Homeschool Help: What Does a “Lifestyle of Learning” Look Like?

 

Again, the Boyer's advise on homeschooling our talented children have been very helpful.   My very adventurous girl will do her homework in the great outdoors and actually do it!  she is one of those who would hate to have to sit and be stuck indoors, rain or shine.

Here is Marilyn again  (here is the last post about A Life style of learning)

We must remember that the school classroom functions as it does NOT because that has been found to be the superior method of education, but because that is the only option for mass-producing students. It contradicts, in fact, the evidence that children learn best in a realistic, life-like setting, with hands-on experience.

As John Taylor Gatto reminds:

“It is absurd and anti-life to move from cell to cell at the sound of a gong for every day of your natural youth in an institution that allows you no privacy and even follows you into the sanctuary of your home demanding that you do its ‘homework.’

‘How will they learn to read?’…When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease if those things make sense in the kind of life that unfolds around them.”  From Why Schools Don’t Educate

So, what does a “lifestyle of learning” look like from day to day? Different for every family. But, upon many requests, I thought I’d offer some practical ways to encourage your child to utilize his curiosity about his world. The ideas are really endless. I’d love to hear YOURS!

• Simply expose them. To books, to conversation, to places, to people, to animals, to cooking, to building, to nature. We simply cannot underestimate a child’s ability to take in, process and store information–something inherent at birth. This begins at birth and the fewer distractions like TV or phones, the better for motivating them to learn about their world.

 

• Listen and watch. A child learns things best in the context of what interests him. Find out what that is, give him experiences around his interests and then look to see the learning opportunities. For example, my 8-year-old son loves building things and he loves large machines. And by “love” I mean he’s obsessed. We have let him build a playhouse (with a little help from Sis), supervising his use of the saw and nail gun. It has taken quite a bit of thought about measurements and angles and my husband has been able to really show him the importance of “squaring” the frame, etc. It’s an excellent exercise in problem-solving. That geometry makes sense to him whereas if I handed him a geometry worksheet right now he wouldn’t have a clue.

• Bait the house with books. This is my favorite. I leave books on art, science, animals and other subjects lying around and sometimes an older child will pick it up and become absorbed and even begin to read and explain it to a younger one. Or when someone crawls up beside me, I open it and start reading. I just ordered a set of “Nature Friend” magazines from Ebay and I’m excited to see how they like those too.

• Let them learn from other people. Do you have friends or family who have a particular trade or skill? Would they mind some of your children hanging out to observe? If that isn’t an option, there are great videos that teach different skills for children who show interest.

• Build vocabulary naturally. Being intentional about the words we use with our children is the best way to build their vocabulary. Random words on a worksheet are much harder to memorize than if they learn the word in context of life and language. Conversation is the best way to improve communication skills. Something, in our technologically-filled lives, that takes deliberate attention.

• Focus on the traits that matter. Any time you research for “most important qualities of a successful person” or “qualities employers look for”, or something similar, the results that turn up always focus on character and NEVER include test scores or degrees. Do we take that to heart and intentionally teach and train character? Communication skills, problem-solving, and integrity rank at the top of almost every list.

LIVE. That’s the way to a superior education. Here is part of our check list, academically speaking:

1. Can they write well, speak well and convey their thoughts well? What are some activities that will facilitate these?


2. Are they numerate? Do they know how to handle numbers, do they understand fractions and how to work out number problems? As they get older, do they know how money works, do they understand debt and interest and budgeting? Very important.


3. Can they type?


4. Do they have a good grasp of history and the workings of the government? We especially want them to read biographies from great men and women of the past.


5. Are they exposed to art in a variety of forms, and music? (If they show giftedness/interest, are we doing what we can to help them excel?)


6. Do they have a heavy dose of common sense?

Charge ahead with confidence!

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A Different Way To Homeschool: A LifeStyle Of Learning

I have a daughter who loves to learn just about anything.  Here she is flying an airplane in this plane simulator.  Life is so interesting to her except when she is sitting down on a desk and asked to do some copywork.  Well, when you're 7 or 8 years old, who wants to do that, when you can be out on a beautiful day learning about how a goat births her kids?  I went to Government schools where I was very good at sitting down and doing everything my teachers said.  Now, I have had to unlearn that this is the way you learn things.  Not so, most children are naturally explorers and are given to us with a natural love for learning.  We must be careful to not spoil it by purchasing all these expensive homeschool curriculums and expecting they follow the rigid schedule and not miss a day because they might not learn or be at the same academic level as public school kids.  Take a big breath.  Aaaahhhh, teaching has never been so much fun with my older daughter as I dropped continuous assignments.  Every year I got more and more flexible with the homeschool schedule that I don't even have it scheduled. 

