Have you had a chance to see the Indoctrinate U series yet?  It is eye-opening.  It exposes the social and political agenda of many of  the colleges and universities.   Perhaps you would like to watch this before sending your children off.  You can watch it on youtube, order online, or watch it here.  Make yourself a cup of coffee, get your notebook,  and prepare to have your eyes opened up!  (Turn off the music ;)) ~Anne

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-zz1HwxIjg (trailer)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU7_Ju5QTyY (Part 1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=az7VZvLGvcs (Part 2)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezH1WTb_x6s (Part 3)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtEXflYl_Lc (Part 4)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehumseq10Eo (Part 5)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjPyLE6YmmI (Part 6)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_CH3dYvmDw (Part 7-9)

This document which was written in long hand by William Jackson, Secretary to the President, was lost for 130 years soon after it was written. It was signed by George Washington. Somehow it got mixed in with some private papers when the US Capitol moved from New York to Washington, D.C.   In 1921 Dr. J.C. Fitzpatrick found this at an auction sale in a New York art gallery. He purchased it for $300.00 for the Library of Congress where it now resides. This was the first official presidential proclamation issued int the United States.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”  Read more...

Do you remember celebrating Columbus Day when you were a child?

I vaguely remember reading about his accomplishments and recall being taught that he was  a hero and  a great explorer.  We were not given a ton of information about his faith, his prayers,  or his desire to spread Christianity,  but we were taught that he was a man we should admire and celebrate each Columbus Day.

Needless to say,  Columbus had some pride issues and he desired recognition, power and wealth—he was a sinner no doubt.  But these folks who are protesting at the Columbus Day parades and who are pressuring school districts to shun the holiday are out of line and not reading history in context.   Perhaps they have some new politically correct history books written by Columbia professors (with no original sources or bibliographies) that they are clinging to?

It is so sad and unfortunate, but today, special interest groups are depicting Columbus as an evil person in order to promote their own political and social agenda’s.  As usual these groups are small but very vocal and sometimes militant.  Columbus  has been called “The Hitler of the 15th century,”  as well as a murderer, robber, slave-trader,  and racist.  These groups have helped convince people of these lies by comparing  the values of a Renaissance man with those of a person in our contemporary world.  For example,  regarding the accusation of  him capturing and selling slaves….perhaps we should add some context.  Upon his return from Hispaniola, Columbus did capture Indians after all of his men had been massacred by the Taino tribe.  He and his men captured 2000 Indians from this tribe and took 500 as POW’s who were then sold as slaves as was the custom in 15th century Europe.  Slavery was not only practiced in Europe but it was also practiced in the Caribbean by the Caribs and Canibs who would kill their slaves and then eat them (cannibalism).  Read more...

My dearest friend and homeschool mentor wrote this article about her journey of understanding and growth regarding Halloween. I hope it will minister to you as you travel your road of growth and understanding as well.  She has a humble heart and wishes to share this so that others who are seeking answers or possibly deciding to eliminate this holiday, will not feel so alone. ~Anne

From the Heart…

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the weather, the anticipation of the holidays, the routine the season brings. I was happy to put out my fall porch decorations last week. They are nothing too special, but the colorful pumpkins and flowers greet me, and remind me of this beautiful, thank filled season. Yet, every year, my delight in the season is shadowed by a different holy day, blaring from every store window and isle, with all the gore and ghoul associated with this holiday. Yes, Halloween is the thief… that interesting “holiday” that is marketed to children and families, yet is saturated with the blatant celebration of death, gore and evil.
While I was hesitant, and afraid of being controversial, I decided to bring up this subject that troubles my heart every year at this time. Let me say quickly, that my repulsion towards Halloween was a process, a journey, and I realize your family may come to a different conclusion as you seek the Lord on this issue. Still, I will share a little of my story, in case someone else is struggling or feeling uncomfortable or praying about this for their family. I hope my heart comes through, and that you know this discussion is not fueled by any type of self righteousness. Rather, I simply wanted to bring up the discussion in case others might be evaluating what the Lord is desiring for their family.
Many years ago, in my pre-children days, I was the one on the planning committee for my church Halloween party, having a blast, making costumes, etc. My only associations with Halloween were fun and festive. It was in that masquerade of fun, that I think the truth behind this day was hiding, even from Christians and churches. It appears that for the most part, it still is.  Read more...

“This is a job for the printing press”

Hyperinflation here we come

By Jon Herring

There are so many headwinds and cross currents in the market today, it is all but impossible to predict what will happen in the short term. There is too much volatility and noise. So, it pays to keep your eyes on the horizon, focused on the long term and the biggest trends.

Today, I want to tell about the biggest of all possible financial trends: the eventual bankruptcy of the United States government. Or should I say the existing bankruptcy of the U.S. government?

