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Passing on the Vision, SGL May 08 Memo

Mon, 26 May 2008 02:30:55 GMT

The various entities associated with home education need to impart a vision that will endure, preserving hard-fought for freedoms and meeting the new challenges to those freedoms. That vision begins at home and spreads from there into our support groups and concentrically outward towards the other associations we belong to or identify with such as CHEC, HSLDA, etc.

How do we pass on the vision? We would suggest that it begins with mentoring. CHEC’s statement of purpose puts it this way, “CHEC honors Jesus Christ by encouraging parents to educate their children through home discipleship. We provide leadership, resources, and information that advance God-centered relationships while heeding the Biblical jurisdictions of family, church, and state. “

Current leaders need to train up the next set of leaders so that they can push forward, standing on the shoulders of those who went before them; perhaps gaining ground. We do this through personal relationships that help mentor/disciple people so that they can advance the vision of home education. This applies not only to our families, who are our primary concern, but also to the groups we lead.

In December we had the privilege of attending a free seminar given by Dr. Jeff Myers. He was taping the seminar so that it could be used in the teaching of other groups via DVDs.

Jeff’s vision of “Passing the Baton” has grown through the years as he has learned how to effectively integrate mentorships into everyday life. Jeff isn’t just passing on a good idea; he’s lived it and shares with you his journey in learning how to become an effective mentor.

The seminar was divided into six sessions. The first session’s main point was how each of us can personally equip the next generation of culture-shaping leaders. We do this by how we live the Great Commission, proclaiming God’s faithfulness, and realizing the urgency of our calling. The second session dealt with how Jesus equipped leaders to change the world. In this session we were reminded of how Jesus was concerned with character development. Jesus lived with His disciples so that they could learn from Him every part of the day. Equipping the next generation based on our giftings and design was the topic of the third session. We explored Scripture to remind ourselves where our gifts and weaknesses came from, and how to utilize them for the benefit of the next generation. As a support group leader, this particular session was invaluable in its practicality and advice. Living a transformed life was the fourth session which highlighted that we teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are. Pointing out the differences between conformity and transformation, Jeff shared several techniques that you could use right away in your home and with your groups. The fifth session pushed home the point “you’ve got to be in it to win it” pointing out how to break down barriers to have lasting influence. The last session was a key element in the whole seminar in that it discussed how we can do this as we go about our days and NOT let this overwhelm us. This is something we each can do, and must do, for as George Barna has pointed out time and again we are losing our “saltiness” and our children are losing their faith as they encounter the world as young adults. The alarming statistics should cause each parent to work diligently to stave off that trend and, in fact, turn it around.

Summing up a whole day in one paragraph doesn’t quite do it justice, but perhaps it gives you a flavor of what Jeff offers in his “Passing the Baton” seminars. Handoff, the Only Way to Win the Race of Life is a book on the same subject of mentorship by Jeff Myers and was recently published, giving you another way to access this important information. This book, which is very informative and humble, gives you the incentive and tools to begin mentoring those within your sphere of influence.

As we mentor those around us, that concentric outward association begins to manifest itself in others who will also begin to mentor those around them and as the pebble dropped in the pond we can see the blessing spreading farther and farther.

It matters as we come together as support groups, which can just focus on field trips and co-op classes, or that can choose to honor the Biblical lessons we learn and grow in character with, reflected in all we do and say.

All of this is important because we can teach our children all the facts and information that will comprise a good education, but we won’t be different from the other forms of education unless we teach them how and why this information matters. It matters as we use the information in response to our Creator and the life He has given us. It matters as we make the big and small decisions in life and live out our vocations in loving thankfulness to the Triune God who redeems us, sanctifies us and preserves us.

Mike and Paula Anderson

Clear Vision

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:15:00 GMT

The vision of homeschooling can often be encapsulated by saying that homeschool parents are training up the next generation of leaders. What constitutes a leader? What is the composition of leadership? Edwin H. Friedman, a leadership educator, once said that, “Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future.” While drones are created in the public schools to serve blindly their master, in this case, the state, homeschoolers have the unique opportunity to create the next generation of leaders by molding them and creating a vision for the future, then achieving it.