Our homeschool rule is:  If there is nothing more exciting or interesting going on, then we'll sit down and do some school work.  Well, this is hardly the case.  There seems to always be something more educational going on like, attending to our vegetable garden, picking up two little birds that fell from their nest, watching the goat birth twin kids, talking to visitors, walking to a creek, building a little boat, doing art, selling craigslist items, acting out Bible stories, writing letters to Christians in Prison, cooking, excavating for dinasour fossils, singing, playing piano, helping Dad, working on our family business.....When we are not doing this, my kids favorite time indoors with Mom is to read real living books about historical biographies, God's creation, inspirational stories and of course The Scriptures.

Here is an excellent guide by the Boyer family who have gone before us and from whom I have learned a lot:

(Guest post by Marilyn Boyer of Character Concepts)

One thing I have learned?from one of my struggling learners is that unless some children?want?to learn, they just won’t apply themselves to do it. Unless they?have a desire to learn something, it’s extremely hard for some of them to be able to concentrate and focus.

Some kids are motivated and know what they have to do, set their own goals and get it done.?Other children, however, need to understand why learning is important in order to apply themselves.

If you have a child like this, train yourself to study him and see what matters to to him the most. Then, look for a way to apply what you are trying to teach him to something that he cares about.

For instance, if you are trying to teach handwriting skills and your child just doesn’t care if he writes neatly, let him write something that’s important, like a letter to the editor of the newspaper.

Letters to the editor are one of the most highly read sections of the newspaper, and we found editors love to publish letters written by kids, because it’s so unusual to have a child care enough to write.

Have your child read about an issue and write a letter to be read by thousands of people he can potentially influence. Suddenly, he will care about handwriting, grammar, spelling and communication skills.

If he struggles with math, find a use for that skill you are trying to teach. For example, if you are teaching percentages, go to a sale, let him figure out how much off you are getting on deals, or let him bake a pie and cut it up to learn fractions.

For a boy who loves to build, buy him some wood and let him use measurements to build a bookcase or birdhouse. If your child is interested in airplanes, but not in geometry, let them see the plans the Wright Bros. drew up to make their first glider. These examples are examples of projects I have actually done with my kids.

Find creative ways to apply what you teach, by connecting learning with your kids’ passions, and see if that doesn’t make a huge difference in how they learn.

If you are teaching skills for writing a paper, let your child choose the topic, whether it is about the Tuskegee Airmen or hunting white-tailed deer.

Let your children make bread and sell it, raise chickens, sell the eggs and learn about accounting and small business.

This is the beauty of home education- being able to customize your teaching to your unique child!?I admit, it takes some reprogramming on the part of you, the mom, because we do things the way we’ve seen them done, the way they were taught to us in school. But remember, if there is a better way for your child to learn, climb out of the box and train yourself to enjoy learning with your children!

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Learning Aviation History the Fun Way

This weekend was a tremendous learning experience for the whole family at our local area Air Exposition.  We had previously learned of the remarkably story of the Wright Brothers.  In an age where computers didn't exist, nor public libraries, no internet, yet these young men persevered and never stopped furthering the vision of flight.  How did they arrived at the flying model?  Observing God's creation, bird's feathers.



This exploration took us this Saturday to ride a Hot Air balloon.



Danielle took a helicopter and an airplane ride.  Destiny and Danielle went on an airplane cockpit simulator where they got to sit and move the controls.  Noah explored a helicopter, made a little wood airplane craft and enjoyed sitting in an old airplane cockpit.  We have an air museum close to our town and they have an Air Show every year.  The Northern California Beach Boys fly their airplanes in some common difficult formations and the pilots donate their planes and time to inspire the young into aviation.We sure walked away with lots of learning, history and unforgettable fun.

Learn about Aviation history and mechanics:

The Wright Brothers

How airplanes work

How Hot Air Balloons work

How Helicopters work

Fun cardboard airplane for your little ones.Why learn how to fly?  Danielle was so excited that she got to go on a helicopter and an airplane.  Now,  they are motivated to learn how to fly.  I explained to them how valuable it is to know.

1.  You can fly in case of an emergency

2.  You can fly to places where going on foot is difficult to reach people with the Gospel

3.  You can teach your children

4.  You can help your husband

5.  You won't be afraid to get behind that cockpit if it ever comes a time

Whether they ever learn how to fly or not, expanding the horizons of learning and having real reasons why will make learning more meaningful.

You might have somethings like this put together in your area.

What are some other local activities you participate in?

