I asked last month how you teach your children about creation and their Creator. Here is a great idea sent in by Michelle Geffken:

"My eight-year-old son's birthday is in December sandwiched between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and three other siblings' birthdays. So, last year we gave him the gift of some summer fun with friends that would sow seeds of truth regarding creation.

In sunny August he had his "Shark Party." A piece of plywood resting on low stools and set up in a shady spot under the trees made an impromptu table. Used aluminum pie plates made fossil collector's sifting trays. A spread of books about sharks and a sheet identifying their various teeth provided the details. And bags of soil from the coast of the Carolinas provided the fossils ... and ... yes, sharks teeth in abundance.

For well over an hour a posse of energetic under ten-year-old boys focused, heads bent, sifting through their tray of debris, frequently exclaiming, "Isn't this a mako's tooth?" or, "I've found the mouthpiece of a stingray!" followed by, "Cooool!" and other admiring epithets.

Of course, one of the boys wondered aloud, "How did all these fossils get here in the first place? Where did they come from?" As a family we'd just been watching, "Raising the Allosaur," a video from Vision Forum, about a group of homeschooled kids and their dads who'd helped discover a rare dinosaur skull. The idea that fossils were made by the flood was reinforced by the amazing fact of fossilized raindrops having been found and even labeled as such by evolution-biased museums.

I explained this idea to the children with leading questions such as, "What usually happens to rain when it falls?" and "What would happen to a raccoon if it died in our yard today?" They followed the logic and soon were looking with new eyes on their treasured finds as perhaps being from sea creatures buried back in Noah's day.

It was a privilege to share that moment with my own son and watch his faith grow as he saw his friends challenged by the truths of the Bible."

Michelle Geffken is a homeschool mom and bookseller of creative classics at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeLibraryBuilder/

What I Have Learned From My Teacher

Psalm 23 says that the Lord is my Shepherd. It also says, "He leads me…" My Shepherd wants to lead me into rest and restore my soul, but I have to follow Him and not go my own way. We simply cannot rest if we are striving in our own agendas, thoughts, and understanding. I try to remember that, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is destruction." It's not that my ideas are wrong or bad, they seem right; but they are not necessarily from God.

I also cannot rest if I am hungry. Kay Arthur says, "Sheep that are hungry won't lie down. They can't. They lack vigor and vitality, yet they are driven, because they are not satisfied." I have been there too often. I have wanted for rest and not been able to attain it for this very reason. I've been seemingly too busy with the cares of this life to sit at the Lord's feet for nourishment although it's the very thing I crave. I long for rest for this drained out, poured out mother-teacher. Yet, I am just learning how to come to my Teacher for what I want (lack) and have found great rest, strength, and satisfaction from hunger. Truly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

What I Have Learned From My Children

My son went with his father to help a family from church move today. When they got back, it seemed to me that my son had grown stronger, taller, and more mature. He was happy to have been able to go with Dad and help. I thought about this in relation to following my Shepherd. It's my desire that after following Him and helping Him do His work, that I will be stronger, taller, more mature, and happy to do what He asks.

My Prayer

"Help me follow you, my Shepherd, and not my own understanding. Draw me to You that I will find rest, relief from hunger, and a restored soul. Open my eyes to see that what has been placed in my life by Your hand can be called "goodness and mercy" following me all the days of my life."

Homeschooling Thoughts

Jesus leads by example. As teachers, we need to evaluate where our children need to grow, and then lead by example. If they are having a hard time in math, for example, we need to take the time to sit down with them and lead them step by step until understanding comes. Or maybe it's learning to clean the bathroom. The children should be taught by example rather than just told what to do. I have found that it frustrates the children to just be told. They want to be shown. This takes some time, but will be worth it in the long run.

By Deborah Wuehler, TOS Devotional Editor

Welcome to Part II of our interview with Rebekah Anast (formerly Rebekah Pearl) of No Greater Joy Ministries. Her parent's book, "To Train Up A Child" has helped countless parents in their child training endeavors. Last issue we discussed what it was like being homeschooled by the famous Pearls during the movement's infancy. Now, let's talk to Rebekah about what is presently happening with the Pearl and Anast families.

TOS: Last issue you mentioned that you are busy with a number of useful projects, and on top of all those things you are learning and doing, you also help with your parent's No Greater Joy ministry. How and when did your parents' child-training ministry begin, and what is it like now?