I was homeschooled from the end of first grade on. For as long as most of us can remember, I have had a vested interest in politics. Beginning in 1998, I spent countless hours on campaigns, Capital internships, debate (both participation and coaching) and so forth to further this end. During high school, my parents constructed a program focused on my political interest. After graduating this past May, I have taken over the Executive Director position of the HEARTH Fund (www.hearthfund.org) and have worked as the assistant campaign manager for a State House candidate, along with various other local efforts within the party and with a national group to organize said party in a grassroots way, reminiscent of both former years and the homeschool movement. Very little of this could have been accomplished if my parents had not cast for me a vision for the future, and then helped me to achieve it, developing my own vision along the way. Leadership starts at home. That is where leaders are formed.

Another example of this is perhaps better said by former British Prime Minister James Callaghan: “A leader must have the courage to act against an expert's advice.” Everyday, homeschoolers run against the accepted experts’ advice to teach their children in their homes. This requires bravery, lots of prayer, but most importantly, it requires leadership. And that all starts in the home.

This reminds me of the recent bungle in California with the appellate court’s anti-homeschooling ruling. I think Ruben Navarrette, a staff writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, in his article on March 20, 2008 entitled: “California court overreached on homeschooling case”, summarizes this nicely. “Th[is is] the part that deserves criticism. The court overreached and turned a child-welfare case into an assault on homeschooling. How do you go from one to the other? This was a good moment for judicial restraint. At the very least, this decision should be limited to the unique circumstances of the Long family, and not stand as a precedent that leads other families who homeschool to worry that they too could be ordered to stop teaching their kids. The part worth celebrating is that the ruling is so over the top and contrary to common sense that it has put the issue of homeschooling front and center and has motivated the defenders of the practice to set their sights on California. Homeschool advocates vow to help the Longs appeal the ruling. And they have a heavyweight in their corner. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately denounced the appeals court ruling and promised to change state law to guarantee that parents have the right to teach their children at home. Parents should decide what is best for their children, he said, and "not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education.” The governor is quite correct, and I'm glad to see him in this fight. Homeschooling isn't perfect. But look around. Neither is the public school system, which needs all the reform it can get. That's why we can't stop looking for viable alternatives that augment traditional teaching - and, just as importantly, challenge traditional thinking.” (emphasis added)

Vision is the end to this means. To be able to train up leaders, however, we must first protect the fundamental right to homeschool. We must always continue to be vigilant in our efforts to promote parental choice and for that to include the uninhibited right to homeschool. Without this, we lose one of the greatest opportunities to influence the world with our faith and our values because we lose the capacity to easily sculpt new leaders. As I said before, it all starts in the home. Cast this vision for your family, for your children, and engage yourself in protecting your rights. You must do this today, because as we can see in California, the threat is real, here and now. You can have a huge effect on this world, both your immediate environment and inevitably the rest of the world, if you do.

By Sarah Anderson, daughter of Mike and Paula Anderson

IT MATTERS WHO YOU TRUST

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:12:16 GMT

Before Easter this year, our Pastor gave a sermon where he compared the disciples Peter and Judas Iscariot. Both denied Christ in crucial moments. Peter denied knowing Christ three times between Jesus’ capture and the morning’s first light. (Mark 14:72) Judas denied the Savior also when he betrayed Him to the chief priests for execution. (Matthew 27:3-4)

So at this point, both men are separated from God. It’s their next movements that determined how we remember them. Judas sought forgiveness from the chief priests, placing his trust in their temporal judgment. Peter, however, sought forgiveness from the One who can offer it eternally. (John 21:15-19; 2 Corinthians 7:10)

From this we learn that it matters who you trust.

