An Introduction from a Homeschooler

[drawnbylove]

I've shared my story before on another website; therefore, I have copied it here and updated it instead of writing it again...call me lazy!  :grin:

Hi all. My story is probably like so many others, but of course, uniquely my own. I grew up with my parents not going to church but I went with my best friend. During high school, I was in a cycle of wanting to strive to do my best to be a "good" Christian which I thought meant having a daily quiet time, praying for the forgiveness of all my sins every night in case I died in my sleep, and telling my lost parents that they would be going to hell if they didn't accept Jesus as their Savior. In this cycle, after a few days of my "righteousness," I would tire of all the "work" and quit for a few days and then beat myself up for having quit, and all over again, promise to do a better job of being a disciple, repeating the incessant cycle. It was exhausting and unhealthy.
During college, I had a Spirit-led epiphany. I realized that I didn't have to "do" anything. It was already done! That led to a greater sense of security and acceptance, but I still had the baggage of many modern doctrines includes eternal punishment. However, my journey was only beginning.
A few years ago, my husband and eldest child and I were spending a couple of years overseas as missionaries. That's when the "dark night of the soul" that St John of the Cross describes so eloquently began. The burden of evangelizing all of these "unbelievers" and being responsible for their salvation began weighing heavily upon me. I started questioning some of the very foundational beliefs that I had been taught all of my Christian life. If I had been saved by grace and that not of myself, but of the gift of God, why me? What about so many of my friends and family? What about those we had come to serve? If God wanted all to come to a saving knowledge of Him, then why were billions not going to? If God was sovereign and I was mere man, why would my one decision thwart His omnipotent plan? And the biggest question for me--why create only to condemn?
Upon arrival back in the US, and dealing with serious reverse culture shock, mostly due to the prevalent church culture in which we were living, I picked up a book at the library entitled, "How to Quit Church, Without Quitting God" by Martin Zender. (I've seen some have already mentioned this book on this forum.) I read it and felt validated by most of the book until I got to the end, and then I got really angry. Who was this guy to turn my whole spiritual world upside down talking about no eternal punishment? Who did he think he was to refute everything I'd ever been taught?
Then I went to the internet to search out all I could. Tentmaker.org was a BIG propellant in my continuing revelation. And then one day, God revealed it to me: It was all about the way I was viewing Him. What did I truly believe about His character? Based on my doctrinal system, there were too many contradictions. God said He would love us with an everlasting love. God said He is everywhere--even if we go down into the depths. God said He is the savior of all,
especially of believers. God said He desires all to be saved. And then I realized--do I believe God and His Word? Or do I believe man and how we see things as through a mirror dimly? Even though I did not fully understand everything then, I knew in my heart and soul that what God had revealed to me was Truth...and that was all that mattered, until my intellect could (if ever) catch up. It was God's character that I had been maligning in my mind all those years, and I needed to adjust what I thought about Him. Those were tough times. They still are.
I read Hannah Whitall Smith's testimony of her coming to understand UR and I wept because her experience was SO similar to mine that I felt validated, I guess.

That was over five years ago and there is still so much I have to understand and learn, but thank God for His love and mercy that spurs me onwards. It's been amazing to see how many of my churched friends are open to know more when I tell them of God's everlasting love.

I look forward to meeting you all and finding some encouragement and fellowship.

I would love to find other homeschoolers (or parents who are in a ET-teaching church) with whom I could discuss how they do their religious instruction. It's so hard using the children's materials that mainstream Christianity publishes!

[WhiteWings]

Welc :HeartThrob: me

Longest introduction in history.

[jabcat]

Don't mind White Wings, he's a joker...and an excellent one   :thumbsup:.  If you're fortunate, he'll get you more than once .

Great testimony, one I want to share with others.  My wife and I homeschooled our children except for one semester.  Our daughter wanted to "go to school" when she in about the 9th grade.  Without a ton of local options, we sent her to a conservative  Baptist school for one semester.  Not so good.  I've looked back on it and thought why didn't I react differently to this..during our "walk-through"/orientation, the pastor was talking about expectations, and mentioned a girl with a nose ring.  His statement was along the lines of "if she came in here with it on, I'd rip it out".  She lasted one semester and decided to leave...the words she spoke still echo...she said to me, "they're trying to make me crazy".

Anyway, I'm around, and maybe my wife will post some on it, or would at least do PM's.  She's not a member, has never posted before.  She sees UR despite the typical Baptist upbringing, but she's not as radical (read crazy) as me, so I'm not sure...I'll mention it to her.

Hey WW, was this the longest welcome in history?   :laughing7:

God's blessing, great..I mean GREAT! that you're here.  James.

[WhiteWings]

Don't mind White Wings, he's a joker

I case my message is understood wrong; the heart is meant as a letter O

Hey WW, was this the longest welcome in history?   :laughing7:

Not by a long shot!
The Bible is the longest welcome.

.......WELC :HeartThrob: ME     T :HeartThrob:      HEAVEN.......

[drawnbylove]

Welc :HeartThrob: me

Longest introduction in history.

I'll try not to be so wordy in the future.  :wink:

Jabcat,
My experience with church culture over the last ten years or so has been with the Southern Baptists, so I am familiar with their doctrine you speak of in regard to your wife. I feel a little like an oddball in the homeschool community so it's nice to know of some others out there!

Thanks for the welcome to you both!

[jabcat]

 :Peace2: to you both.

