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Homeschooling--and thankful for it! - 11/14/2006 12:33:45 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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It’s hard for me to believe that my wife and I have been homeschooling our children for over thirteen years. Through all the trial-and-error, all the changes in our schedules, all the days filled with doubt, and all the nights of frantic worry, I must say, I’m thankful for every moment. It has changed us--in every way.
Homeschooling has led us on a difficult path. It’s one that has tested our faith and perseverance more than anything else. It’s put our marriage, our parenting skills, and our convictions through “fiery trials.” This path has caused us to sort though our ambitions, set priorities, and stick by them.
My name is Timothy Palla. My lovely wife and I have five children. I pastor a small, traditional country church in southern Ohio. When time permits, I enjoy writing for Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and Crosswalk’s Homeschool website. My passion is to lead others to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and might. This takes place in a variety of ways, but most of the time the opportunity is in my home and church.
Next to my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the greatest blessing I have is my wife. It was Jennifer who first became interested in homeschooling. She was raised an MK and had a pioneering spirit of courage and faith that inspired me. Through homeschooling I learned how strong that passion could become.
None of my children have ever attended a government school. The burden of education has always been upon our own shoulders. We thought we were choosing one simple path and found out that the trail was loaded with responsibilities. We could have turned back. I’m thankful we didn’t.
Homeschoolers are not a bunch of odd-balls with nothing better to do. Most of us do not have super-elevated egos. We are real families, with real love, involved in real work, and making real worthwhile commitments. As a pastor and a writer, it is my desire to convey these facts to those who will hear and read. I’m thankful for the opportunity God has given me through homeschooling. I’m thankful that you’ve read this far.
Home-education is a powerful way to consistently instruct your own children in life’s most fundamental principles. Obedience and respect are two important character traits that can be constantly molded into each child’s personality throughout the day. Focusing on these basic qualities will shape each child’s social skills. It will develop their convictions. It will make them valuable citizens. When they learn to respect authority in the home, it will pour over into their church, the workplace, their neighborhood, and their country.
If we are to raise the next generation of good leaders, we cannot depend on someone else to do it. Another’s ideals and source of motivation will be quite different from yours and mine. Homeschooling has proven to my wife and I that it is worthwhile to take the “road less traveled.” Even though each of our children have a sin-nature, we have seen that faith in God and His Word produce better fruit than the wisdom of the world.
The public school system may teach children facts, theories, and how to have an “open mind,” but they will never teach them the truth about Almighty God, the power of faith and prayer, or the rewards for living holy lives. For this reason, I am most thankful for homeschooling.
I hope you come back to this blog. It is my intention to encourage you, minister to you, and become your trusted friend (even if you don’t homeschool). May you come to know, as I have, that God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). He will give you a new reason to be thankful--everyday.
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Homeschooling on Snow Days - 11/21/2006 4:32:55 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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My neighborhood received its first snowfall of the season yesterday morning. By 6:30 AM, our yard was blanketed with shimmering, white fluff. Huge, picture-perfect snowflakes continued to descend with such haste that several of the county public schools began calling the day off. For some parents this would be good news, for others it would launch a frantic search for an available babysitter. Perhaps you’ve been there.
Within seconds of our own “snow day” announcement, our three youngest children were out of bed, dressed, and eating breakfast. I wish getting them up-and-at-it were this easy every day. Who would have thought that snowmen, snow angels and a rousing snowball battle could be the source of such motivation. Hmmm… anyone who has ever been a kid--I guess!
Of course, we didn’t really need to take a day off from our routine. The resident principal wasn’t concerned about any transportation risks from the bedroom to the dining room/learning center. It was simply a decision to take advantage of a surprise that God had given us, and we could afford it.
My wife and I homeschool for a variety of reasons. First of all, we wanted to provide our children with a Biblically-based curriculum. Second of all, we wanted to protect their impressionable minds and hearts from spiritually harmful agendas. Another reason we chose homeschooling was so we could be with them during the “prime time” of their days, not just evenings and weekends. Let me explain it another way…
I married my wife because I loved her and hated the idea of spending the rest of my life without her. When God blessed us with children, we hated the idea of handing them over to someone else for eight hours a day, five days a week. We wanted to be the ones shaping their lives and teaching them the joy of loving and serving God. We wanted to make all the home-spun memories we could in the few years that they would be living under our roof. Allowing someone else to take that privilege from us was more than we could bear.
Monday morning was another confirmation that we had made the right choice. Even on days when the books are not opened and tests are not taken, we bask in the opportunity we have been given to live life with them and enjoy them. They are our heritage from the Lord.
There were three (somewhat dwarfed) snowmen constructed in the backyard yesterday. By the time you read this they will have wept and wilted into a few lumps of dirty slush. I’m thankful for the memories, though. They will last much longer than the snow. I’ve come to appreciate how homeschooling seems to turn out an abundance of warm memories such as these--even on snow days.
< Message edited by timothypalla -- 11/22/2006 9:07:24 AM >
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Raising children who don't smell like smoke - 11/29/2006 11:46:23 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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Perhaps you’ve never thought of raising “flame resistant” children before. Today might be a good time to consider it. A homeschooling parent’s job entails more than preparing their children to pass a math, spelling, or science test. Over the long haul, we are striving to raise children who make it through life’s fiery trials and come out intact.
