There's No Place Like Home

Teaching our Children about Persecution, Part 2

Teaching Our Children about Persecution, Part 1

Today our small church celebrates its 54thanniversary. Last week I discussed some of the history of my father’s work in education. I want to continue to discuss some of this history today. In the 1960’s and 70’s there were families who were home schooling, but it was certainly not as common as it is today. Christian schools were growing, but not all families either because of geography or finances could send their children to a Christian school. So there was a need for Christian education that needed to be met. My dad and others in our church sought to meet this need. Four keys to home education 1. Parents have the responsibility and authority 2. Need books and materials 3. Parents must embrace the challenge 4. Students must also be willing to embrace the challenge What we enjoy today over 50 years later in terms of the freedom and incredible choices available in home schooling are truly a great blessing from the Lord. For Christian Liberty Academy School System, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom. See you next Thursday, Lord willing, at 8:30 a.m. Central Time.

Welcome to There’s No Place Like Home. This is our third week looking at Scripture passages that I believe are foundational for Christian education and home schooling. The previous two weeks, I spoke from Deut. 6 and Psalm 78. Today I want to share from Ephesians 6:1-4. Listen to these verses. Eph. 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Eph. 6:2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: Eph. 6:3“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Eph. 6:4¶ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Here we see clearly that there is a duty both for children and parents. And like Ephesians 5, I think the reason that fathers are addressed last is because they have the greater responsibility.  Children are called to obey their parents in the Lord. This means that the obedience of children to fathers is to be motivated by obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I think we can add this obedience to parents can only be given through the power of Christ. Fathers are then given a calling in verse 4 that is both negative and positive. The negative: do not provoke your children to wrath. I think this is an important reminder for parents who are engaged in homeschooling. Is our work always easy? Hardly.  We do it not because it is painless or an endless source of joy. We do it because we believe God has called us to provide our children a Christ-centered education. Because we are with our children from morning to night, we must be careful not to provoke our children, cause them to be angry. Fathers are especially warned about this, but I don’t see why this command would not also apply to mothers. The positive is that fathers and also mothers must bring to their children the training and admonition of the Lord. The word translated as bring up is used in Eph. 5:29 where it has the meaning of nourish. That might not be the best meaning here, but perhaps it is not a stretch to say that we are to nourish our children in the training and admonition of the Lord. What a challenge this is. And we cannot do this in our own strength. How we must desperately pray for the Lord Jesus Christ to strengthen and guide us. Christian education is a great blessing! But may we not bring shame to our great God by doing this in our own strength.

Important Texts for Christian Education, Part 2

Important Texts for Christian Education, Part 1

Hello, friends, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom with Christian Liberty Academy School System. Welcome to There’s No Place Like Home. Last time, I discussed an overview of Scripture and God’s plan of redemption in terms of 14 C Sounds, an expansion of the 7 C’s of history developed by Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis. I want to review this overview and focus on a few of the points whose significance might not be as obvious.  So let’s review and expand on a few of the points. Creation – Genesis 1  Corruption, the fall of Adam and Eve – Genesis 3  Catastrophe, Noah’s flood – Genesis 6-9  Confusion, The Tower of Babel – Genesis 11.  Covenant, God’s calling and covenant with Abraham – Genesis 12. In the account of Genesis, Abraham’s calling is a new beginning point. The calling of Abraham is a very central part of the story of redemption. It would be through the line of Abraham that the Messiah would come. Circumcision – In Genesis 15 God gave to Abraham a sign of the covenant. The practice of circumcision would be important for almost 2000 years, which explains why there was difficulty for some Jews in the NT to understand that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised to be saved. Commandments – Exodus 20. Certainly an important theme is the relationship of law and grace. We could never be saved through our own obedience to the Law but this doesn’t mean that God gave His law in vain. Kingship – The central chapter in the OT is 2 Samuel 7 and the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 17. Captivity – 2 Chronicles 36 and the last chapters of Kings shows that God’s promised judgment did come. But through all of this the promise of the Messiah was clarified. Christ – Gospels. We must never forget the cross, but we also must consider as best we can the entire ministry of our Lord, His birth, His circumcision, His baptism, His temptation and entire ministry. Cross – As we think of the cross we also rejoice in the empty tomb. The cross and the resurrection must be celebrated together. Coming of the Spirit, the great day of Pentecost – Acts 2  Cornelius, the Holy Spirit came upon Gentiles showing the unity of Christ’s body – Acts 10:44-48  Consummation, the return of Christ – Titus 2:13-14 and other passages Let us teach our children how all of Scripture so beautifully connects together in presenting God’s great plan of redemption. For Christian Liberty Academy School System, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom. To learn more about our ministry, visit homeschools.org

