Wednesday, January 17, 2007

A NOTE ON BOB JONES UNIVERSITY

From http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/family.htm


ABORTION:It is NOT family planning. It is murder!
We have seven children
(including Samuel who is to be born in late October up to our 12 year old
daughter; that'll be 4 boys and 3 girls). By the way, my wife's name is
Tracy, too. We highly recommend Christ Centered Curriculum
http://www.christcentercurriculum.com/ for early learning. It is one of the
best Bible (KJV) based curriculum's out for pre-K through second grade
phonics and math.

Our eldest Jared, now 7 was born with numerous birth defects which initially motivated us to look at homeschooling as an option. It took very little time before we were convicted that we should be homeschooling to protect our children and to bring them up with a real Christian education. I am such a newcomer at this that the help I have to offer is minimal, however, homeschooling is so individual and personal that there's just no replacement for "on the job training". I spent a fair amount of time looking at different curriculums and styles. I personally felt more comfortable beginning with a "set" curriculum, but in short order found that I had to be constantly modifying it for our individual needs.

I chose Doreen Claggett's "Christ Centered Curriculum". She believes that it's never too early to begin training up a child, not only academically but in the Lord. Her book, "Never Too Early" gives a very good insight into the history of public education, why we should homeschool and how we should homeschool. It includes lots of scripture and her curriculum uses the KJV. There are many things that I don't agree with (her using Billy Graham as a role model for instance), but let's face it, not many people have their act totally together (myself included). She does have good sections on wives submitting to husbands, child training (with the rod as indicated in scripture), and on the reasons for education i.e. to read God's word, and to appreciate and learn more about His Creation. Doctrinally I have been unable to find anything in the curriculum that I disagree with, (apart from one statement on the judgement seat of Christ and non-believers - but it may have been a typo because it was so obviously wrong that it must have been, as everything else is right on the mark). She spends a lot of time doing drills etc that I found too time consuming and boring. Her curriculum is primarily for "schools" so if you've got kids for 4 - 5 hours a day, sure keep them busy with this, but at home with one kid in front of you - not for me. Otherwise, the lessons are liberally sprinkled with scripture and academically are far superior to many. Her website is http://www.christcentercurriculum.com/ and gives you an idea of what they have to offer. If you are interested I would be happy to give you my copy of "Never Too Early". The curriculum is only for around 5 – 7 or thereabouts, and includes reading/phonics, spelling, printing/cursive, grammar and math. I'm not too fussy about the math program (there's 2 levels, A and B), although the A program isn't too bad, especially the beginning when it goes over the days of creation.

As Jared progressed I used Rod and Staff for Science (which I really enjoyed as well), and social studies. It teaches of God's creation and everything is biblical. However Rod and Staff are Mennonite, although so far there are no doctrinal clashes that I've found. The lessons contain scripture but don't get into doctrine per se. I'm going to be starting the Grade 3 Science with Jared, and we've moved on to a Canadian social studies program for him (secular). I've also started Greenleaf Press's Guide to Old Testament History. I'm using the guide primarily as a gauge for what to read each day. Their testimony at the back immediately made me very leery of their contribution in relation to questions etc. In addition they are not using the KJV so their questions are using excerpts from their corrupted versions. Good curriculum is so hard to find!! I've also moved on to Professor B Mathematics which I really like. He claims to teach math by telling the truth. When something is explained it's done is such a way that the student understands what they're doing, not just short cuts because this is what you do. Jared 's weakness is definitely math, and after completing the first level, I've seen dramatic improvement. The program you hear the most about is Saxon Math, which is what we'll use after we complete the 3 levels of Professor B.

Another movement in homeschooling is "classical." The students study history through literature (which is what we'll be doing also), but there's a strong emphasis on studying all the classics, including things like Dickens etc. My personal belief is that I do not want my children exposed until such time that they have a strong foundation in Christ. There is also a lot of time spent on music, Latin, Greek, logic, art (studying paintings etc) etc. I think that a lot of that is fine, but it seems that there is a strong emphasis on things that are not profitable. My own philosophy is that I want my children well educated, but also able-bodied. With 3 boys we intend to have them learn skills like carpentry, plumbing etc. We want to train them up to be leaders of their households, and servants for the Lord, in whatever capacity that might entail. Although they are all quite young 7, 5 and 3, I'm having them help me with the garden (the 3 year old gets off the hook – he steps on all my plants). They pick vegetables and help with the cleaning. I have them help with setting the table, and of course looking after their baby sister (Megan is almost 15 months). They are given responsibilities like making their beds and cleaning their room. Later on they will cut grass, shovel snow, help clean the house, etc with increasing responsibilities, as they get older. Megan will learn cooking, sewing, etc . There's so much emphasis on academics and sports these days, not enough on life skills. They need to be equipped to serve the Lord, and not just run a company, or market a product, or chase a ball around and field and win, win, win. Not everyone will go into "full time ministry," but we must all be prepared to serve the Lord in anything and everything we do---full time.

