Making Biblical Family Life Practical show

Making Biblical Family Life Practical

Summary: You’ve made the commitment. You’ve caught the vision. You want to serve God in every aspect of your family life— but sometimes it’s hard to put feet on that vision! How do you get from principle to practice? What does it look like when you get there? How do you apply Scriptural truth in a 21st century family? This is “Making Biblical Family Life Practical,” with Hal and Melanie Young. With humorous banter, laser beam insight, and lots of practical advice, Hal and Melanie address real world issues, current events, marriage, parenting, raising sons, and family life. They’ll encourage and inspire you to walk out the Word of God in your family — and work toward reforming our culture, too. Monday nights at 9 Eastern. Don’t miss it!

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  • Artist: Hal Young and Melanie Young
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 Different Rules, Same Family – MBFLP 290 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 28:57

  "You never would have let me do that," says the older child. "Why can't I do the same thing as my brother?" demands the younger. Parents may find themselves caught between competing complaints! But the fact is, many of our family rules can and should change as our children grow and mature - and that means different rules in the same family. This episode, we talk about why that is, and how we can explain it to our kids!   Things We Referenced: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:11) Surviving the Break with Your College Student (ep. 287) Thoughts on giving liberty to adult children, while protecting younger siblings from influences they aren't ready to handle Our free downloadable guide to "coming of age" ceremonies Bored kids? Here's a great list of 101 things to do this summer!  This episode brought to you in part by THE SUBSCRIPTION BOX THAT BUILDS YOUR SKILLS

 Rules and Relationship – MBFLP 289 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:50

Rules are a good and necessary part of running a home and raising a family. Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it's all so well-intentioned? This episode we're looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home! Scriptures We Reference The Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-21 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”      Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40) Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5) Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1) So then, my beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  (James 1:19-20) The repentance of Ahab - 1 Kings 21:17-29  

 Valentine’s Day on a Budget – MBFLP 288 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:38

Like it or not, February 14 is just around the corner. Maybe you've got big plans, but maybe you don't have the funds for a romantic getaway. With eight kids and a limited budget, we've been there! This episode we're talking about ways to make the most of the holiday without spending a fortune! Why Celebrate Anyway? The Bible describes several holidays which were instituted by God for the people of Israel. When they gathered to celebrate Passover, the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews were to take the occasion to remember God's blessings in history and the present. The holiday of Purim was created by the people themselves, to memorialize the nation's deliverance from genocide (as recorded in the book of Esther). Even though it's not a pilgrimage festival like the ones God commanded, the Bible does record the celebration of Purim in favorable terms. It's easy to draw parallels to our own holidays, like the Fourth of July to celebrate our nation's independence, or Thanksgiving to remember God's blessings. They're not mandated by Scripture but they are opportunities to talk about God's working and God's gifts. Valentine's Day may be low on the priority list, as "holy days" go, but we think it's a good time to think about our relationship with our mate and to enjoy some time to focus on one another. It's like birthdays and anniversaries, but everyone celebrating the same day! We hope you have a good one - (resources follow ... ) Some Resources You May Find Interesting Valentine's resources including conversation starters (as mentioned in the program) Our weekly email "LoveBirdSeeds" Love poetry from the Bible

 Surviving the Break with Your College Students – MBFLP 287 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:24