In the third chapter of Daniel, three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. Because of their refusal to follow the crowd and bow down to a golden image, they were questioned, ridiculed, and finally, thrown into a “burning fiery furnace.” These men stood their ground before king Nebuchadnezzar without being disrespectful, cowardly, or arrogant. Their faith in God was so great that it seems there was no resistance to being tied up and cast into the fiery furnace. In the end, they emerged from the furnace without blistered skin, a single singed hair, scorched garments, or even the smell of smoke upon them. God used their yielded minds and committed hearts to frustrate the king’s words and reveal the truth that “there is no other God.”
Homeschooling has provided my wife and me with countless opportunities to teach our children about living separated, holy lives--not just while they are in a safe, controlled setting, but also when they are outside the community in less-than-familiar surroundings or even a hostile environment. Homeschooling has enabled us to prepare them spiritually so that…
1. They will not be intimidated or fooled by evil (not ignorant of Satan’s devices).
2. They will not be ashamed of their convictions.
3. They will refuse to dishonor their parents or sin against God.
4. They will not doubt the truth which God has already revealed to them.
5. They will be ready to suffer for righteousness.
We have confidence in teaching these things, because we practice them ourselves. We live our faith when circumstances are safe and easy as-well-as when we are under fire. If your faith can’t stand up under the heat and fury of the enemy, then it won‘t be very believable or desirable.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were committed to spiritual truth. Through their lives the Lord received attention and glory. When all was said and done, they had passed the test so well that there was not even the scent of smoke on them.
II Corinthians 2:14, 15 says “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ…"
Think about this: we are to be the “fragrance of Christ” while we are in the world, on our job, at church, visiting a friend, traveling on vacation, facing strife, dealing with stress, misunderstood, misinterpreted, ridiculed, threatened and cast off. While traditional education focuses mainly on academics, there is another aspect that reaches beyond these limits. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were skilled, well-favored, disciplined, wise, competent, and well-rounded individuals (that’s why they were in the king’s court), but it was their commitment to godliness that advanced them beyond all the other "children."
Someday my own children will face life’s fiery trials. Homeschooling allows my wife and me to condition their heart so that they will emerge without the scent of smoke upon them. It's not an easy task, but it is certainly worth it.
< Message edited by Fritzpw_Admin -- 12/4/2006 2:52:44 PM >
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Faith, challenges, and blessings - 12/12/2006 6:25:55 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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This past week was more hectic than most for me. Not only did I have my normal schedule of studying, writing sermons, planning Sunday School lessons and providing counsel, but I was also responsible for a few extra household and homeschool duties which my wife usually oversees. I’m not complaining about it, although my kid’s sure did. Through the extra workload, the Lord reminded me to appreciate His blessings and faithfulness.
It all started about two a weeks ago when a dear friend of ours requested Jenny’s help at her Victorian tea room. “It would only be for four days…” Our friend was desperate. Jenny and I try to be sensitive to the opportunities God gives us--even when the time is not particularly convenient or when additional activities would stretch us too far.
I remember Jenny looking at me and saying, “What do you think, can I help her out?” I could read past those words to the underlying message…“Will you take on the extra household/homeschool chores for a few days?” My answer was affirmative. How else will our friend know that we care about her soul if we cannot help out in her time of need.
The week was difficult for all of us, but, as usual, the Lord showed up and blessed us in some powerful ways. First of all, He opened up several doors for Jenny to witness to some of the employees. “Why do you have so much peace in your life?” a young woman inquired. Jenny was prepared to share her faith in Jesus Christ and minister His grace. This opportunity enabled both of us to see a Divine purpose in changing our schedules.
Second, as the substitute homeschool instructor, I became more intimately aware of my children’s work habits, the level of their understanding and skills, and how much attention the five of them need on a daily basis. I began to appreciate (all over again) the devotion, virtue, and spiritual support that my wife faithfully demonstrates to our children. I needed to be reminded of the “riches” I have in my godly wife.
Third, I was humbled by the realization that my spouse is capable of organizing and managing so many tasks at one time (meals, laundry, cleaning, memorizing Scripture, teaching) and with such a loving attitude. God’s Word commands me to honor, love, and cherish my wife and this experience proved to me that I had been taking her for granted. The Holy Spirit’s still, small voice came through loud and clear. Thank you, Lord.
Through one step of faith, God challenged my normal roles, schedules, responsibilities, and relationships. Then He opened my eyes and showed me how much I need Him. Finally, He proved His faithfulness by confirming that He will “work all things together for [my] good” and for His glory. What an awesome God.
Friends, when the Lord seems to be disrupting the convenience of your schedule and stretching you like pizza dough (like He did to me), He may simply be preparing you to receive more blessings. Let Him stretch you. Be humble and obedient, and expect His blessings to follow. He isn’t doing it to destroy you, He’s doing it to bless you and glorify Himself. You won’t be disappointed-- promise.
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Witness A Miracle - 1/3/2007 11:24:41 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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I witnessed a miracle today. It happened right before my eyes. This was something so very ordinary and commonplace that it surprised me. Had I not done a double-take it would have gone on completely unnoticed. In my amazement, I called my wife to witness the miracle too. Please humor me while I create a little suspense and back-track just a bit.
