Charlotte Mason was a Christian educator from Victorian Era England. When I first read about her in homeschooling magazines and books, I immediately decided that I wanted to adopt many of her ideas.  So much of what she recommends seems to be simply good old fashioned common sense that has been forgotten and would be shunned in many educational circles today.  I majored in Child Development while I attended college,  and what I acquired was a far cry from Charlotte Mason philosophy.

For Charlotte Mason, education was more to do with setting an atmosphere and a healthy lifestyle for your child than about workbooks and fact memorization.  Yet, her approach was not ” child centered”  in the  modern sense that eliminates instruction, discipline and good habits. She spoke of providing a wholesome and stimulating home environment  that encouraged learning while still allowing time for the carefree happy days of childhood.  Charlotte Mason would probably love the saying that  “homeschooling is a lifestyle.”  I thought the following list of Charlotte Mason ” do’s & dont’s” might be helpful to those who are just getting to know Charlotte Mason philosophy.  As I read the list, I think so much of what she taught is probably the way many of our forefathers were taught.  Her ideas may seem old-fashioned but I wouln’t be surprised if I found out that many of our grandmothers would have done the same.

~Charlotte did not recommend using textbooks but encouraged the use of whole books. She called them “Living books”  Read more...

Better than land or gold or trade
Are a high ideal and a purpose true;
Better than all of the wealth we’ve made
Is the work for others that now we do.
For Rome grew rich and she turned to song
And danced to music and drank her wine,
But she sapped the strength of her fibres strong
And a gilded shroud was her splendor fine.

The Rome of old with its wealth and wine
Was the handiwork of a sturdy race;
They builded well and they made it fine
And they dreamed of it as their children’s place.
They thought the joys they had won to give,
And which seemed so certain and fixed and sure,
To the end of time in the world would live
And the Rome they’d fashioned would long endure.  

They passed to their children the hoarded gold,
Their marble halls and their fertile fields!
But not the spirit of Rome of old,
Nor the Roman courage that never yields.
They left them the wealth that their hands had won,
But they failed to leave them a purpose true.
They left them thinking life’s work all done,
And Rome went down and was lost to view.

We must guard ourselves lest we follow Rome.
We must leave our children the finer things.
We must teach them love of the spot called home
And the lasting joy that a purpose brings.
For vain are our Flag and our battles won,
And vain are our lands and our stores of gold,
If our children feel that life’s work is done.
We must give them a high ideal to hold.  Read more...

Lord, make me tolerant and wise;

Incline my ears to hear him through;
Let him not stand with downcast eyes,
Fearing to trust me and be true.
Instruct me so that I may know
The way my son and I should go.

When he shall err, as once did I,
Or boyhood folly bids him stray,
Let me not into anger fly
And drive the good in him away.
Teach me to win his trust, that he
Shall keep no secret hid from me.

Lord, strengthen me that I may be .
A fit example for my son.
Grant he may never hear or see
A shameful deed that I have done.
However sorely I am tried,
Let me not undermine his pride.

In spite of years and temples gray,
Still let my spirit beat with joy;
Teach me to share in all his play
And be a comrade with my boy.
Wherever we may chance to be,
Let him find happiness with me.

Lord, as his father, now I pray
For manhood’s strength and counsel wise;
Let me deal justly, day by day,
In all that fatherhood implies.
To be his father, keep me fit;
Let me not play the hypocrite!

~Edgar Albert Guest

I’ve been riding my recumbent exercise bike to  the “How Then Shall We Live” DVD series by Francis Shaeffer. It’s a wonderful feeling to  exercise your body and brain together….sadly I’ve neglected both over the years. One of the perks of homeschooling though,  is that I get to have a second chance at an education. I am highly motivated this time around because I want to mentor my children.  I figure as long as I stay a week ahead it will all work out. ; )

I am thoroughly enjoying Francis Schaeffer’s  series on the rise and decline of Western thought and culture. It  surveys history—from the Roman Empire through the 20th century—and offers biblical answers to modern problems. Francis Shaeffer comes across slightly highfalutin and somewhat eccentric , but what he expresses is rich and worthy of taking note and learning.   He’s basically helping to reinforce or introduce a Christian worldview while discussing the history of western civilization. I’m grateful to Francis Shaeffer for leaving this series for us all and am eager to learn what I can about this subject. Although this series is excellent, I think I’m going to wait until my boys are in highschool before adding it to their lesson plans.  ~Anne
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“Now” – said a good book unto me –
“Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine,
Gold and silver in every line,
And you may claim them if you but will
Open my pages and take your fill.

“Open my pages and run them o’er,
Take what you choose of my golden store.
Be you greedy, I shall not care –
All that you seize I shall gladly spare;
There is never a lock on my treasure doors,
Come – here are my jewels, make them yours!

“I am just a book on your mantel shelf,
But I can be part of your living self;
If only you’ll travel my pages through,
Then I will travel the world with you.
As two wines blended make better wine,
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.

“I’ll make you fitter to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen,
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek,
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak –
This place on your shelf is a prison cell,
Let me come into your mind to dwell!”