The holidays are upon us and we are looking forward to having our college students home again! But to be realistic, there's always a transition to bringing our young adults back into the household - and often both the student and the family ends up frustrated. This episode we're talking about things you can do - on both sides - to make the visit as smooth and pleasant as possible for everyone! Parent Understanding If you went to college, you remember the rush of exam week - and the mental and physical exhaustion at the end of it! Especially at Christmas and the end of the spring semester, your student will be arriving after a really tough week or two. We try to keep that in mind for their first several days home. Expectations Our unspoken hopes and preferences can set us up for disappointment and conflict. Maybe we parents look forward to seeing our young adult, but we're also looking forward having his help around the house again! For his side, maybe he's hoping for some relaxation from the stress of college -- or possibly, he has projects or homework to finish during his holiday. Maybe the younger siblings want a lot of attention from their big sister, when she really needs some peace and personal space - at least at first. The best way to deal with these issues is to communicate ahead of time - gently, in love - and be willing to listen to one other and seek to accommodate everyone. All of those expectations are common and valid - the difficulty is how to address them all. If we cultivate patience and understanding together, we can probably find a mutually agreeable pathway. Changing Channels When Hal was working a corporate job, he had to remind himself on the commute home, "I have to leave the office door closed behind me and put on my family hat now." No matter what stress or disaster he'd left at work, when he came in the door, he knew the kids would be excited to see him, Melanie would be tired and need compassion, and he'd have to be ready to show love and concern to everyone at home. Our college students need to think about that, too. While they're making the trip home, they need to consciously prepare themselves to be part of the family culture at the end of their trip. The way they live or even just survive on campus is a separate issue to what happens at home -- and they need to change gears before they get here. In both cases there will be time and opportunity to share their struggles and disappointments, to seek advice and sympathy, but that will come after the initial rush of returning. Everyone will be happier at the end if the wanderer is ready to greet and be greeted first, and then seek the serious conversations after! We dig deeper into the questions in our blog post here -- And a word from our sponsor, Affirm Films' 5000 Blankets - coming soon to select theaters, December 12 and 13 Tickets and showtimes here!

 Kids and Chores – MBFLP 286 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:03

Part Three of our series on work - Your kids and their chores! We have eight kids and with some health challenges around, it was really necessary that everyone contribute to running the house. This episode we deal with some common questions: Should children be paid for chores? Are we making tasks too difficult for kids to handle? What's appropriate to teach and expect from different ages? How do you handle chores for children with developmental or health issues? And what do you do to keep everyone from getting overwhelmed?   Some Resources We Mentioned Our book Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys talks about training your sons in diligence Our book No Longer Little: Parenting Tweens with Grace and Hope talks about training your sons and daughters to be producers, not consumers, and stewards of the money and things which God gives them Craftsman Crate is our subscription box that teaches adult-level skills that will challenge and entertain your teens (and adults too!)    

 Getting Schoolwork Done – MBFLP 285 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:18

Part 2 on getting our kids to work - What about school work? That's really the daily job for our children - whether it's homeschool or any other educational system. What can we do to overcome their natural resistance to school, and how can we encourage good habits in the pursuit of knowledge? We've homeschooled our eight children from the beginning and we have some practical ideas that have really helped us along the way! 0:55 - How our motivation affects the kids' 2:29 - The risk and cost of missing the actual point of education 4:54 - Protecting the love of learning 6:19 - Distinguishing a struggling learner from a lazy learner 8:36 - Temporary learning struggles happen, too 10:29 - a word from our sponsor CTC Math 11:44 - The trap of mis-placed goals 13:20 - Practical ideas to get the work done Helpful Resources Materials to help struggling learners available on our website Our book No Longer Little talks about the common learning struggles of pre-teens in early adolescence - and how to work through them  

 How Can I Get My Kids to Work? – MBFLP 284 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 30:00

It's one of the most common questions we get - "How can I get my kids to work?" Surveys find that a large number of families don't expect their kids to do chores - and many that do, have a running battle over getting them done cheerfully. This episode, we're talking about a balanced, Biblical attitude toward our children's work (as well as our own), and what we can do to encourage them in it! References "Sparing chores spoils children and their future selves, study says" - Ami Albernaz, Boston Globe (12/8/15) "Is Quiet Quitting Real?" - Jim Harter, Gallup (9/6/22) Thomas Edison: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farmer Boy Scripture Referenced Children playing in God's peaceable kingdom - Isaiah 11:8-9 Children playing in the New Jerusalem - Zechariah 8:5 Jesus speaking of the games of children in the marketplace - Matthew 11:16-17, Luke 7:31-32 It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth - Lamentations 3:27 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord ... - Colossians 3:22-23 In all labor there is profit ... - Proverbs 14:23 Do all things without complaining and disputing - Philippians 2:14

 Things We Learned When Times Were Tight – MBFLP 283 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:09

A lot of families are struggling during this economic downturn. It’s not the first time we’ve been through it, either. How do we respond in a positive, faith-directed manner to the undeniable challenges of the day? What can we learn and what can we teach our kids as we make our way through?      