Thanksgiving day Jennifer was making a veggie tray to take to her mother’s house for the big feast. I offered to help her wash and cut up the peppers and cucumbers. Inspecting the quality of the produce, I was impressed by the beauty, size, and vivid colors of the Bell Peppers. (This may sound strange to some of you, but my wife and I love to do a little gardening in the summer and comparing store-bought vegetables to our home-grown ones seems automatic.) Instead of throwing away the seeds, I separated them onto napkins and placed them in a window of my office to dry out. I was thinking they could be planted in the spring; thus, we would have our own beautiful, large, brilliantly colored Bell Peppers.
A week or two later my curiosity got the best of me. I found a little plastic container in the shed and filled it with potting soil, planted 10 tiny seeds in it, spritzed some water in the container and placed it in a sunny window next to my desk. Then I watched it. Every day the little box was inspected for some signs of life. One day a single stem poked through the soil and within a day or two some leaves appeared. I was happy. Soon four more followed suit. Ah, five little yellow Bell Pepper plants.
I was beginning to wonder why the five red Bell Peppers weren’t doing anything as wonderful. Were they duds? Perhaps they were rotting away under their cover of fresh dirt. Where did I go wrong? Then it happened. One sprout was beginning to peak through some miniature clumps of soil. The next day there were two. As I examined the tiny green stems I felt a little hope.
Today I saw something that I had never witnessed before in all my years of gardening. As I was walking into my office I glanced at the tender sprouts and thought I saw one moving. Am I crazy? I took a closer look. No, I wasn’t crazy. One of the newest stems was actually pushing dirt away from its base and unfolding its miniscule leaves right before my eyes. I was witnessing a miracle. That infant piece of vegetation had just moved its first mountain.
All too often, we miss the most common, everyday miracles that happen all around us. Homeschooling has been one way that my wife and I have been able to observe a few more. With each one of our children we have witnessed them reading their first words, adding and subtracting their first Math problems, passing their first tests, writing their first anecdotes, conducting their first experiments, reciting their first Scripture passage and, essentially, moving their first mountains. There have been many, many miracles and hopefully, there will be more to follow.
There are no regrets taking this path-- at least not for me and Jennifer. It is hard at times. When five children and a dog push every one of your buttons and fry your last nerves, you are tempted to say, “Tomorrow everyone gets to go to public school--dog included!” With each temptation, though, the Lord provides a way of escape, and right before we lose hope-- a miracle occurs.
Parents, don’t miss the fact that God has called you to witness, not just the miracle of life, but also the miracle of moving mountains. It may surprise you to see how many are occurring right in your own home.
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Lessons from a Cowboy (at heart) - 1/19/2007 10:20:33 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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I’m a cowboy at heart. Someday I want to lope my beautiful horse across the wide open range, roundup some wild mustangs, and fall asleep under a dazzling, starlit prairie sky. In the meantime, I’ll be content to live where the Lord has planted me and be thankful for what He’s given, but it sure is nice to dream.
Actually, the Lord has been gracious to let me live out fragments of my cowboy daydreams. Currently, there is a small barn in my backyard which is home to a Quarter horse, an Arabian, and a Shetland pony. Each animal was acquired for a specific purpose and came with its own history.
My oldest son was interested in showing horses in 4-H with some of his friends. They had Quarter horses and he thought that he could handle one, too. I had some experience in training and showing several breeds of horses, but this one was new to me. Ruby was a green-broke 5 yr old mare. Finishing her for 4-H level activities would be something my son and I could do together-- you know, father-son bonding stuff. It turned out to be quite a job. Not only was her training incomplete, but due to the previous owner’s ignorance, she had developed numerous vices that would need to be unlearned before she could be shown. With lots of TLC, Ruby eventually matured into a delightful, obedient animal.
Campana came along two years later when my second-born son said he wanted an Arabian horse. I thought to myself, “We can’t afford an Arabian on a pastor’s salary.” Two months later I received a call from a friend who informed me of an Arabian mare “package deal” that needed a good home. When we saw her, we knew why. The mare had been professionally trained in her early years and even shown with some success, but her present state of neglect had produced some serious physical problems. Fortunately, we were able to nurse her back to health, and one year later she was a vibrant horse and back in the show ring.
Two years ago another one of my children started asking for a pony. I knew about ponies. I had several of them in my youth. I put the word out and a few weeks later brought home a beautiful spotted mare. This gal’s name was June and she is every child’s pony-dream come true. June had no health problems, no vices to break; she was ready for training and willing to please. I coached my eight year old son from the center of our riding ring and he trained her for the 2006 show season on his own. I was amazed.
You may be wondering what any of this has to do with homeschooling. Bear with me, I’m almost there. You see, in one barn, we have dealt with a variety of situations. We’ve learned a lot as we worked through our own ignorance, but we grew in knowledge and experience as a result. There were times when we got frustrated with those horses (or ourselves), but we never gave up. We prayed for wisdom, sought counsel from other horsemen and horsewomen, regrouped, and tackled our problems from a different angle. Eventually, we ended up with three of the best equine projects we’ve ever had. They are safe, pleasurable mounts, and a joy to own.
