Lighting a Fire with History

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When it comes to teaching our children, what is the goal? Is it just to learn facts, pass a test, and move on to the next subject? If that is all there is to it, I believe we’ve missed the mark. Williams Yeats said, “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” I believe that this accurately describes one of my goals in homeschooling. I desire to give my children a love for learning. I want to spark their interest in education.

When it comes to teaching History, I have to be very careful to not weary them with boring names, dates, and facts. I want them excited about learning from the past. Fortunately, we are not limited to only textbooks. There are tons of resources available for parents who want to light a fire of interest in their children.

Roman Town, created by Dig It Games, is one way to spice up ancient history lessons. Our family was blessed to be able to review this product. Everyone has gotten involved in this game, even my husband. It gives the user a firsthand look into Roman life. With Roman Town you explore Fossura, which was destroyed in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. During the archaeological dig you can find artifacts such as pottery, bones, coins, and paintings. Then you can play games, solve mysteries, and learn all about daily life centuries ago.

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Here are some of the features listed on their website.

  •  Immersive, interactive learning environment
  • Gameplay focuses on development of analytical thinking and team building
  • Puzzles encourage problem solving
  • Authentic artifacts and realistic backgrounds
  • Accurate information about Roman Life and Roman history
  • Encompasses the full excavation experience from start to finish
  • Introduces Archaeology in a fun, manageable package
  • Fun for the whole family

Head over to Dig It Games and check out this great educational game. The purchase price is $39.95 but if you use the coupon code TOS2011 before February 21, 2011 you can get 20% off the 2010 price of $24.95. (You end up paying just under $20.)

To see what others are saying click here.

Disclaimer: As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Roman Town Download in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Times Alive! Multiplication Software Review

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You know a product is successful when your 2nd grader asks, on a Saturday evening, to play the “Multiplication Game”. This is the experience we had with our newest math review. I received the Times Alive download from City Creek Press.   

I was excited about the product because my daughter needed a little boost in remembering her multiplication facts. Frankly, I get bored doing flash cards and she gets bored writing the facts out. We were anxious to try a different approach.

Times Alive uses stories, movies, songs, and animated pictures to teach children the 0 to 9 multiplication facts. It is silly, colorful, and fun! My daughter enjoyed it and asked several times to play it (instead of doing her math assignments). I always tell my children that their education is not about completing an assignment or staying on schedule. It is about learning. So, I let her. I can honestly say that it has helped.

What I did not expect was my 2nd grader to enjoy it so much. I have only taught a few of the multiplication facts to him this year. But he picked right up on it and can remember as much (if not more) than his sister. Both of the children will continue to use this software throughout the rest of the year.

If you have a child who needs a creative way to learn their multiplication facts, this is the program for you! You can purchase it as an instant download for $44.95 or on CD for $48.95. The program can be used with all your children which makes it an affordable solution!

To see a YouTube Video Sample, click here.

To find out what others are saying about Times Alive click here.

 Disclaimer: As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received the Times Alive Download in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Lift Up Your Eyes

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“Why are we helping people who are living in blatant sin?” I asked my husband. He had received a call from a young man who needed help. As my husband spoke with him, he discovered that he had a live in girlfriend. I believe in helping. There are those who are trying to live good lives and struggling in this world. Sometimes a helping hand can make a world of difference. I know we have been there in the past and God has used others to come along side and bless our family. But this was different. Wasn’t it?

“Go get some food out of the freezer, a loaf of bread, and a gallon of milk and we’ll add it to the box of food from the church.” He said. “I still don’t think we should help people who are fornicating.” I replied. He told me that we needed to. This would be an opportunity to talk to this man and woman about the Lord and their need of repentance. So I reluctantly went along.

It took us some time to find the place. We were looking for a house. What we found was some type of business which looked more like a junk yard. In the midst of the junk was a small trailer like you would hook up to a truck. It was a little smaller than my bathroom and it had an extension cord run through the window for electricity. My husband spent quite a bit of time talking with this young man and woman. He wanted to find out about their life. They were without a home, without a car, without a job, living in a borrowed trailer in exchanged for a little side work. They had no family, no way to get married, and no hope.