Rebekah: I think it was 1992. A friend of the family wrote my Dad, asking him how he had raised his children to be like they are. Dad sat down at his first computer – an old 286 – and started a reply letter. He could not answer the question without going back to the foundation of his philosophy in child raising. Occasionally he would come into the living room and ask us if we remembered this time, or that event, and what happened here or there. When the letter was finished, it was over a hundred pages long. Dad decided to ask a few friends to give their opinions about the manuscript. One of those friends offered to pay for the first printing. Mom sent out 30 copies to people Dad had won to the Lord over the years. From those 30 copies came a flood of orders for "the book." Within weeks every single copy was gone! We actually had to reprint. Then again. And again! A little over ten years later, there are over 450,000 copies of To Train Up a Child in print. Mom and Dad have written and printed another 5 books, and there are 3 more in the process of being published. There is a big office now built on the old farm property, and 10 employees stay busy keeping newsletters, mission details, products, and answered letters going. Mom and Dad still live like simple farm folks, and putter around in the garden when they have time. They don't make any royalties off of their books and audio CDs and tapes. They want young families out there to be equipped and prepared for whatever life might throw at them. All the profits from the No Greater Joy Ministry go to mission work and printing more materials. I am one of their biggest fans. . . obviously!

TOS: They must have done something right to have their own child proclaim to be their biggest fan. I would love that to be said by my children when they are grown. Rebekah, what was your childhood like under the famous "Pearl" philosophy of child training?

Rebekah: Probably a cross between boot camp and Pippi Longstocking's Adventures. I didn't know how lucky I was until I grew up. There is an amazing amount of security in consistent training. I never doubted I was loved, that my parents loved each other, or that I would grow up to be one of the world's most valuable members of society. After all, my family needed me, loved me, and made sure I was an upstanding citizen of "Pearl-land." I never went to bed guilty over a "crime" that hadn't been dealt with. I never spent a day locked away in my own introspection (Mom was sure to intrude!). And, I never watched my mom do a task without being required to pitch in and learn how to do it myself. Mom and Dad weren't perfect people, but they gave us all they had. And, it was enough.

TOS: What advice do you have for those training young children today?

Rebekah: Read To Train Up a Child! To summarize the book in one phrase, "Enjoy your children!" And secondly, make bad behavior counterproductive, and make good behavior rewarding.

TOS: That seems so simple, and yet we try everything else first! I have learned so much about training my children from reading that wonderful little book. Rebekah, growing up as a well-trained child, and now having children of your own, what have you learned personally about training your children that you would like to share?

Rebekah: Actually, my brother Nathan said it just the other day. Child training can be mostly learned with a simple list of principles and rules of operation. But the real fine tuning is hard to pin down. Every child is different. It really takes knowing and loving each child as an individual, praying for wisdom in every circumstance, and being flexible! Your child might not be just like you. He or she might need more or less spankings than you did. He or she might need more quiet time, or more noise and action. Children are people – wonderful, individual, God-made people with a specific purpose and calling in life. To discover your child is the best thing a parent can do for him or her.

TOS: This is a good exhortation to parents to pray for wisdom in every circumstance and to listen to God's voice regarding their children's purpose and calling in life. Rebekah, are there any other resources you would suggest for those of us in the child-training years?

Rebekah: The KJV Bible, and the book of Proverbs specifically. It was an important part of our upbringing. And I really believe (at the risk of sounding biased) that the No Greater Joy materials on child training are some of the very best. Another great resource is a group of people who believe in child training AND have good kids to show for it! There is nothing like seeing it done right. You might have to move to another location to find that group of people. Another great "resource" is to live AWAY from relatives who disapprove of your methods. Bad pressure can ruin the preserving process. Don't be afraid to change your life radically: job, location, philosophy, etc.

TOS: Thank you, Rebekah. I also believe the Bible to be the primary resource in our homeschooling and child training endeavor. What is in the future of the Pearl and Anast families, ministry wise?

Rebekah: Busy, busy, busy! Mom and Dad Pearl are always writing, praying and ministering to families all across the United States (and sometimes overseas). They have tried a few times to "downsize" the ministry. But families everywhere are always "upsizing," so they will likely be busy for years to come.