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For Girls: Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Halle *Free Homeschool Day*

 

BEAUTIFUL GIRLHOOD by Mabel Hale (audiobook & online ebook)

The transitioning years between girlhood and womanhood are an exciting time for a girl, as well as tumultuous and confusing. Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale is a lovely guide that will help the young girl understand the changes she is going through emotionally and physically and also guide her in the proper behavior befitting a young woman.

Here is the much beloved, original edition of this classic book by Mabel Hale in an easy to read online edition, along with a great audiobook version read by Laura Caldwell.

“Girlhood is the opening flower of womanhood. It has charms all its own. The wonderful change from the child to the woman, the marvelous blossoming of young, healthy girlhood, will ever be God’s great miracle in life’s garden. Like a half-open rose is girlhood.”

Online ebook version: Beautiful Girlhood

Downloadable audiobook version: Listen Here

This is one of those must read for growing girls.

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Friday Family Fun: Free Play In The Great Outdoors

What child doesn't like to be an explorer in nature?  I remember when I was a child; I loved hiking.  Anything to be surrounded by trees, bubbling streams, bugs, the sound of birds and the gentle breeze were my favorite and still are.  Who said you have to grow up from some things?  This week my children were so happy because we discovered a running river at the end of the property we live in.  It is surrounded by nature, tall trees, birds, sand, all sorts of beautiful and interesting rocks, bugs, flowers, and herbs to learn about.  They can't wait to go  for this exploration walk daily now.  The education they can get by just being in nature is really endless.  By observing the surroundings, we talked about the evidence of a flood that happened.  This led us talk about the geological evidence of Noah's world wide flood.



Then there was the water.  Well, children and water go together.  I tried to refrain them because, I wasn't prepared with clothes, towels, etc.  and I was concern of "germs", ha, ha!  "Just try not to get wet".  As you can guess, we came back home soaked.

 



Children need to have a daily dose of free play outside.  Aside from getting their sun kissed Vitamin D, it allows the to interact with their environment.  They build their physical strength, and encourages to use creativity to solve problems.  I can see their minds turning and coming up with all sorts of adventures.  Danielle started building a raft to cross to the other side.  Noah was fishing with a stick he picked up.  Destiny was fascinated finding interesting rocks that she believed were washed up and deposited here as a result of Noah's flood.  She noticed the layers on the rocks and said they told the story of the Grand Canyon.

Then there is the beach.  Oh, the sand!  Noah and Destiny would run to the sand and roll on it laughing like  saying, "here I am, I missed you".  There is not much to the beach: sand and water.  But my children say that God thought of children when He made it.  They can spend there all day and never get tired.  They get cold, itchy from the salty water and we eat our food with sand all over.  As much as I try to prevent the sand from invading our food, I've not been successful.



 

Then there is the marvelous snow.  How blessed we are here in California, to have all these three, the mountains, the beach and the snow, so close.  It is amazing how they don't get cold.



The best way to kill the creativity in children is to keep them indoors.  No doubt there is a lot we can do indoors to encourage creativity, but there is no comparison.  That is why even in my busy schedule, I make the effort to take the adventure walk in nature with my children.  I get my exercise in, my vitamin D from the sun, homeschooling done by studying what we find, and release stress by enjoying the breeze, birds, and the calmness that comes being surrounded by the giggles of children and nature.  And then, I am so glad I did.



 

I like educating all day long.  And these nature walks are excellent.  We can do scavenger hunts, paleontology excavations, study rocks, recognize wild herbs and their medicinal properties, geology and rock formation, botany, physical laws with water, skipping rocks, collect bugs, interesting specimen we can look under our microscope, build bridges, fish and cook it over a campfire, etc.  The spiritual lessons are always tied because God is the Creator.  This has given my children a love for learning.

Do you take nature walks with your children?  What are some of the ideas you have for this free play?

 

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Weekend Family Fun: Creation's Scavenger Hunt

Something that children always love are scavenger hunts.  I like putting meaningful scavenger hunts that will teach a lesson.  I will share some of them in the future.  Here is a simple one that the whole  family can participate as you go for a "Creation walk".  If fact,  I highly recommend going for a walk everyday with your children no matter the weather.   Kids like to get ready for walks anyways.  Bundle them up if it's cold with all their scarves, gloves and beanies.  Grab that umbrella for rain or sun.  Water boots are excellent since kids can't resist the puddles.  If it's too hot, carry a water spray bottle and drinking water.  So plan well for what time of the day is best to go out.  We like mornings, now that the weather is perfect around here.



