Choose this day whom you will serve...

Mom's Mac 'n' Cheese

Creamy Salmon and Broccoli Manicotti

The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children ~ Pt. 5 ~ A Battleground for the Minds of Our Children

A Battleground for the Minds of Our Children

            “Jesus said to His disciples:  ‘Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through which they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves.’”  (Luke 17:1-3) 

            John Dewey was a very out-spoken prophet for the anti-God public school system.  Not only did he not want God entering through the doors of our schools, but God’s absolutes, God’s morals and principles would put a wrench in his plans for our youth.  There is no room for the God or anything to do with His kingdom.  “Every teacher should realize the dignity of his calling; that he is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of proper social order and the securing of the right social growth…In this way the teacher is always the prophet of the true god and the usherer of the true kingdom of god.”[1] [emphasis mine]   And again, just in case you didn’t understand the first time, he added this for good measure: “Faith in the prayer-hearing God is an unproved and out-moded faith.  There is no God and there is no soul…There is no room for fixed, natural law or moral absolutes.”[2]   

            Oh, but there is more.  Horace Mann and John Dewey were certainly not the only ones to take this point of view.  They are merely standing at the head of the line of our modern school system.  More recently, Paul Blanshard, a writer for The Humanist magazine even hinted that even though America’s arithmetic, science and reading skills are sinking – even while billions of our tax dollars are being poured into the bottomless pit of educational “reform” – that only seems to be part of the plan for him.  “Our schools may not teach Johnny to read properly, but the fact that Johnny is in school until he is sixteen tends to lead toward the elimination of religious superstition.”[3]

            For anyone who doubts, Blanshard was not the first person to think this way.  Adolph Hitler once said, “Let me control the textbooks, and I will control Germany.”  And that is exactly what he did.  And to make sure, he made private school, parochial school and home education illegal.  “Recalcitrant parents were warned that their children would be taken away from them and put in orphanages or other homes unless they enrolled[4] [in the government schools].”  (Sound familiar?)  But Hitler was certainly ahead of his time.  In 1983, John Dunphy, yet again another writer for The Humanist magazine, reiterated that what the public schools are secretly fighting unaware parents for are the minds and immortal souls of their children:  “The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new – the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.”[5]

            And let us not forget about this generation’s leader of the pack:  The National Education Association.  Dr. John Goodland wrote a report for the NEA in which he said, “Our goal is behavioral change.  The majority of our youth still hold to the values of their parents and if we do not resocialize them to accept change, our society may decay.”[6]  [emphasis mine] 

            Reading, writing and arithmetic have had to make way and be replaced by a new value system.  Values clarification seems to be the order of the day whether parents want it be or not.  (Remember the outcome of the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision.) 

            “Values Clarification.”  It has the sound of the educational system desiring nothing more than to help our youngsters get a handle on right and wrong, doesn’t it?  Mary Pride, in her book “The Way Home,” is not one known to beat around the bush.  She cuts right to the chase as she puts it this way:  “…as the public schools are demanding the right to indoctrinate children in values that may be directly contrary to the parents’.  Sex education courses are designed to brainwash children into accepting homosexuality and fornication as ‘valid forms of sexual expression.’ Values clarification classes systematically destroy the Biblical concepts of an absolute right and an absolute wrong.  One-world government programs in Social Studies are meant to destroy patriotism, while the study of ‘women’s role in today’s society’ is a front for indoctrination in feminism.  Economics courses teach socialism; English teachers assign pornography as required reading; even my high-school gym class featured instruction in occult Yoga techniques.”

            Even though I graduated from high school in 1977, I can personally verify nearly everything she listed.  In my own experience, my Psychology teacher required us to lay on mats hooked up to monitors that measured our bio rhythms.  All in the name of progressive learning.  Mann and Dewey would have been so proud.           

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ #3 ~ 10/6/08

For Today...

Outside my Window...a beautiful sun-shiny day.  The only disappointment about the weather is that it's supposed to get up into the low 70s...I'm ready for it to stay down in the 60s and 50s.

I am thinking...that my friend, whose son was just murdered in front of his wife, is grieving and needs so much prayer.

Monday Morning here and the week-end.....

We started our week-end off by going over to my father-in-laws. My husband needed to work on the tractor and so I made a pot of Taco soup for everyone for supper. It was a beauiful afternoon there. The pictures I will be sharing here are from our afternoon there.

As you can see, he got the tractor going again. He loves being on a tractor. I believe if he could, he would search out for pastures that need to be cut, just so he could "ride his tractor", lol.....

It is a beauiful place his father has. His parents bought this place together many years ago. It has always been a second home to us. We only live about 5 mintues from the home place. We have thoughts that maybe when the day comes, we will buy it and retire here.