I am now Rebekah Anast. I still write for No Greater Joy and other small magazines, in between being Mommy and Wife – which I adore immensely!!! My husband is a wonderful man and is blessed to be able to work out of our home, building websites for people and organizations. He just recently finished the new nogreaterjoy.org website – and by the time this is printed – the bulkherbstore.com site. He especially enjoys putting Christian businesses and ministries online.

TOS:Sounds great! Rebekah, how can we corporately pray for your families and their ministries?

Rebekah:For Mom and Dad (Mike and Debi Pearl), you can pray for: Wisdom, energy to get it all done, health and stamina, insight and perception, and for the office workers who carry so much of the load.

For the Anast family, pray for: Wisdom, maturity, safety, and the ability to do what God asks of us faithfully and well.

And we all do thank you for your prayers!

TOS: Thank you, Rebekah, for sharing with us your pioneering journey and the wisdom you have learned along the way.

KONOS – History's Heroes
www.konos.com

After reading through a new resource from Konos, a popular unit study publisher, I was inspired to start integrating this approach into my schooling. The History's Heroes, Settlers kit includes a sturdy vinyl wall map and timeline, a book of figures to affix to the timeline, and a thorough activity book. The activity book is the core of the unit offering an overview of material, vocabulary and book list, as well as pages of fun and interesting activities to get your students really experiencing history. It covers the major settlements of the eastern seaboard and gives ideas for exploring some of the lesser-known settlers. This is a great way to add some excitement to your learning!

-- Product Review by: Jennifer Pepito, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC

Deborah Wuehler, Enewsletter Editor, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Reprinted from Spring 2004 Issue

Hunger

Ever been hungry? Really hungry? Not likely if you're a citizen of these United States and if you are younger than 70. Those who have lived through the 1930's or who are blessed to have lived longer than 70 years - will tell you of a period of time known as The Great Depression. And, many of them can tell you, they knew hunger. They did whatever it took to get a meal, even if it meant a full day of back breaking labor just for a loaf of bread. They also learned plenty about having to "make do" with what they had and in the process learned ingenuity, resourcefulness, and frugality. Our present society of luxury could learn a lesson or two.

What was it like between the years of 1930 – 1940? They were years of leanness; years of shortage; years of hunger; years of depression. Granted, different parts of the country were affected differently, but there were hard working people everywhere, grateful for whatever they had, and passing on to the next generation their never-give-up spirit and stick-to-itiveness. Then came the war which brought with it jobs; jobs brought money; money brought food; food brought relief for the weary.

Frugality

A war bond sold to the youngest child in Oceanside, California went to a brand new baby named Suzanne Myers in January 1944. That year brought with it hope for the jobless, and jobs for the hopeless. That little baby just turned 60 this year (and just happens to be my mother!) And, she just happens to be the most resourceful person I know. Although, she bypassed the Great Depression, she was a by-product of the times, and she learned how to "make do." She can take anything and make something with it. For instance, she can take something as useless as an old shoulder pad and – voila – create cute crafty angel wings, or make her house look like a Victorian magazine cover with thrift store and yard sale junk. She learned from the people around her who had just come through one of the roughest times in our nation's history. Spoken and unspoken mottos among many at the time were, "If you have it, use it up." "If it's in the cupboard, eat it up." "Don't waste anything!" "Eat everything on your plate," or better yet, "CLEAN your plate!" Our present society of waste could learn a lesson or two.

Food

As I studied food from the depression era, it varied from squirrel stew and canned dandelion weeds to poor man's bread (see recipes). What I also found was that the less people had, the more creative they became. Food that didn't seem edible when they were full, became edible when they were hungry. If they didn't can everything that grew in the summer, they would go hungry in winter. It's the old storing-up idea, and it's a good idea at that. The book of Proverbs says that even the ants store up food for the winter. Most people don't even think about storing up – with maybe the exception of that Y2K scare we had a few years ago and that junk in the garage. We have everything we need for now – fast food, pre-packaged instant meals, and quick made-to-order-whatever-you-please.

Learning from History

We know the war came on the heels of the depression, but what preceded that time? For the sake of chronology, let's take a step back and look at what was going on before those depression years. The 1920's. What were the 20's like? In my novice speculation, they were years of excess - free fancy - forget about God and His commands and live for today! As the book of Judges repeatedly says, "everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes." I see the same thing mirrored in our day - the same absence of following God's commands and worse yet, legal action for the mere acknowledgement of Him in our society. Man was not only hedonistic, man put their trust in man and what followed was a collapse of man's empires. Does that give us any clue as to what could transpire in the future as we continue to echo that philosophy?