The House Un-American Activities Committee from 1945 to 1975 sought to protect America from the infiltration of Communists. Names such as J. Edgar Hoover, Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Alger Hiss and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg became part of the lexicon of our nation’s history. A history that the press misrepresented as a “witch hunt.” This mischaracterization has been carried forth as fact that is taught in our public schools and in our “free” press. The release of information in the mid-1990’s confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that those who have been vilified were right and the people they pursued were actually Russian spies who meant to harm the United States of America.

It matters who you trust.

A name from the founding war of our country is synonymous with the word “traitor,” that of Benedict Arnold. Arnold’s actions led to the securing of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, an early important victory in the Revolutionary War. Because of Arnold’s bravery in this campaign, General George Washington recommended he be commissioned a Colonel and under General Schuyler Arnold began a wilderness campaign pressing forward to St. Lawrence that showed tremendous stamina and military acuity despite rampant desertion among his troops. During the battle for Quebec begun on the last day of 1775, Arnold was wounded in his leg. He was never to regain full use of it.

By 1779, not receiving the honors he felt he had earned and should be accorded, Benedict Arnold consorted with the British by correspondence for over a year to take over West Point which would have given the British a huge advantage by allowing them control of the Hudson and entry into New York City. Fortuitously the plot was discovered and Arnold’s character which was driven by his pride exposed him to be a traitor. Not surprisingly, the British never completely trusted him and his dreams of accolades and success were never realized. Arnold put his trust in temporal things, and ignored the eternal ramifications of his actions.

It matters who you trust.

The recent court decision in California that places home education and parochial schools in jeopardy if all their teachers are not certified in each subject they teach and each grade level, denies the God-given command of parents to teach their children. It places authority with institutions and persons that are not Biblically mandated. And it then becomes imperative that we all stand with our sisters and brothers in knowing that it matters who you trust, for this assault may be assuaged for a time but will be relentless until every knees bows and proclaims Christ as King. (Romans 14:11)

Interestingly, it was Benedict Arnold who said, “Are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their liberties?” Our eternal vigilance is required in order to preserve our parental freedoms and to secure them for future generations who will also have need of being vigilant to see that they are not chipped away at or denied outright.

It matters who you trust.

Mike and Paula

Proverbs 3:5-7

March 08 CHEC Memo for Support Group Leaders

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:25:15 GMT

Day at the Capitol, Friday, April 11

Help insure homeschooling freedoms by joining thousands of other homeschoolers at the rally at 12:15 pm on the West steps of the Capitol. Hear inspiring speakers from our state's elected leadership, and help influence the state leaders to acknowledge and respect homeschooling accomplishments. Your students may be trained in principles of Godly citizenship, leadership, and the U.S. Constitution, and learn how to make a difference for America's future by attending workshops in the morning or afternoon. Win $100 by submitting a display for the Capitol Rotunda. Information can be found here .

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost our present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." -- John Quincy Adams

Fill the Gallery of the House at Homeschool Day at the Capitol, April 11

Our Founding Fathers sacrificed their lives and fortunes for the freedoms that we enjoy today. May we ask you for a much smaller, though very important, sacrifice? It is our goal on April 11 at Day at the Capitol to fill the Gallery of the House Chamber with homeschool families to be introduced on the floor. There are 235 seats. Will you make the commitment to rise early that morning and fill them? No matter what the weather predictions are (i.e. the 'non blizzard' of April '07). We believe this will make a lasting impression on our state legislators.

Because of time restraints, Representative Kevin Lundberg will introduce all the families at once. All participants must be seated in the Gallery by 8:45am, so please arrive no later than 8:30am. Out of respect for the men and women working in the Capitol, please walk quietly and respectfully as you proceed to the Gallery. Please dress in business/nice church attire. After all the introductions are made, you may exit as quietly as possible, and proceed to the Pillar of Fire Church to continue this exciting day!

If you can participate, please contact us at office{at }chec{dot}org, or 720-842-4852.