Here is an idea of our hunt.  I printed a sheet of paper for each child on a nice nature background:

Creation’s Scavenger Hunt

• 
  

  Something fuzzy

  
  


• 
  

  Two kinds of seeds

  
  


• 
  

  Two pieces of man-made litter

  
  


• 
  

  Something straight

  
  


• 
  

  Something round

  
  


• 
  

  Something smooth

  
  


• 
  

  Something rough

  
  


• 
  

  Two different types of leaves

  
  


• 
  

  Something that makes noise

  
  


• 
  

  A chewed leaf

  
  


• 
  

  A beautiful rock

  
  


• 
  

  Something you think is beautiful

  
  


• 
  

  A pinecone

  
  


• 
  

  A critter – dead or alive

  
  


• 
  

  A feather

  
  


• 
  

  Something you think is a treasure

  
  

Sit down under a shady tree and give a treat to the kids for their great job hunting.  Share what they found and you can draw object lessons from each finding.  For example,  study how God perfectly designed the feather with hollow bones so they can be light and flexible for flight.  You can expand on flight and history of the Wright Brothers.   Collect all the rocks they picked up and talk about David who fought Goliath with 5 smooth stones.  Then practice their sling shooting.  What fun for the boys! And girls too!



The girls found rough and smooth stones.  We had a great conversation as we sat for a snack  and talked about how God uses each one of us in a family to make us smooth like the stone.  We are born rough but like the river rocks that get tossed along the river with other rocks, they end up smooth.   So we want our character to be smoothed out.   Be creative, the lessons are endless.

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The Home, A Garden To Grow - Part 5

3.  The Home, A garden to grow

The model we see in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 is that disciple-making goes on continuously throughout the day.  This is a great challenge!  We, as mothers ought to diligently assist our husbands in the training up of our children.

We must dedicate our day to this aspect of our home.  It is extremely important because if we neglect it, our children, church and society will suffer huge setbacks.

Our children’s hearts are like a garden.  This spring we have a garden going on which we have to tend to everyday.  We have to water it, check for weeds, protect it from predators and prune it when the time comes.  Our children too grow and need the tender nurture that only a mother can give.  We are with them most of the time.  We see the “weeds” springing up.  We take note, pray about it and pluck them out.  Those grow naturally;  it’s the sinful nature.  Proverbs commands us to diligently discipline our children (Proverbs 13:24).

Having a multigenerational vision will help us see even past our children but great grandchildren.  We want to grow a solid family legacy that will flourish in this world with the love of God.  For this, it will take diligent vigilance.  Remember that the weeds grow naturally and can choke up a beautiful plant.
When I see a mature tree that is crooked.  I like to point it out to my children and tell them,  “Do you see that tree over there?  Why do you think it just grew like that, sideways, instead of straight up to be tall and provide shade or good fruit without breaking?”  They would answer,  “It was not disciplined with the rod.”  “That’s right”, I would affirm and point to a small tree that is growing with rods tied to it so it can grow straight.  “How do you think this tree will grow?”  I ask, “Straight,  they answer.  “That’s is with us, God has to discipline us and help us through His Spirit to grow straight into His Likeness, not crooked looking like the world.”


Just this task of the home alone takes daily full attention to all your children’s hearts.   I confess, that I am nervous at times when someone wants to take my children or want them to visit.  One exposure to the world’s ways, can defile a child’s innocent mind and undermine all the work I’ve tried to cultivate for years.  I take my job very seriously before God.  That is why I don’t desire more a “Mom’s day off” from my children, as much

as a “Mom’s day off” from household duties, so I can free up more time to tend to the hearts of my children.

There is a big deception in many women who think that caring for your children at home is full of mundane activity.  This is not true.  I have even come to like washing dishes, because my precious five-year-old is

so excited to do it with me.  I take this opportunity to bind her heart to mine, and disciple her to Christ likeness.  It is when I see my daughter struggling, giving up, on a task, that I am right beside her encouraging her and reminding her of God's promises.  Of course there are chores I detest, but as I properly align my heart to His Word, I begin to thank Him for all these dishes that need to be put away or all these laundry that needs to be done.  I can’t imagine life without these children or my husband.  How sad it would be if I didn’t have dishes or clothes to clean for them.  And the more the merrier life is!



This careful tending of our children’s hearts can only be done by mother.  Even father’s role is different.  He will lead the whole family in taking dominion.  He is not so in tune with the day-to-day growth of the children because he doesn’t spend as much time with them as Mom does.  But his role is extremely important, so much so that family is dysfunctional without him.   We have a fatherless society, a broken down society.  Fathers who have abandoned their families physically or psychologically.  Yes, there are parents who have switched the responsibility of the growth of their children to school teachers, youth group pastors or Sunday school teachers, who will never be wiling or able to daily pray for them, weed them, discipline then, nurture them so they can grow into men and women of noble character.