The United States government is facing an impending fiscal crisis. Former Comptroller General David Walker calls it a “cancer growing from within.” And the wheels for this were already set in motion well before the financial crisis. With ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a costly stimulus package and falling tax receipts, the U.S. was already neck deep in debt.

A Trillion Dollar Deficit?

Even before the bailouts, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projected that the 2009 federal deficit would be nearly $482 billion. Since then however, our government has jacked up spending by the trillions. In just a few months, we have already charted a course to triple that deficit. Some experts even suggest the 2009 deficit could be as high as $2 trillion!

But, believe it or not, this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the big picture  Read more...

Almighty God, You have given us this good land for our heritage. We humbly ask You that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favor and glad to do Your will. Bless our land with honorable endeavor, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitude brought here out of many nations and tongues. Endow with the Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Your law we may show forth Your praise among the nations on earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble do not allow our trust in You to fail. Amen.

~~ by Thomas Jefferson, taken from “Prayers for Today,” published by Leaflet Missal Co.

Some sources are stating that this prayer is not by Thomas Jefferson and others are sure that it is a prayer from him.  Anyway, I thought it was a wonderful prayer….and a prayer that I will make my own for our America. ~Anne

The following hints on how to write a member of Congress were suggested by congressional sources and the League of Women Voters.

• Write to your own senators or representatives.  Letters sent to other members will end up on the desk of members from your state.
• Write at the proper time, when a bill is being discussed in committee or on the floor.
• Use your own words and your own stationery.  Avoid signing and sending a form on mimeographed letter.
• Don’t be a pen pal.  Don’t try to instruct the representative or senator on every issue that comes up.
• Whenever possible, identify all bills by their number.
• If possible, include pertinent editorials from local papers.
• Be constructive.  If a bill deals with a problem you admit exists but you believe the bill is wrong approach, tell what you think is the right approach.
• If you have expert knowledge or wide experience in particular areas, share it with the member.  Don’t pretend to wield vast political influence.
• Write to the member when  he does something of which you approve.  A note of appreciation will make him remember you more favorably the next time.
• Feel free to write when you have a question or problem dealing with procedures of governmental departments.
• Be brief, write legibly, and be sure to use the proper form of address.  Feminine forms of address should be substituted, when appropriate.

Correct Form for Letters to Public Officials  Read more...

We are slowly working our way through Christian Liberty Press’ , The Land of Fair Play.  Since we have our elections coming in a few short weeks,  I thought I’d skip ahead to our election chapter.

I believe it is our duty to educate ourselves,  learn about elections, the political parties, and vote for those who will defend and uphold the Constitution.  I know that folks everywhere keep saying,   “get out and vote”  but I would advise:  read about the issues first,  read the constitution,  and study our founding fathers.  Decide if you value your liberties and freedoms,  and if you do,  “get out and vote please”…. for the candidate that will protect and defend our God given liberties.  If you are voting because you think your candidate is a fine speaker,  good looking, or cool and hip,  do us all a favor and stay home please!!!!  If you are voting for someone because he is a favorite of your friend,  professor in school,  or Hollywood celebrity…..why bother?

Frankly,  these days I’m not impressed that a candidate is  Harvard Educated or a Rhodes scholar.  I don’t care if he is  ” smart” or a fine speaker or can “work”  a crowd.  I’ll vote for the person who truly loves America, who  fears God, upholds the Constitution, and is an honorable  man or woman of integrity.  I would love to vote for someone like that if they would run for office.  Read more...

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be-
I had a Mother who read to me.

My husband and I have been blessed by the ministry of Voddie Baucham. We  attended a conference on “Family Driven Faith” and Multigenerational Faithfulness and have watched many of his sermons. He is extremely popular right now especially with homeschool families.  Voddie is a husband, father, pastor, author, professor, conference speaker and church planter.  He is currently serving at a family integrated fellowship in Spring Texas.

Voddie has an amazing an unique testimony. He did not come to know  Christ until his freshman year in college and was raised by a single Mom who was of the Buddhist faith.  He was given the gospel and then discipled by two teammates on the Rice University football team. I heard him discuss his conversion and remember him saying that he fell down upon his face and prayed something like “God, whatever my friend has….that’s what I want. ”

Dr. Baucham holds many  degrees from various Baptist Universities and Seminaries and he studied at Oxford.  What impresses me though is his devotion to his family and children, and his passion for the Lord.  He is also very passionate about homeschooling from a Biblical perspective and does not support the charter school programs for Christian families.

Voddie and his wife, Bridget have been married since 1989. They have five children, Jasmine, Trey, Elijah, Asher and Judah.