Those of us who homeschool understand the beauty of individuality. Some children have obstacles to overcome, they have habits to break or behavior to un-learn. And sometimes, God is gracious and gives us a compliant, thirsty sponge who is ready to soak up everything that comes their way. In the end, it is we, the parents, who have gained the most valuable knowledge and experience. We have acquired precious skills enabling us to shaped the lives of our children in every way. Furthermore, in the process, we have built incredibly rewarding and pleasurable relationships with them. What joy!
This cowboy wannabe still fantasizes about loping his horse across a prairie someday. Maybe it’ll happen and maybe it won’t. Either way he still has a well-trained, pleasurable steed to ride and bring him joy… and that’s worth a bunch!
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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My Yoke Upon You - 1/29/2007 4:08:01 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” (Proverbs 4:13).
“And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” Ecclesiastes 1:17, 18).
“…Much learning doth make thee mad.” (Acts 26:24).
Learning is a complicated, stressful process. It is made even more difficult when we have to sort through and unlearn a lot of the nonsense rubbish we’ve accumulated from all the various inaccurate sources in our lives.
I attended a Christian school from grades six through twelve. My teachers were wise and loving, and the curriculum was biblical. I memorized Scripture, attended chapel periods and had a daily “quiet time” with the Lord. Even though the environment was considered by many to be “over protective,” I (along with all the other students) was still exposed to enough garbage during the rest of our day to sufficiently clutter up the learning process. At times, the labor of unlearning was greater than the burden of learning.
The escalating responsibilities of life force us to grow up, become mature in our thinking, solve our own problems. Sometimes, in the process, the advice we’ve gleaned from our peers, internet acquaintances, songs on the radio, or even Oprah unconsciously becomes our choice of thought or action. There’s pressure to follow everyone--except the still, small voice of God (no pressure there!). It is often the decisions we make under pressure that usually send us to the mental labor camps later on. We soon become “heavy laden” with the “cares of this world” and learning or unlearning becomes grievous.
Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 ushers in such sweet comfort. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Read those words again… slowly.
How could taking another yoke upon our necks lighten our current, maximum-capacity load? It is simple. Look at the temperament of the Master. “I am meek and lowly of heart.” Under the supervision of a meek, humble, gentle, loving Master we are able to sort through the rubbish and learn the truth. We can hear His still, small voice and we can feel free to say what we are thinking without the fear of being unnecessarily criticized. The gentleness of the shepherd stimulates trust, calmness, and clarity of thought. His love casts out all anxiety and fear.
As homeschooling parent-teachers, we may forget how difficult learning can be (Lord knows, we often forget what it was like being a kid). The temptation to add to our children’s burden of education may be irresistible at times. A teacher’s flaring temper, verbalized frustrations, demanding attitude, and harsh verbal tones can drain their student’s energy and hope and vex their tender spirit. What they may really need is rest. Such rest is obtained when parent-teachers show their students the love of Jesus Christ through a meek and lowly heart.
Learning (or unlearning) is made easier when an educator’s skills include humility and gentleness. You have the capacity to offer your children this lighter yoke (Proverbs 3:27, Galatians 6:10). It is one that will give their young, struggling minds a place of welcomed rest and restored joy.
Jesus’ yoke… what an unlikely, yet inviting, place of freedom and discovery.
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Those Mysteries Of Life - 2/2/2007 11:59:27 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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My wife and I were sitting in the den last night with two of our boys. It was comical how fast the conversation went from Rocky Balboa and his boxing techniques to the mysteries of conception. Have you ever been hit by a bus and wondered, “Where in the world did THAT come from”? It was one of those moments. Life’s fun!
My children have all become acquainted with the basic principles of life. God has blessed us with a safe and healthy, biblical environment in which to teach them. Raising dogs, cats, horses, lambs, chickens and even tadpoles has given them a positive experience in learning about the facts of life. They have asked normal, sensible questions that we have been able to answer honestly and according to their level of comprehension. I love homeschooling.
In their quest for answers, we have also emphasized the difference between animals and people. People were made in the image of God, their creator. The mysteries of life for human beings are meant to be sacred and holy and fulfilled in a manner unlike the animal kingdom. Guarding their minds against TMI (too much information) has helped uphold the beauty, sacredness, and mysteries of God’s blessings which are to be shared by a loving husband and his honoring wife.
We have friends who felt the need to express every known detail of their intimate lives to their children. Personally, I believed it was “TMI” at TEOAA (too early of an age). The children’s reactions confirmed my belief! The mystery was over and they were not yet teenagers. What would their minds do with all of those facts and illustrations over the next few years? I hurt for them.
I was one of those odd-ball freaks who was raised on a small farm, had a sufficient sex-education in Christian school, but managed to keep my curiosity intact. Most of my friends seemed to know less than I did, which was a blessing in disguise. My parent’s home was void of a TV, and my godly grandparents, who lived next door and owned a TV, were very discriminating viewers (thank God!). I understood the facts of life, but remained innocent of the detailed, hidden secrets until after I was married.
In the course of the evening conversation with our boys, my wife and I frequently gazed into each other’s eyes and smiled. They have partial knowledge of the facts of life, but it is still shrouded in sacred mystery. A mystery that, by God’s grace, will remain veiled until He reveals it-- in His own time. Oh what a wonderful, joyful mystery they may anticipate discovering! It is SO worth waiting for.