At the same time as we devote our lives to cultivate a heart of wisdom in our children, our hearts are also growing into His likeness.  I can say, I am more patient and selfless, thanks to God who gave me these children to mold me in these areas.  My marriage is the primary plant to focus on making sure it is not drying up.  It takes more time and commitment to serve and help my husband.  This is our priority from which the rest overflow.  If we don’t tend to the garden of our home daily with sacrificial love, intentional parenting, and service, we will have a home that resembles the sluggards, full of thorns and weeds.  Our children, to my shame or careful teaching of Proverbs, are quick to point out when they see a front yard that is dry, dirty, full of weeds, thorns and thistles.  “Look, those people are like the sluggard.”

Let’s tend to our hearts, our children’s and our husbands’ with careful and faithful labor so we can grow healthy, and fruitful homes.

What is the state of your garden?  What are your favorite things to do to make it flourish?

The Home - part 6

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The Home Is A Place For Continuous Learning- Part 4

Most of us are pretty familiar with the words in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up…Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”   This scripture is recited everyday in Jewish homes and weekly in the synagogue, yet, those reciting it have yet to understand it or begin to obey it.  God is clearly charging parents with the education of their children of both knowledge and Biblical truth.   It doesn’t mean that parents are to be the sole teachers of their children.  But, we are responsible and have complete authority to choose what kind of education and who teaches our children.  I would advocate that it is a great advantage to have the children, especially the young ones, being home educated because parents would be more able to shepherd the child’s heart than only seeing him a few hours a day.   Deuteronomy does say to teach our children throughout the day. 

In fact, due to our present controlling government, home educating our children can have the greatest impact to how our government and country changes in future years.   Making our homes a center for our children’s education will give a big blow to the “socialist agenda” our government has planned to go.

Nothing is “free”

The idea that public education is free is a big lie.  Every time something is said to be free, we become very discerning, especially if it comes from the government.  Public school, including charter schools, comes with a price tag, your freedom and your children.  For the last 200 years, people lost sight of how important freedom in education is.  We have given our children away to be indoctrinated by a humanist, atheist and immoral system of education.   One of the most important documentary films that clearly explain the indoctrination in the public schools is Indoctrination.  Get it. It is absolutely to be in our home library.  I have given it to neighbors and they have immediately made the decision to home educate their children just by watching this documentary.

Best Time To Home Educate Is Now

Like never before in history, we can home educate our children and be able to teach them anything we want under the sun.  Information has never before been so readily available with technology, like the internet and all the books available for free.  Seriously, who can’t home educate?  When my children ask me a question that I don’t know the answer,  I tell them, “let’s research it”.  They are learning that there are no limitations to learning.  If the Wright Brothers could invent the mechanics of flying, with limited resources available, and the countless of inventors and discoveries made, we have no excuse.

Advantages of Home Education

I will give just a short list of the benefits of home educating because they are simply many.

1. We have the privilege of being our children’s main teachers.


2. Learn to love to explore and make discoveries in
   God’s creation.


3. We can better shepherd our children’s hearts.  And have their hearts.


4. We indoctrinate our children in Biblical Truth and how to love God.


5. We can teach them what they are interested about instead of insignificant or unwanted material.


6. The whole world is their classroom instead of being locked up in a school campus.


7. Experience the blessings of God by obeying this command.


8. The subjects to learn together as a family are limitless.


9. Build stronger faithful generations as our children also home educate their children and continue.

10.Our churches and government will be stronger and more godly as we raise our children to lead in the world and take dominion.

11.We teach and learn from living an adventurous life with our children.

12.No time restrictions and no wasted time:  We teach while cooking, cleaning, gardening, home birthing, shopping, eating, at every moment and opportunity.

There are so many more.  These blessings are not easy either.  There will be things we may need to sacrifice to have our freedom.  I don’t believe anyone has obstacles in this area that can’t be overcome.  I speak from experience.  When you weigh the cost, the obstacles are worthless.  The souls of our children are worth more.

Is your home a place for education?  If you wish to home educate what are your fears?

The Home - Part 5

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Watch "180 Movie" for free!

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Princess Adelina

I gave this book as a 7th year birthday to my daughter.  When we started reading it, she didn't let me put it down into the late nights.  We both were hooked and couldn't put it down.

