Journey of Cross and Quill

Last Monday I took my final two exams and boy did I breathe a sigh of relief! I am done with classes until next January. This semester I ended with two A’s: American Government and Western Civilization II and two B’s: US. History I and Introduction to Political Science. Next time I hope to actually sit and seriously study to ensure all A’s across the board. I didn’t spend too much time this semester studying concepts and it shows. Regardless, I’m happy with the results.

On another note this week ends the school year for my boys at the developmental preschool. Thursday my oldest graduates from the four-year-old class (he repeated this year) and will be all set for us to begin Kindergarten and entering into the wild known as homeschooling. He’s come a long way in the three years he’s been at the school and now it’s time for me to take the reins. Due to a crisis of conscience and my deep love for early American history I’ve again adjusted his curriculum for the fall. Math, phonics, and writing will remain the same but I’m dropping all others in favor of unit studies. I know this will be a transition year for him, much like a kindergarten readiness class and so I want to keep it light and interesting for him. He tends to have a short attention span and emotionally is still a bit delayed. No need to rush him and set the bar too high. This summer I’m planning lots of field trips especially to the zoo (after all we bought a yearly membership!)

I’m also hoping to begin spring cleaning although I’ve had a bit of a setback. My daughter was sick previously with a stomach bug and now I’m experiencing some sort of cold. Needless to stay I’m not up to 100% (as if that is possible with fibromyalgia and regular headaches) and so spring cleaning is going to take longer than usual. I try to accomplish something every day. Yesterday it was the fridge and freezer. You have no idea how scary that was. I found an English cucumber completely deflated.

Spring classes are nearing an end and for me that’s not soon enough. Someone should have told me how difficult it was to manage a home, love and nurture three boisterous children, and contend with the ill effects of fibromyalgia and headaches all the while taking a full class load. Depending on the class there are now two to three weeks left not counting time available to take finals. This tired old nag is racing for the barn.

Yesterday my husband and I attended an IEP/transitional meeting for my oldest at his “home school.” We made perfectly clear to those in attendance that we would be homeschooling and would not be needing any of the school’s services after my son’s graduation from the developmental preschool. We are now committed entirely!

I’ve developed a curriculum plan for the fall.

History: Ancient History (HOW Approach)
Math: Math-U-See (Alpha)
Reading: Happy Phonics, Explode the Code, Click N Read
Writing: Handwriting without Tears (K)
Art: Artistic Pursuits (K-3)
Music: Classical Magic (Themes to Remember v.1)
Unit Studies: various

Art and music will take place once a week, probably on Fridays, and alternating. We’re also anticipating placing my oldest in soccer and possibly karate though we don’t want to overextend him. And of course all curriculum is subject to change according to my son’s needs and interests! He is a hands on learner and l anticipate teaching him in that manner.

Now in the meantime…spring cleaning is on the horizon. After classes are finished I will be spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning and organizing.

Excerpts from Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States

§ 988. Probably at the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of the amendment to it, now under consideration, the general, if not the universal, sentiment in America was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the state, so far as it is not incompatible with the private rights of conscience, and the freedom of religious worship. An attempt to level all religions, and to make it a matter of state policy to hold all in utter indifference, would have created universal disapprobation, if not universal indignation.

§ 989. It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs, whether say free government can be permanent, where the public worship of God, and the support of religion, constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape. The future experience of Christendom, and chiefly of the American states, must settle this problem, as yet new in the history of the world, abundant, as it has been, in experiments in the theory of government.

§ 990. But the duty of supporting religion, and especially the Christian religion, is very different from the right to force the consciences of other men, or to punish them for worshipping God in the manner, which, they believe, their accountability to him requires. It has been truly said, that “religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be dictated only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.” Mr. Locke himself, who did not doubt the right of government to interfere in matters of religion, and especially to encourage Christianity, has at the same time expressed his opinion of the right of private judgment, and liberty of conscience, in a manner becoming his character, as a sincere friend of civil and religious liberty. “No man, or society of men,” says he, “have any authority to impose their opinions or interpretations on any other, the meanest Christian; since, in matters of religion, every man must know, and believe, and give an account for himself.” The rights of conscience are, indeed, beyond the just reach of any human power. They are given by God, and cannot be encroached upon by human authority, without a criminal disobedience of the precepts of natural, as well as of revealed religion.

§ 991. The real object of the amendment was, not to countenance, much less to advance Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects, and to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment, which should give to an hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the national government. It thus sought to cut off the means of religious persecution, (the vice and pest of former ages,) and the power of subverting the rights of conscience in matters of religion, which had been trampled upon almost from the days of the Apostles to the present age. The history of the parent country had afforded the most solemn warnings and melancholy instructions on this head; and even New-England, the land of the persecuted puritans, as well as other colonies, where the Church of England had maintained its superiority, had furnished a chapter, as full of dark bigotry and intolerance, as any, which could be found to disgrace the pages of foreign annals. Apostacy, heresy, and nonconformity have been standard crimes for public appeals, to kindle the flames of persecution, and apologize for the most atrocious triumphs over innocence and virtue.

I was tagged by a good friend of mine. The point of this is to tell your kids the things you want them to know.