“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid” (Proverbs 30:18, 19).
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Eggs In Your Pockets - 2/12/2007 2:09:44 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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Three days this past week, my youngest son has come into the house with a coat pocket full of smashed eggs. He would meander to the chicken coop, feed and water his hens, collect the eggs, and then get distracted by the fresh snow and a Red Flyer sled conveniently leaning against the barn. There’s also a basketball beckoning to be “swooshed” into an icy rim and the neighbor’s steep hill that promises a thrill to anyone who will roll down it. Boys are funny about those kinds of things.
As Ethan passed me in the hallway, I caught a glimpse of that all-too-familiar “Uh-oh” look in his eyes and had to ask, “What’s up, son?” “Oh, nothing really, Daddy,” he said. “I… just… smashed two more eggs in my coat pocket, but… but… one of them is still good! I’m going, right now, to put it in the refrigerator before I forget.” "Good idea, buddy."
Shaking my head in disbelief (without shaking the smile off of my face), I had to chuckle. His tenderhearted reply reminded me of a scene from my own adolescence. You see, this writer was also a childhood egg-smasher.
I had collected about ten eggs from our old henhouse and delicately placed them in a wire basket. In the rush to complete my chores (so I could go pony riding), I ran back to the house as fast as my ten-year-old legs could carry me. Somewhere along the way I tripped on a tree root and… you can guess what happened to all those eggs. Wow, did I feel terrible! My mother was empathetic to my plight and I barely got scolded for it. She understood what it was like for a little boy to be distracted by a prancing pony and an empty cowboy saddle. I never ran with the eggs again.
Nevertheless, sometimes we fail to learn from our mistakes the first (or second) time we make them. We feel guilty about our faults and weaknesses, and promise to be more careful “next time.” Oh, we have the world’s best intentions, but often repeat the same mess ups--to ours and everyone else’s chagrin. Stupidity hurts.
But wait a minute! I wasn’t stupid back then, nor was my son being stupid today. He is a child just as I was. And when you’re a child, you speak like a child, you understand like a child, you think like a child…and you act like a child. It’s when you become a grown-up that, hopefully, you put some mileage between yourself and those “childish things.” --hopefully.
The longsuffering and grace of Jesus Christ are still teaching me some important lessons even though I’m no longer a child. His character reveals that the world doesn’t come to an end when a bicycle is left out in the rain, an army of black ants harvests cookies under the bunk beds, gooey Popsicle sticks are left on a bookshelf, or eggs get smashed in a coat pocket. Lest I forget: I’m raising children.
I bet we’ve all broken a few eggs in our lifetime. As a matter-of-fact, accidents still happen. Aren’t we, as parents, glad to know that God’s grace and mercy are still readily available to us? And what better reason to educate our children at home. Just think of how many childish mistakes we’d miss if we weren’t homeschooling. How many boo-boos and accidents would never be met with the grace of God if someone else was in charge of judging them? Makes me thankful (again) that I homeschool. Hmmm…I’d better make sure that little boy’s coat gets to the laundry soon-- he might need it before his next “accident.”
_____________________________
Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Training For Something - 2/22/2007 10:18:19 PM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
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I’m glad we have a few geniuses in the world and I appreciate good talent when I see it or hear it; however, I’m not impressed with all the hype over the “Gifted and Talented” or “Academically Advanced” classes that are offered by the public school system. In all their specialized courses, government education can never teach biblical love and yet, it is the greatest need of the human soul.
The truth is, most of us would not classify ourselves as “Gifted and Talented” or “Academically Advanced,” we’re just average. We’re average parents who gave birth to average children. We teach them in average homeschools. And do you know what? Average is okay. I will never feel regret over being average. Real living, you see, is more than understanding the world’s mysteries. It’s more than quality entertainment for the masses. Real living is about learning how to love.
The apostle Paul told the Gifted-And-Talented, Academically-Advanced people of Corinth that all of their gifts and talents were worthless if they did not have the capacity to demonstrate love to one another (read I Corinthians 13). He really knew how to deflate their egos! They probably never even saw it coming. Oh, to be a fly on the wall at First Church of Corinth when they got that letter! Most assuredly, it was something that needed to be said.
One of the greatest pleasures of homeschooling is being able to teach our children what true love is really like. My wife and I want our own children to become familiar with how love behaves, sounds, and thinks. Because of its eternal value, it will always be included in their daily training. As long as we live, we will never regret giving up all the (seemingly) significant, specialized extras of public school life in order to teach them about God’s kind of love. It is life’s most fundamental need.
We don’t permit our children to talk mean and ugly to each other. They know they can’t get by with rude behavior. Selfishness is not tolerated. Neither do we condone belittling, teasing, bullying, or ridiculing. Such offenses are never ignored--they are met with instant correction. Home is meant to be a place where love abounds. If they consistently learn to live it here, they can live it anywhere.
The transforming power of love is almost ridiculous. It truly changes people. With love, they become Something. Without it, they are nothing. Fill a mind with knowledge and facts and wisdom and gifts and talents and skill and ability--and neglect to teach it how to love--and you still have nothing. On the other hand, fill an average life with Christ’s love, and you impact eternity. If you have love, you are Something.