 Homeschooling a Bunch of Levels at Once – MBFLP 282 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:17

There are a lot of new homeschoolers this year, and many families may be wondering, "How will we ever manage to teach two, or three, or six grade levels at the same time?" It's possible - Melanie has taught six students with a toddler underfoot, more than once! But there are some tricks to the trade that make it workable. This episode we talk about changes in expectations and choices of curriculum that make the difference when you have more than one grade to teach! Homeschooling looks different than institutional schools - for a reason You have to recognize that classroom schools are set up and operated a certain way for efficiency with groups. If you're homeschooling, you don't have to manage twenty-five 5th graders - you have several different grades, with one student in each one. Have we ever heard of this? Of course - the one-room schoolhouse. For an example, read about Laura Ingalls' school in Little Town on the Prairie - it's a great description of how she managed a room with beginning readers and high school students at the same time. That's not unlike a large homeschooling family! Curriculum choices will be different, as well as the way we use them, compared to classroom schools. The whole endeavor needs a fresh look at what we plan to accomplish and how that should look - but you'll be glad you made the effort! We homeschooled eight children and have graduated six so far - two still at home! And there have been times when we had a high school senior, a sophomore, two middle-schoolers, two elementary students - and one "pre-K". And you know, all six of our graduates have gone on to college with academic scholarships, which tells you this can work. This episode may give you the hope and encouragement you need to press on with this challenging adventure.   

 Homeschooling When YOU Have a Chronic Illness – MBFLP 281 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:19

It's one thing when you're homeschooling a child with a chronic illness - sometimes that's the only way they'll get an education! But what if Mom's the one who's struggling? What if you're a parent with health issues, but you're convinced that homeschooling is the best for your kids? How can you manage your days, your illness, and your expectations? We've had to deal with this ourselves, and it CAN be done - let's talk about it! Bonus Story We didn't get to this in the program, but there's an interesting and encouraging story about long-term illness and doing good things in the midst of it. Susannah Spurgeon was the wife of the legendary British preacher Charles H. Spurgeon. She often helped him proofread and correct his published sermons and book manuscripts, and when she developed a debilitating condition that often confined her to bed, she was still able to do that. When she proofread his book Lectures to My Students, Susannah remarked that it should be in the hands of every minister in England; shortly afterward, she became the manager of the church's new book fund. Over the last 28 years of her life, she shipped out over two hundred thousand theological books to needy pastors - all while dealing with a life-restricting illness. Read more here! Melanie says that her months - many months - on bed rest gave her opportunities to teach our children life skills as well as academic material, simply because many of the household tasks were off limits to her. It really became a matter of looking for what she could do, rather than give in to the legitimate frustrations of what she couldn't.   Things We Referenced Genesis 50:20 - "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good ... " Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.     Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

 Homeschooling a Child with a Chronic Illness – MBFLP 280 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:00

  Everybody goes through seasons of illness - summer colds, seasonal flu, an occasional injury - and most of the time, we can take a few days off to get over them. But what if your student has a condition that doesn't get better with a week in bed? How can you homeschool a child who has an illness that has to be managed day by day, hour by hour? Is it even possible? We have to say YES - we've homeschooled kids through all sorts of long-term or chronic illnesses. It doesn't look like other families' home schools, maybe, but it's our home school and we've been pleased with the results. So let's talk about some realities of homeschooling a child with a chronic illness! Things We Referenced 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  David McCollough, Mornings on Horseback This is a detailed look at the childhood and home life of the young (and very asthmatic) Theodore Roosevelt. It's interesting to see how little "Thee's" illness and his refusal to let it hold him back led to his vigorous "Rough Rider" and "Bull Moose" years of adulthood. Like all of McCollough's books, Hal highly recommends it! NEXT: Homeschooling When YOU Have a Chronic Illness     Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

 Teaching Character with Stories – Talking with Rick Boyer – MBFLP 279 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:05