[Nathan]

Welcome to Tent!  My wife is/was also a homeschool mom . . .our oldest daughter graduates this year.  We originally started our homeschooling for selfish reasons . . .which as we matured in our relationships with the Lord, we relaxed those reasons and eventually let the younger daughter experience the wonders of public school . .but our older daughter felt that if she did the same, it would mess up her already-laid-out plans for nursing . . .

As to hoping to find a curriculim that teaches nontraditional precepts . . .I don't think you'll find much . .and  . .in all due respect . . .I pray you don't.  I don't mean this as an insult, just a personal conviction on the fact that the church . . .mainline traditional religion, is where it is because someone "taught" their perspectives to another, which that person added their set of views to what they were taught and so one down the road until we're at a place now where many here see that where we've now been led to  . . . in order to receive it . .we have to leave the traditional church itself . . . or . . . they kick us out . . .

Either way . . . these things are of a revlatory nature . . .flesh and blood can not teach kingdom truths . . . I'm a Pastor and a teacher . . .but what I teach is patterns . . .not revelations.  I share revelations and some see them, some don't . . .I've written articles to help assist those interested in understanding more . . .but even then, it's just patterns.  Only the Father can reveal spiritual truth.

In your homeschooling . . .the best teacher of a child is the parent, the best teacher for a parent . .is experience.  You can easily tell when someone who has experienced life approaches you versus someone who 'knows' about it, but not experienced it for themselves.  There's a saying that goes . . A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.

Once you experience these things you are now having birthed in you . . .they'll spill over into your kids "through" your teaching of other things . . it's inevidible.  But for now, let your wings unfold . . .they've been in you all along and now . . .the calling is for you to fly and then you will bear much fruit for others . .including your kids . . .to experience the same.

Blessings to you . . .and by the way . . .there are more longwinded people on this forum . . .so don't let the tongue-in-cheekers intimidate you with that :laughing7: :laughing7:  Not saying "I'm" one of them . . I've just heard rumors that they're out there . . .that's all I was trying . . .I mean that's all I was getting at  . . .I mean  . . .sigh . . .never mind. :angel5: :angel5: :Whistle: :Whistle: :umnick:

[drawnbylove]

lol, nathan! Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement.

Yes, I totally agree that the best teaching of our children is by "osmosis."  :bigGrin: It's amazing the kinds of questions that a curious, thoughtful, and sensitive 7yo can find to ask! There is no curriculum that can prepare you for those! My husband's upbringing is very similar to what you describe. He can't really remember his parents "teaching" him specific doctrines or tenets of their faith, but it was interwoven into their daily living so much so that all four children are wonderful disciples of Jesus. I look to their example for encouragement.

It's just amazing, however, how integrated the concept of eternal torment is in books and other materials for even children. With the wrathful view of God that I grew up with, I am very diligent about sheltering my young ones from those views at such a young age. When they're older, well, then we will discuss all the divergent views, but right now I want crammed into their little hearts how much God loves us all!!!

[Molly]

but right now I want crammed into their little hearts how much God loves us all!!!

I got that training as a young child.  I never questioned how much Jesus loved me.

It has given me tremendous strength as an adult.

I never even heard about hell until I read Dante's Inferno in high school.

At the time, I dismissed him as a crackpot lol.

This guy is either taking too many pills or he needs a few lol.

[jabcat]

lol, nathan! Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement.

Yes, I totally agree that the best teaching of our children is by "osmosis."  :bigGrin: It's amazing the kinds of questions that a curious, thoughtful, and sensitive 7yo can find to ask! There is no curriculum that can prepare you for those! My husband's upbringing is very similar to what you describe. He can't really remember his parents "teaching" him specific doctrines or tenets of their faith, but it was interwoven into their daily living so much so that all four children are wonderful disciples of Jesus. I look to their example for encouragement.

It's just amazing, however, how integrated the concept of eternal torment is in books and other materials for even children. With the wrathful view of God that I grew up with, I am very diligent about sheltering my young ones from those views at such a young age. When they're older, well, then we will discuss all the divergent views, but right now I want crammed into their little hearts how much God loves us all!!!

:thumbsup:  We actually used a curriculum by the name of "Christian Light"...kind of a weird name, I think it sounds like it's a "little bit Christian"...  like margarine instead of butter, or something....Anyway, it is written by a "quiet group", I believe the Mennonites.  I don't remember any ET teachings in it, as I recall, it was very basic, "live a good, quiet life before the Lord" type of thing...and by far, it was mostly just the p's and q's of education.  A couple of things we also liked were, it was relatively inexpensive, and it was also very straightforward, being in workbook format.  So we could explain a few things, give help as needed, but most of the work, they were then responsible for.  Overall, we were pleased.

[peacemaker]

drawnbylove ...
(http://dl4.glitter-graphics.net/pub/1441/1441194khx9o2c40w.gif)
peacemaker

[drawnbylove]

I got that training as a young child.  I never questioned how much Jesus loved me.

It has given me tremendous strength as an adult.

I never even heard about hell until I read Dante's Inferno in high school.

At the time, I dismissed him as a crackpot lol.

This guy is either taking too many pills or he needs a few lol.

lol, molly!
Your beginning thoughts are what I hope for for my children. Thanks for sharing.

Jabcat,
I have a really good impression of CLE materials. I've never used them, but I've looked at their booths at curriculum fairs. I'll have to check into that more. We are giving our kids a neoclassical education--Latin, Greek, the Great Books, etc. So far, so good... :)

Thanks for the welcome all!