Thank you for partnering with us through Day at the Capitol in this effort to keep and uphold our homeschool freedoms.

CHEC Introductory Seminars and High School Seminars

Introductory Seminars:

May 3 – Parker

July 26 – Grand Junction

High School Seminars:

April 5 – Parker

July 19 – Parker

July 26 – Grand Junction

October 18 – Colorado Springs

Visit here for information and to register.

CHEC and Vision Forum present: The 2008 Father/Son Discipleship Retreat

August 9-12, 2008 at Crooked Creek Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado

Speakers slated to include Doug Phillips, Little Bear Wheeler, Scott Brown, and Geoff Botkin

The comments from among the nearly 1500 fathers and sons who attended the Colorado retreats in 2003, 2005 and 2007 have been overwhelming in their call to continue proclaiming the Word of the Lord in Deuteronomy 6 and Psalm 78 as to the raising up of our sons.

Life changing lecture sessions, outstanding food, free time, Father/Son Olympics. This retreat, now headquartered at the beautiful Crooked Creek Ranch Resort in the majestic Colorado Rockies, has gained national prominence and has become an annual event. Register early to reserve your place. Details and advance registration information, or call toll free 1-877-842-2432.

Youth Enterprise

It is time once again to sign up for a booth for the upcoming Christian Family Conference. If you are age 13 to 21, are living at home under the guidance of your parent(s) or guardian(s), and you have a product or service of your own to sell, you are just the person we are looking for.

With a Youth Enterprise booth at the Conference you will be able to market your products or services to several thousand home schooling families in a professional and safe environment. For further information go here , and click on “Events.” From there go to “State Conference” and click on “Vendors.” Under that, click on “Youth Enterprise.” Read the information, and if it sounds like something you are interested in, fill out the application. If you have any questions, email Steven Vaughan, Vendor Assistant at checyouthvendor{at}gmail{dot}com . Space is limited, so apply for your booth soon.

NEW FOR 2008, Youth Enterprise Business Plan Contest

Do you have an idea for a future business, or do you already have a business going? Sign up for the First Youth Enterprise Business Plan Contest. Your business plan will be evaluated by Christian business owners for its overall structure, potential for profitability, and adherence to biblical standards. Prizes for First Place will be a $250 gift certificate to the CHEC Resource Center, and for Second Place a $100 gift certificate to the CHEC Resource Center. For more information, a full list of rules, judging guidelines, and an Application please email Steven Vaughan at checyouthvendo{at}gmail{dot}com .

(Please Note: This contest is for youth 13-21 years of age who are still living at home. Applicants are not required to have a Youth Enterprise booth at the Conference. Children of CHEC employees, Board members, or Conference Committee members are not eligible.)

CHEC is proud to announce their newest conference event

You may remember Gallery Showcase…now meet the new big brother!

TALENT FAIR The CHEC Talent Fair will present the many gifts of our precious homeschool children. Your children now have three categories to shine in!

VISUAL ARTS CATEGORY Includes needle arts, general arts and composition divisions, as in the past.

PERFORMING ARTS CATEGORY Entries of vocal or instrumental music, short skits, speeches, and worship dances will be selected for performances in the vendor hall during the conference!!

FOOD ARTS CATEGORY Divisions of preserves, pies and cakes will be judged and displayed! We would love to taste your children’s best!

The Visual Arts and Food Arts categories will be judged on-site and ribbons awarded. We will be asking for volunteers to judge (only categories your child has not entered) and, as a token of our appreciation, CHEC will provide a conference pass to you at no charge. The Performing Arts category will be judged by taped audition prior to the conference.

We invite your children to present their gifts from God at the Talent Fair.

Visit here or email Chectalentfair{at}aol{dot}com or call Terresa at 303-470-0806 for more information.

Hodge –Podge

A new online homeschool magazine’s premier edition.

List of Colorado Museums, their websites and information.

Visit Kevin Swanson’s new website.