The house is small, but comfortable and homey. We have spent many of days in there with family. Many dinners for holidays, birthdays and just to be together. The front yard has seen many egg hunts, football games and playing tag. 

Many of "men talks" have happened right here in this barn. Oh, they say they are working on something, but we ladies know. They are just getting together, bonding (or what ever 4 brothers and a father call it) talk. Sometimes they are just standing there and starring at the gound. But that is my husbands family. They may not say much, but the quietness says so much between them.

But as usual, everything must come to end, the tractor needs to head to the barn, and everyone comes to the dinner table for "supper". It was a good visit, all of my daughters were there and more memories were made.

Yes, we pray that "grandpa" is here with us for a long time. But when that day does comes, we pray that we may be able to own the "home-place" and keep the memories coming.........for everyone.

Now off to the kitchen. I need to get some baking done. On my list is:

• Wheat Bread
• Rolls
• Apple muffins
• Oatmeal Cookies

I also have pears and apples to get put up. I am hoping to make apple butter and pear butter. We will see how the day goes.

I also need to get the laundry going. So, boy have I got a lot to do and I did not even mention school work. There is always school work that needs done each day.

Have a good day at your home !!

Million Calorie Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

Million Calorie Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

1 lb. softened sweet butter

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons homemade vanilla or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 lb bittersweet chocolate chips

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
• Grease a 10 inch tube pan and lightly flour. I also suggest that you line the bottom with parchment paper and have it come up the side an inch or so, as some batter leaked from the bottom.
• In a large mixing bowl by hand or with a beater, cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
• Then add 1 egg at a time, beating well till incorporated.
• Alternating add the flour and milk stirring by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Add the extracts and combine the cake batter till well blended.
• Fold in the chocolate chips till incorporated evenly in the cake batter.
• Carefully add the batter to the tube pan, smoothing the top to make sure it is even.
• Bake till a tester comes out clean anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Cool the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes then turn it out onto the rack to cool.

He Is Faithful!

He Is Faithful!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

__________________

He is the LORD our God:
his judgments are in all the earth.

He hath remembered his covenant for ever,
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Psalm 105:7,8 KJV

__________________

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Hebrews 10:23 NASB

__________________

I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying,
"O Lord, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and steadfast love with
those who love him and keep his commandments."

Daniel 9:4 ESV

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God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I Corinthians 1:9

Tamales With Roasted Green Chilies And Cheddar Cheese

I haven't tried these but they sound wonderful!

Tamales With Roasted Green Chilies And Cheddar Cheese

Makes 12

2 1/2 cups prepared corn masa
1/2 cup diced chiles
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or pepper jack
12 whole, pitted black olives
Aprox 30 dry corn husks

Soak at least 30 husks in hot water for 20 minutes to soften. Once
softened, remove from water, separate, and shake off excess water.
Tear some husks 1/4 inch wide to form 24 strips to tie the ends with.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the masa, chiles and cheese.
Take 1/4 cup at a time and place in the center of a large husk. With
your fingers, press dough ball into a 3 inch rectangle. Push one
olive into the center of dough. (This is traditional.) Place another
husk on top. Then roll from the long sides to form a cylinder shape.
Pinch and gently twist the ends and tie, snugly, being careful not to
break the husk tie. Continue until you have made 12 or so tamales.

When ready to cook, place in a steam pot and cover tightly and steam
the tamales for 30 to 35 minutes over simmering water, being careful
that your water does not cook away, add water if necessary. Do not
crowd the tamales too close together. Tamales are done when they feel
firm to the touch but not hard, and the dough comes away easily from
the husk. Remove from pot and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Pets are Family, Too!

My dear blog friend, Amy (Simplefolk ~~ a MUST READ blog, by-the-way!!), posted about losing her sweet dog that used to be her grandpa's.  That losing their Rosie was a milestone of sorts as she had belonged to her loving grandpa.

It brought back memories - good and sad - about our dear Hickory that we lost at age 10 back in January from liver cancer.  He was "our boy" and I still think of him daily.  Even though we now have our cute little Maggie (a "big girl" at 10 whole months and all of about 10 lbs., now!), I still miss Hickory.  I've had dogs all my life and, as any pet owner knows, as much as we love them all there are a couple in our lives that are just special.  That was Hickory.  Maggie is doing a wonderful job of playing her way right into those empty parts of our hearts, so we're hoping that she will be just as speical as Hickory.

This is "our boy", Hickory, just a couple of years ago.  I miss that face. 

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children ~ Pt.4 ~ Who Owns Our Children?

Who Owns Our Children?

            “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from Him.”