What about right now in our homes and our homeschooling? Can we apply what we learn from history even here? Are we putting trust in our own seemingly good ideas, or in God's precepts? Is our own little empire on the verge of collapse as we fall into a spiritual type of depression? Has our Christian walk been up and down - similar to living it up in the 20's and then into a depression like the 30's?

Though the Great Depression created a never-give-up spirit, a 'spiritual depression' creates just the opposite: apathy. The only benefit of going through a spiritual depression is that we finally realize the need for better food for our souls, and we come to the conclusion that we cannot build good character traits from 'doing without.' One of the marks of the Great Depression was the food, whereas the mark of a spiritual depression is that the food that God has provided is not eaten. What have we been storing up and feeding our spirits?

Spiritual Depression

Are your spiritual cupboards bare? Has your hunger for the Word disappeared? Let me tell you about my own spiritual malnutrition and my own depression era. That "first saved" period of my walk with Christ was when I ate of His Word and never seemed to be full. I always desired more and was full of life and vitality in the Lord. Then came a period of time where I let the busyness of being a wife, mother, and teacher stop me from reading my Bible regularly. I began to rely on others to feed me through sermons or Bible Studies. I lost my own hunger for the Word. Then, even what others taught began to become dull. Eventually, I became lethargic and went through a period of "spiritual depression." I would open my Bible only if I happened to remember to bring it to church on Sunday. If I got letters in the mail from Christian organizations I would quickly scan past the scriptures to get to the "meat" of the letter. I thought I already knew everything there was to know about favorite memory verses and didn't take a second look at them. And at church, I often sat thinking about other things during the sermon because I already knew what was being preached, or I had that, "I've heard that before" mentality and could tell it better myself. I was easily frustrated, angry, and depressed. Does any of that sound familiar?

In my life, spiritual depression began with spiritual starvation. I had starved myself of God's Word to the point where I had lost all hunger for it. Sound strange? Let me explain with a physical example. A doctor went to another country to help where he could. One of the main things he saw was malnutrition and starvation. The patients who were farthest gone had lost all appetite for food, had no hunger pangs, and were very lethargic. They had to be forced to eat. After getting enough nutrition, they eventually regained their appetite, and then would naturally eat on their own. Our spiritual life can be like this as well. If we stop eating from the Word, we will lose our spiritual appetite and suffer spiritual starvation. So, how does desire for the Word return?

Spiritual Desire

The Lord graciously opened my eyes to my starved condition through a series of trials and tribulations. And, though there was no desire for His Word, I "force fed" myself until real spiritual hunger returned. I read and studied the Bible. I studied the names of God, the character of God, and the grace of God, etc. There are treasures hidden in the Word of God worth digging out. If we search, we will always find something that meets our present need. 1 Peter 2:2 states it perfectly, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby." For newborns to live, they need milk, not grape juice or water or anything else. Likewise to live our life in whatever capacity the Lord has us, we need the Word. I find myself convicted when I have time to watch a video or read a book, but haven't spent time in the Word. We need to pray for God to fill us with hunger and thirst for His righteousness, and He promises that we will be filled. To be hungry and seeking, yet fully satisfied and filled with Him is a glorious paradox.

Proverbs 4:2 says, "Though it costs all that you have, get understanding." What is the cost? Have you given it all that you have? It could mean getting up earlier or staying up later. It could mean studying the Word at the kitchen table while the children are doing their math or writing assignments. It could mean prefacing your read-aloud time with a chapter of the Bible. Do whatever it takes to get wisdom and understanding, though it costs you time or inconvenience. Your spiritual life depends upon it! The example you set for your children's future nourishment depends upon it.

If you find your spiritual life is in a depression, or if you have no hunger pangs for His Word, don't feel guilty, rather I have this advice: Force feed yourself. Make a time and place everyday to eat from His Word even though you may not feel like it. Your spiritual hunger will return and you will be revived. Don't give up – keep eating until desire comes. And, the great depression in your heart, in your schooling efforts, in your life - will be lifted and your hunger satisfied in Him!

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