The Apostle Paul said, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing” (I Corinthians 13:2). I believe him.
I’m so glad that God made a way for average folks to make Something of themselves and their children. We will probably never be a “Who” among the “Who’s Who” crowd. And frankly, who cares? From what I see, hear, and read, “Gifts and Talents” and “Academic Advancement” don’t make a lot of lasting marriages or happy families. More often than not, they tend to produce a lot of “nothing.” I’m thankful that homeschooling gives my wife and me the daily opportunity to train our children to be Something through the power of God’s love. Everything else pales in comparison.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (I Corinthians 13:13).
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Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Homeschooling: An Investment In Your Community, Part I - 3/8/2007 11:27:06 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
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The community in which I live is not much more than an historical “whistle stop” in the verdant hills of southern Ohio. Over the years there were farms, sawmills, stone quarries, grocery stores, several thriving churches, a school, a museum, a post office, a pay lake, a train station, a hotel, gas stations, a couple of restaurants, a barber shop, and lot of friendly faces. Sometimes I yearn for the precious innocence and ingenuity of those days. Time changes a lot of things, doesn’t it?
Today, all but one gas station has closed. The hotel is now a nursing home. The museum is closed. The stone schoolhouse and the train station have been razed. The other old grade school, where Roy Rogers (the famous, movie-star cowboy) attended, is now a church fellowship hall. We currently have one four-aisle grocery store, one repair garage, one stone quarry, and one saw mill in operation. The tracks are rusty since the train no longer passes through the village. Some of the churches seem to be in survival mode rather than thriving mode. Time and circumstance have taken a toll on the optimistic attitudes of the people and, sometimes, you can see it in their faces.
It is important to learn about the people of our communities and the history they wrote. As we listen to our neighbors talk about the “good old days” we can find out what made life “good” back then. We can also learn what changes brought those days to a perceived close and what is needed to bring that goodness back today. One must never forget that families are what make up a community and families are what keep it alive. If we can figure out what happened to them, we may be able to breathe new life back into our dying towns and villages.
The following article is an excerpt from my 1969 copy of The World Book Encyclopedia. It is titled, “Community.”
“Several…things are true of all communities. (1) Each community is made up of people who have similar customs… and who think of themselves as belonging to that community. (2) The people of each community live in a particular space that can be defined. (3) Each community has created laws or institutions to serve its people. (4) Each community has a common language, or at least a system whereby its people can communicate with one another. (5) Each community has certain problems that unite its people in a common cause.”
The text continues with this wonderful, timeless truism:
“The Family Community. A typical family includes two parents and one or more children. But it might be a childless couple. Or it might consist of several generations living under one roof. Although the family is the smallest community, it is also the oldest and most important. The family must teach children the basic values of life, and begin their education. We depend upon the family for love, affection, and encouragement.”
The article then concludes with these thoughts under the heading of “Community Improvement”:
“Each of the communities of man changes constantly. Some grow old and weak through these changes. But others become larger, stronger, and more complicated. By studying these changes, a community may be able to guide its growth in such a way that it will be a better place in which to live.”
Many things have changed since the writing of this article--the “typical family” is one of them. Over and over again we have witnessed families falling apart all around us. The disintegration of the family has had a traumatic effect on our villages. Once upon a time, the Bible, prayer, family loyalty, and a sense of community were taught in the home. They were a top priority. And once upon a time, those same principles were reinforced in the local schools.
While the public schools of yore may have helped to support those righteous values, their evolutionary counterparts have declined to follow in their footsteps. This is one of the many reasons for the rising popularity of homeschooling; those core-values were (and are still) responsible for building great homes and wonderful communities. Many towns have come along way from “the good old days” ideal; nevertheless, by examining the past, the present can be redirected to make the future a “better place in which to live.” Perhaps the new reinforcements for a “better” community lie at the threshold of our own home-centered educational facilities.
Through homeschooling, many important Christian principles are being engrained in our children. As we teach family respect, honesty, and commitment-- as well as other proven principles of God’s Word-- we are actually sowing seeds that will have the power to restore the missing virtue, ingenuity, responsibility, blessings, and accountability to our towns and villages. Strong families can build more strong families. And together they can make strong neighborhoods. God has given us great potential to rebuild the communities in which He has called us to both live and faithfully serve. I’ll be exploring this concept even more in my future posts. Hope you decide to follow along.
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:24-28a).
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Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Homeschooling: An Investment In Your Community, Part II - 3/20/2007 9:14:53 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
Status: offline
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“In the beginning,” the book of Genesis describes a time and place where a family walked in unity with one another. The sweetness of life had its source in their constant communion with God. His Word went forth. “Tend this garden and keep it,” He said. And His Word was obeyed.
One day Satan entered into the picture and sowed tares of doubt into the family’s minds. “Hath God said…?” was his seemingly harmless proposal. With a little fast-talk and some mild emotional pressure, that “old serpent” convinced the first family that his word was superior to God’s and that obedience to their Creator was a less valuable option in comparison. Unaware of his hidden agenda, they took the bait, hook, line, and sinker.