            (Psalm 127:3)

            After a mere 160 years of public education – after an accumulation of world history with parents or tutors having been the sole teachers of children – the folly of our choice to let others have reign over the influence and education of our children is coming home to roost in a very big way.  In my own experience as the Miami County, Ohio homeschool coordinator for eleven years, I know of many instances of superintendents, and other school district “authorities” actually believing that every child in their district belongs to them, and not the parents.  Indeed, this was driven home by the outlandish decision by the 9^th Circuit Court’s admonishment and judgment against a concerned family who discovered that their young daughter’s school believed it necessary to conduct interviews of third grade students, asking explicitly sexual questions, greatly disturbing many of the school’s innocent children  – without parental consultation or permission.  When a Christian father went to the Principal of the school, he found out that his authority over his own daughter stopped when he and his wife let her cross the threshold and walk into their government school.  And when that father took his school district to court, this Socialist point of view was confirmed by Ninth Circuit Judge James V. Selna in his June 2, 2005 decision, which reads in part:  “[O]nce parents make the choice as to which school their children will attend, ...their fundamental right to control the education of their children is, at the least, substantially diminished. The Constitution does not vest parents with the authority to interfere with a public school’s decision as to how it will provide information to its students or what information it will provide, in its classrooms or otherwise…While parents may have a fundamental right to decide whether to send their child to a public school, they do not have a fundamental right generally to direct how a public school teaches their child. Whether it is the school curriculum, the hours of the school day, school discipline, the timing and content of examinations, the individuals hired to teach at the school, the extracurricular activities offered at the school or…a dress code, these issues of public education are generally ‘committed to the control of state and local authorities.’ ” [emphasis mine]

            This judge clearly overstepped his bounds.  Or, is he just living up to what has been the plan for the public school system all along?  He obviously thought the superintendent had birthed those children his employees were corrupting himself.  After all, they were his children.

            But these are the type of offenses that take place when parents give up their authority and when attendance in the public – government – school arena becomes the unfortunate norm.  But it wasn’t always this way.  “The function of the parents to control the education of his children has been a Constitutionally recognized right in a long line of cases beginning with Meyer v. Nebraska in 1923.  A U.S. Supreme Court decision to protect parents’ rights in education was not necessary prior to 1923 because there were hardly any compulsory attendance laws that required children to attend public school.  As soon as compulsory attendance laws were passed, however, the attack on parental liberty began.  Education became a state responsibility rather than a traditional parental responsibility.  As experience teaches, whenever the state takes responsibility of any private sector, controls always follow.”[1] [emphasis mine]

            And as time marches on, parents willingly give their children over to the state to indoctrinate and claim ownership…right under their noses.  The state’s children are then fed a steady diet of lies and pseudo education.  They are told – on pain of a failing grade and possibly a few lines on their student record, which will follow them for the rest of their lives – that evolution is truth.  Not theory. Truth.  Those ‘oddities’ who espouse “Creation Science” and “Intelligent Design” are odd, religious bigots.  After all, what about separation of church and state?  Besides, our universities have perfected their curricula and have spent years, themselves, being trained to train our children.  All they want is to teach our children the very best of academics and humanities without any interference of  religion or even any agenda of their own…right?

            “Horace Mann had a view of education in which the elite must manipulate and conform the masses in order to create an ideal society.  The state, not the parents, knows what is best for the children. There is little room left for God in Mann’s philosophy of public education.”[2]  But certainly, Mr. Mann was the only one involved in the formation of our public school system to feel this way.  Not so fast.  John Dewey, who was a signer of the Humanist Manifesto and who was also the first president of the American Humanist Association believed that there was no place in society for Christian values.  “This same man applied the principles of the Humanist Manifesto to America’s public school system.  Dewey believed that man is not a reflection of God, but that society and education must be ‘socially planned’ by the state.”[3]  [emphasis mine] 

            So now what is it that we find being taught in our public schools?  Humanism has become the new non-religious school religion.  It is a true religion that can be camouflaged as nothing at all.  Or better yet, if some curious parent comes snooping around and asking too many questions they can be patted on the head and sent away with the assurance that their children will come away with a new tolerance and acceptance for the down-trodden; that the “I’m OK, You’re OK” philosophy is just a needed and innocent teaching tool and will become just as accepted as New Math and long division.  “Don’t worry, we’re the experts, we went to teacher’s college for this, we know what we’re doing.” 

            Even though that parent might feel the urging of the Holy Spirit telling them to ask deeper questions, or even more, to get their children out of the public school system, they think it is just their imagination that they felt as if they had just left some sort of spiritual battle ground.  But that is exactly what it was.

To Be Continuted...

Blessings, Kim Wolf<><