As my husband spoke to them, he told them about the Lord. He explained that God cannot bless them while they are living in sin. He tried to shed the love of God upon their lives and give them hope. He gave them the food. Then he prayed with them, got in the car, and drove away.

As we drove home and talked, God taught me a lesson that I pray I will never forget. You see, I live a very sheltered life. Sure, I know there are those who have it hard but this was not about “having it hard”. They were not struggling to make their car payment; they didn’t have one. They were not struggling to pay the cable bill; they didn’t have a TV. They were not facing foreclosure; they didn’t have a home. They were not having trouble at work; they didn’t have a job or a way to even find one. And even if they could find work they would have no way to get there. Even if they wanted to repent and live pure before the Lord where would they go? If this young man left this woman to make it right, where would he leave her? She had no family, no job, no home, nothing.

I had no answers for them. I could give them a few groceries but it seemed in vain. All the worldly wisdom that could be offered seemed futile. (“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work,” James 3:15-16). Only God has the answers. It is His wisdom that this young couple needs. (“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace,” James 3:17-18). I pray that as we strove to point them towards God that we did it in a pure, peaceable, gentle way that was full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

This world desperately needs the Lord but sadly, many of God’s people have lost their influence. There are a number of reasons for this. The first is that we have stopped living a separated life style. We do not live holy lives; therefore, the church has been relegated to the corner of society. The second reason is because we have refused reach out. We are content to focus inwardly. Evangelism has ceased. As one old preacher use to say, “We have become fish tank keepers instead of fishers of men.” I believe that most pastors have a heart for evangelism. The problem is that they are so busy dealing with the woes of the congregation, the sins of the people, and irrelevant issues within the church that they simply do not have any time left for those outside. But evangelism does not fall to just the pastors. The Great Commission was given to the church (the people). So that falls to me and every other true believer. Sure I have a high calling of focusing on my home, my husband, and my children. But I am to also be light to a darkened world and salt to a wounded people.

Our Lord said, “Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest,” John 4:35. My problem is that I haven’t been lifting up my eyes. I haven’t been looking. Let me take that back. I have been looking but perhaps I need to stop looking in such a judgmental way and begin to look with compassion and love. Not with worldly compassion and false love that ignores sin but with godly compassion and true love that confronts sin and points sinners to their only hope – Jesus Christ.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids

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Have you ever wondered just what the difference between a grasshopper and a locust was? 

Have you ever needed a resource for the Jewish Feasts and Festivals?  

Have you wanted to teach your children the names of God and Jesus found in the Bible?

What about looking up pictures of all those musical instruments found in the Bible?

Or, would you like a complete list with references of the parables of Jesus and the lessons He taught?

If so, The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids is just what you need.  I recently received this book in the mail from Lifeway Christian Stores.  It is a vibrantly illustrated hardcover with 224 pages.   The dictionary has 750 Bible terms with over 500 photographs, illustrations, and maps.

When each of my children saw the new book lying on the table they all responded with, “Wow, what’s this?”  This is a great resource for my children.  It makes Bible study fun and engaging and is a book we will pull out time and time again. 

By the way, in case you wanted to know, here is the list of the names of God found on page 125 in the dictionary:

  •  Elohim (Genesis 1:1)                        –        Powerful God
  • Adonai (Genesis 15:2)                      –        Lord
  • El Elyon (Genesis 14:19-20)          –        God Most High
  • El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1)                –        Almighty God
  • Yahweh (Exodus 3:14)                     –        Israel’s Covenant God (I AM)
  • Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14)      –        The Lord Will Provide
  • Jehovah Rophe (Exodus 15:26)    –        The Lord Who Heals You
  • Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15-16) –        The Lord is My Banner
  • Jehovah Mekadesh (Leviticus 20:8)  –        The Lord Who Sanctifies You
  • Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24)      –        The Lord is Peace
  • Jehovah Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6)    –        The Lord is Our Righteousness
  • Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)   –        The Lord Is There

To get all the other valuable information you’ll have to purchase your own copy for $14.99.  For more information you can click here.