Soon afterward, life took a drastic detour--and not for the better. Shame, fear, and blame were followed by curses, bitterness, and death. It didn’t take long before the family turned on each other and innocent blood was shed. This all happened because someone believed the lie that wisdom could be gained apart from Word of the Lord.
Years later a man named Moses called his people together and said, “Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me…Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding… Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart form thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them [to] thy sons, and thy sons’ sons…lest ye corrupt yourselves…” (emphasis mine).
Again, the Word of the Lord had been given a place of priority among families, tribes, community, and nation. Within a short time, the enemy would offer new improved options and the nation--who had once been freed from bondage-- would follow the sin-tolerant, open minded, disobedient-to-God thinkers right back into slavery. This scenario has been repeated more times than we could count--not just in the pages of Scripture, but throughout history.
It was, however, the Word of the Lord which brought order, life, light, and continuity into creation when the earth was without form and filled with void. It was the Word of the Lord that corrected man’s thinking, changed his heart, and chastened him for his wrong. It was the Word of God that inspired the creativity, ingenuity, and charity of mankind. The Word of God furnishes truth to train the mind and stir the soul. It leads us into right living and healthy relationships. There can not be complete training of the mind without the Word of God, because “godliness is profitable unto all things…” (I Tim. 4:8).
Here’s the point: When the Holy Word of God was taught, understood, upheld, and obeyed certain results could be expected: age was reverenced, infancy respected, manhood was admired, womanhood was honored, and human life and dignity were held in due regard. When the Word of God was demoted and abandoned, corruption entered.
In the twenty-third chapter of Matthew, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes (the “progressive” teachers of His day) for shunning God’s righteousness and establishing a righteousness of their own--apart from God. He condemned them for (1.) shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men, (2.) going to extreme lengths to make converts of “hell,” (3.) holding to a double standard in order to victimize the innocent, (4.) emphasizing the insignificant things of life and neglecting the weightier issues of justice, mercy, and faith, and (5.) promoting outward, superficial appearances of success while inwardly nursing extortion, self-indulgence, and all uncleanness. In verse 38, Jesus made this simple declaration, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Hmmm, maybe “progressive” thinking and teaching isn’t so great after all.
Homeschooling has placed many of us under a scrutinizing public eye. Amen. One frequent outcry against this lifestyle is that children raised in such an environment will not be able to function socially (as if our opponents really even care about our children’s social development). In other words, their surface protests are insinuating that homeschooled children, taught the Word of God, will not be capable of rational thinking, ethical working, building strong relationships, contributing to the general welfare of mankind, or advancing the communities and countries in which we live. At the risk of sounding cold, they are not the “voice of truth.”
We did not choose homeschooling because we desired to make socially introverted schlemiels out of our children. Our decision was based upon the truth that God had given us a responsibility to raise them in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” We are commanded to instruct them in the holy ways of God, and to teach them the “fear of the Lord”--which just so happens to be the “beginning wisdom.” As we saw the government system veer further and further away from foundational truth, “shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men,” we realized that right values in our family and community would no longer be reinforced by public education; conversely, they would be undermined and dismantled. Homeschooling was our only choice.
You see, when the Word of the Lord has free course, it changes the lives of people. It heals relationships. It edifies. It promotes genuine love. It invests in others. It encourages the weak. It confronts the wrong. It opposes evil. It brings order out of chaos. It rebuilds what has been broken down. It gathers what has been scattered. It protects what is defenseless. It beautifies what was once shameful. It strengthens homes. It gives life to mankind and hope to a community.
Homeschooling gives families the opportunity to exalt the Way, the Truth, and the Life every single day without the fear of being undermined. Young lives can be shaped and molded to see the world as a mission field of opportunity. Bible-based, home education teaches students how to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind and how to love their neighbor as their self. They learn about God’s six day work week and His rewards for honest labor. They learn how to honor and obey their parents, as well as those in all positions of authority. Students are taught the Lord’s moral laws. They grow up knowing that there are consequences for murder, stealing, living in adultery, bearing false witness against a neighbor, coveting their neighbor’s house, lusting after their neighbor’s wife, desiring their neighbor’s servants, or envying any of their neighbor’s possessions.
It appears to me that God’s Word, going into the hearts and minds of children, would make for an ideal community. Moreover, those who incorporate the Word of God into their education on a daily basis, are in-fact, investing in the communities in which they reside. Who wouldn’t want to live in a neighborhood where children were being raised to obey God’s commands? I’m thankful that the Lord has provided a way for my wife and I to teach our children holy truth day after day after day. I will always be convinced that homeschooling is a great way to make a significant impact on our families, our neighbors, and the communities we love and serve.
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Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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Homeschooling: An Investment In Your Community, Part III - 4/3/2007 10:59:03 AM
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timothypalla
Posts: 57
Joined: 10/17/2006
From: The Gateway State aka The Buckeye State
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I once read that “Life is the history of one’s dreams.” In my March 3rd blog, I painted a vivid picture of what my community had been years ago and what it looks like now. If “life is the history of one’s dreams,” then something or someone has stolen the hopes and dreams of many of the people of my community. So, what makes me think homeschooling can make a difference in the neighborhood where I live? I’ll tell you, but first a little history of my own.
