Second-hand Thanks

Greetings from Me and My House,

I am joyfully indebted to Rosealee Slater, Verna Hall, and the wonderful people at the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.). They have, through the Principle Approach, raised a standard of Christian Education that is unsurpassed by any others. Their philosophy of learning by Biblically seeking out the foundational principles of all you study produces students with a more solid Biblical Worldview than any other approach to Christian Education is currently doing.

In fact, their students are so good, the resources I use and love even more than F.A.C.E's are those by their students. They are resources that we've owned and continually gone back to for many, many years. I won't review each resource here, but I will list some of those all-time favorites that we have found most useful. Many of these we didn't even know were "Principle Approach" books until we got into reading them. Marshall Foster's The American Covenant was one of our first, and is now quite well worn, laying a foundation for where we're at and where we've come from. I always meant to get the Study Course to go with it, but haven't yet. K. Alan Snyder's If the Foundations Are Destroyed is our newest pick and a must for Biblical governmental understanding. America's Providential History by Stephen McDowell and Mark Beliles has been for a very long time among our very top picks - overall and in the category of HisStory. Liberating the Nations, also by McDowell is a more recent enjoyment on how a Biblical Worldview transforms everything about a culture. I consider all of these "required reading".

As for actual PA curriculum type resources, the "other" big red book has remained my most used and most helpful resource - A Guide to American Christian Education by James Rose (full review coming soon). Judah Bible Curriculum by Bill Burtness was on my list for nearly 15 years before I bought it. I'd never seen it, and wasn't sure I wanted to take the chance, but now that I have it I wish I would've gotten it years ago.

I'll write more individually about these books another day. Some I've already written about - in past blogs or on our webpages. But check them out today. They are all worthy additions to your home library.

And THANKS F.A.C.E. for teaching your students well. They have gone on to do exactly what you have taught them, and what Christ desires of us all, to disciple others as they have been discipled. They are modeling the Biblical principle of Discipleship - "you follow me as I follow", and for that I am ever grateful to you.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

Thinking Biblically about Education

Greeetings from Me and My House,

The first "assignment" I give to parents coming to me for home education councel is to develop a Biblical philosophy of education. I know some of you think you don't need a philosophy, you'll just buy whatever books look good, and wing it. I also know that unless you are a "set in cement" type of person who says "we are going to make this work, no matter what", you will be switching and buying other things that look better along the way - over and over. Now this isn't about NOT buying new resources. It's about getting the right fit. And learning to think "God's way" - "rightly dividing the word of God" and applying to to every area of life. Anyhow, I'm digressing a bit.

My point is that whether you want to develop a philosophy of ed or not, you already have one, and unless you were brought up in a strong Christian home with a strong Christian education, or have already studied this out, it is not a Biblical view of education. Everyone has presuppositions about education (and life). A Biblical view of education just doesn't come automatically when you come to Christ. You bring your old mindset with you, that must be renewed to think Biblically - about education and all of life.

Throughout these articles and my teaching I give you ideas on how to develop that Biblical view, but for those of you that desire to go a little deeper into the Principle Approach (PA), or even those that are following Lifestyle Education through Disicpleship a little "looser" than PA - but would like a more thorough, systematic study on this, I recommend the Self-Directed Seminar (SDS) by the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE). It is a 9 Lesson study, teaching the methods of the Principle Approach as you research a Biblical philosophy of education.

In July and August we will be looking at the lessons of the SDS, 1 each week on Mondays, on the Bible Principles elist at Yahoo. I welcome you to join us there. Get the SDS. Join the Bible Principles list. Begin studying and send your comments, questions, and insights to the list, beginning with Lesson 1 on July 4.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

Sola Scriptura

May 7, 2005

Greetings from Me and My House,

Earlier this week I started an article that would include my Top 10 home library picks. Our webpages have (or are in the process of having) many recommendations for resources for the Christian family. Yet, in the making of books there is no end. All is vanity. Books are one of the best pursuits man can make on earth - far more beneficial than most of the other things this world has to offer, and yet it is still vanity.

Only one thing is needful. Yet the American Church has strayed so far from it. In becoming people of many books, we are no longer a people of THE Book. We may read devotionals ABOUT the Bible, or story books of Bible stories - or even watch them, or somewhat a remake of them, on video. We may follow along with a few verses (paraphrased beyond recognition) on an overhead screen on Sunday and maybe, Wednesday. But by and large, American Christians are pretty Biblically illiterate.

Though I will probably eventually write the Top 10 list, and we do continue to utilize other resources along side the Bible for educating our children, today I want to just encourage you to get into the Word. Just the Word. No books about the Bible or Biblical ideas. Not even "Bible study" books. But just the Bible alone. Not men's parphrases or "dynamic equivelents". Just the literal Word of God (translated into English, if you don't read Hebrew/ Greek. :-)

Just read it. Read it as you would any other book, chapter by chapter, beginning to end. Read it slow enough to catch what it is saying - even if you think you've "heard that all before". Think about what you are reading. This is important stuff! God wrote this just to send a message of love to YOU! Think about it as a whole message. If you don't understand something or have a question, write it down. There's a good chance it will be clarified/ answered later in the Book. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Along with that - and even better, ask the Author what He meant. If you have entered into covenant relationship with God, He is your Father and He just loves to hear from you and talk to you and has even given you of Himself to be your Teacher, the Holy Spirit lives in you to reveal God and His Word to you.

Get to know God for yourself, through His Word and prayer alone. Not about, and through, someone else's relationship with Him. Your life will be transformed by Sola Scriptura.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

Simple or Easy?

Greetings from Me and My House,

Life is hopefully returning to "normal for our house" after our whirlwind last two months, and I can return to having time to think about and edit my thoughts. One thing I've given some thought to - in light of my recent "Freedom & Simplicity" seminar - is the difference between Simple and Easy. As Christians, many of us have faced that difference through the Gospel. Jesus told us that we come to Him simply, as children. He also said it is not easy, in fact He said its easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. So there is a difference between easy and simple.

A lesson to be learned is that although some things aren't easy, and in fact can be quite a challenge, that doesn't mean they aren't worth pursuing. It also means that challenging things don't have to be complicated. This means anyone can do them, if they will just apply discipline, diligence, and other virtues. Skill and intelligence have their place, but the virtue of hard work - discipline, and faith that relies on God's help are what really makes the difference in life.

OK, now to my educational application. Many come to a Biblical Principles type of education, especially a structured one like the Principle Approach, feeling intimidated but drawn - sometimes over and over again. I have run into so many people who say, "I've looked into that - several times. I'm scared to try it, but I keep coming back to checking it out. I believe that drawing is from God, as this approach draws people into His Word - to learn of Him and His Ways, and to renew their minds to think Biblically. That is quite a challenge that requires discipline. It won't be gained by just going with the flow. It will require pressing on toward a high standard. But that is not a reason to stay away. It is our high calling in Christ, which He equips us for.

Although some programs can be complicated to implement, an education based on Discipling our children in Biblical Principles doesn't need to be. It can be quite simple. Simple methods, simple structure, yet challenging us to press in, to come up higher. Requiring of us, Disicpline and Trust. Things we must apply ourselves. On the other hand, complicated methods and complex structures that require intellect and skill always holds a cop out for us home educators. If we aren't skilled or intelligent, we just plain can't do it. Not our fault. If we aren't disciplined and trusting in God, it is our fault. These are things we need to all be working at and growing in.

We firmly believe that God intends education to be Simple - not complicated. We also believe, like all things of Excellence, it may be challenging - not easy. But for those willing to apply Disicpline and Faith, it will bring great rewards - for all.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa