what I wrote before and I also am still a bit ticked at my computer and don’t feel like writing so much

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Blessings, Violet

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     One of the older and wiser lady's of BPA recommended that I start at pg. 118 where Mr. Rose describes "How To Begin" (I'd think that would be in the beginning and not on page 118, but oh well). From that page he tells you to go to many different pages in steps. Sep 1 is pgs. 29, 30 to find the key to the PA. Here are notes from those pages:

• pg. 30 - Prov. 4:23 - you live your life out of you heart so keep it in the ways of the Lord. The command to keep it denotes that it's easy to lose your heart and for it to get caught up in things contrary to God.
• same page - Prov. 23:7 - your heart dictates who you are. I wonder where personality comes in. I guess your personality comes out of your heart also.
• "" - Matt. 15:18 - what's in  your heart comes out in your speech. We are made impure by our words. I wonder...if your words defile you then isn't your heart defiled too? Why doesn't it say that your heart defiles you?
• "" - Luke 6:45 - If you have a good heart, you will do good things. If you have an evil heart, you will do evil things. Whatever your heart is overflowing with, is what you. We speak out of the overflow of our hearts
• "" - Romans 10:10 - you believe in your heart and confess that belief with your mouth to be saved
• "" - Eph. 3:16 - the Holy Spirit can dwell in your heart. When He does you'll be strengthened adn reinforced with His mighty power
• "" - II Cor. 3:3 - we amke it known that we are of Christ by what's written on our hearts
• "" - Heb. 8:10 - God doesn't want us to be controlled by outward rules only, but by the rules engrained on your heart. God will guide us by our hearts
• "" - I Sam. 16:7 - We cannot see someone's heart at first glance. We look at someone's appearance. God doesn't look at appearances, but the heart
• "" - "...one must discover the heart of the subject, the rudiments to which the facts are subordinate..." That sounds good to me
• "" - "Governmentally, the Christian approach impels the teacher to provide for t he growth of Christian self-government whereby government - the flow of power and force from God indwelling and controlling the individual by the Holy Spirit - is causative and superior to the external and collective life. The correlative of Christian self-government is a Christian character and conscience (internal) whereby the individual student is both responsible and accountable to the internal demands of God's law written on the heart. The effect is a self-governed, free and independent man among men, who reasons from God's Word rather than adapts to his environment or acts without reflection." - This is exactly why we have so many laws today.  Not many people govern themselves. At present, the gov't is scared to let people govern themselves, which reminds me of the Catholic church being scared of letting regular people read and interpret the Bible for themselves (as led by the Holy Spirit).
• "" - Katherine Dang, in her historical studies, identified who was acting like a Christian (and therefore saved) and who was not. I think that's the most important distinction to teach children. Most usually teach gender, race (which is really a non-term) or religious distinctions, but whether someone is saved or not is the only distinction that matters (eternally)... to us Christians, anyway. She proved you can tell what a man's heart is like by what he usually does.
• "" - there are seven principles that the principle approach is based on: 1)God's Prinicple of Individuality; 2)The Christian Principle of Self-Government; 3)America's Heritage of Christian Character; 4)Conscience is the most sacred of possessions; 5)Our Christian Form of Government; 6)How The Seed of Local Self-Government Is Planted; 7)The Christian Principle of American Political Union

     That's the end of page 30. I went back to 118 to find step 2 telling me to read pgs. 3-5 and 14-19 to find the definition of the PA and a summary of 4R'ing. Here are the notes from that study:

