Terri Gillespie, speaker for Savvy Homeschool conference shared how she struggled with that huge decision.
She’s a speaker for Savvy Homeschool Conference
The conference goes from July 30 – August 1, 2020. Early Bird registration ends SOON
Many in-person events have shut down this year. Savvy Homeschooler arrived to fill that gap. Once you sign up for this virtual event, you can access the material through next fall. Check out our great speakers here.
Apologetics, Authority of Scripture, Church, Communication, Educating your children, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Parenting, Surrender to Christ, Walking by Faith
Become a Detective: Learn to Discern!
October 28, 2016
Become a Detective: Learn to Discern!
It’s important to learn to think and discern for yourself, especially for young people. Jim Wallace, Cold Case Detective does that.
I grew up in the church. My family attended several times a week plus we attended all the special services which our congregation offered throughout the year.
By the time I got in my teens, I had questions. I’d seen the imperfections in the people around me and naturally, I became skeptical
How can we know for sure what we believe is true? What if someone has just tricked us? I believe those sorts of doubts are normal.
About that time, the Francis Shaffer movies came out. He compared Ch to the little stone bridges the Romans built. He said those bridges could handle the weight of the horse and buggies of their day, and even the wagons, but they couldn’t hold the weight of the semi. Well, unlike those bridges, Christianity is strong. It can withstand our doubts because it’s true.
I became interested in apologetics.
Of course, I read Josh McDowell, Gary Habermas, C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel. And my husband and I are particularly fond of William Lane Craig. But I still had a few questions about the gospels. Until one day I came across a book called Cold Case Christianity. I loved it. I understand that a book is coming out for kids also. Author Jim Wallace will soon even be offering an online course for kids to earn badges as a detective.
Today I have the author, J Warner Wallace.
1:55 How did you come to faith in Christ?
3:30 How does a detective look at eyewitness testimony?
4:20 The book of John was different because he came later. Can you explain how that works?
6:25 The three synoptic gospels are similar yet they have differences. Can you explain how you reconcile that?
8:20 Reconciling different stories about the same event.
13:05 What did you see in the Gospels that made you come to faith in Christ?
Learn more here about the book for adults. Click here for the book for kids.
[tweetthis]Christianity is strong and can stand up under our questions[/tweetthis]
Jim Wallace, Cold Case Detective
Authority of Scripture, Bible, Communication, Doing Family God's Way, Educating your children, Family, Family Dinner, Goals, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Making choices, Parenting, Sex, Truth, Understand our culture
Critical Conversations: Topics for Chat
August 5, 2016
Critical Conversations – Chat with your children on topics that matter
When I was a young mother, I had a deep longing to share my faith with my children. My husband and I made a deliberate choice to spend time with our children and talk about things, all kinds of topics. That’s why we homeschooled. In fact, my husband even taught my kids to argue. He didn’t want that ‘yes it is’ and ‘no it’s not’ nonsense. Instead, he wanted them to engage in sharing facts. The Bible says to give reasons for the hope that is within you and that sort of conversation is what he wanted.
Today as a person with grown kids, my convictions are even stronger. I’ve seen God change people and impossible situations. I’ve seen him at work, and I know people need the Lord. I love that verse in the Psalms where David said, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”
The world is broken and we see evidence of that every day. Proverbs 4:19 says “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” In contrast, see what God says about knowing him: Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
As parents, it’s so important to chat with your children. The kitchen table is a wonderful place to do that. Share what God says and interact with them. If they absorb the world’s ideas, they will suffer the consequences. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
Today Tom Gilson tells us how to tackle a ticklish topic. He’s just written a book called Critical Conversations.
00: 34 My thoughts on this topic
3:29 Talking about uncomfortable topic
4:34 Does Christianity hate individuals?
6:08 Ultimate bondage
6:45 We just want to love
8:13 Huge culture shift
9:05 Why broach the uncomfortable topic?
10:07 It is rude to judge someone else’s choices?
11:29 Teach a teen to be confident
12:40 Avoid the Bible brush off?
15:40 Compare the sin
16:45 Medical Consequences
19:40 Love without approving
Learn more about the book here.
Tom Gilson
All, Commitment to Christ, Communication, Educating your children, Emotions, Family, Freedom, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Love, Marriage, Parenting, Sex, Standing for your faith, Surrender to Christ, Uncategorized, Walking by Faith, Worry
#HeartMtr Radio: Not Open: The Invisible Culture War
September 26, 2014
Are you open or not open? Lisa Cherry gives her advice on the invisible culture war we face as we raise our children. She and her husband founded Frontier Families to ensure parents have the needed tools to face the changing norms in our country. See www.frontierfamilies.org for more information.
All, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Parenting, Standing for your faith, Walking by Faith
Heart of the Mtr: Homeschool vs Public:Dare to Compare
July 4, 2014
Jennifer Henn, homeschool mother of three, had to place her children in the public school system as she recovered from a long illness. She shares her experience and insight with Cynthia. They discuss problems moms face who teach at home and compare the environment of the public school. What if home education feels like a burden? What will children face in the public arena? Are all schools the same? What steps can you take to prepare your kids for government schools?