Nominations Needed for Support Group Leader of the Year

Support Group Leaders joyfully carry a burden to help shepherd members in their groups and provide homeschoolers with a variety of support. CHEC desires to encourage these leaders in their responsibilities. To that end, CHEC seeks to honor Support Group Leaders’ selfless service to the homeschool community in assorted ways. One of those ways is to choose an outstanding leader to recognize each year. Please help us by nominating a Support Group Leader. We will honor the “Support Group Leader of the Year” at the CHEC Homeschool Conference in June at one of the General Sessions.

Please briefly share with us the following information and email it to memo{at}chec{dot}org.

Don’t forget to include your name, address, phone number and email address so we may contact you if needed.

Used Curriculum Sales

SPICE Used Curriculum Sale in Grand Junction

Friday, April 18, 9 am to NOON

Mesa Country Fair Grounds

8-ft. tables reserved for $5 each, set up the night before.

Contact Susan at 970-242-4154.

CHEC Springtime Family Book Fair in Golden

Saturday, May 10 from 9 am to 3 pm

Jefferson Country Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall

BookFair Entrance Fee $5/adult, children free

Food available on-site.

Reservations required, visit CHEC's website.

Set-up time Friday, May 9 from 2 to 5 pm and Saturday, May 10 from 7 to 9 am

Email Christy at bookfair{at}chec{dot}org.

Springs First Booksale in Colorado Springs

Friday, May 16, 10 am to 2 pm

Springs First Church of the Nazarene, 4120 E. Fountain Blvd.

Information here.

HOME Used Curriculum Sale in Colorado Springs

Monday, May 19, 6:30 to 9 pm

Rocky Mountain Calvary, NE corner of Austin Bluffs and North Academy Blvd.

Must be a member to sell, reservations required. No entrance fee.

Contact Paula at mpskra{at}comcast{dot}net.

Born Again Used Books/Used Curriculum Sale in Colorado Springs

Saturday June 7, 10 am to 1 pm

Born Again Used Book Store, 1529 North Union Blvd.

FREE! Set up your own table but reservationa re requested to sell.

Contact Julie at 719-528-8622.

Send us your used curriculum information for inclusion in the Memo! Send it to memo{at}chec{dot}org.

Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Proverbs 29:18

Countdown to College Workshop, Friday, May 9

More than College Prep! From 9:30 to 4 pm at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 9941 Lone Tree Parkway, Lone Tree (SW corner of Lone Tree Parkway and Lincoln Road). Cost is $65 per family if registration is postmarked before April 16, $70 per family if postmarked by April 21, $75 per family at the door. Includes one syllabus per family. Alumni families attend free!

The workshop includes: Biblical guidelines to recognize God’s calling, comprehensive strategies to pursue your calling, flexible goal-setting methods, multi-use achievement verification and records, de-mystified college and scholarship processes, powerful scholarship search methods, interactive workbook, hands-on planning exercises.

Registration information from Kim Anderson at wordsmythe{at}gmail{dot}com .

Two New Books by Kevin Swanson, Available at www.CHECBooks.com

The Second Mayflower: Four hundred years ago, a ship landed on the shores of New England bearing a fledgling band of people, committed to living life by the principles of God's Word. This people eventually formed a nation conceived in liberty and blessed by God. Now four hundred years later, their vision has almost faded. Liberty is dying. Humanism dominates. The family, by all indices, has disintegrated. But there still beats within the hearts of a remnant in this nation, the principles of the First Mayflower. In this 300 page manifesto, author Kevin Swanson lays out a vision by which the values of faith, family, and freedom may be salvaged for at least one nation for future generations. The voyage of the Second Mayflower is just beginning.

Psalms: A Family Bible Study Guide: For families who see the Bible as "core curriculum," we introduce the brand new Family Bible Study Guides Series. Family worship is a time when parents fulfill their Deuteronomy 6:7 and Ephesians 6:4 responsibilities to teach and disciple their families. This manual will provide the following Bible study helps for the study of the Psalms: A convenient categorization and contextualization of each psalm; An exposition of the psalm, explaining the meaning in simple terms; A description of the emotions that weave through the psalm; An application of the psalm for family life and children; A summary of what the psalm teaches about worship; and Content questions and discussion questions to bring about life application.