• pg. 3 - the PA is a returning to the old ways of living all of life directly from the Word of God
• "" - Rosalie Slater came up with the 7 principles of the PA. Here are my interpretations: 1)God created things uniquely and distinctly in accordance with His character; 2)Self-gov't is all about obeying the Holy Spirit for instruction in every area of life from education to national gov't. The person who is self-governed will extend that knowledge to applications of home, school and national gov't.; 3)Christian character can be seen throughout the lives of Christians in history; 4)A persono' internal sense of right and wrong is his most precious possession. This principle also includes the God given right to own property and reponsibility for taking care of that property; 5)Our gov't came from the laws of the Bible. Our founding fathers based "individual representation, separation of powers and federalism in both the state and the nation." on these laws; 6)local self-gov't. was planted on the Biblical principles of truth and righteousness; 7)Our political unions should show that we do not compromise our beliefs or Scriptural separation.
• "" - a principle is a founation place
• "" - Biblical principles were the basis of America's original philosophy of education
• "" - the PA was ignored for a century
• pg. 14 - "The principle approach is America's historic Christian method of Biblical reasoning which makes the Truths of God's Word the basis of every subject in the school curriculum." This is key and what it's all about!
• pg. 15 - when you reason you distinguish truth from falsehood. So after we research we separate what we find.
• "" - when you relate you apply what you've found to your life

     So, that was it for the 18th. I've done more study today but I'll post that later. These take a while to type out...

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Blessings, Violet

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     Here are the notes I've written down for today:

• pg. xxxv - Jim & Barbara Kilkenny have a school in Texas. I have to try to find them online
• pg. xxxvi - Charles Hull Wolfe was a former Madison Avenue executive and Communication expert, but he loved Jesus and the principle approach and wrote the Principle Approach to American Christian Economics for this Guide. I just think that's phenomenal!!! Not too often do you hear a big shot in the world's eyes interested in Jesus much less the principle approach! Most Christians think it's too complicated to get involved in. I'm very surprised to know that he contributed a work in this Guide.
• pg. xxxix - Look up Christian Heritage Academy of Oklahoma City. That's where Ralph Bullard is from

     Okay that's it for today. The playoffs are on so I go to spend time with my playoff  lovin' husband!  

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Blessings, Violet

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     Here are some more notes from my readings. I did these during the commercials of the playoffs.. I don't understand the page numbers, but I wrote them down anyway:

• pg. x1i - I need to correct a note I previously wrote down. I thought the school that Ruth Smith started was called Collegiate Institute, but it's actually called Pilgrim Collegiate Institute
• pg. x1ii - "The enery and interests of free men found their expression in many fields after our Constitutional Republic was established. And the American Christian character had both faith and steadfastness and brotherly love and Christian care - an interest in benefitting others as they plumbed the depths of knowledge in every field." I think that's a wonderful statement.
• pg. x1ii - "The implications of the evolutionary theories of plant and animal life are not limited to teh biological and zoological spheres. But they have implication for the political and goernmental fields." I first heard this from one of Ken Hamm's talks. He said to make communism prosper, evolution has to be taught in the schools.
• pg. x1iii - "While these [Darwin's] statements will hardly edify the mind and heart of teachers and students they can prove to be most instructive." This sounds like the typical classical mindset. I thought the principle approach was all about staying away from teaching opposing doctrines in early schooling. Maybe they weren't talking about the context of early schooling....
• pg. x1iv - To update a previous note, the school Ralph Bullard is from is called Oklahoma Christian Heritage Academy
• same page - "But we also were aware of the vast changes in education whicheven in Christian education, were still infusing a mass of laerning without providing the historical or American perspective." Okay, tell me again why I care if there's an American perspective?
• I think I found the anser: "...unless we wish to ignore the impact of the Gospel of Jesus Christ upon men and nations, we cannot disregard the historical sppearing of America." Oh, okay. That's why

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Blessings, Violet

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     Since that title is so long I will hereby refer to this book as ACE. IAM LOVING IT!!!! Oh my goodness. The insights are inspiring, amazing and so encouraging!!!! I love being on the right track!!!!! Everything clicks!!!!! It's sooooo sweet!!!! Thank You Jesus!!!!