When my parents went to school, the day started with prayer and Bible reading. The students pledged their allegiance to the American flag and then sang a patriotic song. Knowledge of, dependence on, and accountability to the Lord was a foundational part of everyone’s education. By the time I entered first grade (in the same school which my mother attended), the day started with only a moment of “silent prayer” and the pledge to the American flag. By second grade, only one of those practices remained and it didn’t take long to discard the other-- but hey, nobody even noticed, and God didn’t strike anyone dead for it, did He? No, not that I know of, but little by little The Only Wise God and His laws of life were excluded from most local schoolhouses and the next generation forgot about Him.
Publicly, children were no longer taught to reverence the Lord’s name; instead, the “Name above all names” (at which every knee will bow) became a common curse word. Acknowledging His presence was no longer necessary since no one was seemingly accountable to Him; rather, each individual could determine “what was right for their own selves.” No one was taught that they were created in the image of God, instead, they were made to believe that mankind merely evolved into the “animal” we are today. Life no longer had a Divine purpose; it became “survival of the fittest”… the most cunning… the smartest… the most athletic… the most beautiful… the wealthiest… the loudest… the most talented… the most popular (get the picture?). Government education was headed in a dangerous direction.
My parents removed me and my siblings from public school the autumn I started sixth grade. Praise God! It didn’t take long for me to become reacquainted with the daily routine of prayer, Bible reading, and patriotism. I learned to memorize lengthy passages of Scripture, listen attentively to teaching and preaching, and engage in daily discussions of the Word of God. Discipline problems were practically non-existent. It was during those days that my mind was being kneaded and shaped by truth and the desires of my heart were realigned. My personal faith was growing in a safe environment fostered by genuine love.
In my years of biblically-based instruction, I learned to think, dream, and use my imagination in Christ-honoring ways. I learned how to please my heavenly Father, obey His ordained authority, and live a fulfilling life within the parameters of His will. The Scriptures taught me that God’s unlimited power could override all human limitations and do the impossible. Many examples of Old and New Testament saints opened my eyes to the incredible potential of those who would love and obey God. I also saw the destruction and abuse brought on by those who despised Him, thinking their own ways were better.
Dreams are important. People who learn to think and use their imagination righteously, never want for purposeful work. They envision something great and then set their mind to make it happen. When the imagination is guarded against evil, the mind will have confidence and determination to do what is right, what is pleasing to God, and what benefits others. Fill that same mind with notions that sin must be accepted and tolerated (after all, it’s just an alternative lifestyle…right?) or that humans have the authority to determine what’s right and wrong, and you will have a mind bent toward satisfying only itself… and most often at someone else’s expense; leaving many broken, abandoned, littered lanscapes. Purity is an essential element for producing good dreams and worthy aspirations for the benefit of others. A pure life caused Joseph to forgive his offensive brothers and personally care for their needs. A pure life enabled Moses to lead his nation out of slavery. A pure life led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem for his people. A pure life hates sin and the destruction it brings to all worthwhile dreams.
Faith is the means by which righteous change occurs, but it requires submission to Someone bigger than yourself: The Almighty. The Scriptures define faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Without it, “it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). You see, faith in God gives people a moral accountability to live by and the inspiration to become exemplary leaders who truly (selflessly) love their own people. Faith produces wholesome, creative thinkers whose lives are empowered beyond human limitation. It provides living hope to keep one focused through the worst of times. Faith-filled individuals believe in God and know that He rewards those who diligently seek to honor and obey Him. David, Gideon, and Esther, were a few Old Testament saints who displayed phenomenal courage and creativity for the benefit of their people. Faith gave their dreams wings on which to fly and feet on which to land.
I have on my library shelf a copy of The New - England Primer printed in 1777. This was a standard textbook for grade-school students until 1900. The primer contains Scripture verses, catechisms, prayers, and godly advice to children. It was used to train young minds for righteous living--living that would maintain wholesome family relationships and promote “peace and goodwill” among members of the community and country. Through homeschooling my wife and I are able to immerse our children’s minds and hearts in the same holy truth of God. They are encouraged to dream big, but within the boundaries of righteousness. Their imaginations are sparked by the faith of their Christian forefathers, but kept ablaze by the knowledge of the Omnipotent Creator. Their minds and hearts have been framed up with something more solid than secular humanism.
So, returning to my earlier question, “Will homeschooling make a difference in the neighborhood where I live?” Yes! As long as my children’s education is built upon the foundation of God’s truth, it can’t help but make an impact. You see, it takes selfless love to lift up the weary, strengthen the weak, bind-up the wounded, give to the poor, rebuild what has been broken, protect the defenseless, honor life, make decency and security possible, and invest in the wholesome well-being of others. That kind of selfless love cannot be generated apart from the knowledge of the Lamb of Calvary. If “life is the history of one’s dreams,” then the world is about to be “turned upside-down” once again by a generation of young men and women whose Bible-based, home-education has caused them to dream of the impossible, have faith in the Almighty, and to courageously make a difference among the people God has called them to love and faithfully serve. Make a difference? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Homeschooling will make a positive difference--in my community and in yours.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. --Psalm 33:8-12, 18-22
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Abiding in His wonderful grace,
Timothy Palla
tpalla@rocketmail.com
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