Support Group Info, Sharing Newsletters, Sharing Memo articles, Yahoo Group

Please take a few moments to verify your support group information for accuracy on CHEC’s website. Please let us know if something is incorrect or needs to be changed. THANKS!

We love hearing from all of you around the state and those groups beyond our borders! Please share your support group newsletters with us by sending them to the CHEC office (10431 South Parker Rd., Parker, CO 80134) or to us directly at our home address of 1437 Auburn Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.

Previous front page articles from the Memo are available at here or here. Please feel free to share information from the Memo with your group members, remembering to cite the author when appropriate.

A Yahoo group has been established to share information that cannot be included in the Memo due to time issues. Please visit here to sign up. Feel free to post and share information as it becomes available to you on this group.

The Battle!

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:11:37 GMT

The Battle of Tours (Poitiers) ended on October 10, 732. This battle is considered a significant event in Western Civilization. It halted the spread of Islam in Europe after twenty years of conquests there by the Muslims and triggered the downfall of the Umayyad Dynasty.

German historian Hans Delbruck said, “there was no more important battle in the history of the world.” Belgian historian Godefroid Kurth wrote, “The Battle of Poitiers must ever remain one of the great events in the history of the world, as upon its issue depended whether Christian Civilization should continue or Islam prevail throughout Europe.”

The Muslims, commanded by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafigi in a mounted attack, outnumbered the mostly Frank and Burgundian forces by four to one (and possibly more). The element of surprise mixed with patience allowed the poorly armed infantry army, headed by Charles Martel, a decisive victory which rebutted the advancement of Islam into Europe.

We don’t have to look far to see elements of this kind of victory throughout history. Consider Joshua’s battle for Hazor (Joshua 11). Joshua did all that the Lord commanded and victory was won because of this obedience. (Joshua 11:15).

Also, our own Revolutionary War pitted a ragtag military force against the most elite military force of its day with victory being won by the lesser force.

The Battle of Agincourt fought on October 25, 1415 pitted English King Henry V, and his approximately 6,000 men, vs. French King Charles VI, and his conservative estimate of 20,000 men. The impact of this was that the English believed that God favored them in the Hundred Years War, and the French were so disheartened that they even lacked the will to continue fighting causing the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 to heavily favor the English.

The Battle of Midway fought June 4-7, 1942 where American Admiral Chester Nimitz, who was outnumbered in carriers, battleships, aircraft and men, halted Japanese Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s expansion into the Pacific island rim and eventually led to the Allied victory in the Pacific theater for World War II. (An interesting side-note is that Fleet Admiral Yamamoto was a graduate of the United States Naval War College as well as being a graduate of Harvard. He found it difficult to go to war against America, but his Japanese nationalism was impressed upon to serve his country. He died in battle on the Solomon Islands in 1943.)

There are some characteristics worth noting from these battles: 1. The element of surprise; 2. Victory is not assured to a better equipped and trained military force; and 3. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Also, each battle encapsulates a clear battle between warring worldviews.

We face our own worldview battle today. Today’s heretic is secular humanism which has invaded our society at every level and has even encamped at some of our Christian churches. And it’s present in 18-page decisions from Appellate Judges in California who tell us, “parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children” and “A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare." The problem with those statements is that it does not take into account what Scripture says about parents and children and God’s command to teach our children as we go about our daily lives. (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

However, let us take heart in the fact that the Lord has time and again showed His favor for those who love Him, who follow His commands (perhaps not perfectly, but are repentant when they don’t), and who as a remnant preach, teach and confess a fully human/fully God, crucified Jesus who rose again to save all mankind.

May we ever be vigilant to fight off the profane and to honor God no matter what the cost and how lopsided it may seem.