I've included the web site for Joy Center of Learning. It's a family business as you will see. Maxine is a lovely woman whom I've met at the homeschool conference here in Manitoba. She puts out a book called The Homeschooling Toolbox which I found very informative. She has an edition specifically for the US. It lists tons of info on types of curriculum, along with distributors etc. Their website also has a links page which includes a good variety of sites. Maxine also takes a stance on the KJV. Again, I cannot attest to her doctrinal stance (her husband is an evangelical pastor, although I'm not sure where), but as far as information goes, she's very helpful. I've also included some other various websites including some on classical homeschooling, which I received from someone else. All the distributors usually put out free catalogues. In our little corner of the world we have 5 – 10 family businesses (usually people with lots of children, i.e. one family has 15, of kids who homeschool themselves) and are always anxious to share info. There's also tons of info on the internet, including forums etc. I don't have time for much of that, but I do enjoy going to the homeschool conference where everyone has their stuff displayed. The big names in Christian Homeschooling for textbooks is A Beka and Bob Jones, and they also have online schools etc. This gives you the freedom to have the children at home, and yet the responsibility for teaching on a daily basis is done online. So many options. The forums are good for questions and feedback from other homeschooling moms regarding specific curriculums, scheduling questions etc.

http://www.joycenter.on.ca/index.html Classical Christian Homeschooling (Christine Miller) - www.classicalhomeschooling.orgThe Well Trained Mind (Susan Wise Bauer) - www.welltrainedmind.com, this is very practical, and they have a newsletter on-line that discusses issues in homeschooling (scheduling etc.)Generally there's something out there for everyone. So much of it is personal that you can't say this is better than that, or is easier than that. Some people prefer lots of drills etc. Others like everything laid out for them on a daily basis. I'm using some things for now, and already with the second child I'm doing some things differently. I think that each parent is the best teacher for their child, no matter which curriculum is used.
Revival: A call to personal holinessRevive us in the midst of the years.
Line up your family with the word, wives submitting family.htm
Personal holiness, get rid of all that is not holy in your life.
Personal consecration, dedicate your whole body, and all your goods to the service of the Lord.
Move on to perfection: oldlandmarks.com
Get back the true gospel message, not the humanist message of today. lordship, repentan
evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor's
dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things

as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to
which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these
perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we
have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar
enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute
product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty.
Why?
We would su
ggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered
in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One
way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to
be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify
God. The old gospel was 'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new - but (so to speak) incidentally,
for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of
divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on
whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously

God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was
religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to
worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old
gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There
is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.
******************

A place where the name and doctrine of Jesus Christ is magnified. His name is honoured, preached, published, studied, revered. Each life stretched out on the word. Teaching the children to rejoice in the God of their salvation. A place for the saint and the stranger. A place of salvation, peace, joy, power in the Holy Ghost. A place where evil is eschewed and righteousness exalted and extoled. -->

A NOTE ON BOB JONES UNIVERSITY

I've been asked why I would provide links to BJU resources when they are notoriously prejudiced. They didn't allow interracial marriages in their school into recent times (like the 70s). Why do I suggest them? BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXCELLENT RESOURCES! I get good King James information where I can. The reality is that a lot of church people are prejudiced. Believe me, I KNOW. I am a person of color and I've gotten it left and right in churches, but that doesn't stop me from travelling, attending, interviewing, talking, inviting, writing and enjoying all people. I worship God and if any man be a worshipper of God, he'll come to love me even though my skin is brown. He that is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
For the record, I am not prejudiced. I'm not against two people getting married no matter what color they are. I disagree with BJUs stance, but who do I agree with all the time? Probably nobody. I republish a lot of works on the internet and if it were required that I agree with the author in all their views/preferences/prejudices, then there'd probably be no postings here except my own. In fact, if I looked for 100% agreement, I probably couldn't even attend a church.

A sister quoted Acts 17:26 which tells us that God hath made all men of one blood. That is a wonderful truth. Whether Chinese, Hawaiian, white, black, hispanic, Eskimo, Indian, Native American, Arabic, Jewish, etc. we are ALL made of ONE blood. It is ridiculous to be prejudiced. But Brother James Knox of Bible Baptist in Deland, FL made an interesting observation about this passage of scripture. Many people (both prejudiced and un-prejudiced) stop at verse 26. Go to verse 27 and it will tell you WHY the Lord scattered man at Babel and made us to dwell on all the face of the earth--"That they should seek the Lord..." God separated by race and language that they may seek the Lord. When we were all lumped up together in sin, we went hog wild to build the tower of Babel and from that point on, NOTHING would be RESTRAINED from us which we imagined to do! Our corrupt fathers had come upon something huge, something malevolent.

Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
In His great mercy, He busted up that antichrist spirit scattering us all abroad. He could have killed them all with one stroke, but He didn't do that. He scattered the rebels so that we would seek His face.

Acts Acts 17:26-27 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
When we were all one language and race, we went to build the tower of Babel and usurp God. God split us up that we may seek his face. And ever since Babel man has been trying to obliterate these barriers THAT GOD HATH SET UP SO THAT WE WOULD SEEK HIM. Bro. Knox contends that there is no problem with two Christians of different races getting married since we are one in Christ, but that the world encouraging interracial marriage is an effort to reverse the effects of Babel. His comments take my mind to the concerted effort to make public school children "world citizens". This whole "new world order" is all an attempt to go right back to Babel. And it is going to happen. Mama come home and school your child yourself and stop watching hell-i-vision!

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