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A Steward of Intelligence

  • Posted on March 31, 2009 at 12:07 am

Today in school, we worked on math.

David was doing the simple addition problems in his head, and I remarked that I knew a child several years older than he who couldn’t do those problems at all. David remarked that this was terrible, and I responded, “Not really. God didn’t give him the ability to learn math.”

Then I explained that we are stewards of intelligence just like stewards of the money and possessions God gives us (we’ve discussed stewardship before). When David (and Mommy) work hard to study, we’re being good stewards of the ability God has given us. If we’re lazy and just get by (making sixes and zeros comes to mind), we’re not being good stewards.

So that other child who has difficulty with math can glorify God, even if she must always count with her fingers to add one plus three. Being a good steward had little to do with intelligence.

Convicting, isn’t it?

Conversations like these remind me why I homeschool.

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Homeschooling and the Local Church

  • Posted on August 5, 2008 at 7:21 am

David is starting kindergarten at home this week. I do not intend to write on education; after all, there are many homeschool blogs and I don’t intend to widen the scope of my blog. If, however, an education topic strays into my field of vision (that is, parenting, wisdom, and the Bible), then I’ll probably write about it. Perhaps I’ll start an education category to reflect this convergence of topics.

In spite of our happy and busy ministry schedule this summer, we’ll probably have to cut back on some activities. But that possibility makes me think about the relationship tension between homeschooling and the local church. Certainly part of the tension for me is my struggle with schedules and organization, but I’m looking at the daily ministry of the church (both giving and receiving) and wondering who should do the work.

  • Women without children in the home who do not work are the most visibly free, but that’s a relatively small group of women. Should they do it all?
  • Mothers with infants? Quite a challenge. I’ve been excited this summer to actually feel sane enough to reach out more. A year ago might have been too overwhelming.
  • Women who work? Nope. Superwoman might work full-time, keep a clean house, and spend quality and quantity time with her family, but daily ministry doesn’t happen on this schedule.
  • Mothers of school age children seem from my perspective to be the best equipped for a good part of this ministry. But homeschooling seems like a big time monster in churches that I’ve been in.

Now I’m thinking back to my own homeschooling days. When I was in highschool, my mom and I were ministry teammates. She taught a weekly Bible study and I helped teach the children. Frequently she’d take a woman out to lunch and I’d babysit. It was fun to help in that way, and homeschooling actually enabled me the freedom to serve in a way that I couldn’t have had I been in school. School wasn’t a time monster in our case. We finished our work and got on with our day.

The difference is that my children are young, still taking naps, for the most part. So realistically, ministry during the week either gives up a morning of school or a nap time. So I’m thinking that I might have to divide up homeschooling into “formative years” and “nonformative years.” That’s somewhat reassuring to me, although I’m wondering what happens to families that continue to grow with babies and formative homeschooling years.

I’m not making any judgments, not at all. I’m observing and gathering facts, and writing them down. Perhaps years from now I’ll have the answers.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:!3

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

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The Conflict Between Academics and Christlikeness

  • Posted on January 25, 2008 at 11:20 am

Have you ever been ashamed of yourself? Last night, I was.

My children are still not school age, but I still enjoy finding what will stimulate their minds, and providing an environment that will foster a well trained mind. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, and that’s not the problem. The problem in my case is that I found myself looking at life through the academic lens, and not academics through the lens of God’s Word and Ways.

One of our missionaries we support sent some DVDs of their work, their children and family, and our pastor copied them for the families in our church. I was excited about this, for a fleeting moment about getting to know missions, but the biggest thought was, How wonderful. We can start studying that culture. I wasn’t so much interested in the spiritual value as the academic value. I thought about how much teachers pay for videos of other cultures, and how wonderful that I had one that I didn’t pay for. When I couldn’t get the DVD to work, I was thinking about the lost academic benefits.

When I realized how little I cared about these missionaries personally, how little thought I placed on the spiritual needs of my children and how this could turn their thoughts to value spiritual blessings, I was ashamed. As I further thought about this, I realized I’ve been interested in other cultures and taken advantage of God-given appointments without considering much how God might use that in their lives to give them a burden for the lost. It’s been an academic exercise.

It seems that often I am convicted about something, and after I think about it I remember what God’s Word says. Then I must repent. Maybe the more I study God’s Word, the more it will convict me first. I don’t know. I’m just thankful that God is still working in my life.

Here is what this situation reminds me of:

Matthew 6:19-21

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Where is my treasure? It doesn’t mean I won’t be interested in academics, but that academics is not the goal. It is not how I measure every experience my children face each day. I suppose I need more time getting my world view in line with God’s.

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