Keep up with what’s going on, what projects we are working on, events, and more!
Updates that don't really fall in our other categories, but we figure you'd want to know about it anyway...
If you have signed up for The Old Schoolhouse’s giveaway offer, you might be wondering where the DVD is! We’ve sent out a large batch already, and are getting ready to send out the next batch, and (Lord willing) it should be shipping the second week of July. Due to the cost of duplication and shipping, we have to produce it and ship it in batches. We are working on it, and should have them to you soon!
Um, um… that’s a good question… Actually, this was a real question that a father asked me recently at a homeschool event where I had my table set up at. While I must confess it caught me off guard a little bit, I asked him for clarification so that I would understand more of what he was looking for (and to give me time to think of an answer). The father went on to explain that his now grown son (history of medical condition) occasionally would hear voices telling him to do such and such, and he was believing that it was God/Holy Spirit telling him to do them. For example, the young man was ‘told’ to sell all his stuff and give away the money, as well as other activities. While God may ask that of some, when it is those with certain mental medical conditions, we must exercise caution and discernment.
After quickly asking the Lord for wisdom, we were able to get to the heart of the matter. The problem in this situation was not that the young man wanted to sell all his stuff to help others – that is commendable if that what the Lord clearly and unmistakably wants; which, by the way, I have met people who have literally sold everything and went to live in a travel trailer as they gave their life to evangelism. Nothing wrong with that if that is what God clearly directs. The problem for this young man, then, is identifying whether those directives were from God, mental malfunctions, or even the likelihood of demonic suggestion.
In I John 4:1-3, God gives clear advice on how to be sure of the source: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” Just because we ‘hear’ voices, or are strongly led to do something, does not automatically mean it is from God. He gives clear advice that we must ‘try’ (discern and test) whether those influences square up with God and His Word.
I pointed out to the father, that this is one thing that makes The Logic Seminar unique – direct application and directions on how to build discernment. I showed him from the Student Handbook how Lesson 31 deals completely with how to use discernment in dealing with Human Testimony, and how Lesson 32 deals completely with how to use discernment in what claims to be Divine Testimony. I also showed him how a good number of the lessons in the Logic Seminar are dedicated to providing general directions for making good decisions and judging aright (26-32,37-38,40-41).
I explained that The Logic Seminar is not an academic exercise. I pray that it will not be seen as ‘just’ an academic exercise. The Logic Seminar is different because it puts in your hands tangible, outlined steps and directives of how to literally build your discernment – not just for everyday life, but in weightier matters of faith and eternity as well.
The father kindly thanked me for our discussion and obtained the curriculum to help him and his son “…have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14
Maranatha!
I was at Colonial Williamsburg this afternoon! Here I am in the Apothecary. This is the one that I model our Apothecary shop after! If you look in our Photo Album “Building Sets” you will see a lot of similarities! I had lots and lots and fun, and learned a lot, too!
Here’s some food for thought. I like his quote, “What we are losing is a whole other set of mental skills, the ones that require not the shifting of our focus but the maintaining of our focus…” Beside internet, I would rank cell phone usage (texting & constant use) and video/games games as culprits in their own rights as well.
FOXNews.com - Is the Internet Ruining Our Minds?
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/06/03/internet-ruining-minds-carr-shallows/
“If we continue to send our children to Ceasar for education, we should stop being suprised when they come home as Romans…” - Voddie Baucham
Do your kids like LEGOs? We’ll we sure do, and we especially like to encourage pre-planning and visualizations skills, and that’s why we now have three special grid-papers in Field Trips LEGO section and the Resources section!
Interesting link talking about computer games. I really like the comment at the end, “...people should consider learning a new language or sport if they really wanted to improve their brain power. “To stimulate the intellect, you need a real challenge,” Adey said, adding computer games were not an easy shortcut. “Getting smart is hard work.”“
“The Associated Press: Study: Brain games don’t make you smarter”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVC61IGRUtnob-Il-rCE4VMu19nwD9F6UG600
I started editing the video we shot at the AIG Creation Museum tonight! Lord willing, it will be a thirty-minute mental field trip that we will available when we roll out the newly renovated website! I just finished watching the first complete draft, and will be making some minor tweaks… 
Garden is planted! Some areas took more planning than others, but I ran out of space quick! Hope y’all are having a garden exercise with your kids to practice preplanning and strategy skills! I like the Bible verse about king Uzziah and mentions all the farming-type stuff he did “for he loved husbandry.” II Chron. 26:10. How’s your garden coming?
Busy day! We got a bunch more progress done on the set renovation work, worked on a new prop storage room, and had a great time with a homeschool family that is friends of ours who stopped by! It was fun to show them the various filming projects being worked on, and what (Lord willing) we hope to accomplish!