Hello, friends, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom with Christian Liberty Academy School System. Welcome to There’s No Place Like Home. A number of years ago, Ken Ham and his ministry Answers in Genesis developed an overview of Scripture and history in a clever way that they called the 7 C’s of history. They even had a nice song to help you memorize them. The Seven C’s were: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, the Cross, Consummation. Overall this is a great overview, but as I reflected more on it, it moves from Genesis 11 to the Gospels. That is a big jump. And obviously, this outline was not meant say these are the only things you need to know. Anyway, as I reflected on this overview of the Bible, I came up with a way to double the number of categories which would provide a more robust summary of the Bible. So here are the 14 C sounds of history, one of them begins with a “K” but “C” can sound like K in certain words. Creation – Genesis 1  Corruption, the fall of Adam and Eve – Genesis 3  Catastrophe, Noah’s flood – Genesis 6-9  Confusion, The Tower of Babel – Genesis 11  Covenant, God’s calling and covenant with Abraham – Genesis 12  Circumcision, The sign of God’s covenant with Abraham – Genesis 15  Commandments, God gave to Israel a law not for her salvation but to direct her in serving Him – Exodus 20  Kingship, Though the LORD was to be king, Israel wanted an earthly king. God would use the line of kings to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. – 2 Samuel 7  Captivity, This seemed to be the end of God’s promises, but it would not be. There would be restoration and the Messiah would still come – 2 Chronicles 36 Christ - Gospels Cross - Gospels  Coming of the Spirit, the great day of Pentecost – Acts 2  Cornelius, the Holy Spirit came upon Gentiles showing the unity of Christ’s body – Acts 10:44-48  Consummation, the return of Christ – Titus 2:13-14 and other passages Next week I will talk more about this summary. I trust this expansion of the work of Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis will be helpful for you as you teach your children the flow of Scripture and God’s work of redemption. For Christian Liberty Academy School System, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom. To learn more about our ministry, visit homeschools.org

Hello, friends I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom with Christian Liberty Academy School System. Welcome to There’s No Place Like Home. Today I want to speak about euphemisms. What is a euphemism? The word in Greek means well-speaking, but in English it means to use a word or expression for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Sometimes this involves using words in place of curse words. This is not what I am talking about. We should be careful about our language, but what I am speaking about is far more sinister and serious. What are some euphemisms in use today that distort reality and cover evil? The political commentator, Ben Shapiro, mentioned how the word abortion is really a euphemism. Instead of speaking about the unjustified killing of an unborn human, we speak of abortion. Even worse is when this unjustified killing is labeled as health care or a women’s right to choose. The word fetus, though it has a perfectly good origin, is today really a euphemism in that most people don’t understand what the Latin means and it can be used to ignore the humanity and personhood of the unborn child. There are many other euphemisms that are used today that conceal ideas that are very dangerous to our children and our culture. Now, none of this sadly is new. During the terrors of Stalin and Hitler as the historian Paul Johnson points out all sorts of euphemisms were used to mask murder and incredible tyranny. During the years 1929-36, 10 million men, women, and children met unnatural deaths through Stalin’s collectivization and “elimination of the classes.” In other words, at least 10 million people were murdered through Stalin’s tyranny, and that is just one facet of his reign of terror. Sadly, many well-known people in the west praised Stalin.  Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Canterbury in the United Kingdom, said that Stalin was leading his people down new and unfamiliar avenues of democracy.  And the American Ambassador at the time to the Soviet Union said ‘His brown eye is exceedingly wise and gentle,’ he wrote. ‘A child would like to sit on his lap and a dog would sidle up to him.’ So, euphemisms are not just part of 21stcentury America. So much of our language and praise today masks the true reality and horror of sin. Scripture warns about those who call evil good and good evil. As parents we have to try to understand these things as best we can and teach our children. Certainly, we cannot trust popular culture and most of media to do these things.  May the Lord direct us to understand and teach these difficult things. For Christian Liberty Academy School System, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom. To learn more about our education ministries please visit christianliberty.com