Very few books are worthy of our time nowadays.  This book is non-fiction, we learned good history and woman Christian virtue.  It helped her as a daughter and me as a wife.  Adelina is truly a shining example, a perfect role model for all of us ladies and maidens of today.    We have been captivated for days meditating on her virtues, character, bravery, strength, humility, love for God, righteousness, faithfulness and the list goes one.  Even as young as 17 years old, as she is introduced in the book.  I have learned a lot from her humility and commitment to God, seeking not her own interests but the interests of others.  Adelina, as a wife of a Pagan ruler, she strongly lives out the words of  Peter of living in submission to an unbelieving husband.  She beautifully displays a woman of noble character as protrayed in Proverbs 31.   She truly opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is in her mouth.

A must read for every maiden.  As a mother and daughter read was very sweet.  My daughter prepared to act out scenes, to recreate the story during play.  As a homeschool project, we've created a compare and contrast between Adelina and Geila.  And one day she wishes to make a movie.

To purchase, click here or on the vision forum icon on the right.

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Jonathan Park CDs and other DVDs for sale

Up for sale is this Audio Dramas and Crown Financial Ministries videos. Go to http://www.ebay.com/sch/erazojandf/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562 and happy bidding.   If you don't win this auction go to the Vision Forum icon on the right to purchase the product.

Tune in to listen to the continuing adventures of the Park and Brenan families. Captivating for listeners of all ages while it teaches the truth of biblical, six-day creation. Each adventure is based on real places and scientific discoveries!

No Looking Back, Volume II of the Jonathan Park Audio Adventure, includes twelve thrilling episodes:

1.Bone of Contention: Part I
Dr. Kendall Park and his family are trapped inside the Hidden Cave and must fight for survival! Meanwhile, the credit for Dr. Park’s fossil discovery, which earlier had cost him his job, is being claimed by an old friend.

2.Bone of Contention: Part II

3.Showdown at Twin Bridges: Part I
The Brenan and Park families are spending a fun weekend on the Buchanan’s dude ranch. Unfortunately, Dillon Buchanan has a chip on his shoulder and his mean pranks put Jonathan’s life in danger!

4.Showdown at Twin Bridges: Part II

5.Mysterious Stranger
A dangerous arsonist escapes from the Sheriff near Brenan Ranch. Suddenly, a homeless man shows up at the museum construction site and offers his help. Is this mysterious stranger the escaped arsonist?

6.Long Road Home
Jessie is filled with excitement when Bonnie gives her “Dusty,” the tan Appaloosa. But when Bonnie, Jessie, Martha, and Katie take the one thousand-mile, all-girls’ road trip to get the horse back home, everything seems to go wrong!

7.Cry from Cyberspace
After a diabetic episode, eight-year-old Ashley awakes to find herself locked inside a strange room with only a computer. The Eagle’s Nest Gang receives her stray e-mail, and now it’s up to them to find her before her blood-sugar drops too low again!

8.The Talking Picture
Artist Riley Sievers is helping Benjamin work on an invention when suddenly, he disappears! While police suspect Riley’s kidnapping is connected to his father’s campaign for Governor, the Eagle’s Nest Gang search for Riley and the truth.

9.Mystery at McBane Manor: Part I
When Rusty plays an elaborate prank that backfires, he and the Park and Brenan families are stuck in a big, scary mansion that holds secrets about the strange disappearance of Elizabeth McBane in 1902!

10.Mystery at McBane Manor: Part II

11.The Blazing Star: Part I
Days before the grand opening celebration for the museum, the Parks are being framed for a crime they didn’t commit. Meanwhile, the museum is being threatened by an environmental group that could force them to close the doors before they ever open!

12.The Blazing Star: Part II
Each episode has a playing time of 26 minutes.

Join the Creation Response Team & Download
Free Jonathan Park Study Guides

By joining the Creation Response Team, you will have access to password protected, ‘Members Only’ information! This includes a look behind the scenes and listening to deleted scenes, alternate endings, image galleries of the Jonathan Park creative team and more!

With this free membership, you will also be able to keep track of your favorite radio drama characters while learning to defend God's Word against the lies of evolutionism through the Jonathan Park Newsletter.

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God's Catalogues

How can we bless the heart of God?  By blessing those near and dear to His heart, the fatherless, the orphans, the widows, the poor in  our dying world.  My children love to choose and pick what the want to give to the Lord (we especially do this on Christmas) and wrap it up.  Then we open the presents together.  If they have picked something beyond our monetary means at the time, we pray the Lord will provide...  Another very special news magazine we like to read to our little children is about the persecuted church.   Our three year old likes to pray for the underground church everyday now.

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Doctor leaves practice to be a Stay at home Mom!

May the Lord continue to raise up godly courages women who embrace their highest calling.  Then and only then will they be truly fulfilled as women.