 To see what others are saying about this product click here.

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received this book in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

RINO’s and CINO’s

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With the 2010 elections far behind us and the long awaited 2012 presidential elections ahead, there is a lot of talk about political parties. What party should I be affiliated with? Should I support the party whose platform is based on abortion, homosexuality, socialistic government, and such? Does morality matter or should I just be concerned with my wallet?

First, the true believer cannot separate his political views from his religious views. You see, it is because if you are truly saved your life is not just about a changed opinion. Your life is not just about going to church. Your life is not just about “religion”. It is about a relationship with your Lord and Saviour. It is about a complete change in your life. You are a completely new creature as we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17. To separate your moral convictions from your political views would be akin to separating your mind from your body or your heart from your chest. It is impossible. A true, born-again Christian will hold to the truth in every area of life – morally, politically, socially, and personally.

So what about these RINO’s? You know who I’m talking about – Republicans In Name Only.

*The Republican National Party “affirms that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.” In other words, they are pro-life.

 The Republican National Party “cautions against the doomsday climate change scenarios.” In simpler terms they believe that God is the Creator and Preserver of all things, not the mother earth god who is formed in the minds of innocent children via evolutionist teachings.

 The Republican National Party “calls for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman.” In other words, they believe in the God ordained institution of marriage between one man and one woman, not homosexual marriage.

In case you were wondering, all of these issues are moral issues. For those career politicians and nelcons who do not hold to these values I say, “Quit calling yourself a Republican.” You are Republican in name only. Your actions and voting records bear out the truth.

Of course, the effortless approach would be to point fingers and blame the politicians for all of our countries woes. Effortless, yes. Accurate, no. After all, who is it that puts these politicians in place? We the people do. The last poll I heard said that over 80% of Americans still claim to be Christian. So we can concur that the blame of our nation’s troubles falls to the Christians. God says, “If my people… humble… pray…. seek…. turn…. then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” So here is our problem. Either God’s people are not humbling themselves; praying, seeking God, and turning from their wicked ways or the majority of Americans are not God’s people. They would be the CHINO’s. You know who I’m talking about – Christians In Name Only.

A lot of people want to claim the status but very few actually know and hold to the Truth. True Christians hold to very distinct views. We believe in only One way and only One truth. There is no other. The commands of Jesus are absolute. In comparison to the world, true believers hold to an antithetical attitude about everything. Christians In Name Only will say they believe in God but do not live like they do. They say they follow Christ’s teachings but do not know the commands found in the Bible. They say they are believers but they have no fruit. They say they are children of light but they live and walk in darkness. They say they are Christian but they support abortion, homosexuality, evolution, and other worldly ideas. Sin abounds in their life. They are puffed up and have no repentance. And because of it all they are a huge stumbling block to those around them. Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” At the end of His sermon on the mount he said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven,” (Mat 7:21). Jesus goes on to say, “depart from me, ye that work iniquity” or lawlessness. What He is saying is that you are living as though I have never given you a law to obey. You are a Christian In Name Only.

There are two options for those who are living the Christian life in name only, who live as though Jesus has never given them a commandment to follow, and who have a false sense of security because of some prayer they once prayed or some church membership. The options are to repent of your sins, call out to God and beg Him to save you from the promised wrath to come or continue on in your sins and one day have the Lord of Glory say, “depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The choice seems clear to me.

 The Bible says to, “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves,” 2 Corinthians 13:5. Why don’t you do that today? God is waiting!

*cited from, http://www.ChristianAction.com November 2010

Higher Grounds

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“What are you preaching this morning?” I asked my husband.  We were sitting alone at the breakfast table.  We had just finished our breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast and were now sipping our coffee and talking.  I held my coffee and listened to him share with me what he was going to preach to a group of young pastors in a few hours.  As I held my coffee I whiffed the fragment aroma.  I cherish mornings like these.  The children were still asleep, the phone had not starting ringing, no one needed our attention, and laundry could wait.  This was our time.  We both seemed deliberate in taking our time this morning.  We sipped slowly not wanting the moment to end.  We talked about life, our children, and the precious things of God. It is not that these moments are few.  You see, we make a point every morning to have this time alone.  We grow closer.  Our marriage becomes stronger.  Life becomes sweeter. 

