Home School Help

I have decided, but I am still coming to grips with my decision! I have had some difficult decisions to make in life, but this one (for me) ranks in the top five for difficulty. For years as a youth pastor I apposed the idea of home schooling and private school for most kids. I don't think I would completely back down from those beliefs, but for now my wife and I have decided to home school.

There is a part of me that is almost grieving. I don't know why I feel this attachment to the public school system. In the end I became very frustrated that my daughter has not been taught phonics and simple math. The teaching methods being used are severely inadequate. We have invested 2 1/2 years into Spanish immersion for my daughter and we are now kissing it goodbye. She already speaks and reads Spanish very well (for a 7 year old). That said, she is not fluent and I am fearful she will not become fluent. I cannot sacrifice her overall education just for Spanish. Enough said.

The purpose for this post is not to explain my reasoning, maybe I will do that in the future. Instead it is to seek help. A few of you said you home school. I would love to get some ideas from you as far as what material you used and any ideas you might have for home school beginners like my wife and I. Unfortunately I think we may have to go backwards and undo the damage done for a while. Fortunately my daughter is excited about the prospect of mom and dad being her teachers (we will see how long that lasts).

Please Help, especially if you know of good Spanish Curriculum. She is pretty proficient with Spanish, but needs help with everything else.

Rocky II

I wonder if I have to do six posts about Rocky Balboa? I saw the movie last night with my wife. It was a nice farewell tour to the movie. While I was never a huge Rocky fan I do like Stallone. There was one truth that hit home with me more than anything else about the movie.

Rocky if fictional, but I bet if we take the time to think about it we could think of some real life characters who resemble him. For me the best and most inspiring part of the movie was not the fight itself, it was what Balboa says to his son, "how hard of a hit can you take and keep moving forward?" (something like that).

No one lives a charmed life. Every one is going to take hits (just like in boxing or my favorite ultimate fighting) being good isn't about having the greatest technique or how good your overhand right hook is. It is more about your chin. No matter how athletic you are or how good your defense is someone is going to catch you at some point. Are you going to be able to take the hit? We have all probably taken some hits in life, maybe even our spiritual life. The questions is not what we have done or how bad did we mess up, the question is what are we going to do next.

Proverbs 24:16 says, "for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Pr 24:16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Christmas Morning

It's Christmas morning and life is crazy. My kids, my nephews and nieces are running all over the place. I am used to only having two kids around, but for this week we will have five. I can already smell the stress.

I love Christmas as long as we remember easter and the resurrection as we celebrate it. Still there is something about stopping everything in life for a Holiday that just drives me crazy. Most of the stores are closed the only thing on tv is Miracle on 34th Street, and I have stuff to do.

Later today we will hit the relatives. There is one redeeming quality about Christmas, seeing relatives who don't know Christ. There is an opportunity created by this Holiday filled with Santa Clause, Shopping, and bad shows on the telly that we must not pass up. We have an opportunity to share the gospel that may not present itself at any other time. Let's not pass it up.

Church, Gym for the Soul

I didn't coin those words, it was someone much more famous then I. Believe it or not it was Sylvester Stallone, that's right ROCKY. I have not seen his latest Rocky Film, from what I hear and read it is very good.

I had to pause when I read those words...church, gym for the soul. Hmmm. It's catchy, but does it communicate truth? I think you can answer both ways depending on what you mean by "church." Dr. D posted a recent blog about preaching, specifically exegetically. I know it sounds like I just took a sharp left turn, but hang in there. These two things are connected.

I wonder how many people would look at Sunday morning service as a work out? If they would view it as a workout, what kind of work out? Would it be a light jog or more like the two a day practices I had when I played football? Maybe it would be one of those "I'm flexing in the mirror" work outs.

If, by church, we mean a gathering of people that sings songs and listens to some bloviating preacher talk about his latest vacation with the family for 25 minutes (20 is too short to be called a sermon, and by 30 everyone is sleeping) while he mixes in a couple of scriptures, then I think the church is more like Hollywood. The weights are made of Styrofoam and the muscles are some kind of body suite.

If, however, church means a body of believers who want desperately to pay homage to the God of the universe and worship Him for what He has done by singing songs and allowing God's word to cut them to the bone, then yes church is the gym for the soul.

