​“Lord's day, Oct. 19. ‘In the morning I felt my soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness. While I was looking on the elements of the Lord's Supper, and thinking that Jesus Christ was not "set forth crucified before me,’ my soul was filled with light and love, so that I was almost in an ecstasy; my body was so weak I could scarcely stand.

“I felt at the same time an exceeding tenderness and most fervent love toward all mankind; so that my soul and all its powers seemed, as it were, to melt into softness and sweetness. But during the communion there was some abatement of this life and fervor. This love and joy cast out fear; and my soul longed for perfect grace and glory. This frame continued til the evening, when my soul was sweetly spiritual in secret duties.,”

(from the Diary of David Brainerd)

Would you like to learn more about this Colonial American missionary to the Native Americans?

"Just do it!" Nike shouts! Do what? you wonder, confused. "I'm loving it!" Mc Donalds declares. You are loving what? Advertising slogans dazzle and repel us from billboards to glossy magazine pages, from sides of buses to television commercials.

The Power of Advertising

We live in a culture that is heavily influenced by advertizing. It drives our holiday celebrations, influences our standard of living, and shapes our desires and dreams.

Advertizing in America dictates when we decorate for Christmas, what foods we serve at Easter dinner, and what defines an acceptable St. Valentine's Day present. If "all kisses begin with Kay Jewelers," then does the poor husband get no kisses? If using Crest toothpaste will get us the gorgeous girl or guy, then should we even think about another brand?

New products entice us through their promotional ads. Suddenly, we need something that to this point, we didn't even know existed.

How Advertising Works

 Advertising appeals to our fleshly desires. It often will link a product to a universally desired thing. We all want to get married and live happily ever after to the perfect mate, so a product will be shown as one that will bring success in the "meeting the perfect member of the opposite sex" department. All people want to be loved and admired, so shoes or clothing appears in an ad as a sure-fire way to garnish admiring glances from everyone in your life.

Most advertisements are geared to a certain segment of society and placed where that group of people are most likely to see them. Life insurance and stock brokerages ads can be found in financial or news magazines, often read by upper middle class business men and women. Athletic ware and gear are advertised in sports magazines so that athletes will be sure to see them. Snack food and drinks are advertised during sporting events because families are sitting around snacking and watching the game.

Men are attracted to beautiful women, so ads geared to men will plant a lovely girl in a strategic location, usually wearing very little clothing. This not only appeals to the flesh, but often stirs up lust.

How Jesus Responds to Advertising

Find out what your state requires to homeschool legally. You often have several options including umbrella schools and registering with the county. Here in Florida, I am registered with Seminole County. I turn in test scores or an evaluation for each child every year and keep a portfolio of my children's work. The people I deal with in this county are wonderful and supportive. We are blessed to homeschool where we do.

Here is a place to go to find out what your state requires: HSLDA State Laws. HSLDA, or Homeschool Legal Defense Association, is a wonderful resource for homeschool helps, especially in the legal department. We have been members since 1991.

Research Homeschool Philosophies

There are several homeschool philosophies out there. You need to discover what is right for you and your family. Here are some of the methods to investigate.

Classical Homeschooling (Trivium Pursuit or Classical Christian Homeschooling)

Delight Directed Studies (Gregg Harris' Article)

Unit Studies (Quick & EZ Unit Studies)

Charlotte Mason (Homeschool Highlights)

The Principle Approach (Home Hearts)

Mentoring (PowerlineProd.com and JSHomeschooling)

Eclectic (PowerlineProd.com and JSHomeschooling)

Unschooling (Christian Unschooling)

Choose your Philosophy of Education

There is not a right way or a wrong way to education your child, except what is laid out in Scripture. Think about how you were educated and how you would like to educate your own children. Talk to other homeschool moms and find out what their philosophy of educating is. Be clear in your own mind about how you want to homeschool. This will give you focus in your teaching and help you to choose your curriculum.

Begin at High School Graduation

Start with the end in view. Imagine what you want your children to look like when they graduate from high school. It won't just happen. It will be determined by the way you homeschool through the elementary, middle, and high school years. Make adaptable long range plans for your children.

Find Mentors & Support

According to Samuel Rutherford, in his book, Lex Rex (Law is King), written in the 1600's by a Presbyterian pastor, the Bible makes it clear that the law is king. The king, or any other ruler, must submit to the law. Rutherford took an in-depth look at Scripture and history to prove this, shattering the popular philosophy of  the "divine right of kings" to rule as they please.

Our political rights and freedoms go all the way back to the Bible, the source of our rights and responsibilities.

Magna Charta

Many power struggles have taken place throughout history. Who will rule this nation? Who will get the money? Who will get the power? Who will have the final say? Those in power like to keep their power intact and exercise it. Those under authority usually want more power.

In the 1100's and 1200's, the nobles resented the king's power in England. There was constant struggle over who would make financial decisions and what rights nobles could enjoy. King John, a weak ruler, was in constant conflict with his nobles. The nobles forced King John to sign an amazing document called the Magna Charta. This document greatly limited King John's power and provided for the formation of Parliament. Was this a new idea? No, not at all. It was a renewel of Angle/Saxon law.

American Documents

For an amazing look at the Biblical foundation of our great nation, enjoy David Barton's DVD series, The American Heritage and Building on the American Heritage. We have enjoyed both of these series in our home and in our church. Not only educational, this series will fill you with faith and hope for our nation to return to its glorious roots.

For a great look at the Anglo-Saxon roots of our political system, I recommend a book, The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen. This book sets forth 28 principles of freedom and explores the writings of the Founding Fathers. It also examines the historical roots of political freedom. It is not written from a Christian perspective, but still has much helpful insight into our historical roots. 

In 1620, the passengers on the Mayflower got together and signed an important historical document before they disembarked. The Mayflower Compact gave the signers the right to govern themselves in the new land.

The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed on July 4, 1776. This document sets out the case that American colonists felt they had to resist the control of the British. It refers to attempts made to negotiate and to failure on the part of the British to keep up their end of their political agreement. This document appeals to God and His laws.

The United States Constitution is the highest law of our land, though often ignored in Washington D.C., and provides the framework for our government structure. Amendments have been added to the Constitution which guarantee certain rights to United States citizens. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights where we get those famous rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to bear arms. Read the Constitution slowly over a period of weeks, a little bit each day. You will be shocked at what is really written and how much it is disregarded in our culture. For example, the tenth amendment states that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." Immediately, many federal government programs, departments, and cabinets come to mind that are unconstitutional.

Pull out these documents. They are all available free on-line to read. Read them together and discuss them. Remember that the only way to preserve freedom is to be educated about our freedoms and exercise them.

God Bless America!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)