5 things I want my kids to know.

1. Ryan, you are stubborn and persistent, just like me, and although we frequently butt heads because of it, I want you to know that you will always be my little Rhino and someday those very qualities that get you in trouble now will be your best assets as you grow into manhood.

2.Joshua, you are my loving little boy and you’ve brought joy into our lives and the lives of everyone you touch. Although you had a rough start in life you have made your way slow and steady and before we know it you’ll grow into a mature beautiful soul with a gentle and loving countenance, something the world needs a little more of.

3. Nicole, you are the image of me as a young child, precocious and full of life. Your antics bring delight and your smile warms my heart. You are my beautiful little girl who is growing up too quickly!

4. Although I sometimes call the three of you my Children of the Corn I am blessed by you daily in the good times and in the days I send you to bed early. I see my traits in all of you and it amazes me.

5. I love you all immensely and no matter what trouble you get yourselves in I always will!

5 things you want to tell your children when they are grown up.

1. Do not be afraid to stand firm in your convictions even while the world laughs and scoffs. Truth is not decided by majority rule nor is it relative. It does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and the word of God word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

2. Keep yourself pure in word, thought, and deed.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:13).

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:9-11)

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

2. Marriage, one man and one woman for life, was instituted by God at the beginning and sex was given as a beautiful gift between husband and wife. Honor your body and your future spouse by abstaining until your wedding night. Although we live in a sex saturated society where the very act has been watered down to a physical and leisure one, remember sex was given by God as a very intimate and beautiful blessing as part of marriage.

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.., (Hebrews 13:4a)

As you begin to date and find your compatible mate, remember:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

Heed this advice and you will save yourselves a lot of grief.

Boys, love your wives and honor them.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5: 25-30)

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19)

This is a high calling, to love as Christ loves. Place Him first in everything and even then you will be able to love the unlovable. Love is not a feeling. It is something we do regardless of feeling or behavior. It is a choice. It is a commitment.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Nicole, respect your husband and submit to him for God has placed him as the spiritual head of the household and he is answerable to God for his actions.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. (Ephesians 5:22)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord (Colossians 3:18).

The world would have you believe that the Bible advocates sexism among many other things but this is simply not true. God values men and women equally although he has created for us different roles. Never be ashamed of being a woman nor of submitting to your husband out of love. He is not a law unto himself for he must answer to God for his every action.

Matthew Henry wrote:

“Eve was not taken out of Adam’s head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.”

This is such a beautiful expression which captures marriage so perfectly. When the love of God is placed first in our lives all pretensions and power struggles are set aside and allows marriages to thrive.

Lastly,

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).

3. As you marry and begin your family keep these admonitions and instructions close to your hearts:

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate (Psalm 127:4-5).

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:5-6)

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Colossians 3:31)

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Children are a gift from God and he has given us the responsibility in raising them. Do not be tempted to place your children in the care of the state where all remnants of truth and morality have been stripped. Remember:

A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

Do we really want our precious children to grow up to be like the rest of the world? Instead, teach them at home or enroll them in a truly Christian school that dares not compromise with the teachings of the world.

Love them and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. Pray for them unceasingly. Teach them how to defend their faith in the face of a callous and cold world. Trust God to make the right decisions and seek His will always.

4. Love not money nor aspire to riches but use your wealth to further God’s kingdom. Remember the poor and those less fortunate than you. Give freely and often and remember that everything you have is given of God. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Take care of what you have but do not cling to it. Care for the earth and everything in it for it too belongs to God.

5. He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)

5 things you want to tell your child before you die.

1. I love you so very much.

2. You have blessed my life immeasurably.

3. Love God and keep His commandments

4. Be a blessing to others.

5. Mourn me but for a moment and cherish the memories we made together. Look forward to our reunion and the new memories we’ll make then. Death is not the end. It is merely an interruption, a pause. I’ll see you on the other side!

5 things you want your child to know before she dies.

1. Our life here is but the title page. Eternity is filled with chapters…each one better than the one before.

2. Life on earth is but a foretaste of the beauty and grandeur of Heaven.

3. We will never cease to be human but made more fully human and without the hindrances of a sinful and dying world.

4. Your interests and talents here will carry over into eternity for they are God’s gift to you and are inscribed into every fiber of your being.

5. Get ready for the time of your life…one that never ends..and each moment is better than the last. God is calling you home. Let him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Now, TAG you’re it!

…to let my readers know that there will be no substantial writings posted until the end of my spring semester of college. I’ve been battling headaches and fatigue (as per usual fibromyalgia trappings) recently and so my effort is being solely placed on my studies in order that I do not fall behind. This fall I will be postponing my own education so that I may concentrate on homeschooling my oldest who will be in kindergarten in addition to my duties as committee person for my precinct. I’ve further decided to take only a maximum of two classes at a time in order to maximize my schedule. In the meantime I’ll be posting photos of the family and quotes from historical figures I find especially insightful.

A series of excellent articles from American Vision

Part 1: Introduction and Scriptural Account

Part 2: Refuting Theories That Explain Away the Resurrection

Part 3: Refuting Theories That Explain Away the Resurrection continued….

Part 4:: How the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Changed the World

Have a wonderful Easter!