DON'T GIVE INTO FEARFUL HYSTERIA...

...this Halloween season or beyond!

Several weeks ago, I had to take my kids to a local Party City store to buy birthday party supplies. There was this horrid, Halloween mannequin near the front of the store that moved and truly was very, very creepy. It freaked my preschooler out and nearly put her in hysterics. No matter how much I tried to tell her that it wasn't real, it was just a fake statue, she didn't care. It totally freaked her out.

Sadly, we grown-ups are often that way. We let ourselves give way to fear...often times fear that is irrational and life controlling. The publisher of Five in a Row, Steve Lambert, addressed just this issue yesterday, and in light of all the ghouls and skeletons and other scary things that often come with this time of year, I thought it was very apropos. Steve is specifically writing to homeschool parents, but the principle applies to us all:

It was 71 years ago to day that Orson Welles narrated H.G. Wells “War of the Worlds” on CBS radio- a broadcast which sent the whole nation into terror as listeners believed the United States had actually been invaded by Martians. The first 40 minutes of the one hour broadcast was simulated news bulletins which sounded absolutely real to terrified listeners on October 30, 1938.


I often see fear bordering on hysteria running through homeschool circles: fear of
government intervention, fear of our children not being able to get into college, fear of “worldliness” infecting our children, fear of what others think of our choice to homeschool, fear about the subject of socialization- the list is endless. The enemy will terrorize you with all sorts of “drama” that isn’t real- just like “War of the Worlds.”

In Hebrews 13:5-6 we read these words: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.‘”


Did you catch that? As those who love the Lord we have NOTHING to fear. God is with us and will never forsake us. That doesn’t mean we won’t face trials- even
difficult trials at times. But we have nothing to fear; the Lord is our helper.

When all those around you are being terrified of the next “drama” the enemy unfolds among homeschoolers- see that you’re the exception to the mass hysteria which so often accompanies these stories. YOU be firmly planted in faith and don’t fall for the hysteria which terrorizes those around you.

To read more of Steve's writings, visit his blog: http://homeschoolheaven.wordpress.com/

THE BALLOON BOY SPEAKS TO HOMESCHOOLERS

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By Steve Lambert, publisher of Five in a Row curriculum

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"Whether you saw it on live TV or on the news after the fact, few of us are unaware of the story of the runaway mylar balloon that supposedly was carrying a 6-year-old boy last week.
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It turns out that authorities are likely to file charges against the family because the entire event [may have been] contrived to gather publicity for a possible upcoming reality television show.
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How often do we do something in hopes of being noticed. Or perhaps how often do we not actually DO something- but simply WANT to be noticed. We want publicity for the sacrifices we’re making homeschooling.
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Here’s the vital truth we ALL need to remember: God sees.
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We perform for an audience of One. Even if our family and friends don’t appreciate what’s going on, God does. Even if our HUSBAND doesn’t appreciate the sacrifice we’re making sometimes, the Lord sees!
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Talk with your children today about the eternal truth that we don’t need to make a big deal to seek attention. The Lord knows what’s going on.
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Take a look at Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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Did you follow that? NO publicity agents for doing what we’ve been asked to do. We don’t need a public relations campaign and we don’t need to pull any media stunts to get the attention we crave. Do what the Lord has shown you to do in the knowledge that HE will see your obedience."
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To read more of Steve's writings, visit his blog:
http://homeschoolheaven.wordpress.com/

SGT. YORK SPEAKS TO HOMESCHOOLERS

By Steve Lambert, Publisher of Five in a Row homeschool curriculum

It was on October 8, 1918 that Sergeant Alvin York attacked an enemy machine gun nest, eliminated 32 enemy machine guns, killed 28 enemy soldiers and captured an additional 132 enemy combatants. For his unparalleled heroism York received the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration and is awarded to those members of the American military distinguishes himself “by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.” All too often the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously.

York had been a hard-living man known for heavy drinking, fighting and brawling. But after a friend was killed in a bar fight, York became a Christian. Ironically, the man who would someday win America’s highest military honor tried to avoid military service as a conscientious objector. His claim was denied. You can read York’s appeal of the local draft board’s decision here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Conscientious_Objector_Claim_of_Appeal_for_Alvin_Cullum_York.gif

Once in the army, serious heart-to-heart discussions with his commanding officers convinced York that war could be justified in certain situations. Once convinced, York fought in a selfless way that eventually won him worldwide recognition for his accomplishments.

Have you ever felt strongly about something? Have you ever been convinced that you would NEVER do something specific? Perhaps you were convinced you would NEVER homeschool. And perhaps a heart-to-heart discussion with your husband, a close friend, or with the Lord Himself convinced you that homeschooling could be justified in certain situations.

If that’s you- take a lesson from Alvin York and give it all you’ve got. Put your shoulder into the process and move ahead with courage and faith. Don’t be afraid to give it your all. It’s funny, isn’t it? Sometimes the very thing we swore we would never do ends up being very thing the Lord requires of us.