Mike and Paula

Acts 5:29

Professor Lets His Worldview Show

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:21:46 GMT

Barbara Frank has a wonderful post about a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill who is using his position to spout his position about life.

We are all God's creation, even those with Down's Syndrome. That professor's opinion is heinous!

Failed with a Capital "F"

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:43:50 GMT

Joseph Farah, who writes for World Net Daily, has an article out that I believe is worth your time to read. It's about the sad state of affairs in Britain and America where real historical people are mistaken for fictional characters, and where fictional characters are mistaken for historical figures.

Busy, Buzzing Words ~ CHEC SGL Memo January 2008

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:16:11 GMT

Busy, Buzzing Words

“Busyness” is an integral part of our American society. We are familiar with the treadmill-type routine of maintaining a household while discipling children, 24/7/365, as well as supporting the wage earner in the family, and being involved in church activities and homeschool support groups and possibly even more things like scouting, music lessons, and sports.

“Redeeming the time” (Ephesians 5:16) is a common phrase that Christian support group leaders relate to because it is how we live. The idea of “multi-tasking” or judicious use of our time helps us feel like we are “redeeming the time” because we rescue time from idleness and turn that into time filled with relevance. Anyone serving others quickly learns that time is a valuable commodity that cannot be erased or retrieved once spent.

Let’s take this popular notion and turn it a bit, as you would a kaleidoscope, so that what we’re seeing now is something completely different. Let’s twist the kaleidoscope and put the focus on the word “redeem.” Words from one of our pastor’s past sermons came to mind. He mentioned that “redeeming” means “restores us to our Heavenly Father”. Henry Morris said it means “to rescue from loss.” So, if we take that phrase, “redeeming the time” and instead of thinking that we need to do something to make time worthwhile let’s replace it with the word restore. If we think of it as the restoration of our time that brings us closer to our Heavenly Father then we can gather a new meaning from the phrase.

Andre Seu wrote in a World Magazine article that as grown-ups we “accrue duties like barnacles.” As we examine these words, we learn that accrue means to accumulate, duties means responsibilities, and barnacles means marine crustaceans that have a hard shell and become attached to submerged objects. That sounds like we’re drowning in our responsibilities!

Let’s turn to God’s word to try to dig our way out of these busy, buzzing words, for we learn from the Bible that this struggle with time is not a new problem for mankind.

In Joshua 3:9, Joshua admonishes the children of Israel to hear the Words of the Lord before they take upon themselves the task of crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land. This should remind us to consult the Word of the Lord before we take on any task, especially one that will require more responsibilities from us. Moses asks the Lord to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) So let us wisely seek His counsel given through His Word as we serve others in our support groups.

Eric Hoffer, a social commentator and author, wrote, “The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else – we are the busiest people in the world.”

So much in our busy lives pulls us away from spending time with the Lord, and with our families. We make excuses, which really mean we just push it down on the priority list and make other things more important by devoting our time and energy to the other things.

In Colossians 3:23 we are reminded to do our work with all of our heart as though working for the Lord and not men. So our work should be for the Lord and not for the glory we may gain from earthly recognition or power. In Philippians 2:12-13 Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit works through us to use our time in doing God’s will. Even our most mundane tasks can help restore us to our Heavenly Father when done in His will.

So let’s scrap off those barnacles that are dragging us down, and focus on time that is restorative, so that we can present ourselves to the Lord as workers approved, not ashamed, and rightly handling the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Buzzing around with you~ Mike and Paula Anderson

HOPE Workshops CANCELLED

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:53:34 GMT

Due to a lack of registrations, the HOPE Workshops scheduled for Saturday, February 2, 2008, have been cancelled.

Since when did the Constitution NOT favor parental rights?

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:33:24 GMT

A few sections of this article really piqued our interest.

Such as these two lines:

"Responsible for "getting the law to favor parental rights?"

Since when did the Constitution not favor parental rights?"

This would be an article to share with your groups.