Stories are powerful tools to teach and illustrate character - think of Jesus' parables! We can use stories the same way. This episode we're talking with Rick Boyer, father of a large family, about how he's used narratives to teach his own children, and now reaches out to thousands with audiobooks and commentary. Plus we'll talk about some resources we offer as well! Things We Referenced * Uncle Rick Audios Two audiobooks of your choice every month plus new member video section and weekly story podcast Spring Promo (through May 31) - American History bundle of 22 e-books included in the subscription purchase * Our own Character Building Audiobook Library - ten full-length audiobooks! We're speaking at the 2022 Florida Homeschool Convention! This week we'll be traveling to the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando for one of the biggest homeschool events in the country! We'll be speaking on raising boys, parenting middle schoolers, homeschooling more effectively with less stress, and providing what your special learners need - whether they're struggling or gifted. Plus we'll be talking with support group leaders in the Leaders Forum on Thursday. If you're coming to Orlando, we'd love to meet you - stop by our booth (number 911) and let us know you're a podcast listener. CLICK HERE for more information!  (If you know you're going, click here to get our detailed schedule)

 Building a Family Culture – MBFLP 278 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:38

You can feel it when you walk in the door - families have a particular culture or personality! Whether intentional or not, every home will develop its own manner of living and interacting. The question is - how can you encourage a healthy family culture that will strengthen as it goes on? How can you avoid a negative, or even toxic, family life that drags everyone down? Resources We Mentioned Sonya Shafer at Simply Charlotte Mason Podcast Episodes: "Potty Mouth" - A Big Deal, or Not? - “What should I do about my kids’ ‘potty mouth’?” asked a young father in our church. Learning appropriate behavior and speech patterns is part of socialization, but is there a bigger issue than being “socially acceptable”? Encouraging More Edifying Speech - The Bible says a lot about the power of the tongue – the question for us is, how do we train and encourage our families to speak in a more gracious and edifying way, when the culture around us grows more unkind and profane every day? Raising Kids to Love Their Siblings - Is sibling rivalry just something to expect? Is it a foregone conclusion that our kids are going to be simmering with jealousy, rivalry, and unkindness toward one another? Or is there a way to promote friendship and affection between brothers and sisters? We have eight kids, and while they’ve had their moments of conflict, we’ve been blessed to see them grow in genuine love as they’ve matured. How can we foster this sort of relationship in the home? Name-Calling and Why It's Important - Sticks and stones … right? We’ve all heard that, and probably told our kids that one time or another. Yet name-calling is not only a plague of childhood, it’s actually a problem throughout life … and we adults are warned by Christ Himself to be wary of the temptation! This episode, we look at what the Bible says about a deceptively simple and “harmless” practice that can trip us up when we least expect it!   We Joined the Thirty-Percent Club! We recently finished three events in Alaska (Sterling, Anchorage, and Fairbanks) and recorded this episode in a cabin between Fairbanks and Anchorage. It's an amazing state! Locals told us that only 30% of visitors actually get a clear view of Denali - but we did! We took this picture from Talkeetna, about sixty miles away. The day before, you couldn't see any mountains whatsoever - the weather just covered that whole 20,000-foot peak. We consider ourselves blessed to get a sighting on our first trip - some people visit for years and never see it.   UPCOMING EVENTS We'll be speaking at three major conferences in the coming weeks: * May 26-28, 2022 - Orlando, FL - The Florida Homeschool Convention (FPEA) * June 9-11, 2022 - Richmond, VA - The Virginia Homeschool Convention (HEAV) * June 17-18, 2022 - Albany,

 Homeschool Conferences – and why we love them! – MBFLP 277 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:57