     Okay I said I'd post my learnings from this book so I will. This may bore some people, but I really would like to share what I'm gleaning from this wonderful book. There's so much that I won't be finished anytime soon, but I'd like to take as many who will go with me on the journey to a Biblical mindset concerning education. Here's the first day of notes:

• pg. xxvi - James Rose started his journey in the principle approach by 4-R'ing reading
• pg. xxvii - the goal of learning to read should be to read the Bible independantly. This was a totally new concept to me. Nobody ever told me or taught that to me before. I like the idea of teaching that to my children. It makes it have purpose. The highest purpose.
• same page - reference to Noah Webster's History of the United States. It began with Adam and Eve. I couldn't believe that!!! I've got to find out more about this Webster guy. I had no clue he was such a Christian!!!
• I don't know why, but that last note made me remember to look for the prairie primer and even the New England primer (which I heard was called the "Blue Backed Speller". I think they were the same book, anyway)
• same page - "Noah Webster dealt also with the way of life or conduct appropriate to a republic - not extravagant - but productive." I think as a republic we've gotten VERY far from this way of thinking. America is all about extravagance
• pg. xxviii - Mr. Rose suggests The Little Patriot Series by Guyla Nelson & Saundra Scovell as well as the Writing Road To Reading by Romalda Spaulding for reading programs.
• pg.xxx - Kindergarteners are expected to notebook and research in a big binder. This is also very shocking. A lot is expected out of Kindergarteners. I haven't put this to practice, but from my own esperience my pre-schoolers have done things they're not supposed to do yet. I think of binders as being a "big kid" thing. Since my children are doing things that are considered advanced for them I don't have a hard time accepting this. I'm escited to see what my little ones come up with to write about!
• pg. xxxiii - Ruth Smith started a school in Indiana called Collegiate Institute. She teamed up with her husband and started the Pilgrim Institute. I need to find that place! It's right in my wonderful state!!! Whoo hoo!!!!
• pg. xxxiv - "In Ruth Smith's program for teaching America's Christian History to elementary students we discover that a major that a major goal is to restore the ability to Biblically reason from cause to effect." I like that! I like that a lot!!! It strikes me.

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Blessings, Violet

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      I just received my first principle approach book called A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School by James Rose. I am so happy! I already started looking through it and it's so full of good stuff. It's like a foot fitting into an old familiar shoe. It just feels so good to e learning and reading all this. I haven't even gotten to the Bible studies yet so I know I'm going to be in for a treat! So starts my re-education of the education methods found throughout scripture using the principle approach as my guide. I'm plannign on using this for our schooling next year. In the meantime I'm going to use the Christ-Centered Curriculum (which should be here on the 23rd). I love it! This is where God directed me last year, but it's taken me a year to get started in it (aside form bits and pieces here and there). I'll just thank God's providence (a PA word) and get started! I'm adding a new category just for my re-education process. I know I'll have lots to talk about. I'm also adding some PA links. This book is full of references to other great materials that I'd like to share in case anyone else is interested in the principle approach but doesn't know where to start.

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Blessings, Violet

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     I had a most enjoyable afternoon today! I met with a lady who was home schooled in the principle approach all her life and now home schools her children. Her mother was a contemporary of the founders of The Pilgrim Institute. They found out how the founding fathers were taught and made it relevent to their day (in the 80's). It was really a rebirth of the approach to and philosophy of education. It was wonderful to hear all she had to say. I went with other ladies as well and they had a wealth of knowledge to glean from too (I'm all about gleaning!). Two ladies lived in my area and I didn't even know it! It had to be providence (the principle approach as well as our founding fathers used that word a lot) that brought me to remember the contacts I made at the Indiana Association of Home Educators convention this past February. I started searching for the Self-Directed Study and came across the principium website which is a community for those that use the principle approach. I saw that they have a map so you can see where everyone is located. I saw someone in the middle of Indiana and wondered who could be in my area. I contacted her and she led me to this meeting today! That's what I call a divine appointment (hookup is the slang term I use )!!! The principle approach is overwhelming when you're first introduced to it, but it's the only approach to home schooling that teaches the student to reason from a biblical standpoint. It gives you a biblical worldview which is so needed in this world today. You base everything you're learning on the Bible. Before you learn how to add you find out what God says about it and how He uses it in this world He gave us and then you learn how to do it. It's wonderful! That's exactly what I was looking for. If I live the rest of my life from the Word, why not teach from the Word? I had a wonderful time of encouragement and enrichment.

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