Making Biblical Family Life Practical

This is a data-driven society, or at least, it claims to be. "The surveys said" or "Research indicates," or "Studies show" are assumed to be _proof_, but a famous politician observed that "There are lies, and there are damn lies, and there are statistics." How can we look at news of the latest polling or study and begin to discern what may be valid, and what may be false, in the daily flood of data? How can we sort out science from propaganda? How can we avoid being deceived or just misled by bad methods or bad intent? Dr. Brian Ray, the founder and head researcher for the National Home Education Research Institute, talked with Hal at the HSLDA National Home School Leadership Conference, about things we should understand when confronted with "research." GROUPS WE LIKE   National Home Education Research Institute Home School Legal Defense Association   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!  

  Parenting is hard enough when everything's perfect. It's really hard when you have to be a single parent -- however you got there -- and being a single mother raising a boy is nothing to sneeze at.  Both our mothers were widows with teenagers at home, and so we've seen up front some of the struggles single moms go through. This episode we talk about some particular issues a mom with a boy may be facing when there's no father in the home -- whether Dad's gone to heaven or gone to Iraq. Resources We Recommend Our book Raising Real Men will help you better understand your son at any age Our new book Love, Honor, and Virtue will help you discuss Biblical sexuality from a young man's perspective Here's our article about keeping your kids safe from predators Here's a list of our favorite character-building books for boys   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!    

  How desperate we are to avoid labeling our kids! And with good reason ... if they're in a classroom setting, maybe. But as homeschoolers, we have a much better handle on the social side, and there are serious benefits to your struggling child when you get her tested earlier rather than later. This episode, we talk about our own struggling learner and what we discovered on the way from a late start ... to a college scholarship! There's hope!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!    

    "How can I get my husband more involved in our homeschool?"  It's a common question but there are a lot of things below the surface - and we'd say that no matter what he's doing, if he's married to a homeschooling mom, then he's already a homeschooling dad! This episode we unpack the concept of Dad's part and involvement in the kids' education from a Biblical and always, a practical perspective, and we offer some encouragement to both of you -- This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!  

If you homeschool, you've probably wondered if you ought to join a co-op. On today's program, we talk about how co-ops can help you meet your kids' academic and social needs. One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling, though, is being able to individualize education for each of your children. Homeschooling isn't one-size-fits-all, so we'll also talk about how you can know if a particular co-op (or any co-op at all) isn't a good fit for your children or your family.   This program is brought to you in part byClick here for more information!  

Christian parents all hope and pray for their children to trust Christ, but how do you know when they've really been saved? Can't we take a little child at his word if he's prayed "the prayer"? Is there any reason to hesitate because of the age, or situation, or just on principle? And what's the difference between the child's actual salvation, and our ability to confirm it from the outside? In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dennis Gundersen, author of Your Child's Profession of Faith, looking at the situation from the point of view of a pastor as well as a parent.   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!  

  As Christian homeschool parents, what's your number one concern? No question - it's about teaching your kids to know and love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ! In this episode, we talk with veteran pastor and teacher Dennis Gundersen, author of Your Child's Profession of Faith, about the awesome responsibility - and incredible blessing - of sharing the gospel with your children. How early can they truly believe? How can tell if they've really understood the gospel? What do you do if you're just not sure? And more!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

Last episode, we wanted to encourage new homeschoolers who may be having second thoughts about this grand experiment they planned. But what about veterans (like us)? How did your last year go? Everything exactly as planned? Or was it like so many of ours, full of interruptions, distractions, illnesses, emergencies ... Maybe you look at last year's disasters and think, "I'm not ready to start again ... I don't know if I can do it!" This episode, we talk about the reality of doubts and disappointments, and how God often works through our homeschooling troubles to accomplish things we may not have realized yet!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!  

Labor Day is approaching and the decision to start homeschooling, that decision that was so exciting and sparkly back in May, suddenly looms like a late summer thundercloud. Relax! This episode, we talk about some key things we learned about starting homeschooling - whether you're beginning with a 5-year-old who's never seen a schoolroom, or bringing home an eight-grader from the local public school. The first year offers some great opportunities - and some great challenges - that will make the difference in your home education experience. And even if you're already a veteran homeschooler, you might find a principle or two that you haven't considered before!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

New parents are deluged with advice about the best way to care for their infants and young children. New believers with children of any age may have the same experience - only this time, it's often promoted as the Biblical way to raise them ... how to be a truly Christian parent.The problem we've seen with several popular programs is their claim to be the Biblical pattern. The one and only, exclusive, accept-no-substitute guide to God's rule book for raising kids. This episode, we talk about where this approach falls short - and how quickly we fall into harshness, judgment, and legalism toward our children and our fellow believers!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

In the hurry and distraction of modern life, one critical skill which is falling aside is cooking - and we don't mean microwave dinners or shake-the-box mac and cheese! Having the ability to plan and prepare even a few simple meals will open doors for independence, family life, and even ministry opportunities. You don't have to be an executive chef to win this game. This episode, Melanie goes to the home of great American cooking, the Pelican State - Louisiana - and talks with our good friend Jan Smith about how to teach kids the basics of good, balanced, and delicious home cooking. It's easier than you think ... and you can start earlier than you probably imagine! This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

  The Bible is clear about how a church should be led and managed. What does that tell us about other institutions in our life, though? Is it appropriate to look for the same level of doctrinal agreement, Christian character, and other qualifications, when we consider events and organizations and movements which are not directly related to the church? This episode we explore a bit about the distinctions between CHURCH and NOT CHURCH - and recognizing that there is a difference between "not Christian" and "anti-Christian", and that may make a difference in how we interact with the world outside our sanctuaries!   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!  

Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us that a mature believer is able to discern right and wrong, good from evil, because he has had practice evaluating them both and learning which one to choose. This summer, as we get out our students' reading lists and look at the summertime movie offerings, we need to ask ourselves - are we teaching our young people to consider and discern? Or are we continuing to shelter and shield our young adults so they are never confronted with "grey area" situations - until they're out of our homes and out of our guidance? This episode we look at ways to train our teens to ask the right questions and make the right choices about books, music, movies, and more --   This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

  "For by grace you have been saved through faith ... not a result of works. lest any man should boast." The apostle Paul told us that and we all know it ... but somehow, we easily turn to legalism when it comes to living out that salvation we received by grace. How can you avoid this? What can you do about it when you discover you've slipped into a hopeless, graceless, checklist spiritual life? This episode (recorded at Yosemite National Park!) we talk about learning to listen to God's Word and His Spirit - and not relying on man-made additions to God's actual commandments! This program is brought to you in part by Click here for more information!

So often a well-intentioned effort can have unexpected - and maybe, undesireable - results. When a marriageble young man sees a likely-looking young woman, but notices a simple ring on her left hand, what does he think? What does the young woman think he's going to think? And does that match what's actually going on? We've had several very significant conversations with young ladies wearing purity rings, and we're discovering that something unintended may indeed be happening! Join us as we look at the question of purity rings -- and why they need to move to the other hand!