Physician Wholeheartedly Gives Up Medical Practice to Be a Wife and Mother of Eight Children for the Glory of God! from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

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What our Home Education looks like these days

One of the advantages of home educating is that your children will never lack creativity and will be self learners for life! With no TV or running up and down to the latest or popular activity outside the home, our girls have no end and not enough time in the day to flourish in their creativity. Lizbeth can pick up anything and transform it.

1. Our home is an Opera House.  Lizbeth blesses us all singing her favorite Hymn, "Amazing Grace" throughout the day.

[caption id="attachment_815" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Their Horse carriage"][/caption]

2.  Our home is a Theater.  Everyday we enjoy performances such as, Mary mother of Jesus, Ruth, Queen Esther, Barbara and Regina  Leininger, Heidi, Mary and Laura Ingalls.  Adventure and drama have become part of our lives as Mom and Dad are encouraged to participate in these day to day live performances as we go about our daily routines.



3. Our home is an Orphanage.  Every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, our doorbell rings and we have a poor orphan girl in rags, looking hungry and sickly with a few belongings in her hand.  She is invited to join us for the meal and of course adopted into the family.

4.  Our home is a Restaurant.  There is "cooking" in the bathroom, playroom and of course in the kitchen.  As we gather for our meals Sarah and Lizbeth have always something deliscious to contribute.  Sometimes the food is hard like "wood", sometimes is gooy like "play dough with water".   And we better eat of if too.



5. Our home is a dance studio. Everyday little Sarah learns new moves and wants us all to see her do them over and over.
Lizbeth now with more controlled moves than the jerky ones feels like a real ballerina.



6. Scrip writing workshop. Over and over and over and over will you hear, "pretend you say, 'Oh look at that girl how she dances... " or "pretend you say, "(whatever name character they're into) Laura, would you like to eat with us..."

7. And of course, every homeschooling family knows why moms are book addicts and we like to collect books even we may never read but I excuse myself thinking the kids will read. We read at least 2 hours a day together in addition to independent reading. Little Sarah, has memorized the stories that she is so excited she can READ!

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Documentary of the year: AGENDA, Grinding America down

On sale now  for only $12 plus take advantage of the great sale up to 60% off on various products.

When Idaho legislator Curtis Bowers wrote a “Letter to the Editor” about the drastic changes in America’s culture, it became the feature story on the evening news, people protested at the capitol, and for weeks the local newspapers were filled with responses.

He realized then that he’d hit on something.

Ask almost anyone and you will hear, “Communism is dead! The Berlin wall came down.” But although the word “communism” has fallen out of favor, Marxism continues to have a powerful influence upon our nation, as this new film quickly reveals. Join Bowers for a fascinating look at the people and groups that have successfully targeted America’s morality and freedom in their effort to grind America down.

It’s a well-documented agenda.

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Amazing Grace by John Newton

This year in Thanksgiving, I am forever thankful for His Amazing Grace.  My good Heavenly Father continues to love me inspite of my sinful heart.

These last days I have been found in such brokenness really searching my heart of all selfishness and found it full of it.  So many things I have taken for granted that for some reason I think I'm entitled to it.  Why has the Lord blessed me with three healthy beautiful children?  Because of His Amazing Grace.  Why has the Lord blessed me with a husband who seeks to grow in Him and learn more each day and who loves me?  Because of His Amazing Grace.  Not because I deserved any of His goodness, aside from the bounty of material things around me, His surpassing peace and faithful protection are just a few of the things I enjoy and am thankful for now knowing that I don't deserve any  of it.  I don't deserve a car.  We just sold our family car and are driving when can my husband tight little bmw.  But I thank God we have that, when many, many don't and many didn't in history.   I don't deserve anything really but the punishment but thanks be to God who rescued me and since the first hour I believed His Grace has been amazing.  He knew I would hurt Him by my actions.  He knew I would lie and cheat, and get angry and impatient.  He knew I would be selfish and foolish in many desicions.  Yet, His Grace was Amazing since the beginning because I am here surrounded by His bountiful blessings, by His goodness.  I bow low and say like the Psalmist, "what is man that you are mindful of him?"

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The Story of Jonah

Amazing story teller!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

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Rethinking Youth Ministry

I was raised in youth ministry, although, I didn't like it.  I always prefered to stay with my mother in the preaching of the Word.  Everyone at church would coax me and tell me how wonderful it was.  "Others the same age, you can make friends, you will understand it better."  Well, of course I didn't want to.  I was only 12 or 13 years old, but just so they would stop persuading me, I agreed to visit.  Next Sunday I was back with my mother listening to the Word from the pastor.  The truth is that I loved Jesus and I was hungry for Him and know more about Him.  The youth group was so elementary to me and the ones attending were irreverant and not interested in God.  I didn't want to sign up for peer pressure.