As I sat there this morning thanking the Lord for my husband and our blessed life together I wondered how many people experience the joy of marriage.  How many people take time each day to cultivate their relationship with their spouse?  How many husbands talk, share, and communicate with their wives?  How many wives purposefully make time for their husbands each morning?  How many couples spend time each day talking about the Word of God?  I hope many do.  I pray those reading this do.  In the end very few things will matter.  How busy we were, our homes, our cars, our careers, and our stuff will all be in vain someday.  However, our marriage is well worth nurturing.

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with the according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”  I Peter 3:7

I love this Bible curriculum!

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When it comes to what subject holds the highest priority with this Christian homeschooling family, none can compete with the Bible.  Long ago, my husband and I determined that Christ would be preeminent in not only our individual lives and our family structure but also in the education of our children.  To know God and to learn from His Word is the number one goal of home discipleship.  Second to that would be to get a solid, biblical education.  The reason, however, might surprise some.  It is not so that my children will be successful in life.  The reason we aspire to attain a good education for my children is so that God receives glory in all that we do, to be a living testimony of Christ, and to further the kingdom of God through our work here on earth.

As a reviewer, I am perhaps the hardest on Bible Curriculums.  The reason is because you are dealing with the precious Word of God.  To take that carelessly or out of context in my mind is a serious matter that should not be treated lightly.  I have high expectations for those who will attempt to expound on the Word of God.

I was given the opportunity to review a high school Bible curriculum by Positive Action for Christ called The Life of Christ from the Gospel of John.  From the moment I saw it, I loved this product!  I received a Teacher’s manual that included teaching strategies, background information, quizzes, test, transparencies disk, and other supplemental material.  I also received a beautifully illustrated, full color student book with activities, lessons, and thought provoking study questions. 

The Life of Christ puts the reader in Israel with Jesus during the years AD 29-32.  You learn about customs, geography, and dates.  “We point out the seasons of the year, the time of day, and even the weather to help the students relive those exciting days when Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, walked the earth and ministered to the people in Israel,” (taken from the teacher’s forward).  All of this makes the story of Jesus alive in the hearts and minds of the students.  Going through this study you cannot help but relate to Christ as a visible and personal Saviour.  It is clear that Positive Action for Christ desires to present the Lord as more than a mere historical fact. 

We want the students to achieve the following objectives:

  • To see His brilliance
  • To know His compassion
  • To thrill at His courage and power
  • To weep over His death
  • To rejoice in His resurrection

They sum it up in their mission statement.  Positive Action exists to equip Bible teachers to magnify the majesty of God.  (Christian parents, you are called of God to be your child’s Bible teacher.  The responsibility falls to you, not to a school, homeschool co-op, or even the church.  All of these can be good but they should supplement what you are already teaching in the home.)

As a homeschool curriculum I highly recommend this study.  Positive Action for Christ has online lesson samples for you to download and view. 

They also have Bible curriculum for every age group which is something this family will be looking into when we complete The Life of Christ.  One of the beauties of homeschooling is the versatility. While this curriculum targets 9-12 grades it can easily be adapted to use as a family devotional.

To see what others are saying about The Life of Christ click here.

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received the Life Of Christ in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Sugar-Free, Day Ten

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 I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. I am sure most people agree and would never ask why. But just in case you are wondering, it is because they do not work. It seems as though a sure way to make sure you do not accomplish something is to make it a New Year’s Resolution. With that said, my decision to go sugar-free was NOT a New Year’s Resolution. I am simply resolved.

The decision was based on a number of factors. The first, and most obvious, is for health reasons. The second reason is because I’ve been convicted of it. I’ve known for a long time that I’ve need to quit eating so much sugar. I just haven’t been convicted before now. The conviction came slowly (probably because I didn’t have ears to hear, therefore I shut it out). But one verse kept coming to my mind, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,”(1Co 6:19-20).