All, Commitment to Christ, Communication, Emotions, Family, Grief, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Love, Parenting, Praise, Prayer, Walking by Faith
Heart of the Matter: Jane Rubietta on Mother’s Day
May 9, 2014
Jane and Cynthia discuss the joys and heartaches of motherhood.
To contact Jane go to www.janerubietta.com
Contac Cynhthia: Cynthia@clsimmons.com
Commitment to Christ, Communication, Family, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Leaving a legacy, Ministry using your gift, Parenting, Prayer, Walking by Faith
Heart of the Matter: Legacy, part 1
April 11, 2014
Paula Mowery discusses leaving a legacy, which is the theme of her newest novel.
Here’s what Paula says about herself.
I’m a pastor’s wife and a former homeschool Mom. I’m also a Christian writer. My articles have appeared in Woman’s World and in my ongoing column on christianonlinemagazine.com/. I also write Christian fiction. My debut novella, THE BLESSING SEER came out July 6, 2012 from Pelican Book Group. The sequel, BE THE BLESSING, released Sept. 13, 2013. I am an author and acquisitions editor with Prism Book Group. My story, Forgiven, is in the anthology, Brave New Century which released Nov. 13, 2013. This book appeared on Amazon’s Top 100 Bestsellers in Religious Historical Fiction.
Commitment to Christ, Doing Family God's Way, Family, Heart of the Matter, Homeschool, Parenting, Prayer, Walking by Faith
Heart of the Matter: Parenting on Your Knees
January 17, 2014Cynthia and Vicki discuss the importance of prayer while raising children.
Vicki Tiede is an inspiring Bible teacher, conference speaker, and author. Her passion is to open the Scriptures with women in order to share God’s grace and enduring faithfulness. She transparently relates life experiences that resonate and draw others into a lifelong pursuit of knowing God.
Vicki’s candor and humor are a delight to her audiences, who feel like they’ve met a new friend moments after she begins to share a glimpse into her life. She consistently points her audiences back to God’s Word and presents fresh insights into the Scriptures.
Living in Rochester, Minnesota, Vicki is a wife, homeschooling mom, and the coordinator of women’s ministries in her local church. Vicki holds Master’s degrees in Ministry and in Education.
Christmas, Christmas holiday, Commitment to Christ, Homeschool, Walking by Faith
Heart of the Matter: Christmas Message
December 27, 2013
Crash!
I sat up in bed. It was Saturday, the first day of
our Christmas vacation. Dim light streamed into my room, but as a preteen, I preferred
to sleep much later. Besides, the
heaviness in my muscles begged for more rest. But I considered the noise. A tinkling
sound accompanied the bang. A lover of
mysteries, my investigative skills turned on.
One item in the house could produce that sound—the Christmas tree with
fancy ornaments.
So, despite my fatigue, I forced myself out of bed.
Shivering as I pulled my house coat about my body, I stumbled into the living
room, one room away from where I slept. I
collapsed into the nearest wing chair as I noted the fully-decorated cedar now
lay on its side. The scene before me should upset someone, but I had no
energy. Extreme lethargy made it
difficult even to sit. I considered my
options, but I had only one. Call mother.
Her bedroom
sat at the back of the house. Since she didn’t respond, doubtless she didn’t
hear. “Hey Mom, the Christmas tree fell.”
Was
that loud enough?
I yelled for my mother often in those days, but she
stayed calm. That morning proved
different. A thump sounded on the floor
the next moment. Mom appeared in the doorway, eyes widened, as if horrified.
She reacted with the proper amount of dismay at the
sight. (You must have pizzaz for such a response.) Grateful, I drug myself back
to bed.
Mother took me to the doctor the following Monday.
The swine flu swept through Chattanooga that year in epidemic proportions, and
I had a bad case. I spend my entire vacation in bed, except for the few minutes
I appeared to open presents.
That’s not my best Christmas memory, but I don’t
recall being upset about it. Fun
decorations, wonderful music, pretty lights and delightful surprises characterized
our traditions. Mom loved Christmas, and she used the holiday to lavish us with
her love. We had a foundation in Christ
that held up, even when things went wrong.
Today our world experiences
serious changes. Our nation no longer holds to the truths of the founding
fathers and our freedoms shrink every day. But, as Christians, we have a
foundation. Despite what happens to us or around us, we have hope. Christ came
to this earth to fix the problem of sin and reconcile us to himself. Like that nasty Christmas long ago, we can
consider this to be a blip on the screen. “The sufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom
8:18). We can rejoice in Christ.
As we approach this New Year, I
challenge you to face 2014 with courage and determination. God placed us here
on earth in this troubled time for a reason. “For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.” He has a job for each of us next year. Let’s get busy
doing the Lord’s business while rejoicing in his love.
Blessings to you and your family
in 2014.