Now days, the story is the same.  I was a youth director before too.  I don't know of any of those youth passionately pursuing God today.  Many of them fell in sin and live a mediocre lifestyle.  In my city where I live we have a renown church with one the top youth facilities in the nation.  I've been there and was saddened to see so much of the world in the facility.   There are violent video games, guitar Hero, programs and entertainment of first class.  Although there are few exeptions, the only ones I know who attend are no different from the world.

Then, reading through the Scriptures, I noticed that this segregation of youth was never intended to be.  Whenever God's people would assemble or even gather in the homes, there were children, young and old together.  Paul's letters were read in the churches, it was obvious every member of the family was present because he refers to them.  When God would call an solemn assembly, He made sure the children were present.

I sincerely pray that local churches would embrace a family integrated ministry rather than segregating the youth and children.



Segregation from NCFIC on Vimeo.

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Big Sale up to 70% off on Homeschool materials

Click here to find great resources for your family at incredible prices.  Sale only two more days.

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Back to School Or Not

I've heard these arguments, "We send our kids like Jesus said, sheep among wolves",  "Our kids have excelled in public school", "My child is a straight A student", "We can't abandon the school system, the enemy will gain more ground".  And so on and so on.

Really, really really!  If your goal is to educate your children,  Public School has failed everytime, even if your child gets straight A's.  I was one of them.  Even since first grade I was the best student in class.  I'm not exaggerating, all the way through College.  My father taught me since very little not to be a good student but to be the best.  Soon, it just became a part of me to be excellent in everything I did.  I went through schooling just fine but gain no real education.  This is a big difference.  I did the right thing my teachers asked me, but was I learning truth that would change me?  No.  A few things I learned are, and your children are learning too:

1.  Betty Friedman was a hero


2. How to use condoms


3. Our Founding Fathers were atheist and deists


4. Hidden truths about George Washington.  History textbooks have been revised over and over to delete Providence interventions, miracles in the founding of America.


5. Planned Parenthood will take care of you


6. Homosexualism is another naturally biologica sex


7. In Elementary, you learn about fairies, Christmas is all about Santa Claus.


8. We came from monkeys


9. The earth is millions and millions of years old


10. Dinasours are millions and millions of years old


11. In the beginning there was a spec of dust and everything came from there


12. To believe what the teacher says is true, and not parents


13. It's ok to break every single of the 10 commandmants.

From friends you learn:

1. To be cool and hang out with them instead of with your parents or siblings


2. Sex


3. Inmodest, lustful dress


4. Spend a lot of money in cosmetics and toiletries and unfitting clothing


5. Laugh at foolishness


6. Tolerate sinful life styles


7. Experiment if you are bisexual


8. To talk like them


9. Bible is not relevant


10. Dating


11. Ungodly music


12. Waste time

And the lists can go on and on.  You can add to this list.

Here is the formula: 

Teaching academia truth + a little bit of poison mixed in it = A new pattern of thinking

"The tuth is that in the late 19^th century the government Marxist cartel overthrew home education because Christians were a danger to a Marxist utopia.  There were important political reasons to take parents completely out of the picture.  Once that happened, teachers replaced parents and diverged them from theology.  They began to school them rather than educate them into patterns of thinking and behavior conforming to a socialistic state.

The best minds of America have been conditioned to information that is not true about many things and education itself.  When we think of school we think with a compromised mind of Marxist schooling.  For example, it is false that public school have always existed in civilized country.  They are a recent failed experiment.  Before, literacy was almost 100% and now it has destroyed literacy and compromised students to think and created a deep moral paralizes.  Marxist say it’s a success because it has done just that.   It was their goal.

Psychologist John Dewey said, “high literacy is an obstacle to socialism.”  He proposed a system to reduce literacy in students through a forced public education system.  For over a century, the experts have institutionalized children. They’ve schooled them, not educated them.  They’ve limited their access to their parents and access to real education.  All this is necessary for a successful socialist economy.  Today social planners say, “schooling is the way children will be fit for life in the modern world.”  This is why so many parents are uncomfortable with the idea of home education.  They believe it will rob their children of success in this world.  And yes, it might.  There is the opportunity to build something different.  Educate our children to live for the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of this world.  A complete non socialist world." Insert by Geoff Botkin

Shall we conform? to the patterns of this world?  Or shall we follow God's Word on Educating our children?

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