Why do I say this? Dr. D's post about exegetical preaching is the very kind of thing the church needs. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind topical preaching as long as the approach is exegetical (they are not mutually exclusive). In other words let God's word interact with the people of God so they can be changed. Church should be a workout for the soul, not a self help seminar robed in religious jargon. You don't become physically fit by watching football (otherwise that would be my favorite excersize). You have to do the work if you want to reap the benefit. The famous former govorner of Minnesota said, "pain is weakness leaving the body." A few sore spiritual muscles would be good for most of the people sitting in pews or comfy chares on Sunday morning.

Jesus Would Shop At Walmart

Recently a T.V. add was released in Little Rock, Ark. asking the questions, "Would Jesus Shop At Walmart?" I think there is a clear answer to this question. Of course He would. I am so sick of people picking on Walmart because they provide a valuable service to the communities in which they have stores. Let's examine for a minute what would happen if people stopped shopping at Walmart:

• The largest employer in the country would go out of business leaving people who are willing to work out of a job including some people who may not be qualified to do anything else.
• Those who work there for a part time income would not be able to maintain the standard of living they currently have.
• People across the united states would have to pay more for the products they buy causing them to have a lower standard of living, including those who make minimum wage as it is.
• Those who depend on Walmart for an income including those working the cash registers and stocking the shelves would be left to depend on welfare or some other social program to survive. That would do wonders for their self-esteem and desire to work.
• Certainly the government would have to come up with some kind of new program to support former Walmart employees.
• Walmart might be coerced into providing health insurance and paying more to their employees meaning they would have to raise prices on their products. Of course that means the employees they just gave a raise to would have to pay more for the products they buy. Probably lowering their standard of living because Walmart would also have to pay for their health insurance instead of paying the employee that money.

Since when did health insurance become a right? I don't have health insurance, it's a scam anyway. I am so sick of hearing people whine and cry foul because the company they work for doesn't' give them health insurance. Work for a different company or shut up!! You don't have a "right" to health insurance and you don't have a "right" to be wealthy.

Jesus would shop at Walmart because the people there need to be employed. They need money to survive. Jesus would shop there because the people working there are not doing anything unethical. Jesus would shop there because he is more concerned about their spiritual health then their physical or financial health. He might even heal people while shopping. Jesus would shop there because it is more difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven then for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Of course all things are possible with God.

My Heart Grieves

Another pastor has gone down due to sexual mis-conduct. I am not worried about the reputation of the church, nor am I worried about the reputation of Christianity. I am worried about pastors.

Churches, please hear my plea. Pastors need help, they are human just like you, David, Moses, and the rest of the biblical characters who all had significant sin issues at one time or another. Your pastor needs people in the church to provide a community where it is even ok for the pastor to struggle with things, have doubts, and be real. Make sure you are not creating an environment where your pastor is on an island. He is part of the body just like everyone else, and he needs people to love him!!

The Cost of Kindness

It's hard enough to be nice, at least for me, but when added costs reveal themselves it becomes less of a difficulty. Go ahead and read that again, it might not have said what you expected it to.

I was on my way home and I saw a car stalled in a very busy intersection. I decided to be a good Christian and turn around. I helped the guy push his car through the intersection. I returned to my car and started on the way home. I soon realized I could not find my phone. It was well after dark, so I went home and got a flash light and returned to the scene of the "Big Push."

I found my phone. Of course you can see the picture above. Of course I don't have insurance on the phone, so it cost me $150 to replace it. Yes, I use a pretty versatile phone that allows me to do many things. I have to admit although I hated to spend the money, I did not get very frustrated. Yah, kindness can be expensive, but there is something about knowing you did what you should have that makes the expense worth it.

Bible or Koran

Kieth Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to congress. At the ceremony to be sworn in Rep. elect Ellison wants to use the Koran instead of the Bible. Dennis Pragar (A Jewish talk show host) has asked Mr. Ellison to use the Bible because of its influence in the establishment of our country.

I thought we could take a little pole to see what everyone thought. Should he use the Bible or the Koran? Respond to the post with your vote.

Why I don't read the paper!

My son woke me up this morning crying (18 months old). Sometime during the night he found his way into my bed. Still, it was a good start to the day. I drove my daughter to school (7, almost 8) which I don't normally do. Normally I get to sleep in a little bit. Still, a great day. Then I went to the local coffee shop where I spend a lot of time. It is basically my office. Before I went inside I heard some disturbing news about schools and "trans-gender" students. I am talking about grade schoolers. I listen for a few minutes getting more and more upset by the moment. Then I went in and booted up the laptop only to read Chuck Colson's article about the culture of death in England and the church's promotion of it.