So, in order to “quit eating so much sugar” I had to decide to quit eating ANY sugar. I know that many people can just cut back but for me it is really easier in the long run to just simple not eat any. So I decided a little over a month ago that I would go sugar-free. Now, I’m a realist; therefore, I decided to wait until after the holidays. Today I am on day ten. It hasn’t been too difficult so far. At church on Sunday I simply skipped over the dessert table. I was a little concerned at my Homeschool Group’s Mom’s Night Out this week, there were so many delicious looking desserts but I focused on fellowshipping with other mom’s and was able to do without. One night this week the children made milkshakes. I just made a fruit smoothie. It was not only easy but tasty. Here’s the recipe ifyou would like to try it.

Strawberry & Banana Fruit Smoothie

1 ½ cups frozen strawberries

1 banana

1/3 cup milk

 Blend together in a blender. If you like you can add a few packets of Splenda or sugar substitute.

My son asked me how long I was going to go sugar-free. Remember, I’m a realist. At some point I will most likely eat some sugar. But for now I am sugar-free and to how long I will go without sugar, I am simply not resolved.

A Lesson from Esau

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 In our ladies Sunday school class I am teaching through the book of Genesis.  Last week’s lesson was from Genesis 27 -29 about Jacob and Esau.  I’m sure you remember the story.  After twenty years of being barren Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah and she conceived and bore twins, Esau was the first born and Jacob second holding onto Esau’s heel.  The Bible tells us that Esau was a red, hairy hunter and that his father, Isaac, loved him.  It also tells us that Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents and was loved by his mother.  One day after an unsuccessful day of hunting, Esau comes into camp and sells his birthright to Jacob for some lentil stew. 

 As Isaac approaches death he sends Esau out to hunt some venison and bring it to him so that he can enjoy a meal with his son and give him the blessing.  (Remember Isaac is challenging the will of God.  God had already told Rebekah that the elder would serve the younger in Gen. 25:23)  Rebekah overhears and tells Jacob to bring in two kid goats for her to fix, dress up in Esau’s clothes, and trick his nearly blind father into giving him the blessing.  Isaac thinking that Jacob was Esau does indeed bless him.  When Esau comes into his father they discover the deception.  Esau vowels to kill Jacob as soon as his father dies.  Jacob is then sent far way for his own safety and to find a wife.

 Wow!  What a story.  There are many lessons that can be learned from this story.   The first lesson is how dangerous it is in a family when parents show partiality to their children.  The children grow up despising one another which creates a very dysfunctional family.

Another lesson is about making good decisions.  When it comes to making decisions, the first thing to know is the will of God.  Isaac knew the will of God concerning which son was to receive the blessing.  (And we, as well, can know the will of God through His Word.)  However, just knowing the will of God is not enough.  You must be submissive to that will.  Isaac was not. 

 Another lesson from this story is that you reap what you sow (Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Gal 6:7) Jacob lied to and tricked his father but a few years later (7 years in fact) he is the one that is tricked (Genesis 29).

 There is another lesson.   It is that Hollywood or anything the world has to offer can never compare to God’s Word.  I have had people tell me that they do not like reading the Bible because it is boring.  Really?  This story alone is amazing.  (Not to even mention the spiritual applications.)  You couldn’t make this up.  It has action, suspense, drama, deception, love, and hatred.  Next time you want to be entertained forget watching a movie; just pick up your Bible.

 All of these are great lessons but there is another that I believe is very important for every person to learn.  That is the lesson of Esau.  He sold his birthright because he despised it (Genesis 25:34).  Hebrews 12:16  calls Esau a “profane person”.  A profane person is one who has no respect for the things of God.  It goes on to say, “when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears, (vs. 17).

 I believe the lesson here is that it is not necessary a person’s sins and failures that will bring them to ruin.  What will bring them to ruin is when they sin and they fail to repent.  You see, all the characters in this story sinned.  But it was Esau who “found no place of repentance.”  The Bible is full of story after story of people just like you and me, full of sin, which God used because they had a heart of repentance.  I am so thankful that perfection is not required to receive God’s blessings – just a “broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart”.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.   (Pro 28:13)