Welcome to the Family Articles Page. This page will include articles on the family and the family unit. We intend for these articles to be Christian in nature and content and hope you find them of interest.
As homeschool parents, we spend a lot of time teaching our children. Arithmetic, reading, spelling and phonics are all subjects that are taught during the school time, but how much time do we spend training our children?
In Proverbs 22:6, the word for "train up" literally means: to narrow or discipline. Are we narrowing our children's focus? The world would tell us that we should let them see as broad a picture as possible, but the Bible says we should snap in the narrow focus lense and place Christ in the middle of the picture. He should be the focus of , not only our children's lives, but ours as parents as well.
How do we train? By example. Do your children see you doing personal devotions? Do your children hear you discussing spiritual matters? Are you a godly example to your kids? Do you show your kids a human side and admit to being wrong?
God did not create us as perfect models for our kids, but we are the most influential model they will ever have. What we as parents do or allow our children to do in moderation, they will do to the extreme when they get on their own. What are we showing our children? How are we training them up in the way they should go?
Copyright © September 1997 By Mark Chism
Last month we talked about creating a camera like focus for our children. There is an excellent example in American history of how things change when the focus is changed. In May of 1787, what became the Constitutional Convention was started. After defeating the British, this young nation should have been excited, but the meeting turned quickly into a debate that threatened to derail a nation. Part of the New York delegation had left in disgust and the remainder of the delegation was packing to leave when Benjamin Franklin stood and spoke:
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor .... And have we now for gotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs in the affairs of man.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, or conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business."
The result: The Constitution of the United States of America
Are we willing to focus on the Lord and let him build the house?
This quote is from In God We Trust, edited by Norman Cousins, p. 42. As quoted in The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, pp. 342 - 343.
Copyright © October 1997 By Mark Chism
I have noticed in my study of the life of Jesus, that He took a stand. He stood for what was right in the sight of God. He faced people, like Zacchaeus, eye to eye, He personally called each disciple, He exposed the Pharisees. Where ever He was, His presence was known. And even those who did not seek the spotlight where often highlighted, as the woman at the well and the woman with an issue of blood. They where faced with their situation, and went away rejoicing.
Are we training our children to take a stand?
I do not want to see my child belligerently confronting every child that walks down the street, but when they are involved in situations or have the opportunity to share Christ, I want them to do so. I was in Orlando, FL recently having dinner. I watched a couple of teenagers at separate tables eating dinner. One was sitting with some folks who cursed within every other sentence and the teen had picked-up the same conversational habits. The second was discussing relationships, marriage and pre-marital living together with those he was with and saying how there was nothing wrong with it. The reason I watched these particular teens was they were wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets. It hit me real hard that we are training today's kids to make fashion statements more than testimonies. Are we doing the same thing with our own children?
We should train our children to take that stand and give them role models who take that stand for Christ alone.
Copyright © November 1997 By Mark Chism
Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is His reward.
We often times read in the Bible of rewards or prizes. Paul uses the illustration of a prize being set before us. We also read of crowns or hear of heaven as a reward, but God gives us a reward in children. We should be willing to take this reward and cherish and honor what God has given unto us. We should take and wisely invest our time and effort in the training, the polishing and the cleaning of the soot which the world tries to use to hide the reward.
I find it very interesting that in the same verse, the word heritage is used to describe children. If you have ever worked on a family tree, there are branches you would like to cut-off, but all of these branches make-up our earthly heritage. Whether we like it or not those branches are still there. God also provides us with a spiritual heritage. A heritage with Paul and Peter, Rayhab and Ruth, Abraham and David. The only way to pass that spiritual heritage on from generation to generation is to pass it on to our children.
As we pass on the spiritual heritage and teach our children about God and show them His plan of Salvation, that reward begins to shine brighter and brighter. It begins to reflect the light of the One who truly owns the reward. He has let us care for His prize and we should return it to Him shining bright and reflecting His glory.
Copyright © January 1998 By Mark Chism
1 Samuel 21: 8 - 22:2
In this passage of scripture we see the future king, David, being hunted by Saul. This is a very low point in his life. Looking back, he has slain Goliath of Gath and he has been anointed king by Samuel, God's prophet. But here we find him running and he goes to Ahimelech and gets the sword of Goliath.
In the next few verses he runs to where? Gath, the home of Goliath wearing the sword of the one he slew. Goliath was their champion. A nine foot man who was known because of his size and I am sure this was a custom made sword. Not one for the average soldier. So the townsfolk recognize the sword and David. And what does David do? He plays the madman to avoid being captured and then runs and hides in a cave.
We as homeschoolers often forget the success we have had. Has your child progressed and learned the alphabet or numbers or how to read or, the list goes on and on, but the victories are there. But we often times forget those victories when we get frustrated or have the 180 days in but have curriculum left to complete or have a concept we cannot get past.
We need to remember those victories. Pull out some of the pages from the beginning of the year and reflect on the progress. At this time of year it is easy to get discouraged, because the kids want to be done with school, but remember what God has called you to do.
David forgot 2 things. Number 1, the victories he had already won. And number 2, that God had already anointed him king. God would not have anointed him, if He knew that David would not make it to the throne. God has a plan for each of our lives. Give Him the struggles and the problems, but remember the victories He has already given.
Copyright © March 1998 by Mark Chism
What is a family? How does society view the family? How do we develop family values? What is God’s view of the family? We hear a lot today about “the family”. One song I have heard is “A family is people, A family is love, That’s a family.” The song goes on to say that all of the different “families” we see today are okay. There are no problems and, as the song ends with, “Mine’s just right for me.”
But is it “just right”?