Thanks for reporting Chuck! It was a good day, but now I am just angry. I don't read the paper, but evidently I can't listen to the radio or go on the internet either. Perhaps I should just be content in the fact that the world is hopeless. I keep fighting for what is right and I keep hoping people will learn to think clearly and biblically about things, and I keep getting disappointed.

I can't wait until Jesus comes. I just get so sick of this world!! Sometimes I want to look at the world and say, "Go to Hell!" Of course I mean that literally. But then I realize I deserves hell too. I love the gospel! I love Jesus! I love the church, even as messed up as it is sometimes!

Rick Warren's Mistake

Much has been made about inviting Mr. Obama to participate in the Aids/HIV conference at Saddleback. The mistake Rick Warren made has nothing to do with Obama's profession or even inviting someone who takes liberal and non-biblical positions on many issues including abortion. The mistake was allowing any person no matter what their credentials or position in society (in this case it happen to Obama) to communicate the message Obama communicated.

Mr. Obama did not communicate a message of abstinence and monogamy, but a message of "safe sex." This is simply an irresponsible message. Even the FDA says the only way to prevent std's is by not having sex.

If a youth pastor invited someone to come and talk to students about avoiding std's by practicing safe sex he would probably be looking for a new job (hopefully in a new line of work) very quickly. This is not simply an issue of being biblical, it is simply being responsible.

Bad Reasons For Home Schooling

I have never really been an advocate for home schooling or even private school for that matter. I am still not convinced but I might be changing my mind. If I do change my mind it probably won't be for the reason most Christians might think.

A few weeks ago my daughter (who currently attends a Spanish immersion charter school) came home with a project related to a United Nations document about children's rights (she is 7). I don't much care for the U.N. and I still don't understand why the school is bothering with the U.N. I didn't have a problem with the information in the document itself, but I made my objections known for other reasons. I was also a little miffed because of the way in which a family tree project was described. The school expressed its desire to not make any kind of value statement about any particular family structure, but then proceeded to say that they affirm all family structures (that is a value statement). They did this in one sentence. I made my objections known regarding that issue as well. If you don't want to make a value statement, then don't make any statement.

That said I was still not considering home schooling or private school. My daughter loves Jesus and often talks to her friends about Christ. I don't want her to grow up in a stale environment where she does not have the opportunity to share Christ that she does in school. There is something healthy about being challenged in your belief's. I am not out to protect my daughter from what I think is clearly an non-biblical world view. It is up to my wife and I to help her discern what is of God and what is not. I take that job seriously. Her and I have frequent conversations about what she is learning in school, especially regarding social issues.

Still something happened this past week that caused me to question whether I should keep her in public school or not and it had nothing to do with the previous two items. I helped her with her math. I don't often help her with her homework. More often then not my wife does that. As I was helping her I quickly realized she didn't know how to do math. I know she is only 7, but it was not quadratic equations, converse angles, or tangents; it was subtraction. The chips cost $.69, you paid 3 quarters, how much change do you get. This is the exact problem that took 10 minutes to finish. It took so long because I thought (stupid me) the teacher would have taught the class subtraction so my daughter could do her homework.

My daughter is smart. She can read very well in both Spanish and English at 7 years old. She does very well on her spelling tests, she rarely gets any wrong. I spent about 25 minutes working with her on subtraction, how to borrow, and even a little bit of decimal points. She was able to do all of it with very little help by the time I was done. Needless to say, I was a little upset. Not with my daughter, with the education system. To my knowledge she has never been graded on her handwriting, her math, or her reading (other then the state standardized tests). I am new at being the parent of a grade schooler and I am still learning, but I am very disappointed. We could accomplish more then the school does all day in half the time at home. Currently the only thing keeping her in the public school system is the Spanish.

If there is a good reason to home school it is the quality of education. The spiritual side of things should be taught primarily by the parents no matter what school the kids attend. Sure the school might be able to help (depending on the school) and the church may be able to help, but that is the parents job. It is my opinion that parents can over protect their kids. Certainly they can under protect as well. I imagine the amount of protection needed depends on the individual kid. Still I have never been convinced that Christians schools foster love for God. They sometimes foster biblical knowledge, legalism, and negative attitudes toward anyone who disagrees with them. The kids who love God and go to Christian schools usually have parents who love God and have influenced the kids with their love. Private schools generally have higher academic standards as well.

I am beginning to wonder if the public school experiment is a failure and we should just scrap the whole thing and go back to neighborhood schools. I don't know what the long term answer is, but I do know I am not willing to sacrifice my daughter to an education system that doesn't teach.