Helping A Friend In A Crisis

By Megan (Steps for Brady)

In the past five months I have been on the receiving end of hundreds of the most generous and thoughtful acts by countless people. Dealing with the life threatening illness of our son has been a terrifying experience, but has also shown us amazing kindness in the hearts of those around us. It has been difficult at times to have to accept help, but without it, I don’t know how our family would have survived.

Here are a few ideas of ways to help. Take it from someone who knows, any of these would be a huge blessing to a friend going through a tough time.

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Approaches To Homeschooling: Charlotte Mason Method

By Sandra

If your first impression of the Charlotte Mason method was that it’s the “tea cups and cozies” approach to homeschooling, you wouldn’t be alone. But if you’ve yet to delve beneath the Victorian illustrations and tea time references associated with this style, you may have constructed your opinion on mere twaddle, rather than on the substantive pillars of the time-tested philosophy.

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Finishing Out Our Final Years In Middle School

By TB, Age 13

Finally, the long awaited three years of middle school has been complete! But you come to learn that what you were so eager and excited to get to, is now what you’re most nervous about. How should one adapt around new people, leaving old friends, and making new ones. Should someone change who they are and how they dress because of the people around them?

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No Excuse!

By Pat

Someday, I will stand before God and give an account of my life on Earth. I wonder if God will want to hear the lame excuses I use to try to justify some of my behavior? "But Lord, I only yelled at him because he yelled first!" "But Lord, I HAD to lie to keep from getting in trouble". "But God, I just couldn't be nice to her. She was no nasty to me!" "But Lord, I tried to forgive, but I just couldn't. The offense was too bad and the hurt too deep". And the list could go on and on. BUT, BUT, BUT.

However, something tells me God will not be intersted in hearing the "buts." God's words are very clear, and they leave no room for doubt as to how I am commanded to conduct myself. I HAVE to forgive. No ifs, ands or buts. I HAVE to treat others with kindness and respect. No buts, no conditions. I am to love my neighbor as myself, tame my sharp tongue, give without expecting something in return, turn the other cheek, love unconditionally the way God loves me. No excuses, no buts.

God is not going to be interested in the reasons why I acted as I did. God only cares about my REACTIONS TO others, not the actions OF others. So it's time to stop allowing the circumstances around us to dictate our behavior. It's time to show those around us everywhere what Jesus looks like when faced with adversity and trials, because the only person God wants to discuss with each of us on judgment day is US.

Counting Our Blessings

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

Yesterday evening was a sobering and inspiring reminder to me of how incredibly blessed I am. We had a wonderful fellowship dinner at church, followed by a presentation from a couple wanting to do work with Bible translations for the deaf. Their presentation was a reminder of the kinds of difficulties faced by hearing-impaired and deaf people all around the world. After the presentation, I walked outside to a spectacularly beautiful sunset, which almost moved me to tears and which held my gaze for a couple of minutes as I thanked God for such unspeakable beauty.

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