According to society today, we should be a “defined” family. If your children are between the ages 1 and 5 you have pre-schoolers and these kids should associate with other pre-schoolers until they reach the age of 5. At 5 the children are segmented into “grades” and they should have ample amounts of time with “children their own age” or their peers. This lasts through the “12th” grade and then they should get a job or be off to college. Parents, all during this time you should both be working to provide “the best” environment for your children and they should be involved in sports or dance class or whatever. Society has defined the role for each member of the family and if you deviate from that role, you are out of the norm. Oh by the way, each family should have a maximum of 2 children so you can be seated promptly at restaurants and in other locations which have 4 seat tables.
In the church, we have segmented along the same lines, but have just broadened the groups we put together. We have “Young Married”, “Teens”, “College and Career” and classes for age groups spanning, on average 2 to 3 years. We have tended to segment our church and church activities in ways similar to society.
Are we as home schoolers any different? We set our classes and field trips for specific age groups so we can share experiences, etc. We segment our children into groups and never the twain shall meet.
I find it interesting in Genesis chapters 2 - 4 we see creation of the first family, Adam and Eve, and their children’s families. As God continues to work in the book of Genesis, we see whole families being portrayed. Noah and his family, Lot and his family, Abraham and Sarah. God portrays groups which traveled and lived together as families including children and grand-children. Look at Joseph and his concern for not only his immediate family but all of his family as found starting in Genesis chapter 42.
God defines the family as a husband and wife, their children, grand-children, great-grand children and great-great-grand-children and so on down the line. A family includes generations and there are provisions for these generations of families to take care of each other with the older and wiser men relating stories and observations to the younger generations. Families are an important part of God’s plan for this world. We need to stand strong against Satan and his attempts to divide and conquer.
Copyright © September 1998 by Mark Chism
Where would Israel (Jacob) be today if a situation arose similar to that found in Genesis 42-49? Would he be at the center of his family guiding and making decisions or would the children be “out of the house” and “on their own”?
In Today’s society, parents want the children to be grown and on their own. They may come and visit, but don’t expect a red carpet welcome if they want to stay for a few days. Children today want to be “free”from their parents and making their own decisions. Children are not taught to respect their elders, nor do they know how to seek the advice of those older and wiser than themselves. And when parents get to be a “bother”, society once again recommends peer relations, at a nursing home.
In Genesis 42, we see Israel (Jacob) still leading his family. He is making the decisions of what should be done and who should make the trip. Even into chapter 46, and Israel’s (Jacob’s) trip to Beer-sheba and his sacrifices to God so that he could know God’s will for the family. In Genesis 46:5 it says “ Jacob rose up from Beer-sheeba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives...” and the end of verse 6, “...and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:” Israel (Jacob) led his entire familly into Egypt and God blessed what became the nation of Israel.
We do not hear , today, about family patriarchs. We hear a lot about the matriarchs, and I do not discount the influence of a godly mother, but where are those great men of God like those found in Hebrews 11, or the great apostolic fathers of the church, or those that defined doctrines at the Nicene Council? Where are those patriots who helped found this nation? Where are the fathers willing to lead and provide for their families?
We need to raise up families who are willing to stand for God with fathers leading and willing to lead their children and their grand-children in the ways of righteousness.
Copyright © November 1998 by Mark Chism
It is interesting to see all of the traditions and knowledge which was transferred from generation to generation in the Jewish culture. This exchange occurred through 2 basic means. The first is that of a written series of books starting with Genesis and ending with Malachi. These books where compiled and maintained over many generations and were transferred to each generation with a great concern for detail and accuracy. These scriptures were held in high esteem. The very words of God through men.
The second came through the course of education and a verbal heritage which was also passed down through the generations. This verbal heritage was not only in the art of story telling, but also in the art of conversation and sharing. We see this illustrated in Proverbs where the men are described as sitting in the gates of the city conducting business. Are we teaching our children to converse and carry on a conversation?
Both characteristics of the culture were for the purpose of producing children who would know and understand how Israel came to be God's people and how the laws of the land reflected that heritage. God commanded the fathers to pass on this information to his children. It was not an option.
In Psalms 78:1-3 it says " Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us."
I have heard many people say that history isn't important or that Bible doesn't need to be taught. I believe God's word is clear that we should teach them who we are as a family (what's your family heritage), who we are as Americans (what is your American heritage) and who we are as a Christian (the heritage we gained when we accept Christ as Savior). In Exodus 6:8 and Isaiah 54:17 are good examples of our heritage gained by being a child of the King.
We should be able to say that we are of the Scottish Clan Chisholm, but I am also a child of God. My heritage is contained in some earthly books, but it also contained in the Bible. All of the history contained in the Bible became a part of my heritage when I accepted Christ as Savior. It is my responsibility to train my children about these things.
Copyright © April 1999 by Mark Chism
As the new school year begins, the question of how we educate our children comes to the forefront. After mentioning that we homeschool to a friend or acquaintance, they start the barrage of questions. Socialization, qualifications, etc. People do not understand why we elect to take God's Word seriously when it says to " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 and "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." Psalms 78:1-4.
Are WE truly teaching those parables and sayings? We often grab a video or a music tape and say learn this song or watch this, without evaluating and understanding what it is truly teaching our children. We should be teaching them God's Word daily. There are many places which you can take your child that call themselves "Christian", but I seriously doubt if you would hear or see a reference to the Bible. There are many videos which "portray" Bible stories, but may have a few of the facts wrong. Are we truly evaluating what our children see and hear?
It is unfortunate, but in society today there are church services that go on week after week that never mention the name of God or open His Word. There are musicians and writers of "Christian" music or video scripts, that if you asked them to quote a verse other than John 3:16 could not. Some of them may have a hard time with that one! Is this who should be teaching our children?
The convenience of entertainment should be evaluated against what it really teaches our children. Do we train or entertain?
Copyright © August 1999 by Mark Chism