We continue today to explore the religious nature of law. I shared last week five points regarding law from the work of R. J. Rushdoony in The Institutes of Biblical Law.  1) Law is in every culture religious. 2) The source of law is the god of that society. 3) When laws change what is taking place is a change in religion. 4) You can’t get rid of religion in any society. 5) There can be no tolerance in a law system for another religion. If you understand these points you can understand at least what is motivating the legal changes in our society. Some of these changes go back a number of years. Other changes are taking place much more quickly. As the Christian faith more and more is pushed aside and sadly abandoned, we see the rise of a new faith, humanism, and significant legal changes. When the US Supreme Court with no basis in history or the US Constitution legalized same sex marriage, that was a clear sign that a new religion dominates our nation. And this explains the attacks on Christian businesses that refuse to bow the knee to the tyranny of the new law system. Now because the US is a large country and also because there still are by God’s grace many Christians, there is still a fight taking place. Christians properly are standing up against tyranny. But the hostility and attacks on the Christian faith are growing. Witness the hatred shown to Vice President Pence and his wife, Karen. Karen Pence started teaching again at a Christian school that holds what all Christians used to believe about morality and there was vehement anger directed against her. There were calls that she should lose her Secret Service protection. The British Broadcasting Corporation headline was typical: Vice-president’s wife Karen Pence to teach at anti-LGBT school. So, we must seek to help our children understand the nature of law and what is taking place in our nation. There is a great spiritual battle and many even in our nation are learning what it means to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. As we teach our children these things, let us also remind them of the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ. lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4.

1) Law is in every culture religious. 2) The source of law is the god of that society. 3) When laws change what is taking place is a change in religion. 4) You can’t get rid of religion in any society. 5) There can be no tolerance in a law system for another religion.

About a half a year ago, I talked about the issue of socialization. How will home schooled children ever learn to interact with others if they don’t go to a regular school? I am hoping, though I don’t have definite proof, that this objection is raised less today than it was a generation ago. I came across a great piece of satire written about this issue involving Tim Tebow. The website is called Unverified Source. No author was listed, but it was a brilliant take on the issue with the title, “Sheltered Homeschooler Struggles Through Life and Settles for Marrying Miss Universe.” The first part of the article reads: Tim Tebow’s life began when he was born after a difficult pregnancy to Christian missionaries in the Philippines. He was the youngest of five homeschooled children, and suffered from a learning disability. By the time he was high school age he had to find a football team with whom he could play even as he continued to be educated at home. His team helped him win Florida High School Player of the Year twice, and also a state championship. His hard luck continued in college. While attending the University of Florida he only won the Heisman trophy once. Sure, he was the first sophomore to win the highest award in college football, but he didn’t win it as a freshman. Poor homeschooler. He also only won two national championships in four years. In fact, aside from setting dozens of records and winning dozens of awards, he barely had an impact on college sports. Imagine the things he could have accomplished had he gone to a real school? Sometimes satire can be a very effective tool and I commend whoever wrote the article. Now I do appreciate Tim Tebow and the fact that he has taken flack for standing as a Christian. I don’t think that I would want my children to become celebrity figures. I can’t imagine the pressures that he faces. But here is the point that I want to make on this issue. How did home school families countless times deal with the question of socialization? They did it by being faithful to the Lord and raising their children. Yes, there are arguments to make and we should be equipped to answer objections. But the greatest proof has been the many, many stories of how God has blessed the faithful efforts of parents. Tim Tebow is one example, but I know there are millions of others.  So let all the praise be given to God and let us continue to provide our children a Christ-centered education that gives glory to the Lord.

Can you believe we are now in 2019? Next year is 2020. It struck me just the other day how quickly time is passing. I want to bring a message of challenge and encouragement for the new year today through two passages from Scripture.

What do we know about Mary, the one whom God would use in such an important way? This episode will explore what we do know. As we celebrate this season, the focus of our attention obviously must be on the Lord Jesus Christ. As we give thanks, let us also be thankful for the faithful mother that God used in the life of our Lord. And may the Lord bless and strengthen the godly mothers today who train their children to fear the Lord.

Stories of people who are coming to terms with the place they now call home, the United States... On a recent weekend in Beaverton, Oregon, we met up with Maria Garcia who is a Mexican immigrant, It was the middle of the day and an after-work rush at her small business tienda located at a shopping alcove right off of highway. She’s middle-aged, short, and bubbly. When we arrived, Maria didn’t want to be on film but was eager to share her story. When Maria was a 15 years old, she crossed the border into the United States with the help of a coyotaje. Initially visiting out of curiosity, she found work at a trash bag factory where she worked 12 hours every night and decided to stay.