My Cousin passed on today and I feel so sad…….she was still young in my opinion.  It seems the older I get though,  the definition of  “old”  changes.  She was in her middle 50’s.  We were not close, she lived 3000 miles from me, but I have fond memories of her from my childhood.  She was beautiful and was always kind to me.  We talked very rarely and sometimes exchanged Christmas Cards.  I was going to call her “one of these days” and share the Lord with her.  I don’t know if she knew the Lord.  I hope she did.  Now she is gone and I feel regretful. I want to call all of my relatives and tell them about Jesus.  I want to call all of my old friends and warn them that they are going to meet their maker one day…….one day maybe sooner than they think.   My pastor told me that if you are more concerned with someone’s soul than they are with their own soul,  then they will probably not listen to you.  I tried to share the Lord with my 89 year old neighbor.  I was subtle and gentle.  I told her I’d pray for her.  I asked her if she believed in the Lord.  She told me that she did not want me to talk about any religion with her anymore. I told her I would not.  My boys and I continue to  pray for her.  When I bring her some cookies or soup, I just pray that somehow it will minister to her and soften her hard heart.  How can you be 89 years old and not think about your own soul?  I thought about mine when I was 10.  I would recite the Lord’s prayer and Psalm 23, and “Now I lay me down to sleep”.  I’d ask God for help and I’d pray for everyone I knew.  I didn’t understand the gospel…..but I sought the Lord.  I don’t remember a time in my life when I did not think about my own soul.  Now though,  I’m thinking about my relatives….. and friends….and neighbors.  Please Lord help me to be a light to them.  Help me to make time in my day for them. Forgive me Lord,  for not caring enough about where they will spend eternity.  I’m sorry Lord, I will try to speak of your love and forgiveness each day to someone.  Lord help them to care about their own souls.  Please Lord have mercy upon us knowing that our lives are but a vapor…and that we are just dust. Amen  Read more...

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am and waiting not,
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,  O Lamb of God,  I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;  Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come,  I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,  Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come..

Just a I am; thy love unknown, Has broken every barrier down;
N ow to be thine, yea, thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Author: Charlotte  Elliot

Music by William B. Bradbury
1st Published in: 1836

This article reminded me of a book I read years ago called “The Universe Next Door.” This book compared Christianity with the other most popular religions of the world. Each other religion required much effort on the part of man, and even then, with so much striving, you had no assurance or peace.  These false religions are like climbing a ladder to God….a very high and difficult ladder.  Christianity is like climbing a ladder but having a Savior climb down the ladder to you.  It’s all about the Savior and what he has done for us, rather than our works we do trying desperately to please Him. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did.  ~Anne

Almost every four year liberal arts college has at least one comparative religions course. These courses are meant to touch the surface of each major religion and illustrate the basic differences or similarities. Are these courses effective, or should we say, are they even honest?
If your view of religion is like most people, you think that religion is a list of do’s and dont’s or a set of rules, laws or other directives that should be guiding your behavior. What is taught in comparative religion courses is based on this simple premise.

New Testament Christianity is thrown into this generalized heap usually by people who are not Christians and have no understanding of what Christ stands for. You might say I am making an excuse for them, but I am not. The result of this assumption can produce the greatest loss any man could ever endure.  Read more...

A Decalogue of Canons for Observation in Practical Life.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.

Never spend your money before you have it.

Never buy what you do not want because it is

cheap; it will be dear to you.

Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.

How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.

Take things always by their smooth handle.

When angry, count ten before you speak;  if very angry, an  hundred.

My boys and I are slowly working our way through The Land of Pair Play by Christian Liberty Press.  We are learning so much,  and although some of the material covered is new and somewhat difficult for us, we are truly enjoying  learning more about American Civics and our governmental structure.  I hope you will benefit from reading our Lesson from this week:  “What The Nation Does For Us”

We must understand that our strong national governments most important job is to protect all of our rights of liberty and freedom. Under a weak and unstable government no man’s life or property is secure.

We have studied the beginning years in our country and read about how troubled it was just after the Revolution. Our thirteen colonies were only held together under the Articles of Confederation. Our founders realized that we needed to have a Constitution in order to have a strong union and protect the people’s liberties. Our Preamble to the Constitution states clearly:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.  Read more...

The coming apostasy (falling away) of the church is for some of us the most dreaded prophecy the Bible predicts. It may look like the world would be better off with John Lennon’s world with no religions but in fact that will be the world’s worst nightmare.   America is sliding fast toward becoming the next great post Christian nation behind Europe. This is what all Godless societies throughout time immemorial have thought would be their final advance. Secularism has always labored under the notion that civil government and secular society is all they need to get it right. Perhaps as it pertains to kooky religions, cults, heresies and pseudo Christian religions that may be true. The absence of real Christianity as given to us by Christ himself will produce a vacuum that no one can bear.

As a young man and a new believer I was told that true Christianity as not a religion at all but a great love affair. The people of God love God and his son Jesus Christ. Oddly it is because they find out how much he loves them and are awestruck by his compelling gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

In the Muslim religion God is painted as a murderous entity that requires that we kill and destroy anything or anyone who will not submit to its tenants. It is a picture that is diametrically opposite the picture of Christ dying on the cross not for anything he had done but for the sins in thought, word and deed done by all mankind. This is what draws enlightened men and women who have exercised reason good judgment and faith after investigating and prying into the matter with full cognizance. In other words Christianity requires some real thought not just the consent of dumbbells.  Read more...

“Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship
or persecution or famine
or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death
all day long; we are considered
sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that
neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”