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OUR JOURNEY...
A Decision
While attending
Louisiana State University, Merle and I committed our lives to Jesus Christ; and,
we became
actively involved in discipleship programs on campus and the local church. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Mechanization; and Merle
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education. After we
were married, I earned a Master degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological
Seminary. We thought; we would be ministering overseas; so, we talked about possibly
homeschooling our children someday. When our first child was born, we began to realize
that we were going to be God's Ambassadors for the Gospel at home. As we considered how we
were going to educate our children, we saw that God had specific goals and a method on how
we were to train our sons and daughters. We believed; we could not obey this command
unless we homeschooled our children. Today, we have five children and have been
homeschooling since the birth of our firstborn in 1981.
"You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I
command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your
children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and
they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of
your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9
A Disappointment
Though we were convinced
homeschooling was the right choice, we quickly saw how the traditions of men had trapped
us into thinking the education of our children had to be a certain way.
It
was frustrating trying to teach our children at home using the same goals, methods, and
resources the school systems used. We continued believing God was going to honor our
heart's desire to make our children into men and women of God. Our goal was to disciple
our children. Yet, it seemed that there was never any time for spiritual training and
application; because, the curriculum (Christian or Bible-based) emphasized academics. Each
year we would search and pray over the curricular that were offered for
homeschooling; but, most materials were not-- suitable to teaching multi-level ages, economical for a family
budget, using resources effectively, time efficient, easy to teach, Bible focused,
building creative thinkers, discipleship oriented, nor doctrinally Biblical.
Each year we found ourselves piecing together a curriculum from the
materials available. Although we
used what the Lord provided, we were disappointed with the tools we had to work with.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
The Prayer
As our two oldest children
were getting closer to adulthood, we increasingly became frustrated with their training.
We thoroughly studied the curriculums available and literally cried out to the Lord about
our needs. "We need a curriculum that will-- unify the family, teach our children the Word of God, equip each of
our children according to their individual needs to serve You in today's world, and
interesting enough to create a desire to learn in our children. Also, it was
important that the curriculum be affordable and easy to use."
"Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He
hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of
Him." 1 John 5:14-15
An Answer
We believed the Lord was
telling us to rid our minds of all the conventional ways we had learned about education.
Instead, we asked ourselves, "What would Jesus teach, if He were here
today?" So, we searched
the Scriptures and found that Jesus taught the Word of God. We decided that the Bible--
not science, history, literature, character traits, principles, English, or any other subject, was to
be the focal point of our children's education.
"All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
A Step of Faith
God is faithful; and, we were
confident; that; as long as, we were obedient to God, He was going to make sure that our
children were going to be used for the purpose He had created each of them-- whether it be
a doctor, fisherman, carpenter, judge, or craftsman. We noticed that God's list of
"Who's Who" were men and women who walked by faith in His word.
"But without faith it is impossible to
please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11: 6
"... faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Our Goal
Once we began to believe
that a curriculum centered on God's Word was the answer to our prayers, our goal was to
design an educational program that would help us and others complete the task God had
given us to do -- equip our children to know and love the Creator and be good stewards of
His creation.
"And this is eternal life, that they may
know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ who you have sent." John 17:3
His Method
We wanted the method of
education to be God's way, not man's. So, we turned to the scriptures again for the
answer. In John 17, Jesus is talking to the Father, explaining how he had
glorified the Father; because, He had finished the task
that was given to Him. "I have glorified You on the earth, I have
finished the task You have given me to do." John 17:4.
 What was the task?
"I have manifested Your name to the men whom you have
given me out of the world." John 17:6.
Jesus'
task was to make disciples.
How was He to make disciples? "For
I have given to them the words which you have given Me." John 17:8. Jesus made
disciples by teaching them God's Word. If Jesus glorified the Father, by doing His
will. And,
the Father's will was to make disciples by teaching them the Word. Then, our goal should be
to know God, our method discipleship, and the main text-- the Bible. We knew we would
glorify God, if we taught our children to be "students of the Word."
God's Promise
We had God's promises in Psalm 19:7-10; that, if we step out in faith
and use God's Word as the main text for all of our basic studies, then:
Our children will be able to
become men and women of God. "The law of the Lord is perfect
converting the soul."
Our children will be able to make and implement wise choices. "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
Our children will be able to experience joy in life. "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart."
Our children will be able to discern
between good and evil. "The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. "
Our
children will be able to live eternally forever. "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Our children will be able to trust that God is just. "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. "
The Result
Because we
desired to be
obedient to God's command to disciple our children and were assured from His
Word that He will reward
those who trust in Him, we designed a curriculum in which the goal is
to know God, the method is discipleship, and the main text is the Bible. Student Of the Word
Curriculum is a K-12th Bible centered
curriculum for all the basic subjects (except math).
"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter, also,
than honey and the honeycomb." ... Psalms
19:10
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