York could have “split the difference.” He could have given World War I a half-hearted effort, suspended between his heart-felt conviction as a pacifist and his logically thought out revelation that war might be justified in some circumstances. He could have gone through the motions without giving it all he had. But he didn’t.

Maybe there’s a part of you that still wonders if your kids wouldn’t be better off in a classroom somewhere. Maybe you agree “in principle” that homeschooling can be justified, but in reality you’ve got one foot in each camp. If you’ve made the commitment to give homeschooling a try then it deserves your very best. If that means charging a machine gun nest then so be it.

Tell your children the remarkable story of one of America’s greatest heroes: Alvin York. Consider buying or renting the wonderful story of Alvin C York starring Gary Cooper. Watch it with your children.

Then tell the Lord that you’re going to give homeschooling your very best effort from this day forward. I believe He will honor you for your decision.

For more of Steve Lambert's writings, visit his blog at: http://homeschoolheaven.wordpress.com/

HAVING DONE EVERYTHING HORTON, STAND.

By Steve Lambert, Publisher of Five in a Row

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the death of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Author of 46 children’s books, Geisel’s books have sold well over a quarter of a billion copies! Think of that- a quarter of a BILLION!

From foxes who wore socks to cats who wore hats, from wockets to whos, from red fish to blue fish, hardly anyone alive today isn’t familiar with at least a few of Geisel’s remarkably creative stories.

And do you know WHY the world knows Theodor Geisel’s works? Because Geisel refused to take “no” for an answer.

You see, Dr. Seuss was turned down by TWENTY-EIGHT different publishers before he walked into Random House. That’s right- TWENTY-EIGHT different publishers looked at Geisel’s manuscript of And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street and concluded nobody would ever want to read such a wacky, zany book.

Rejected TWENTY-EIGHT times in a row, Geisel persevered. He believed in what he was doing. He believed that children and adults alike would delight at the words he had put on paper. And he was right.

Random House publisher Bennett Cerf once said, “I’ve published any number of great writers, from William Faulkner to John O’Hara, but there’s only one genius on my authors list. His name is Ted Geisel.”

Have you been discouraged on your homeschool journey? Have you ever wondered if maybe this whole thing is a crazy idea? Have others told you this isn’t going to work? Two people? Five people? Twenty-eight people perhaps? Are you going to give up and quit? Or are you going to have another go at it tomorrow- like Theodor Seuss Geisel?

I would have given up after the first ten rejections I think. Certainly after twenty publisher’s rejections I would have concluded that I was never meant to be a writer. But not Geisel. He could see beyond today’s disappointments. But even Dr. Seuss never dreamed that his books would be in the hands of a QUARTER OF A BILLION readers someday.

We can never see the end when we’re in the middle. We have NO IDEA what the Lord wants to do with our lives or the lives of our children if we’ll just persist. Paul said in Ephesians 6:13 “… having done everything, stand.”

When it seems as if you’ve done everything in your power and it’s still not enough… stand. Don’t walk away. Don’t sit down. Don’t give up. Stand. Stand and watch what the Lord will do.

Gather your children today and read a Dr. Seuss book togther- and remember the extraordinary man who refused to take “no” for answer.

For more of Steve's reflections on life, faith, and homeschooling, go to his blog: http://homeschoolheaven.wordpress.com/

HAVE YOU BEEN CAUGHT RED-HANDED?

One of my favorite speakers and homeschool educators, Steve Lambert, shares this on his blog today:

"Have you been caught red-handed?

That’s an odd turn of phrase, isn’t it? It actually dates back more than 200 years and originated in Scotland. It refers quite literally to someone having red-hands; hands covered with blood. It referred to a poacher, caught having just illegally killed game and still having the blood of the animal on his hands. Later, it referred to someone who committed murder and was caught with the blood still on his hands.

It means of course- to be caught doing something in such a way that there is absolutely no doubt of one’s guilt.

Some of the most important lessons we teach in homeschooling are actually caught- not taught. You can teach someone to read words on paper, but you can’t teach them to become a reader. You can teach someone the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie, but you can’t teach them to tell the truth. You can teach someone how to sound out the words in their Bible, but you can’t teach them to become a Bible reader. You can teach someone the specific how-tos of prayer, but you can’t teach them to become someone who prays.

All of those skills and more are best caught- not taught. How does that work? It works by letting your children catch you “red-handed” in the act of reading, or praying, or telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient- or allowing them to catch you reading your Bible.

Oh don’t misunderstand. I’m not suggesting you “stage” a Bible reading or “fake” praying in order to be caught! Far from it in fact. I’m suggesting that you make these behaviors a part of your regular routine without saying a word. Your children watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. No words are necessary in this realm of teaching.

The very best chance you have of helping your children become men and women of integrity, truth, honesty, character, Biblical wisdom, prayer and more is by letting them catch you “red-handed” being a man or woman of integrity, truth, honesty, character, biblical wisdom and prayer.

Make it a goal to get caught “red-handed” doing something of eternal value today- and every day! "

To read more of Steve Lambert's writings about parenthood, education, the Christian walk, and just life in general, visit his blog at: http://homeschoolheaven.wordpress.com/