With the world full of resources available online, you can develop your philosophy, order your materials, and start homeschooling without ever meeting another parent-educator. That’s a blessing in many ways, especially if you live in a rural area or a foreign culture. But sometimes we think we’ve found what we need when we join the right group on Facebook and know which bloggers we want to follow and which website we like to order from. You may have found part of it, but there’s more!   God tells His people, in Hebrews 10:25, that we must not forsake gathering together. That command didn’t change when our grandparents heard Billy Sunday on the radio or Billy Graham on TV – those were great resources, but they weren’t substitutes for real-life people. We need more than information, we need interaction. Homeschooling is not church, but it definitely involves spiritual warfare. It’s important to find a flesh-and-blood network to support your homeschooling and provide you with opportunities to help others, too. We’re big fans of local support groups, for just that reason. But conventions add another dimension – the sheer energy of being in a hall with hundreds, or even thousands, of people walking the same path you’re on. You might have different plans or destinations for your students – college, career, military, home – but you’ve all set out on the path marked “Home Education,” which is one of life’s greatest adventures. And it’s exciting to meet travelers on the same road. Don’t be shy about talking with other families. You have one little boy, and they’ve got four? Ask them how it works. They have a teenaged daughter and yours is a few years younger? Ask if they have any insights for the next step. You notice they’ve bought a curriculum you’re considering? Strike up a conversation. Don’t be shy about authors and speakers, either. Most of us speakers are teachers and counselors at heart. We want to reach out and help people.  We expect to meet lots of folk whose opening words are, “I have a problem …” or “I was wondering …” That’s what we’re here for. And conventions are the place where you can actually get one-on-one interaction with the people who write the books and curriculum. You can bless them, too. We love our readers who buy from the big online bookstores, too. But did you know that when you save a dollar online, the author probably earns two dollars less? If you can, please buy directly from the author or the publisher whenever you can. That helps them pay the bills so they write the next book or curriculum you’re looking forward to! And don’t forget the people who put on the convention. Most conventions are organized by volunteers, and the proceeds support the year-round services they provide – monitoring the legislature, training support group leaders, answering questions from new homeschoolers, and talking with skeptical reporters. They’re working to promote and defend your freedom to homeschool. Let’s pitch in and support them, too! (This article first appeared in The Homeschool Minute, a publication of The Old Schoolhouse magazine) UPCOMING EVENTS We'll be speaking at four major conferences in the coming weeks: * May 5-7, 2022 - Pigeon Forge, TN - Teach Them Diligently * May 26-28, 2022 - Orlando, FL - The Flor...

 Homeschooling with Unsupportive Family – MBFLP 276 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:14

  If God has called you to teach your children at home, that’s what you need to do! But it’s easier if everyone around you is cheering you on. What do you do if your parents or in-laws or extended family are skeptical? How do you and your family keep on the path when there are headwinds? How do you handle questions, criticisms, or other opposition? And what can you do to find the encouragement you’re not getting from the family? LINKS OF INTEREST Census data shows the number of families homeschooling doubled during the pandemic (from 5.4% to 11.1%) and among African-American families, increased from 3.3% to 16.1% Census Bureau: "Survey shows significant increase in homeschooling rates in Fall 2020" - 3/22/21 National Black Home Educators Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Search by ZIP code to find support groups (state and local)  DEALING WITH FAMILY SKEPTICS Assume concern is well-intended unless proved otherwise! Figure out where their concern is focused, then address it with facts and experience Go ahead and commit to a period of time, like a full school year. That gives kids a more stable educational experience, and it gives both parents and students a chance to adjust to a new way to "do school." It reduces the temptation of constant second-guessing, too. Go to a conference! It's a great way to encourage yourself, and it's an eye-opener for skeptical family. Even a small conference is likely to be much larger than your family has pictured. And invite grandparents to activities when your kids are involved - whether it's homeschool sports, a science fair, a talent show - whatever your family is connected to. Think ahead about "difficult" people - the ones who want to argue with your decision, or the ones who want to interrogate your kids. Coach your kids on the obvious, likely questions - "What grade are you in?" (which is really more like, "How old are you?") - "What do you like about homeschooling?" - "Do you like to read?" - "What are you learning now?" - "What's your favorite subject?" Kids sometimes go blank when an adult throws an unexpected question - go head, coach the witness! Remember, you don't have to argue and convince everybody (whether homeschool skeptics, or homeschoolers who are taking a different path than you!). Smile, be polite, but be confident. It's your family, and your kids - not theirs! More content ...   SPEAKING OF CONVENTIONS ... Come see us at one of these great events! * March 18-19, 2022 – Metamora, Ill. – Peoria Area Association of Christian Homeschoolers Convention * March 31-April 2, 2022 – Round Rock, Tex. – Teach Them Diligently * April 30, 2022 – ONLINE – Association of Christian Parent Educators of Quebec virtual conference * May 5-7, 2022 – Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – Teach Them Diligently * May 26-28, 2022 – Orlando, Fla. – Florida Homesch...

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