This sermon on “Brokenness” is by far my favorite.  I hope you will enjoy it as well!

Be sure to turn off the website music before beginning the video.  ~Anne  Read more...

Give yourself a treat by taking some time to SLOWLY read this article and let it sink in.  I hope it will bless you…. and you will enjoy reading it as much as I did.  ~Anne

French poet and essayist, Paul Valery 1871-1945, said “The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be.” Those who look back longingly to fairer days agree with Valery but who could have seen a time when changes would become so radical that temporality and periodicity itself would become a form of entertainment?

Newness and news has become entertainment and an acceptable form of distraction for millions today, but it is far from being anything new. The ancient Greeks were caught up with news so much so, that when the Apostle Paul visited Athens he was considered a novelty because of an all new concept he put forth called, the “resurrection from the dead,” and one Jesus Christ who Paul said had accomplished it.

“For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” (Acts 17:21)

A modern world presumes that God is static and if he exists at all he has limped into the backwaters of importance and scope. His word or his message, they are convinced, has also taken a backseat to the musings of modernity’s hot pursuit of all that is deemed as empirical, nascent and timely.  Read more...

Mr. President,

The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other-our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.  Read more...

“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.” — Samuel Adams

I recently saw a bumper sticker that said something like  “If you are not mad as “heck”…..it’s because you are not paying attention.”

In my past posts,  I’ve acknowledged and declared my very average American status.  I’m a regular homeschool mom with some college education, but not quite enough to have been  indoctrinated.  I was still in college when my husband and I married,  and I joke now that my dear husband would de-program me after school.  Fortunately, one of the perks of homeschooling is that you will most likely get a second chance at an education.  When a family adopts a “learning lifestyle” , the whole family continues to grow and learn so much more than the public schools or colleges ever provided.

My dear mom only had a 7th grade education and my Dad was blessed to be able to take chemistry classes at MIT for a while.   Of the two, I would say my Mom had the wisdom….my Dad had the smarts,  and they both had a good dose of old fashioned common sense ; with a healthy measure of morality and devotion to the “golden rule.”   I know I did not inherit my Daddy’s smarts,  but I think each passed down   good ol’ common sense to all of us children.  If they were alive today,  I think they would be  in agreement with the bumper sticker slogan as well…and they would be mad as “heck.”  My mom would be praying and my Dad would be yelling at the television or shaking his head in disgust;  both admitting that nothing makes sense these days.  Read more...

As  September ushers in cooler days and school routines again,  I thought I’d share from my heart my thoughts about this new school year and our homsechool journey.  Sadly, it has taken me 8 homeschool years  to realize that I am not required to imitate the  public schools,  my homeschool friends, or any of the homeschooling guru’s  I’ve heard at conventions.   I  “knew” this in my head,   but I’m afraid my heart still did not grasp it and I kept striving to prove that we were just as smart as the next guy, that we were “serious” homeschoolers,  and  that we were way more academic than our local schools.  I often would ask my nephew  or neighborhood children what they were doing in school .  I felt this huge need to compare what we were doing  in our homes with what our local  government school was doing.  So much of it was based upon my own pride rather than upon what the Lord cares about for our family.

I’m not feeling pressure to do everything and learn every subject this year,  and our “schedule” is simply a guide that we can follow if we want to.  Thus far, our school year has been a delight….our best year.  My boys keep saying, “We are having fun doing school this year” or “I had a nice day today mom.” (Big Grin :))  To  homeschool Mom types like me,   this is as gold………we live to hear such words don’t we?  I’m still relishing in their words.  This year, our home is a peaceful and happy place to be, we are not rushing around much, hurrying  through lessons, or stressing out about completing books.  Read more...

Certain dishes just bring a flood of memories.  I recently made a big pot of chicken and dumplings for my sister and her family when they stopped by on their way back from a family road trip.  When my sister saw the bubbling stew in my green dutch oven pot she remembered our Mom.  Even her husband in his thick Boston accent commented that his mom used to make this dish as well and it seemed like such classic New England fare.

Whenever I prepare corned beef and cabbage, I’m twelve again for a few minutes at least,  and my Mom’s in the kitchen cooking for our family.   Even a simple peanut butter and Marshmellow fluff sandwich on white bread brings me back to my childhood days. My mom used to make this sandwich for my siblings and I, and I assumed that she invented it herself. Turns out this is a New England Classic as well.  This sandwich is called a flutternutter and generations of New Englanders fondly associate Marshmallow Fluff with their childhood. The flutternutter sandwich  is a local tradition almost as popular as a nice hot bowl of clam chowder (chowdah).  I always wondered why my husband (who has southern roots) had never had this sandwich.  I guess when my family headed west they brought  a bit of New England with them!
 Read more...